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Ron Hainsey

Penguins Will Have Lots Of Offseason Decisions To Make On ‘D’

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are just one win away from capturing their second straight Stanley Cup title with Game 6 tonight, but they’ve done it throughout the playoffs with one of the most unheralded defensive corps possible. With two-time all-star Kris Letang out for the season with neck surgery he underwent on Apr. 13, the team has played without a star defenseman and it showed early in this series when the Predators dominated in Games 1 and 2. However, the defense held together and took things a step further the other day in Game 5 when the defense dominated on both offense and defense. They got two goals and three assists during that victory.

That defense, made up of Olli Maatta, Ian Cole, Trevor Daley, Ron Hainsey, Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz, has held tough and just might be increasing their stock as the offseason approaches for them in the next few days. The Penguins may have a few offseason issues to deal with in the upcoming weeks when it comes to their defense. While Letang is locked up until 2021-22 ($7.5MM), only two others are officially under contract for next year. The 22-year-old Matta is also under contract until 2021-22 ($4.083MM) and Cole has one more year left at $2.1MM. The rest are all free agents with Daley and Hainsey listed as unrestricted free agents, while Dumoulin and Schultz are both restricted free agents who should command more than they made this past year.

Daley played a much stronger game in Game 5 and was able to move the puck much more quickly in that performance. He is completing a six-year deal ($3.3MM) and the Penguins must decide if they want to bring the 33-year old back next season. He played in just 56 games and had 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points, but has had a goal and five assists in the playoffs, including a key assist in Game 5. Hainsey came over as a rental from Carolina at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old is finishing up a three-year deal in which he was getting $2.833MM per season. Hainsey finished the season with four goals and 13 assists, but has proven valuable in the playoffs which could net him a solid offer next year. The veteran has put up two goals and six assists during the playoffs despite struggling to keep up with the top line.

The Penguins must also make key decisions on the restricted front. Dumoulin is wrapping up his second full season with Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old has played solidly and should get quite an increase from the $800,000 he is currently making. Dumoulin, a gifted young defender, scored one goal and added 14 assists this season, while adding a goal and five assists in the playoffs this year. He’s even been mentioned as a possible expansion candidate if the team trades backup goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Finally, Schultz is coming off a breakout year. After taking a paycut last year from $3.9MM in 2015-16 to $1.4MM this year, the 26-year-old will be looking for a long term deal after putting up 12 goals and 39 assists this past year. His playoff performance should also improve his stock with four goals and eight assists so far.

The Penguins should have plenty of questions to answer once they reach the offseason.

Penguins Limp On Past Game 2

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Pittsburgh’s defeat of Washington in a 6-2 score in Game 2 is likely to overshadow three potential injuries sustained by their squad. Largely because of the shot-blocking mentality of the Pittsburgh squad, and the absurd number of shot attempts from Washington (35 in just the first period), injuries are bound to occur. Losing 3 players in one game, however, is a massive blow for any team. Although coach Mike Sullivan did not reveal any updates, stating that the players needed to be re-evaluated in Pittsburgh, there is cause for concern for fans.

Patric Hornqvist was the first to fall, after blocking a slapper off his foot/ankle area. He was forced to attempt to defend although doubled over. He left for the locker room and did not return, heavily favoring his one leg. Hornqvist had been performing remarkably well since his promotion to the top line with Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby. He had posted 5 points in 7 games, connecting with solid passes with the two skilled forwards. Conor Sheary returned to his spot at the top in Hornqvist’s absence, with Phil Kessel even seeing spot duty.

Tom Kuhnhackl took a shot off his upper arm and was seen in a good deal of pain as the puck caught in his equipment. Players gathered around and tried to squib the biscuit free before Kuhnhackl was called for delay of game. His penalty had to be served by a teammate, however, as he immediately left the ice and stayed out of competition. Finally, defenseman Ron Hainsey had an incredibly scary moment after getting in the lane of an Alex Ovechkin shot. The shot rocketed up rather steeply, and Hainsey turned his head in a reactionary move of avoidance and protection. The back of his head was struck, near the right ear. Hainsey writhed in extreme discomfort in what one can only hope wasn’t a permanently damaging situation. He also did not return.

