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Nick Ebert Receiving Overseas Interest

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Rangers defenseman Nick Ebert decided to take another shot at playing in North America this season and signed with Ottawa with the hopes of getting an NHL opportunity.  However, he was moved to New York in an early-season trade as part of the Vladislav Namestnikov deal and spent the entire year in the minors.  It appears that teams overseas are showing interest in signing him for next season as Ebert told HockeyPuls in Sweden (subscription required) that four or five SHL teams, as well as some KHL teams, have been in touch already about signing for next season.

The report notes that among the SHL teams that are interested, Ebert’s former team in Orebro doesn’t appear to be one of them.  It was his performance with them back in 2018-19 that got him back on the North American radar as he picked up 33 points in 49 games which was good enough for fourth league-wide in points by a defenseman.

However, that production failed to materialize in his second go-around in North America as he had just five goals and 11 assists in 47 AHL contests this season, all but one of which came with AHL Hartford.

While it’s possible that Ebert could be asked to be part of New York’s reserve squad for the potential 24-team return which could start in July, they may opt not to recall him which would make it a little easier for him to catch on elsewhere.  The 26-year-old isn’t officially eligible for UFA status yet but with his age and AHL experience, he does qualify to hit the open market as a Group VI free agent so the Rangers will not be able to retain his NHL rights if he does cross the pond once again.

Tyler Wall Agrees To Entry-Level Contract

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The New York Rangers already have several NHL-level goaltenders, but are still adding depth to the position. The perfectly-named Tyler Wall has agreed to terms on his entry-level contract with the team, which will begin in the 2020-21 season. The contract will be for two years.

Wall, a 22-year old netminder who was drafted 174th overall in 2016, became a star at UMass-Lowell over his four seasons there. As a senior in 2019-20 he recorded a .931 save percentage in 32 appearances, earning him a spot on the Hockey East Third All-Star Team.

While he may not come with the hype of Igor Shesterkin and may take longer than Alexandar Georgiev to make an impact at the professional level, Wall is a solid prospect in his own right. The 6’3″ goaltender posted a .918 save percentage over his college career and also served as an alternate captain this season.

Wall will likely join Adam Huska in the Rangers minor league system next season, but there are obviously still questions about how the team will deal with the NHL goaltending position. Even with Shesterkin and Georgiev ready to take over the full duties, Henrik Lundqvist remains on the roster with one more year left on his contract.

Potential Compliance Buyout Candidates: Part II

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As the current Coronavirus crisis wears on, it seems more and more likely that the NHL will not return to action soon and when play resumes, it will almost certainly not be the full remaining regular season schedule. That lost revenue is expected to impact the 2020-21 salary cap, perhaps even keeping the current $81.5MM upper limit in place. Given that teams expected an increase, initially projected to be between $84-88.2MM, this stagnation could have a harsh impact on a number of clubs’ cap situations. As such, many expect that compliance buyouts will return in some form or fashion to ease that pain. These buyouts, which do not count against the salary cap, would allow for teams to open up space that they otherwise expected from a cap increase.

After taking a look at the first ten teams, we move on to the middle third of the NHL:

Detroit Red Wings: Justin Abdelkader

– When Abdelkader signed a seven-year extension with an AAV of $4.25MM following his career-best season in 2014-15, it was perceived to be a bargain at the time and few expected that it would turn out poorly. Yet, with three years still to go Abdelkader has failed to impress in each of the first four seasons, recording a total of just 78 points and consistently missing time due to injury. On a young rebuilding team, the 33-year-old forward’s slow, plodding game is not a fit and his salary is not commensurate to his role on the club. New GM Steve Yzerman wouldn’t hesitate to buy out the career Red Wing if given the opportunity.

Edmonton Oilers: James Neal

– Last summer’s swap of Neal for Milan Lucic was labeled as two teams exchanging bad contracts. However, Neal got off to a hot start and ended up with 19 goals and 31 points despite being limited to just 55 games due to injury. That being said, the 32-year-old forward, who was a -20 this season, is still probably the worst contract on the team. The likelihood of Neal playing up to his remaining $17.25MM over three years seems slim and the Oilers could use the cap space to add a younger, better winger. If Neal has earned the trust of the team, Kris Russell could be bought out before his final year at $4MM.

Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky

– Would the Panthers move on from Bobrovsky just one year after handing him a seven-year, $70MM deal? That could be the biggest question of the off-season if compliance buyouts become reality. The star goalie’s first season in Florida could not have gone worse as he posted a career-worst GAA and didn’t boast a shiny save percentage either. Expected to be the Cats’ savior in net, Bobrovsky was anything but. If they hesitate to cut ties with Bobrovsky and his play does not improve, he would undoubtedly become the worst contract in hockey. Though on the other hand, if Bobrovsky goes elsewhere and succeeds and Florida cannot find a suitable location, some would surely say that they didn’t give him enough of a chance.

Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Quick

– The rebuilding Kings have been trying to move Quick for a couple of years now and it would be a surprise if they did not take advantage of a compliance buyout opportunity. A holdover contract from the days of yore, Quick’s ten-year, $58MM deal signed in 2012 remained a bargain for the first half of the term until Quick hit a wall last year. While his play rebounded this season, Quick is still not playing up to the all-world level that had become the norm. L.A. is still a ways away from contending and can make more use of extra cap space over the next three years than a goalie who is past his prime.

Minnesota Wild: Zach Parise

– The Wild and new GM Bill Guerin came awfully close to trading Parise at the deadline this season and in recent years players who have been rumored to be leaving Minnesota are always eventually dealt. However, the potential trade included the team taking back bad salaries to facilitate the movement of Parise’s remaining five years and $37.69MM. Although Parise showed a return to form somewhat over the past two years, he has never been able to replicate his numbers from earlier in career and the team has generally been unhappy with the results of their 13-year gamble. If the possibility to dump the 35-year-old Parise without any cap repercussions opened up, it would become a serious conversation. More interesting would be if the Wild also discuss Mats Zuccarello as a buyout candidate after he was a bust in the first of a five-year, $30MM deal.

Montreal Canadiens: Karl Alzner

– While there will be those that find some of the bigger names on Montreal as intriguing buyout candidates, Alzner seems like an obvious choice that will improve the roster without any risk of releasing a good player or upsetting team chemistry. Few players in recent history have had their team turn on them following a major contract as quickly as the Canadiens did with Alzner. After signing the physical defenseman as a top free agent in 2017, the Habs decided just a year later that he was not worthy of an NHL roster spot following a difficult first season. Alzner has played just 13 NHL games over the past two years, buried in the AHL for the remainder. With two years at $4.625MM remaining, Montreal would be happy to be completely rid of Alzner’s contract rather than receiving just minor saving from sending him to the minors instead.

Nashville Predators: Kyle Turris

– For a long time, Nashville GM David Poile was opposed to handing out expensive, long-term contracts. That policy served him well for quite a time, as the Predators ended up with a number of tremendous values on the roster. Since the team has started to move away from that practice, things have not gone so well. Turris is the poster boy for this statement. He signed a six-year, $36MM extension with Nashville not long after being acquired by the club early in the 2017-18 season and has never lived up to the expectations. His 54 total points over the past two years is less than the one-year total the season prior to his joining Nashville. Turris has become an expendable player, not only missing time due to injury but also as a healthy scratch. The team has been eager to move him and they likely wouldn’t hesitate to do so with a compliance buyout.

New Jersey Devils: Cory Schneider

– An overpaid, under-performing starting goalie is one thing; an overpaid, under-performing backup is another. It has been quite a time since Schneider was the top man in net in New Jersey and young Mackenzie Blackwood has now taken the reins. However, Schneider’s horrific numbers over the past two year suggest that he isn’t even capable of being an NHL backup at this point in his career. With two years remaining at $6MM, Schneider’s might be the worst goalie contract in the league and a rather obvious buyout candidate.

New York Islanders: Andrew Ladd

– Ladd, part of the infamous 2016 class of terrible free agent contracts, Ladd has never provided adequate value to the Islanders compared to his $5.5MM AAV. The team finally buried him in the AHL this season after recording just 71 points through his first three years. With the majority of their forwards signed to substantial long-term deals, there is almost no chance that Ladd can ever work his way back into the NHL mix for the Islanders. New York was ready to move him at the trade deadline and would be quick to buyout the final three years of his deal rather than continue to pay major money for him to play in the minors.

New York Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist

– While it would be a sad day for the Blueshirts and their fans, the reality is that Lundqvist is the best use of a compliance buyout on the team. New York was considering moving young Alexandar Georgiev at the deadline rather than continue to carry three goaltenders, as Igor Shesterkin looks like the starter of the future and King Henrik has become an immovable contract. However, the team would be far better off retaining both young goalies and moving on from Lundqvist, who at 38 years old had the worst season of his career and still has a season remaining at $8.5MM. That’s a hefty salary to pay the man who would be your third-string goalie next season if Georgiev is not moved. The Rangers have no shortage of options though if they cannot overcome the loyalty they feel toward Lundqvist. Defensemen Marc Staal, $5.7MM AAV, and Brendan Smith, $4.35MM AAV, have both outworn their welcomes in New York and would not be missed in the final years of their respective contracts.

