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Pacific Notes: Eriksson, Ritchie, Smith, Dillon

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With so many forwards now on their roster, the Vancouver Canucks coaching staff should have their hands full when training camp begins. The team now has 14 forwards under contract with two restricted free agents still to sign in Brock Boeser and Nikolay Goldobin. That’s a lot of players for just 12 spots in the lineup.

One player who should find himself highly scrutinized is Loui Eriksson, who has made it clear he wouldn’t mind a change of scenery as he has stated he isn’t a big fan of Travis Green and his coaching staff. Unfortunately, a trade might be challenging as Eriksson still has three years remaining at $6MM AAV. When Vancouver Sun’s Patrick Johnson asked general manager Jim Benning about the possibility of sending Eriksson to the Utica Comets of the AHL, Benning was slow to answer.

“I don’t have a direct answer for that right now,” he admitted.

Eriksson’s agent said he doesn’t expect his client to be waived or re-assigned to Utica. Not sure if Benning feels the same way.

  • With a large number of young wingers and recent two-way acquisitions this summer, the writing could be on the wall for winger Nick Ritchie, who still has two years remaining at a very reasonable $1.49MM. The 23-year-old hasn’t developed into the scoring power forward the team hoped for when they drafted him 10th overall in 2014 and he might be a perfect trade candidate, according to Eric Stephens of The Athletic (subscription required). Ritchie will have to fight for one of the left wing openings or he could find himself on a new team shortly.
  • Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins writes that while many people are questioning the Oilers decision-making in signing veteran goaltender Mike Smith after a disappointing campaign last year in Calgary, the numbers may tell a different story. While the 37-year-old goaltender finished with less than stellar numbers: 42 games, 2.72 GAA and a .898 save percentage, he did finish strong at the end of the season. In his seven of his last 10 regular-season games, Smith finished with a .923 save percentage or higher. He also did the same in three of the five playoff games he appeared in. He could bounce back in a big way.
  • The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required) looks at the Sharks salary cap situtation in 2020. The team should have $10.3MM in available salary cap space, but that doesn’t include an expected long-term deal for Kevin Labanc. However, the scribe notes that no matter what, the team will probably have to let defenseman Brenden Dillon go despite his value to the team’s blueline. However, if Radim Simek continues to get top-four minutes, Dillon would be only a third-pairing defenseman and wouldn’t be worth the $3.27MM he currently makes anyway, especially if he’s looking for a raise.

Sharks Re-Sign Three Players

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Friday: The Sharks have officially announced all three contracts. They no longer have any restricted free agents left to sign.

Thursday: It has been a busy day for the Sharks and GM Doug Wilson.  After re-signing Dylan Gambrell and Antti Suomela earlier in the day, the team has also agreed to terms with defenseman Nick DeSimone on a two-year contract, CapFriendly reports.  The deal is worth the league minimum of $700K in each season.  San Jose also has inked defender Kyle Wood and center Maxim Letunov to one-year, two-way pacts worth $700K, per CapFriendly.

The 24-year-old DeSimone signed as an undrafted free agent with San Jose back in 2017 and is coming off a very strong showing in the minors.  Last season, he posted career bests across the board, collecting 12 goals and 32 assists in 65 games.  His 46 points were good enough for a tie for seventh place among all AHL blueliners.

With the Sharks carrying three blueliners who make a combined $26.5MM, it’s safe to suggest that they will be looking for cheaper players to round out the roster over the next couple of seasons.  By taking the minimum salary (which was less than his qualifying offer), DeSimone has certainly increased his chances of getting a look with the big club before much longer and should be in the mix for a roster spot in training camp with Joakim Ryan moving on in free agency.

Wood will also be hoping to get into the mix for a spot on San Jose’s back end after a good season with the Barracuda.  His first season with the Sharks organization saw him rebound offensively, collecting six goals with 29 assists, a nice jump over the 19 points he posted the year before.

