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Jakub Jerabek

Montreal Canadiens “Very Active” As Deadline Approaches

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The Montreal Canadiens, losers of four of their last five games including three at the hands of the Boston Bruins, are now 19-22-6 on the season and well out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. In his latest 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman reports that GM Marc Bergevin is more active than normal trying to “get something going.”

Friedman lists only Carey Price, Shea Weber, Victor Mete and Jonathan Drouin as unlikely to be traded, making the rest of the roster ripe for speculation. Max Pacioretty has obviously been in the news quite a bit recently, something Alex Galchenyuk has dealt with for years. There are also lesser-known names like Paul Byron, Andrew Shaw and Brendan Gallagher who would all draw interest as well as expiring contracts for Tomas Plekanec, Jakub Jerabek and Antti Niemi.

Montreal has had a season to forget, but Friedman points out that everyone in the league can see what Colorado is doing this year. After putting up historically bad numbers in 2016-17, the Avalanche are now on a ten game winning streak and find themselves right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff run. Montreal knows first hand what that bounce-back can be, after struggling without an injured price in 2015-16 only to return to the playoffs a year later.

If anything, the Canadiens are more likely to reload than rebuild, as Price’s huge extension kicks in next season and there is plenty of other money tied up in Weber, Drouin, Jeff Petry and Karl Alzner. Even if they do move out some significant pieces, you can bet Montreal won’t be tearing down the whole thing.

Brandon Davidson Placed On Waivers

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After all the talk of Brandon Davidson being on the Montreal Canadiens’ trade block and the numerous teams who could have considerable interest in acquiring him, it seems no deal could materialize for the Habs and their hand has been forced. Davidson has been placed on waivers today, as first reported by TVA’s Renaud Lavoie.

With Shea Weber returning from injury, Montreal needs a roster spot and they will get one by placing Davidson on waivers. It seems somewhat unlikely that Davidson will clear waivers, as he is not far gone from being and up-and-coming defender and still plays a solid defensive game. The only roadblock could be his contract, but at just under $1.5MM, it’s far from an albatross for any D-needy team to take on.

Davidson’s absence means greater roles for Victor Mete, Jakub Jerabek, and Joe Morrow moving forward, as the Canadiens look for the right mix to get back on track this season. Montreal is in the bottom third in the league in goals for, goals against, power play, and penalty kill. If coach Claude Julien thinks potentially losing Davidson and giving more ice time to this trio of young defenders is a way to reverse their fortunes in even one of those areas, it is probably worth it.

Minor Transactions: 11/22/17

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With everyone but St. Louis in action tonight before the day off tomorrow, it could be a busy day for promotions and demotions across the NHL. Keep up with all the action right here:

  • The Montreal Canadiens have recalled blue liner Jakub Jerabek from the AHL, according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie. Jerabek is in his first season in North America after signing with the Habs this summer. However, the Czech native has yet to make his NHL debut, as Montreal has plenty of veteran albeit under-performing defensive depth. However, with the Laval Rocket, Jerabek has 11 points in 17 games and is a +10; impressive totals worthy of a recall. Jerabek also had the option of returning to Europe if he had not been recalled by mid-December, so there is strategy to the Canadiens’ move as well.
  • Another young import, Finnish forward Henrik Haapala, could also make his NHL debut tonight. Per NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, the Florida Panthers have called up the small scoring winger. Haapala is in his first season in North America after scoring 60 points in 51 games in the Finnish Liiga last year. Thus far in 2017-18, Haapala has seven points in 11 games for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. The Panthers have been liberal with number of call-ups and variety of players called up so far this season, as Haapala is just the latest to join the list.
  • Philadelphia is bringing in reinforcements. The team announced the return of young defenseman Samuel Morin and the first recall for forward Danick Martel. Morin is a name most fans recognize as a former first-round pick of the Flyers, however it is Martel who may be more intriguing. In his fourth pro season, Martel has exploded this year, leading the AHL with 14 goals. Martel scored just 20 goals last season and already has half as many points in 17 games as he did all of last year in 68 games. The Flyers surely hope that his hot hand continues at the next level.
  • In a corresponding move, Philly also sent defenseman Mark Alt and veteran forward Matt Read to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It was only a matter of time (and health) before Morin replaced Alt on the NHL roster, but the demotion of Read is certainly a big deal. The long-time Flyer cleared waivers last week and will now head to the minors, his 400+ games of NHL experience not enough to keep him around.
  • Colorado has recalled goalie Andrew Hammond and the former Senators keeper could make his Avalanche debut sooner than expected. Hammond was acquired as more or less a salary dump by Ottawa in the recent Matt Duchene–Kyle Turris blockbuster. With Semyon Varlamov and Jonathan Bernier in the net, no one thought Hammond would be anything more than a depth asset for the Avs. However, with Varlamov too sick to even suit up, “The Hamburglar” will get his chance. After a remarkable run for the Sens in 2015-16, Hammond struggled greatly in both the NHL and AHL last season and could use a fresh start.
  • The Edmonton Oilers have made a flurry of moves already today, first terminating the contract of Ziyat Paigin, who predictably cleared unconditional waivers yesterday. Paigin came over from the KHL last season, but it was never a good fit between the two sides. Paigin failed to record a point in the only 12 AHL games he played. With no chance of a bump up to the NHL, Paigin wished to return to Russia and the Oilers were more than willing to oblige him. Edmonton then recalled defenseman Ryan Stanton from the Bakersfield Condors. A free agent acquisition this off-season, the journeyman rearguard could help out the struggling Oilers with his sound defensive game. In a corresponding move, veteran forward Brad Malone was reassigned to the AHL.
  • Julius Honka is headed back to the minors, as the talented, young blue liner was demoted by the Dallas Stars today in exchange for forward Curtis McKenzie, per a team announcement.  The Stars have been underwhelming in 2017-18, but their biggest issues continues to be goal prevention. As promising an offensive defenseman as Honka may be, he’s not what Dallas needs right now. Perhaps two-way forward McKenzie, who is also scoring at a point-per-game pace in the AHL, can help the cause.

