Down the Frozen River

Tag: Matt O’Connor

  • Nashville Predators 2018-19 Season Preview

    Nashville Predators

    53-18-11, 117 points, Presidents’ Trophy winners

    Lost in the Second Round to Winnipeg (4-3)

    Additions: C Colin Blackwell, LW Connor Brickley, RW Rocco Grimaldi, D Dan Hamhuis, C Zachary Magwood, LW Zac Rinaldo, D Jarred Tinordi

    Subtractions: C Cody Bass, LW Brandon Bollig, D Stefan Elliott, D Alexei Emelin, C Mike Fisher, D Petter Granberg, LW Scott Hartnell, G Anders Lindback, C Mark McNeil, G Matt O’Connor, D Rick Pinkston, D John Ramage, C Trevor Smith, D Scott Valentine, LW Harry Zolnierczyk

    Re-signed: D Ryan Ellis, RW Ryan Hartman, W Miikka Salomaki, G Juuse Saros

    Offseason Analysis: The Predators had all the ingredients of a Stanley Cup winner last year. The offense was solid, the defense was stifling, and the goaltending was world-class. They boasted largely the same group that had made it all the way to the Final in 16-17, so now they had the experience and know-how that allows teams to get to the promised land. They dominated the regular season and walked into the playoffs with a Vince McMahon-like strut. Mike Fisher was so confident in their abilities to win a Cup that he quite literally decided he’d rather get back into hockey shape and unretire to join them for the playoffs rather than stay home and be Carrie Underwood’s husband (she never did return my letters about being her fill-in husband while he was away).

    After dispatching of the Avs in the First Round, though, the Preds encountered a problem. They encountered (arguably) the one team that was capable of beating them: the Winnipeg Jets. The knock-down, drag-out playoff matchup hockey fans and media were begging for was to be the downfall of the Preds. Winnipeg’s unrelenting physicality, superior offensive firepower and the shattering of Pekka Rinne‘s confidence were too much for the Preds to overcome, and they’d fall unceremoniously in a 5-1 home loss after managing to force a Game 7.

    Luckily for the Nashville brass, the offseason they faced wasn’t supremely daunting. Apart from a few young RFA’s and some aging role players (plus the re-retirement of Fisher), they had no real NHL-level contract concerns. The core of the team was secure heading into the 18-19 campaign. But still the sting of defeat in back-to-back potential Cup-winning years hurt, and efforts to counter a potential third year of the same had to be made.

    With no draft picks until the fourth round, GM David Poile instead focused on free agency to bring immediate help to his team. When things opened up on July 1, he first tasked himself with helping them from within, re-signing wingers Miikka Salomaki (two years, $750 thousand per) and Ryan Hartman (one year, $875 thousand) and young stud No. 2 goaltender Juuse Saros (three years, $1.5 million per) to very reasonable deals. He then snagged one of his former draft picks in Dan Hamhuis, inking the 35-year-old to a two-year, $2.5 million contract to replace the departed Alexei Emelin and solidify the defense. Poile then knocked a big task off of next year’s to-do list when he signed defenseman Ryan Ellis to an eight-year, $50 million contract extension ($6.25 million cap hit) that takes hold next summer. Ellis has grown into one of the Preds’ most versatile and reliable defenders, and Poile saw no reason to wait on locking him up for the foreseeable future.

    Few other signings were notable names, mostly organizational depth, although newcomers Rocco Grimaldi, Zac Rinaldo, Colin Blackwell, and AHL-contracted Brian Cooper have made noise to this point in training camp and are all still on the preseason roster heading into the final days/cuts.