As for Letunov, he had a decent showing in his first professional season.  He actually matched his output from his senior year at the University of Connecticut (12 goals and 16 assists) although it took him 57 games to reach that mark.  He’s likely to return to the minors for next season with the hopes of working his way up to being a recall at some point during the season.

San Jose Sharks Sign Dylan Gambrell, Antti Suomela

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The San Jose Sharks have reached an agreement with restricted free agent Dylan Gambrell, signing him to a two-year contract. The deal is for $700K and GM Doug Wilson issued a short statement:

Dylan had success at the AHL level with the Barracuda this past season, helping to lead the league’s youngest team to another Calder Cup Playoff berth,. He has continued to show us growth in all areas of his game, and, with his goal in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final, has proven he can handle the pressure of the NHL. We look forward to his continued development, and the impact he will have on the Sharks.

The team has also signed forward Antti Suomela to a one-year contract worth $700K. Both players will still be restricted free agents when the deals expire.

Gambrell, 22, was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft after an outstanding rookie season at the University of Denver, and proceeded to have two more solid years before signing with the Sharks in 2018. Because of his age at the time that contract was limited to just two seasons, and Gambrell burned the first year at the end of 2017-18. He did get into three games with the Sharks that year but spent most of his first real professional season in the minor leagues with the San Jose Barracuda. In 51 games with the AHL club his scoring touch rarely failed, as the young forward recorded 20 goals and 45 points.

Amazingly, Gambrell managed to record an NHL playoff goal before ever getting his first regular season tally. He scored in one of his two postseason appearances this year after failing to register even a single point in 11 previous regular season contests. That will likely change next season if given the chance, as Gambrell looks like he’ll have no trouble producing at the professional level once he gets his feet under him. Whether that comes in the NHL right away is unclear, especially given that he is still waiver-exempt and can be sent down with much more ease than some of the more veteran names battling for spots.

One of those veteran names—by age alone mind you—is Suomela, who came over from Finland last season after several successful years in his country’s top professional league. The 25-year old played in 27 games for the Sharks and recorded eight points, but spent the majority of the year in the minor leagues as well. While there’s no guarantee he will crack the NHL squad out of camp, Suomela has substantial upside of his own after recording 60 points in 59 games to lead the entire Liiga in scoring for 2017-18. If he could ever bring even a portion of that production to the Sharks, they would have found another core piece without expending any asset other than money.

Kevin Labanc Re-Signs With San Jose Sharks

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The San Jose Sharks have signed another important part of their group of young forwards, inking Kevin Labanc to a one-year contract. GM Doug Wilson issued an accompanying statement:

Kevin took a big step forward in his production last season and has grown into an important part of our team here in San Jose. He’s always had a dangerous shot but really stepped into a playmaking role for us last season and improved his 200-foot game as well. We think he still has even more potential to tap into and we’re excited to see what he can do with an elevated role with this talented group.

The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reports that it is a $1MM salary on Labanc’s new deal, a shocking value for a player who nearly recorded 60 points this past season. It is a hometown discount for sure for Labanc, 23, who will still be a restricted free agent next summer and is betting on himself with this deal. The sixth-round pick made quick work of the AHL after making the leap to professional hockey, and just finished his first full season in the NHL. Scoring 17 goals and 56 points, the former OHL superstar is ready to take another step and become one of the offensive leaders in San Jose now that Joe Pavelski has left town and Joe Thornton is another year older. If he does improve his numbers again in 2019-20, he’ll be in line for an even bigger deal next summer.

That’s the gamble the Sharks had to take though, given their cap crunch this year. The team spent a good amount of their cap space on extensions with Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier, leaving them without room to really buy out several years of unrestricted free agent status with Labanc. A short-term deal like this could result in him asking for even more in a year’s time, but also places much of the risk on Labanc to perform up to his standards and stay healthy. For a team looking like Stanley Cup contenders once again, that kind of bet can be beneficial to both sides.

