Monday was the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers to restricted to retain their rights. Players who were not given their qualifying offers are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
The Hurricanes initially qualified Trevor van Riemsdyk, Lucas Wallmark, Valentin Zykov and Greg McKegg. Of that group only veteran AHLer Greg McKegg was a player who could have gone either way.
The Hurricanes chose not to qualify Joakim Nordstrom, Phil Di Giuseppe, Sergey Tolchinsky, Keegan Kanzig and Tyler Ganly.
Working through the group…
Signed
Phil Di Giuseppe
Di Giuseppe was actually not qualified probably for fear of arbitration risk, but later in the day the team announced that it had signed him to a one-year, one-way contract for $750,000.
On Twitter before after not being qualified and before he was signed, I said:
Will be interesting to see if #Canes actually try to re-sign Di Giuseppe and/or Nordstrom. Could just be that team is not willing to risk bad arbitration decision. https://t.co/sYlBtijiEG
— Canes and Coffee (@CanesandCoffee) June 25, 2018
As a player who could have been cut to make room like Nordstrom (likely), he was definitely a could stay/could go player. What surprises me a bit is the fact that he received a one-way deal. On the one hand, he has paid some dues and probably earned it. On the other hand, with the volume of young players in the mix, he has his work cut out to earn an NHL roster slot, so having him on a two-way contract would have been more flexible financially.
I have long liked Di Giuseppe a level higher than his offensive production would seem to warrant. Over the years he morphed into a physical forechecker who skates pretty well and sound checking line forward. His skill set has long seemed higher than what he produces but save for a massive nine-point outburst late in 2017-18 the offensive game has been really light for a couple years now. I like him as a #13 forward who pushes the youth to truly earn a roster spot or otherwise head back to Charlotte to continue development.
Not qualified
Keegan Kanzig
Kanzig was an addition to the Eddie Lack trade with Calgary last summer to even up the number of contracts exchanged. He was really on the outside looking in even when he joined the organization. The fact that he spent much of the 2017-18 season at the ECHL was a pretty clear sign that he had not played his way up the depth chart and would be let go once his contract expired.
Tyler Ganly
Ganly has a longer history with the Hurricanes as a 2013 sixth-rounder who did well to earn an NHL contract. But he lost a season to a training camp injury and had not established himself as a regular at the AHL level during his three-year entry-level contract.
Sergey Tolchinsky
Tolchinsky was an absolutely fabulous story from the Hurricanes prospect camp in 2013 with dazzling stickhandling, scoring and shootout goals. But as an undersized player, his stickhandling wizardry never really translated to the AHL where time and space goes away quickly. He was in and out of the lineup in 2017-18 which showed where he stood with the next wave of prospects moving up.
Joakim Nordstrom
Nordstrom was eligible for arbitration which presents a significant risk in qualifying him. As such, it is possible that the team is still negotiating to sign him (as happened with Di Giuseppe) but more likely he will be one of the players cut to make room for youth. I am moderately surprised that he was not retained. Nordstrom’s offense is extremely limited which puts a low ceiling on where he fits in the lineup, but I like him as a versatile, skating #13 who could help fill a penalty killing slot on a team that has some sorting out to do there.
Qualified
Trevor van Riemsdyk
With a qualifying offer of only about $1 million, van Riemsdyk’s qualifying offer was a formality that just sets the stage for negotiating his next deal. Rumblings are that his contract negotiations are stalled just like Hanifin’s and Lindholm’s. Coming off a strong season earning less than $1 million, van Riemsdyk figures to earn a significant raise. My rough math pegs him at $1.5-2 million per year for 2-3 years.
