Back to OHL Roundtable
Russ Cohen
RussCo@THNews
2 followers · 1 followings
I've been covering the NHL full-time since 2001 and hockey prospects almost as long.
Joined at Dec 13, 2024Activity
OHL RoundtablePublished
Comments
Get Ready for the Shane Pinto Show, Senators Fans
After missing almost all of 2021-22 with an injury, Shane Pinto is back and ready to make his case for the Calder Trophy with a revamped Ottawa Senators club.
When Shane Pinto returned to the Ottawa Senators lineup on Nov. 13, fans had baited anticipation.
He had previously injured his shoulder just two shifts into a game against San Jose the previous month after making himself known in Ottawa's top six, and he was expected to be an intriguing piece of the team's young core.
Instead, just a couple of minutes into the first period, he re-injured his shoulder leaning in for a faceoff and his season was over after five games.
So, call this a redo – and one that could have ended even quicker. After an impressive start to the rookie tournament, he took a puck up in his collarbone, immediately sending him to the change room.
"I was thinking, "What? Are you serious? First game back?" Pinto said with a smile after closing out Ottawa's opening game against Boston.
Luckily, he just missed two shifts before going out and scoring his second of the game in an eventual loss.
Pinto and Co. are now in the midst of training camp, with the Sens looking to take a big step forward in 2022-23 with a promising young core. Pinto is one of those key pieces, putting up an impressive 32 points in 28 games as a sophomore at the University of North Dakota in 2020-21. Had all gone to plan, he'd challenge for a top-six spot with the club last year.
One rookie tournament game is one thing. A full rigorous training camp with eight exhibition games, though, is an entirely different animal. Pinto doesn't have the experience to fall back on, so he'll have to lean a bit on his youthful energy here. Pinto should have no issue cracking the final roster, but finding his place in it is the big challenge here.
Pinto said his shoulder feels good now to do what he did prior to his injury, and that's a promising sign. He describes himself as a two-way centerman that wins faceoffs (stats weren't made available at rookie camp, but he had to have lost about two of them all game) and plays a smart, reliable game.
Pinto has a good frame at 6-foot-2 and just over 190 pounds, allowing him to hold his own against stronger competition. He didn't look out of place in his limited NHL action last year, skating in 18 minutes or more – with a high point of 21:12 against Dallas on Oct. 17 – in his three full games. He only put up one point, but he had a couple of solid looks against Toronto in the season opener and would have eventually figured things out.
Pinto should push the likes of Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris for more ice time this year, and if Pinto looks ready to go by the time the Sens kick things off for real, we could be talking about a potential dark horse Calder Trophy candidate.
Pinto's former North Dakota teammate, Jake Sanderson, might have something to say about that, but the Sens added some extra scoring help on the wings this summer in Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux to help spark more offensive opportunities. They might not be full-timers on a line with Pinto, but this is an Ottawa team trending in the right direction, and Pinto's prowess as an all-around center on a team with a few middlemen to work with could allow for some interesting combinations.
Pinto knows how to shoot the puck, and while he's a solid passer, his ability to send a shot wherever he wants was what made him such a dangerous goal-scorer in the NCAA. It wasn't uncommon for him to score more goals than assists in a season in the years leading up to turning pro and a 20-goal rookie season definitely isn't out of the question.
If Pinto starts slow, however, that won't be too surprising. It's hard for a young player to miss so much time in what's supposed to be a considerable development year, but Pinto said missing the season was a considerable learning experience.
"It humbled me and honestly just made me appreciate the game so much more," Pinto said. "It was taken away from me and now I'm just grateful to be back."
Now that he is back, let's see what the real Shane Pinto is capable of.
See more0
0
0
0
Nolan Patrick to Miss 2022-23 NHL Season
The Golden Knights have confirmed that Nolan Patrick will not play this season, joining Shea Weber and Robin Lehner on the sidelines.
Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon told reporters on Thursday that Nolan Patrick will not play during the 2022-23 season.
McCrimmon also reaffirmed that Robin Lehner and Shea Weber will miss the season too.
Patrick's career has been dominated by injuries, starting off with shoulder issues in junior and surgery for a sports hernia. Patrick was drafted second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017 and in 2019-20, he was diagnosed with migraine issues that ultimately caused him to miss all of that season.