Jakub Jerabek “100% Committed” To Montreal Canadiens

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In Elliotte Friedman’s latest 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet the venerable hockey insider reported that Jakub Jerabek had a clause in his contract similar to Nikita Soshnikov, in that he could demand to be loaned back to the KHL should he not be in the NHL by a certain time. For Soshnikov that time was November 14th, which prompted the Toronto Maple Leafs to recall him this week. For Jerabek it wasn’t clear when the deadline was.

Now, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports that December 15th is the date which Jerabek could ask to be reassigned, but it might not matter. Eric Engels of Sportsnet quickly chimed in by relaying a message from Jerabek’s agent Allan Walsh, who says that his client is “100% committed” to the Montreal organization and doesn’t intend on leaving.

From all accounts Jerabek has been the model employee for the Canadiens, understanding his role on the team and putting in the work to adapt his game to the North American style. Jerabek was a first-team All-Star last season (his first) in the KHL, scoring 34 points in 59 games. The 26-year old Czech-born defenseman signed a one-year entry-level contract this summer (as was mandated by the CBA) and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. Should he show the ability to jump to the NHL level before the end of the year you can bet Montreal will be fighting off other suitors for his services. With 11 points in 14 AHL games, he looks too good for the minor leagues already.

Noah Juulsen “Very Close” To Being NHL Ready

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Bob McKenzie of TSN released his series of one-on-one interviews with Canadian NHL GMs today, and in speaking to the Montreal Canadiens’ Mark Bergevin, McKenzie asked about Noah Juulsen, a top prospect who is now eligible to play in the American Hockey League. Bergevin confirmed that Juulsen is “very close” to being ready for the NHL, and that the team would be taking a hard look at him in training camp.

It’s hard to see Juulsen cracking the roster right out of camp, as Montreal currently has eight NHL-level defensemen signed plus Jakub Jerabek, the wild card from the Czech Republic. It will be a dog fight for the last few spots even without Juulsen’s competition, but the young defenseman will try to force the team to keep him. Last year in the WHL the 20-year old showed that he’s ready for professional hockey with 34 points in just 45 games while being one of the best open-ice hitters in junior hockey. His skating is already above-average for the NHL, and he would likely become a fan favorite in little time in Montreal.

As Bergevin explains, even though the Canadiens look to have too many defensemen already, training camp hasn’t even started. It’s rare that a team gets through the preseason without injury, meaning a chance for Juulsen is still a real possibility. The 6’3″ defender that was drafted 26th-overall in 2015 will likely make his debut at some point this season, even if it comes after the majority of the season is spent with the Laval Rocket of the AHL. Either way, Montreal fans should be excited knowing that there is some more high-level defensive help on its way.

