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Morning Notes: NBC Olympics, Ekman-Larsson, Desjardins

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The NHL will be going dark on national television during the two and a half weeks that the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea will be on the air, according to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks. The NHL, who will not be participating in this year’s Olympics, have been informed that no NHL games will be televised by any NBC affiliate during the dates of Feb. 7-26.

While the original TV schedule had no games listed, it was believed that NBC would add games into their TV lineup to air NHL hockey games. However, Brooks writes that he believes it’s NBC’s way of “giving a symbolic middle finger” to Gary Bettman and the Board of Governors for withholding its players from this Olympics, which NBC will also be televising. Last year, the NHL previously aired 20 NHL hockey games during those same dates.

The NHL has stated previously that it did not want to participate in the Olympics next year for many reasons, but chief among them was they didn’t want to take a 17-day break at a time when the NHL should get its highest ratings with the NFL season completed and MLB’s season not having gotten started. However, now without national TV exposure, it looks as if they may not get that exposure anyhow.

  • NBC Sports Cam Tucker writes that Arizona’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson will be re-evaluated today after suffering a lower-body injury during overtime against the San Jose Sharks. The defenseman had to be helped off the ice. The 26-year-old has been one of the few bright spots on the Coyotes roster the last few years and was expected to lead a renewed effort to get out of the basement of the Western Conference. It’s also rumored that Ekman-Larsson is next in line to be named captain to replace long-time leader Shane Doan.
  • In a separate story, NBC Sports Cam Tucker writes that New York Rangers’ Andrew Desjardins will face a disciplinary hearing on Monday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for his hit on New Jersey Devils forward Miles Wood during Saturday’s preseason game. Desjardins received a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head during the middle of the first period. Wood was slow to get to his feet and went through concussion protocol, but was cleared and allowed to return to the game. The 31-year-old center was on a PTO with the Rangers. He previously played three years with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Arena Notes: Calgary, Arizona, Detroit

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The ongoing issues with the Flames and the city of Calgary has been well-publicized. The two sides are at odds in regards to the construction of a new arena and who should shoulder the greatest burden of the cost. The Flames have made it known that they have made offers to the city, offers they believe to be fair, and that the city has been the side unwilling to work toward a resolution. However, as The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell points out, the public relations battle that the team is waging may be all for not. Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, according to Campbell, is not only well-liked, but also a tough negotiator. Campbell believes that Nenshi is not like many politicians, who often cave when it comes to dealing with local sports teams. It seem that Nenshi is willing to make a stand and work toward an agreement that is more balanced for the taxpayers of Calgary. Some may see risk in Nenshi calling Flames billionaire owner Murray Edwards’ bluff, but Campbell believes that there is no way the Flames leave the city under any circumstances. The people of Calgary will inevitably end up partially funding a new arena, but with Nenshi as their negotiator, it should be on far better terms than the Flames’ current offer.

  • The Arizona Coyotes issued a statement last night, updating fans on the status of the ice at Gila River Arena. The Coyotes were forced to cancel their first home preseason game on Monday night due to poor ice conditions. With only a fixed amount of time for preseason hockey, Arizona did not even have the ability to postpone their contest with the Los Angeles Kings. In an effort to make sure they didn’t miss anymore opportunities to take a look at their young and very different roster, the Coyotes worked quickly to install a new sheet of ice and have their arena back up to suitable standards. The improvement is just in time, as the San Jose Sharks come to town tomorrow.
  • The Detroit Red Wings took the ice at the brand new Little Caesars Arena for the first time today, as noted by beat writer Helene St. James. The Wings played their final game at Joe Louis Arena, the historic building at 19 Steve Yzerman drive, in April after being one of the most dominant teams in all of sports during their residency from 1979 to 2017. Veterans like Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall, who more or less grew up in “The Joe” will now have to get a feel for their new home, the massive 20,000 seat Little Caesars Arena, and it all starts with the team’s first game there, hosting the Boston Bruins tomorrow night.