The question now will be just how high can Labanc climb? When the Sharks picked him 171st overall in 2014 he was coming off a 35-point season with the Barrie Colts and looked like a potential organizational filler. He quickly showed he had bigger plans with a 107-point season following his draft, only to up that even further by scoring 153 points in a combined 80 regular season and playoff games for the Colts in 2015-16. An impressive playmaking presence on the powerplay, Labanc could see his numbers improve even further if a bump in ice time comes this season. Those 56 points last season came while averaging just 14 minutes a night, something that should change with Pavelski no longer in the mix on the right wing.

Vancouver Canucks Sign Francis Perron

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After acquiring his rights at the draft from the San Jose Sharks, Francis Perron has signed with the Vancouver Canucks. The prospect has inked a one-year two-way contract with the Canucks. Perron was a restricted free agent but not eligible for salary arbitration.

Perron, 23, was originally selected in the seventh round by the Ottawa Senators five years ago, but ended up shipped out to the Sharks in the Erik Karlsson deal. While at that point he may have just seemed like an underperforming minor league forward that was included as a contract dump, he broke out last season for the San Jose Barracuda and earned himself another NHL deal. Perron had 18 goals and 47 points in 63 games for the Barracuda, good enough for second on the team.

The former QMJHL star will fight for an NHL role on the Canucks in training camp, but will more likely find himself on waivers to start the year. That will give other teams a chance to grab him, but if he clears he can head to the Utica Comets and try to replicate his excellent 2018-19 season. At the very worst, the Canucks have secured another shifty minor league scorer for their AHL club.

Poll: How Many Top 50 Free Agents Will Opt For Retirement?

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A week into free agency, the vast majority of PHR’s Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents are under contract. Unsurprisingly, many of those left unsigned are on the wrong side of 30 or even at or approaching 40. Veterans tend to be later additions in free agency, as teams aren’t rushing to sign them to long-term deals to be core pieces, but rather seek to use them to plug holes in the lineup after the fact. As of now, there are nine names in the Top 50 that are legitimate candidates for retirement. Some have offers on the table and are taking their time to make a decision, while other may not have much of a market and could have to choose between a PTO or calling it a career. How many will choose retirement this summer?

Justin Williams, 37, enjoyed a tremendous 53-point season with the Carolina Hurricanes this past season and looked far from done. GM Don Waddell hinted that the captain will return next season, but until pen meets paper it remains a question mark. Williams was a key piece of the Hurricanes’ run to the Eastern Conference Final last season and would be a major loss for the team. However, he could opt to go out on top as a player who has seen very little drop-off in production through his 30’s and hit his highest point total since 2011-12 last season. Williams can still play, but the question is whether he wants to.

Joe Thornton, 40, not only wants to play next season, but wants to play several more years. The future Hall of Famer has already had an illustrious career, but has yet to win that elusive Stanley Cup. Thornton would like to return to the San Jose Sharks, one of only two teams he’s played for in his 21-year career, and the Sharks should be able to find the space to bring him back after moving out salary via trade and free agency departures. However, Thornton’s asking price will play a part – he did top 50 points again last season – as will the Sharks’ interest in bringing back another retirement threat. Patrick Marleau, 39, left San Jose two years ago to join the Toronto Maple Leafs, but has since been bought out and all signs point to a desire to return to the Sharks. These two legendary Sharks are both capable of continuing their NHL careers, but can San Jose fit them both and are either willing to sign elsewhere at this point in their careers?

Brian Boyle, 34, enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2018-19 and netted a second-round pick at the trade deadline. He clearly still has value as a big, smart two-way forward, but the lack of attention he has garnered thus far in free agency is curious. Boyle did not make as much of an impact in Nashville post-trade as he did in New Jersey and teams may be skeptical of his production moving forward. Between a cold market and recent health concerns, Boyle may be considering calling it a career while he’s still considered an elite defensive forward. However, it would be a surprise if there isn’t a team in the NHL who could still use Boyle’s ability.

