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Mike Keenan Fired By KHL’s Kunlun Red Star

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Once Mike Keenan was stripped of his GM role this week, it was only a matter of time before the veteran coach was out of a job entirely. The KHL’s Kunlun Red Star made it official today, relieving Keenan of his coaching duties. The KHL’s first and only Chinese team had dropped nine straight games and is struggling to get out of the basement of the KHL’s Eastern Conference. Keenan, who joined the team last month and has been coaching in the KHL since 2013, was clearly not the answer for a team still looking to make a dent as a franchise. The evidence: Kunlun won their first game without Keenan behind the bench today.

Keenan of course is well-known for his time as a coach in the NHL. A tough personality to deal with, Keenan found much success in the NHL, but never with the same team for very long. His first head coaching job in the league was with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1984-85. Keenan spent four years with the Flyers, the next four years with the Chicago Blackhawks, one year with the New York Rangers in 1993-94, in which he led the team to their most recent Stanley Cup title, then three years with the St. Louis Blues, two years with the Vancouver Canucks, one year with the Boston Bruins, three years with the Florida Panthers, and, in his final NHL job to date, two years with the Calgary Flames ending in 2008-09. Keenan made the jump overseas in 2013 to join Metallurg Magnitogorsk and won a KHL championship in his first season. Keenan joined the Red Star after being fired by Metallurg in 2016.

Keenan’s job with Kunlun now goes to his assistant, former NHLer Bobby Carpenter, with other assistants and former pros Cliff Ronning and Igor Kravchuk sticking by as well. The trio have nearly 3000 games of NHL experience between them and, as almost any coach to ever follow Keenan has found, should be able to relate better to the Red Star players.

Evening Notes: Division Realignment, Roussel, Engelland, Chychrun

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With the Toronto Maple Leafs making stops in Calgary on Tuesday and Edmonton on Thursday, the rivalry between those Canadian Eastern and Western Conference matchups are off the charts. The Athletic’s James Mirtle (subscription required) wonders if it wouldn’t be a smart idea to change the conferences, especially down the road when the Quebec Nordiques return to the NHL.

The scribe’s suggestion is create an all-Canadian conference to replace the Central Division, moving all eight Canadian teams including the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Quebec City in the same division. Non-Canadian Central Division teams would be moved to either the Atlantic Division or the Pacific Division where the Canadian teams left holes.

There would be two key outcomes to this move, including increased revenue as rivalry matchups in 34 out of each team’s 82-game schedule will increase ratings and increase ticket sales. Currently, Canadian teams only play 16 games against in-country rivals. Playoffs would also promote multiple Canada-vs.-Canada rivalries and also would increase TV ratings.

Mirtle mentions some downsides to realigning the divison, which would include increased travel times for other teams such as the Minnesota Wild if they were moved to the Pacific Divison, but still feels the NHL should seriously look into that over the next few years.

  • The Dallas Stars will be without wing Antoine Roussel, who is expected to miss tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks with the flu, according to coach Ken Hitchock. The coach added that Roussel is day-to-day regarding Sunday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. Roussel has three goals and eight points in 25 games for Dallas.
  • Las Vegas Review-Journal’s David Schoen writes that Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland remains day-to-day after suffering an injury to his hand in Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild. The 35-year-old blueliner missed last night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. He has two goals and nine points in 24 games this season and has been a key piece to the expansion team’s successful run so far this year.
  • Craig Morgan of NHL.com tweets that Arizona Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said that defenseman Jakob Chychrun might play Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 2016 first-round pick hasn’t played this year and is currently on a conditioning stint with the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL. He had knee surgery in August and would make a big addition the Coyotes defensive core. He played 68 games for Arizona last year as an 18-year-old.

Kris Versteeg To Undergo Hip Surgery, Out Month-To-Month

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The Flames will be without winger Kris Versteeg for the foreseeable future.  The team announced that he will undergo hip surgery on Monday with no definitive timetable for his return per GM Brad Treliving.  He will be listed as month-to-month for the time being.

Mar 29, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) skates against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Los Angeles Kings won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsThis is a notable blow to a Calgary attack that has been somewhat limited this season beyond the contributions of top liners Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.  In particular, Versteeg was a useful piece on their power play with five of his eight points (in 22 games) coming with the man advantage.  Last season, he had a career-high eight goals on the power play.

