Each week in “Rink Rumblings”, Michael Augello of Hockeybuzz.com takes an in-depth look at the players, games and news from around the National Hockey League.
The Last Best Chance For All-Star Game
I have to confess that I have not been a fan of the NHL All Star Game for at least 20 years.
As a kid, it was an event that gave you a chance to see the biggest stars in the game on the same sheet of ice, but in the age of the Center Ice package, Gamecenter Live, NBC, NBCSN, NHL Network, Sportsnet and TSN, that gathering of hockey luminaries has lost its luster.
The NHL has once again changed the format from drafted teams playing the most contrived, meaningless, emotionless 60 minutes of hockey you could ever watch to four divisional squads playing 3-on-3 hockey and competing for $1 Million.
Even the skeptical and cynical have to be intrigued by this format and the cash reward may actually bring about some inspired play and emotion, but if this does not work in terms of generating excitement and ratings, the league should consider doing away with the All Star Game altogether.
Some would balk at the concept of being the first major sport to eliminate an All-Star event, but other than MLB’s Midsummer Classic, the other games are totally forgettable.
The one concept that makes the most sense is to fold in the skills competition into the Winter Classic and perhaps give the entire league their 5-day bye week (which the NHLPA got for agreeing to the format change) at that point. That would give the entire league a respite close to halfway through the season and could perhaps prevent injuries brought about by fatigue later in the season.
Hamonic Trade Complicated For Isles
The revelation this week of New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic asking for a trade has put GM Garth Snow in an unenviable position.
The 25-year-old blueliner requested to be moved this past summer due to family concerns and gave Snow a limited number of teams within close proximity to his family in St. Malo, Manitoba. The Islanders have not been able to find a good fit in a deal and had given the defenseman’s agent permission to speak with other clubs to facilitate a deal prior to the story breaking.
Hamonic is a desirable commodity (with four more years at a more than reasonable $3.875 Million per season) and would normally be easy to move with many teams in need of a top four defenseman, but the geographic limitations do not exactly allow Snow to bargain for an equal return.
New York is a “now” team, which means that offers of future draft picks or prospects years away from the NHL would not make sense.
Two of the three Western Canadian teams rumored to be preferred destinations (Winnipeg and Edmonton) have a defensive need, but it is questionable if the Islanders would entertain an offer for pending UFA Dustin Byfuglien with no guarantee of an extension or that the Jets would trade young Jacob Trouba.
The Oilers have a crying need for a stabilizing blueliner, but GM Peter Chiarelli wants to add to the corps that includes Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse and not swap apples for oranges. Chiarelli would likely prefer to move one of his stockpile of young forwards (Jordan Eberle or Nail Yakupov) and the Islanders are fairly deep up front.
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Thursday that the Minnesota Wild have expressed interest, but do not have a glaring need on the blue line and have little flexibility under the salary cap.
Both sides would likely prefer to get this deal done sooner than later, but Hamonic said on Thursday he is prepared to wait out the season. If this situation lingers until next summer, teams will have more flexibility to make moves but that does not guarantee the Islanders getting a better return.
Diminutive DeBrincat
Erie Otters forward Alex DeBrincat leads the Ontario Hockey League in goals (27) and points (41), but where he factors into the 2016 NHL Draft will depend on teams continuing to be open about selecting players smaller in stature.
The Detroit native scored 104 points as a 16-year-old playing behind Strome and Connor McDavid last season. He has remarkable offensive tools, but the 5’7”, 160 lb forward’s speed and elusiveness do not appear to be on the level of Johnny Gaudreau or Tyler Johnson, which could keep him from being selected in the top half of the first round in Buffalo next June.
DeBrincat played in the All-American Prospects Game in September and could be on Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Tournament in Helsinki. A good performance with and against 2016 top prospects Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Finland’s Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrick Laine could convince NHL GM’s and scouts to put aside the concerns about size.
Written by Michael Augello, who can be found on twitter @MikeInBuffalo