He went 650 days before games when he finally re-appeared in the Flyers lineup on Jan. 13, 2021, missing just four games that year with the Golden Knights. Concussions limited him to just 25 games with Vegas, totaling seven points.
See more0
0
0
0
EA Sports Reveals Top Rated Players for NHL 23
Connor McDavid is the top-ranked player for NHL 23. How does the rest of the league's top stars compare?
It's that time of year again.
NHL 23 is only a few weeks away from its official release, and EA Sports has revealed the rankings of the top players in the game.
Connor McDavid, unsurprisingly, is the top-rated player in the game at 95, retaining the top spot and overall he had in NHL 22. Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon were both elevated to 94, while Cale Makar, also the at 94, is the highest-rated defenseman, regardless of side.
For goaltenders, Andrei Vasilevskiy bounces from 92 to 94. Igor Shesterkin, who wasn't a top 10 goalie in last year's game, is now second at 92.
In total, 31 players will start with at least a 90 overall rating, with eight centermen and eight left wingers leading the way.
For a full top 50 ranking, click here.
NHL 23 is set for release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on Oct. 14, 2022. For more details on new features, click here.
---
Top Centers
- Connor McDavid, Edmonton - 95
- Auston Matthews, Toronto - 94
- Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado - 94
- Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton - 93
- Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh - 93
- Aleksander Barkov, Florida - 92
- Steven Stamkos, Tampa Ba - 90
- Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh - 90
- Sebastian Aho, Carolina - 89
- Patrice Bergeron, Boston - 89
Top Left Wingers
- Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary - 92
- Artemi Panarin, NY Rangers - 92
- Alex Ovechkin, Washington - 92
- Brad Marchand, Boston - 91
- Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota - 91
- Johnny Gaudreau, Columbus - 90
- Matthew Tkachuk, Florida - 90
- Kyle Connor, Winnipeg - 90
- Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado - 89
- Filip Forsberg, Nashville - 89
Top Right Wingers
- Patrick Kane, Chicago - 93
- Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay - 92
- Mikko Rantanen, Colorado - 91
- David Pastrnak, Boston - 91
- Mitch Marner, Toronto - 90
- Alex DeBrincat, Ottawa - 89
- Mark Stone, Vegas - 89
- Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina - 88
- Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis - 88
- Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis - 88
Top Left Defensemen
- Roman Josi, Nashville - 93
- Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay - 93
- Devon Toews, Colorado - 88
- Morgan Rielly, Toronto - 88
- Miro Heiskanen, Dallas - 88
- Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo - 88
- Quinn Hughes, Vancouver - 87
- Zach Werenski, Columbus - 87
- Jaccob Slavin, Carolina - 87
- Shea Theodore, Vegas - 87
Top Right Defensemen
- Cale Makar, Colorado - 94
- Adam Fox, NY Rangers - 90
- John Carlson, Washington - 90
- Charlie McAvoy, Boston - 89
- Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas - 89
- Aaron Ekblad, Florida - 89
- Drew Doughty, Los Angeles - 89
- Kris Letang, Pittsburgh - 88
- Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey - 88
- Moritz Seider, Detroit - 87
Top Goaltenders
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay - 94
- Igor Shesterkin, NY Rangers - 92
- Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg - 90
- Jacob Markstrom, Calgary - 90
- John Gibson, Anaheim - 90
- Thatcher Demko, Vancvouer - 89
- Juuse Saros, Nashville - 89
- Frederik Andersen, Carolina - 89
- Ilya Sorokin, NY Islanders - 88
- Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida - 88
See more0
0
0
0
Ryan Ellis Expected to Miss 2022-23 With Potential Career-Threatening Injury
Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said there is no timetable for Ellis' return and Fletcher said it would be a "bonus" if he played at all in 2022-23 – while also calling it a career-threatening injury a "possibility."
During a media availability on Thursday, Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said there is no timetable for Ellis' return and Fletcher said it would be a "bonus" if he played at all in 2022-23.
Fletcher said that Ellis suffered a torn psoas muscle last year, which has caused significant hip and core issues for the defenseman. Ellis played in just four games with the Flyers after being moved in a trade from the Nashville Predators during the summer.
When asked if there was a chance that the injury could end the 31-year-old's career, Fletcher called it a possibility.
"I'll just say that my assumption is he won't play this season," Fletcher said. "If he does, it'll be a bonus. That's how we've prepared this offseason by making the additions we did on the blue line."