Stay tuned for Part III coming soon.

New York Rangers Sign Justin Richards

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The New York Rangers have added another undrafted college free agent, this time agreeing to terms Justin Richards to an entry-level contract that will begin next season. Richards recently completed his junior season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he served as an alternate captain.

Richards, 22, scored 25 points in 34 games this season for the Bulldogs, but it wasn’t just his offensive talent that earned him a contract with the Rangers. A two-time NCHC Best Defensive Forward recipient, Richards is known most for his exquisite two-way play. His defensive capabilities are a big reason why UMD captured two national titles—in fact, as a freshman he didn’t even score a single goal in his 44 appearances.

That’s likely the role the Rangers have him penciled in for if he’s to make the NHL at some point down the line. The undrafted Richards will have to make an impact on both sides of the puck, but his defense will always be his calling card.

New York Rangers Owner James Dolan Diagnosed With COVID-19

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While there are now four cases of NHL players testing positive for COVID-19, no individual has been named as of yet. However, a member of the NHL community has now officially been recognized as a victim of the Coronavirus pandemic. The NBA’s New York Knicks announced that owner James Dolan has tested positive for COVID-19. Dolan owns both the Knicks and New York Rangers and is the Executive Chairman and CEO of the Madison Square Garden Company.

Fortunately, the report indicates that Dolan, 64, is “experiencing little to no symptoms.” He and his family remain in self-isolation in their home in the Hamptons, while Dolan still continues to oversee business operations for the Madison Square Garden Company.

One of his recent decisions was in fact to set up the “MSG Relief Fund” to financially assist employees at this time, per The New York Post’s Larry Brooks. The company donated $1MM, which was then matched by Dolan’s personal Dolan Family Foundation.

The Rangers have not made an announcement of their own on Dolan’s condition, continuing a trend across the NHL of refraining from public comment on Coronavirus diagnoses. By all accounts though, Dolan is the first owner in the NHL – or NBA for that matter – to have tested positive for COVID-19. It is not believed at this time that any Rangers players have been tested for the virus.

While battling this sickness, Dolan is still undoubtedly one of the NHL owners lobbying for a continuation of the NHL regular season, if at all possible. While the Knicks are among the worst teams in the NBA, the Rangers had picked up steam before the league’s “pause” and were in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild card race. If the NHL was to jump directly into the standard 16-team postseason upon their return to action, the Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Florida Panthers would all narrowly miss the playoffs while – a worst-case scenario for Rangers fans – the rival New York Islanders would claim the final spot in the East.

Rangers And Jesper Fast Were Well Apart In Pre-Deadline Extension Talks

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The Rangers had tried to sign winger Jesper Fast to a contract extension before last month’s trade deadline but talks stalled quickly due to a large gap between the two sides, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.  However, despite that, they opted to keep him in the hopes of continuing their late push for the playoffs.

The 28-year-old was on his way towards hitting new career bests offensively before this stoppage while he has been a fixture in their top six for a big chunk of the season.  Those elements are certainly factors in him seeking a raise on his current $1.85MM but with the Rangers already having several key players to re-sign, limited cap space, and the potential cap issues as a result of this pandemic, they’ll likely have to hold off on taking another run on re-signing him for a while.

Snapshots: NHL Draft, Ovechkin, Crosby, Guentzel

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Yesterday, the NHL postponed the 2020 NHL Draft, which had been set to take place in Montreal on June 26-27. The league did not however indicate what the plan was to make up the event, which must occur in some form or fashion prior to the 2020-21 season. However, Pierre LeBrun writes for The Athletic that there are three possible solutions for the draft make-up. The least likely would be that the draft is simply postponed to a later date and takes place in Montreal as initially planned. LeBrun does not believe that a full draft, complete with teams, prospects, and fans alike in attendance, is a realistic option. Slightly more likely would be a scaled-down version, which LeBrun compares to the post-lockout draft in 2005, that still takes place in Montreal but with far less fanfare, but even this seems unlikely. The outcome most see occurring, falling in line with what junior leagues have decided for their own drafts, would be a virtual NHL Draft, wherein teams make their picks live from their individual war rooms. LeBrun mentions the possibility of a centralized location, in Montreal or elsewhere, with team reps and top prospects in attendance to react to the virtual selections.

