The Abbotsford Canucks have signed forward Matt Alfaro to a one-year American Hockey League contract, the club announced Wednesday morning.
Alfaro, 25, played 13 games with the Canucks on a professional tryout agreement during the 2021–22 regular season, scoring four goals and seven points. He was held scoreless in two playoff games with the team.
Putting pen to paper 🖊️
GM Ryan Johnson announced today that Matt Alfaro has signed a one-year contract with the Abbotsford Canuckshttps://t.co/dS5IfAi8IK
The 6’2″, 200-pound centre turned professional in 2020–21 after playing three seasons at the University of Calgary. He played 81 games with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers over 2020–21 and 2021–22, scoring 20 goals and 61 points.
Alfaro split the 2021–22 season between four teams. He logged 20 games with the Nailers before signing PTOs with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Manitoba Moose, and Canucks, totalling seven goals and 12 points in 36 AHL contests.
“Although it wasn’t for very long, I had a great experience with the Canucks at the end of last season,” Alfaro said in the press release announcing his new contract. “I am excited to be returning in the fall, and to be able to have the opportunity to play a full season in front of the great hockey fans in Abbotsford.”
The Canucks finished the 2021–22 season with a 39–23–6 record, good to finish fifth in the AHL’s Pacific Division. The Bakersfield Condors swept the Canucks in the first round of the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.
It was a long process but the Vancouver Canucks were able to get their guy in the end.
Top European free agent Andrey Kuzmenko is committed to the Canucks and will sign his deal as soon as free agency opens up on July 13th.
Let’s explore the type of player that Kuzmenko is and where he fits with the Canucks.
Offensive capabilities
Coming off a KHL season that saw him put up 53 points in 45 games, he showed well in terms of production, finishing the regular season as the KHL’s second-leading scorer. We only saw one other teammate of his at SKA show up in the top 25 of KHL scoring, so, he was creating a lot of offence without being on a powerhouse SKA team like we’ve seen in Saint-Petersburg in the past.
Kuzmenko did an excellent job of creating offence at five-on-five. He scored 15 of his 20 goals at even-strength and a decent amount of those goals were created from him forcing turnovers and quickly capitalizing on those changes of possession. He appears to be at his best when he has the puck in space through the middle portion of the ice. His intelligent movement through the neutral zone can take KHL defenders out of position and open up good, quality scoring chances for his linemates during odd-man rushes.
His hands look great at the KHL level and his offensive skills look to be at a level where there is no worry about if he will be able to transition the offensive side of his game to the NHL. With some KHL players, you worry about the ability to make quick decisions because the NHL has better defenders, and there is less time and space. The good thing about Kuzmenko is that he thinks the game very well in the KHL and decision-making is rarely questioned when he has the puck on his stick.
He moves well on his cuts but his full stride speed will likely be tested at the NHL level. He is able to gain a step on KHL defencemen but KHL top-four defencemen are comparable to an NHL team’s 7-11th defencemen. Kuzmenko is going to get some tough matchups if he slides into the Canucks’ middle-six and could see a big test if he does slot into a top-six line.
The way he thinks the game in the offensive zone is impressive and he does have the hands to finish. It’s not to say that he was always a step ahead of his teammates at SKA but he was never lagging behind the play, he was the driver on every line that he played on and could look like an even better player when he gets two NHL-calibre players as his linemates. Though he is going to be facing tougher competition, you also have to look to his stronger teammates being able to help carry some of the weight.
Kuzmenko’s finishing will be tested if he gets a chance in the top-six and is playing with players like Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser or Bo Horvat. He finished his season with a shooting percentage that nearly crested 20% and showed that he is not just a one-trick pony who relies on something like having a bomb from the left half-wall or being a bumper specialist.
The 26-year-old right-winger can score from a variety of locations on the ice.
He is very skilled with his spins while possessing the puck and the speed and quickness are at a pace where they should transition nicely to the NHL. He may not be able to spin away from every defender in the NHL as easily as he made it look against KHL competition but he surely will be able to create space with his athleticism in the offensive zone.
Defence and effort level
The big worries we have are his ability to defend NHL competition. Simply put, we don’t know what Kuzmenko is going to look like when facing NHL top-six lines. He doesn’t lack effort in the KHL and that is a great sign of things to come for his work in the defensive zone once he lands in North America.
The problem still remains that we don’t know how he will fare once he’s opposite Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, or even Johnny Gaudreau. He likely won’t be strong enough to out-muscle NHL competition as easily as he was able to in the KHL.
Being an effective defender is going to be more about how he uses an active stick, leverage, and quickness to create turnovers. This is why we ultimately think his defending in the neutral zone will not be an issue but still have questions about how he will look inside of his own blue line.
Kuzmenko has a high-end motor and you can probably notice it in some of those goal highlights as he creates turnovers at a high rate. We just need to see how he looks in a stationary defence once the opposition has gained the zone on the Canucks. We liked how he was aggressive to cover the point this past season in the KHL and a high level of effort will be required for him to find similar success in the NHL.