The Flyers acquired Tony DeAngelo from Carolina during the 2022 NHL draft to address the team's potential hole on the backend.
Ellis has five years and roughly $30 million in salary still remaining on his current contract.
Sean Couturier, who re-injured his back last week, isn't ruled out for the entirety of the season just yet, with the Flyers calling it a "week-to-week" injury.
See more0
0
0
0
Islanders Sign Schneider, Soshnikov, Wotherspoon to One-Year Deals
The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Cory Schneider, forward Nikita Soshnikov and defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to one-year contracts.
The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Cory Schneider, forward Nikita Soshnikov and defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to one-year contracts.
Schneider, 36, will continue to serve as a depth goaltender for the Islanders after playing in one game last season. He mainly played in the AHL with Bridgeport, recording a 14-11-6 record with one shutout in 30 games. He was part of the Isles' taxi squad in 2020-21, with his last real NHL starting duties coming back in 2017-18 when he played in 40 games with the New Jersey Devils.
Soshnikov, 28, has 87 games of NHL experience between St. Louis and Toronto, last playing for the Blues in 2018-19. He spent the past three years in the KHL, making his mark as a speedy playmaker. A player rarely gets a second shot at the NHL at his age, so it's a nice story.
Wotherspoon, 25, has yet to play an NHL game after spending the past five years in Bridgeport. A tough defenseman, he was the Islanders' last remaining RFA, and will likely return back to the minors.
See more0
0
0
0
Alex Galchenyuk to Join Avalanche on Tryout Contract
Forward Alex Galchenyuk is expected to join the Colorado Avalanche on a PTO after spending last year with the Arizona Coyotes.
According to The Athletic's Peter Baugh, forward Alex Galchenyuk is set to join the Colorado Avalanche on a PTO.
Galchenyuk has bounced around a lot since getting drafted third overall by Montreal in 2012, playing for the Canadiens, for Arizona (twice), Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Ottawa, Toronto and even spending a few days on Carolina's roster in 2020-21.
Galchenyuk had 21 points in 60 games for the Coyotes last year with a career-high of 56 in Montreal in 2015-16. He had a 51-point season in 2017-18 before getting traded to Arizona for Max Domi, with his 41-point run in 2018-19 marking his best offensive output since leaving the Habs.
If Galchenyuk is to make the Avs, he'll serve as a decent bottom-six forward on a team with solid depth to begin with. Despite not creating much offense the past few years, he still can be dangerous around the net and is a good enough skater to continue competing in the NHL.
See more0
0
0
0
Juraj Slafkovsky Wants to Prove He Belongs in the NHL
Canadiens fans got their first taste of Juraj Slafkovsky in game action in Buffalo this past weekend. For the No. 1 pick, though, the work has just begun.
BUFFALO - It might not be the real thing yet, but Juraj Slafkovsky was worth the $10 admission to see him play at the Buffalo Prospects Challenge this past weekend.
From a physical first game to a big win on Sunday, Slafkovsky got his first taste of "NHL" hockey in a Canadiens uniform two months after going first overall at the 2022 draft in Montreal. In the eyes of many, Slafkovsky was a surprising first overall pick after Shane Wright dominated the conversation for a couple of years.
Nobody felt the need to validate the selection more than Slafkovsky himself.
“It’s nice to be first or second overall, but you still have to prove it," Slafkovsky said after the first game. “So I just focus more on training and didn’t really care about anything from the outside. I didn’t really think like,`Wow, now I’m No. 1. That’s nice. I don’t need to train.’”
If there's anything Slafkovsky has, it's self-confidence in his own play. Once he started to get more comfortable playing against men, especially internationally, he began to really find his footing and fight his way up the draft rankings. His play at the Olympics, where he took the MVP title despite being one of the youngest players in the tournament, was evidence of that. Slafkovsky believes in himself and is also self-aware enough to know his flaws and what he needs to do to improve.
Slafkovsky isn't a lock to go straight to the NHL, something that hasn't happened to a forward taken first overall since 1991 when Eric Lindros held out and didn't play for Quebec. The year before that, Mats Sundin stayed in Sweden to help his team win a league title, and did just that.
He's making a case to make the Habs out of training camp, though, which wouldn't be surprising for a team that became the first to finish 32nd in league history.