    Up front, the lineup will look largely unchanged from last year’s group, with really only depth positions likely up for grabs. Winger Scott Hartnell was the only full-timer from last year to depart, and 2017 first round pick Eeli Tolvanen looks poised to inherit his place in the lineup. While lacking Hartnell’s snarl, Tolvanen is a deadly shooter and spent last year lighting up the Finnish Elite League as a rookie fresh out of the USHL. With success in a men’s league and experience on North American ice, Tolvanen should be ready for an NHL roster spot. The only other notable absence, at least to start the season, will be the lack of power forward winger Austin Watson. The 26-year-old was suspended for the first 27 games of the season after pleading no contest to charges of domestic battery over the summer. It comes after Watson finally solidified his place in the Predators lineup last season, and they’ll have to make due without his size and physicality for at least the first few months of the year.

    In Watson’s absense, I have the opening night forward group looking like:
    Forsberg – Johansen – Arvidsson
    Fiala – Turris – Smith
    Tolvanen – Bonino – Sissons
    Salomaki – Jarnkrok – Hartman
    Extra forwards Grimaldi and Frederick Gaudreau

    The defense also only lost one regular from last year, and Hamhuis should step right into that slot. Really only the No. 6 slot to his right remains a question, and while Matt Irwin and Anthony Bitetto are more than capable, they both have an uphill battle to unseat Yannick Weber based solely upon the fact that he’s the only right handed shot among them. The only problem facing the Preds here is that none of the three are on two-way contracts, so basically they get to decide who they’re most comfortable putting on waivers. In the end I think Irwin’s NHL experience could give him the edge in that decision.

    Defensive lineup should look like:
    Josi – Ellis
    Ekholm – Subban
    Hamhuis – Weber
    Extra defender Irwin

    In goal, it’s Pekka Rinne and Jusse Saros. Sorry I couldn’t make that any more entertaining.

    Er, well, it is a contract year for Rinne. So… umm… that’ll be interesting, I guess.

    Offseason Grade: B

    Less really was more, here.

    Poile played it smart, as he often does. He kept his spending to a minimum (the Preds should enter the season with a smidge north of $8 million to play with) and used the depth he’s accumulated to still ice one of the better lineups in the league.

    The defense is arguably the best (or at least top three) in the league, and none of the top seven are in contract years. (In fact, only four forwards likely to make the NHL club are to see free agency next year, and every one of them is still RFA eligible)

    Rinne is likely looking at his last shot at a Cup as a No. 1 guy (he’ll turn 36 this year), so he’ll be leaving nothing on the table.

    The forward group is solid, if not spectacular. But with all that aforementioned cap space available, scoring punch can certainly be brought in sometime before the deadline if it proves to be a concern heading towards the playoffs.

    We haven’t seen the last of Smashville playoff runs.

  • 2018 Offseason Preview: Nashville Predators

    Our offseason previews for all 31 National Hockey League teams continues with the Nashville Predators and their outlook for the summer.

    Unknown

    The 2017-18 Nashville Predators finished atop the league. At the end of the regular season, that is.

    For the first time in franchise history, the Preds clinched the President’s Trophy as the NHL club with the best regular season record (53-18-11) at season’s end. Nashville’s 117 points led the Central Division and Western Conference, but ultimately were no match for the Winnipeg Jets in seven games in the Second Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

    General Manager David Poile and head coach Peter Laviolette look to regroup and go at it again in 2018-19, but without assistant GM Paul Fenton, who took a job as Minnesota Wild’s General Manager.

    Mike Fisher retired (again), Pekka Rinne was chased in multiple postseason appearances and Nashville was left without any hydration from Lord Stanley’s Cup.

    2018 NHL Entry Draft

    Poile and the Predators do not have a first round pick in Friday’s draft as a result of the Ryan Hartman trade deadline acquisition made with the Chicago Blackhawks.

    It’s a deep draft, so Poile will have to use his magic anyway and select the next elite player in the later rounds or pull off a classic one-for-one hockey trade that rivals the Shea Weber for P.K. Subban trade or Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen trade. Did I mention the Filip Forsberg deal yet? The point is, Poile’s a magician, but he still hasn’t won a Cup.

    Speaking of drafting in the late rounds, though, Nashville doesn’t have a second round pick this year or a sixth round pick (which the latter is more concerning given the aforementioned take above).

