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Teddy Purcell

Teddy Purcell, Lauri Korpikoski Sign Overseas

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Two of the more notable names left without an NHL contract when the 2017-18 season began have come to terms on new deals elsewhere. Teddy Purcell, a former 65-point scorer who of late was on a PTO with the Boston Bruins, signed with the KHL’s Avangard Omsk today, the team announced. Lauri Korpikoski, fresh off a strong campaign with the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets, somewhat surprisingly drew little attention this off-season and has now signed with the ZSC Lions of the NLA, according to a team release. The former Edmonton teammates will each look to rejuvenate their careers overseas this season.

Purcell, 32, was had a roller coaster career. The undrafted University of Maine product made a surprise jump to the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings in 2007-08 after just one year of college and made an immediate impact. After being swapped for Jeff Halpern early in his career, Purcell took off with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 51 points his first season and 65 the next. His scoring continued, but that didn’t stop the Bolts from trading him to the Edmonton Oilers, who in turn traded him to the Florida Panthers less than two years later. During this time, Purcell had continued to be a consistent scorer no matter where he landed. So, when Purcell given nearly no attention in the free agent market last year and ended up back in L.A. and soon after buried in the minors, it came as a shock to many. This time around, no one was surprised when Purcell was unable to turn his tryout in Boston into a contract, but the fact remains that there is still no evidence that Purcell ever stopped being a solid play-making forward. Now in Russia, Purcell has the potential to light it up with Avangard. Don’t be surprised if the swift winger scores early and often in the KHL and catches the eye of the Canadian Olympic team.

As for Korpikoski, his off-season went much like Purcell’s last year. 20 points in 60 games aren’t eye-popping numbers, but it was a pleasantly surprising season for Korpikoski in Dallas. The two-way forward had never been a big producer – his career high 40 points came back in 2010-11 with the Phoenix Coyotes, a team on which he was pressed into a top-six role due to a lack of talent – but Korpikoski had made a career out of his well-rounded game. A 2004 first-round pick of the New York Rangers, the now-31-year-old was a hard-working and reliable player for long stretches in New York and Arizona, but a drop-off in production in the desert and a subsequent trade to the Edmonton Oilers in 2015 looked like the beginning of the end. Yet, the Stars took a gamble last summer and it paid off with a sold effort from Korpikoski and a trade return of young defenseman Dillon Heatherington from Columbus at the deadline. However, the renewed interest never came and Korpikoski has had to settle for Switzerland. With ZSC, Korpikoski will join a talented NLA team and will get a chance to skate alongside NHL veterans like Robert Nilsson and Drew Shore. While Finland is in better shape for the upcoming Winter Games than the U.S. or Canada, don’t count out the possibility of the veteran Finn winger from getting the call to go to Pyeongchang as well.

Teddy Purcell To Attend Bruins Camp

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The Boston Bruins have signed Teddy Purcell to a professional tryout according to Ty Anderson of WEEI.com, bringing in the veteran forward after he spent much of last season in the minor leagues. The 32-year old will attempt to earn a contract on a team that currently projects to have several rookies in the lineup on opening day.

Purcell was always an effective offensive player, even scoring a career-high 65 points in 2011-12 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but saw his play deteriorate last year. After signing a one-year $1.6MM contract with the Los Angeles Kings, Purcell was waived by the team in early December and sent to the minor leagues. At the time, he had just two points in his first 12 games with the Kings but then showed he could still dominate lesser competition. In 38 games with the Ontario Reign, Purcell scored 38 points, prompting his minor league coach to even state that he was “too good for this league.”

There is a real chance that Purcell could crack the Bruins lineup if he shows his offensive talent is still at least partly there. Even after signing David Pastrnak earlier today, the team could still be looking at players like Anders Bjork and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson for full-time roles, something that could be avoided with another veteran option. Though both young players look great, some time in the minor leagues wouldn’t hurt their development. That would all be predicated on Purcell showing up fit and looking the part of the 30-50 point man he was for so many years, something that is far from certain.