Slafkovsky had an eventful 2021-22 campaign, posting 10 points in 31 regular season games with top Finnish league team TPS. Internationally, he played at the U-18 and U-20 levels and played in multiple men's hockey tournaments, highlighted by his run in Beijing. Slafkovsky proved he could play against men, and after adding an extra 11 pounds to his frame – standing at 6-foot-3 and 239 pounds now – he's physically ready to take the next step, wherever that ends up being.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qyBz-RXRow[/embed]
In Buffalo, Slafkovsky did exactly what was expected of him: he showed he's physically ready to play in the NHL and has the smarts to get out of trouble. He didn't do a ton of play-driving, but give him room to shoot and he'll punish you like he did seven times in Beijing.
Slafkovsky didn't blow anyone away by any means in Buffalo, and didn't even play the second game against New Jersey. It was a tournament to get the young guys together and perhaps find a few unsigned gems. Slafkovsky was there to get the reps in and prepare to make the Habs out of training camp, with the extra playing time giving him a nice boost ahead of the real deal. He'll slide into some exhibition games and allow the coaching staff a chance to see if he's worthy of making it full-time.
At the very least, the opposition liked what they saw out of him.
“(He was) as advertised,” Rochester Americans Seth Appert said of Slafkovsky after Thursday's game. “I saw him practice and I was like, `My gosh. He’s massive, right? He has a presence about him. He’s got the square jaw. He looks like a man.”
Slafkovsky told reporters prior to the battle against the Sabres that he'll take every game moving forward as an opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL – the bare minimum you'd expect from a prospect of Slafkovsky's skill level. And while it was a good start in Buffalo, there's still a lot of room to go until Montreal's home opener on Oct. 12 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Whether or not Slafkovsky makes the NHL right away – and a stint with Laval won't hurt, either – is still a mystery, and whether or not he improved his chances based on his rookie camp is up to the beholder. Everything else is now all up to Slafkovsky himself.
See more0
0
0
0
P.K. Subban Announces Retirement From NHL
P.K. Subban, a Norris Trophy winner and Olympic champion, has called it a career after 13 years.
P.K. Subban has decided to call it a career at the age of 33.
Drafted 43rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, Subban went on to play 834 games with Montreal, Nashville and New Jersey, recording 467 points and another 62 in 96 playoff games. He led all defensemen in scoring with 38 points in 2012-13 en route to winning the Norris Trophy and was a finalist two other times, in 2015 and 2018.
Subban won gold with Canada as part of the dominant 2014 Olympic team and was named to the NHL's first all-star team the following year. Subban's best seasons were with the Canadiens, but was moved in a shocking deal that sent him to Nashville in exchange for Shea Weber.
Subban helped the Predators make the Stanley Cup in 2017, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but then followed it up with an impressive 59-point campaign the following year.
Subban was later traded to New Jersey in 2019-20, and his career started to tail off from there. His $9-million AAV deal made him a tough trade target, and his performance didn't warrant the cost at that point. Still, Subban's accomplishments speak for themselves.
See more0
0
0
0
Rangers Trade Nils Lundkvist to Stars for Conditional First
The New York Rangers have traded defenseman Nils Lundkvist to the Stars in exchange for a conditional top 10 protected first-round pick in 2023.
The Dallas Stars have landed a big-name prospect.
The New York Rangers have traded defenseman Nils Lundkvist to the Stars in exchange for a conditional top 10 protected first-round pick in 2023 and a conditional fourth-round selection in 2025.
The Athletic‘s Shayna Goldman first reported the news.
According to the New York Times' Larry Brooks, if the pick ends up being a top 10 pick, it'll roll over to 2024.
Lundkvist has 25 games of NHL experience, recording four points in 2021-22 while also getting into 34 games with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. The 22-year-old blueliner has previously been a high-impact player with Sweden's national team and was named Swedish defenseman of the year after the 2020-21 season.
Skilled puck-moving defenseman don't become available often at Lundkvist's age, but with a crowded Rangers blueline, he requested a trade to earn a better shot at ice time. In Dallas, a fringe playoff team, he has that potential now.
See more0
0
0
0
Sean Couturier Expected to Miss Significant Time With Back Injury
Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier is expected to miss several months, if not more, due to a herniated disc in his back, according to reports.
According to Crossing Broad's Anthony SanFilippo, Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier is expected to miss several months, if not more, due to a herniated disc in his back.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman added that both Couturier and the team are seeking another opinion to determine the full extent of the injury. Friedman reported that the pain occurred within the past few days.