The 31-year-old was a success story in 2016, turning a PTO deal (with Edmonton) into a one-year contract and then earned himself a considerable raise for 2017-18, going from $950K to $1.75MM in salary (with a 10-team no-trade clause) on the heels of a 37-point season.

The Flames already have 14 healthy forwards on their roster excluding Versteeg so it’s unlikely that any further roster moves are required.  They currently sit with a little over $3.4MM in cap space per CapFriendly and will be able to transfer the veteran winger to long-term injured reserve to open more room if they need to free up more space.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Gabriel Landeskog Suspended Four Games For Cross-Checking

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The decision has come down on Gabriel Landeskog, and the NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended the Colorado Avalanche forward for four games. Landeskog earned the suspension for cross-checking Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk in the neck/head during Saturday night’s game.

This isn’t the first time Landeskog has been involved in a cross-checking incident, as the video explanation from the DoPS notes:

Although he is no long considered a repeat offender as defined by the CBA, it is important to note that Gabriel Landeskog has previously been suspended three games for a similar act in March of 2016. 

That history led to a longer suspension this time around, but it won’t cost him any extra money. As Frank Seravalli of TSN points out, had he been suspended before his “repeat offender clock” ran in early September, he would have lost another $151,961 for this ban. Landeskog was actually suspended twice during that 2015-16 season, including a two-game ban for a blindside check to the head of Brad Marchand. His history is quite checkered with the league now, and will continue to see severe penalties handed down for any future incidents.

Amazingly, Tkachuk has now been the “victim” of two different suspend-able actions this season. He was the player who prompted Luke Witkowski to leave the bench after being ejected, earning the Red Wings’ player a ten-game ban earlier this month. Tkachuk has quite the reputation for getting under the skin of his opponents, and also leads the league in drawn minor penalties. Teams will have to make sure they don’t lose their cool when he’s on the ice, instead of continually playing into his hands and giving the Flames an advantage.

Flames Recall David Rittich

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  • Calgary has brought up goaltender David Rittich from Stockton of the AHL, reports Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun (Twitter link). The Flames were expected to bring up a goaltender following their decision to waive Eddie Lack on Thursday.  The 25-year-old is off to a solid start with the Heat, posting a 2.17 GAA and a .931 SV% in six minor league appearances so far this season.

Pacific Notes: Goldobin, Gaudreau, Pirri, Garrison

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The Vancouver Canucks haven’t had a whole lot of luck with some of their most recent overseas players as in the past six months as the team has lost Anton Rodin and Nikita Tryamkin, who each have decided to leave the NHL. However, that doesn’t look to be the case with Nikolay Goldobin, the former San Jose Sharks 2014 first-rounder, who currently sits in the AHL with the Utica Comets.

In fact, News 1130’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that he talked to Goldobin’s agent, Igor Larianov, who states that they are preaching patience and that Goldobin won’t bolt like Rodin and Tryamkin.

The 22-year-old winger has taken his game to a new level after several years of struggles that had him traded to Vancouver back in March. He has put up six goals and 11 assists in 16 games this year, but still hasn’t been recalled by Vancouver, who have instead chosen to bring up older players with more experience to fill in for injuries. Regardless, Larionov states he believes that Goldobin will be just fine.

  • Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun writes that count veterean Jaromir Jagr as a player who sees a bright future for Calgary Flames center Johnny Gaudreau. The 45-year-old veteran has been talking to him, trying to provide the 24-year-old star winger with the confidence he needs. Jagr, like many people, sees Gaudreau as a perennial contender for the Art Ross Trophy and has told him so. “It’s pretty special when someone says something like that to you. Because it’s not every day that someone as good as him says something about a player that has only been in the league four years,” said Gaudreau. He showed some of that potential in the 2015-16 season when he put up 30 goals and 48 assists in just his second full season. He then saw his numbers drop to just 18 goals and 61 points last year. He already has 10 goal so far this year.
  • Emily Polglaze of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes that the Vegas Golden Knights have two quality and potential call-ups, if needed, in winger Brandon Pirri and defenseman Jason Garrison, who are thriving with the AHL Chicago Wolves. Pirri, who has been in the AHL since the 2013-14 season, has taken off since returning from a month-long injury on Nov. 8. He has six points in his last seven games and five goals and five assists in 10 games this year. Garrison, who was put on waivers on Oct. 28 has fared well in the AHL also in his comeback bid. He had not made an appearance in the AHL since the 2009-10 season. He has a goal and two assists in eight games.

