Isles resigned to rebuilding mode
EXPECT ACQUISITIONS KOMAROV, MARTIN TO SERVE AS ROLE MODELS
Technically, the Toronto Maple Leafs did not have to give up any players to the New York Islanders to acquire free agent forward John Tavares. But it’s starting to look like they did.
A day after the Tavares signing, the Islanders signed former Leafs’ winger Leo Komarov to a fouryear deal worth $12-million and then traded minor-league goalie Eamon McAdam to the Leafs in exchange for fourth-line forward Matt Martin.
I don’t know what type of team GM Lou Lamoriello tried to sell Tavares on, but based on these latest moves — and the decision not to acquire a top-flight goalie — it’s becoming clear the Islanders intend on finishing at or near the bottom of the standings next season.
If so, having Komarov and Martin around will ensure that the team does it honestly.
While both players lack offence — they combined for just 10 goals and were healthy scratches on a number of occasions — they more than make up for it with a tireless work ethic that could see them being role models for a young team in need of a rebuild.
For the Leafs, the Martin trade was nothing more than a salary dump.
The team already has two minor-league goalies in Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard. So the real value isn’t McAdam, who spent last season in the ECHL, but rather in wiping Martin’s $2.5-million cap hit off the books for the next two years.
KARLSSON TO KARLSSON IN VEGAS
In hopes of trading their unhappy captain, the Ottawa Senators have granted Erik Karlsson permission to negotiate a contract extension with other teams.
Don’t be surprised if the Vegas Golden Knights end up with him. As I detailed in a story last week, Vegas has become the hot spot destination for free agents, who A) want to win and B) want to win where the weather is warm.
But aside from meeting Karlsson’s desires including salary, the Golden Knights are one of the few teams that might also intrigue the Senators with regards to a return package, which could include two of the three prospects that Vegas selected in the 2017 draft (Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki or Erik Brannstrom), a young roster player such as defenceman Shea Theodore, and a player on a heftier salary such as Tomas Tatar.
THE TAVARES EFFECT
While it’s safe to assume that Mitch Marner could build on the 69 points he scored last season after being told he will likely start the season on a line with the newest member of the Maple Leafs, the real beneficiary of having John Tavares around could be thirdyear centre Auston Matthews, even if they don’t spend much time together on the ice.
Last season, Tavares was a huge reason why linemates Anders Lee scored 40 goals and Josh Bailey picked up 71 points. But his bigger contribution was to second-line centre Mathew Barzal, who scored a team-leading 85 points — one more than Tavares — thanks in part to the Islanders captain facing the tougher matchups.
A similar scenario could unfold in Toronto. That is, if opponents believe Tavares — and not Matthews — is the main threat.
THE YAK IS NOT COMING BACK
Tavares was not the only No. 1 pick who has signed with a new team.
Nail Yakupov, who was Edmonton’s first selection in 2012, inked a one-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL on Tuesday. But regardless of the term, don’t expect the first-round bust to return to the NHL anytime soon.
Yakupov had nine goals and 16 points for the Colorado Avalanche last season, but he was also a healthy scratch for 26 games, including the entire first round of the playoffs.
MORE MONEY, MORE DISAPPOINTMENTS
Sometimes the best move is no move.
At least, that’s what more than a few teams are telling their fans these days after failing to land a big fish in free agency. Turns out, they might be right.
At this time a year ago, the Rangers and Canadiens were declared the winners of free agency after signing Kevin Shattenkirk (four years, $26.6-million) and Karl Alzner (five years, $23.125-million), respectively. By the end of the season, both players were on teams that would miss the playoffs.
Looking back, the best move also happened to be the cheapest. The Cup-winning Washington Capitals signed Devante SmithPelly, who scored seven playoff goals, to a $650,000 contract.
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
At its best, free agency is a fresh opportunity for a player and a team. At its worst, it’s a divorce. And in some cases, it can be just as messy.
After signing a five-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that has won three Stanley Cups over a 10-year span, defenceman Jack Johnson told reporters, “I’ve been really wanting to be part of a winning culture.”
It was a seemingly harmless comment. But Columbus coach John Tortorella, who has failed to get the Blue Jackets out of the first round in each of the past two seasons after missing the playoffs in his first season with the Jackets. viewed it as a “backhanded slap.”
“You don’t (expletive) on an organization that’s done nothing but try to help you,” Tortorella told The Athletic.