Patric Hornqvist

Patric Hornqvist Sent Back To Pittsburgh With Upper-Body Injury

December 18, 2017 at 1:05 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 4 Comments

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a noticeable absence from their morning skate today when Patric Hornqvist was missing, and Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported that there was no locker for the winger in the dressing room.

Yohe reports that the team has sent Hornqvist back to Pittsburgh with an upper-body injury, another blow to a team that has struggled to find their footing this season. The Penguins now sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, and are only two points ahead of both the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes despite having played two more games than each team. The premise of finding themselves at the bottom of the division isn’t a familiar one to the team, and losing Hornqvist just makes it even tougher.

The 31-year old winger has 21 points this year, and is tied for the team lead with six powerplay goals. Though he’s scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, he’s an important part of the Penguins offensive group and isn’t expected to be moved unless the team falls out of the race entirely.

Dominik Simon was also missing from the skate due to illness.

Metropolitan Notes: Atkinson, Hornqvist, Zacha, Weal

November 18, 2017 at 1:52 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

Cam Atkinson’s new seven-year, $41.125MM contract with the Blue Jackets gives him a full no-trade clause from now until June 15th, 2020, reports Steve Gorten of the Columbus Dispatch. After that time, he can block a trade to ten teams until the end of his deal in 2025. He joins Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno, and Sergei Bobrovsky (who all have no-move clauses) as players with trade protection. GM Jarmo Kekalainen acknowledged that if they weren’t able to reach an extension with Atkinson, they likely would have wound up trading him to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division:

Winger Patric Hornqvist is the most prominent of Pittsburgh’s pending unrestricted free agents this summer but despite that, GM Jim Rutherford told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that it’s unlikely that they will work on an extension during the season: “That would be something that’s a little uncharacteristic for me. For the most part, I wait until the end of the season.” Hornqvist is off to a good start to the season with 12 points (7-5-12) in 18 games and has scored 21 or more goals in each of the last four seasons; that type of consistency is something that will be coveted if he makes it to the open market.
Although he is waiver-exempt and is a healthy scratch for the fourth game of the last five, the Devils have not discussed sending center Pavel Zacha to their AHL affiliate in Binghamton, reports North Jersey’s Andrew Gross (Twitter link). The 20-year-old is off to a quiet start this season with five points (2-3-5) in 15 games and with Travis Zajac now back in the lineup, finding ice time at a fairly-crowded center position may be tough to do for Zacha in the short-term.
The Flyers announced that winger Jordan Weal is dealing with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. This marks the second time he has had an upper-body issue this season. In his first full NHL campaign, Weal has recorded two goals and four assists in 17 contests while averaging just under 14 minutes per game of playing time.

Snapshots: Free Agency, Soshnikov, Scandella

November 15, 2017 at 11:55 am CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

While all eyes are on John Tavares of the New York Islanders as we get closer and closer to July 1, 2018, Craig Custance of The Athletic examines the impressive list of other top names headed for unrestricted free agency next summer. Custance updates us on the current situations for each one, including interesting notes on several impending KHL free agents.

The most intriguing one out of Russia will once again be Ilya Kovalchuk, who last year wasn’t able to find a deal because of the rights New Jersey still held. Those rights will expire after the season because he’s now 35, making him free to sign with anyone in the league. Custance expects it to take “a multi-year deal in the $6 to 7 million range,” but notes that he is still seen as a potential impact player around the league. Kovalchuk has 20 goals and 36 points in 31 games for St. Petersburg this season.

Also from The Athletic, Pierre LeBrun speaks directly to Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello about the recent Nikita Soshnikov recall, and how it was partially forced by a clause in his deal that would have allowed him to go back to Russia. Interestingly, Lamoriello tells him that even had Soshnikov been assigned to the KHL the Maple Leafs would have retained the ability to recall him at any time. Instead, the team brought him up and are excited about how he’s played this season in the minor leagues. With 12 points in 14 games for the Toronto Marlies, Soshnikov was arguably their best player so far this year.
Marco Scandella has been fined $5,000 for slashing Patric Hornqvist last night, the maximum amount allowed under the CBA. It’s not the first time Scandella has been disciplined by the Department of Player Safety, as he was fined and suspended previously for checks to the head. Some New York fans might even be familiar with his slashing prowess (h/t @myregularface) from his days with the Minnesota Wild.