Greg McKegg
McKegg was the return for Josh Jooris in a trade deadline deal with the Penguins. As a veteran AHLer who had only been with the organization for a couple months, McKegg figured to be a player who could be turned loose to free up another contract slot. But he made an immediate impression during his short time in Charlotte and in the process earned a place. Even teams with deep prospect pools have room for 5-8 veteran AHLers who help drive success at the AHL level and lead the way for the kids playing with them. Though many of these players do not see the NHL much if at all, these players are underrated in terms of their impact on the organization by creating a winning environment and teaching young players how to be professionals.
Valentin Zykov
Zykov was a no-brainer based on leading the AHL in goal scoring and also posting a strong run with Aho and Teravainen. As a player expected to compete for an NHL roster spot, he was obviously going to be qualified.
Lucas Wallmark
Wallmark, like Zykov, was a no-brainer based on his strong play at the AHL level.
Netting it out, the biggest news Monday was the decision to re-sign Di Giuseppe and seemingly allocate an NHL roster spot to him with his one-way contract. The decision not to qualify Nordstrom if it turns out he is not also being renegotiated would also be significant. Looking forward the contract negotiations for van Riemsdyk are significant. He solidified a third pairing that was a mess in 2016-17 and in the process became a reasonably important part of the defense despite his lesser role.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Were you surprised to see Phil Di Giuseppe re-signed, especially on a one-way deal?
2) Were you surprised to see Joakim Nordstrom not qualified?
3) Any thoughts on the other decisions for qualifying offers for Monday?
Go Canes!
1+2) I kind of figured that the team wanted to bring back 1 but not both of Nordstrom and Diguiseppe. I’ll give the very minor and slight edge to the guy who might have a higher offensive ceiling than Nordstrom. I’m not a massive Diguiseppe fan but I do agree as you said Matt he is a 12/13 forward and he is fine in that role. Just as Nordstrom was fine in that role – but Diguiseppe does offer the ability to move up and down the lineup a bit more flexibly because he can play ‘some’ offense.
3) No surprises here. I am very much in line with your thinking on McKegg – the team could use a veteran guy who knows how to play the game properly to help develop some players in Charlotte. In fact – with Andrew Miller LEAVING I’d say not only should they re-sign McKegg but look for another veteran minor leaguer as well. Regardless of these new youth movements I think hockey is such a detail oriented game that there is always an important place for veterans at the AHL and NHL level.
Patrick Brown, the captain of the Checkers, was re-signed earlier this offseason. He is marginal NHL but a solid AHLer and a greater leader there.
Agree. Most people focus on the NHL level, but there is a good living to be made if you are a good AHL player and equally importantly the type of leader the NHL management wants leading its prospects. And that is where Patrick Brown is a valuable player in the organization even if he does not see much, if any, ice time at the NHL level.
1. No, not surprised. He still has upside and I think he is a RBA type player. Its hard not to like the kid. Good that he got the 1-way deal.
2. Joakim – Like his speed and willingness to take a hit. Although I think he could avoid the hit if he had better vision. That guy cant hit the net… Its crazy! I have sat behind the net in warmups and every thing sails high and wide. He has value on a 4th line. He belongs in the NHL… just on a deep team he will be replaced with someone that is slightly more of a threat. Long gone are the days when he looked like he was going be more than a 4th line guy.
3. I’m surprised that a TVR deal isn’t finalized. He was a complete stabilizing force for whomever he was paired with. Frankly I would offer a little bit more to him. I like the 2 mil AAV for 3 years. I could see him getting a touch more as I think he is quietly solid.
1+2) I would have picked Nordstrom over PDG – I think Nordstrom has more offensive potential than he was able to show while playing with offensive-limited centers like JMac and Kruger. Plus he is worth more on the PK that he may not put in the net on offense. But with Martinook (and the new Finn?) we have a lot of depth forwards now.
3) I am more surprised than anything that we didn’t reach a contract agreement with TvR – as well as Wallmark and Zykov. It really makes me think that the new ownership/management is very tight-fisted and very hard on negotiating (they hired a former player’s agent to handle contracts) – ultimately that will be a turn-off to players. Players want to get paid and they don’t want to be stonewalled. The three I named should have been easy signs.
