July 1 Madness is here

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Derek

It appears that Artemi Panarin will be signing with either the Islanders or Panthers. Not the Rangers due to his insane asking price. AP Photo via Getty Images

Well, it’s July 1. Unlike previous years, there are already contracts being leaked thanks to the annoyance of social media. I’m sorry to be a downer. But I preferred being surprised with the announcements on the Free Agent Frenzy show on NHL Network.

Oh well. We already know that Mats Zuccarello is signing with the Wild for five years at an average of $6 million. Wow. It’s not so much the cap number, but rather that fifth year. That’ll take Zucc to 36 by the conclusion of the contract in 2024. He turns 32 this September. Good luck to one of the true good guys in Minnesota.

We’ve also seen some activity via trades. The biggest coming from the Penguins, who finally moved scoring ace Phil Kessel to the Coyotes in a deal that netted Alex Galchenyuk. The full breakdown is Kessel, Dane Birks and a 2021 fourth round pick to Arizona for Galchenyuk and Pierre-Olivier Joseph. So much for Galchenyuk lasting long in the Desert. He’s now on his third team in three years. Personally, I think it’s over for the Pens. They’re gonna take a step back.

The Blackhawks went Back To The Future II mode by reacquiring Andrew Shaw from the Canadiens. So, after a career year in Montreal, the popular bottom six forward returns to his roots in Chicago where he helped them win Cups. The deal is Shaw and a 2021 seventh round pick to the Hawks for a 2020 second, 2020 seventh and a 2021 third. The irony being that in the original trade with the Habs, they turned a second round pick into Alex DeBrincat.

In an unsurprising move following Roberto Luongo announcing his retirement on Twitter, the Panthers dumped veteran James Reimer to the Hurricanes for Scott Darling. The Canes also received a 2020 sixth for taking Reimer. Florida cleared room to sign Sergei Bobrovsky, who was actually also listening to the Islanders. It looks like he’ll sign with the Cats while the big fish, Artemi Panarin tries to figure out what his destination is.

At this point, nobody really knows. Columbus actually tried to keep him by offering a crazy amount of over $13 million AAV for the max of eight years. But the midnight deadline came and went. It’s obvious he wasn’t returning. The Panthers would like to pair him up with Bobrovsky and turn into a playoff contender. But the Islanders are all in on Bread Man. They’re supposedly offering more years and dollars than the Rangers and Avalanche.

All the hype surrounding a very good hockey player, who’s not quite the elite player other superstars are, is a bit perplexing. I think my good friend Madison Miller summed it up best.

Her podcast is a good listen. I tried my best to console her over the Knicks losing out to the Nets on Kevin Durant. That’s a much bigger story than Panarin or any NHL free agent. The NBA has the NHL beat in the wild and crazy summer madness. Don’t believe me? Take a look at some of the insane contracts being handed out. Big names are either staying or moving. The NHL never will have that ever again due to how quickly teams lock up their young megastars.

We also know Matt Duchene is Nashville bound as had been rumored for a while. Once they got the Devils to take all of PK Subban’s remaining contract, it was obvious that they were getting Duchene to fill a void at top center. He gets an AAV of $8 million tax free. That’s a unhealthy advantage markets such as Tampa, Florida, Nashville, Las Vegas and Dallas have.

Speaking of which, the Stars committed $7 million AAV for over three years to former Shark captain Joe Pavelski. They were very close to beating the Blues, losing in sudden death. Dallas is close to contending for a Cup. They wouldn’t go a fifth year on Zuccarello. So, no first round pick for the Rangers.

How about Vegas moving out Colin Miller to the Sabres and sending Erik Haula to the Hurricanes. That saves them on the much rumored $81.5 million salary cap. They had to subtract money due to the contract they gave William Karlsson. He gets under $6 million on average, but without any taxes. For my two cents worth, he’s better than either Brock Nelson or Kevin Hayes.

The rumor mongers were dead wrong on the Rangers. They didn’t buyout anyone in the first period. So, Brendan Smith and Kevin Shattenkirk are still here. I expect Shattenkirk to stay put due to the uncertainty surrounding Adam Fox. I’m not sure if Smith will have a role.

If they strike out on Panarin, which I’m expecting, they then could move onto Plan B. That’s work on an extension for Chris Kreider, which would save approximately between 4-5 million. They still have to get Jacob Trouba signed. That’s gonna be a high cap number between $7.5 to 8 million over seven years. They also will turn their attention to restricted free agents Pavel Buchnevich, Tony DeAngelo and Brendan Lemieux. Speaking of DeAngelo, he had this gem before on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/TonyDee07/status/1145443343612239882?s=19

So, you think they don’t pay attention? 😁😱

A couple of other quick hits before bed.