Penguins Notes: Hornqvist, Hunwick, Sprong

November 8, 2017 at 7:31 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

With the Penguins being fairly tight to the salary cap beyond this year, Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggests that winger Patric Hornqvist is probably playing his final season in Pittsburgh. The pending UFA has scored at least 20 goals in each of the past four seasons and is on pace to do so again in 2017-18 while he has the reputation of producing when it counts in the playoffs. Between that and a pair of Stanley Cup titles, he should be him in line for a nice raise on the open market from the $4.25MM cap hit he currently has unless he chooses to sign for below-market value to try to keep the full core of the team together.

Snapshots: Canucks, Flyers, Jagr, Hornqvist

October 7, 2017 at 2:48 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

In an appearance on Sportsnet 650 (audio link), Canucks president Trevor Linden acknowledged that GM Jim Benning has already been in contact with the agents for all of their pending free agents although the discussions were more of the preliminary variety. The Sedin twins highlight the list of looming UFAs while the likes of winger Sven Baertschi and defenseman Troy Stecher are among those that will be eligible for restricted free agency. Linden added that center Brendan Gaunce is expected to be cleared for contact next week and the team is hopeful that he could be ready to rejoin the team by the beginning of November.

Other notes from around the league:

Although they’re currently carrying eight defensemen, Flyers GM Ron Hextall told Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer that doing so is not their long-term plan. They’re still evaluating which of their young defensemen to keep up with the team (including Robert Hagg, Samuel Morin, and Travis Sanheim) but they also don’t want to keep whoever isn’t in the lineup sitting for very long as a healthy scratch, especially with all of them being waiver exempt. Accordingly, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone is sent down shortly after Philadelphia returns from their Western road trip to start the season.
Jaromir Jagr’s debut in Calgary has still yet to be determined as the team announced via Twitter that he will not suit up against the Jets tonight. Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun adds that Jagr told head coach Glen Gulutzan that he needs a couple more skates with the team before he figures he’ll be ready to suit up.
Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist returned to practice for the first time for the first time since participating in an informal skate a month ago, notes Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hornqvist underwent hand surgery a little more than two weeks ago to remove some screws. He has yet to be cleared for contact and won’t play tonight but there’s a chance he could return for the following game on Wednesday versus the Capitals.

Metropolitan Notes: Aho, Hornqvist, Read, Andersson

September 29, 2017 at 5:15 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

While the Hurricanes drafted Sebastian Aho as a natural center back in 2015 (35th overall), they plan to keep him on the wing for the full year once again, head coach Bill Peters told Chip Alexander of the News & Observer. The idea behind doing so is to allow him to ease into the North American game at a slower pace and keep expectations in check which will be more beneficial for his development. The 20-year-old is coming off of a strong rookie season that saw him post 49 points (24-25-49) in 82 games. Carolina has been searching for a legitimate top line center for a few years now and Aho could be that player but they’ll be waiting at least another year to find that out.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan:

Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist has yet to practice or play in the preseason as he recovers from offseason surgery on his broken hand but the team is hopeful that he will be able to suit up in the season opener on Wednesday, notes Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Hornqvist will be heading into the year looking to surpass the 20-goal mark for the fifth straight year which would certainly help his case heading into unrestricted free agency.
With the Flyers still carrying 15 forwards in training camp, at least one more needs to be cut before the season-opening roster deadline on October 3rd. Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post speculates that winger Matt Read could be the odd man out with youngsters Taylor Leier and Oskar Lindblom both making strong cases to stick with the team. Read is in the final year of his contract with a $3.625MM cap hit so if he were to be cut and clear waivers, Philadelphia would still be carrying a $2.6MM cap charge on the books even with him in the minors.
Although the Rangers can recall recently-cut center Lias Andersson from his SHL team in Frolunda if need be during the season, they don’t intend to do so, reports Brett Cyrgalis of the New York GM Jeff Gorton noted their preference is for Andersson to receive consistent top-six minutes which is something that he could receive in Sweden but not in New York this season. Unlike a junior-aged player in the CHL, the Rangers don’t have to be in an emergency recall situation before they could bring Andersson back across the pond.