Capitals Acquire Tom Gilbert From Kings

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It’s not Teddy Purcell or Devin Setoguchi as the first demoted Kings veteran to be shipped out of town, but Tom Gilbert. The Washington Capitals announced that they have acquired the veteran defenseman from Los Angeles for future considerations. Capitals beat reporter Mike Vogel also adds that the Kings will retain 20% of Gilbert’s $1.4MM salary, or $280K, which explains why Washington didn’t just scoop him up on waivers recently. Gilbert is expected to report to the Capitals AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, for the time being.

As recently discussed in our Washington Capitals Deadline Primer, the team needed a veteran defenseman to provide some depth for the stretch run and postseason. The team has few options outside of their top six, but the 34-year-old Gilbert brings eleven years of experience into the mix, and at a relatively cheap cost. Vogel adds that the conditions for the “future considerations” are as follows: if the Capitals advance two or more rounds in the playoffs and Gilbert plays in 50% of their postseason games, then the Kings will receive a 2017 fifth-round pick. Otherwise, there is no return for L.A. Given both the strength of Washington’s top-six on defense and their recent playoff history, the chances of both those conditions being met seems slim.

In 18 games this season, Gilbert had a goal and four assists. He showed much greater offensive pop in his early days in Edmonton in the late 2000’s, but still contributes to score sheet from time to time. More than anything, Gilbert will provide responsible defense if called upon in high-pressure positions for the Capitals.

Kings Place Devin Setoguchi On Waivers

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One of the 2016-17 season’s biggest reclamation projects just took a turn for the worse. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the Los Angeles Kings have placed Devin Setoguchi on waivers today. The veteran winger was back in the NHL after spending the majority of the 2014-15 season in the minors with Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Flames, and then went overseas to play in the NLA with HC Davos in 2015-16. Setoguchi joined the Kings in training camp on a PTO and was able to earn a contract and a roster spot with an impressive preseason display. However, things have gone downhill since then.

The eighth overall pick by the San Jose Sharks in 2005 and a three-time 20-goal scorer, the Kings expected more of a scoring punch from Setoguchi. Instead, he has struggled to bring much to the table with just four goals and eight assists through 45 games and a -5 rating. Setoguchi does not play a fourth-line checking game, but is also not producing top-nine numbers; it’s a narrative that we have seen before from him. Setoguchi ran himself out of Minnesota, Winnipeg, and Calgary by not scoring enough and also not having the ability or willingness to play a grittier, high-energy style. Setoguchi has been a non-factor on the King’s checking line recently; he has three assists in his last five games but has not scored a goal since mid-December. Despite L.A.’s lack of forward depth, they have decided to move on, likely planning to use AHL prospects until they can acquire a veteran or two at the Trade Deadline.

This is the second time Los Angeles has put a veteran winger on waivers this season. Ironically due in part to Setoguchi’s surprising performance and early-season success, the team posted Teddy Purcell after he had played in just 12 games with the team. Purcell has been on fire in the AHL and is now a trade candidate for the Kings. Perhaps they are hoping Setoguchi follows in his footsteps, but it seems doubtful. Purcell has a track record of consistent NHL success, while Setoguchi does not. Purcell’s demotion was a setback, while Setoguchi’s could signal the end of his NHL career.

Trade Candidates: Teddy Purcell

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When Teddy Purcell was putting up 51 points in Tampa Bay in 2010-11 and leading the team with 17 points in 18 playoff games, many though that the Lightning had found a hidden gem. When he backed it up with 65 points in 2011-12 and then scored at the same pace in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, they believed he was a star-in-the-making. The past three years, Purcell has put up back-to-back-to-back solid seasons despite moving from Tampa to the Edmonton Oilers to the Florida Panthers. Yet, in 2016-17 Purcell has played in just 12 NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings. Something doesn’t add up, and both Purcell and the Kings would like to end their disastrous partnership as soon as possible.

