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Snapshots: Eichel, Franson, Girardi

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We’ve heard several reports over the past few weeks regarding an extension for Sabres center Jack Eichel. The 20-year-old recently made it clear that he wanted to remain in Buffalo, and he reemphasized those sentiments earlier today. However, as opposed to last time, Eichel wasn’t so keen to give a timeframe on any contractual resolution.

“It’s kind of in my agent’s hands and Mr. Botterill’s,” Eichel said (via Tom Gulitti of NHL.com). “For me, it’s all about just going out and performing, playing well, being a good teammate and trying to help make a positive impact on the Sabres and get the organization back to the playoffs. I want to be in Buffalo. I want to be there for a long time. I want to be there when we’re winning. I want to bring that to the city.

“But in terms of the deal, it’s going to get done at some point whether it’s now or a couple months or next year. Who knows? I just know if my play takes care of itself, then good things will happen.”

The former second-overall pick has been productive during his two seasons in the league, compiling 48 goals and 65 assists in 142 games.

Let’s take a look at more notes from around the NHL…

  • Defenseman Cody Franson signed a professional tryout contract with the Blackhawks earlier this evening, and Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times believes the move could give the squad “a much-needed boost on the back end of their back end.” The 30-year-old compiled three goals and 16 assists in 68 games for the Sabres last season, and the writer believes the veteran will be a welcome addition to a team that is “desperate for help on the blue line.” Ultimately, Franson is expected to compete with Jan Rutta, Ville Pokka and Erik Gustafsson for a spot on the team’s third line.
  • Veteran defenseman Dan Girardi signed a two-year, $6MM deal with the Lightning earlier this offseason, and the 33-year-old told Joe Smith of TampaBay.com that general manager Steve Yzerman was a big reason why he chose to sign with the organization. “I came here because ’Stevie Y’ called me personally and said, ’We want you here,'” Girardi said. “I felt that meant a lot to me as a guy who pretty much played his heart out for 11 years in New York, got bought out. You don’t know what’s happening and you get a guy like Steve Yzerman call you personally. It’s like, ’Okay, that’s where I know I need to be.'” Girardi had played the past 11 seasons with the Rangers, and he finished the 2016 campaign with four goals and 11 assists.
  • Alex Nylander is trying to build off his four-game cameo from last season, and the Sabres prospect appeared to be “bigger and more confident” as he prepared for the upcoming Prospect Challenge. As John Vogl of the Buffalo News writes, a solid performance during the rookie tourney could lead to the former first-rounder earning a spot on the team’s NHL roster. “You’ve got to have a good impression on them,” Nylander said. “You’ve got to be working hard and showing what you can do on the ice. It’s like a new start, so it feels really good coming into this year.”

 

Snapshots: Blues, Butcher, Canucks

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The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Colton Parayko to a new five-year, $27.5MM deal earlier this offseason. The 24-year-old understands that more pressure will accompany his larger contract.

“I obviously want to come and be a better player and be a big part of it,” Parayko told Louie Korac of NHL.com. “But at the same time, I don’t want to get outside of my game and try to do things that aren’t part of me. You’ve just got to find a medium that’s going to make the team better and also make you efficient.

“The main goal is to obviously have the best team and hopefully I can help solidify that and just kind of do my job and make it easy for others. I obviously don’t want to get out of my element and get out of things I do best. I’ve got to focus on doing those and try to do that every single night, obviously [be] more consistent and make sure I continue to play good.”

The defenseman finished his second NHL season with four goals and 31 assists in 81 games. The 2013 third-rounder figures to once again team up with Joel Edmundson on the Blues’ second line.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NHL…

  • We learned earlier today that college free agent Will Butcher will be making his decision this weekend, and Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets that the Penguins aren’t a finalist for the young defenseman. Pittsburgh had previously been connected to Butcher, along with the Sabres, Blue Jackets, Devils, and Golden Knights. The reigning Hobey Baker award winner out of the University of Denver was initially a fifth-round pick by the Avalanche back in 2013.
  • The Canucks might not be finished with free agency, as Matthew Sekeres of TSN 1040 AM tweets that the organization has discussed signing a forward, including veteran Thomas Vanek. The reporter notes that the team has also extended at least a pair of professional try outs. The 33-year-old Vanek split last season with the Red Wings and Panthers, collecting 17 goals and 31 assists in 68 games. We heard yesterday that interest in the free agent winger was beginning to ramp up.
  • In case you missed it, recently bought out Anaheim Ducks defender Simon Despres signed with Russian club Slovan Bratislava earlier today.