    Pending free agents

    The Predators have about $7.500 million in spending allowance this summer.

    Scott Hartnell is their only pending-UFA forward and at 36-years-old, he amassed 13-11–24 totals in 62 games with the club that drafted him 6th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. The year-long reunion with his first NHL club produced totals that, sure, mean something from a bottom-6 forward, but he could be replaced as he only played four postseason games (scoring precisely, zero points).

    As long as Hartnell isn’t getting a raise, Poile could keep him as a depth forward or a fourth liner, but if either party doesn’t see something mutual, then for sure Hartnell will be moving on.

    Poile has two pending-RFA forwards to ponder this summer in Miikka Salomaki and Hartman.

    Salomaki, 25, had two goals and six assists (eight points) in 58 games this season and went on to play in eight postseason games with Nashville. Since breaking into the NHL in 2014-15, Salomaki has had 8-11–19 totals in 125 career games. Not great for a mid-twenty-something year-old winger, but he’s more in his prime than, say, Hartnell is and for cheaper too.

    Hartman, 23, in his second NHL season was traded by the Blackhawks to the Predators in a bit of a surprise move at the deadline, but went on to amass 11-20–31 totals in 78 games with Nashville and Chicago.

    Despite taking some foolish retaliation penalties in the postseason, Hartman’s worth having somewhere in the Preds lineup for a bridge-deal to short-term contract as long as the dollars work out.

    The biggest wrench in Poile’s plans might come in the form of Alexei Emelin‘s next contract if the pending-UFA defender is to re-sign with Nashville this offseason.

    The 32-year-old blueliner had one goal and eight assists (nine points) in 76 games in his first season wearing a uniform other than the Montreal Canadiens sweater. Emelin was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2017 Expansion Draft, then flipped to Nashville as part of a deal that solidified the Predators with the best top-6 defensive corps on paper in the NHL.

    Shutdown, offensive, two-way, defensive– you name it, Nashville had it this season.

    Emelin’s most recent contract carried a $4.100 million cap hit and if it’s going to be the same or even higher moving forward, Poile might be forced to let him walk with some key RFAs to re-sign for the longevity of the franchise.

    One of those keys, of course, happens to be the Predators backup goaltender, Juuse Saros.

    The 23-year-old is prime for taking over Pekka Rinne’s net one of these years– if the Preds can keep him around.

    While others are after the Washington Capitals trying to work a deal on acquiring the rights to pending-RFA, Philipp Grubauer, Saros is comfortably sitting around with his 2.44 goals against average and .925 save percentage in 26 games played and 1.05 GAA and .952 SV% in 4 postseason appearances in this year’s playoffs.

    Rinne is 35-years-old.

    Shocking, I know, but even more shocking? He only has one-year left on his current deal with a $7.000 million cap hit.

    Rinne posted a 2.31 GAA and .927 SV% in 59 games this season as Nashville’s starter, but faltered to a 3.07 GAA and .904 SV% in 13 games in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

    If the torch is almost to be passed from one elite goaltender to perhaps the next best goalie in the NHL, signing Saros to a sensible bridge-deal before both parties cash in is imperative this summer.

    Perhaps, even, before making any major adjustments to the team.

    Buyouts on the books: Viktor Stalberg through 2018-19 at $1.167 million

    Other pending free agents throughout the organization include:

    Harry Zolnierczyk (UFA), Matt O’Connor (UFA), Cody Bass (UFA), Mark McNeill (UFA), Trevor Smith (UFA), Brandon Bollig (UFA), John Ramage (UFA), Anders Lindback (UFA)

  • 2017 NHL Free Agency- July 1st Signings Recap

    This post will be updated throughout the day as signings are officially announced. Be sure to check our Twitter account (@DtFrozenRiver) for all of the latest signings, news, and analysis throughout the day.

    Free agency begins at noon (technically 12:01 PM ET) on July 1st. All that is known is shown and will be updated throughout the day. More analysis will come later as the day wraps up.

