Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Throwing Alex To The Lions

February 18, 2018, 9:43 AM ET [57 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Updated:

Correct me if you have heard this one before:

The Philadelphia Flyers are in desperate need of a starting goaltender.

Nick Foles can't help Philly out of this jam!






With Brian Elliott recovering from his recent surgery, his back up Mike Neuvirth was pressed into duty on Sunday afternoon against the NY Rangers. Neuvirth gave up three goals and fourteen shots faced. He was pulled at the end of the first period and replaced by rookie Alex Lyons at the start of the second period.


Was Neuvirth injured?



Yes, he was







Talk about drama!


Dave Hakstol and Ron Hextall have no other choice but to throw young Alex to the lions!





At the time of his injury, Elliott was Philly's undisputed #1with a 21-11-7 record, 2.72 GAA and .908 SV%.



As he has at many times in his career, Neuvirth has struggled this season posting a 8-7-3 record with 2.48 GAA and .919 SV%.


The Flyers will now have to make due with Lyons and his 0-1-0 record with 3.93 GAA and .860 SV%.

I saw the Flyers senior pro scout in Buffalo on Saturday afternoon. My guess is that he was there watching Sabres starter Robin Lehner, who was pulled after the first period. I'm told the Flyers are also interested in Sabres forward Samson Reinhart.

Lehner is a pending RFA. He can win the Flyers games as they battle for a playoff berth. Lehner's 2.95 GAA and .910 SV% stats are skewed by the at time atrocious team defense being played in front of his by his Buffalo D and forwards.


Sabres GM Jason Botterill is interested in acquiring a top D prospect from the Flyers in either Travis Sanheim of Sam Morin.

The Flyers and New Jersey Devils are tied with 68 points. A prolonged losing skid caused by poor goaltending can knock the Flyers out of a wild card berth and into the Eastern Conference abyss. The Flyers, Devils, Islanders, Blue Jackets and Hurricanes are locked into a battle for a wild card.


If he wants Robin Lehner, Ron Hextall better act swiftly. The NJ Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets are all looking at Lehner as an upgrade to their respective goaltending situations. The Colorado Avalanche learned Saturday that their starting goalie Jonathon Bernier is in concussion protocol. The Avs called up Andrew Hammond from the minors. Joe Sakic is likely looking for a veteran goalie who can add insurance and security to the Colorado goaltending depth.














**


Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning, he of the newly minted three-year contract extension, made my ears perk up while I was watching his interview on Hockey Night In Canada on Saturday night. The Canucks hosted the Boston Bruins on Saturday night and between periods, Benning was asked by the panel what he will be doing with his roster leading up to the February 26 NHL trade deadline.

Benning got my attention when he said that he is still searching for a top six scoring forward to add to his current roster.

"if we're looking for a need here at the trade deadline, we'd like to add a big player. Maybe a forward with some physicality who has the skill to make plays."

Wait. What?


Benning is a buyer?



Somewhat surprising comment considering his Canucks (52 points) are in 13th place in the Western Conference standings, just 8 points better than cellar dweller Arizona.


Prior to his bold statement on HNIC on Saturday night, I was fully expecting Benning to say that he was going to be trading his pending UFAs at the February 26 NHL trade dealine. I was also expecting Benning to layout his the exit strategy and succession plan for Henrik and Daniel Sedin and their combined $14 million annual salary cap hit. The Sedins presently account for a whopping 20.28% of Benning's 2017-18 salary cap. One in every five dollars shelled out to player salaries goes to the Sedins. The economics are about to change in Vancouver.


The Sedins will be UFA in July are most likely moving on to greener pastures and whiter ice elsewhere.

With $14 million is available assets, Benning will be able to feather his nest with a high-end scorer and a top pair D who will be demanding jumbo-sized, long term contracts after July 1.


Benning takes a ton of criticism from Canucks fans. Some of it is earned. Some of it is not deserved. Under Benning's direction, the Canucks have failed to make the playoffs four out of the past five seasons. The one time they did qualify for teh playoffs under Benning, the Canucks were punted in the first round by the 16th-place team.

Over the past five seasons via the NHL drfat and trades, Benning has assembled an impressive collection of prospects including: Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, Jake Virtanen, Marcus Granlund, Brendan Gaunce, Thatcher Demko, Jonathon Dahlen, Olli Juolevi, Elias Pettersson, Adam Gaudette, Kole Lind, Jonah Gadjovich, and Michael DiPietro.


This is a very nice base of young talent that Benning and his scouts have accumulated. Benning can now afford to trade away a veteran D, prospects and a first rounder to acquire veteran players who can add leadership, stability and production to the Canucks lineup in 2018-19.



So, if the Canucks ownership and management want to trade for Buffalo Sabres power forward Evander Kane now, they can do so. I don’t think Rick Nash will end up in Vancouver. Nash will likely land in San Jose, Boston or Dallas.


