Rip The Mesh

Remember Jalen Chatfield?

How could we forget, even if the exposure here was only a snapshot of future potential. He was a raw talent and a late-blooming blueliner, who was passed over in the OHL and NHL drafts.

The former Vancouver Canucks defenceman had the size, speed and tenacity to tease of a long-term roster fit for head coach Travis Green. However, Chatfield played just 18 NHL games in the 2020-21 season and chose to sign a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes as a Group 6 free agent.

Chatfield, 28, became a steady third-pairing, right-shot defender, and in the past two seasons, the unrestricted free agent turned a modest contract extension into 36 points (14-22). He had a career-high eight goals this season in an impressive alignment with veteran off-season acquisition Dmitry Orlov.

“We both just love the game,” Chatfield told The Hockey News. “We played all year together, and building that chemistry comes naturally. I just know how he’s going to play, what he likes to do, where he likes to try and get the puck, and just reading off of him.

“I think that’s what it is. Just making reads.”

Chatfield is also a bargain blueliner with an expiring two-year, two-way deal that carried a $762,500 US salary cap hit. The Hurricanes could easily extend Chatfield, but they also have UFA defencemen Brady Skjei, Tony DeAngelo and Brett Pesce as signing priorities, or ensure they get soon something significant should somebody bolt to free agency.

The Hurricanes also have 21-year-old prospect defencemen Scott Morrow and Ronan Seeley under contract and maybe one makes the NHL leap. Seeley played 58 AHL games and 11 in the ECHL this season.

Chatfield could be a free-agent play in several ways, especially if the Canucks can’t come to terms with hulking UFA Nikita Zadorov. His intimidating play and playoff presence — eight points (4-4) in 13 games and 45 hits — will attract several suitors. It could turn an expiring $3.75-million cap hit into at least $5 million annually.

And with right-shot UFA Ian Cole also testing the market, there could be at least two holes to fill. Tyler Myers is expected to sign an extension below market value, while the future of restricted free agent Filip Hronek could be somewhat uncertain.

A huge contract demand reportedly set at $8 million annually would dwarf Hronek’s expiring deal at a $4.4 million annual cap hit. He also has arbitration rights and his strong first half of this season in a pairing with Quinn Hughes carries negotiation weight.

Noah Juulsen has a year left on his deal, but the Canucks need to bolster their back end. It must go beyond Guillaume Brisebois, 26, and Christian Wolanin, 29, on the books for another year, what to do with RFA Jett Woo, 23, projecting the progress of Akito Hirose, 25, and developing unsigned Filip Johansson, 24, and Cole McWard, 23.

Chatfield’s union with Orlov proved productive. They thrived in a shutdown role at even strength and dominated possession. Orlov was impressed by Chatfield’s anticipation because they didn’t play like a third pairing. On another club, they’d be a second-pairing fit.

“He’s a good skater,” said Orlov. “Always can recover if something bad happens. He’s quick and plays hard, which is helpful for me. We just try to help each other. Use his strengths. Where to jump into a play or a time to use your instincts.”

That’s what the Canucks were thinking when they signed the 6-foot-1, 188-pound Chatfield to a three-year deal in March of 2017.

The Ypsilanti, Mich. native was the Canucks’ final camp cut in 2018 and re-assigned to the AHL affiliate Utica Comets. A foot injury sidelined him for 27 games, and although signed to a one-year, two-way extension in December of 2020, he didn’t make a NHL regular-season NHL debut until January of 2021.

“It’s just part of life,” Chatfield told this reporter. “Some get the easier path and some take the longer road, and I’ve always been taking the longer one. But it has made me who I am. I went through a lot of adversity in my hockey career and I’ve just stuck with my game plan.”

Whether it’s finding more offence or finding his way, Chatfield never seemed overwhelmed about his journey that got a kick-start with the Detroit-based Compuware Triple-A Under-13 team. In 2017, he captured a Memorial Cup championship with the Windsor Spitfires and former Canucks goalie Mike DiPietro.

The Canucks lost Chris Tanev and Troy Stecher to free agency, and their 2020-21 right-side pecking order was Nate Schmidt and Myers and then a curious combination of Brogan Rafferty, Jordie Benn and Travis Hamonic. Former Canucks general manager Jim Benning, who always expressed potential for any of his acquisitions, got it right when he assessing Chatfield.

“He’s such a competitive guy that he’s going to figure out a way to be a good player in the league. He has worked extremely hard,” said Benning. “He’s kind of a cross between Tanev and Stecher because he takes away time and space and has excellent mobility.

“He can get back and transition the puck up ice fast, and he’s smart defensively. And he can be physical and get in your face.”  the end......

Been a while mm Oilers?

I know I said otherwise, week or so, that we should lock up Lindholm if they do the 7+ however length it was, 7 was it?  Will we still be a tough enough

forward group? I'm looking at our forwards and watching how tough it is to win that cup. Miller should not be the only one or two that play the way that's

necessary to go four rounds. Maybe I'm overthinking it, I don't know.

        Does this mean; OK! I give, I give!

The Vancouver Canucks reportedly have interest in a reunion with a defenceman who left the team in 2021.

The reigning Pacific Division champions will be interested in Jalen Chatfield if the pending free agent does not come to an agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes.

“He’s going to have a ton of interest on July 1, including [from] the Canucks,” said CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal on the Donnie & Dhali show today.

“I’m hearing that Carolina is trying very hard to re-sign him but if he gets to the market I’m told Canucks will be one of the interested teams.”

Chatfield finished last season with 22 points in 72 games played and added another two points in 11 playoff games.

The 28-year-old has blossomed as a player since leaving the Canucks, becoming one of the Hurricanes regular defencemen and helping the Eastern Conference team be one of the league’s stingiest defensively.