Dion Phaneuf, 34, is fresh off of a buyout and should be available at a bargain rate as he continues to cash paychecks from the Los Angeles Kings. Phaneuf stated earlier this off-season that he would be happy to land with a contender, but is also open to taking on a mentor role with a young team. That would seemingly make him a candidate to join a number of D-needy teams. Yet, a week into free agency there has been almost no noise surrounding Phaneuf. The veteran still plays a strong checking game, but his offense and mobility fell off a cliff last season, resulting in drastic career lows in production and ice time. Teams may be hesitant to invest at his current asking price. Phaneuf may be looking at a decision between a short-term, minimum deal or walking away.

Ben Lovejoy, 35, is also coming off an uninspiring season. The Dallas Stars still felt he was worth a deadline gamble, but Lovejoy failed to make much of an impact offensively with either the Stars or Devils pre-trade. An experienced journeyman defenseman, Lovejoy still plays a strong defensive game and has great awareness in his own zone. However, when it comes to moving the puck he can be prone to turnovers and when asked to contribute offensively, he offers little. At this point in his career, Lovejoy is an ideal No. 7 or 8 defenseman. However, does he want to continue his playing career only to be used sparingly as a depth player? That’s the question.

Thomas Vanek, 35, is a tricky case. While his 36 points this season marked a career low, it also came in just 64 games and was one of the top marks for the Detroit Red Wings. Vanek has been a tough player to get a read on in recent years because he has moved around so much and played in a variety of roles. The eye test, combined with a plethora of rumors so far this summer, suggest that he can keep playing. But does a decorated veteran really want to continue being a hired gun and deadline deal year after year? If Vanek can find some security in a short-term contract, he will stick around in the NHL and likely continue to be a great value as a player capable of 50 points. However, the respected veteran may also be ready to call it a career if the right fit doesn’t exist.

Niklas Kronwall, 38, and Deryk Engelland, 37, are both in the same boat. They will either return to their current teams – the Red Wings and Golden Knights respectively – or they’ll retire. Neither is looking to move at this point in their careers, nor can they command salaries that their teams cannot pay. Instead, the duo are both valued for their leadership and loyalty and can still play well enough in a regular role or, more likely, thrive in a depth role. The question for both is simply how much they have left in the tank and whether it’s time to quit while they’re ahead.

So what do you think? Nine players, all with good reason to retire but also to keep playing, with various market factors at work. How many suit up in the NHL next season and how many make a final announcement in the coming weeks?

Evening Notes: Sharks Lineup, Gaudette, Johansson

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The San Jose Sharks had to cast off a number of forwards this offseason after they inked star defenseman Erik Karlsson to an eight-year, $92MM contract three weeks ago. The team let Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi off and there continue to be rumors that they may have to trade off Melker Karlsson later on this summer to free up more cap room.

Of course, San Jose is expected to re-sign Joe Thornton and are likely to also bring back Patrick Marleau. Yet, despite those signings, there are likely going to be some holes in their lineup. In fact, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required) writes that there could be a major change in the top-six. The scribe writes that San Jose might look to its prospect depth to fill one of the wing positions on the second line this season as Sasha Chmelevski and Ivan Chekovich could be the beneficiaries of that job.

Chmelevski, a sixth-round gem found in the 2017 draft, has scored 70 goals and 151 points in the past two seasons with the Ottawa 67s of the OHL. Chekovich, a seventh-round stud picked up in the 2017 draft as well, scored 43 goals and 105 points last season in the QMJHL, but also gotten some time in the AHL with three goals and seven points in nine AHL games. Kurz writes that the only way they would make the team is if one of them played on the second line. A spot on the bottom-six would make less sense, however, as they could get valuable minutes with the San Jose Barracuda instead.