Money To Move Out In Potential Pittsburgh Trade

August 19, 2017 at 8:48 pm CDT | by Seth Lawrence 3 Comments

Often lost in the narrative chronicling the Penguins’ need for a third-line center is the fact that money will almost certainly head the other direction in any trade. Currently, Pittsburgh is a respectable $3.82 MM under the cap ceiling, but a few factors should be considered. Firstly, GM Jim Rutherford will almost surely allot at least $1 MM in space to acquire necessary rentals at the trade deadline. Second, his defensive and center depth is rather weak overall, so any move would likely not be the last before a post-season pursuit. Third, and perhaps most important, multiple contracts on the horizon will force uncomfortable decisions on wing and top-four defense.

With Matt Cullen departing for Minnesota, the Penguins’ third best center is Carter Rowney, just one season removed from AHL plug duty. Zach Aston-Reese could fill in temporarily, but it’s not ideal for his first professional season. The teams needs an upper-echelon third center option, and available options are supremely limited league-wide. Rutherford claimed to have half a dozen options in July, but with the summer expiring the options are far fewer. Although Rutherford is playing his cards close to his chest, it’s nearly inconceivable that the Penguins go into the new year without greater certainty at that position. A move needs to be made.

On defense, the team will need to determine the future of multiple players. It’s a fair assumption that the team will bank on the improved health of Norris-capable Kris Letang, for better or worse. Justin Schultz is also safe, as is the dependable Brian Dumoulin. In that fourth position, will the Pens re-sign impending UFA Ian Cole, or will his shot-blocking mentality start to show its toll? Is Olli Maatta worth $4.083 MM on a cash strapped team? Will Derrick Pouliot finally clean up his turnovers and make an impact in the Steel City and make either expendable? If Maatta’s skating doesn’t substantially improve, it’s a safe bet his contract will be the one off-loaded in any transaction, regardless of potential and upside.

On offense, the team will also need to make painful judgments. Patric Hornqvist is entering his final year of his contract, and at 31 years old, how will his body hold up multiple seasons into a new contract? Would Bryan Rust be able to replace his intangibles and hard-nosed offense at a fraction of the cost? His internal value is incredibly high, but he’s been relegated to a third-line role for the foreseeable future. Additionally, how devoted is Pittsburgh to the Phil Kessel model? It seems incredibly far-fetched that the team might consider moving Kessel, and they would undoubtedly receive a lesser player in any trade. Still, his $6.8 MM is a strain on the overall forward structure. With Jake Guentzel looking to land a substantial raise in two seasons, Kessel may not be entirely untouchable. Finally, could an accessory piece be moved off the roster as a throw-in for a potential elite third-line center? Impending RFA Scott Wilson isn’t the most glamorous of names, but he could easily earn decent money on his next contract and provide depth scoring for a re-building team. Carl Hagelin’s $4 MM was well above his current rate of production, and his blistering speed could be a tempting add for any squad.

In the final evaluation, Pittsburgh will almost certainly part with a roster player if they are to land a significant piece at the 3rd-line center position. Maatta seems most likely, and has for some time, but the selling teams will have a definite upper-hand in all negotiations, and the money complicates matters. The team has shown time and again it is willing to part with high-end draft picks, but any impending deal will necessarily be more intricate, considering the dearth of the organization’s prospect pool and other contributing factors.

Penguins’ 3rd-Line Center Options

July 15, 2017 at 12:50 pm CDT | by Seth Lawrence 6 Comments

With the loss of Nick Bonino to Nashville via free agency, the reigning champion Pittsburgh Penguins have a gaping hole down the middle. For the first time in over a decade, the center position is now one of relative weakness. It’s always a possibility that Matt Cullen decides to re-sign for one more year, but he will not be able to carry the load of a typical 3rd-line center. Cullen showed signs of slowing down toward the tail-end of the team’s playoff run, and he was only averaging 13:55 a game through the regular season. At 41 years old, he simply won’t be a viable long-term option. The Penguins likely have high hopes for Zach Aston-Reese to make a push in training camp, but he is an unknown quantity at the NHL level. GM Jim Rutherford had 5 potential trade options in the works prior to July 1st, according to the very reliable Josh Yohe of DKPittsburghSports. Talks either fizzled or were put on the back-burner, but one might imagine the number of available targets is far fewer now. With Dallas’ three-year signing of Radek Faksa, there is one fewer name left for consideration. Vegas seems to be content with merely flipping defensemen from here on in, although names such as Cody Eakin and William Karlsson shouldn’t be thrown out entirely. Erik Haula is likely a pipe-dream, but he’s another possible target. Matt Duchene was linked for a time, but between the high cost and the stubbornness of Colorado GM Joe Sakic to make a move, he seems incredibly unlikely.