    NHL Logo

    The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed G Garret Sparks to a 2-year, $1.300 million ($650,000 cap hit) contract and G Curtis McElhinney to a 2-year, $1.7000 million ($850,000 cap hit) contract extension.

    D Oleg Sosunov signed a 3-year entry level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

    F Garrett Wilson signed a 2-year, two-way, contract extension worth $650,000 AAV at the NHL level with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    D Alex Petrovic signed a 1-year extension with the Florida Panthers.

    F Sam Gagner agreed to terms with the Vancouver Canucks on a 3-year contract worth $9.450 million ($3.150 million cap hit).

    D Michael Del Zotto signed a 2-year deal, worth $3.000 million AAV with the Vancouver Canucks.

    Vancouver signed G Anders Nilsson to a 2-year contract worth $5.000 million ($2.500 million cap hit).

    G Steve Mason signed a 2-year deal worth $4.100 million AAV with the Winnipeg Jets.

    D Dan Girardi agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a 2-year contract worth $3.000 million a year.

    The Detroit Red Wings and D Trevor Daley have agreed on a 3-year contract worth $3.178 million per year.

    G Brian Elliott agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Flyer on a 2-year, $5.500 million ($2.750 million per year) contract.

    The Buffalo Sabres signed G Chad Johnson to a 1-year, $2.500 million deal.

    F Patrick Sharp signed a 1-year, $1.000 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

    G Jonathan Bernier signed a 1-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche worth $2.750 million.

    F Evgeny Dadonov signed a 3-year contract with the Florida Panthers.

    Florida also signed F Michael Haley to a 2-year contract.

    G Ondrej Pavelec signed a 1-year, $1.300 million contract with the New York Rangers,

    G Ryan Miller agreed to terms with the Anaheim Ducks on a 2-year contract worth $4.000 million ($2.000 million AAV).

    The Dallas Stars reached a 3-year, $14.250 million contract agreement with F Martin Hanzal. The deal carries a $4.750 million cap hit.

    D Karl Alzner signed a 5-year, $23.125 milion ($4.625 cap hit) contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

    F Nick Bonino agreed to terms with the Nashville Predators on a 4-year contract worth $4.100 per year.

    F Nate Thompson and the Ottawa Senators agreed to a 2-year contract worth $1.650 million AAV.

    D Ron Hainsey signed a 2-year contract, worth $3.000 million AAV, with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    The Winnipeg Jets signed D Dmitry Kulikov to a 3-year contract worth $4.330 million AAV.

    G Harri Sateri signed a contract with the Florida Panthers.

    D Matt Hunwick signed a 3-year, $6.750 million ($2.250 cap hit) contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    F Brian Boyle and the New Jersey Devils agreed to a 2-year contract worth $2.550 million per year.

    D Benoit Pouliot signed a 1-year, $1.150 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

    G Antti Niemi agreed to a 1-year, $700,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    F Justin Williams signed a 2-year, $9.000 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Williams will carry a cap hit of $4.500 million.

    F Tommy Wingels signed a 1-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

    The Carolina Hurricanes signed F Josh Jooris to a 1-year, $775,000 contract.

    G Jean-Francois Berube and D Jordan Oesterle signed 2-year contracts with the Chicago Blackhawks.

    F Tyler Pitlick signed a 3-year, $3.000 million ($1.000 million cap hit) deal with the Dallas Stars.

    F Peter Holland ($675,000 AAV) and F Byron Froese ($650,000 AAV) signed 2-year contracts with the Montreal Canadiens.

    D Adam Clendening signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

    D Ryan Murphy signed a 1-year, $700,000 contract with the Minnesota Wild.

    F Mike Cammalleri signed a 1-year, $1.000 million deal with the Los Angeles Kings.

    The Washington Capitals officially re-signed RFA F Brett Connolly to a 2-year contract worth $3.000 million ($1.500 million cap hit).

