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Talks Quiet Up To This Point Between Flames, Elias Lindholm

September 4, 2023 at 9:05 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 6 Comments

Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm has been one of the most common names in the rumor mill this offseason as one of the top unrestricted free agents set to be available on the 2024 market. Speculation has run rampant about whether Lindholm would be willing to sign an extension in Alberta or if he’d follow the path of Tyler Toffoli and potentially Noah Hanifin and find his way out of Calgary before the 2024 trade deadline.

Lindholm cleared some of that up himself over the weekend, telling HockeySverige’s Ronnie Ronnkvist he’s open to staying in Calgary but said he would mostly leave it up to his agent and the team to work out a deal. Those talks haven’t started in earnest yet, however, says Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on today’s edition of 32 Thoughts.

From what I understand, the Flames and Lindholm have really been quiet this summer when it came to contract negotiations. I would expect that to pick up as he returns and things get closer to the season.

It’ll likely take a huge offer to convince the 28-year-old to avoid testing free agency next July. There will be no shortage of suitors with an obvious need down the middle looking to dole out money (and term) to one of the league’s more defensively responsible point-producing pivots.

If the Flames aim to remain competitive over the life of the long-term deals Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri signed last summer, then it’s likely worth paying to keep Lindholm. The team has some solid forward prospects coming, namely Matthew Coronato, Samuel Honzek and Jakob Pelletier, but none project as centers. There’s no feasible option in their pipeline to replace Lindholm anytime soon, meaning they’d be looking to commit money and terms to a different center in free agency anyway to fill his gap.

Lindholm’s defensive acumen is also necessary regarding long-term roster construction for GM Craig Conroy. Mikael Backlund has long been the team’s two-way heart and soul, and not only will he be 35 years old before the 2023-24 season ends, but he’s also only got one year left on his deal and could opt to find a new home next summer. Calgary won’t find anyone else that fits that mold, at least with the ability to produce offensively like Lindholm, on July 1 next year.

Of course, this depends on Lindholm maintaining his willingness to sign an extension in Calgary. A slow start out of the gate will likely be the nail in the coffin for any of Calgary’s big-name pending UFAs, who will look to spend their prime or twilight years on a team closer to Stanley Cup contention. Lindholm, who’s registered 325 points in 369 games as a Flame since 2018, will be a large part of that.

Five Key Stories: 8/28/23 – 9/3/23

September 3, 2023 at 9:01 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

The calendar has turned to September and training camps are now on the horizon. While many teams are enjoying the last bit of their summers, there was some news of note around the NHL which is recapped in our key stories.

PTO Season: At this point of the summer, there are generally more players landing tryout agreements compared to full contracts. With that in mind, several veterans found PTOs to give them a chance to take part in training camps. Sam Gagner will look to earn a third opportunity with Edmonton and extend his 16-year career. Other forwards of some significance catching on with teams are Joel Kiviranta (Colorado), Zack Kassian (Anaheim), and Max Comtois (Vegas). Meanwhile, on the back end, Jordie Benn is hoping to have a second stint with his brother in Dallas while Pittsburgh is bringing in a pair of blueliners in Libor Hajek and Mark Pysyk. Expect the number of PTO agreements to continue to go up in the coming days.

Fedotov Plays In Russia: The Ivan Fedotov saga has taken another turn. Last month, the IIHF ruled that the contract the Flyers have with the netminder is the valid one, a ruling that the KHL and CSKA Moscow clearly disagree with as in their season opener, Fedotov was between the pipes in direct violation of their ruling. The IIHF has now referred Fedotov to the disciplinary board and fined the Russian Hockey Federation but neither of those actions are likely going to change the situation. Clearly, there is more to come on this particular file.

Hanging Them Up: Veteran winger Carl Hagelin has called it a career at the age of 35 as he announced his retirement. His contract with Washington expired this summer and he wound up missing the entire 2022-23 campaign due to an eye injury along with a hip issue. Hagelin had hoped to come back this season but in his announcement, he indicated that the eye injury is too severe to keep playing. His career spanned 713 regular season games over 11 seasons where his speed and defensive ability made him an effective two-way winger that also chipped in with 296 points. Hagelin also took home a pair of Stanley Cup titles with Pittsburgh in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, his first two years with them.

