Dan and Sat are live for each selection of the first round, including the Canucks pick at 11th overall. Also, hear from Tom Willander and Canucks GM Patrik Allvin.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Matt and Blake discuss and dissect Tom Willander, the Canucks' choice at 11th overall in the NHL. From his love of the Canucks at an early age (Orca > Skate), to his meteoric rise up draft boards in the second half of this season, to his next step at Boston University where he'll learn the North American game and get a better opportunity to work on his strength and offensive game. Draft insider Cam Robinson stops by from Nashville with his evaluation of Willander as a player and on how the Canucks did value wise. The guys discuss whether there were trade down opportunities, and the top-10 surprises of Simashev & Danielson -- two other prospects the Canucks were reportedly eyeing. We also discuss the team passing on local product Zach Benson. Jeff Paterson from the Rink Wide: Vancouver podcast puts it all into context for us. The Canucks organizational needs now and in the future, where Willander fits, and what's left to do -- top-4 defenceman, third-line centre -- for this coming season. Plus, we go To The People and take listeners/follower reaction to the Canucks pick. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.
Listen to Dan and Sat break down the Canucks pick at 11th overall, hear from Tom Willander after the pick, plus Canucks GM Patrik Allvin speaking exclusively to Canucks Central.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill took home the 2022-23 Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award, the league announced Wednesday during Round 1 of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Nill beat the Boston Bruins' Don Sweeney and the Florida Panthers' Bill Zito for the honor.
The Arizona Coyotes selected Dmitriy Simashev with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Dmitriy Simashev
Position: Defense Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 198 lbs Shoots: Left Age: 18 Club: Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) Nationality: 🇷🇺 NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 19th among European skaters
2022-23 stats
GP
G
A
Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
33
1
11
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
18
0
0
Few players in the 2023 draft class have been ranked in as wide a range as Simashev.
Evaluators from outlets such as Elite Prospects, The Athletic, and The Hockey News have ranked Simashev as a top-10 prospect. Others, including those from Sportsnet and TSN, have had him outside of the first round.
The debate largely comes down to tools versus production. Simashev has been lauded by scouts for his size, mobility, and defensive prowess. He also only scored one goal and 12 points in 33 games against Russian junior teams, ranking seventh in the league among draft-eligible defensemen in scoring rate.
Simashev began to change the negative perception of his offensive upside with a stellar performance in the MHL playoffs, in which he tallied an improved two goals and six points in 10 contests.
He didn't look out of place in 18 KHL contests, either. Though he only averaged 6:55 per game, it's rare for a 17-year-old defenseman to play in the KHL at all. Shakir Mukhamadullin, a 2020 first-rounder is the only blue-liner to have played more KHL games at the position at the same age.
Then there's the unknown surrounding Simashev. He's never had the opportunity to play at an international event due to Russia's IIHF sanctions. A vast majority of scouts are evaluating his talent through video, and all are doing so from games played exclusively against KHL and MHL competition.
Simashev's under contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl through 2024-25, meaning the earliest he can sign an NHL contract and play in North America is when he's 20 years old.
What they're saying
"Size, skating, maturity, and confident puck-moving capabilities, it's all there for Simashev," wrote FloHockey's Chris Peters. "His offensive numbers were somewhat troubling this year, but they improved as the season wore on, and he showed a more aggressive offensive skill set when playing among his age peers as opposed to playing with pros."
"He is an excellent skater, physical force, deft puck-handler, crisp passer, and an intelligent defender with a booming shot," wrote The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari. "Simashev could easily be the best defender in the draft class if he can pull his package all together when surrounded by talent that is better."
"Simashev competes hard, has some physicality in his game, and showed in the first half he could play against men at a young age," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "I see a lot of indicators of a two-way top-pair defenseman in the NHL, even if I don't think he'll put up big point totals."
Auston Matthews holds a lot of cards in Toronto right now. How the Maple Leafs approach this offseason - and build the team for years to come - depends greatly on what Matthews decides is his best path forward.
Does he want to remain with the Maple Leafs? How long will he sign for? Is he willing to commit now or does he want to take his time, leaving the team a little exposed and uncomfortable?
Suffice it to say, new general manager Brad Treliving has his hands full with the face of the franchise's contract status up in the air.
