Written by Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell)
On the Keith Yandle and the Florida Panthers …
The Florida Panthers made some noise of their own during Monday’s trade frenzy as they acquired the rights to defenseman Keith Yandle from the New York Rangers for a 6th round pick in 2016 and a conditional 4th in 2017 (if he signs).
While acquiring the rights to a pending free agent is always a risky proposition, I think the Panthers were smart to be aggressive here.
They were a playoff team this past season, taxes are lower in Florida, the weather is great and they need help on defense so that should make them an attractive landing spot for Yandle. Should he put pen to paper on a long-term deal in Florida – I expect that will be the case – he will a massive addition to their blue line.
Over the last four seasons Yandle’s teams (New York/Arizona) have controlled 50.7% of the shot attempts at 5 v 5 with him on the ice. Without Yandle that number dips to 48.8%.
On top of being able to help drive possession – which is an area the Panthers could definitely improve upon – Yandle brings a ton of offense to the table.
Lockout season aside (Yandle had 30 points in 48 games) Yandle has recorded at least 40 points in six consecutive seasons. Shea Weber and Duncan Keith are the only other defensemen who have done the same.
Equally as impressive is the fact that Yandle has tallied 182 points over the last four seasons. In that span only Erik Karlsson and P.K. Subban – two of the top five blue liners in hockey – have recorded more points.
If the Panthers can bring in a player of Yandle’s quality with the cost of acquisition being a 2016 6th round pick and a 2017 4th round pick, one would think they’d be ecstatic.
In today’s NHL it is harder than ever to score goals and few defensemen help their team find twine more than Yandle does.
On Alex Goligoski and the Arizona Coyotes …
John Chayka’s first move as GM of the Arizona Coyotes looks to be a good one.
About a week after acquiring the rights to defenseman Alex Goligoski for a 5th round pick the two sides appeared to have agreed to terms on a five-year deal.
If Goligoski can play close to as well as he has for the Dallas Stars over the last few years, he will be a massive addition to the Coyotes’ blue line.
While playing big minutes against top competition on a nightly basis, Goligoski’s on-ice results were remarkably good.
Over the last two seasons the Stars controlled 53.7% of the shot attempts and 54.1% of the goals with Goligoski on the ice at 5 v 5. Without Goligoski those numbers dipped to 51.7% and 49.5% respectively.
In other words, the Stars were an elite team with Goligoski on the ice and a middling team without him.
On top of his ability to drive play up ice, Goligoski brings a lot to the table offensively.
Over the last two seasons Goligoski has recorded 50 points at 5 v 5. That puts him in a tie with Mark Giordano for 10th among blue liners and ahead of Victor Hedman, Kris Letang, Aaron Ekblad, Shea Weber, Drew Doughty and Duncan Keith to name but a few.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson is finally getting some help.
On Cam Fowler and the Anaheim Ducks …
The common line of thought is that the Anaheim Ducks have to trade one of their established, young NHL blue liners this off-season.
While originally it seemed likely it would be Sami Vatanen or Hampus Lindholm on the move – both entered the off-season in need of new contracts and in line for big raises – the attention seems to have shifted towards Cam Fowler.
As each day passes it appears more and more likely Fowler, who is signed for two more seasons at a reasonable salary of $4 million per, will be traded.
Should Ducks GM Bob Murray decide to move Fowler rather than Vatanen and Lindholm, I think he’d be making the right decision – and the numbers back that up.
Over the last two seasons the Ducks have controlled the smallest portion of the shot attempts and goals at 5 v 5 with Fowler on the ice.
Lindholm is the youngest of the bunch and his numbers are clearly the best. Vatanen has also garnered better results than Fowler despite his most frequent defense partner over the last two seasons having been Clayton Stoner.
It’ll be interesting to see who the Ducks move when all is said and done but as of now it seems like if one has to go it will be Fowler – and that’s how it should be.