Contract

Purcell was smart to quickly accept the Kings’ one-year, $1.6MM deal on July 1st of last year, as many similar players waited and became victims of a stagnant market, waiting until much later in the summer to sign even cheaper deals. However, the hit proved to be too much for the rest of the league, as Purcell cleared waivers in December. At the deadline, Purcell will be an impending free agent rental with an accumulated cap hit of under $200K.

2016-17

After signing Purcell, who they had originally signed out of the University of Maine back in 2007, to a reasonable deal to add some depth to their forward corps, L.A. quickly fell out of love with their free agent acquisition. The 31-year-old right winger had just two assists through 12 games and had been outplayed by tryout signee Devin Setoguchi and depth players like Trevor Lewis and Nic Dowd. He had dropped down to a spot on the third line, but even there the Kings had options they preferred more. The L.A. homecoming ended as quickly as it had started, as Purcell was placed on waivers in early December, and with many teams across the league tight against the salary cap ceiling, the former 41-assist play-maker extraordinaire cleared and was sent to the AHL. Yet, after the same amount of time with the Ontario Reign as he had played with the Kings, Reign coach Mike Stothers came out and said that Purcell was simply “too good for this league.” At the time,  Purcell had 14 points in his first 12 games. As of now, he has maintained a point-per-game pace with 22 in 22 and has boosted the Reign to the top of the Pacific Division. Still a valuable NHL asset, Purcell does not belong in the AHL and should be back in the big leagues by the end of the season.

Season Stats

12 NHL games: 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, even, 10 shots, 12:54 ATOI.

22 AHL games: 7 goals, 15 assists, 22 points, +6, 50 shots, 19:38 ATOI.

Potential Suitors

Purcell is attractive to two types of teams as the Trade Deadline creeps closer: those who are only fringe playoff teams and those who are contenders, but just need depth and not a high-end contributor. Purcell is affordable and very low-risk/high-reward. The last thing the Kings would want is to send Purcell down to the AHL all year only to trade him to a Pacific rival and have it come back to bite them, so a divisional move seems unlikely. However, several other teams could be in the mix.

The Boston Bruins are not in any position to go wasting assets on big playoff rentals this season, as they currently are fighting just to qualify. The team has been playing better of late though, partly due to finally finding some good balance in their forward lines. One hole that remains is the need for an offensive weapon on the third line to help out Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey. While the team (second in shots per game, 23rd in goals per game) could use a finisher more than a passer like Purcell, the cost of a Thomas Vanek or Radim Vrbata may be too high. Purcell could help the team out and at a cheap price. The Bruins have enough cap space to add he and a more goal-prone player if they so choose. Count the New York Islanders as another team who could use Purcell to balance out their forward lines. The team has just recently slipped into the playoff conversation, but could definitely use some depth, particularly on the right side where Ryan Strome presents the only righty option in the top-nine. The Toronto Maple Leafs are another teams that could have interest in Purcell. Many have opined that the Leafs should not sell off any young assets this year, but trading for Purcell to help out would likely cost very little and would add a veteran presence, playoff experience, and a great play-maker for their young scorers.

The other team to (always) look out for is the Chicago Blackhawks. As they do seemingly ever year, the GM Stan Bowman and the ’Hawks bring in some washed-up veteran or young no-name who then performs exceedingly well with the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Purcell fits the bill as a player who has always performed his best when surrounded by great talent. Chicago has little cap room and is running out of trade chips, which makes the affordable Purcell a great fit. It also helps that they have struck deals with the King for two years in a row, swapping Michael Latta and Cameron Schilling last month and Rob Scuderi and Christian Ehrhoff around this time last year. If the Blackhawks land Purcell and he is a point-per-game player down the stretch or in the playoffs, would anyone really be surprised?