West Notes: Flames, Doughty, Sharks

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Marek Hrivik spent six years in the Rangers organization but only made 21 appearances with the NHL club, compiling no goals and three assists. However, he was much more productive in the AHL, where he played in 270 games and scored 53 goals for the Hartford Wolf Pack. Predictably, the 2012 undrafted free agent wanted an opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and he said that was a big reason why he signed with the Flames this offseason.

“It’s never been a dream of mine to play only in the AHL,” Hrivik told NHL.com’s George Johnson. “So I’ve been looking for a different opportunity. I’ve been with New York for five years and it just wasn’t going to work there. I had a bunch of teams interested but I thought I had the best chance in Calgary and that’s why I signed there. Obviously the interest I felt from the organization was also important. That was probably the No. 1 thing. You always want to feel wanted.”

The 25-year-old left the Rangers organization earlier this offseason and quickly signed a one-year, two-way deal with Calgary. Of course, he understands that it’s still an uphill battle to make the team’s final roster.

“There are bunch of guys in a similar position as I am, I’d say, for a fourth-line spot,” Hrivik said. “Money-wise, age-wise. So I think it’s going to be a decent battle.”

Let’s check out some more notes from around the Western Conference…

  • While former Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty has been a mainstay for the Kings for nearly a decade, James O’Brien of Pro Hockey Talk believes the team should consider trading the 27-year-old. The writer notes that the organization would receive immediate salary relief, and he believes the Kings could convince another team to inherit a bad contract (like Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik) in any trade for Doughty. A trade would also give the team a chance to get a head start on their rebuild, as they’d surely receive young players and/or draft picks.
  • Veteran Patrick Marleau signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs earlier this offseason, and some of his former Sharks teammates were surprised that he left San Jose. “That was crazy,” former Sharks (and current Panthers) defenseman Jason Demers told NHL.com’s Dave McCarthy. “For him to make that decision, I know him well personally and I know that was probably the biggest decision of his career. I don’t think anybody understands on the outside how big of a decision that was for him. … In my head, after talking to him a little bit, I thought he was going to stay, but I think him and his family discussed it and I think it’s going to be a great thing for him.” Marleau, who had spent 19 seasons with the Sharks, compiled 27 goals and 19 assists in 82 games last season.
  • Earlier today, Jaromir Jagr’s agent gave a “no comment” when asked about the rumors regarding the Flames.

Kyle Okposo Hospitalized

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Friday: Tom Martin of News 4 Buffalo is reporting that Okposo has been discharged from hospital. This comes after John Wawrow of the Associated Press reported earlier that the Sabres forward was “showing signs of improving.”

Wednesday: We learned earlier today that Sabres right winger Kyle Okposo has been ruled out for the final three games of the season, and we’ve learned tonight that his mystery illness may be more serious than initially thought.

According to Paul Hamilton of WGR-AM 550 (and confirmed by John Vogl of The Buffalo News), the 28-year-old has been hospitalized and is currently in intensive care. Tom Martin of WIVB-TV in Buffalo tweets that Okposo was originally hospitalized at Buffalo General Hospital on Sunday, and he was subsequently moved to the Neuro Surgical ICU.

The winger hasn’t played since March 27th, and it was initially believes that he may be suffering from a minor ailment. Okposo has apparently visited doctors, but Dan Bylsma acknowledged today that there still isn’t a clear diagnosis. The head coach also noted that he’s “very concerned” about the former first-rounder.

“It’s a difficult thing for him to be dealing with now in this situation,” Bylsma said. “Very, as a coach and a person, concerned for him and his situation. He’s seeing our doctors and done some tests.”

“Kyle continues to be under the care of our doctors as he deals with symptoms from an illness,” the organization said in a statement. “Out of respect to Kyle and his family, we will have no further comment at this time.”