None of these players are easily expendable. Kuhnhackl might at face seem to be an easily replaceable part, but when out of the lineup the Pittsburgh penalty kill has struggled mightily. He also has 24 hits through 7 games, and is one of the most consistently aggravating forwards in the roster. Hornqvist is definitively the most irritating and imposing physical player on the Penguins, and his offensive ability and net-front presence only add to his immense value. This is a player who is largely considered to be an integral piece, who can be slotted on any line and play in any situation. Losing the two most physical players they have is a large blow to a team that has been dominated physically by Washington. Hainsey has struggled at times in these playoffs, but has consistently been toward the top in ice time around 20 minutes, while facing a high quality of competition and blocking well on the penalty kill. In his absence, one of Justin Schultz or Trevor Daley will need to improve their game in their own zone. Turnovers and blown coverage have plagued both players throughout April. Olli Maatta’s improvement in the wake of Kris Letang’s long term injury has been huge, but too many defenders are struggling to sustain more losses.

In the worst case scenario, the replacement forwards would most probably be Scott Wilson and Carter Rowney, with Josh Archibald likely to be the first call-up. On the backend, Sullivan could opt to go with the veteran offensive defenseman Mark Streit, or instead choose the quieting influence of the stable Chad Ruhwedel. The Penguins have consistently been toward the top of the league in man-games lost, and this season was no different. The franchise has continued to find a way to compete in spite of poor luck, but losses such as these would significantly hurt their cup chances.

Update: Josh Yohe for DKPittsburghSports reports that the injuries for Kuhnhackl and Hainsey may not be serious after all, but information remains sparse. Additionally, the original publication had incorrectly linked Washington’s Tom Wilson instead of Pittsburgh’s Scott Wilson.

Injury Notes: Stamkos, Penguins, Andersen

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Steven Stamkos was present at practice in full today, taking line rushes and participating in powerplay drills. He’s now “day-to-day” according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, and will continue to be evaluated daily. He won’t play tomorrow against Detroit, but could return soon for the chance to help Tampa Bay into the playoffs.

Stamkos has been out since November and has always put a return this season as a goal in his rehab. Despite trading away two centers at the deadline and three others dealing with various injuries, the team now finds themselves just three points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand over the Boston Bruins. Those two teams will meet on Tuesday in what could be the deciding game for both their playoff lives.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally getting healthier, with Conor Sheary and Chad Ruhwedel both game-time decisions for tonight according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. While Jake Guentzel and Ron Hainsey won’t be available, both took the ice wearing normal jerseys today for the Penguins option skate. The Penguins have lost three games in a row and are falling out of President’s Trophy contention, and with it an “easier’ matchup in the first round. As things stand currently, they’d take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round.
  • After missing just one game, Frederik Andersen may be back in the Toronto Maple Leafs net sooner than later. Kristen Shilton of TSN reports that the goaltender said he feels ready to go for the team tomorrow, but he and the medical staff will talk more after landing in Nashville for their game tomorrow night. Andersen was taken out with a possible concussion from Saturday’s game in Buffalo, but returned to the ice the next day without any symptoms.

Snapshots: Penguins Injuries, Couture, Haley

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Penguins center Evgeni Malkin did not skate on Sunday as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.  Head coach Mike Sullivan noted to Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the off day was a scheduled one and not a setback in the recovery process.  Malkin has missed the last six games as a result of the injury and there remains no timetable for his return.

While Malkin (along with winger Carl Hagelin who has a lower body issue) didn’t skate, several other injured Pittsburgh players took to the ice.  Defensemen Trevor Daley (knee), Ron Hainsey, Kris Letang (both upper body injuries), and Olli Maatta along with winger Jake Guentzel (concussion) all took to the ice although they did so before the team took to the ice to prepare for tonight’s game against the Flyers.

Winger Scott Wilson returned to the lineup for the Penguins after missing Friday’s game with an undisclosed issue.  However, the team lost winger Conor Sheary midway through the first period after he blocked a shot with his hand and he did not return.  Following the game, Sullivan told reporters, including Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link), that Sheary is day-to-day.

Other news from around the NHL:

  • Sharks winger Logan Couture was taken to hospital on Saturday after taking a puck to the mouth against the Predators. CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz reports that Couture was able to travel home with the team.  However, a source tells Kurz that the injury is a bad one which suggests he’s likely to miss some time.  The injury comes at a tough time with the playoffs fast approaching and the team struggling considerably at the moment having lost six straight games.  On the season, Couture sits third in team scoring with 25 goals and 27 assists in 73 contests.  An update on his condition is expected on Monday.
  • Still with the Sharks, winger Micheal Haley will have a phone hearing on Monday regarding an incident against the Predators, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link). Haley was assessed a match penalty on the play, which occurred with just over seven minutes remaining in the third period.  Haley has played himself into a mostly regular role with the Sharks this season, picking up a career best 11 points and 110 penalty minutes (fifth league-wide) in 54 games.  San Jose next plays on Tuesday so a decision will have to be made whether or not to uphold or rescind the match penalty by then.