When I went down to Charlotte after we got McKegg everyone down there was saying what a great he was – on and off the ice. Great in the locker room and great in the community. Most likely an AHL lifer but the type of guy, along with Brown, you want on your team. I have to think Vellucci had a say in that.
It was hard not to like Tolchinsky – but he had a new coach every year, was put in the doghouse his first year; he never found his way. It was unfortunate – I think in the right environment he would have done fine. He left the Checkers during the playoffs – he wasn’t getting any ice time – and has already signed with the KHL. So he will be making money there – and maybe another chance will come his way here.
1. Not sure why the team signed PDG. Elsewhere I wondered if that indicates their intension to keep Skinner (Skinner and PDG had some chemistry in the 16-17 season). Apparently Max is demanding 8 years and 8 mill per (or his agent is) which is why a trade offer of a player, a pick and a prospect from the Kings fell through + 6 years and 6 mill per for Max. If this is the price Skinner is expecting I doubt that teams are going all in to sign him.
2. I would’ve signed hi over PDG, there are a lot of younger forwards with PDG’s skillset but nobody with Nordstrom’s experience.
3. Wondr if TVR is on the trading blok (if Faulk isn’t). He’s stable, steady and under rated d man that a lot of teams will covet. I think management is being chaap and I am concerned this reputation is going to make Carolina an even less desireable hockey destination. TD’s comments about Chuck Kaiten in a WRAL interview yesterday show his hardbal business sense (slightly paraphrased but not much) “the show has to be self sustaining, I bought a hockey team, not a radio show. If listeners want a show they can pay, there are not as many as you think”.
While I understand the approach I worry that he has none of the human intangibles that are important for a sports team owner. The Canes did too much of that, the mom’s trip, the dad’s trip etc. but taking all the human elements out of the team can damage community relations and make the team a less desireable workplace for players.
But maybe the no nonsense approach is good for the team. I just don’t know.
Sorry for typos, broken keyboard.
I was surprised at the one way contract, but the one-year term at the dollar amount makes it a good investment for protection against injuries, etc.
Nordstrom is a one-dimensional player. He plays hard and can kill penalties. That’s it. You can find this type player with more offensive upside easily.
I liked all the qualifying offers made. Nothing really earth shattering. I would like to see TVR signed. Knowing only what I know about the situation (which is nothing really), I would go up to 2.5 million per year for a two year deal. In a year or so we will be having defensemen moving up through the system that we will have to find space for so the term can be adjusted down and we throw in a couple of bucks to compensate.
I appreciate some of the comments above worrying about the club becoming managed by a bunch of penny pinching accountant types. But, for too long this place has been like a retirement home. We have brought in players and guaranteed them jobs. When they retire, we have bloated the overhead establishing front office positions for them. While doing all this we seem to have forgotten that the focus of our finances should be on putting a winning team on the ice. Personally, I tired of looking at the 2006 film clips before all our games, or in the adds promoting the team, or in the clips during the games. I want us to start celebrating current successes and looking at positive player performances by our current team.
As far as the radio situation is concerned, I am in favor of Chuck Kaiton getting a role with the TV crew. I have watched other teams TV broadcast crews and they have analysts who have commentaries between periods and before and after games. They don’t use the in game commentators except to broadcast the action on the ice. It seems to me, if he would want such a position, that Chuck Kaiton would be a natural fit for such a situation. Yeah, it will mean another salary, but it would be money well spent IMO.
Interesting concerns here over the RFAs. Must be the canes are the stingiest team in the NHL with them being the only team of 31 that made qualifying offers to some of their players. Wait, every team has done that. It allows more time to work out a deal. If someone has a source that says TVR got offered a terrible deal I would be inclined to reconsider any concerns.