Arizona Coyotes Cancel Preseason Game Because Of Bad Ice

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • The Arizona Coyotes cancelled Monday night’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings because of bad ice, reports the Associated Press. The team could not get the ice in playable condition after the venue—Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona—hosted a concert Saturday night. The team announced that the preseason game will not be rescheduled. The Coyotes will have time to get the arena ice in working order as they do not play in Glendale again until Saturday night versus the San Jose Sharks.
  • The Nashville Predators are on the hunt for a new captain, reports the Tennessean’s Adam Vingan. Mike Fisher, the team’s previous captain, retired during the offseason and opened up the captaincy. Fisher himself benefitted from a vacant captaincy as the Predators traded away former captain Shea Weber last offseason. Vingan reports that choosing Mike Fisher last season was a team no-brainer, but this year’s choice is more difficult. The team does not have an obvious veteran with a rich history with the Predators, so they will have to look for other leadership qualities before opening night.
  • The Edmonton Oilers released five players today from training camp:

Florida Trades Demers To Arizona For McGinn

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The Florida Panthers have traded defenseman Jason Demers to Arizona in exchange for Jamie McGinn, tweets Elliotte Friedman. AZ Sports Craig Morgan confirms the deal is straight up with no other pieces. However, Friedman adds that Florida will retain 12.5 percent of Demers salary in the deal.

Demers is a solid two-way defenseman, finishing last year with nine goals and 19 assists. The 29-year-old defenseman was rumored to be moved several times this offseason, so the trade comes as little surprise.

The Panthers previous management, in hopes of making a Stanley Cup run, signed Demers last summer to a five-year, $22.5MM contract to help man their blueline. However, an 81-point performance last season and with a change in management, the team was suddenly stuck with Demers who no longer fit into their long-term plans and with a remaining four years at $4.5MM annually. In acquiring McGinn, the team almost cuts that cost in half as the 29-year-old wing has just two years remaining at $3.33MM AAV. With his departure, the team may look to several younger possibilities to help fill out their defense.

The 29-year-old McGinn is coming off a regular season in which he put up nine goals and eight assists in 72 games. However, with the team ready to install all of its talented young forwards like Clayton Keller, Christian Dvorak, Christian Fischer, Max Domi, Brendan Perlini and many others into the lineup. McGinn had little place left. It was rumored he was about to have to switch positions in Arizona. Demers, however, would help with a struggling, yet improving blueline. He should solidify the team’s top two pairings on defense, along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Alex Goligoski.

Evening Notes: Stepan, Dallas D, Schmaltz

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One of the main reasons the Arizona Coyotes made their big offseason trade in which they traded the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft and prospect defenseman Anthony DeAngelo to the New York Rangers was to acquire Derek Stepan. According to Jim Cerny of Sporting News, the Coyotes have high hopes the center will provide much-needed offensive help, but what the team is also looking for is  to have him lead their young team.

With 515 games of experience under his belt (and 97 more in the playoffs), the 27-year-old already has plenty of experience. And while no captain has been announced, Stepan is among a short list of candidates for it. Arizona has a number of young potential forwards under 23 years, including Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome, Max Domi, Brendan Perlini, Christian Dvorak, Christian Fischer, Anthony Duclair and Lawson Crouse.

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“I’ll try to do what I do best, play a 200 foot game, try to make the guys around me better, and try to be a leader for these young guys,” said Stepan. “When I was a young guy, I had older guys do it for me, and I want to do the same thing for them. Hopefully I can step in and help in all aspects.”