Couturier only skated in 29 games last year with the same injury and required surgery in February. Couturier had 17 points in 29 games in 2021-21 and 41 points in 45 games the year before that. He last played in 80-plus games back in 2018-19, with the two seasons after that getting affected due to COVID-19.
Couturier was slated to re-join the Flyers in a top-line role in an attempt to spark a Flyers team that missed the playoffs last year.
In separate Flyers news, the team signed veteran forward Artem Anisimov to a tryout contract. Anisimov has 376 points in 771 career games, last skating in 19 games with Ottawa in 2020-21. Anisimov played with the KHL's Yaroslavl Lokomotiv last year.
See more0
0
0
0
Kurtis Gabriel Retires from Professional Hockey
Kurtis Gabriel, who spent time with Minnesota, New Jersey, San Jose and Chicago, has announced his retirement from hockey at the age of 29.
Kurtis Gabriel, who spent time with Minnesota, New Jersey, San Jose and Chicago, has announced his retirement from hockey at the age of 29.
The 2013 third-round pick had five points in 51 games over five seasons, while also seeing some pre-season action with Toronto and Philadelphia. In the AHL, where he spent most of his career, Gabriel had 39 goals and 72 points over nine years.
Gabriel was known more for his physical play, with the 6-foot-4 forward registering 639 penalty minutes in the AHL and 153 in the NHL.
Gabriel also won an OHL championship in 2010-11 as a member of the Owen Sound Attack.
See more0
0
0
0
Cayden Primeau Has the Opportunity He Was Waiting for in Montreal
As the Canadiens look to a goaltending future that might not include Carey Price, Cayden Primeau has the opportunity to make a big splash.
For years, Habs fans have wondered what the post-Carey Price era was going to look like.
And with Price expected to miss most, if not all of 2022-23, that reality might come sooner rather than later.
Price's miracle playoff run in 2021 was likely the last true competitive hockey we've seen from the man that has owned the crease at the Bell Centre since 2007. It was a rocky road at times, but in an era where the Canadiens rarely contended for the Stanley Cup, he was always a bright light.
Montreal got a taste of life after Carey last season, with Price playing in just five games, winning the final one before a standing ovation from the Bell Centre faithful. He's expected to miss all of 2022-23 with a knee injury, and at 35, his playing days are likely behind him.
Six goalies got into at least one game with the Habs last year, and three -- Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau -- will return this fall. When healthy, Allen was the starter last year, but Montembeault -- a waiver pickup -- ended up playing more games due to Allen's injuries. Primeau played in 12 games with a measly 1-7-1 record and a .868 save percentage. Ugly numbers, but he didn't exactly get goal support, either.
Allen should be the No. 1 once again, but if there has ever been a time for Primeau to take the opportunity by the horns, it's now.
Fresh off of signing a three-year contract, Primeau finds himself having to prove himself capable of more playing time this season after years of bouncing between the NHL and Laval of the AHL. He still has a mountain to climb, and he hasn't proven himself capable of being a No. 1 yet, but the path to that role has never been clearer.
He just has to prove that now.
Primeau was a Northeastern University commit but was just coming off of a season with middling stats with the USHL's Lincoln Stars. Primeau wasted no time showing what he was capable of in the NCAA, though, winning the top Hockey East goalie title twice and the NCAA's overall top goalie award in 2019 before going pro for the 2019-20 season.
So the talent is there. And while his pro numbers have been a bit all over the place, there's hope Primeau can be the long-term guy -- he's just 23, after all.
“At every level, there’s an adjustment phase,” Primeau said on a media call on Thursday. “The AHL was no different. It took some time to get used to. But I’ve done pretty well to adjust and acclimate to the pace to the next level.
"I’m confident that I can do that in the NHL and I have performed well. It’s just sometimes a little inconsistent. So the biggest thing is just trying to be consistent moving forward.”
Allen, 32, has one year left on his $2.875-million AAV deal, while Montembeault has two years left at $1 million. Allen could end up being a trade target down the line, and Montembeault is expendable, and he was a bright spot at points last year in a crease situation that had so few.