    D Patrick Wiercioch signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

    D Paul Postma signed a 1-year, $725,000 contract with the Boston Bruins.

    F Kenny Agostino signed a 1-year, $875,000 contract with the Boston Bruins.

    F Landon Ferraro and F Cal O’Reilly agreed to 2-year, two-way, contracts with the Minnesota Wild. Ferraro and O’Reilly will earn $700,000 at the NHL level, $375,000 with the Iowa Wild in the AHL.

    G Jeremy Smith signed a 1-year, two-way, contract worth $750,000 at the NHL level with the Carolina Hurricanes.

    The Nashville Predators signed F Scott Hartnell to a 1-year, $1.000 million deal.

    G Michael Leighton signed a 1-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

    G Anders Lindback signed a 1-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level with the Nashville Predators. Lindback will earn $100,000 in the AHL.

    G Cal Petersen signed a 2-year entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

    Los Angeles also signed D Christian Folin to a 1-year, $850,000 deal and agreed to terms with D Stepan Falkovsky on a 3-year entry level contract.

    F Chris Thorburn signed a 2-year, $1.800 million contract ($900,000 cap hit) with the St. Louis Blues.

    F Alexander Burmistrov signed a 1-year, $900,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

    D Alex Grant signed a 1-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 with the Minnesota Wild.

    The Dallas Stars re-signed D Patrik Nemeth to a 1-year, $945,000 contract.

    F Brian Flynn signed a 1-year contract worth $700,000 with the Dallas Stars.

    D Luke Witkowski signed a 1-year, $750,000 deal with the Detroit Red Wings.

    F Lance Bouma signed a 1-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

    The St. Louis Blues re-signed RFA F Oskar Sundqvist on a 1-year, $650,000 contract.

    F Beau Bennett signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the St. Louis Blues (and promptly updated his Twitter profile pic).

    D Matt Tennyson signed a 2-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

    F Anthony Peluso signed a 1-year, $650,000 deal with the Washington Capitals.

    F Ty Rattie agreed to a 1-year, $700,000 contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

    G Matt O’Connor signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Nashville Predators.

    F Derek Grant came to terms on a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

    The Winnipeg Jets signed F Michael Sgarbossa to a 1-year, $650,000 contract.

    D Matt Taormina and the Montreal Canadiens agreed to terms on a 2-year contract.

    F Seth Griffith signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

    The Carolina Hurricanes re-signed D Dennis Robertson to a 1-year, two-way contract. Robertson will earn $650,000 at the NHL level ($100,000 in the AHL). Additionally, the Hurricanes signed D Brenden Kichton to a 1-year, two-way deal, worth $700,000.

    G Niklas Svedberg returned to the NHL on a 1-year contract, worth $700,000, with the Minnesota Wild.

    F Tyler Randell signed a 1-year, $700,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators.

    D Cameron Gaunce signed a 2-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

    G Adam Wilcox signed a 1-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres.

    D Kevin Shattenkirk signed a 4-year, $6.650 million AAV contract with the New York Rangers.

    The Buffalo Sabres signed F Kevin Porter and F Kyle Criscuolo to 2-year, two-way contracts.

    F Radim Vrbata signed a 1-year, $2.5 million deal with the Florida Panthers.

    D Joe Morrow signed a 1-year deal worth $650,000 with the Montreal Canadiens.

    F Joe Thornton re-signed with the San Jose Sharks, agreeing to a 1-year contract extension.

    The Tampa Bay Lightning inked D Jamie McBain to a 1-year contract worth $650,000. Tampa also signed D Mat Bodie to a 1-year, two-way contract worth $650,000.

    The Minnesota Wild signed F Kyle Rau to a 1-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 at the NHL level ($200,000 in the AHL) and agreed to terms on a 1-year, $1.250 million contract with D Kyle Quincey.

    F Nick Cousins signed a 2-year contract extension with the Arizona Coyotes worth $2.000 million ($1.000 million AAV).

    The New York Islanders signed D Seth Helgeson and D Kane Lafranchise to 1-year, two-way contracts.

