A couple quick points on some players, plus my opinion of the minor trade that happened and the coaching hires that have happened recently
For today’s news and rumours I will do a couple of quick tidbits on some players being mentioned in trade rumours, my opinion on some coaching hires, a minor trade that happened as well as some more signings that have happened.
Ethan Bear: seems like his time in Carolina is over after Carolina have him permission to look for a trade. The pending RFA is still a top 4 Defensemen in my opinion and a team who could use a cheaper top 4 D-Men like Seattle, Dallas or Buffalo should all be looking into acquiring him.
Alex DeBrincat: seems like he could be gone this offseason as the Hawks are taking offers on him. It it would have to be a major offer that probably has 4-5 young pieces going back to Chicago. A team in need of a top 6 forward like Philly, NYI or Ottawa should all have interest in the good scoring winger.
Josh Anderson: the Canadiens don’t seem to keen to want to move him but if a good package came along then they might be okay with trading him. As he is signed long term and a physical forward there will probably be lots of teams looking to acquire him as some teams like New Jersey, New York I and Seattle should all have interest in the power forward.
Martin Necas: the young player has lost his top 6 role too Seth Jarvis this past season and it seems like a fresh start might be in order as he looks for a bigger role. Any team in need of a young middle six forward should want Necas and if the Canes could get a young defender in return I think they would do a Necas deal.
J.T Miller: things seem to be heating up on the Miller front. The Canucks are trying to get a reasonable extension done to keep him but it seems less and less likely the longer he isn’t signed that he will remain in Vancouver. As a top 6 player who can play Center he will definitely be a hot commodity and I think teams with a 2nd line Center holes like Colorado, Washington and Pittsburgh are all going to go hard after the good forward.
Blake Wheeler: the veteran captain of the Jets May have player his last game as a Jet as boy he the team and player are looking hard to find a trade to get him out of Winnipeg. Wheeler has a no move clause so a trade would be difficult but if they send him somewhere he likes I am sure that he will go. While he is expensive he is still a good middle six forward and could be a veteran presence on a up and coming team like maybe Seattle, New Jersey or Buffalo.
Mackenzie Blackwood: the Devils goalie has fallen fast in recent years and things are stating to sound like he might be moved to get a better more established goalie. I still think Blackwood has value as a 1B and could still be a tandem goalie but it doesn’t look like it would be in New Jersey as I would suspect team who could use a cheap tandem goalie like Edmonton, Anaheim and Toronto could all have interest in the young net minder.
Pierre Luc Dubois: it seems as though Dubois is now happy enough in Winnipeg to sign a long term extension as he has stated that he will be testing free agency when he is eligible in 2 years time. Dubois didn’t say he wanted out of Winnipeg so signing him to a 1 or 2 year deal is still a possibility but if the Jets do trade him then expect a big return and some teams who have come up as possible suitors are the Rangers and Canadiens.
Tyson Barrie: the Oilers need cap space and expandable Barrie seems likely to go. Barrie has been good in Edmonton and definitely has been able to be a offensive defensemen but Bouchard has matured enough to make Barrie expandable and teams who have questions on the defensive side like Pittsburgh, Dallas and Carolina should all have interest in the Oilers defensemen.
Minor trade alert
Nashville Columbus
2022 4RD (TOR 122nd) Mathieu Olivier
Analysis: the Predators and Blue Jackets made a minor trade last night as the Predators moved a young forward who hasn’t gotten much NHL time lately for a late round draft pick. For the Blue Jackets they are getting a young depth forward who is entering the final year of his deal before becoming a RFA. Olivier has 48 games of NHL experience under his belt and has got 3 goals and 7 points in those games. I think that he is most likely going to play in the AHL next year but depending on how his play is to start in the AHL and what the Jackets offense looks like after this offseason I could see him maybe carve out a role on the Jackets fourth line at some point next year. As for the Predators they get a mid round pick for a decent depth forward who wasn’t getting much playing time in Nashville and the 4RD pick now gets them back to 7 draft picks in the upcoming draft and 5 in the first 4 rounds. So this is a pretty even trade as the Predators get some more draft capital for their team and the Blue Jackets are able to get some forward depth for the upcoming season.
Here is some coaching news
The Blackhawks have jumped into the coaching waters and now have their new head coach for the next few seasons.
After going through a pretty long coaching search the Blackhawks have let interim coach Derek King go and have now announced that former Canadiens assistant coach Luke Richardson is the new head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Richardson does have NHL head coach experience but only a few games as he took over for Ducharme in Montreal for a few games in the playoffs while Ducharme had covid but he has been a assistant for a while and was coach in the AHL before so he does have a bit of coaching experience.
I think Richardson could do a good job coaching the younger guys which will be huge given the Blackhawks are entering a rebuild and won’t be in win now mode for a few years but for you gets guys especially on the backend like Caleb Jones, Vlasic, Regula, Stillman and also forwards like Katchouk, Raddysh, Kurashev, Dach and Reichel and I think that when this team is ready to compete he will be able to get the best out of them.