Extension For Keefe: While Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving didn’t hire head coach Sheldon Keefe, he decided that he likes what he’s seen from him as Toronto handed their bench boss a two-year extension. Keefe was set to enter the final year of his contract so this move takes any possibility of his contractual situation being a distraction. The Leafs have had plenty of regular season success with Keefe behind the bench, posting a 166-71-30 regular-season record in 267 games. However, they’ve only won one playoff series in that stretch, that coming this past postseason in a six-game victory over Tampa Bay.

Kessel Not Worried About Ironman Streak: When Keith Yandle was nearing the end of his career, there was some pressure from teammates to keep him in the lineup to continue his ironman streak, one that eventually came to an end. Phil Kessel is in a similar situation; while he played all 82 games last season to bring the streak to 1,064, he was a frequent scratch in the playoffs. At this point, his best spot might be as a part-timer. To that end, Kessel indicated that he’s not concerned about extending the streak in the hopes that doing so will increase his chances of landing a guaranteed deal for the upcoming season. The 35-year-old was still relatively productive last year, picking up 36 points despite logging less than 13 minutes a night and is one of the more notable veterans still unsigned.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Colorado Avalanche

September 3, 2023 at 7:58 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 2 Comments

Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2023-24 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Colorado Avalanche

Current Cap Hit: $88,475,000 (over the $83.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

None projected to make the opening roster

Signed Through 2023-24, Non-Entry-Level

F Andrew Cogliano ($825K, UFA)
F Jonathan Drouin ($825K, UFA)
G Pavel Francouz ($2MM, UFA)
D/F Kurtis MacDermid ($987.5K, UFA)
F Ben Meyers ($775K, RFA)
F Fredrik Olofsson ($775K, UFA)
D Devon Toews ($4.1MM, UFA)

With cap space at a premium, the Avs had to shop for some bargains in free agency this summer. Drouin comes over from Montreal coming off a year that saw him score just twice although he added 27 assists. If he can lock down a role in the middle six, it won’t take much for them to get surplus value on this deal while he’d be positioned for a better contract a year from now. Cogliano returns after being one of the few consistently effective bottom-six forwards for Colorado last season. At 36, he’ll be going year-to-year from now on in all likelihood.

Meyers struggled in half a season with the Avalanche in 2022-23 but should get another look while Olofsson will push for a spot as well after being acquired from Dallas. Those spots on the depth chart will need to stay at or close to the league minimum moving forward. MacDermid can play both the wing and on the back end but while the versatility is nice, his playing time is limited in either role. That makes him more of an end of the roster candidate which will keep his next cap hit around this price point.

The same certainly can’t be said about Toews. Since being acquired from the Islanders as a salary cap casualty three years ago, he has blossomed into a legitimate top-pairing defender. In each of the last two seasons, he has recorded at least 50 points and logged more than 25 minutes a night. Only four other blueliners in the league are in that category: Roman Josi, Quinn Hughes, Rasmus Dahlin, and Cale Makar. Not a bad group to be in. Josi, Hughes, and Makar are already on pricey long-term deals and Dahlin is a year away from doing so. Meanwhile, Toews is on the books at second-pairing money for another ten months. He’ll be doubling it and then some soon enough.

Francouz, when healthy, has been quite an effective goalie for Colorado, posting a career save percentage of .919. However, over four seasons, he has only played in 73 games so it’s still a pretty small sample size. That is definitely limiting his earnings upside as he needs to show he can stay healthy for a full year and maintain that strong level of play. If he can do that, his AAV could push up toward the $4MM range if he looks to test the open market.