As Vogl notes, the UCLA Neurosurgery Department’s website says that the ICU tends to patients “with all types of neurosurgical and neurological injuries, including stroke, brain hemorrhage, trauma and tumors.”

Okposo will finish his first campaign in Buffalo with 19 goals and 26 assists in 65 games, which is his lowest output in a full season since 2011-12. The winger spent the first nine years of his career with the Islanders.

Red Wings Sign Dennis Cholowski To Entry-Level Deal

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The Red Wings are set to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1990, but there’s at least some optimism in Detroit regarding the future of the franchise. Today, the organization announced that they have signed defenseman Dennis Cholowski to a three-year entry-level contract.

Cholowski, the 20th pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, played 36 games for St. Cloud State University this past season. The freshman finished the campaign with one goal, 11 assists, and 14 penalty minutes. As the press release notes, the 19-year-old collected the fourth-most points among NCAA defenseman born in 1998.

Cholowski previously played with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League, where he earned a Second-Team BCHL All-Star birth following a 12-goal, 28-assist 2015-16 campaign. The defender also won gold as a member of Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge, where he tallied a pair of assists.

Olympic Reactions: NBC, Flames, Senators, Avalanche

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NBC Sports released a statement yesterday regarding the NHL’s decision to not participate in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics:

The Olympics have long been the world’s greatest international hockey tournament irrespective of whether professionals or amateurs are playing. Although we’re disappointed that NHL players will not get the chance to experience and compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics next February, we’re confident that hockey fans and Olympic viewers will tune in to watch the unique style of play that occurs at the Olympic Winter Games when athletes are competing for their country.”

As our own Gavin Lee noted yesterday, NBC had recently agreed to air the entirety of the Olympic hockey tourney. While the NHL would presumably install their new bye week system during the event, NBC will still be unable to air any NHL games between February 9th-25th, a crucial time of the season.

Let’s check out some more reactions from around the NHL…

  • Michael Frolik of the Flames expressed disappointment that he wouldn’t be able to interact with some of the best hockey players in the world. “You have a chance to meet the other athletes and sit with them, and that was cool. And just the experience and the atmosphere there was great,” Frolik, who previously represented the Czech Republic, told Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Herald. “As a little kid, we won gold in Nagano and I know how big it was at home, so always Olympics were really special…It was a little bit of a surprise for me. I thought they were going to make a deal. It’s a little disappointing. I’ve been lucky to play Olympics once, so at least I have that under my belt. But going for a second time, to have that chance would be nice.”
  • Flames teammate Mark Giordano, who has been on Team Canada’s radar for several years, implied that he was more focused on his NHL’s team success. “It’s a little disappointing,” he said. “Obviously, growing up, as a kid, you’ve always wanted to play in the Olympics. It’s kind of a dream. But right now, it’s something I try to keep my mind off of. I don’t think my answer, my opinion is going to change anything. So I think just worry about the Flames right now.”
  • Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson was a bit more abrupt when discussing the decision. “It is crap. That’s pretty much what I think. It’s going to do more damage to this sport than people realize, and whoevert made that decision obviously doesn’t know what they are doing,” the former silver medalist told Nick Wells of CTVNews.ca. “I just feel like we’re misrepresenting our sport on a pretty huge scale and a pretty huge level. I think the players do want to go, but I think it should be of interest to the players and the league. I think the NHL should be in the Olympics.”
  • Finally, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon seemed to place the blame on the higher-ups. “I think it’s obviously the owners’ decision,” MacKinnon told Terry Frei of the Denver Post. “It’s too bad. It’s a time for us to showcase the best players in the world and grow the game in places where hockey’s not very big, such as Korea. … This is an opportunity for us to grow it, with Beijing coming up in 2022 as well. Korea and China are places we haven’t really tapped yet, and I think that’s important. Hopefully something gets resolved and maybe they’ll change it, I’m not sure. Obviously, it’s unfortunate.”