What Jakub Jerabek Means For Nathan Beaulieu

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Yesterday when the Montreal Canadiens signed Jakub Jerabek to a one-year deal, many fans wondered where exactly he would play next season. The team already has Alexei Emelin, Brandon Davidson and Nathan Beaulieu on the left side, with prospect Mikhail Sergachev surely destined for the NHL next season. Veteran Andrei Markov also made it clear that he wanted to return, and they’ll have to take a long look at him after another successful season. Eric Engels of Sportsnet writes that the Jerabek signing likely signals the end for Beaulieu, expecting the team to trade him before expansion draft next month. Nathan Beaulieu

When CapFriendly reported last night that Jerabek’s deal contained a European Assignment clause, it made it even more clear that the Canadiens would need to clear some room for him next season. The clause means that if the Canadiens want to send Jerabek down to the American Hockey League at any time, he instead can bolt and head back to the KHL or another professional league in Europe. Quite simply, it means he’s in the NHL to stay for next season.

Unless the Canadiens deem Sergachev unfit for full-time duty—which seems unlikely after his second outstanding year with the Windsor Spitfires—and choose not to bring back Markov, it does seem like Beaulieu is the most likely to be moved. The 24-year old actually had an excellent season, with 28 points in 74 games while skating over 19 minutes a night, and has shown the potential that made him a first-round pick in 2011. While he is set to become a restricted free agent this year, his next contract shouldn’t be prohibitive for whichever team that signs it.

For a team like the Canadiens who have been linked to several forwards over the past 12 months, Beaulieu seems a perfect candidate to be involved in the deal. Since they’re not going after the top Russian name to help up front, it is almost certain that Marc Bergevin will pursue names like Matt Duchene, Jonathan Drouin or James van Riemsdyk should they truly become available. While Beaulieu obviously isn’t enough for them straight up (at least not the first two), he could easily headline a package for them. It will be interesting to see what the league values him as; whether he’s a true top-4 with potential to be even more, or a role-player capable of providing solid minutes on the third pair.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vadim Shipachyov Will Not Sign With Montreal Canadiens

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According to Eric Engels of Sportsnet, the Montreal Canadiens will not pursue KHL free agent forward Vadim Shipachyov. The Canadiens just inked their own KHL star today in Jakub Jerabek, but have decided to avoid a bidding war over the older Shipachyov. The 30-year old is widely expected to come to the NHL this season, and has been previously been rumored to be looking for a deal worth up to $5.5MM annually.

The Canadiens are clearly looking for upgrades offensively after being bounced from the playoffs by the New York Rangers while scoring just eleven goals in the six-game series. Their best playoff performer Alexander Radulov is a free agent this summer, and though he has been clear about a desire to stay in Montreal, there is no guarantee that a deal is completed before he hits the open market and sees his price go up even further. While Shipachyov is clearly a strong scoring threat—he scored 26 goals and 76 points in 50 games this season, trailing only Ilya Kovalchuk on SKA St. Petersburg—he comes with some of the same problems that they currently have at center, with a less-developed defensive game and lack of physical presence.

With a new contract for Radulov due, and Carey Price’s eventual extension looming over Montreal this summer they’ll likely be looking in the trade market for an upgrade down the middle of the ice. Suddenly with a ton of defensive depth on the  left side, they could dip into their prospect cupboard to find the player they need instead of risking a big contract on an unproven KHL star.

Montreal Canadiens Sign Jakub Jerabek To One-Year Deal

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As previously rumored, the Montreal Canadiens have signed Jakub Jerabek to a one-year, entry-level deal. The contract will be for 2017-18, and is worth the maximum of $925K (including signing bonuses) after which the Czech defender will become an unrestricted free agent. The deal also contains no performance bonuses. Jerabek will compete for a role on the Montreal blueline after impressing in his first season of play in the KHL, where he scored 34 points in 59 games.

Jerabek is another example of the overlooked undersized defenseman, as he went undrafted despite some impressive showings at the World Juniors years ago. He played parts of eight seasons in the top Czech league before heading to the KHL this year, debuting in his home country at just 17. Currently at the World Championships, Jerabek has worn the captain’s “C” for his country in the past and competes regularly for them on the international stage.

Soon to be 26, Jerabek could only sign a one-year entry-level deal with the team though immediately becomes a candidate for a longer extension should the two sides find some common ground. His effectiveness at the NHL level will determine his future though, as he remains no guarantee for success at this level. Just 5″11, Jerabek doesn’t have the size that usually accompanies NHL defenders but brings an excellent combination of skating and puck skills. The fact that he was able to transition so smoothly into the KHL is impressive, even earning All-Star honors in his first year.