  • The Vancouver Canucks have been quite active this offseason and have added quite a bit of depth to their team. However, Patrick Johnson of the Vancouver Sun writes that the team will have a significant roster jam at the forward position this fall. The team currently has 13 healthy forwards under NHL deals and still have to sign Nikolay Goldobin and Brock Boeser to deals. Throw in the injured Antoine Roussel, the team has a lot of forwards with only 12 spots. That could put the spot of Adam Gaudette, who many people feel deserves a spot as the team’s third-line center, in jeopardy as the 22-year-old is the only player on the team (minus Elias Pettersson and Boeser) who can be sent down without having to pass through waivers. Unless Gaudette can have a dominant camp and beat out some of the others like Brandon Sutter, he could find himself starting the year off in Utica of the AHL.
  • The two-year deal that winger Marcus Johansson signed Saturday with the Buffalo Sabres includes a modified no-trade clause, according to CapFriendly. Johansson has the ability to provide Buffalo with a list of 10 teams he cannot be traded to during both his seasons. That’s an improvement on his previous deal where for the past two years he could submit five teams he couldn’t be traded to.

Melker Karlsson Could Be A Trade Candidate For Sharks

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  • With the Sharks still needing to re-sign restricted free agent winger Kevin Labanc, unrestricted free agent center Joe Thornton, and fill out the rest of their roster, San Jose may still need to trim some payroll. Chelena Goldman of NBC Sports Bay Area suggests that center Melker Karlsson could be a trade candidate as a result.  With one year and $2MM left on his deal, his spot on the fourth line could be filled by someone cheaper (such as RFA Dylan Gambrell) which would free up some much-needed funds to use elsewhere.

San Jose Sharks Sign Several Players

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The San Jose Sharks have signed their recent second-round pick, Artemi Kniazev, to a three-year entry-level contract. Kniazev played last season with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL after coming over from Russia. GM Doug Wilson released a statement on his newest prospect:

Artemi had a great camp with us this summer, where he continued to show his poise with the puck, intelligence, and high-end skating and edge work. We are excited for him to go back to his QMJHL team and have a big season with them. Chicoutimi is a contender for the championship under head coach Yanick Jean, and we expect Artemi to be a big part of the team’s success.

The team has also signed Zachary Gallant to a three-year entry-level contract, after his negotiating rights with the Detroit Red Wings expired earlier this summer. Gallant was picked 83rd overall by the Red Wings in 2017 and has played the last two seasons in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes. Even though he’s now 20, Wilson indicated that Gallant will be going back to captain the Petes this season as an over-age player.

Nikolai Knyzhov has also inked a three-year entry-level deal with the Sharks, joining their organization after a junior career in Russia. Knyzhov went undrafted but suited up for Russia at the 2018 World Junior Championship. The 6’2″ defenseman is already 21 and expected to be coming over to North America next season.

Last but not least, the team announced a one-year contract for free agent forward Jonny Brodzinski, who had qualified for Group VI unrestricted free agency after failing to reach 80 NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings. Brodzinski, 26, was a fifth-round pick of the Kings back in 2013 and has 11 points in 56 career NHL contests. Armed with a powerful shot he has been a dynamic goal scorer in the minor leagues, and will likely serve that purpose for the San Jose organization as well.

Dalton Prout Signs With San Jose Sharks

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The San Jose Sharks have added another depth defenseman, signing Dalton Prout to a one-year $800K contract according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Prout was an unrestricted free agent after spending last season with the Calgary Flames organization.

The 29-year old Prout has bounced around the last few years, providing a physical presence for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils and Flames in short stints but never hits the ice for any consistent playing time. In 20 games last season for the Flames he recorded one goal and one assist, but certainly isn’t known for his offensive contributions.

It’s his fighting skill that mostly got Prout noticed in Columbus, where he totaled 19 scraps over the years. He never did get a chance to drop the gloves in Calgary, but will likely be asked to serve that role if he ever gets up to the NHL level with the Sharks. In the bruising Western Conference, GM Doug Wilson has often brought in some toughness as the playoffs near to give his team a little bit of an edge on the ice.

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