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Valtteri Filppula

Valtteri Filppula Rejected Trade To Maple Leafs

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According to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, Valtteri Filppula could have been included in the Brian Boyle trade to Toronto, had he not exercised his no-trade clause to reject the deal. The swap would have expanded if he had allowed it, something that fits in with what Bob McKenzie of TSN hinted at yesterday when he mentioned the Leafs.

Toronto has quite a bit of cap space due to their players on LTIR this season, and could use it to acquire some assets or a better deal on rentals that they want to bring in. Filppula causes a big problem for the Lightning going into the expansion draft as his NMC forces protection. The team has several forwards that may be left exposed because of their crunch.

He also has one year remaining at $5MM, something the Lightning simply can’t afford if they want to re-sign Jonathan Drouin, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson. There isn’t enough money to go around in Tampa, and expect Filppula to be out at some point over the next few months (if not the next few hours). His clause gives the team only 16 possible destinations, but he may decide to waive it to go to a place that he’ll get more icetime.

Deadline Notes: Rangers, Red Wings, Coyotes

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The New York Rangers missed out on Kevin Shattenkirk last night when he went to their division rival—and opponent tonight—the Washington Capitals. The team has been rumored to be after a right handed defenseman and may be in even more dire straits as Dan Girardi is out tonight following an ankle injury. Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports that with him out and Kevin Klein still dealing with a back injury, the Rangers are down to just five healthy defensemen with the team. They’ll bring up Steve Kampfer for tonight’s game, but may need a more permanent solution.

While the Rangers may not have acquired Shattenkirk, they have been linked to Brendan Smith of the Detroit Red Wings and could look within their division for a player like Kyle Quincey. Though neither bring the level of play the new Capitals’ defenseman does, both could help provide depth as they get healthy.

  • Bob McKenzie of TSN mentioned Smith today on Twitter, saying that it is decision day for the Red Wings. If they do want to extend him, McKenzie believes it would take at least three years at $3.5MM. The Wings recently extended Nick Jensen for two more seasons and have said they want to do the same with Smith. If they can’t get it done today though, they should seriously consider moving him and trying to bring him back in the summer. That team needs as many assets as possible going forward, and with the defense market getting pretty thin, they might do quite well.
  • Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports writes that though Shane Doan is still available, he is unlikely to move before the deadline. According to Morgan, teams only view him as a 13th or 14th forward, instead of the capable winger he still believes himself to be. While obviously anything can change in the next 28 hours, perhaps he will finish his career with the franchise (but not team) that drafted him.
  • McKenzie also mentions that the Tampa Bay Lightning have likely approached Valtteri Filppula and asked to waive his no-trade clause. Filppula poses a real problem for the Lightning both with their cap crunch and expansion draft plans.

Full List Of Mandatory-Protection Players In Expansion Draft

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Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston has published the full list of players who, due to no-movement clauses in their current contracts, must be protected in the upcoming expansion draft for the new Vegas Golden Knights. These are players who will count against the protection limits should they choose not to waive their NMC rights prior to the draft.

Each team has the right to protect either:

A) Seven forwards, three defenders, one goaltender

or

B) Eight skaters, one goaltender

These players will count against those numbers, and as Johnston points out, there are some notable inclusions and omissions from this group. Players like Jordan Staal, Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan all had incorrect information spread about their contracts. The former two will now need protection, while the latter will not, due to his deal only having a no-movement to the minors clause.

The Chicago Blackhawks, with eight players listed, will have little flexibility at the draft, with only four forward spots (or one defenseman) left to use. Many others, according to Johnston, including Toronto’s Nathan Horton, are likely to be made exempt if they are still on LTIR as the draft approaches.