Former Blueshirt Cam Talbot signs with Calgary for one year, $2.75 million. Hope it works out better for him.

The Isles have been linked to Semyon Varlamov. Over Robin Lehner? I don’t buy it.

I think it would be nuts to sign a goalie who was injured and lost his starting job in Colorado over Lehner, who was unbelievable for the Islanders. But what do I know?

As far as Panarin, if he chooses the Islanders over the Rangers, so be it. I’m not going to lose any sleep. The Rangers aren’t one player away. They’re not a playoff team yet on paper. I think fans must remain patient. The plan is in place. Trust the process.

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What’s not to love about Jack Hughes?

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Derek

Head Of The Class: Devils number one pick Jack Hughes (middle) headlines a new era with Kaapo Kakko (left) of the Hudson Rivalry. AP Photo via Getty Images

Okay. Judging by the title, I’m going to take a beating from my Ranger fans here. But before you roast me, let’s be honest.

Jack Hughes is an American dream. The Devils’ top pick has the looks, smile and personality to vault the NHL into the next decade. It’s not only about the world class skill he possesses. He is the kind of rare generational player that doesn’t come along too often.

The best part is Hughes will become a headliner in the metropolitan area. Even if it’s in Newark for the enemy, it’ll be with the backdrop of the Big Apple close by. This is a home run if the league actually markets the Devils franchise center. You know. Like they once did with Crosby and Ovechkin.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1144603103901245440?s=19

That means giving him more exposure along with the Devils on NBCSN. Why wouldn’t they? GM Ray Shero added larger than life personality in top right defenseman PK Subban. A 30-year old veteran who has a lot of motivation after the Predators couldn’t wait to dump his contract a year removed from a big season that saw him finish in the top three for the Norris.

If Taylor Hall rebounds in a contract year provided the former league MVP is healthy, the Devils could find themselves back in the playoffs next year. Especially if Hughes delivers in his rookie season. The playmaking pivot has great hockey sense and vision that can make teammates better. He should be fun to watch on the power play with Hall and Subban.

Don’t forget Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri either. Both will play key roles in whether the Devils can turn it around. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the goalie situation. Cory Schneider is the number one until proven otherwise. Mackenzie Blackwood will challenge him. That could turn into a good situation with the younger netminder pushing the established vet.

But it’s really all about Hughes in New Jersey. The palpable excitement he showed last week after Devils legend Martin Brodeur made it official at the podium in Vancouver. This 18-year old kid was pumped up to be number one overall and a Devil, praising the organization. He has a close relationship with Shero, which is why it was never in doubt. They love him.

Fans should too. Look. I’m not suggesting that as rival fans, we should go out and get Hughes jerseys. I’m not that far gone yet. But a Hughes USA jersey would be pretty cool. I know this will anger the Kaapo Kakko crowd. I love Kakko and believe he will do for the Rangers what Hughes will for the Devils. But Hughes is American and is interesting to listen to. The enthusiasm is refreshing compared to your standard bore and snore fest with Crosby and lackey Pierre McGuire.

There’s one thing we can all agree on. Having Hughes in Newark and Kakko in Manhattan will add the much needed juice to what’s been a stale Hudson Rivalry. Throw in Subban and Jacob Trouba and you’ll have plenty of intensity in the stands like the glory days. How long before Devil fans chant, “Jack Is Better?” October 17th is marked for a reason.

Even the Devils seem intrigued by pricey Russian free agent forward Artemi Panarin. But if it’s indeed true that he is reportedly seeking as much as $12 million per year, that’s too rich for even the Rangers. I doubt the Islanders would do it. They’re also interested which could spell the end for captain Anders Lee. Imagine losing captains in consecutive summers. With the unfair advantage Florida has due to no state income taxes, I would expect the Bread Man to wind up there along with former Blue Jacket Sergei Bobrovsky.

That’s enough free agency talk for now. July 1 is still three days away. On Monday is when we’ll learn a lot more. For now, let’s celebrate the arrival of Hughes and Kakko. They’ll be taking the rivalry into new territory.

Get ready.

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Kravtsov could be ready for primetime

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Derek

Rangers 2018 first round pick Vitali Kravtsov is turning heads this week at Rookie Prospect Camp. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NHL.com

At the Rangers Prospect Camp, Vitali Kravtsov is the one player making all the noise. The 2018 first round pick the team took ninth overall last year, has been drawing raves with his play in the rookie scrimmages.