Who are the safest bets for an off-season move? Or will Pittsburgh enter the season with someone unproven slotting behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin?

Tyler Bozak

Bozak has made tons of sense since his name was first mentioned. A lot has been made of his relationship with Phil Kessel. When they played on a line together in Toronto, Kessel saw some of his best career production. More than that however – the Leafs are in a bit of cap pinch as they will look to free up dollars for Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander in the next two seasons. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to drop underneath the ceiling due to LTIR intricacies, but moving out Bozak’s $4.2 MM for this next season would be a forward looking move. If he’s due a raise, it’s likely they’ll lose him for far less, as his contract expires at the end of 2017-18. The move makes sense for Pittsburgh because of the Kessel relationship, but also because he fits the mold of the Pittsburgh squad. He’s a solid skater, sees the ice well, and hustles back into his own zone. His playmaking abilities would be a wonderful fit on the cheap to aid the high-powered offense, and the player would be a positive possession asset to remove the stress from the bigger guns. Bozak does have a modified no-trade clause, but it’s hard to see Pittsburgh being included on his list of non-tradeable teams.

Jordan Staal

Staal saw a lot of success in Pittsburgh before he was traded away to Carolina at the 2012 draft. Jordan was traded to that team in particular due to his desire to player with his older brother Eric Staal. Seeing as Eric is no longer in the picture, it would make sense that Staal might be open to a Pittsburgh reunion. Staal is one of the better defensive centers in the league, and has been forced to take a more uncomfortably offensive role in Carolina. Staal’s biggest downside is that he isn’t the most agile skater, but he’s not any slower than Nick Bonino was. That said, he can play the shutdown role and be a total nuisance for top opponents. Rutherford loves the player, as he was the GM of Carolina when they initially acquired the player, for a hefty sum of Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin, and a 1st-round pick (which became Derrick Pouilot). According to Yohe, Staal is apparently open to a return, and the nostalgic element of the team’s fanbase is clamoring for this to happen. Rutherford stated on a local radio segment with Ron Cook that “to his knowledge he (Staal) isn’t available”, but he’s played coy with the media in the past.

Out Of Left-Field

Rutherford has been known to throw the hockey world for a loop with some of his trades. The James Neal–Patric Hornqvist trade shocked just about everyone, and the Phil Kessel trade is still being discussed to this day. If there’s one thing we should expect from him, it’s the unexpected. There are a few lesser options out there for Rutherford to explore, and management may want to have the Conor Sheary and Brian Dumoulin contracts put to paper before making any sort of transaction. It seems unlikely that anything will happen until those deals get done. Rutherford told Jason Mackey of the Post-Gazette that there are “hundreds of names on (his list)”, and that it’s “a patient process”. Could Detroit be willing to move Andreas Athanasiou? Could Bryan Little be pried from Winnipeg for a young defenseman? It’s hard to speculate as to where exactly management have set their sights, but Rutherford is generally willing to overpay to “get his man”. There is the slight likelihood that they enter the season with that hole left unfilled, but it’s hard to imagine. Until more dominoes fall, Rutherford is likely to bide his team and search for the correct deal.

Expansion Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins

June 3, 2017 at 8:51 pm CDT | by Seth Lawrence 2 Comments

Over the next few weeks we will be breaking down each team’s situation as it pertains to the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. Which players are eligible, and which will likely warrant protection or may be on the block. Each team is required to submit their protection lists by 4pm CDT on June 17th. The full rules on eligibility can be found here, and CapFriendly has provided a handy expansion tool to make your own lists.

With the Penguins up two games to zero in the Stanley Cup Finals, the team’s success under the guidance of GM Jim Rutherford cannot be understated. Potential back-to-back championships following a long list of playoff disappointments and identity crises would all but erase the sting of many poor management decisions under former GM Ray Shero.