He signed a 4 year deal at $1.5 Million now I probably would have gone 3 years given he is a first time head coach in the NHL but I think 4 years is also okay and he only gets a $1.5 Million dollar AAV on the contract which is less then most of the coaches who are signing and I think as a first time head coach it makes sense, and I think that Richardson will wind up being a great for with the Blackhawks for the next few years.
The Red Wings have brought in a guy who also is having his first NHL head coaching job to become the Wings head coach.
After Detroit had a awful second half of the season they let head coach Jeff Blashill who was about to have his Contract expire go and have now brough in his replacement as it is former Lightning assistant coach Derek Lalonde.
Lalonde was a AHL head coach years ago so he does have some experience as head coach but not at the NHL level and has been assistant in Tampa for a few years now and was part of the Lightning’s two Stanley Cup wins and three Stanley Cup appearances and the Red Wings GM Yzerman used to be GM of Tampa so he knows what Lalonde is capable of and I think Lalonde can grow with this team.
Lalonde as I said was a big part of Tampa’s success and I think that he can bring that success to Detroit. Now unlike the Bolts the Red Wings have a younger team but I still think he can do great things with the Red Wings as the Bolts were able to have a great defence and score at opportune moments as well as having a solid starter in net and I think that with Hronek and Seider they have the beginning of a great defence and with guys like Larkin, Fabbri and Raymond as well as a pretty good goalie in Nedeljkovic so I think they have a pretty decent team to build around.
The terms for Lalonde haven’t been announced to my knowledge but as soon as they are I will give my opinion on it but I do believe this is a smart and good hire by the Red Wings and Lalonde should be able to lead the Red Wings back to the playoffs soon.
The Bruins have joined the party as they were able to get their new head coach under contract as well.
The Bruins took a while longer then other teams but a while after the season finished they fired head coach Bruce Cassidy as it seemed he didn’t do to well with the younger kids and have finally found his replacement as the Bruins have hired former Blues assistant and Stars head coach Jim Montgomery as the new head coach of the Bruins.
Montgomery does have a background of NHL coaching experience as he coached for a year and a half with Dallas before they let him go and after his struggles with alcohol abuse was able to get a assistant coach job with the Blues and helped the Blues be a good team and the Bruins hope he can continue his success with them.
I would suspect that he could be a good fit for the Bruins and maybe he will be better with the younger players like McAvoy, Swayman, DeBrusk etc, and I think that he could definitely help the players a lot more then Cassidy as he is a more player first coach and I think if this team loosened up a bit they could still make the playoffs but also get past the first round.
Now the terms on the deal is a 3 year deal at $2 Million per year and I live both aspects of the contract as the 3 year deal is good for a coach who is getting back to being a head coach and the $2 Million per year is nowhere glose the amount that guys like Cassidy and Tortorella are making so this is a great contract for Boston and I think Montgomery will be a fantastic coach for the Bruins.
Now just a quick couple of things as it sounds like Rick Bowness who is the former coach of Dallas will be the new coach of Winnipeg although nothing has been confirmed and Bob Boughner has been fired by the San Jose Sharks earlier today and these two thing I will be discussing on my next blog post on Sunday after we get more deatails.
And here is a list of all signings for the NHL from JUN 22nd to JUN 30th
Pacific
Los Angeles
Goaltender Matt Villalta and the Los Angeles Kings have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.789 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next year. The former 3rd round pick finally got a regular AHL opportunity last year and took it and ran as he put up a 2.98 GAA and a .903 SV% in 46 AHL games and has shown he can be a good AHL player and while I do t think he is quite NHL ready year I do think he will be the Kings 3rd stringer next year and be called upon to play at the NHL level of there is a injury.
Seattle
Left side defensemen Gustav Olofsson and the Seattle Keaken have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a $.750 Thousand dollar AAV and the deal will begin next season. Olofsson spent all of his time in the AHL with Charlotte putting up 9 points in 41 games and while he does have 59 games of NHL experience under his belt I would assume that he will be a AHL player next season.
Vancouver
Center Sheldon Dries and the Vancouver Canucks have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension at a AAV of $.763 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will start next year. Dries has minimum NHL experience as he has only got I to 59 games in his career putting up 9 points in those games but had a breakout year this year in the AHL as he got 62 points in 54 games and also had 3 points in 11 NHL games and I think that he will probably play in the AHL but I could see him be a depth forward when called upon and I wouldn’t be surprised if he does wind up being a fourth line player.
Center John Stevens has been extended by the Vancouver Canucks on a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will start next year. Stevens is a undrafted forward who finally broke out in the AHL getting 43 points this season and although he may make the NHL someday I would expect him to remain in the AHL for next season.
Left side defensemen Guillaume Brisebois and the Vancouver Canucks have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars per year and the contract kicks in next year. Brisebois has played in 10 NHL games in his career and I would expect him to continue to be a depth player in Vancouver and most likely play next year in the AHL.
