The Bolts
We have an update on former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin’s future. He has signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s currently going through league entry waivers, so the Lightning can have him if they want, but I doubt they will because they’re currently fighting a grievance sent to them by the NHLPA on behalf of Dotchin. [Raw Charge]
Seeing that Dotchin has signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks though, that suggests something has changed, and perhaps he will not be pursuing his grievance against the Lightning organization. Or maybe he has agreed to a settlement with the team. He could also have decided that he was better off pursuing his career somewhere else rather than going through an appeal. If he had continued with the grievance and won his case, then his contract would have been restored and he would re-join the Lightning organization, but the situation would have been awkward, to say the least.
The difference (and the entire situation) is being grieved by the NHLPA. It’s an interesting debate about “shape” and what is/isn’t acceptable. https://t.co/9hsAcJhTL5
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 17, 2018
Also at noon, Cory Conacher was placed on waivers, meaning there must be some movement in Ryan Callahan’s status. [Raw Charge]
The Lightning have been carrying 14 forwards on the NHL roster since opening night of the season. In addition, they’ve had Ryan Callahan on injured reserve with an expected return date of early November. Callahan has been skating regularly, but we haven’t had any signs that he is ready to return, or any indications he could return from the injury early.
Related
Ryan Callahan ahead of schedule on return to Lightning
Conacher was later signed to a contract extension through 2019-20. Weird, I know, but it makes perfect sense once you think about it. [Raw Charge]
This move immediately comes off as waiver protection for a player the organization clearly sees value in. Other NHL teams will be wary of bringing on his contract now because they’ll have to make space for him next year along with this year. The one-way deal guarantees Conacher some cash next year as well.
Best of luck to Sonya in her recovery. We hope to see her on the ice again very soon!
— Sonya Bryson-Kirksey (@SonniSings) October 17, 2018
Apologies to the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic but the Milwaukee Buck are our new favourite team. Shoutout John Henson!
Game One.
Wheels Up.#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/BqJQpLfX1U
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 16, 2018
The Prospects
Aside from the Conacher news, it was all quiet on the system front. Seriously, there’s nothing to talk about, haha.
4 year old kid beside me has his iPad game volume at level 1000. Cow goes moo, duck goes quack. Figure it out
— Connor Ingram (@CBIngram1) June 30, 2018
The Game
Why is the NHL always the last league in the North America when it comes to employing women and minorities? Qualified people have been passed by and wasted for decades just because of the insecurity of men. Lauren Kelly explains in her first op-ed. [Raw Charge]
Major League Baseball is more like the NHL, in the sense that while there are over 100 women working in baseball operations (front office or on-field jobs), the majority of these jobs are in non-executive or training staff roles. However, like the NBA and NFL, they have had women in coaching roles. Justine Siegal became the first female coach employed by an MLB team in 2015, when the Oakland Athletics hired her for two weeks.
The Vancouver Canucks are playing well and winning games. Weird, huh. [Nucks Misconduct]
Here’s the good: the Canucks have scored 3.67 goals-per-game to start the season, placing them seventh overall in the league. That’s far and away better than anyone expected, and you could argue that their 17th overall ranking in five-on-five goals is also better than anyone expected.
Nick Ritchie has ended his hold-out with the Anaheim Ducks and has signed a three-year, $1.583 million AAV contract. What took him so long? [Anaheim Calling]
The big-bodied left winger arrived in Anaheim this week and should jump back into the lineup at some point over the weekend, provided he is in playing shape. All signs point such, with reports saying he is looking like a changed man after training with Gary Roberts bear Toronto over the summer.
BREAKING: We’ve signed left wing Nick Ritchie (@ritchboiii) to a three-year contract.#LetsGoDucks pic.twitter.com/zX6VwuPqug
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 18, 2018
That leaves one RFA still without a contract. His name is William Nylander. I’m sure you’ve heard of him. Anyway, Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has flown to Europe to go speak to Nylander and his camp in a hopes to get a deal done soon. We shall call it the Zurich Accords. This has dragged on long enough. [Pension Plan Puppets]
He wasn’t trolling or joking; he really heard that while at the airport. And we all laughed. And made jokes about William Nylander going to play for ZSC to better Auston Matthews’ results there.
Nylander isn’t the most common Swedish name, but it’s not unique, and there’s even a second William Nylander in the Elite Prospects database. It all seemed unlikely.
„Mister William Nylander, arriving from Stockholm, is requested to contact any ground staff.“
Annoncement at Zurich Airport five minutes ago. 😳#nylander #leafs #nhl— Robert (@Fritztram) October 16, 2018
Highlight of the Night: Look at those Flames, so hot right now.
Passing perfection puts the @NHLFlames up 1-0 early. pic.twitter.com/bWc8yeVmw4
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) October 18, 2018