After the acquisition of Phil Kessel, the team has not looked back in the slightest offensively. They sat out and relished their summer last off-season with minimal movement, but this year Rutherford has decisions to make. Although the makeup of the team will surely be different come October, there are many options to be considered.

Eligible Players (Non-UFA)

Forwards:

Sidney Crosby (NMC), Evgeni Malkin (NMC), Phil Kessel (NMC), Patric Hornqvist, Carl Hagelin, Bryan Rust, Tom Kuhnhackl, Scott Wilson, Josh Archibald (RFA), Oskar Sundqvist (RFA), Jean-Sebastien Dea (RFA)

Defense:

Kris Letang (NMC), Olli Maatta, Ian Cole, Brian Dumoulin (RFA), Derrick Pouliot (RFA), Justin Schultz (RFA), Frank Corrado (RFA), Tim Erixon (RFA), Stuart Percy (RFA)

Goalies:

Marc-Andre Fleury (NMC), Matt Murray

Jake Guentzel, Conor Sheary, Daniel Sprong, Carter Rowney, Tristan Jarry, Zach Aston-Reese, Thomas DiPauli, Teddy Blueger, Dominik Simon, Jeff Taylor, Ethan Prow, Lukas Bengtsson, Sean Maguire

Key Decisions

To get the elephant in the room cleared aside, it seems a foregone conclusion that Marc-Andre Fleury will waive his No Movement Clause in order for the franchise to protect Matt Murray. This arrangement would suit him, as he performs far better statistically in a starting role, and it allows him to be “the guy” in a new city. If for some unforeseen reason Fleury opts against waiving his NMC, Rutherford will assuredly find a trade elsewhere prior to the expansion draft. At the end of the day, Murray, with two amazing playoff performances at only 23 years-old, is going nowhere.

The other four players who must be protected are those which will not give management any sleepless nights. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both future hall of famers playing prime hockey, providing great value for their contracts. Kessel, at his reduced rate, has absolutely exceeded expectations when his contract was shipped from Toronto. Kris Letang is the only player who some fans have balked out, as he has missed substantial chunks of time, consistently hitting LTIR and wasting cap dollars. Letang, however, is easily a top-10 defenseman in the league,. Watching how these playoffs have been far less decisive than last for Pittsburgh, there is no doubt the entire organization is willing to take the risk to have him return to the blueline.

The major decision right off the start will be whether Rutherford will decide to go with the 7 forwards-3 defensemen-1 goalie model, or the 8 total protected alternative. It seems apparent that most teams will opt for the former, because it provides protection to two additional players. The Penguins, however, are facing truly unique circumstances, and it seems slightly more likely that they will opt for the latter.

Assuming they go that route to protect their defensive corps (one of Justin Schultz/Olli Maatta), the decision at forward will not be an easy one. Beyond the big three up front who must be protected, there are a few names which could intrigue Vegas. Considering the cost to acquire him (James Neal), and his absolutely pivotal net-front presence, Patrick Hornqvist seems the safest bet to secure protection. Rutherford is a big fan, and many in management have placed a lot of faith in him. The downside of this, of course, is that it would leave Bryan Rust exposed. Rust has already made a name for himself in big games, with multiple game-winning and series-clinching goals. He has the same net-front mentality that Hornqvist does, and is five years his junior. Hornqvist is the more proven offensive commodity, but Rust’s 15 goals and 28 points are nothing to look down upon. In the wake of a potential loss of the hard nosed but unrestricted Chris Kunitz, this would be a painful blow to the team’s physicality. Thankfully, both Conor Sheary and Jake Guentzel are exempt from selection, which helps solidify their top lines regardless of this decision.

The defense if the 4-4-1 model is adopted is quite easy to predict. Although Ian Cole has been a completely perfect shot-blocking minute muncher this playoff run, he is 28 years old and relatively ineffective at driving offense with speed. Assuming that Schultz re-signs and doesn’t command an absolute robbery of a contract, he will be protected. His playoff run has been mostly solid, if spotted with occasional mishap, and his 51 points last season was good for 6th among defenseman in the league, just behind the likes of Dustin Byfuglien and Duncan Keith. That sort of production isn’t easily replaced, and especially considering Letang’s precarious health situation, he is the go-to offensive defenseman in his absence.