For Montreal, who may be saying goodbye to long-time defender Andrei Markov—despite his inclination to re-sign with the team—Jerabek could slide into a similar role playing on the powerplay and skating alongside Jeff Petry. For a team that will spend much of their summer trying to address their offensive needs, Jerabek provides much of that from the back-end.

Pierre LeBrun of TSN provided the details on the contract, including the note that it has no performance bonuses.

Jakub Jerabek Expected To Sign With Montreal Canadiens

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According to multiple reports, the Montreal Canadiens have come to terms with Jakub Jerabek, a Czech defender from the KHL. Because his current deal doesn’t expire until April 30th, no official announcement can be made as of yet. No financial details have been released. Even though Jerabek will turn 26 in a few weeks he is still required to sign a one-year entry-level contract if he wishes to join the league for next season. Earlier this month, agent Allan Walsh announced that Jerabek had multiple NHL offers and though his decision took a bit longer than expected, he’s now headed to North America and the NHL.

The 25-year old is undersized, but possesses excellent puck-moving ability and is a strong skater. In his rookie season with Chekhov Vityaz he recorded 34 points in 59 games while skating over 21 minutes a night and was named to the KHL All-Star team. The left-handed defenseman had played parts of eight seasons in the Czech professional league prior to this year, debuting when he was just 17. This year he played on the same squad as Maple Leafs’ signee Miro Aaltonen and former NHL star Maxim Afinogenov, but was eliminated early from the playoffs by the eventual Gagarin Cup winners SKA St. Petersburg.

For Montreal, Jerabek offers another option for them that could possibly replace Andrei Markov as he heads into free agency. Though the long-time Canadien has said he wants to play again next year for the Habs, the team may want to go in a younger direction after being eliminated in the first round. Jerabek offers them that youth, though there is no guarantee that it comes with much effectiveness. While Nikita Zaitsev’s rookie season was successful in Toronto, there have been many before him that failed to make the transition smoothly.

Jerabek first will suit up for the Czech Republic in the upcoming World Championships that begin May 5th, where last year he recorded five points in eight games and was among the tournament leaders from the blueline. His resume boasts quite a bit of individual success at international tournaments, including captaining the Czech team at the 2011 World Juniors where he scored eight points in six games.

Aivis Kalnins was first to report the deal on Twitter, while R-Sport has also been made aware of his intention to sign. 

Snapshots: Neuvirth, Gudas, Jerabek, Karlsson, Harpur

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The Flyers received some good news regarding goaltender Michal Neuvirth today as he was discharged from the hospital, less than 24 hours after collapsing on the ice in the first period against the Devils on Saturday.  GM Ron Hextall told reporters, including CSN Philly’s Tim Panaccio, that all tests came back normal.  Neuvirth has been battling a respiratory infection for more than a week and it’s believed that his collapse was largely attributable to that.

Hextall noted that the netminder will be re-evaluated by team doctors during their off day on Monday before making any further determination on his status.

Still with the Flyers, they will be without defenceman Radko Gudas tonight against the Rangers, the team announced via Twitter.  He’s listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury that was also sustained last night against New Jersey.

Other news from around the hockey world:

  • Czech defenseman Jakub Jerabek is mulling over multiple NHL offers and will make a decision on where to sign over the next week, agent Allan Walsh reports (Twitter link). The 25 year old recently wrapped his first season in the KHL with Vityaz Podolsk where he led the team in points by a blueliner with 34 (5-29-34) in 59 games.  Jerabek suited up for the Czechs in the 2016 World Championships and should be a strong candidate to play again in the 2017 edition which kicks off next month.
  • Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson is highly doubtful to play in tomorrow’s game against Detroit, notes Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch (Twitter link). While it has been believed that Karlsson’s lower body issue isn’t too serious, the fact that he appears set to miss his third straight game starts to call that diagnosis into question.  Earlier today, Ottawa was pushed into a Wild Card spot for the time being as a result of Boston’s victory over Chicago.  Between his issue and the injury to Cody Ceci last night, the Sens announced via Twitter that they have recalled blueliner Ben Harpur from AHL Binghamton.  The rearguard has 28 points in 63 minor league games this season while being held off the scoresheet in his lone NHL contest in 2016-17.

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