Evening Transactions: Ducks, Lightning

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Some assorted transactions from around the NHL this evening…

  • The Ducks have recalled left winger Ondrej Kase from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, the team announced. The 21-year-old has played in 51 games this season, compiling five goals, nine assist, and 16 penalty minutes. The former seventh-round pick has also appeared in 11 AHL games, collecting eight points.
  • Forward Joel Vermin has been recalled by the Lightning from the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, the team announced. The Bern, Switzerland product has collected three assists in 15 games this year, and he has 21 career games under his belt. The 25-year-old has also appeared in another 43 contests with the Crunch, collecting 12 goals, 16 assists, and 17 penalty minutes. The former seventh-round pick joined the organization back in 2013.

Avalanche Sign Tyson Jost To Entry-Level Contract

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The Avalanche have signed 2016 first-round pick Tyson Jost to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced this evening. Terry Frei of the Denver Post tweets that the 10th-overall pick could play with the squad as soon as Friday.

Reports from yesterday were a bit pessimistic that a deal would get done this season. Jost and his North Dakota teammates were knocked out of the NCAA playoffs, so it’d be natural for the talented prospect to go professional. However, considering his age, there were some whispers that the forward may return to college for a second season. The 19-year-old had a fantastic season with the Fighting Hawks, collecting 38 points in 35 games. Jost also had a standout performance playing for Team Canada at the World Juniors, tallying four points in seven games.

“We are excited to announce that Tyson has signed his entry-level contract and will be joining us for the rest of this season,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President/general manager Joe Sakic. “Tyson is an all-around player. He competes, plays the game hard and is reliable at both ends of the ice. He just finished a strong year at North Dakota and we’re looking forward to seeing him in an Avalanche sweater.”

Prior to his collegiate career, Jost was the 2015-16 MVP of the British Columbia Hockey League, compiling 42 goals and 62 assists. He also competed at the 2016 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, leading the tournament in points with six goals and nine assists.

Evening Transactions: Bruins, Sharks

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Some assorted transactions from around the NHL this evening:

  • After recalling him earlier today on an emergency basis, the Bruins have sent goalie Zane McIntyre back to Providence, reports Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). The 24-year-old was insurance for injured goaltender Anton Khudobin, who was ultimately healthy for this evening’s contest. In eight games with the Bruins this year, McIntyre has compiled an .858 save percentage.
  • Union defender Nick DeSimone will join the Sharks organization, reports Elliotte Friedman on Twitter. We heard earlier this week that the free agent was expected to garner interest from multiple teams. DeSimone set career-highs this season in both goals (nine) and points (19).

USWNT Ends Boycott, Will Play In World Championships

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Nearly two weeks after the United States Women’s National Hockey Team announced that they’d be boycotting the upcoming World Championships, the squad has reached an agreement with USA Hockey. The two sides announced that they’ve finalized a new four-year deal “that will result in groundbreaking support” for the USWNT. According to Ken Campbell of THN.com (via Twitter), the deal is believed to be between $3.7MM and $4MM.

Previous reports had indicated that the players were looking for better financial support after dedicating years to the team. An ESPN story claimed that the women received only $1,000 for each of their six months of Olympic residency, and nothing during the remainder of the four years of training. With the new deal, the women will receive $2,000 a month and could earn up to $71K in non-Olympic years (via Campbell). The team is also set to receive the same amenities as the men’s team, including flying business class.

It had been a war of words since then, as USA Hockey stated that they were “disappointed” in the player’s demands. On the flip side, captain Meghan Duggan said that USA Hockey’s statements were “incredibly dishonest and misleading.” Following the NHLPA’s public support of the women, there were rumblings that American NHL players may refuse to play in this spring’s World Championships in solidarity. Fortunately, the two sides quickly moved to find a resolution, and reports from this morning indicated that a new deal was close.

“Today reflects everyone coming together and compromising in order to reach a resolution for the betterment of the sport,” said Jim Smith, the president of USA Hockey. “We’ll now move forward together knowing we’ll look back on this day as one of the most positive in the history of USA Hockey.”

“Our sport is the big winner today,” said Duggan. “We stood up for what we thought was right and USA Hockey’s leadership listened. In the end, both sides came together. I’m proud of my teammates and can’t thank everyone who supported us enough. It’s time now to turn the page. We can’t wait to play in the World Championship later this week in front of our fans as we try and defend our gold medal.”

The powerhouse program will return to work immediately, as ESPN’s Craig Custance tweets that the squad will practice on Thursday in preparation for their matchup against Canada on Friday night.

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