While most of the hoopla surrounds second pick Kaapo Kakko, the 19-year old Russian forward has been the best player this week. Not only is he impressing on the ice, but off it as well. During an interview session, Kravtsov refused an interpreter by opting to speak in English. It went well.

It’s obvious that the talented Kravtsov has a good personality to match his unique set of skills. He wants to have fun. It definitely shows. There’s a lot to like about him. His ability to see the ice and make plays for teammates will be a welcome sight once he gets to Broadway. Not yet guaranteed. It’ll depend on training camp.

Above, here is Kravtsov completely faking out Adam Huska by setting up 20-year old center Morgan Barron for a beautiful goal that drew oohs and ahhs from the fans that attended. As evidenced by his good showing (2-4-6) in the U20 WJC where he successfully shifted to center on Russia, the Rangers should be truly excited about this young prospect.

As much focus as there continues to be from most Ranger fans over a certain Russian free agent the team spoke to in person yesterday, it’s the potential of players like Kravtsov, Kakko, Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller, Igor Shesterkin, etc. that should set up the franchise well for the future.

Don’t believe me? Look at this sweet move and finish by Kravtsov on a penalty shot.

I like how he patiently waited for the five-hole to open up before beating Huska. He said afterwards that he prefers to go there if it’s available.

Finally, remember all that fuss over the organization selecting Kravtsov over Oliver Wahlstrom, who the Islanders took two spots later? Well, based on where they are in their development right now, the Rangers are being proven right.

I can admit that I am wrong. Very happy to do so.

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Devils troll the Rangers

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Derek

Let the trolling begin. That’s what the Devils did to the Rangers earlier today. Following the announcement of the full NHL schedule for the ’19-20 season, the Devils Twitter account was in a hyper mood. Especially with the first meeting between top picks Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko taking place at The Rock on October 17.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1143557932576989184?s=19

It’s obvious they were going for a little fun here. While it is over the top using The Rock’s signature, “It DOESN’T MATTER” gimmick, I laughed at it. What more can we do as fans? It’s nice that we won’t have to wait too long to see Hughes and Kakko if both make their teams out of camp and stay healthy.

Yes. October 17 will be circled on everyone’s calendar. There hasn’t been much juice to the classic Hudson Rivalry in quite a while. You better believe there’s going to be plenty of excitement and hoopla surrounding the Devils and Rangers when they play. It’s too bad the NHL still can’t seem to get it right. Rivalry games should be at least six match-ups each season. Not four.

Here are the four games between the close rivals:

Oct. 17 NYR @ NJD 7 EST

Nov. 30 NYR @ NJD 1 EST

Jan. 9 NYR vs NJD 7 EST

Mar. 7 NYR vs NJD 7 EST

So, two Thursday nights in each arena and two Saturday’s with one matinee in Newark following Thanksgiving. Okie doke.

I couldn’t help but notice that the schedule makers have the Rangers facing the Islanders three times over an eight day span between January 13-21. What the heck? The final match is February 25 at Barclays Center. This makes no sense. But yeah.

Oct. 3 is the season opener at home against Winnipeg. Apparently, it was important to troll Jacob Trouba’s former team. The Rangers visit the Senators on Oct. 5.

That’s all for now. It’s too early for a full schedule breakdown. Besides, we have so much to look forward to due to rookie prospect camp this week. Plus the hot rumors with free agency.

Don’t forget PK Subban either in the Hudson Rivalry. He’s ready.

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Sergei Zubov headlines Hall Class of 2019

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Derek

It took nearly a decade. Sergei Zubov is finally a Hockey Hall of Famer. The former Rangers defenseman, who was a huge part of the team finally winning the Stanley Cup in 1994, is one of six new members who’ll be inducted in November.

They include four former players. Headlined by Zubov, his former Stars teammate Guy Carbonneau will join him along with Hayley Wickenheiser and Vaclav Nedomansky. Coach Jerry York and GM Jim Rutherford will both go in the Builder Category.

Key omissions again included Alexander Mogilny, Jeremy Roenick and underrated Blackhawk teammate and key ’94 Ranger Steve Larmer. It still isn’t clear what exactly is the criteria for being selected. It’s mystifying. Other former players who deserve consideration are Theo Fleury, Curtis Joseph and Pierre Turgeon. Daniel Alfredsson will likely get in next year.

At least Zubov doesn’t have to wait anymore. One of the best acquisitions by the Rangers, the former defenseman was a compensatory draft pick for the Quebec Nordiques signing an aging Guy Lafleur. A fifth round selection who was taken 85th overall in the 1990 NHL Draft, the Russian turned into one of the game’s premier offensive defensemen.