Just because TVR didn’t get offered above 3rd pairing money does not mean the team is tight fisted. I would prefer McKeon on that third pairing anyway. For three months the management gets blasted for the reason of the day. They just had the best draft weekend that I can remember. Yet because they don’t roll over on a 3rd pairing d they are making it impossible for future signings. If they pay too much for 3rd pairing d they won’t be able to afford top six forwards.
Those of us who are “concerned” see a pattern of lowballing that goes back to the GM search. When I saw the Q.O. #’s for some of these players, including TvR and Z, I can’t believe we can’t find a common ground – we are not talking big money being laid out. There is talk the team is relatively far apart with TvR and Z. These are solid players (TvR, Wallmark, Z) who have proved their worth – splitting the difference has to be in the range of a couple of hundred thousand. And being hard-nosed about it is just bad business.
O&M can prove me wrong any time.
A couple of points-
The GM who was hired just made the best trade in the last decade. I think he can handle it even if his salary is not astronomical.
Second- did you see the qualifying offers for TVR and Z? If so please share the source so the other participants here at C&C can take a look. If you are correct, then I will agree they are being tight fisted.
Third- the talk you speak of is just that. The team and the player have time to work out a deal. There probably is common ground but bad business is failing to negotiate the best deal possible on both sides.
Finally and I’m just curious, what is your personal disdain for Dundon? The minority owner, PK, had his kids sueing him and yet you have remained a fan.
Well, I can’t say I have liked any of his decisions since he became owner – he is like a frat boy with a sports team. One difference between TD and PK, and TD’s friend in Dallas, Mark Cuban, is that both PK and MC made their money by building companies that created value for their customers. TD made his billion by finding a way to legally steal from the poor.
Just to clarify how the process works…The qualifying offers are a formality. The team must make them per some minimum math to avoid having the player become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. So teams make the formal offer for whatever the math says. That is NOT intended to be an offer to be accepted or even a negotiating point. In cases where the qualifying offer is fair, the player can accept it or negotiate from there. In cases where it is not (like with van Riemsdyk), the actual negotiation on the new contract is a whole separate process.
Shorter version: The amount of the qualifying offer is not a meaningful number, just a formality to move to the next step of the process.
So it is a basic mathematical formula to start as a base for negotiation? So not an effort to lowball players. Thanks for the clarity. Are these first offers published for public awareness? Thanks.
I really don’t understand all of the negative comments about TD. Qualifying offers,avoiding arbitration, etc. These are all options available to both players and owners via the hard negotiated Collective bargaining agreement. Nothing shady or tricky going on. Management always tries to avoid arbitration. But it is not because they are cheap. They certainly have the right to walk away from the player if the arbitrator finds for him and they don’t want to pay. The reason they avoid arbitration is the process itself. The player’s agent presents a number of similar contract amounts given players of what the player considers to be equivalent talents and performance. Management of course, must then challenge the player’s contention; in effect saying that the player isn’t as good as he thinks he is. Too often, players take this personally. Management thinks (rightly in my opinion) that they are in a no-win trap if they enter into arbitration. Even if they win, they lose because they have a disgruntled player in many cases.
If you watch this year during the arbitration process, most cases are settled just before the hearing before the arbitrator begins.
Powerless, I couldn’t have said it better. Everyone should just let the process, that every team goes through at this time of year, work its way out. Let’s forget the cheapskate talk until we see the actual evidence when everything washes out. Excellent writeup IMO powerless. More power to you.
I was going to same the same thing, RR. Powerless, well said bro!
Key is to not fall for the trap, rather avoid it. In this case, I think we made out pretty well.
Thanks for the explanations guys.n I like that better. I certainly feel for management and agree the team has felt like a mixture of a retirement home and a daycare sometimes in the past with the generous contracts and focus on things other than the on ice performance. Happy to give TD a chance to work this out, as long as we end up qualifying the players we need instead of letting them go.
As I said, O&M can prove me wrong. I hope they do. We will see what happens.