    F Dominic Moore signed a 1-year, $1.000 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    Boston signed F Jordan Szwarz to a 1-year, two-way contract extension.

    F Chris Kunitz signed a 1-year, $2.000 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

    G Mike McKenna signed a 1-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars.

    The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed F Mike Vecchione and F Corban Knight to 2-year contracts. Additionally, Philadelphia signed F Phil Varone to a 2-year deal.

    F Max Reinhart signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa also signed F Ben Sexton to a 1-year, $725,000 deal.

    D Erik Burgdoerfer signed a 2-year contract worth $650,000 AAV with the Ottawa Senators.

    F Buddy Robinson signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Winnipeg Jets.

    G Danny Taylor signed a 1-year, $850,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators.

    D Andre Benoit signed a 1-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

    F Paul Carey agreed to terms with the New York Rangers on a 1-year, $650,000 contract.

    The Calgary Flames signed F Marek Hrivik to a 1-year deal.

    The Pittsburgh Penguins signed D Chris Summers, D Jarred Tinordi, D Zach Trotman and F Greg McKegg to two-way contracts worth $650,000 at the NHL level. Summers signed a 2-year deal, while Tinordi, Trotman and McKegg inked 1-year deals.

    Pittsburgh also re-signed F Tom Sestito and D Frank Corrado to 1-year, two-way deals worth $650,000. The Penguins signed G Casey DeSmith to a 2-year, two-way contract, worth $650,000 AAV, marking the first time DeSmith has signed an NHL contract with the club (he had previously played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an AHL contract).

    D Cameron Schilling reached a 1-year, two-way contract agreement with the Winnipeg Jets worth $650,000.

    F Alex Gallant signed a 1-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

    D Brent Regner signed a 1-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars.

    The Toronto Maple Leafs signed F Colin Greening to a 1-year contract and F Chris Mueller and D Vincent LoVerde to 2-year contracts. Greening’s 1-year deal is worth $750,000 AAV, while Mueller’s 2-year deal carries a $650,000 AAV price tag and LoVerde will earn $725,000 AAV over his 2-year contract.

    The New Jersey Devils signed F Brian Gibbons to a 1-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level and F Bracken Kearns to a 1-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level.

    Arizona signed F Zac Rinaldo, F Michael Sislo, D Andrew Campbell and D Joel Hanley to 1-year, two-way contracts.

    F Cole Schneider signed a 2-year contract worth $650,000 AAV with the New York Rangers.

    The Edmonton Oilers signed F Mitch Callahan and D Ryan Stanton to 2-year contracts. Additionally, the Oilers reached agreements with F Grayson Downing, F Brian Ferlin, D Keegan Lowe and G Edward Pasquale on 1-year deals.

    G Antoine Bibeau signed a 1-year, two-way contract with the San Jose Sharks.

    The Colorado Avalanche signed F Andrew Agozzino and D David Warsofsky to 2-year contracts, as well as G Joe Cannata to a 1-year contract.

    G Darcy Kuemper signed a 1-year, $650,000 contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

    F Jacob Josefson signed a 1-year, $700,000 deal with the Buffalo Sabres.

    The Vegas Golden Knights signed D Brad Hunt to a 2-year contract worth $650,000 AAV.

    D Chris Casto signed a 1-year deal worth $650,000 at the NHL level with the Vegas Golden Knights.

    G Maxime Lagace agreed to a 1-year deal worth $650,000 at the NHL level with the Vegas Golden Knights.

    F Paul Thompson signed a 1-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights worth $650,000 at the NHL level.

    The Vegas Golden Knights and F Stefan Matteau agreed to a 1-year deal worth $650,000 at the NHL level.

    F T.J. Tynan signed a 2-year contract worth $650,000 AAV at the NHL level with the Vegas Golden Knights.

    The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed D Justin Schultz to a 3-year, $16.500 million contract (worth $5.500 million AAV).