If the draft does move to a virtual format, LeBrun reports that the league has promised Montreal that they will receive either the 2021 or 2022 NHL Draft. He adds that the NHL may even consider combining the NHL Entry Draft and NHL Expansion Draft into one week-long event in Montreal next summer. Given the rabid fan base of the city, it would be as good a location as any – barring Seattle itself maybe – to hold the Expansion Draft. If Montreal were to lose the draft this year only to gain two drafts next year, that would be quite the consolation prize.

  • Count arguably the two biggest names in hockey as supporters of calling the regular season and jumping right into the playoffs. On a conference call today among representatives of each of the Metropolitan Division teams, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin lobbied for the NHL to skip the remaining regular season games and resume play with the first round of the postseason, in whatever format they choose. Crosby opined that playing as many regular season games as possible would be best for the integrity of the season, but he “wouldn’t mind starting right at the playoffs.” Ovechkin was more direct, saying that he is “bored” with the league’s current pause and that his Capitals “don’t want to play those extra games” and would “rather start the playoffs right away.” Unsurprisingly, Carolina’s Jordan Staal, whose Hurricanes are safely in the postseason right now, agrees with Ovechkin and Crosby, while brother Marc Staal of the New York Rangers, who were hot before the league postponed its action, would rather resume the regular season in hopes of getting in. Curiously though, Columbus’ Nick Foligno, whose Blue Jackets would be in the standard playoff structure by total points but not by points percentage, the likely determinant of qualification, supported a jump right to the postseason, while the New York Islanders’ Anders Lee, whose team is in the opposite situation, preferred to finish the regular season. Opinions are sure to change based on the length of the league’s pause, the options for returning to action, and the potential format of postseason play, but for now there is major support behind surrendering the regular season in favor of an immediate postseason of some sort.
  • There are few NHL stakeholders who are benefiting from the current indefinite break in action. One of the only exceptions is Crosby’s teammate, Jake Guentzel. Guentzel suffered a shoulder injury in late December and was given a four-to-six-month recovery window following surgery. In a normal league year, that likely meant that Guentzel would be lucky to play again this season, only able to return for the playoffs, and almost certainly wouldn’t be able to get back to full strength. However, given the delay of the current pause, the status quo has shifted. Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review relays word from GM Jim Rutherford that Guentzel’s rehab is going well and the team is optimistic that he will play again if the season resumes. Especially considering the strong likelihood that the NHL will need a mini training camp for teams to get back to game speed, Guentzel may even be back at full strength before a potential resumption of the regular season or start of the postseason in June or July. Guentzel recorded 43 points in 39 games playing with an injury-depleted forward corps prior to his own injury and would be a major asset for the Penguins, who would be the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division if the playoffs began based on the current standings.

Prospect Notes: Lafreniere, Gildon, Whelan, Richter Award

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The announcement this afternoon that the NHL would be postponing the 2020 NHL Draft means that top prospect Alexis Lafreniere will have to wait a while longer to presumably be selected first overall. Yet, with his QMJHL season already canceled, the young forward has little else to focus on. The same can be said for a number of NHL teams who already know that they won’t be making the postseason regardless of the format the league chooses if and when they return to action. No team has more to gain from the coming draft than the Ottawa Senators. If the NHL Draft Lottery were to be held without any further changes to the regular season standings, the Detroit Red Wings would have the best singular odds of winning, 18.5%, but the Senators in both second and third, given their ownership of the San Jose Sharks’ pick, would actually have much better odds at a combined 25%. Naturally, the question was asked by TSN today of the Quebec native Lafreniere how he would feel about playing in Canada’s capital. “It would be fun. It would be special,” Lafreniere said, “It’s a great place to play and it would be an honor [to be selected.]” While the Senators have not exactly been a top free agent destination in recent years, the club is building up quite a talented group of prospects and Lafreniere would be a great fit to lead the team into the future, especially alongside whoever else the team selects early in the first round.