Snapshots: 100 Classic, Hornqvist, Malkin

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As reported yesterday, the Ottawa Senators will host an outdoor game next year. The “NHL 100 Classic” will be held on December 16th, 2017 to honor the first NHL game played in Ottawa 100 years prior (actually December 17th, 1917). The Senators will welcome the Montreal Canadiens to TD Place, the football stadium right along the Rideau Canal.

Just a few weeks after the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup, TD Place will have extra seating installed to accommodate the extra crowd. The Stadium currently seats 24,000 for football, but expect that to grow substantially. BMO Place in Toronto added more than 10,000 seats for this year’s Centennial Classic, after hosting it’s own Grey Cup earlier in the winter. This will be the Senators’ first hosted outdoor game.

Kris Letang Not Close To Returning, Will Not Travel With Team

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When Kris Letang was originally injured prior to the Pittsburgh Penguins Stadium Series game against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 25th, he was listed as day-to-day and expected to rejoin the club within a matter of games. Now, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, head coach Mike Sullivan has told the media that he won’t be travelling with the team and that he’d update them when “he’s getting close.”

The Penguins are off on a five game road trip that will take them through western Canada before facing the Flyers again in Philadelphia on March 15th. If Letang isn’t travelling with the team, he likely at least is out for those first four games. Sullivan wouldn’t tell Mackey or anyone else what exactly the injury is, and it has been shrouded in secrecy since it happened. With it being revealed that T.J. Oshie’s latest “upper-body” injury was actually a concussion, it does cause a little more trepidation when speculating about what may be ailing Letang.

In his last game before being taken out of the lineup Letang played almost 29 minutes, a huge amount for anyone suffering from an injury. In fact, the star defenseman hadn’t played less than 23 since the January game against Detroit in which he suffered a leg injury. That time he was placed on injured reserve and held out two weeks.

Wednesday night against the Jets will mark the sixth straight game he’s missed with the mysterious upper-body injury, and the team could use him back. Though they added depth in both Ron Hainsey and Mark Streit near the deadline, the team is still in the thick of a race for seeding in the Metropolitan Division.

While they are still 3-2 without Letang in the lineup, they’ve obviously missed his presence on the back end. It will be interesting to see where the team lies in the standings when he finally returns. It’s safe to say that the Penguins did well adding depth to their blueline though, as they’re without Letang, Trevor Daley and Olli Maatta for the forseeable future.

Trade Deadline Summary: Winners & Losers Of The Metropolitan Division

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The NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone, and while it wasn’t the most exciting deadline day in recent memory, there were quite a few notable moves. Here are the winners and losers of the dominant Metropolitan Division:

Winners

Carolina Hurricanes:

Not all that much happening in Raleigh, but what GM Ron Francis did do, he did well. Both Hainsey and Stalberg brought back returns that were greater than their market value. It was also nice of Francis to send Hainsey to a team where his career-long playoff drought would definitely be snapped. Not sure why Jay McClement wasn’t moved, but there simply may not have been interest. The Hurricanes have a ton of salary cap space and have to dip into their depth on defense sooner or later, but this year’s deadline was definitely not the time for big moves. Expect Carolina to be a major player in the off-season trade market.

New Jersey Devils:

The Devils didn’t really have any trade capital today other than Quincey and Parenteau, so good on GM Ray Shero for doing what he could with what he had. It’s strange that New Jersey was able to get a higher pick from the Predators for Vernon Fiddler earlier this season than they did for Parenteau, but injuries may have played into that. A full season of production and a draft pick in compensation isn’t that bad a return for an early-season waiver claim. The Quincey deal was the real star of the show though. The Devils went from taking a risk on an older, washed-up defenseman this off-season to trading him for a young, strong defensive defenseman who can be a starter for years with the team. Shero played the long con on the league this year, and it paid off.

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Poll: Who Will Be The Next Player To Be Dealt?

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The trade deadline festivities are kicking off, with a couple of moves for rental defensemen already being completed. Calgary sent a couple of picks to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday for Michael Stone, a player that jumped in to fire with 17 minutes in his first game and will move up to the second pairing tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flames scratched Dennis Wideman, who is now open to a trade if it means he’ll be “wanted” in his new locale.

Then today, the Pittsburgh Penguins showed the league how much a second-round pick is really worth in this “weak” draft class, acquiring 35-year old Ron Hainsey from Carolina. Hainsey couldn’t be happier about the deal, as reported by Jason Mackay of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

If you could pick a place, this would be the place. The group that they have coming off last year, there’s a lot of excitement when you hear you’re going to Pittsburgh. Not having a great opportunity like this for so long, it’s something to get pretty excited about.