Matthews loves playing in Toronto, and he's made that clear. He even told the media during his year-end media availability that his "intention is to be here."
So, with plenty of signs that he will eventually re-sign with the Maple Leafs, how long will his next contract be?
A betting line was released with an over/under of 4.5 years, with Matthews re-signing for four years or fewer opening as the slight favorite.
Length of next NHL contract (years)
Opening odds
Over 4.5
+100
Under 4.5
-130
(Odds via theScore Bet)
This line indicates Matthews is going to choose a different path than most of the other NHL stars who have recently inked new deals.
With the exception of Robertson, who got into a drawn-out dispute as a restricted free agent with the Dallas Stars, all of them signed for as long as they possibly could.
Player
Cap Hit
Length
Nathan MacKinnon
$12.6 million
8 years
David Pastrnak
$11.25 million
8 years
Jonathan Huberdeau
$10.50 million
8 years
Johnny Gaudreau
$9.75 million
7 years
Matthew Tkachuk
$9.5 million
8 years
Timo Meier
$8.8 million
8 years
Dylan Larkin
$8.7 million
8 years
Roope Hintz
$8.45 million
8 years
Jesper Bratt
$7.875 million
8 years
Jason Robertson
$7.75 million
4 years
Zooming out even further, Connor McDavid - the face of the NHL - signed for eight years in Edmonton when he was up for a new contract in 2017. He's another example of the sport's brightest stars committing to their home for as long as they can.
That's not the case with Matthews, who marches to the beat of his own drum. In 2019, he elected not to sign a max-term deal, instead extending with the Maple Leafs for five years.
He didn't have to sacrifice dollars to get the term he wanted, signing a contract with the then-highest average annual value ($11.64 million) outside of McDavid.
That move came with Matthews aware that he could make even more down the road. Now, here he is again, eyeing a contract that could earn him more than $13 million per season.
By sacrificing some term - and waiting for the salary cap to rise - Matthews will likely make at least $2 million more per season than he would if he signed for eight years during the previous negotiation.
There's no reason to expect a change in tune for Matthews. If he forwent max term in a somewhat flat-cap world, he should do the same when the league is set to reach new heights.
That's a big jump from the $82.5-million limit last season and the $83.5-million limit for 2023-24.
What Matthews could sign for today - the most money in the league on a per-year basis - could again be millions of dollars less than he can get in a handful of years.
Will Matthews opt for another five-year deal and re-evaluate the league's salary-cap structure - and where the Maple Leafs are at - when the time comes?
Will he go even shorter, opting for a three-year contract so he'll still be on the right side of 30 when he signs his next mega-extension?
What Matthews decides could also impact Mitch Marner. With two years remaining on Marner's deal, we could see a similar situation this time next year.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
The Vegas Golden Knights are trading longtime forward Reilly Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick, the team announced.
The draft pick originally belonged to Vegas but was sent to Pittsburgh as part of the Teddy Blueger trade in March.
Smith, 32, has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a $5-million cap hit. The winger recorded 26 goals and 30 assists in 78 games with the Golden Knights during the regular season and added 14 points in 22 postseason contests en route to Vegas' Stanley Cup win.
An original "Misfit," Smith has been with the Golden Knights since their inaugural season in 2017-18. He ranks second in franchise history in goals (124) and third in points (286).
The Tampa Bay Lightning dealt the rights to forward Ross Colton to the Colorado Avalanche for the 37th overall pick in this year's draft, the teams announced Wednesday.
Colton is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, according to CapFriendly. The Lightning have only $450,000 of wiggle room under the salary cap ceiling.
The New Jersey-born skater, who turns 27 in September, played his first three NHL seasons with the Lightning. Tampa Bay drafted him 118th overall in 2016. As a rookie, he helped the Bolts win their second straight Stanley Cup championship with four goals and two assists in 23 playoff games.
Colton produced 16 goals and 16 assists over 81 games this past season. He collected 22 tallies and 17 helpers across 79 contests in 2021-22, and registered nine goals and three assists over 30 games in the 2020-21 campaign.
Colorado acquired the 37th pick in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The Avalanche sent forward Alex Newhook's rights to the Habs in exchange for selections No. 31 and 37 and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother.