The NHL season is officially over, but the fun of the next couple weeks has yet to begin. Already though we have league wide proclamations concerning costless agents, contracts, the draft and trade rumors. The excitement of the draft and costless agency is just heating up; lets take a look at what’s been happening.
Around the League
Michal Handzus: In a tiny bit of news, costless agent forward Michal Handzus will not be returning to the Chicago Blackhawks. The announcement came Monday that the Blackhawks have chosen to part ways with Handzus. This is not surprising, Handzus was a good player but he is getting up there in age and is becoming increasingly ineffective. This past season he scored 16 points in 59 games, and was playing favorable zone starts and weak competition. These numbers are even more disparaging when you consider that the majority of his ice time came with Patrick Kane. Being unable to produce with a player like Kane is not a good sign. A team will likely sign Handzus as a fourth line option, though the options will be limited.
Shawn Thornton: Thornton is in a similar boat after Boston announced they would be parting ways with the costless agent agitator. Thornton is on the wrong end of his career, and plays a role that teams are moving away from. Being a designated tough guy has worked out well for Thornton, and he has proven capable as a fourth line guy. But he is on the wrong side of thirty, and as teams move towards four lines that can play hockey, guys like Thornton will continue to be thrust aside. It is good for the game of hockey, bad for guys like Thornton. Some team will add him for his experience and fighting ability, but that team will likely not get any value from the signing.
Ryan O’Reilly: The Colorado Avalanche have elected or club arbitration for Ryan O’Reilly. This comes off the heels of last off-season when O’Reilly signed an offer sheet with the Calgary Flames, forcing the hand of the Avalanche. The damage of the relationship seemed to be on the mend this past season, but the ground is shaky. This move by the Avs is risky as the relationship could head south. O’Reilly would fetch a decent return on the trade market should the relationship be permanently damaged. He is a solid 2C, kills penalties, as finish and can play effectively against top opposing players. He has room to grow as a two-way player, but the potential is there. He will be awarded upwards of $5.25 million in arbitration due to the restrictions of the CBA, and if it is anymore than $6.5 million he made this past season, the Avs may be looking to move him.
Burke Likes To Play: Brian Burke always likes to make a splash, an impatient man, he is not afraid to sacrifce the future of a team in order to get help now. With Calgary picking fourth overall the Flames will be adding another good young prospect to the system, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them make some moves this off-season in the trade market and costless-agency. Burke doesn't like waiting around for success, he chooses to go after it.
Panthers Coaching Update: The Panthers are narrowing down their list of potential Head Coaches. The list is down to three and two of the names being mentioned are Marc Crawford, Dan Bylsma. Some of the other options floating around are Tom Renney, Bill Peters and Ron Wilson. The smart bet from this position is on Marc Crawford or Dan Bylsma. Bylsma is fresh off his stint in Pittsburgh and would bring a solid resume with him to Florida. He is a good coach who got lost in the lack of depth in Pittsburgh, which eventually led to his downfall.
Draft Day Trades: With Draft Day coming sooner and sooner each day the rumors continue to swirl. Teams are looking to move up (as they are every year) and this season more than any other it feels like a possibility. With the Panthers making it known they would trade out of the top spot for help right now, there is apparently an offer on the table they would consider taking. It remains to be seen what will happen with that pick, but the offers should only get more lucrative as the draft approaches. Look for Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Philly as teams that are making serious offers to move into the top 3 of the draft. More often than not there is no change at the top of the draft because the potential of the player you give up is plentiful. Teams are often not willing to move down unless the offer is too good to pass up.
Costless Agent Frenzy: The costless agent frenzy this year should be interesting. The names are not very elite outside Vanek. But there are many good complimentary players available. Anton Stralman, Matt Niskanen, Marian Gaborik, Ales Hemsky and Mikhail Grabovski would all be nice secondary additions for teams that are on the brink of success. Look for Pittsburgh, New York Islanders, Minnesota and Washington to be active in improving their rosters through costless agency.
Star Player’s Trade Market: The market on very good players is quite high this off-season. With Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Ryan Kesler all on the block, not to mention Winnipeg, Washington and Pittsburgh looking to improve through trades, there are many names that could be swapping places. There is urgency for some teams in the East after the Rangers made it to the Finals. The Eastern Conference is wide open in a sense, and with a couple solid additions teams can find themselves as contenders next season. It will make for a very interesting off season.
Oilers Must be Active: The Edmonton Oilers need to imrpove their roster more than almost any team. The reason? Their young stars up front need to win. Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Jordan Eberle. These guys need to experience what it means to play important hockey games. They are all young, and getting better year after year. The Oilers cannot afford to waste these years much longer. Fear of trade requests should also be on their minds. The Oilers need a top pairing defender, a top 6 centre, and some depth payers. With rumors swirling that both Philly and Toronto want to move up in the draft, it may be the year the Oilers parlay their third overall pick into an immediate improvement to their current roster. The Leafs are apparently dangling Dion Phaneuf and Nazem Kadri on the trade market. Phaneuf would be a great addition to the Oilers, but Kadri is a redundancy for Edmonton. Kadri is very skilled, but he is a small skilled player, and the Oilers are brimming with that type. They need a bigger bodied, more aggressive and nasty skilled centre for their top 6. With Philly apparently dangling Coburn, the Oilers have options. Mact needs to work some magic and build a deal around either Phaneuf or Coburn that also addresses the lack of forward depth on the Oilers roster. Some help for Edmonton will likely come through costless-agency, targets will be Stralman, Markov, Fayne, Grabovski and Kulemin. They cant afford to finish in the bottom five again next season, and jobs are likely on the line.
Wrap Up
The silly season of rumors, disappointing signings, exhilarating draft day hype and the hope for next season is upon us. We have a good couple of weeks before we enter the dregs of summer. The players have done their part, its time for the GMs of the league to make some noise and build some excitement and hope for their teams and fans. Let the fun begin!