Signed Through 2024-25

D Bowen Byram ($3.85MM, RFA)
G Alexandar Georgiev ($3.2MM, UFA)
F Ryan Johansen ($4MM, UFA)*
F Logan O’Connor ($1.05MM, UFA)
F Mikko Rantanen ($9.25MM, UFA)

*-Nashville is retaining an additional $4MM on Johansen’s contract

Rantanen has flown under the radar to an extent but he’s undoubtedly a premier winger in his own right and is coming off a career year that saw him score 55 goals. If he’s able to stay near that rate over the next two years, he’ll have a strong chance of beating Artemi Panarin ($11.643MM) for the most expensive contract given to a winger in NHL history. Johansen hasn’t lived up to his contract but with the Preds eating half of it, Johansen should provide some value assuming he locks up the second center position. If he hovers around the 40-point mark, his next deal should check in around what Colorado will be paying him for the next two years. O’Connor has worked his way from being a depth piece to a reliable third liner at a below-market rate. Even if he stays in the mid-20-point range, he could add another million to his next deal.

Byram’s acceptance of a bridge contract this summer came as little surprise. When healthy, he has become an impactful blueliner but with Colorado’s cap situation and his concussion history, it would have been difficult to find a long-term agreement that worked for both sides. Notably, the deal is significantly backloaded, pushing the qualifying offer to $4.62MM. That said, if Byram can stay healthy these next two seasons, there’s a very good chance he’d be getting considerably more than that on a long-term pact at that time.

Georgiev was somewhat of a risky acquisition by then-GM Joe Sakic. He was coming off a down year and hadn’t yet played 35 games in an NHL season. Fast forward to one year later and he put up career-best numbers across the board in 62 appearances. Now, he is a legitimate starter for them making platoon money. Two more years like this would push his price tag into the range of the goalie he replaced (Darcy Kuemper who received five years at $5.25MM from Washington).

Signed Through 2025-26

D Josh Manson ($4.5MM, UFA)

Manson’s first full season with Colorado didn’t go well as he was limited to just 27 games due to multiple lower-body injuries. And when he was in the lineup, his deployment was that of a fifth defender most nights. This price tag for that role is on the high side and it has now been four straight years that Manson has missed significant time due to injury. At this point, it seems like it will be difficult for the Avs to get a good return on this contract.

Signed Through 2026-27 Or Longer

F Ross Colton ($4MM through 2026-27)
D Samuel Girard ($5MM through 2026-27)
F Gabriel Landeskog ($7MM through 2028-29)
F Artturi Lehkonen ($4.5MM through 2026-27)
F Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6MM through 2030-31)
D Cale Makar ($9MM through 2026-27)
F Valeri Nichushkin ($6.125MM through 2029-30)
F Miles Wood ($2.5MM through 2028-29)

MacKinnon signed this contract just under a year ago, one that was the richest in NHL history in terms of AAV, doubling his previous cap charge in the process. That has already since been surpassed with Auston Matthews signing his extension recently. Nevertheless, MacKinnon certainly earned this contract as he has been one of the most productive players in the league. Over the last six years, only two players have produced more points than him (they both play for Edmonton). In the playoffs, his point-per-game average increases from 1.07 to 1.30 and he plays a premium position. Will this contract ever be a bargain? Probably not but they should still get a reasonable return on this deal as long as he stays healthy.

Landeskog, meanwhile, has plenty of questions about his future. He missed all of last season with a lingering knee injury and ultimately underwent a cartilage transplant back in May that will keep him out for 2023-24. He’ll be on LTIR as a result which is how Colorado will be cap-compliant to start the season. Will he be on there for longer? That’s the bigger question they’ll be wondering about over the coming months. Nichushkin’s breakout showing in 2021-22 earned him this contract and when he was healthy during the regular season, he was quite productive once again, producing at basically a front-line level. As long as he keeps doing that, they’ll get good value on his deal.

Lehkonen had a career year in his first full season while seeing his playing time jump to over 20 minutes a night; he had never averaged more than 16:29 per night in his first six seasons. In a better offensive environment than he had with Montreal, he should be able to produce enough to justify the price tag while his defensive game certainly plays a big role in his value as well. Colton comes over from Tampa Bay in an effort to rebuild the bottom six. With 38 goals combined over his two full NHL campaigns, Colorado will need him to continue to hover around the 20-goal average to justify this deal. Wood’s cap hit is reasonable for someone that’s likely to slot in on the third line and put up double-digit goals although the six-year term was a bit surprising. That was the trade-off over a shorter term but a higher AAV, presumably, which helps him fit better in their salary structure.