 

Minor Transactions: 9/15/17

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There have been an overwhelming amount of camp announcement in recent days – professional tryouts, amateur tryouts, and the like – but there are still many team and players looking for permanent homes this season. The following are some notable recent signings:

  • Defenseman Victor Bartley is making his North American exit. The long-time Nashville Predators prospect seems to have run out of options and has opted to sign with Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League, according to a local news release (link in Swedish). This will be Bartley’s second go-round in Sweden, having played for Rogle BK in 2010-11 after a disappointing first pro season. It was in Sweden the first time that Bartley gained some NHL attention, signing on with Nashville the following off-season. Bartley played in the Predators system for five seasons, skating in 112 NHL games and recording 23 points, before being traded to the Montreal midway through the 2015-16 campaign. Barley then signed with the Minnesota Wild last summer, but spent the entire year in the AHL with Iowa. Bartley, an Ottawa native, now heads to Sweden with hopes of sparking his career once again. Orebro finished 12th in the SHL last year and offers little in the way of NHL veterans, but between Bartley and exciting, young Latvian Rodrigo Abols, the team hopes to turn it around in 2017-18.
  • The Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, have signed Garret Ross to a one-year deal, according to a team announcement. While Ross is likely happy to under contract in 2017-18, the signing represents a further decline in the career of the 25-year-old forward. A fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012, Ross got his pro career off to a hot start in 2013-14 and 2014-15 with 34 and 43 points respectively. Ross also built a reputation as one of the more tough, physical forwards in the AHL. Yet, his production fell off in 2015-16 to just 20 points and Chicago chose not to qualify him, making him an unrestricted free agent. Ross landed another NHL gig, signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Arizona Coyotes, but injuries and poor play limited him to just four points in 27 games. Ross will have to show that he still has potential while playing on a minor league contract this year. There’s room for Ross to play a major role in Rochester, but he just needs to take advantage of the opportunity.
  • Daniel Ciampini will look to take the next step in his career in 2017-18, as he has signed with the AHL’s re-located Belleville Senators, per a team release. While the deal is of a two-way nature and Ciampini could wind up back in the ECHL, he hopes that his production in 2016-17 can earn him a regular AHL spot. The Union College alum was a point-per-game player with the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs last year, spending about half the season with the New Hampshire-based team and the other half with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, affiliate of the L.A. Kings. With 28 points in 28 ECHL games to go along with 5 points in 23 AHL games, it appeared that Ciampini was heading in the right direction if he hopes to return to the dynamic scorer he was in college. Belleville hopes that the trend continues and the AHL numbers improve in the new campaign.
  • The Hershey Bears, AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, have decided to give young Dylan Margonari another shot. The team announced that they have resigned the two-way center to a one-year extension. While under contract with Hersey in 2016-17, Margonari nevertheless played the whole season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. He has just two AHL games under his belt, back in 2015-16, after he signed on with the Bears out of college. Unlike many players whose production drops off at the pro level, Margonari has never been much of a scorer – not at Minnesota State, not with South Carolina, and likely not with Hershey should he make the team. Instead, the 25-year-old simply brings smart decision making and quiet confidence to his role as a defensive forward. While some teams may overlook that ability, it seems to be a trait that the Bears still value.

Minor Transactions: 9/8/17

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The last 24 hours has been a busy one in hockey. There continue to be more and more PTO’s as well as a few traditional contract signings as well, both in the NHL, and the following minor league deals:

  • The New York Ranger’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, have signed 2016-17 AHL All-Star Joe Whitney to a one-year contract, the team announced. A Boston College alum and former captain of the Eagles, the 29-year-old Whitney has had a fine AHL career and has played an important leadership role for many teams, but has not lived up to the potential many saw in college. Whitney spent the first half of his pro career with the AHL’s Albany Devils, eventually earning an NHL contract with New Jersey and appearing in five games with the team between 2013 and 2015. More recently, he has been more of an AHL gun-for-hire, signing one-year deals with the New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche to be a veteran mentor for their young minor leaguers. Whitney was traded to the Arizona Coyotes for Brendan Ranford at the trade deadline this past season to help support the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners down the stretch. However, the Coyotes and seemingly all other AHL teams weren’t interested in a two-way deal for Whitney’s services this season, leading to his AHL deal with the Wolf Pack. Whitney will still be a valuable research in Hartford, bringing leadership and guidance to a locker room with developing young scorers like Ryan Gropp and Adam Tambellini.
  •  Like Whitney, another former Boston College captain has found AHL employment in Chris Calnan. The big, two-way winger has signed with one of the AHL’s newest teams, the Binghamton Devils, the relocated affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. The announcement of the deal by Binghamton received excited recognition from both New Jersey and ECHL-affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms. The whole chain of teams hope that Calnan can bring the same character, tenacity, and leadership that he showed at BC to his pro game, regardless of what level he plays at. Calnan, 23, was a 2012 third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, but became a free agent in August after failing to reach terms on an entry-level deal with the team after four years in college. In Binghamton, Calnan will look to show that he has the intangibles to be a reliable bottom-six forward at the NHL level. He may not be his uncle, Jeremy Roenick, but Calnan looks like he may have pro chops.
  • Unlike Whitney, a pair of fellow former Coyotes have been unable to lock down even an AHL job this off-season. Branden Troock signed on with the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits earlier today, while Henrik Samuelsson came to terms with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads yesterday. Samuelsson, 23, was a first-round pick of the Coyotes back in 2012, but never came close to reaching his potential, beginning with a scoreless three game stint with the ’Yotes in his first pro season in 2014-15 and only going downhill from there. The team ended up trading Samuelsson to the Edmonton Oilers last season for Mitch Moroz, who signed with none other than the Idaho Steelheads this summer. Samuelsson has just 55 points in his three-year AHL career and will have to work if he wants to add to that point total any time soon. Troock, on the other hand, is neither an Arizona draft pick nor an NHL veteran. The 23-year-old was a 5th-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2012 and was traded to the Coyotes this past February alongside the aforementioned and quickly flipped Brandon Ranford for veteran goalie Justin Peters. Arizona did not make any attempts to re-sign Troock, who was a -7 in 20 games with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners to close out the season. Troock is more familiar with the ECHL than Samuelsson, having skated in 28 “AA” games over his three pro seasons.
  • A player with similar luck is former San Jose Sharks prospect Patrick McNally. A 2010 fourth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks and a standout at Harvard, the bruising defenseman just couldn’t find any production at the pro level, scoring 18 points in two seasons with the AHL Barracuda. McNally today signed with the ECHL’s Worcester Railers, who ironically play in the former home of the Barracuda, then the Worcester Sharks.
  • A pair with better fortunes today was Alex Wideman and Tyler Sikura. The ECHL forwards are now AHL forwards, after inking deals with the Rockford Ice Hogs today, as per a team announcement. Wideman, the younger brother of Ottawa Senators defenseman Chris Wideman, is back in the AHL after two full seasons of ECHL playing following a quick stint with his brother on the Binghamton Senators in 2015. The 25-year-old scored 55 points in 70 games last season, the best offensive production of his entire career. Sikura is on an AHL contract for the first time, having only played in the American League on loan after signing with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye out of Dartmouth College in 2015. The former Big Green captain has yet to record an AHL point yet, which will surely be his “goal” when he first hits the ice with Rockford.
  • Journeyman goalie Mark Dekanich will be staying stateside this year. He has re-upped with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. The 31-year-old Dekanich is a ten-year pro; a 2006 draft pick of the Predators, he made one NHL start in Nashville and many more starts with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, then jumped overseas to the KHL before returning to minor league duty in North America. While Dekanich could end up playing much of the season down in the ECHL, as he has the past two seasons since returning from the KHL, Dekanic’s veteran presence could prove helpful for promising young Flyers goalie prospects Alex Lyon and Carter Hart, especially while Anthony Stolarz remains sidelined. However, between that trio of up-and-coming keepers, the veteran duo of Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth in Philly, and Leland Irving and John Muse also on AHL deals, there may be a few too many goalies in Lehigh Valley and Reading this season.