A true right shooting power play quarterback, who could play top pair at even strength due to his superb skating, reads and incredible vision, Zubov went from putting up 31 points (8-23-31) his rookie year in ’92-93 to erupting for a team-leading 89 (12-77-89) in the championship season of ’93-94.

The amazing transformation gave the Rangers two big weapons on the blueline. Already boasting Norris winner Brian Leetch, they actually could send out Leetch and Zubov together for both the power play and even strength when necessary. It’s pretty scary to think back to how special that tandem was. Even if they were mostly used by coach Mike Keenan on the top ranked power play that season.

While Leetch paired up with Jeff Beukeboom, Zubov worked with veteran Kevin Lowe to give the team an unfair advantage against most opponents. If only he had been kept by former Team President and GM Neil Smith.

It was Zubov, who picked up two huge assists that led directly to the first two Ranger goals in the Cup clinching Game Seven victory over the Canucks. First came the no look feed to a wide open Leetch for an easy first goal into an empty net with Kirk McLean out of position. Then came the astonishing rush up the ice and touch pass through two Canucks right to Kovalev, who passed for an Adam Graves power play goal that made it 2-0. That postseason, Zubov finished with 19 points (5-14-19) to rank fourth in team scoring behind Leetch, Mark Messier and Kovalev.

That special team paraded down the Canyon of Heroes on a hot and humid summer June day that will forever be remembered by everyone that was there.

It’s too bad Smith decided to trade Zubov away following a disappointing second round exit against the Legion of Doom Flyers in ’95. He was dealt with Petr Nedved to the Penguins for Ulf Samuelsson and Luc Robitaille on August 31 of that summer. After turning on the radio and hearing it announced, my instant reaction was one of disgust. I knew it was a bad move.

The ironic part is the Pens made an even worse trade a summer later, sending Zubov to the Stars for veteran Kevin Hatcher. Zubov spent the rest of his career in Dallas. That included helping them win their only Cup in ’98-99. After putting up 51 points (10-41-51) during the season, he went 1-12-13 in the postseason as the Stars defeated the Sabres in six games to win a championship.

In ’99-00, Zubov was a key piece that got the Stars back to the Stanley Cup where they lost in a classic six game series to the Devils. He had nine points (2-7-9) during that run.

A one time Norris finalist, who finished third at age 35 following a successful 71 point season (13-58-71) and plus-20 rating in ’05-06, Zubov registered 152 goals with 619 assists for a career total of 771 points and a plus-148. The breakdown for his 16-year NHL career was 66 even strength goals and 279 even strength assists while recording 81 power play goals and 321 power play assists. He also wound up with five shorthanded goals and 13 shorthanded assists.

In three years with the Rangers, Zubov went 30-126-156 in 165 games from ’92-93 through ’95. After going over a point-per-game (11-55-66 over 64 GP) in a year with Pittsburgh, he played in 839 games as a Dallas Star putting up 111 goals with 438 assists for 549 points. He also went plus-103 over a dozen years in Big D.

One of the first Russian players to get his name on the Cup along with Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov and Alexander Karpovtsev, Zubov returned home for one season in the KHL with St. Petersburg SKA where he had a productive 42 points (10-32-42) in ’09-10 before retiring. He returned as an assistant and coach for two seasons.

Is it possible he could wind up back where it started on Broadway?

Who knows. I would love for him to play a role in development for their young defensemen. He could teach them a thing or two about skating, moving the puck and shooting. Especially on the power play.

I’m very happy for Zubov. AKA The Chin. A well deserved honor for one of the best Russian born defensemen. Long overdue.

I can only hope Mogilny will get his day soon. Ditto for Roenick and a few others that have been overlooked by the selection committee.

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NHL Draft Surprises

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Derek

On both Day 1 and 2, there were a few surprises at the NHL Draft in Vancouver. Before getting into which players moved up and fell, let’s first give credit where it’s due to the ultimate evil troll, Gary Bettman.

Unmercifully booed by the crowd as usual, the unpopular league commissioner played to it by saying, “I can keep it up if you can.” He might be annoying to listen to, but he certainly knows how to turn a negative into a positive.

In bringing up all-time great Canucks, Daniel and Henrik Sedin to the podium, Bettman took the spotlight off himself and put it on The Sedins. A great PR move as well by announcing that their jerseys will be retired by Vancouver in February 2020. That got loud cheers along with a video tribute.

It’ll come in the Canucks 50th Anniversary season. A year they’ll bring back these wonderful jerseys for select games.