  • One existing NHL prospect who may soon be joining his pro home is Florida Panthers pick Max Gildon. Gildon, who just wrapped up his junior season at the University of New Hampshire, is close to signing an entry-level deal reports New England hockey insider Mark Divver. Divver expects the two sides to come to terms on a deal within a week. Gildon was a 2017 third-round pick out of the U.S. National Team Development Program, but has outplayed his draft slot over three productive years on the UNH blue line. He also pairs a big frame, physical play, and ability to play in all situations with his considerable skill and vision. Joining a Florida team with a pretty thin pipeline of defensive talent, Gildon could be in the NHL sooner rather than later.
  • Quinnipiac University forward Alex Whelan has found his first pro destination, as the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack announced a contract with the nearby product or the 2020-21 season. Whelan, who just finished his fourth and final year with Quinnipiac, was nothing if not consistent in his NCAA career. However, his 24 points this season came in just 29 games as opposed to 25 in 38 last year. On a per-game basis, he was the Bobcats’ second-best scorer on a team that was within reach of an NCAA Tournament berth. A power forward who looks prepared for the pro game, Whelan is a nice pickup for Hartford and will likely bring some Quinnipiac fans along with him.
  • The NCAA announced the ten semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award for top goaltender on Tuesday, with several NHL prospects on the list. Maine’s Jeremy Swayman, who recently signed his entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins, heads up a list that also includes 2019 top goalie draft pick Spencer Knight of Boston College and the Florida Panthers, as well as UMass Lowell’s Tyler Wall, whose rights are owned by the New York Rangers but could be headed for unrestricted free agency. However, the favorite for the award is likely an undrafted product, Minnesota State’s Dryden McKay, who led the nation in wins, save percentage, and GAA. McKay and Swayman are the only Richter semifinalists who are also Hobey Baker finalists. Other standouts include Cornell’s Matthew Galajda, Michigan’s Strauss Mann, and Bemidji State’s Zach Driscoll. The three finalists will be announced at a later date.

East Notes: Rask, Miller, Lundkvist, Abdelkader

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Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has had an amazing season so far. He currently has a 2.12 GAA and a .929 save percentage in 41 appearances this year. The 33-year-old is still young compared to many veteran goaltenders. However, Matt Porter of the Boston Globe writes that Rask recently suggested that his time in the league could be over soon.

“I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play,” Rask said about retirement. “We’ll see. Always a possibility. The wear and tear of the travel with two, almost three kids now, makes you think. I love to do it. But it’s tough.”

Rask has one more year left on his current contract that pays him at $7MM per season. The team does have a number of young goaltenders in the system who might be ready to step in by that point, including Daniel Vladar and Jeremy Swayman, but at age 34 and with three young kids at home, Rask said he wouldn’t mind being home.

  • The New York Rangers continue to get richer as they have already added defensive prospect K’Andre Miller to their stable of prospects and are expected to also add defenseman Nils Lundkvist, considered to be one of the top prospects, at some point in the offseason. That should bolster the Rangers’ defense for the future. However, the New York Post’s Larry Brooks writes that the Rangers, however, need to keep some perspective and, considering the fact that the Rangers do have some depth on defense at the moment, need to keep both Miller and Lundqvist in the minors for a full season to properly develop them. Miller signed out of the University of Wisconsin and is likely to start the season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack despite the fact that many feel he could contribute in New York immediately. Lundkvist, recently ranked as a first-team prospect by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler (subscription required), has dominated in the SHL and could be loaned back there if the team feels it’s best for his development.
  • The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James handed out awards for players on the Detroit Red Wings. Listed among the most disappointing forwards for the team were three players, including Justin Abdelkader, Frans Nielsen and Valtteri Filppula. While she noted that Nielsen and Filppula are bounce-back candidates for next season, the scribe wasn’t as optimistic about Abdelkader’s future. The 33-year-old has seen his game decline over the years, but after zero goals and just three points in 49 games this year with Detroit, St. James believes that Abdelkader’s time in the NHL is over and he is likely to be waived and sent to the AHL for the remainder of his contract, which is three more years at $4.25MM.

New York Rangers Sign Austin Rueschhoff

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The New York Rangers have decided to bring in another college free agent, this time inking Austin Rueschhoff to a two-year entry-level contract that will begin in 2020-21. Rueschhoff just completed his third season with Western Michigan University, but has decided to turn pro.

Just by looking at the 22-year old forward you can understand why NHL teams have shown interest the last few years, as he towers over his competition at 6’7″. He has previously attended development camps with several teams, but has finally settled on the Rangers after scoring 12 goals and 26 points this season with the Broncos.

Rueschhoff isn’t the first college free agent signed by New York this spring, as he follows Patrick Khodorenko from rival Michigan State. The pair of prospects represent some extra depth for the Rangers that didn’t cost them a draft pick, though neither are guaranteed to have success at the next level.

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