Chatfield earned the trust of Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, a bench boss with a similar structured style to current Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. Brind’Amour is famous for holding players to a high defensive standard and it’s a high bar Chatfield managed to pass.

The former Canucks player led all NHL defencemen (minimum 200 minutes) in on-ice shots-against-per-60 minutes at five-on-five. He also ranked in the top 50 in terms of goals against per 60 minutes.

The Canucks have just one right-handed player, Noah Juulsen, signed on the blue line for next season. They will need to attract free agents this summer and if Chatfield hits

the open market, he makes a lot of sense.

He just finished a contract that paid him $762,500 per season and is due for a major raise as he has established himself as a solid NHL player. Hockey consulting company AFP Analytics projects his next deal at four years with an average annual value of $3.67 million.

You have to use a big thrust to make a hit like this / Is it intent to injure? Most likely not. I'd call this a double minor, but give Draisatl a warning.

Nicely done; 

The Vancouver Canucks’ historical search for a top-six right winger has been a myriad of hits and misses, and even a memorable diss, as they tried to fill a pressing need.

The current pursuit of Jake Guentzel and Martin Necas is an example of shopping for specific targets, who come with performance and promise and significant sticker shock.

The Carolina Hurricanes will accept a mid-round NHL draft pick for negotiation rights with unrestricted free agent Guentzel, whom the Canucks have long coveted, because they expect the winger will sign elsewhere or test the market July 1.

And while the Hurricanes are listening on restricted free agent Necas, and want star power in return, it’s hard to imagine them parting with two top-six wingers.

The Canucks could have had Reinhart and Toffoli in their fold had decision-making gone another way.

In 2021, the Canucks could have made a play for the disgruntled Reinhart but went another way in a multi-player swap that summer with the Arizona Coyotes. They have Conor Garland and Oliver-Ekman Larsson’s massive US$19.3 million buyout last June on the books for six years to show for the hope and faith.

Reinhart was a restricted free agent and mired in a mess at Buffalo during the compacted 2020-21 season. Despite Jack Eichel missing the final 33 games with a neck injury, and also wanting to depart the struggling Sabres, Reinhart collected 25 goals for a team-high 40 points in 54 games on the league’s worst club.

Reinhart wanted to go west. It conjured up thoughts of aligning with centre Bo Horvat to fill a need.

The Canucks had the ninth-overall pick in the 2021 draft. It would have taken that plus a roster player to pry Reinhart away, but that Coyotes’ play got in the way. A multi-

layered transaction included a first-rounder and became the promising Dylan Guenther, who’s coming off an 18-goal, 35 point rookie season in 45 games.

Reinhart, 28, had a monster 57 goals this season for the Florida Panthers. The North Vancouver native is a UFA destined for a huge payday with an expiring US$6.5 million salary cap hit, if he hits the market, because the Panthers have 11 UFAs.

Former Canucks defenceman Ed Jovanovski, and current Panthers broadcaster, lived around the corner from the Reinhart clan in West Vancouver. He saw the drive and determination in a strong family hockey lineage led by patriarch, Paul, that spread to Griffin and Max. Paul was selected 12th overall in 1979, Griffin fourth overall in 2012 and Sam second overall in 2014.

“Sam is such a smart player,” Jovanovski said in a telephone interview before the 2024 Cup Final opener. “People talk about hockey IQ and he finds the holes. A real worker and seems to know where the puck is going to be, especially on the power play (league-leading 27 goals).

“It’s the work ethic. He gets to the tough areas, gets his shot off very quickly and it’s hard to handle. He’s a very humble kid and just goes out there and does his thing. It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

Toffoli is a UFA who had a combined 33 goals with the New Jersey Devils and the Winnipeg Jets this season. However, he’s best remembered for a tour of force with and against the Canucks.

He proved a seamless fit when acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in February 2020 for Tim Schaller, Tyler Madden plus a second-round and a conditional draft pick. He responded with six goals and 10 points in his first 10 games.

He developed instant chemistry with Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller before that season was put on hold by COVID-19. Toffoli loved it here. He wanted to finish his career in Vancouver. However, he wasn’t offered a contract and four days into free agency, he fled to the Montreal Canadiens at a bargain US$4.25 million cap hit.

Toffoli torched the Canucks the following season in eight Canadian Division games with 13 points (8-5), including a hat-trick.

Here’s a look at the Canucks’ winger wish-list:

   Jake Guentzel, 29, (UFA)
The buzz: Had 30 goals in 67 games this season. Has 38 goals in 69 playoff games and four in six Stanley Cup Final games. Won the Cup as a rookie in Pittsburgh with 21 post-season points (13-8) in 25 games. Has two 40-goal seasons. Can he be lured to West Coast? May stay in U.S., possibly align with Connor Bedard in Chicago.

  Martin Necas, 25 (RFA)
The buzz: Disgruntled at lesser role with Hurricanes. Scored once and added three assists in a 7-3 victory over Sweden to set the stage for a 2-0 gold-medal win over Switzerland at world championship. Necas is fast through the neutral zone. He’s creative. He’s a finisher. Had 53 points (24-29) this season.

  Tyler Toffoli, 32, (UFA)
The buzz: Known more for finish than the forecheck and doesn’t get enough credit for hounding pucks and making superb passes. Lots left in the competitive tank. Is he willing to put winning ahead of bigger bucks?

  Nikolaj Ehlers, 28 (TBD)
The buzz: Year left at US$6 million cap hit. Put up first-line points while mostly playing second-line role for Jets. Battled neck injury for 61 points (25-36), but has just four career playoff goals in 37 games.

https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/theprovince/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/hockey-nhl-ott-van-.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=564&type=webp&sig=4aQH6JR13b3Uoi4Vp8Y2Yg

I think they're going to geturdon....   

Pri*k