The greatest Canucks finisher Pavel Bure. AP Photo via Getty Images

As for the Draft, there were some surprises early. Once Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko went 1-2 to the Devils and Rangers, things changed.

Most experts had defenseman Bowen Byram going third. Instead, the Blackhawks opted for center Kirby Dach. For a team that needs D help, it was surprising. They did get highly rated Swede Adam Boqvist last year at number 8. But adding Byram would’ve been a huge difference.

Instead, the Avalanche scooped him up at four, adding him to Hobey Baker winner Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, Erik Johnson and top offensive defenseman Tyson Barrie. There’s a chance Barrie gets traded for a forward. Given how close they came to beating the Sharks in the second round, yikes. They’re gonna be a handful next season.

How about the Red Wings going off the board in new GM Steve Yzerman’s first draft by taking German defenseman Moritz Seider. Even he couldn’t believe it.

Russian forward Vasili Podkolzin fell to number 10 where the hometown Canucks selected him. The reason for it is due to his contract with St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL. The 18-year old who is celebrating his birthday today, is signed for two more years through 2021. Even though he didn’t score a goal in the U20 WJC, Podkolzin is a very fast skater who can create scoring chances in transition. He is a player who can play penalty kill. He actually went from possibly a top three pick to 10th. That’s good value for Vancouver.

Perhaps the biggest shock was top American finisher Cole Caufield slipping to number 15 right into the Canadiens lap. It was astonishing to see quite a few teams pass on him. Especially the Coyotes after they moved up to number 11 in a trade with the Flyers, who predictably took American defenseman Cam York. Arizona, who needs offense, passed up Caufield for Swedish D Victor Soderstrom. It didn’t make sense.

With a prospect pool that now includes Caufield, who will become a 40 goal scorer like his comparable Alex DeBrincat, the Habs boast a plethora of young talent that should set them up well for the future. That includes Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Victor Mete, Ryan Poehling, Cayden Primeau, Jesse Ylonen and Alexander Romanov.

If Caufield didn’t wind up in the top 10 as expected, seeing Arthur Kaliyev fall completely out of the first round was a disappointment. A big finisher in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the 17-year old from Staten Island scored 51 goals and had 51 assists for 102 points for the Hamilton Bulldogs in ’18-19.

Not the best skater, the 6-2, 190 pound right wing would up falling to Round 2 where the Kings scooped him up at number 33. The irony being the franchise’s best ever finisher Luc Robitaille fell all the way down to the ninth round in 1984. He scored over 600 goals in a Hall of Fame career mostly in LA. I’m not suggesting Kaliyev will become that successful. However, it certainly has to be a motivator for Kaliyev moving forward. Yes,his skating needs work. But he is a goal scorer. Those are hard to find. Here’s hoping it works out.

Another forward who fell out of the first round was Raphael Lavoie. The big 6-4, 196 pound center had a great postseason scoring 20 goals and 32 points in 23 games for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He dropped down to No. 38 where the Oilers took him. If he pans out, it could be a huge steal for Edmonton.

One thing about these drafts. We won’t know the answer for a while. That even includes the top picks. Even if they’re supposed to be can’t miss franchise players who can alter the future for both the Devils and Rangers, fans must remain patient. Had they not gotten Hughes at the number one pick, I doubt the Devils would’ve swung the blockbuster deal for PK Subban.

The Rangers are thinking bigger too. Having added Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox, they’re also hoping to be in on big free agent Artemi Panarin,who’s visiting Florida tomorrow. They have yet to schedule a meeting with the gifted Russian forward. If they decide against it, maybe they keep Chris by extending him. He should cost about four million less than the Bread Man.

There’s a lot to look forward to for hockey fans. The negotiating period is finally here for prospective free agents. That includes Group II FA’s Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and Matthew Tkachuk. It also features Anders Lee, who could be leaving the Islanders based on his disappointment that it’s reached this point. Robin Lehner sounds fully committed to getting a new deal done with them.

It’s sure to be an exciting week ahead with July 1 fast approaching.

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Meet the newest Rangers

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Derek

Karl Henriksson was the Rangers second pick of Round 2. The Swede could be a steal despite being undersized. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Elite Prospects.

Yesterday, the Rangers got back to work for the remaining six rounds of the 2019 NHL Draft. While they couldn’t hit a home run like with second overall pick Kaapo Kakko on Friday night, GM Jeff Gorton was pleased with what they accomplished on Day Two.

Even though they parted with the number 20 and number 37 in shrewd deals for right defensemen Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox, the Blueshirts still had eight total draft picks. Seven of which were selected on Saturday in Vancouver.

It’s important to note that each player counts just as much as first round consolation prize Kakko. Of course, they won’t have the same lofty expectations or pressure the 18-year old NHL ready Finnish right wing will have. However, you never know which of the remaining seven will become gems.

Let’s meet the seven picks taken on Saturday:

Round 2

No. 45 D Matthew Robertson- In the final North American Skaters rankings, he finished 26th. A 6-3, 201 pound left shooting defenseman who’s played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Edmonton Oil Kings, Robertson sounds like a solid overall player, who is agile for his size and fully capable of contributing offensively due to a good shot. He can pass the puck as evidenced by his 26 assists in Year Two with the Oil Kings. In 52 games, he had 33 points (7-26-33). It sounds like the Rangers got good value too. Robertson could’ve gone late in the first round. Perhaps they got a steal in an unpredictable draft that saw first round talents Arthur Kaliyev and Raphael Lajoie to the second round.

No. 58 C Karl Henriksson- Not the biggest in stature due to his smallish 5-9, 176 pound frame, the TSN panel loved the pick of the 18-year old playmaking Swede. For those familiar with where Henrik Lundqvist started before coming over, Henriksson played for Frolunda where he’ll likely stay to further develop his skills. A competitive player who isn’t the best skater, he makes up for it by winning puck battles and having the patience to find em teammates. In the World Junior Championships U18, he paced Sweden with nine points (3-6-9) in seven games. He was the 23rd ranked European Skater entering the Draft. If you heard Pierre McGuire, he thinks Henriksson could make the NHL before a lot of players taken before him. High praise. We’ll see.

Round 3

No. 68 D Zachary Jones- Ranked 70th among North American Skaters, the USHL (United States Hockey League) Tri-City Storm product is a left shooting offensive defenseman with good hockey sense. Listed at 5-10, 176 pounds, Jones had a superb season to take home USHL Rookie of the Year honors. In 56 games, he put up 52 points including 45 assists (led all USHL defensemen) and seven goals while going plus-38 with 38 penalty minutes. He will attend UMass Amherst this Fall.

Round 4

No. 112 D Hunter Skinner- The 120th rated North American Skater is a bigger, more physical right shooting defenseman who can deliver big hits. The 6-2, 176 pound Skinner played 28 games for the Lincoln Stars following a trade from Muskegon. He was their most productive blueliner registering five go.als and 19 assists for 24 points. He describes himself as someone who likes to make plays. Skinner will attend Western Michigan University in the Fall.

Round 5

No. 130 RW Leevi Altonen- Believe it or not, the undersized forward was the 29th ranked European Skater. Approximately 5-9, 177 pounds, Altonen is listed as a left shooting right wing on Central Scouting. I’ve also seen him listed as a left wing. He sounds like a fast skater who can both score and set up while killing penalties. After tallying two assists in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Finland, he spent most of his time with SM-lliga Jr. where he went 12-24-36 in 29 games. He had a goal and two assists with 31 penalty minutes in six postseason contests. Next year, he’ll play for Liiga in Kalpa where he had a helper in seven games.

Round 6

No. 161 C Adam Edstrom- The 73rd ranked European Skater is a big 6-6, 209 pound center who played for Mora in the SuperElit League in Sweden. In 20 games, Edstrom had 11 goals and five assists for 16 points with 12 penalty minutes. He’s a physical player with skill.

Round 7

No. 205 RW Eric Ciccolini- A 6-0, 170 pound right wing who finished ranked 108th among North American Skaters, Ciccolini played for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association (OJHL). In 48 games, the right wing registered 27 goals with 35 assists for 62 points and 58 penalty minutes. Voted the OJHL’s Top Prospect, he’s considered a hard worker with scoring capabilities. He’ll attend Michigan this Fall.

Overall, it sounds like a solid draft that continued to improve the team’s depth at key positions. Most notably, they didn’t take a goalie. They have plenty in the system. It should be fun to follow their career paths.

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Free Agents can start talks tomorrow

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Derek

With the Draft finally complete, attention will turn to free agency. Starting tomorrow, free agents can begin discussions with teams. TSN insider Bob McKenzie confirmed it with this unsurprising tweet.

Everyone knows the Panthers would like to sign soon to be former Blue Jackets Russian pair Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin. Even with Florida taking top goalie prospect Spencer Knight in the first round last night, young netminders take time to develop. If proud veteran Roberto Luongo retires, that opens up the starter position for Bobrovsky.

As for Panarin, it’s anyone’s guess where he winds up. There’s sure to be a lot of interest in the electrifying playmaking Russian forward with four NHL seasons under his belt. It’s not etched in stone he will sign in Florida.

