The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Andrew Shaw to the Montreal Canadiens for two 2016 second-round picks, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced at the NHL Draft.
The deal was announced after Bettman revealed the Canadiens traded forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals for two second-round picks, one in 2017 and one in 2018.
Shaw's a restricted free agent, and another casualty of the Blackhawks' salary-cap issues. He had 14 goals and 20 assists in 78 games this past season, and had six points in six playoff games. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2011 draft and won two Stanley Cups with Chicago.
The Belleville, Ontario native will turn 25 on July 19, and made $2.5 million last season. He's reportedly seeking at least $4.5 million per season on his next deal.
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It was a formality: The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews with the first overall pick at the 2016 NHL Draft on Friday.
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 194 pounds
Age: 18
Club: Zurich (Switzerland National League)
Nationality: American
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 24 | 22 | 46 |
Matthews' journey to Friday night was an unconventional one. The 18-year-old was born in San Ramon, Calif., and grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz. He didn't play junior or college hockey, instead spending three years in the United States Hockey League before playing his draft year for Zurich in the Swiss League - where he acquitted himself more than adequately.
The teenager played at better than a point-per-game pace among men in Switzerland, proof that he boasts a very high hockey IQ. In addition to being offensively gifted, he plays a complete game. He's got elite hands, and he's a strong, excellent skater. He's more than NHL-ready, he's the total package.
Marc Crawford, who coached Matthews in Zurich, had nothing but praise for the forward in a profile in The Globe and Mail.
His puck-handling skills are off the chart. I'm always amazed at the things he can do. And it really translates in a game. His short-area game is at an NHL level for sure - and it’s at an NHL-elite level. I believe that's a lot of what the game is becoming. Those little plays that you make when you're getting checked. People are pinching up so much more now and there's so much confrontation at the blue lines that you've got to be able to make plays in that five-foot area. You've got to be able to protect the puck and get by people. He does those things exceptionally well.
During the Stanley Cup Final, Matthews was asked what one attribute he'd steal from a player on the Pittsburgh Penguins or San Jose Sharks. "Sidney Crosby's puck-protection skills," he said. The kid gets it.
Matthews impressed outside of Switzerland in 2015-16, too. He had seven goals and four assists in seven games for the U.S. at the World Junior Hockey Championship, and six goals and three assists in 10 games at the World Championship. All eyes were on him during both tournaments, yet he performed, and that will serve him well as he heads north.
The prospect base in Toronto is that much stronger Friday night with the addition of Matthews, who immediately rises to the top of the group. The Maple Leafs' future is Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner. That's something, yeah.
For the first time since Mats Sundin patrolled the middle in Toronto, the Maple Leafs have a prospect who projects to be a No. 1 center.
View a video of Matthews highlights here.
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Insider commentary prior to the NHL draft on Friday proved to be fodder for the Columbus Blue Jackets' social media team.
The team's Twitter account provided this perfectly executed online quip when various NHL insiders provided running commentary of a discussion between Jarmo Kekalainen, and fellow executives Brad Treliving and Peter Chiarelli.
.@EdmontonOilers @NHLFlames Glad we could come to terms on pepperoni & sausage.
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 24, 2016
Chiarelli and Treliving are scheduled to select in lottery position soon after Kekalainen.
The wheel awaits.
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The St. Louis Blues have their eye on one of two Edmonton Oilers forwards in a potential deal for Kevin Shattenkirk.
Both teams are reportedly in talks about the Blues' big-time defenseman, and while the Oilers are offering Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Blues are asking for Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac.
The Oilers have made it known leading up to the draft that they are in the market for a defenseman. Meanwhile, with Shattenkirk making a steep $4.25 million and set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Blues would like to make a move for the 27-year-old.
Shattenkirk led Blues defensemen last season with 14 goals and 44 points in 72 games last season.
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The Vancouver Canucks are taking to social media to get some last-minute trade advice.
With just under an hour until the Toronto Maple Leafs are scheduled to take the floor to announce the first overall pick in the draft, the Canucks asked the masses what they should do with the fifth overall selection.
What should the #Canucks do with the 5th pick?
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) June 24, 2016
Of course many of the team's fans thought outside the box with their own answers to the poll:
@VanCanucks do nothing. Just let the clock run out
— Ben (@DishonoredNuck) June 24, 2016
@VanCanucks maybe draft a player ? #LOL
— Byren Natinski (@Bnatinski) June 24, 2016
@VanCanucks Hire a new GM to not screw it up?
— DM37 (@dmacgreg37) June 24, 2016
Only time - and votes - may tell what they ultimately decide to do.
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Draft day continues to buzz.
The Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild are reportedly discussing a potential trade involving Oilers' center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for defenseman Matt Dumba or Jonas Brodin, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.
Lots of steam today that #mnwild and #oilers could partner up tonight. Wild likely targeting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers Brodin or Dumba
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) June 24, 2016
Nugent-Hopkins is slotted in a busy Edmonton top six, and Minnesota has a surplus of young defensemen, making a potential deal a good fit for both sides.
Dumba, 21, is a restricted free agent, while Brodin, 22, is locked into a six-year deal at an annual cap hit of $4.16 million.
Selected first overall by the Oilers five years ago, Nugent-Hopkins has five more years on his current contract at a cap hit of $6 million.
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The Calgary Flames appear to be making progress in their search for a new goaltender.
The club has talked to the St. Louis Blues about acquiring Brian Elliott, and the Flames have also gained permission to speak to the Tampa Bay Lightning about Ben Bishop, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie.
Bishop carries a cap hit of $5.95 million next season before potentially becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Elliott is on the books for a much more affordable $2.5 million in 2016-17, and he too is a pending UFA after next season.
The Flames are also looking at a certain Detroit Red Wings netminder.
Add name of Jimmy Howard to Flames' goalie chase.Hearing Bishop wants long term extension if traded to Calgary.Hearing 7x7 asking price.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) June 24, 2016
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reported Thursday night that teams hadn't yet received permission to talk to Bishop about signing a contract extension - which would presumably be a prerequisite to a trade - but the Flames appear to be the first team granted the opportunity.
Bishop was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy this season. He went 35-21-4 with a 2.06 GAA and .926 save percentage in 61 games.
Elliott split time with Jake Allen and went 23-8-6 with a 2.07 GAA and .930 save percentage in 42 regular-season contests for the Blues in 2015-16.
Howard, who lost his starting job to Petr Mrazek this season, is under contract for three more years at a cap hit of $5.29 million.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up another of their restricted free agents, signing forward Cedric Paquette to a two-year deal, the team announced Friday.
The 22-year-old will make $800,00 in 2016-17 and $825,000 during the following campaign, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Paquette is coming off his second full season with the Lightning, contributing six goals and 11 points in 56 games.
Paquette makes three restricted free agents locked up by the Lightning after forward J.T. Brown and defenseman Luke Witkowski also signed earlier in the day.
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