Category: NHL Pacific Reset

NHL Pacific Division Reset: Calgary Flames

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Flames add Huberdeau, Weegar in trade, lose Gaudreau, Tkachuk

Also sign Rooney after winning Pacific Division last season

by Aaron Vickers / NHL.com Independent Correspondent

2021-22 season: 50-21-11, first in Pacific Division; lost in second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

Jonathan Huberdeau, F: The 29-year-old had an NHL career-high 115 points in 80 games last season, including leading the NHL with 85 assists. He had five points (one goal, four assists) in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Huberdeau was acquired on Friday with defenseman MacKenzie Weegar in a trade for forward Matthew Tkachuk. … MacKenzie Weegar, D: The 28-year-old had 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists) in 80 games last season and one assist in 10 playoff games. …Kevin Rooney, F: The 29-year-old signed a two-year contract July 13. He had 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 61 regular-season games for the New York Rangers and two assists in 15 playoff games.

Key departures

Johnny Gaudreau, F: The Flames’ leading scorer last season, when he was tied with Huberdeau for second in the NHL with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists), Gaudreau signed a seven-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 13. … Matthew Tkachuk, F: The restricted free agent agreed to an eight-year contract with the Flames before being traded to the Panthers. He scored an NHL career-high 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) last season and 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 12 postseason games. …Erik Gudbranson, D: Signed a four-year contract with the Blue Jackets on July 13 after having an NHL career-high 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 78 regular-season games and one assist in 12 playoff games. … Calle Jarnkrok, F: Signed a four-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 15 after having four assists in 17 games with Calgary and four points (one goal, three assists) in 12 postseason games; he had been acquired in a trade with the Seattle Kraken for three draft picks March 16. … Ryan Carpenter, F: Signed a one-year contract with the Rangers on July 14 after he had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 67 games with the Flames and Chicago Blackhawks. He had been acquired in a trade with the Blackhawks for a draft pick March 21.

On the cusp

Jakob Pelletier, F: The 21-year-old, selected in the first round (No. 26) of in the 2019 NHL Draft, had a strong showing as a first-year pro with Stockton of the American Hockey League, with 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) in 66 games. … Adam Ruzicka, F: The 23-year-old played 28 games with the Flames last season and had 10 points (five goals, five assists). He also had 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 16 games with Stockton. … Connor Mackey, D: The 25-year-old had an assist in three games with Calgary last season and 36 points (five goals, 31 assists) in 53 AHL games.

What they still need

Gaudreau and Tkachuk, their top two scorers from last season, are gone, so they need to fill the offensive void. Huberdeau should certainly help, but Tkachuk and Gaudreau combined for 219 points (82 goals, 137 assists) last season.

They said it

“I think we’ve got an elite player that we’ve returned in Huberdeau. Second in the League in scoring. Has been a top player throughout his career in the League. He’s one of the premier forwards in the League, not only what he does, the ability to make other players around him better. He’s dynamic. He’s competitive. We added a premier forward to our team.” — general manager Brad Treliving

Fantasy focus 

Forward Tyler Toffoli is one of the potential fantasy beneficiaries of Gaudreau and Tkachuk’s departure with a chance to earn a top-line role this season. Toffoli had NHL career bests in points per game (0.85) and goals per game (0.54) playing on the Montreal Canadiens’ first line in 2020-21, combined for his best power-play point total last season (16) and has glaring fantasy sleeper appeal with potential exposure to elite forwards Huberdeau and Elias Lindholm at even strength and on the first power play. — Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Jonathan Huberdeau — Elias Lindholm — Tyler Toffoli

Andrew Mangiapane — Mikael Backlund — Blake Coleman

Jakob Pelletier — Sean Monahan — Dillon Dube

Milan Lucic — Kevin Rooney — Trevor Lewis

Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson

Nikita Zadorov — MacKenzie Weegar

Oliver Kylington — Christopher Tanev

Jacob Markstrom

Dan Vladar

Source: nhl.com

NHL Pacific Division Reset: Edmonton Oilers

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Oilers bring in Campbell to be final piece of Stanley Cup puzzle

Goalie signed five-year contract, expected to be No. 1

by Derek Van Diest / NHL.com Independent Correspondent

2021-22 season: 49-27-6, second in Pacific Division; lost in Western Conference Final

Key arrivals

Jack Campbell, G: The 30-year-old signed a five-year contract on July 13 and is expected to be the No. 1 goalie, replacing Mike Smith, who has not decided if he will be back next season. Campbell went 31-9-6 with a 2.64 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and five shutouts in 49 games (47 starts) last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In seven Stanley Cup Playoff games, he had a 3.15 GAA, .897 save percentage and one shutout. … Mattias Janmark, F: The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract on July 17. He had 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists), including two shorthanded goals, in 67 regular-season games for the Vegas Golden Knights last season. An effective penalty-killer, he is expected to play a bottom-six role.

Key departures

Duncan Keith, D: Keith retired after 17 NHL seasons July 12. He won three Stanley Cup championships with the Chicago Blackhawks and spent his final season with the Oilers, scoring 21 points (one goal, 20 assists) in 64 regular-season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games. A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Keith was instrumental in helping rookie Evan Bouchard develop into an everyday NHL defenseman. … Zack Kassian, F: Traded to the Arizona Coyotes July 7, he had 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 58 regular-season games last season and four points (two goals, two assists) in 16 playoff games. He had two years left on his contract, and the trade created salary cap space for the Oilers to re-sign forward Evander Kane.

On the cusp

Stuart Skinner, G: The 23-year-old went 6-6-0 with a 2.62 GAA, .913 save percentage and one shutout in 13 games (12 starts) last season. He played the majority of last season with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League and was 22-7-5 with a 2.21 GAA and .920 save percentage in 35 regular-season games. He is expected to back up Campbell in 2022-23. … Xavier Bourgault, F: The 19-year-old had 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists) in 43 regular-season games for Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He had 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 16 playoff games as Shawinigan advanced to the Memorial Cup. The forward could challenge for a roster spot this season in a top-six role. … Philip Broberg, D: The 21-year-old is expected to vie for a full-time roster spot this year with the departure of Keith. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in 23 regular-season games and no points in one Stanley Cup Playoff game last season. In 31 regular-season games with Bakersfield, he had 23 points (four goals, 19 assists), and in four Calder Cup Playoff games one assist. … Dylan Holloway, F: The 20-year-old was limited to 33 regular-season games with Bakersfield last season due to a hand injury, scoring 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists). He made his NHL debut in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. Holloway should start the season in the AHL but could end up on the NHL roster by the end of the year.

What they still need

The Oilers are still in the market for a right wing who can play alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, and another depth defenseman. Forward Jesse Puljujarvi fell out of the top two lines after starting last season beside McDavid but could get another opportunity at that spot this season after signing a one-year contract Tuesday and avoiding an arbitration hearing. Edmonton re-signed defenseman Brett Kulak to a four-year contract after acquiring him March 21 from the Montreal Canadiens, but it could use another established veteran on the blue line.

They said it

“We’re trying to build something. Certainly, when I came here the nucleus was here and we’re trying to build around that nucleus, trying to get deeper, trying to get more dimensions to our hockey club. I feel good we went to the final four last year, I feel good we made the playoffs three years in a row, and the ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup.” — general manager Ken Holland

Fantasy focus

Kane had the best points-per-game average of his NHL career (0.91; 39 points in 43 games), was tied for sixth in the League with a plus-25 from his season debut on Jan. 29 and ranked 15th in shots on goal per game (3.53) for the Oilers last season. The forward was also one of five players with at least 20 goals (22) and more than three hits per game (3.14); the others were Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals, Tanner Jeannot of the Nashville Predators and Marcus Foligno of the Minnesota Wild. Kane finished tied with Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche for the most goals scored in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (13) and had more than a point per game (17 in 15 games). Kane thrived on a line with scoring leader Connor McDavid (123 points) and should be considered a top 75 fantasy player after re-signing with Edmonton. — Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Evander Kane — Connor McDavid — Xavier Bourgault

Zach Hyman — Leon Draisaitl — Kailer Yamamoto 

Ryan McLeod — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Jesse Puljujarvi

Warren Foegele — Mattias Janmark — Derek Ryan

Darnell Nurse — Tyson Barrie

Brett Kulak — Evan Bouchard

Philip Broberg — Cody Ceci

Jack Campbell

Stuart Skinner