Snapshots: Campbell, Wideman, McDavid

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The Los Angeles Kings acquired Torrey Mitchell earlier tonight in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, but it’s not the only move they’ve made recently. Late last night the team signed goaltender Jack Campbell to a two-year, $1.35MM extension. The deal is two-way for 2018-19, but becomes a one-way contract in 2019-20.

Campbell has rediscovered his game after leaving the Dallas Stars organization, who originally selected him 11th-overall in 2010. He ran with the starting job for the Ontario Reign of the AHL last season, posting a .914 save percentage and has improved on that early in this season. The 25-year old was once considered one of the top goaltending prospects in the league and will continue to try and fight his way towards the NHL. Though Jonathan Quick is signed long-term, the Kings will have an opening to back him up after Darcy Kuemper’s deal expires this summer.

  • Dennis Wideman has returned to hockey, this time as an assistant coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers, who are one of the most impressive teams in the league this season, are currently coached by former NHL defenseman (and Wideman teammate) Jay McKee. Wideman, a Kitchener native, was unable to secure a contract this summer after the Calgary Flames decided not to re-sign him. In 815 career NHL games, he had 387 points.
  • Connor McDavid has been playing through a serious illness according to Darren Dreger of TSN, who reports that the Edmonton Oilers captain has lost between five and ten pounds recently. Amazingly, McDavid has nine points in his last five games, the best stretch of the season so far for the reigning Hart Trophy winner. McDavid and the Oilers remain near the very bottom of the NHL standings, with just 18 points through 22 games.

Trade Rumors: Coyotes, Canadiens, Jets, Islanders

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In all likelihood, the recent three-way trade that sent Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators and Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators will be the biggest deal made this season. Yet, that hasn’t stopped the whispers of an bustling trade market, especially this early in the season. At the quarter pole of the 2017-18 campaign, it’s been an unpredictable season, prompting an unexpectedly active market. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch has had his ear to the ground and has plenty of input on who the buyers and sellers are right now:

  • To no one’s surprise, Garrioch states that the floundering Arizona Coyotes are “willing to talk about pretty much every player on their roster”. That of course doesn’t include Calder-hopeful Clayton Keller or many of their other 21-and-under starters, but the rest of the roster may as well be up for grabs. The big off-season acquisitions of Derek Stepan, Antti Raanta, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Jason Demers have done nothing to change this team’s ability to win hockey games. At some point, GM John Chayka is going to go from “up-and-coming” to “up-and-went” and that pressure could force him to make some major moves as he rethinks his rebuild. While impending UFA’s like Raanta, Brad Richardson, and Luke Schenn would be the easiest pieces to move, the stakes are high for a Coyotes team whose core has done next to nothing for years and key pieces like Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, and Tobias Rieder could soon be on their way out.
  • Perhaps the only team more disappointing than Arizona in 2017-18 is the farthest team from them across North America: the Montreal Canadiens. Under new head coach Claude Julien, the Habs have fallen apart. However, the newly-signed coach isn’t going anywhere, putting GM Marc Bergevin, who Garrioch calls ” the NHL’s most active GM”, on the hot seat. Bergevin may be willing to make a big move to save his job, and of course the first name that comes to mind is young forward Alex Galchenyuk, who has predictably struggled under the defense-first Julien. Galchenyuk seems lost in Montreal, without an identifiable position, role, or spot in the lineup, and could use a change of scenery. However, he is not wholly to blame for the Canadiens’ struggles. Tomas Plekanec has long been on the block and if the team truly commits to a rebuild, big names like Max Pacioretty, Shea Weber, and (if anyone is willing to take on his monstrous new contract) even Carey Price could soon join the list.
  • Garrioch mentions both the Winnipeg Jets and New York Islanders as possible sellers, but given the surprising success of both clubs thus far, neither is likely rushing to trade pieces away unless they can make their teams better this season. Impending Jets UFA’s Shawn Matthias and Matt Hendricks may draw interest, but if Winnipeg is in playoff position come deadline time, they would want veteran depth for themselves. It seems more likely that GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could use his overflow of young forwards like Marko Dano, Joel Armia, Andrew Copp, Adam Lowry, or Brandon Tanev as trade bait to bring in another top-six forward for a team that doesn’t shoot the puck nearly enough. As for the Islanders, Garrioch singles out first-time UFA Calvin de Haan as the player to watch. Yet, de Haan is one of, if not the best shot-blocker in the NHL, can play major minutes, and is reliable in both ends. If the Isles can resign him, wouldn’t they? Obviously, John Tavares is the main focus and the team thinks highly of younger options like Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, but the loss of a player like de Haan, especially with Travis Hamonic now in Calgary, could cripple a playoff-bound Islanders squad. Odds are de Haan sticks around, at least as long as New York remains playoff-bound.
  • So who’s looking? Garrioch mentions the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins as suitors for forward help, with the Dallas Stars potentially looking to make another big blue line trade to turn their season around. With that many buyers and several disappointed sellers, the trade NHL trade market may not wait until 2018 to heat up.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Calgary Flames