In Primeau's case, he's one the first one-way contract of his career, which shows a sign of commitment from GM Kent Hughes. With the three-year deal, it can be a sign of patience by management for a team that is going to have a better chance of contending for Connor Bedard's services than a playoff spot. For a young goalie, the pressure of playing for a team that's going to be pummeled can be a tough one -- but his contract suggests the team thinks he'll be part of the long-term solution, and that can be a huge relief for a young goalie still trying to find his legs.
Don't expect Primeau to get the net right away – he has to earn it, and there are others ahead of him in the depth chart. But if Primeau is going to be the team's goaltender of the future, and if Price is indeed not returning, this season will be an indicator of whether or not that ends up happening. They don't need Primeau to strike gold immediately, but it would be beneficial if he did for all parties involved – luckily, the three-year deal gives a bit of breathing room.
But now, everything is in Primeau's hands.
See more0
0
0
0
San Jose Sharks Unveil New Jerseys for 2022-23
The San Jose Sharks have dug back into their roots for their new home and away jerseys, with the team officially showing them off on Wednesday evening.
Well, it wasn't exactly breaking news.
Just over a week after leaked pictures of San Jose's new uniforms appeared online, the Sharks have officially revealed new designs for 2022-23,
The design, tabbed as "Evolve", is teal-heavy, featuring black and white stripes and the team's traditional logo. On the shoulder is an updated shark fin logo from the one last used in 2007, going from grey to black.
The Sharks will also use other teal-colored equipment, including helmets and gloves.
The design isn't too far off of what was worn during the team's inception until 1998, when they changed to have different striping on the arms and sides.
The jersey is similar to the team's 25th and 30th-anniversary special edition uniforms, with the 30th jerseys -- used in 2020-21 -- getting featured on the modern Adidas jersey still used today.
See more0
0
0
0
Will the Tkachuk Trade Pay Off for the Panthers?
Matthew Tkachuk was a huge get for the Florida Panthers, but will the cost that it took to get him end up hurting the team down the road?
Matthew Tkachuk was a huge get for the Florida Panthers, but will the cost that it took to get him end up hurting the team down the road?
0
0
0
0
Evan Rodrigues Signs One-Year Deal with Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have signed the best free agent available, inking forward Evan Rodrigues to a one-year deal worth $2 million.
The Colorado Avalanche have signed the best free agent available, inking forward Evan Rodrigues to a one-year deal worth $2 million.
Rodrigues, 29, is coming off of a career-best 43-point season, highlighted by 19 goals, the first double-digit goal count of his career. Rodrigues seemed to fit in anywhere he played last year, especially with Sidney Crosby, which inflated his numbers.
Still, Rodrigues' numbers on a team that struggled with injuries was promising, and adding him to a team fresh off of the Stanley Cup will allow him to continue to build on his momentum. With the right teammates, 20 goals is definitely an option, and while he won't need to be as important offensively in Colorado, the Avs got someone who can clearly compete and gel with high-end talent and thrive while doing it.
See more0
0
0
0
NHL Free Agency: Top 10 UFAs Entering Training Camp
NHL training camps begin this week, and there are still some notable names without contracts. Here's a look at 10 of the best players still available.
NHL training camps open across the league this year, and we're finally getting back into the full swing of things.
But for a handful of notable players, the season is starting off without an NHL contract. Zach Aston-Reese and Danny DeKeyser were among some of the UFAs that signed tryout deals in recent days, but there are still some others that could see some movement in the coming days.
1. Evan Rodrigues, C, 282021-22 cap hit: $1,000,000
One of the best value players last year, Rodrigues had 43 points in 82 games, a career-best campaign after never breaking the 30-point barrier in his career. Sidney Crosby was the center he played with the most, though, and over half his goals came on the power play. He's going to be picked up soon, right?
2. Sonny Milano, LW, 262021-22 cap hit: $1,700,000
He'll forever be remembered as the guy that capitalized on the Zegras over-the-net passing play. He had a good season and clearly has a ton of skill, so it'll be interesting to see his value.
3. P.K. Subban, D, 332021-22 cap hit: $9,000,000
Subban might not be the player he once was, but he can still bring good value at the right price.
4. Tyler Motte, LW, 272021-22 cap hit: $1,225,000
Motte won't wow you offensively, but his defensive and gritty play makes him a tough depth guy to play against. For a team needing a hard-working bottom-six forward, Motte can be that guy.