Colorado took a slightly different approach with Makar than they did with their forwards, opting to sign him for six years instead of eight, allowing them to get a more affordable AAV. Even at $9MM, he has already provided surplus value on this agreement. Four years from now, he’s likely to take aim at a record-setting deal for a defenseman; Erik Karlsson at $11.5MM is the benchmark there. Girard is a capable top-four blueliner who happens to be coming off a career year offensively. Even so, his future appears to be in some question as if they want to re-sign Toews, they’re going to need to cut money somewhere. Girard is someone who should have enough value to still yield a strong return compared to attaching assets to move Manson.

Buyouts

None

Retained Salary Transactions

None

Still To Sign

None

Best Value: Toews
Worst Value: Manson

Looking Ahead

While Colorado has just shy of $5MM in LTIR space at the moment, they will need to at least budget some of that money for in-season recalls when injuries strike. Unlike regular cap space, LTIR space doesn’t accrue during the season so what they have now is what they have all season to work with. Accordingly, they can look to add a piece now or wait and see how things go over the first couple of months and see what their needs are at that time. Speculatively, they’re better positioned than most to try to sign Patrick Kane when he’s ready to play midseason.

Beyond 2023-24, a lot depends on Landeskog. If he’s able to return, they’ll be facing quite a crunch with $76.775MM in commitments to just 13 players for 2024-25. A new deal for Toews alone would bring them pretty close to the cap for that season let alone trying to fill out the rest of the roster. A healthy Landeskog means the Avalanche will likely need to sell a key player or two. If he can’t come back, however, then they have a bit more flexibility, albeit with a need to use offseason LTIR for another half-decade. With big-ticket extensions on the horizon, Colorado is one of the teams that could benefit the most from a sizable jump in the Upper Limit over the next couple of years.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

West Notes: Killorn, Krutil, Kings

September 3, 2023 at 6:55 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 4 Comments

Ducks winger Alex Killorn was one of the top wingers available in free agency this summer on the heels of a career year that saw him put up 27 goals and 37 assists with Tampa Bay. That helped him earn a four-year, $25MM deal with Anaheim, the priciest deal given to a forward on the open market. Speaking on a recent episode of the Raw Knuckles podcast (video link), he indicated that while the Canadiens weren’t among the teams to show interest in him two months ago, he would like to spend a season with Montreal to end his career. Killorn played his minor hockey in Quebec before going the collegiate route. His new contract runs through the 2026-27 campaign and if he was to play beyond that, he’d be entering his age-38 season where he’d almost certainly be playing on a one-year deal at that time.

List Of NHL-Affiliated Prospects Expected To Play In The WHL This Season

September 3, 2023 at 5:04 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 6 Comments

NHL preseason is just 20 days away, but the WHL season kicks off even sooner the day prior. One of the NHL’s largest feeder leagues is getting a new market this season – Central Washington’s Wenatchee Wild, who were relocated from Winnipeg earlier this summer. It has the largest United States presence of all three of the major Canadian junior leagues and churned out last year’s first overall pick – Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats (now of the Chicago Blackhawks). Nine teams do not have any drafted prospects projected to suit up in the WHL next year: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning. If you’re a fan of one of the other 23 NHL teams, keep reading to find out where your team’s future players are skating next season if you’re looking to catch some WHL action.