Minor Moves: Erixon, Strachan, Robidas

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The New Jersey Devils have signed Tim Erixon to a professional tryout, bringing in the former NHL defenseman after two years spent entirely in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Erixon is a former first-round pick of the Calgary Flames who has bounced around the NHL during his short career. Suiting up for 93 games split between the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks, Erixon will try to prove that he deserves a permanent home. He’ll join Jimmy Hayes in Devils camp on a PTO.

More news from around the league…

  • The Arizona Coyotes have added journeyman Tyson Strachan on a PTO of their own, bringing him in after a year with the Rochester Americans. The 32-year old Strachan has 186 NHL contests under his belt, but has never had much of an impact in the league.
  • Toronto has officially hired Stephane Robidas as their Assistant Director of Player Development, where he’ll continue many of the duties he took on last year as an unofficial development coach. Robidas was technically still under a player contract last year, but effectively retired due to injury after the 2014-15 season. In 937 career NHL games, he recorded 258 points, but was a bust for the Maple Leafs, who signed him for three years but only saw him suit up in 52 games.
  • Gabe Vilardi, the Los Angeles Kings’ first-round pick this year, will miss training camp with the team due to a back injury that flared up this offseason. Vilardi had an outside chance at cracking the Kings’ roster right away if he exceeded expectations at camp, but this likely confirms he’ll head back to the Windsor Spitfires for next year. Should he get through the year healthy he’s a near-lock for Canada’s World Junior team and could challenge for the OHL’s goal scoring title.

Coyotes Discussed A Multi-Year Deal With Anthony Duclair

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While they ultimately agreed on a one-year deal, the Coyotes and winger Anthony Duclair did discuss multi-year agreements, reports Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic.  However, given Duclair’s struggles last season that saw him record just five goals in 58 games, this contract made a lot of sense and GM John Chayka likes the message that it sends.

“I think that’s a good lesson for all players coming off their entry-level deal.  If they want term and dollar, that’s available to them but they have to perform. And if they don’t perform, then they’re going to have to earn it. That’s how we’re going to operate moving forward.”

McLellan also reports the team has extended a couple of PTO offers although none have been accepted just yet.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see them add a blueliner for training camp with Jakob Chychrun still not being able to skate for a while yet.

Other news from around the hockey world:

  • While it had been speculated that the Bruins would show some interest in bringing back winger Drew Stafford, Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe notes that Boston never engaged in serious talks to re-sign him. Stafford settled for a one-year, $800K contract with the Devils late last month.
  • Although he announced his retirement last week, former Coyote Shane Doan is still on the radar for Team Canada for the upcoming Olympics, head coach Willie Desjardins told CBC’s Devin Heroux. Doan does have experience playing at that level as he was part of the Canadian entry back in 2006.  However, it stands to reason that he would have to be playing somewhere for him to really garner serious consideration for a roster spot and at age 40, it’s far from a given that he’d go overseas to play for a few months primarily to keep him in the mix for the Olympics.

Arizona Signs RFA Anthony Duclair To 1-Year Deal

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AZ Central’s Sarah McLellan reports that Arizona Coyotes restricted free agent Anthony Duclair signed a one-year, $1.2MM contract today with the team today. He is the team’s last remaining free agent.

After being traded to the Coyotes in a 2015 trade from the New York Rangers, Duclair was given the opportunity for a full-time role in Arizona and he took advantage of that, scoring 20 goals and adding 24 assists for 44 points in his first full season. However, he was not able to duplicate that last year, as he was only able to put up five goals and 10 assists in 58 games before being demoted to the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL. His one-year deal will be a “prove it” contract.

Often referred to as a player who does not create his own offense, Duclair should have an improved year with all the new talent that is arriving from Arizona this year. The team added Derek Stepan as well as are counting on youngsters like Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak to help aid the offense.

Rick Dhaliwal of 1130 Sports reported the amount of the one-year deal, while Craig Morgan of AZ Central reported the two sides were close to a deal.

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