There’s also this. The Islanders could be losing another captain. They have until tonight to get something done with Anders Lee. If not, he could be gone.

Lee turns 29 on July 3. He’s scored 25 goals or better in four seasons including a career high 40 with 14 power play goals during ’17-18. That also was the same year he had a career best of 62 points.

This past season, his role was different due to losing primary center John Tavares. The Isles captain still produced 28 goals and 10 PPG’s to pace the team. He also set a career high with a plus-20 rating. In all 82 games, he totaled 51 points (28-23-51) to rank fourth in team scoring. His postseason wasn’t the best winding up with just one goal and three helpers in eight games.

As Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello indicated, he wants to re-sign Lee along with Robin Lehner, who will get a nice raise following his special year. Having already re-signed Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle, the Isles would like to retain the core that got them back to the playoffs under coach Barry Trotz. If not, maybe they’ll be in on Panarin or Leafs Group II free agent Mitch Marner. Toronto dumped salary by getting rid of vet Patrick Marleau earlier today to Carolina by including a conditional first round pick. The Canes plan to buyout Marleau making him free for a possible reunion in San Jose.

The Hurricanes are shopping defenseman Justin Faulk. He has a year remaining with a $4.833 million cap hit. There is talk he could be swapped for a forward. Carolina would like to re-sign veteran captain Justin Williams. Micheal Ferland is expected to draw interest and leave. He would be a good fit on a young team like the Sabres, who also could have interest in veteran Wayne Simmonds.

Rasmus Ristolainen is available from Buffalo. An offensive defenseman who plays the right side, he’s struggled defensively. His contract has three years left through 2022 with an AAV of $5.4 million. The Lightning did have interest, but need to sign restricted free agent Brayden Point to a long-term contract. They cleared room by dealing former Ranger JT Miller to the Canucks for goalie Marek Mazanec, a 2019 third round pick and a 2020 conditional first. Somehow, the Lightning did it again. No disrespect to Miller, who’s a solid 50-point player. But he’s not worth a first.

The Devils swapped John Quenneville to the Blackhawks for John Hayden. They also traded down in the Draft today. They were all over the place this weekend thanks to Jack Hughes and big acquisition PK Subban. We’ll see if those upgrades convince Taylor Hall to stay by signing an extension.

There will be plenty more happening this week due to Marner, Point and Matthew Tkachuk. All RFA’s. Plus the UFA’s. It’ll be interesting to keep track of.

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Devils complete dizzying day two with ten picks

Posted on June 22, 2019 by hasan4978

After the aforementioned blockbuster for P.K. Subban which kicked off a wild day two at the NHL Draft in Vancouver, Ray Shero still had eight day two picks in the last six rounds to play with including two late 2’s and two early thirds, but it turned out he wasn’t done trading just yet even after acquiring Subban.  Shero engineered two separate tradedowns to get extra picks, first dealing the Devils #55 pick to the Sharks for picks #82 and #91, then flipping the latter pick (#91) to the Capitals for picks #118 and #129 after inciting boos in the crowd by calling a timeout to consummate the Caps deal – clearly prioritizing depth in a deep draft.  For good measure he traded one-time first-rounder John Quenneville to the Blackhawks for fourth-liner John Hayden in a change of scenery move for Quenneville to add back-line depth.

My head is spinning just trying to recap the trades, let alone the draft picks.  While #1 overall Jack Hughes is clearly the headliner of the draft class itself, the Devils did add a bunch of potentially intriguing supporting cast members from picks #61 to #189.  Without professing to know squat about any of them here’s a quick summary of each:

#61 – LD Nikita Okhotyuk: A 6’1 200 pound defenseman who started a trend of the Devils beefing up a small blueline within the system.  Okhotyuk is best friends with now fellow Devils prospect Mitchell Hoelscher, who helped teach the Russian-born defender English while both have been teammates on the Ottawa ’67’s.

#70 – LD Daniil Misyul: Another Russian LD who’s tall but lanky at 6’3 and 175 pounds, Misyul played in the KHL this past season and has puckmoving ability but can also hunker down and defend in close.

#80 – RW Graeme Clarke: A 5’11 175 pound RW, Clarke’s shot and intelligence are said to be his strongest qualities while skating needs to improve but Okhotyuk and Hoelscher’s teammate on the Ottawa 67’s could be a nice mid-round sleeper at another position the Devils need organizational depth.