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for as the season nears the quarter point of completion. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first month and what could improve as the season rolls on.

What are the Flames most thankful for?

Calgary finds themselves fortunate enough to boast one of the top and well-balanced defense corps in the NHL.  They have a strong mix of offensive upside, physicality, mobility, and pretty much everything in between while also being able to carry an established top-four blueliner on their third pairing in Michael Stone.  While there are plenty of teams looking for help on the back end, the Flames should be quite pleased with the group they have.  (And looking to the future, they’re well-stocked at that position in terms of prospects as well.)

Who are the Flames most thankful for?

Nov 13, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Mike Smith (41) guards his net against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsBeyond the blueline, they certainly have to be thankful for their new number one goaltender in Mike Smith.  One of the bigger challenges Calgary has had in recent years has been quality netminding from their starters.  Smith, at least so far, has changed that.  He boasts a .921 SV% through his first 16 starts in 2017-18.  To put that in some perspective, the last number one goalie in Calgary to finish with a save percentage that high was Miikka Kiprusoff back in 2011-12.  If Smith can maintain this level of play over the rest of the season, the Flames should find themselves nicely in the playoff picture.

Winger Johnny Gaudreau is someone that Calgary is certainly thankful for.  He has gone from a mid-round pick (fourth round, 104th overall in 2011) to a legitimate star pretty quickly and has taken his game to a whole new level so far this season.  Through 18 games, he has 26 points, good for sole possession of third overall in league scoring.

[Related: Flames Depth Chart from Roster Resource]

What would the Flames be even more thankful for?

Troy Brouwer living up to his contract.  Quite frankly, he hasn’t come close yet.  He quickly signed in free agency back in 2016, inking a four-year, $18MM deal with a full no-trade clause in the first two seasons.  So far, he has rewarded that with just 28 points in 92 games, including no goals and three assists in 18 contests this season.  Brouwer has shown himself to be capable of being a capable secondary scorer and if he can get back to that form, Calgary’s attack will be quite a bit deeper.

What should be on the Flames’ Holiday Wish List?

While Gaudreau is off to a flying start to the season, there aren’t many others aside from Sean Monahan who can say the same.  At the very least, finding a right winger to finalize that top trio would be very beneficial.  Brouwer isn’t the solution, Micheal Ferland is a better fit in a bottom-six role, Michael Frolik doesn’t have the offensive skill to thrive on that line, and Jaromir Jagr isn’t quick enough to keep up on a full-time basis.  That has been a hole for a while and while GM Brad Treliving has tried to fill it, it hasn’t worked yet.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see another goaltender on their shopping list at some point.  Eddie Lack has not fared well in his first season with Calgary with a 5.29 GAA and a .813 SV% in his first four outings and those are the types of numbers that force coaches to lean on their starters too much during the regular season.  Securing a veteran that currently is in the minors would be a way to give themselves some security if Lack isn’t able to turn it around as the season progresses.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Matthew Tkachuk Suspended For One Game

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Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk has been suspended for one game for his part in an incident with Detroit on Wednesday against Detroit, TSN reports.  This is the second suspension of his career after he received a two-game ban for an elbowing incident back in March.

Shortly following a play that saw Red Wings forward Luke Witkowski get ejected, Tkachuk hit Witkowski with his stick as he was walking towards the dressing room.  An incited Witkowski then returned to the ice which sparked quite the melee.  At the end of it, Tkachuk was given a five-minute major penalty for spearing as well as a game misconduct on the play.  Meanwhile,  Witkowski, who received a whopping 37 minutes in penalties for his part in the fracas, received an automatic ten-game suspension for violating Rule 70.6 when he returned to the ice to fight after being ordered off by officials.

As a result of the suspension, Tkachuk will miss Saturday afternoon’s game against Philadelphia.  He will be eligible to return to their lineup on Monday night in Washington.

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