Anaheim Ducks

F Connor Hvidston (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 fifth round, 139th overall
F Nico Myatovic (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 second round, 33rd overall
D Vojtech Port (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 2023 sixth round, 161st overall
F Yegor Sidorov (Saskatoon Blades) – 2023 third round, 85th overall

Arizona Coyotes

F Conor Geekie (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 first round, 11th overall
D Terrell Goldsmith (Prince Albert Raiders) – 2023 fourth round, 102nd overall
D Justin Kipkie (Victoria Royals) – 2023 fifth round, 160th overall

Boston Bruins

G Reid Dyck (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 sixth round, 183rd overall

Buffalo Sabres

F Zach Benson (Wenatchee Wild) – 2023 first round, 13th overall
D Mats Lindgren (Red Deer Rebels) – 2022 fourth round, 106th overall
G Scott Ratzlaff (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 fifth round, 141st overall
F Matthew Savoie (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 first round, 9th overall

Calgary Flames

F Parker Bell (Tri-City Americans) – 2022 fifth round, 155th overall
F Samuel Honzek (Vancouver Giants) – 2023 first round, 16th overall
F Jaden Lipinski (Vancouver Giants) – 2023 fourth round, 112th overall

Chicago Blackhawks

D Kevin Korchinski (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2022 first round, 7th overall

Colorado Avalanche

D Jeremy Hanzel (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 sixth round, 187th overall

Columbus Blue Jackets

D Denton Mateychuk (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2022 first round, 12th overall
F Martin Rysavy (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2021 seventh round, 197th overall

Detroit Red Wings

F Nate Danielson (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 2023 first round, 9th overall
F Emmitt Finnie (Kamloops Blazers) – 2023 seventh round, 201st overall

Florida Panthers

D Marek Alscher (Portland Winterhawks) – 2022 third round, 93rd overall
F Josh Davies (Portland Winterhawks) – 2022 sixth round, 186th overall
F Gracyn Sawchyn (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 second round, 63rd overall

Los Angeles Kings

F Koehn Ziemmer (Prince George Cougars) – 2023 third round, 78th overall

Minnesota Wild

F Riley Heidt (Prince George Cougars) – 2023 second round, 64th overall
D Kalem Parker (Victoria Royals) – 2023 sixth round, 181st overall

Nashville Predators

F Kalan Lind (Red Deer Rebels) – 2023 second round, 46th overall
D Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades) – 2023 first round, 24th overall
F Austin Roest (Everett Silvertips) – 2023 sixth round, 175th overall
D Graham Sward (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 fifth round, 146th overall

New Jersey Devils

F Josh Filmon (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 sixth round, 166th overall

Philadelphia Flyers

G Carson Bjarnason (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 2023 second round, 51st overall
D Carter Sotheran (Portland Winterhawks) – 2023 fifth round, 135th overall

Pittsburgh Penguins

D Owen Pickering (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 first round, 21st overall
F Brayden Yager (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2023 first round, 14th overall

San Jose Sharks

G Mason Beaupit (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 fourth round, 108th overall
D Luca Cagnoni (Portland Winterhawks) – 2023 fourth round, 123rd overall

Seattle Kraken

D Lukas Dragicevic (Tri-City Americans) – 2023 second round, 57th overall
F Jagger Firkus (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2022 second round, 35th overall
D Kaden Hammell (Everett Silvertips) – 2023 fifth round, 148th overall
D Caden Price (Kelowna Rockets) – 2023 third round, 84th overall

Toronto Maple Leafs

D Noah Chadwick (Lethbridge Hurricanes) – 2023 sixth round, 185th overall
F Brandon Lisowsky (Saskatoon Blades) – 2022 seventh round, 218th overall
F Fraser Minten (Kamloops Blazers) – 2022 second round, 38th overall

Vancouver Canucks

D Sawyer Mynio (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 third round, 89th overall
G Ty Young (Prince George Cougars) – 2022 fifth round, 144th overall

Vegas Golden Knights

F Jordan Gustafson (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2022 third round, 79th overall
F Ben Hemmerling (Everett Silvertips) – 2022 sixth round, 177th overall

Washington Capitals

F Andrew Cristall (Kelowna Rockets) – 2023 second round, 40th overall
F Brett Hyland (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 2023 seventh round, 200th overall
F Alexander Suzdalev (Regina Pats) – 2022 third round, 70th overall

Winnipeg Jets

F Connor Levis (Kamloops Blazers) – 2023 seventh round, 210th overall
G Thomas Milic (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 fifth round, 151st overall

Minor Transactions: 09/03/23

September 3, 2023 at 3:57 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

The season has started for many teams across Europe, but there are still a handful of transactions trickling in as squads make last-minute moves. There’s also still some activity on the AHL and ECHL wires as they fill out their rosters ahead of training camps. As always, we’re keeping track of today’s notable minor moves here.

Once a QMJHL and Memorial Cup champion with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 2018, forward Mitchell Balmas is heading overseas for the first time on a one-year deal with the Sheffield Steelers in the EIHL. The 25-year-old Nova Scotian had a tough first full season in pro hockey in 2022-23, recording just two goals and three points in 34 games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild. He’s shown the ability to be productive at lower levels, however, posting solid numbers with Saint Mary’s University in Canada and recording 16 points in 21 ECHL games across the last two seasons.

This page may be updated throughout the day.

Summer Synopsis: Edmonton Oilers

September 3, 2023 at 2:00 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 3 Comments

In back-to-back seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have been eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions. In 2022, the team fell via an Artturi Lehkonen overtime winner in Game Four of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche. Last season, the Oilers were eliminated by Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. Entering 2023-24, the goal for the Oilers is clear: they want to be the eventual Stanley Cup champion doing the eliminating. To get there, their team needs to provide enough support for twin franchise pillars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to succeed. Whether they’ve done so is still up for debate.

Draft

2-56: D Beau Akey, Barrie (OHL)
6-184: G Nathaniel Day, Flint (OHL)
7-216: F Matt Copponi, Merrimack (NCAA)

The Oilers have gone all-in in recent seasons, and the result of their efforts to add established NHL talent has been the depletion of their reserves of draft choices, especially for the 2023 draft. The team only had three selections in this most recent draft class, so while the level of talent they received from a quantity and quality perspective is hardly overwhelming, it’s hard to argue with their strategy for each of the three choices.

In Akey, the Oilers selected a widely respected right-shot defenseman from the OHL with some puck-moving ability. Most reports are optimistic that he’ll have a long career as an NHL defenseman on a second or third pairing.

In Day, the Oilers effectively bought a lottery ticket on an OHL netminder who took an increased role with the Firebirds in 2022-23. And with their last pick the Oilers selected Copponi, an overage American pivot who plays a professional two-way game and saw his offense jump from just nine points last season to 29 in 2022-23.

Trade Acquisitions

F Jayden Grubbe (from New York Rangers)

While this acquisition technically came in May, it does mark the only Oilers trade since the 2022-23 deadline that saw an incoming player arrive in Edmonton. Grubbe is a rangy six-foot-three center who was picked 65th overall by New York at the 2021 draft.

Despite his offense finally clicking in his final WHL season (he went from 35 points in 2021-22 to 67 in 2022-23) Grubbe likely wasn’t going to end up tendered an entry-level contract by the Rangers, so rather than potentially waiting and attempting to select Grubbe had he re-entered the draft, the Oilers simply sent the pick they may have spent to draft Grubbe to secure his rights a little earlier.

The unexpected retirement of Noah Philp, who scored 19 goals and 37 points for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors last season, left a void in a middle-six center spot for the Oilers’ AHL affiliate. Adding Grubbe gives the Oilers a player to fill that role and a toolsy prospect for their development team to get to work with.

Key UFA Signings

F Connor Brown (one year, $775k with bonuses)
F Lane Pederson (two years, $1.55MM)
F Drake Caggiula (two years, $1.55MM)*
D Ben Gleason (two years, $1.55MM)*

*denotes a two-way contract

The Oilers have precious little cap space to work with, and that dearth of financial flexibility significantly impacted their ability to add outside talent this summer.

The most significant add is of Brown, who the Oilers were able to afford likely due to the uncertainty injected into his profile by the season-ending injury he suffered early in 2022-23.

Brown, 29, is a quality two-way winger and should he get back up to speed quickly could line himself up to cash in handsomely with a good year in Edmonton. He played with McDavid in the OHL for the Erie Otters and has scored at or above a 40-point pace for the last three seasons.

The additions of Pederson, Caggiula, and Gleason were all about bolstering organizational depth. Pederson is likely to be the team’s spare forward on his affordable $775k cap hit, while Caggiula will play an important top-six role in Bakersfield after scoring 53 points in the AHL last season.