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Snapshots: Dubinsky, Kovalchuk, Lightning

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without forward Brandon Dubinsky tonight against the Boston Bruins, reports Fox Sports Ohio’s Dave Maetzgold. Dubinsky is still day-to-day with a lower body injury—first reported by Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline—that forced him to miss Wednesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. The American center has struggled out of the gate, posting 0G and 2A in 10 games for the Blue Jackets. The Jackets, meanwhile, have called up Markus Hannikainen from the Cleveland Monsters to replace Dubinsky in the lineup. The 23 year-old has 4G and 3A in 11 games for the Cleveland Monsters to start the season.
  • The Ilya Kovalchuk to the NHL rumors are heating up again. PHR first reported last week that Kovalchuk was mulling a return to the NHL, and the Russian confirmed that in a lengthy interview on the KHL website (link in Russian). Kovalchuk basically states that he would not foreclose the option to return, but he did not affirmatively state that he is seeking a return. Because Kovalchuk is in his final contract year, however, his statements could just be posturing to get a larger contract from SKA St. Petersburg or another KHL team. Kovalchuk is off to a great start this season, scoring 16G and 20A in 28 games, and may look to parlay that into a lucrative contract—KHL or elsewhere.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have scratched Nikita Nesterov tonight to make room for Valtteri Filppula against the New York Islanders tonight, reports Tampa Bay Lightning beat writer Bryan Burns. Nesterov is currently pointless in ten games for Tampa Bay, while Filppula has 4G and 5A in 12 games. Also missing from warmups is Jonathan Drouin, who suffered a head injury against the same Islanders on November 1st.

Snapshots: Rieder’s Contract Talks, Senyshyn, World Cup Captaincies

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While a contract doesn’t appear to be imminent, contract talks continue between the Arizona Coyotes and RFA winger Tobias Rieder.  Speaking with AZCentral’s Sarah McLellan, GM John Chayka had the following to say about their discussions:

“We continue to discuss things and made a series of very fair offers – different ways, shapes and forms. Nothing yet that’s in agreement yet with his camp. We like the player a lot. We think he’s a very good player. He adds a lot of value to our team and impact, and we hope and expect him to be at camp and be a part of our group.”

Rieder is coming off a strong sophomore NHL season, setting career bests in goals (14), assists (23), points (37), and ice time (17:08 per game) and projects as a top six forward for the Coyotes this season if a deal can be reached.

Last month, Arizona Sports columnist Craig Morgan reported that the team had submitted a two year offer between $2MM and $2.3MM per year and a three year offer that would be closer to $2.5MM annually.  Meanwhile, Rieder’s agent Darren Ferris was seeking $2.75MM per season on two or three year contracts or $3MM on a four year pact.  It’s also believed that Rieder has at least two KHL offers on the table if they can’t come to terms on a new deal.

Rieder will be suiting up for Team Europe at the upcoming World Cup and will be insured to play by the league and Players’ Association since he isn’t under contract.

Elsewhere around the league:

  • Boston prospect Zach Senyshyn underwent a successful appendectomy on Monday, the team announced. Senyshyn, a 2015 first round pick (15th overall), has been ruled out of rookie camp while his readiness for the opening of their main training camp is unknown.  He recorded 45 goals in just 66 OHL games last season and could conceivably make a push to open the year with the big club if he has a strong preseason.  As a junior-aged player, he could suit up in nine or fewer NHL games without burning the first year of his entry-level contract.
  • With pre-tournament games set to begin this week, World Cup teams are finalizing their leadership cores. Team Sweden named Henrik Sedin as their new captain, replacing Henrik Zetterberg.  In speaking with NHL.com’s Dan Rosen, Sedin called it an honor but wouldn’t go as far as calling it a dream come true as he never envisioned himself wearing the ‘C’ for the Tre Kronor.  Despite getting the nod, Sedin anticipates the team will be captained more by committee than by himself.  Henrik is one of three members of the Swedish squad who also won Olympic gold ten years ago in Italy; the others are his brother Daniel and Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
  • Team Finland announced that they have appointed Tampa Bay center Valtteri Filppula and Florida left wing/center Jussi Jokinen as alternate captains. Minnesota’s Mikko Koivu was named team captain two weeks ago.

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