Maatta could certainly find himself on the outs, but it’s difficult to imagine him being exposed in the expansion draft. The team showed a great deal of confidence in him by inking him to a 6 year contract after limited sophomore season action, and his contract at $4.083 is certainly manageable. The 23 year-old two-way defender will certainly need to improve his skating to keep up with the high-flying organizational mentality, and there is the possibility his sluggishness has landed him in serious disfavor. If Rutherford were intent on moving on from Maatta, however, it would not be via expansion – he is too valuable a piece to lose for nothing. A trade is certainly a possibility, but the smart money is on the front office praying for a healthy summer of training and improvement for the young Finn.

It is certainly conceivable that the Penguins do opt for the 7-3-1 option, if they truly value Rust more than Schultz or Maatta. This would result in Rust, Scott Wilson, and one of Tom Kuhnhackl, Josh Archibald, and Carl Hagelin to be the additional protect-ees. (Hagelin’s $4 MM contract would likely make him a prime target for sacrifice under this scenario.) Maatta would be the likely claim in this potentiality, as he is less favored internally for purely stylistic reasons when contrasted with Schultz.

However, it seems more likely that Pittsburgh has already worked out a scenario between Fleury, his agent, and Vegas management regarding Marc-Andre Fleury. Rutherford’s lack of panic around the draft last year has led many to believe that this situation has already been handled, and that perhaps a sweetener will be thrown in for not claiming Bryan Rust or a young defenseman.

Projected Protection List

F Sidney Crosby (NMC)
F Evgeni Malkin (NMC)
F Phil Kessel (NMC)
F Patrick Hornqvist

D Kris Letang (NMC)
D Brian Dumoulin
D Justin Schultz
D Olli Maatta

G Matt Murray

If for whatever reason one of Maatta and Schultz is left to dry in the place of this prediction, the re-signing of Trevor Daley and perhaps even Ron Hainsey would likely follow suit. The loss of Rust would be difficult to sustain on an emotional level, as he has been a leader for the younger Wilkes-Barre call-ups since last season. But with young players like Zach Aston-Reese and Daniel Sprong looking to claim a roster spot in training camp next season, his offensive production would likely be easy to absorb. Ultimately, however, it seems probable that Fleury will be Vegas’ selection. Following his impressive resurgence in the first two round of the playoffs, and his difficult situation in Pittsburgh behind the legendary Matt Murray, it seems a fit that would work for all parties involved.

Playoff Notes: Neal, Hornqvist, Fisher, Smith

May 28, 2017 at 7:18 pm CDT | by Holger Stolzenberg Leave a Comment

There is always talk about who came out on the better side of any trade. Who got the best player? Who got ripped off? Well, in the case of the 2014 trade between the two current Stanley Cup participants, it looks like an even trade. Adam Vingan of the Tennessean looks at the trade that sent James Neal from Pittsburgh to the Nashville Predators for Patric Hornqvist and the impact they have had on their respective clubs.

Neal, who was a winger for many top-line centers including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, went from being a sidekick to a sniper wing. His 90 goals in three seasons (playoff goals included) has been a key to the Predators’ offensive success as they allowed him to be a focal point to their offense. This year, he has put up 23 goals and 18 assists, including another five playoff goals. The Penguins had enough scorers, according to general manager Jim Rutherford. What they wanted was a passionate team leader. Hornqvist turned out to be that guy. He still provides plenty of offense (83 goals in three seasons – playoffs included) and has made an impact on the locker room.

Nashville’s Mike Fisher has been cleared to play and is expected to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins after suffering from a head injury, according to Adam Vingan of the Tennessean. Fisher, the team’s captain, sat out for the final two games against the Anaheim Ducks since he was inadvertently kneed in the head by Ducks’ defenseman Josh Manson during Game 4 on March 18. The 36-year-old center has been the team’s emotional leader since acquired in 2011 from the Ottawa Senators. His 18 goals and 24 assists continue to be solid, although he has not tallied a point in 14 playoff games so far.
Vingan also says that forward Craig Smith is cleared to play in tomorrow’s Game 1 against the Penguins. Smith, who played in just one game in the second and third series due to a lower-body injury, could get into the lineup Monday. The 27-year-old center has scored 12 goals and 17 assists this season.

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