Two Peas in a Pod

Traded for each other in the summer of 2011, Martin Havlat and Dany Heatley find themselves at a similar crossroads

By Marcus White

Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune

Martin Havlat and Dany Heatley are linked. Teammates in Ottawa during the 2005-06 season, the two have seen their careers follow very similar trajectories; now, they see their time in the league running out.

Both had been high-priced acquisitions with their previous teams in the summer of 2009, with the Wild signing Havlat to a six-year, $30 million contract, and the Sharks acquiring Heatley in a package centered around Milan Michalek. But, despite lofty expectations in their respective cities, the two underwhelmed, as Havlat’s point totals dropped and Heatley didn’t live up to his reputation as an impact performer in the playoffs. Hoping a change of scenery would bring out the best in Havlat and Heatley, the Sharks and Wild agreed to a swap of the two struggling players.

The initial returns looked promising. Heatley scored a goal and added an assist in his Wild debut, while Havlat had five points in his first four games as a Shark. But their quick starts proved to be a mirage, as both saw their point totals plummet in their first season with their new clubs. The Sharks and Wild began to face the reality that a fresh start might not turn the careers of Havlat and Heatley around.

Just as had happened the previous year, the two began last season with a bang. Heatley and Havlat both averaged at least a point per game in the first four games of the lockout-shortened season, only to go on lengthy point droughts soon after. But unlike the previous year, both saw their seasons cut short due to significant injuries.

Heatley tore his labrum in an altercation against, ironically enough, the San Jose Sharks. Havlat, meanwhile, missed the final eight games with a groin injury, only to re-aggravate it in the first game of the Sharks’ Western Conference Quarterfinals matchup against Vancouver. He would return in Game 3 of the next round against the Kings, but would once again re-aggravate the injury in the first period, and didn’t suit up for the Sharks over the remainder of their playoff run.

As big disappointments with their new clubs, rumors constantly floated over the offseason that Heatley and Havlat would each be subject to a compliance buyout, taking their cap hit off the books of Minnesota and San Jose. But, late-season injuries meant offseason surgery and recovery for the two. Since teams are prohibited from buying out injured players, Heatley and Havlat remained high-priced disappointments for the Wild and Sharks.

This year has not been better for the two, as each are on pace to produce the lowest point totals of their careers. Heatley has five points in 22 games, while Havlat has two in eight this season. With their production not matching their salaries, the two have become trade bait. In a couple of reports from the Ottawa Sun, Heatley and Havlat are the subject of trade speculation. But with high salaries and no movement clauses, it’ll be hard for Minnesota general manager Chuck Fletcher and his counterpart in San Jose, Doug Wilson, to move the two.

Fletcher may be able to just wait it out, as Heatley’s contract expires after this season. Wilson, on the other hand, faces a much more difficult task as Havlat still has a year remaining on his contract after this season. It’s unlikely that the Sharks will buy Havlat out, however, as Wilson hasn’t bought out a player during his tenure as GM.

Dany Heatley and Martin Havlat find their NHL careers on life support. If they are unable to regain their form of prior years, their days in the league are numbered. Teams may be willing to take a risk on Heatley as a free agent this offseason, as he won’t command anywhere near his current $7.5 million per year salary, or Havlat in a trade at the deadline, in hopes they could turn their careers around with a fresh start. But teams will be very cautious, as that same reasoning led the Sharks and Wild to make the trade in the first place.

The Road to Redemption

The entertaining and enigmatic Ilya Bryzgalov is back in the NHL, but can he turn his career and the Oilers’ season around?

By Marcus White

 David E. Klutho/SI

The Edmonton Oilers made big news on Friday, as they announced the signing of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a one-year contract. The deal is a unique opportunity for Bryzgalov and the Oilers to turn their fortunes around, but may not be the right for a lasting, beneficial relationship.

Bryzgalov is looking to prove that he is a capable starting goalie after a disastrous two-year stint in Philadelphia. Following the signing of a nine-year, $51 million contract with the Flyers prior to the 2011-12 season, Bryzgalov quickly went from prophet to punchline. Exacerbated by his quirky appearance on HBO’s 24/7 in the lead-up to the Winter Classic, Bryzgalov eventually succumbed to the pressures of his gargantuan contract and unique expectations placed on a Flyers goalie. He posted the worst numbers of his career last season in Philly, and given the Flyers’ salary-cap crunch, Philadelphia bought out Bryzgalov’s contract this past offseason.

Not all of the failures in Philadelphia were Bryzgalov’s fault, however. After losing Chris Pronger to a career-ending injury 13 games into his Flyers’ tenure, Bryzgalov was asked to stand tall behind a patchwork of blueliners missing its most important piece. In a new defensive system without the stalwart group of defensemen that he had in Phoenix, coupled with the massive pressures of his contract to succeed Ron Hextall, it’s not surprising that the Bryzgalov experiment was a failure in Philadelphia.

But in signing with the Oilers, Bryzgalov returns to the Western Conference, and the Pacific Division, where he had his greatest success as a goalie in Phoenix. While the Oilers’ divisional and conference rivals have seen pretty significant turnover since Bryzgalov signed in Philly, the cores of the conference’s major powers, such as San Jose, Vancouver, and Chicago, remain largely unchanged.

The Oilers are hoping that a return to familiar surroundings will bring the best out of Bryzgalov, and that he will provide a steady presence in the crease. Solid goaltending is something that the Oilers have lacked all season. None of Richard Bachman, Devan Dubnyk or Jason LaBarbera have goals-against-averages under three, and only Bachman has a save percentage north of the “Mendoza Line” of .900. As was the case with Bryzgalov in Philadelphia, however, those numbers aren’t just a reflection of the goaltender.

Edmonton boasts a below-average defensive core and have allowed 272 shots on goal this season, 10th-most in the league. Their blueline got much weaker when Ladislav Smid was traded to division-rival Calgary in an effort to clear salary cap space in order to sign Bryzgalov. Additionally, Bryzgalov’s career save percentage of .913 isn’t substantially better than Devan Dubnyk’s, with the incumbent Edmonton starter posting a career .911 save percentage.

Edmonton’s playoff hopes are now contingent upon Bryzgalov providing a significant upgrade in net over their current options. The Oilers were projected by many to contend for a playoff spot and finally see the efforts of a long rebuild pay off, led by their strong complement of offensive stars such as Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. But, as this season has shown, firepower up front is nothing without steady play on defense and in goal. The Oilers find their playoff hopes on life support, 14 points out of a playoff spot as of this writing. There is a lot of hockey to be played, but in a very deep conference in division, the Oilers have dug themselves a deep hole.

In returning to the comforts of the Western Conference and Pacific Division, it’s possible that Bryzgalov could see a return to form as an Oiler. But with a deep hole to climb out of in order to contend for a playoff spot and the Oilers’ weak complement of defensemen, the Oilers are asking/ hoping for too much from Bryzgalov. Unless he can play the best hockey of his career, the road to redemption for Bryzgalov and the Oilers will stop far short of an Edmonton’s first playoff berth in eight seasons.

Goalies on the Go

Taking a look at a few netminders that could have new homes by the trade deadline

By Marcus White

Rick Stewart/Getty Images 

The NHL season has yet to reach the quarter pole, but it’s never too early to start speculating about trades. Your favorite team’s GM is undoubtedly working the phones or scouting players in an effort to improve their team. As there are so many notable free agents next offseason, particularly in goal, we could see one of the most active trade deadlines in recent memory. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some goaltenders that could be on the move.

Ryan Miller

The 800-pound gorilla in the room. Any talk about goalies on the move must begin with the 2010 Olympic MVP. The writing was on the wall this offseason when it became clear the Sabres are firmly in rebuilding mode, and a trade became a near certainty once Thomas Vanek was traded to the Islanders. Miller has performed admirably for the Sabres, and his low win totals and high goals-against-average are much more of a reflection of the talent in front of him.

The best goalie on the market this trade deadline and in the free agent class of 2014, Miller should draw a lot of interest around the league. He does, however, have a limited no-trade clause, meaning he can provide a list of teams he will not accept a trade to. Edmonton and Philadelphia are two obvious potential destinations, given their weaknesses in goal. While the Oilers’ presence on Miller’s no-trade list and the Flyers lack salary-cap space make any potential deal difficult, a big move is needed if either club is to live up to the expectations of their respective ownership groups

Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth

The Ducks currently have a logjam in the crease. In the injury absence of Viktor Fasth, Danish rookie Fredrik Andersen has been very impressive, posting a 1.36 goals-against-average and .956 save percentage in his first four games. Additionally, top prospect John Gibson has put up impressive numbers in the AHL, and has gotten more starts since Andersen was called up.

It’s been rumored the Ducks are looking to move either Fasth or longtime starter Jonas Hiller, in large part because of Andersen’s play in the NHL, and Gibson’s impressive start to his first professional season. Hiller’s more likely to be dealt, given his UFA status at the end of the year, proven track record, and larger contract. But don’t sleep on Fasth getting dealt once he returns to health, either. The tight-spending Ducks could look to shed cap space as teams like Nashville and Carolina needing a big upgrade in goal while their starters are out due to injury.

Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott

In a situation very similar to Anaheim’s, the St. Louis Blues are contenders with a cluttered crease, in large part because of the play of a young goaltender. Jake Allen started this season with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Chicago, but impressed in 15 games last year while Halak was injured and Elliott was struggling. Elliott and Halak have begun to bounce back from their down years last season, as each has seen their save percentages increase by at least .12 points.

With both goalies set to be unrestricted free agents this offseason, and Allen waiting in the wings,  it’s very possible St. Louis would seek to get some sort of return for at least one of them. There should be plenty of interest if St. Louis decided to field offers, as Halak and Elliott have very movable contracts and proven track records. The Blues could be content with letting Halak and/or Elliott walk this summer and promote Allen next season, but have a unique opportunity to further upgrade their roster or prospect pool if they decide that Allen is ready.

Here We Go Again

Drawing parallels between the Flyers’ abysmal start and their worst season in franchise history

By Marcus White

The Philadelphia Flyers began the 2006-07 season 1-6-1, their worst start in franchise history. Head Coach Ken Hitchcock was fired and replaced by assistant coach and former Flyer John Stevens. Sound familiar? Seven seasons later, the Flyers find themselves in an eerily similar situation.

One win in eight games? Check.

Underperforming offense? Check.

Major questions in the crease and on the blueline? Check.

A head coach fired two seasons removed from a division title, replaced by an ex-Flyer, as is also the case with Peter Laviolette and Craig Berube? Check and check.

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

Unlike the 2006 season, the Flyers’ general manager still has a job. Despite this, Paul Holmgren finds himself in a similar position that then-GM and Flyers’ great Bobby Clarke found himself in 2006. Holmgren, like Clarke, has yet to construct a Stanley Cup champion or solve Philly’s longstanding issues in the net, seeing a once-promising group plummet into the league’s cellar.

Additionally, a former Flyer is waiting in the wings as an assistant GM, just as Holmgren was in 2006. In a cruel bit of irony, however, the man predicted by many to replace Holmgren is the one in the crease that the Flyers under Clarke and Holmgren have struggled to replace: ex-goaltender Ron Hextall.

Not all of the similarities between the two seasons are negative, however. As they did in 2006, the Flyers have a solid core of young players that have yet to enter or are just entering their primes. In ‘06, it was the likes of Richards, Carter, Coburn and Gagne providing Flyers fans hope for the future, as Couturier, McGinn, Schenn and Giroux are now.

And while Flyers fans are still hoping for a return to the playoffs this season, a significant revamp of the squad this offseason, as was the case after ‘06, could see the team return to the league’s elite sooner rather than later.

The blueprint for a quick turnaround is there, but it needs modifications if the Flyers are to experience the peaks of sustained achievement without the valleys of failure.

Chief among them, of course, is ending the goaltending carousel that has characterized the Flyers since Hextall’s retirement in 1997 and finding a long-term solution between the pipes.

Whether the GM who finds the solution is the one who has been unable to since 2006, or the last to fill the void, remains to be seen. But, whoever is tasked with returning the Flyers to their former glory, must avoid the mistakes the team has made in the past.

Otherwise? It’ll be deja vu all over again in the City of Brotherly Love.