Likelihood Of A Trade

The Los Angeles Kings still stand a good chance of making the playoffs this year, but if they had any interest in bringing Purcell back up to help them get there, they would have done so already. The only good that Purcell can do for them now is in a trade return. Similarly, Purcell will go just about anywhere to get back into an NHL game and show what he can do before he hits the free agent market again this summer. With both sides in agreement that Purcell should be moved, the only other factor is the market.

If there are teams who still believe that Purcell can play at a high level, and his career numbers up until his limited showing in L.A. this year do little to dissuade that notion, then there is a very high likelihood that he will be moved. The Kings cannot possibly ask for much, having already placed him on waivers this season, nor would anyone be willing to pay much for a guy who hasn’t skated in an NHL game since early December. However, Purcell is hardly even an asset to L.A. as an impending free agent who is playing for their farm team, and it seems likely that they will take whatever they can get for him.

On the other hand, if teams are disillusioned by Purcell’s slow start this season and inability to earn a call-up to the Kings all season long, a market may never form for his services. That is the only way that Purcell doesn’t get traded by March 1st.

Snapshots: Backes, Purcell, Ramo

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When the Boston Bruins take on the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center tonight, it will be quite the homecoming for Bruins forward David Backes. At age 32, Backes is just 35 games into his first season outside of St. Louis after playing his previous 727 games with the Blues. A second-round pick in 2003 out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Backes spent a decade in St. Louis, playing the best part of his career in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. The big forward earned a spot on the team in 2006-07 and never looked back. He became the model of consistency for his teammates, putting in the hard work each and every game and getting the big numbers to go with it. With five 50+ point seasons over the span of ten dominant years, Backes has earned his place all over the Blues’ record books. He’s fifth in games played, sixth in goals, eighth in assists, sixth in points, sixth in +/-, fifth in penalty minutes, and on and on. The Blues captain from 2011 to 2016, Backes left his mark on the St. Louis organization and the city certainly made a life-long impact on him as well. Backes got emotional when the Bruins honored his time in St. Louis when the Blues visited Boston earlier this season, so one can imagine the feelings that will be flowing tonight when he returns home, with his wife and daughter along for the ride as well, watching from the stands they used to sit in for years.

As much as Backes may have fond memories about his time in St. Louis, he is enjoying his new home in Boston and since returning from a concussion, has been playing the best hockey of the season in his first few games back. In fact, St. Louis is likely missing Backes more than vice-versa. Both the Bruins and Blues currently have 47 points on the year, but Boston is positioned well to earn an automatic playoff berth in the weak Atlantic Division, while St. Louis is soundly behind rivals Chicago and Minnesota in the Central Division and are having to fight off Winnipeg, Dallas, and Nashville as well. The Blues have clearly taken a step back in 2016-17, and the team has faced much criticism for letting hard-working, “heart and soul” guys like Backes and Troy Brouwer leave this off-season.  Though Backes has only 21 points so far for Boston, the B’s have greatly benefited from his physical play, offensive instincts, and net-front presence. The Bruins are still searching for the right mix up front and have additionally faced some bad luck early on this year. Once they get things sorted out and get rolling, Backes’ ability will be invaluable to their stretch run, and St. Louis will be yearning for the same contribution from their side.

In other news:

  • Another player missing the good ole days is Los Angeles Kings winger Teddy Purcell. Despite signing an affordable one-year, $1.6MM contract this summer, Purcell cleared waivers in early December and was sent down to the AHL, where he remains buried. Purcell had just two assists in 12 games for the Kings prior to his demotion, but since has 14 points in 12 games with the Ontario Reign. His coach in Ontario, Mike Stothers, has seen this success and was blunt in his evaluation, simply stating that Purcell is “too good for this league”. While he added that “maybe this (AHL stint) is what he needs to get back up to the NHL”, it’s pretty clear that Purcell’s talent is being wasted in the minors. Just last year, Purcell had a 43-point season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, and only in 2011-12 did he have his career-high 65-point campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning. A gifted play-maker and sleek skater, there are surely teams around the NHL who could use his talents. However, with so many squads right up against the salary cap limit, even a measly $1.6MM hit can be problematic. If Purcell is not in the plans of the Kings, expect to hear his name more and more as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches. Los Angeles is willing to move the talented forward and Purcell is eager for another shot, but it’s just a matter of finding a fit, literally.
  • Karri Ramo is hoping to find an NHL gig in the coming months as well. Still an unrestricted free agent, Ramo was unable to find a guaranteed job this summer, settling instead for a minor league tryout deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. However, that went over about as well as his summer job search, as Ramo posted an .880 SV% and 3.80 GAA in three games with the Marlies before putting an end to his PTO. ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun spoke with Ramo’s agent, Todd Diamond, who revealed that Ramo had to have clean-up surgery in the knee that he injured in 2015-16, which could partially explain his poor performance in the AHL. Ramo is expected to be back to 100% by mid-February, just in time for a team who missed out on adding insurance in net in the quiet 2017 trade market to take a gamble on an NHL veteran. However, there are not too many teams looking for goalies as of now, especially with Ramo’s top option, the Maple Leafs, solving their problems by claiming Curtis McElhinney off of waivers earlier today. Ramo may be hard-pressed to find a position in the NHL this season, and may be better off rehabbing and working out in anticipation for next year.

Teddy Purcell Clears Waivers

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Veteran winger Teddy Purcell somewhat surprisingly cleared waivers today, according to Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link). The scribe suggests teams who may have been interested in Purcell either didn’t have the room to add another contract or were too close to the salary cap ceiling and consequently passed on making a claim.

Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider adds that there may have been talk with at least one club regarding a trade prior to Los Angeles placing Purcell on waivers. That appears to coincide with what Friedman tweeted. It’s conceivable another club with interest in the 6-foot-2, 205-pound right wing wanted the Kings to either take back a contract or a salary to help offset adding Purcell.

The 31-year-old Purcell in his second tour with the Kings after inking a one-year free agent contract with the team this summer. He has just two points in 12 games this season but has been a productive player in the past. Purcell has reached the 40-point plateau in four different NHL seasons throughout his career and posted a 24-goal, 65-point campaign in 2011-12 with Tampa Bay.

With an AAV of just $1.6MM on his expiring pact and a track record of solid offensive production, it qualifies as a mild surprise went unclaimed. Just last February the Florida Panthers dealt a third-round draft pick to Edmonton to secure the services of a pure rental. Should Purcell regain his scoring touch there could once again be a market for the skilled winger ahead of the trade deadline.

For now Purcell remains property of the Kings, who have the option of keeping him on the big club or reassigning him to Ontario of the AHL at any point in the next 30 days. However Rosen has since tweeted that the club is planning to assign Purcell to their AHL affiliate in order to clear a roster spot for Andy Andreoff once he is ready to come off IR.

Teddy Purcell Waived By Los Angeles

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The Los Angeles Kings have placed Teddy Purcell on waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman.

Purcell was expected to provide solid secondary scoring for a relatively-inexpensive cap hit of $1.6MM. However, he’s struggled in his first season with the Kings, with just two assists in 12 games in addition to his poor possession stats.

Purcell may have to go elsewhere to find last season’s form; he scored 43 points in 76 games split between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. He found good chemistry with Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl on the Oilers top line for much of last season before being traded at the deadline to the Panthers for a third-round pick in this past June’s entry draft.

While Purcell’s play may not warrant a waiver claim, a team may trade for him if he clears to avoid adding a contract to their 50-man limit. However, that depends on how desperate the Kings are to move on. If he is assigned to the AHL, he’ll count for $650K against the Kings cap, saving them $950K.

Pro Hockey Rumors had ranked Purcell 23rd on our list of Top 50 UFAs back in June.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

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