Hainsey hasn’t seen the playoffs once in his entire 15-year career, but now is set to hit the postseason as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. The team will need him too, they announced that Trevor Daley would be out for six weeks just a few moments after the deal.

So now we ask you, the reader, who you think will be the next on the move in the NHL. Will we see another Arizona rental head to a contender, or will Colorado start selling off their whole team? Vote now, and make sure you let us know where you think they’re headed in the comments below.

(Mobile users click here to vote)

Ben Bishop Has A Limited No-Trade Clause In His Current Contract

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During the blitz of this morning’s Ron Hainsey deal that saw the defenseman move to the Pittsburgh Penguins, CapFriendly tweeted out a bombshell about pending UFA Ben Bishop. Bishop has been long thought of to be on the move at the deadline if the Tampa Bay Lightning feel they’re out of the playoff race, but it may be harder for Steve Yzerman and company to do that than previously believed. According to the site, Bishop actually has an eight-team list that he cannot be traded to. While there isn’t any clarification on which teams those may be, it definitely makes it harder to trade him. Ben Bishop

The goalie market is more robust than year’s past because of the sheer number of teams that are still in the mix for the postseason, but if that list contains some specific teams it could completely tie the Lightning’s hands at the deadline.

New York (Islanders), Calgary, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Winnipeg could all have various interest in the goaltender, depending on how the next week shakes out for them and their own confidence in their current situation. His recent play has looked more like the Vezina-quality netminder than the one we saw earlier this season, including a shutout of the Los Angeles Kings earlier this month. The Lightning, who are making a case for their own playoff spot, may choose they are better off with him but risk losing him for nothing this summer.

The 30-year old netminder ranked fifth among our Top Midseason UFAs, and he is destined to be sought after this summer by multiple teams looking for a change in goal. All this NTC does is make it even tougher for the Bolts to move him, should any of the above teams fall on his list. He could, however choose to waive the clause to go after a Stanley Cup somewhere else if the Lightning fall out of it—with just two games before the deadline, it could very well hinge on Monday night’s tilt against the Ottawa Senators to decide which way the team goes at the deadline.

Pittsburgh Penguins Acquire Ron Hainsey, Trevor Daley Out Six Weeks

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Ron Hainsey from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Danny Kristo and a second-round pick. The Penguins have fired the first Eastern Conference salvo as they acquire the veteran defenseman. With the injury to Olli Maatta, it seemed just a matter of time until Pittsburgh addressed their defense and Hainsey seems like a perfect fit. The team announced just after the deal broke that Trevor Daley underwent knee surgery and will also miss six weeks, another blow to the blueline. Carolina will be retaining 50% of Hainsey’s $2.83MM cap hit for the remainder of the year. Ron Hainsey

A veteran of 891 NHL games, Hainsey’s streak of never reaching the postseason is certain to come to an end now. Capable of logging big minutes for any club, he’ll likely be asked to do a little less in Pittsburgh than in Carolina where he was playing over 22 minutes a night. His ability on the penalty kill is likely what interested GM Jim Rutherford most—who actually signed Hainsey to his current deal while with Carolina in 2014—as the Penguins currently have the 22nd ranked PK in the league.

Hainsey has an incredible record of durability, something that will be tested as he heads to the playoffs for the first time. The 35-year old (36 in March) has played in at least 80 games each of the past three seasons and seven times in his career. With Maatta, Daley and Justin Schultz all either out long-term or battling injury, the fact that he can be penciled in every night is important to the Penguins.

Despite that durability though, the Penguins paid a steep price for this addition. Hainsey is a capable defender and excellent penalty killer but doesn’t come with much offensive upside at this stage in his career. It’s the salary retention that likely bumped the pick up to a second-rounder, as it leaves room for the team to make another addition if necessary.

Kristo is a former second-round pick in his own right, though has never broken into the NHL. A consistent scoring threat in the minor leagues, he is now 26 and is barely a prospect. Though he does come with some value as organizational depth on the wing, he shouldn’t be seen as much going forward.

Carolina now holds ten picks in this summer’s entry draft, including six in the top three rounds. They also could still sell more at the deadline, shedding pending free agents like Viktor Stalberg and Jay McClement or trade deadline favorite Lee Stempniak if they choose. With a young core and more coming, they are a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference, despite struggling this season.

Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports was first to report the trade on Twitter, with Pierre LeBrun of ESPN providing details on the retained salary.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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