Central
Dallas
Right side defensemen Joseph Cecconi and the Dallas Stars have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a $.750 Thousand dollar cap hit and the deal will begin next season. Cecconi had a breakout year in the AHL this past year and while I think he could have a NHL future I would definitely expect him to play in the AHL next year.
Left side defensemen Ryan Shea and the Dallas Stars have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will begin next year. Shea had a solid season of production in his 2nd season in the AHL putting up 32 points in 66 games and while he could eventually be a NHL player I would believe that next year he will once agin play in the AHL.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood and the Dallas Stars have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $1 Million dollars per year and the deal will begin next year. After a few years in the AHL Wdgewood sort of became a possible backup option and after spending last year with New Jersey, Arizona and Dallas he couldn’t find a home but proved he belonged in the NHL as he had a .901 SV% in 37 games with those three teams and with the Stars already having their starter in Oettinger they can now have Wedgewood on a cheap contract be their full time backup as I think Wedgewood has now established himself enough to be a full time backup at the NHL level.
Left Winger Riley Tufte and the Dallas Stars have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will begin next year. Tufte got his first taste of NHL action this year with Dallas and didn’t do half bad putting up 1 goal in 10 games but after a career high 20 points in the AHL I think that he will probably start in the AHL but definitely challenge for being a 4th line forward at the NHL level for the Stars.
Minnesota
Left Winger Connor Dewar and the Minnesota Wild have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.800 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will start next year. Dewar was able to get his first chance at the NHL level this year as he got 2 goals and 6 points in 35 games this year and I would suspect that he fights hard for a roster spot on the Wild and I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a bottom six roster spot next year.
Nashville
Center Cody Glass signes a 1 year contract extension with the Nashville Predators that will carry a AAV of $.874 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will begin next season. Glass was a 6th overall pick in 2017 but only has 23 points in 74 NHL games played in his career which is nowhere close to what he should be producing as a top 10 player so I think that after having a career year in the AHL putting up 62 points he will probably play in the AHL next year but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was able to carve out a 4th line role in Nashville.
Atlantic
Buffalo
Center Sean Malone and the Buffalo Sabres have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Malone has only played in 2 NHL games in his career as he has been mostly a AHL player but had a career high 37 points in the AHL this past season and while I think he plays in the AHL next year I do believe he could be a call up option if Buffalo runs into injury trouble.
Goaltender Craig Anderson and the Buffalo Sabres have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $1.5 Million per year and the deal will begin next year. As this time last year Anderson was contemplating retirement but Buffalo signed him and gave him one last chance to play a NHL role and he helped stabilize Buffalos goalie position as he surprised many people putting up a 3.12 GAA and a .897 SV% in 31 GP and I think that if they have enough confidence in UPL then this two will be a tandem with Anderson being 1A but if they still want another goalie this year then I could see Anderson being backup or 1B to another goalie but the old veteran will get yet another chance at the NHL this season.
Detroit
Goaltender Victor Brattstrom and the Detroit Red Wings have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a $.750 Thousand dollars AAV and the deal will kick in next season. Brattstrom played in his first pro season this year in the AHL and didn’t do half had having a .894 SV % in 32 games and I would expect him to go back to the AHL and be the Red Wings 3rd string goalie for next season.
Florida
Left side defensemen Matt Kierstad and the Florida Panthers have agreed to a $.763 Thousand dollar AAV and the deal will kick in next year. Kierstad has had limited NHL action as he only has 17 NHL games in his career over the last 2 seasons but was in a deep Panthers blueline and has put up back to back 20 point seasons in the AHL and I would believe that he will probably play in the AHL next year but if the Panthers lose some pieces on the defence then I could see him carve out a NHL spot on the 3rd pair.
Tampa Bay
Right side defensemen Darren Raddysh and the Tampa Bay Lightning have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.763 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will kick in next year. Raddysh got into his first 4 NHL games of his career this year and put up 20 points in a season in the AHL for the 4th time and even though the Lightning could change their defence a bit I think he will be in the AHL next year.
Toronto
Right Side Defensemen Timothy Liljegren and the Toronto Maple have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $1.4 Million and the deal will start next year. Liljegren has his first full NHL season this year and proved he belongs in the NHL as he had 5 goals and 23 points in 61 NHL games this year and I think he is a big part of the Leafs future and a possible top 4 defensemen in the the future but this is a great contract and I would think Liljegren will play on the 3rd pair with Giordano next year.
Metro
Philadelphia
Goaltender Felix Sandstrom ans the Philadelphia Flyers have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a $.775 Thousand dollar AAV and the deal will begin next year. Sandstrom has continued his great AHL play this season with a .902 SV% and a 2.89 GAA and he actually got his first taste of NHL action this year playing 5 games and 3.23 GAA and a .910 SV% and while he did good in his limited NHL action I think he will play in the AHL but be their 3rd stringer and if one of the Flyers goalies got injured then he could be called up and play.
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