The same can be said for Gleason, a 25-year-old blueliner who scored 33 points for the Texas Stars last season and will likely slot into the Condors’ top four on defense.

Key RFA Re-Signings

D Evan Bouchard (two years, $7.8MM)
F Ryan McLeod (two years, $4.2MM)
F Raphaël Lavoie (one year, $874k)*

*denotes a two-way contract

Bouchard is the biggest name here, and the signing of the most consequence from this summer for GM Ken Holland.

Bouchard, 23, has been a revelation on the Oilers’ powerplay since assuming the top defensive role on that unit, and his points totals are a reflection of that.

He scored 40 points in the regular season but his real breakout came in the playoffs, where he scored a stunning 17 points in just 12 games from the blueline.

While the Oilers undoubtedly would have liked to lock up Bouchard for as long as possible, that simply was not going to be possible given the Oilers’ cap situation.

So instead they land Bouchard on an affordable two-year bridge deal that he should begin providing surplus value on as soon as this fall.

As for McLeod, he’s grown into a competent bottom-six enter in Edmonton and was rewarded for posting 11 goals and 23 points last season with a $2.1MM AAV.

Lavoie, 22, was a 2019 second-round pick who has finally put his game together at the AHL level and is knocking on the door of full-time NHL duty in Edmonton. Lavoie’s one-year extension sets up 2023-24 as a massive year for his future with the Oilers.

Key Departures

F Nick Bjugstad (Arizona, two years $4.2MM)

The only free agent departure of much consequence for the Oilers is the loss of Bjugstad, who Edmonton acquired at the 2023 trade deadline. Bjugstad was asked to do too much in Edmonton and only scored three points in 12 playoff games, though his two-way game did keep him in a regular role in coach Jay Woodcroft’s lineup throughout the postseason.

The Oilers will miss having the rangy six-foot-six veteran center in their lineup but if Lavoie can seize an NHL job this fall his arrival soften that blow.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Oilers are one of the many NHL teams walking a salary cap tightrope. The Jack Campbell contract is a major drag on their books due to his regression, but Stuart Skinner’s surplus value provided from his $2.6MM cap hit more than makes up for that.

The Oilers have their fair share of pricey contracts, but they have quite a few players who are outperforming their cap hits (McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Bouchard) which makes things easier. The cap rising will provide the Oilers with some much-needed breathing room next summer, but for this upcoming season things will be tight and the club will likely struggle to field a full 23-man roster.

Key Questions

Will the Oilers be able to make any major in-season additions?: The Oilers aforementioned lack of trade assets and cap space puts the club in a bind for 2023-24. They have to do everything possible to surround McDavid and Draisaitl with as much talent as possible, but without a strong crop of prospects to trade from, and already missing second and third-round picks from upcoming drafts, will the Oilers have the assets or cap space to make any significant moves?

Will the Oilers’ goaltending be good enough?: Skinner was certainly exceptional as a rookie, but his track record is relatively thin at the NHL level. Campbell, on the other hand, has a more extensive resume of NHL success but struggled to an extreme degree in 2022-23. Will either of those netminders be good enough for the Oilers to win a Stanley Cup? Or will it be back to the drawing board once again next summer?

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Josh Leivo Linked To SHL

September 3, 2023 at 12:05 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu Leave a Comment

Despite appearing in 51 NHL games last season, former St. Louis Blues forward Josh Leivo could be continuing his pro career overseas.

According to a report from Örnsköldsviks Allehanda’s Matthias Persson, the SHL’s newly promoted MoDo Hockey is looking to sign Leivo before their season starts in less than two weeks.

It’d be a somewhat surprising move for Leivo to sign overseas since the 30-year-old has played 265 career NHL games and spent the entirety of his pro career either in the NHL or AHL.

Leivo’s first full-time NHL campaign came in 2017-18 and he only returned to the AHL many years later, in 2021-22, signing a contract to play for the Chicago Wolves.