5. Anton Stralman, D, 352021-22 cap hit: $5,500,000
Stralman's cap hit didn't look that pretty last season, but he still managed over 21 minutes a night on a bad Coyotes team. He likely won't do that on a contender, but he can still be decent help somewhere.
6. Tyler Ennis, C, 322021-22 cap hit: $900,000
Ennis hasn't played in at least 70 games since 2017-18 and has only done it three times in the past decade. Still, as a mobile, quick-moving forward, Ennis still brings value to teams in need of scoring deep down in the lineup, even if it's not every night.
7. Daniel Sprong, RW, 252021-22 cap hit: $750,000
Sprong had just 20 points last year, but he still had 14 goals with Washington and Seattle. Not too shabby on a league-minimum deal, and after just missing the 15-goal mark two other times in the three years before that, that's decent scoring in a depth role.
8. Alex Galchenyuk, LW, 282021-22 cap hit: $750,000
Galchenyuk is far from the 50-point guy he once was, often struggling to be a full-time contributor in the NHL. In a full season, 20-25 points at a low price is still likely doable.
9. Victor Rask, C, 29 2021-22 cap hit: $4,000,000
He didn't live up to his cap hit, and even spent time in the AHL, but he had some shining moments with Seattle to close out the past season. You know you aren't getting a ton here, but he can be a depth option.
10. Alex Chiasson, RW, 31 2021-22 cap hit: $750,000
Chiasson is no stranger to turning a PTO into a decent NHL season. Will that be the case again this time around?
See more0
0
0
0
Kings Sign Mikey Anderson to One-Year Deal
The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Mikey Anderson to a one-year, $1-million deal.
The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Mikey Anderson to a one-year, $1-million deal.
Anderson was one of two remaining RFAs, with defenseman Sean Durzi being the lone unsigned player with training camp creeping closer.
Anderson, 23, has 20 points in 117 games over three years, including a career-high 57 games played this season.
Anderson averaged 20:07 in ice time per game last year in a season that saw the Kings blueline facing injury issues throughout. Anderson should factor into LA's top four in 2022-23 as the Kings look to make even more noise as a playoff outfit.
See more0
0
0
0
Have the Avalanche Done Enough to Remain Cup Favorites?
The Avalanche will be in the run for the Cup once again, but can they rally around key summer departures?
The Avalanche will be in the run for the Cup once again, but can they rally around key summer departures?
0
0
0
0
Leafs Sign Zach Aston-Reese to Tryout Contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a professional tryout contract.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a professional tryout contract.
Aston-Reese split 2021-22 with Pittsburgh and Anaheim, going to the Ducks in the deal that sent Rickard Rakell to the Penguins. Aston-Reese had two goals and 11 points with Pittsburgh and an additional three goals and four points in 17 games with the Ducks after the trade deadline. Aston-Reese's value is more as a defensive forward, while also having a strong frame that allows him to win tough puck battles.
The Leafs have a crowded bottom-six with players like Wayne Simmonds, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Joey Anderson and Adam Gaudette, among others. Aston-Reese will need to have a strong camp, or the Leafs will need to consider moving on from someone like Simmonds (who holds a modified no-trade clause) to make room for Aston-Reese if he is to make the squad.
So, it'll be an interesting few weeks to see if he makes it onto the roster.
See more0
0
0
0
Canucks Sign Danny DeKeyser to Tryout Contract
The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Danny DeKeyser to a professional tryout contract ahead of training camp.
The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Danny DeKeyser to a professional tryout contract ahead of training camp.
DeKeyser has played his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings, amassing 146 points in 547 games over 10 seasons. Before turning pro, he quickly became one of the biggest college prospects, winning the CCHA's best defensive defenseman title in 2012 and 2013 while being a big piece of Western Michigan's championship run in 2012. He also won the Calder Cup with Grand Rapids in 2013.
The latter years of DeKeyser's NHL career have been plagued by injuries. Back surgery has limited his effectiveness, and while he's definitely a depth option at this point, you have to wonder how much he has in the tank.
CapFriendly shows the Canucks with eight signed defensemen, including Brady Keeper, who missed last year with a broken leg, and Tucker Poolman, who was limited to just 40 games last season. If DeKeyser can show there's still something there, he could be a cheap bottom-pairing option you can switch out every now and then. With a thin Red Wings blueline, he managed 18:30 in ice time last year, but don't expect that again moving forward, whether or not he ends up signing with Vancouver.
See more0
0
0
0