#82 – LD Michael Vukojevic: Did we mention size on the blueline yet?  Vokojevic is the biggest of them at 6’3 212 pounds and while he’s known as a shutdown defender with Kitchener of the OHL, he’s also supposedly a good skater for a guy his size, and another high IQ player.

#96  – C Tyce Thompson: Brother of NHL player Tage, the younger Thompson is 6′ but only 165 pounds and already played a season at Providence, putting up 25 points in 42 games during his freshman campaign.

#118 – RD Case McCarthy: On a day where the Devils looked both to replenish some of their defensive depth traded away in the Subban deal and add bulk to the blueline, McCarthy (6’1, 198)  is one of the more intriguing picks with physical, shutdown D promise and puckmoving skills, Hughes’ teammate with the USNTDP could possibly become what we once thought Steven Santini would be here.  McCarthy is currently committed to Boston University.

#127 – G Cole Brady: Speaking of size, Ontario-born Brady fills the net at a whopping 6’5, though the Arizona State freshman is only listed at 165 pounds and continues Shero’s tradition of picking at least one goalie in every draft with the Devils.

#129 – LW Artseni Gritsyuk: Perhaps this year’s late-round version of Jesper Bratt, the 5’10 168 pound skilled KHL forward will continue to develop overseas for the time being.

#158 – RW Patrick Moynihan: Yet another NTDP member, I’ll let Mike Morreale take this one

#189 – LW Nikola Pasic: An energy guy with skill that can skate, the 5’10 180 pound Swede is in the mold of other Shero late-round draftees like Gritsyuk and 2015 draftee Brett Seney who made the NHL this year, but Pasic does have a little more beef on the bone than Seney.

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Devils pull off blockbuster move for P.K.Subban

Posted on June 22, 2019 by hasan4978

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1142478925928398848

I admit it up front, I owe Ray Shero an apology.  After multiple offseasons of needlessly sitting on our cap space with other big moves happening this offseason I started to think our GM was Rip Van Shero and nothing would happen this offseason either.  It always seemed like there was another excuse why we couldn’t get something done – NTC’s, saving cap space for moves that didn’t happen, someone wanting to sign somewhere else, whatever.  With this being a pivotal offseason vis-à-vis Taylor Hall, it was time for the GM to do something big.

So it was that finally, Shero did do something really big this afternoon turning the draft on its ear with the acquisition of former Norris Trophy winner P.K.Subban for a relative pittance in terms of everything except cap space, of which we were finally able to take advantage of in terms of keeping the player cost of the deal down.  For Subban at three years with $27 million left on his deal, the Devils only had to give up two second-rounders including our #34 pick this afternoon (which draftniks treated as a first-round talent and was probably the biggest asset we gave up in this deal), our second rounder next year, prospect defenseman Jeremy Davies and former prospect defenseman Steven Santini.

Ironically it was friend of the blog ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski who first had PK to the Devils after a few minutes of Twitter saying he’d been traded without knowing to who.  In the breathless minutes that followed waiting to first find out if the trade would be confirmed by others, and then when it was waiting on what the price would be.  I feared the worst in either a first-rounder or a guy we wouldn’t want to give up like Damon Severson.  Thankfully because Nashville was looking to get Subban’s contract off the books completely – presumably for a run at FA pivot Matt Duchene – we finally had an edge trade-wise over teams like the Leafs, who’d just paid a hefty price dealing off Patrick Marleau to the Canes with a first-rounder to get his cap hit off the books.

When word came down about the terms of the deal I went from cautiously happy to ecstatic.  Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of great talents I’d have liked to draft at #34 and Davies had played his value up from being a former 7th round pick.  Santini could still thrive with a fresh start but things seemed to have gotten static here.  Fact is though, the Devils finally got a legitimate top pairing or at worst top four defenseman for prospect depth and money.   Let’s leave out the whole Subban will be a coup for Newark (for obvious reasons) talking point, I’ve always felt PK was a class act regardless and his character assassination was a product of the pirahnas in the Canadian media who’d also smeared Hall before he was out the door as well.

Talentwise he was certainly a necessary add to our D, even if he was coming off a down year (for him a down year, being on pace for about 12 goals and 40 points, both of which would have led our team).  Just two years ago he had a 59-point season so he certainly has that capability in a wide-open system with young talent around him.  He’ll certainly be utilized more here than he was on a stacked blueline there and hopefully has at least a couple of big seasons left.  And with two second-rounders and two third-rounders remaining in this year’s draft, arguably the Devils still have enough ammunition for a forward add – or a tradeup in the draft itself – and then they won’t even have to worry about free agency and the kids can develop on their own timeline without being gifted jobs, for the most part.

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