The Aquilini's and Benning are on board with a Kane aquisition at the trade deadline. Benning has done his due diligence on Kane. The Canucks have been scouting the Sabres in Buffalo and on the road on a regular basis the past two seasons. The Canucks aren’t the only team zeroing in Kane. Pittsburgh, LA, Calgary, Anaheim, Nashville, San Jose, and Columbus are also actively pursuing a power winger.

What will the price be for Vancouver to acquire Kane from Buffalo?

Sabres GM Jason Botterill will be looking for three premium pieces in the form of veteran D Chris Tanev, forward prospect either Kole Lind or Jonah Gadjovich, and a 2018 first round draft choice.

Tanev is currently injured, however the veteran puck mover is attravcting a lot of attention as teh trade deadline nears. Tanev has missed 21 games this season and missed 29 games last season due to injuries. Whe healthy, Tanev is a top four D who can play in all situations and is respensible in all three zones.

Lind was selected in the 3rd round last season. In 47 games with teh Kelown Rockets this season, Lind (6'1" and 200 lbs.)has scored 31 and 47 assists for 78 points. He scored 30G,57A for Kelowna last season.


Gadjovich (6'2" and 215 lbs.) starrred for Team Canada's WJC gold medal winning squad in Buffalo. Gadjovich is playing in his fourth and final season for the Owen Sound Attack where he has 16G,14A.

In late November 2016, Benning vehemently denied his hot pursuit of Kane after Canucks front office brass and scouts were seen countless times by this observer and others in Buffalo and in AHL Rochester. At the time, then Sabres GM Tim Murray was reportedly demanding young defenseman Ben Hutton as part of the trade compensation from the Canucks for Kane. Benning balked and somewhat hastily signed Hutton, 24, to a two-year, $5.6 million contract extension ($2.8M AAV). Fast forward to February 2018, Hutton has been a healthy scratch by Travis Green nine times this season and is clearly in his new head coach's dog house.


With 18 goals and 20 assists in 59 games played, Kane is third on the Sabres in scoring. Kane has 13 even strength goals, 3 SHG and 2 PPG. Kane leads the Sabres with 215 shots on goal and is averaging 19:19 TOI per game. Kane has 114 hits and 24 blocked shots.


Kane is the top pending UFA forward available today. Kane knows the call from his agent will be coming at any moment. He's ready to move on from Buffalo.

On January 25, the Sabres played in Vancouver where Kane did his best to try and downplay the distractions that are a by-product of the NHL trade deadline.

"It's something that I don't necessarily try to keep out of my mind," Kane said. "It's part of the process, part of being a professional. It's a position that every player wants to have.


"I just realize that will happen, but at the same time we're in season and I'm excited about playing hockey. I enjoy playing hockey, and that's all I can do right now."



Kane, 26, is a Vancouver native. He knows the city and region well. He still ahs a loyal fanbase in that twon from having starred for his Memorial Cup winning Vancouver Giants junior team.


"You just try to keep the focus in the present and trust that everything will work itself out when the time's right," Kane said. "I've talked to players that have gone through it before, and lots of different things can happen before free agency. I guess it's good to have options."


The waiting is the hardest part though.

"I'm from here, so I understand the question," Kane said. "But for me, it's not something I'm thinking about right now. When and if that time comes, we'll make those decisions.
"Vancouver is obviously a town that loves hockey, and that's fun to be part of."

"I think I've got great character, to be honest," Kane said. "I think I show that on and off the ice on a day-to-day basis."
M

You may be asking why Benning would trade young assets now for Kane rather than wait to sign him as a UFA on July 1. The answer is trading for Kane now gives Benning first position negotiating rights. Why be one of eight teams in the bidding war for Kane in July 1 when you can be the only team today? Benning can use the next four months to sell Kane on why he should stay home, play with some of the best young talent in the NHL and sign a 7 year, $49 million deal with the Canucks.

Sounds like a plan to me.




***

I like Miles Wood a lot. He's a tough kid and a budding NHL star. He’s the son of former NHLer Randy Wood. He's a Buffalo native who doesn't take crap from anybody. Having said that, Wood acted foolishly and malicioulsy on Saturday night and he will be suspended for it. There is no way to excuse nor defend Wood's brutal sequence of anger against the Tampa Lightning.


Watch as Wood tracks Vlad Namestikov and destroys him between the numbers. Shocking and illegal. Then, Wood detonated Andrej Sustr's visior with a wicked punch, busting the plexiglass while vcausing massive damage to Sustr's face.




For all of this nonsence, wood was only assessed a two minute minor penalty. How can that be?! Iit was easily a five minute major boarding and a five minute major unsportsmanlike conduct/roughing combo platter. Wood should have been ejected from the game. Period. End of subject.


Wood will have to answer for his shenanigans to DPOS on Sunday.











I think the first time offender desrves a two game suspension.


How about you?



**




My favorite Olympic event is Kesseling. It's what all the cool kids are doing.


Join the Discussion: » 57 Comments » Post New Comment
More from GARTH'S CORNER
» Hailing Taxis
» He With The Gold Makes The Rules
» Sedentary Seven
» The Sedentary Seven
» GadZuccs