Leivo was wildly successful in Chicago, winning a Calder Cup championship and the league’s playoff MVP award after leading the postseason in scoring. In total, Leivo played in 72 games for the Wolves combining the regular season and playoffs and scored 75 points.

That strong AHL performance landed Leivo a role back in the NHL with the Blues, and he ended up scoring 16 points in 51 games. While it’s possible that Leivo could hold out for the kind of PTO offer many players have signed over the past two weeks, it’s also possible that the stability of playing in the SHL could be appealing.

MoDo play in Örnsköldsvik, a legendary hockey town that has produced numerous NHL stars, such as the Sedin twins, Peter Forsberg, and Victor Hedman. MoDo, the local pro club, won the HockeyAllsvenskan championship last season and earned a promotion to the SHL, Sweden’s top league.

If he signs in Örnsköldsvik, Leivo will join another former Toronto Maple Leaf on the roster, Latvian international Kristians Rubins, as well as former Colorado Avalanche forward Sampo Ranta and American blueliner Daniel Brickley, who Leivo played with in Chicago.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Latest On Alex Ovechkin

September 3, 2023 at 10:30 am CDT | by Ethan Hetu 5 Comments

The Washington Capitals have an important season coming up, with the performance of rookie head coach Spencer Carbery and Alex Ovechkin’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record likely to take center stage as key storylines.

Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky is likely to be the most significant storyline in Washington until Ovechkin manages to score his 895th goal.

In order to do so, the soon-to-be 38-year-old will need to remain in top shape and a consistent goal-scoring threat.

Despite his advanced age, Ovechkin hasn’t shown major signs of slowing down. He scored 42 goals and 75 points, though he did battle through a few injuries and ended up only playing in 73 games.

That could end up a more common concern for Ovechkin as he gets even older, though for what it’s worth Ovechkin doesn’t feel as though his health is anything to worry about at the current moment.

Ovechkin told Russian news outlet R-Sport that he feels he is in good health with everything to normal standard so far, and that yesterday he returned to North America to ramp up his preparations for the new season.

For as long as Ovechkin is healthy and chasing Gretzky’s record, one can anticipate the Capitals to avoid entering into a rebuild and instead focus on supporting Ovechkin and putting a contending team around him.

There were some who hoped that the Capitals would plunge deeper into a rebuild-like direction after their disappointing 2022-23, but Capitals GM Brian MacLellan resisted such calls. He aggressively targeted more NHL-ready young talent, showing a willingness to trade valuable draft picks in order to do so. He traded a first-round pick in order to land Rasmus Sandin from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the 23-year-old provided an immediate return on the investment by scoring 15 points in just 19 games as a Capital.

But while Ovechkin’s place as the Capitals’ centerpiece player for the next few seasons is secure and untouchable, there are a few big-name players in Washington entering the season with high stakes.

Evgeny Kuznetsov has been a source of frustration and great optimism for Capitals fans in recent years, and after scoring just 12 goals last season is entering a make-or-break year for his future in Washington. Anthony Mantha, 28, is a pending unrestricted free agent who scored just 27 points last year. Both of those names are entering extremely important campaigns, and while the stakes aren’t as high as an all-time goal record chase, they matter quite a bit to each of those veteran’s playing futures.

With training camp approaching quickly, the Capitals look to be one of the NHL’s more interesting teams. Ovechkin and his record chase are a major reason for that, and thankfully for hockey fans around the world it appears that despite his advanced age Ovechkin shows no signs of slowing down, and is feeling in perfectly good health in advance of puck drop next month.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Summer Synopsis: Detroit Red Wings

September 2, 2023 at 8:00 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 1 Comment

The Detroit Red Wings haven’t been back to the playoffs since their historic streak ended in 2017, but GM Steve Yzerman, head coach Derek Lalonde, and the whole Red Wings organization have plans on ending that drought this year. Despite the highly competitive nature of the Atlantic division, the Red Wings have added major talent to their roster over the last two years and are hoping to reach the playoffs next season on the back of that veteran talent combined with some intriguing young stars. But in a division that has sent a finalist to the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last five seasons, will that be possible?