An area where immediate success is imminent will be on the power play unit. We expect to see Kuzmenko get time on the first or second unit as a guy who can chase down loose pucks and be used behind the net as a playmaker. He was a magician behind the net for SKA in the KHL this past season and should be able to transfer a lot of that skill to North America.
Elusive skater, slick hands and elite playmaking.
We've seen many failed Kuzmenko-like attempts to transition over to the NHL. Oh well.
All in all, we have confidence that Kuzmenko should fit right in with the Canucks in the attacking two-thirds of the ice. His high-running motor will be effective on the forecheck as well as being disruptive between the blue lines. His skating looks like it won’t be a worry in the NHL and the only thing we don’t know is how he will look defending against opposing top-six lines.
The worst-case scenario we see is Kuzmenko being a power play specialist who plays 7-10 minutes a night on the fourth line. Our high-end, rose-coloured glasses prediction is that he hops right into a top-six role alongside Elias Pettersson and ends up being a 50-60 point player.
Our actual projection is that Kuzmenko will be somewhere in the realm of 12-18 goals and should find himself somewhere in the 32-40 point range. If he is able to pot 20 goals this season, we will be pleasantly surprised.
For a player who is making the league minimum — Kuzmenko will simply add great value to the Canucks for the 2022-23 season.
Kuzmenko absolutely makes this team better and there is basically no risk. If he reveals himself to not be an NHL player, his total contract will be buried in the AHL or maybe he makes his way back to Russia. We believe Kuzmenko will be in the Canucks’ middle-six on opening night and have to imagine that his hands, vision, effort level, and agility will help him find success when he puts on the blue and green jersey as a Vancouver Canuck.
The rumour mill is starting to heat up as the NHL Draft is just a hair over two weeks away.
“Strong interest” in Miller and Boeser
In unsurprising news, teams around the league are calling the Vancouver Canucks about forwards J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.
“It seems like it’s open season for the Vancouver Canucks,” said TSN’s Darren Dreger on Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading. “It’s not a fire sale, so don’t misunderstand that, but we’re talking about J.T. Miller and we’re talking about Brock Boeser.
“There is strong market interest in both those players. There isn’t a Stanley Cup Playoff team to this point, including the Avalanche and Lightning, who couldn’t see J.T. Miller as being a good add to what they already have. The Vancouver Canucks are interested in listening.”
Miller, whose incredibly valuable deal worth just $5.25 million has found himself in trade rumours for some time now, as multiple teams showed interest in him around the 2022 Trade Deadline.
The Canucks have made it clear that if they can’t come to an agreement with Miller and his camp on an extension heading into the draft, they’re not going to be afraid to make a big splash with a trade this offseason.
Boeser, 25, put 23 goals and 23 assists last season and is a restricted free agent this offseason.
Capitals linked to Miller
As we speculated yesterday, the Washington Capitals have reportedly entered the J.T. Miller sweepstakes after losing Niklas Backstrom to hip surgery.
“I’ve heard [Nazem] Kadri’s name connected to the Capitals, I’ve heard Miller’s name connected to the Capitals,” said Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet during a Tuesday appearance on Donnie and Dhali – The Team.
After putting up 99 points this past season, plenty of teams are interested in adding Miller to their team, as he’s a cost-efficient option for next season and would instantly bolster virtually any team’s top six forward group.
Earlier this year, Vancouver Canucks assistant equipment manager Brian “Red” Hamilton and Seattle Kraken fan Nadia Popovici captured the attention of the hockey world.
While attending a game between the Canucks and Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena, Popivici — sitting directly behind the Vancouver bench — took notice of a dangerous-looking mole on the back of Hamilton’s neck.
Popovici immediately did what she could to alert Hamilton, pressing her phone up to the glass to deliver a life-saving message: “the mole on the back of your neck is cancer.”
Hamilton subsequently had the Canucks’ team doctors take a look at the mole. They agreed with Popovici’s assessment, deeming it to be cancerous and providing him with the necessary treatment.
The Canucks and Kraken organizations recognized Popovici with free tickets to their game at Rogers Arena on New Years’ Day and a $10,000 scholarship to help her attend medical school. She also received a personalized Canucks jersey from Henrik and Daniel Sedin.
Last week, the National Hockey League announced it had invited Hamilton and Popovici to present the Hart Memorial Trophy at its 2022 awards ceremony. The Hart is voted upon by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and is given annually to the NHL’s most valuable player.
“Brian, when I first showed you that message on my phone, we were just strangers,” Popovici said at the awards ceremony. “Now, it feels like we’re family, and it’s so great to be here together to hand out the biggest award in the sport.”
"I cannot thank this amazing woman enough for saving my life."#Canucks very own, Brian 'Red' Hamilton with his MVP, Nadia Popovici, presenting at the #NHLAwards 👏 pic.twitter.com/unhC2bzxsx
Hamilton and Popovici announced Auston Matthews as the 2022 winner of the Hart Trophy, making him the first Toronto Maple Leafs player to win the award since Ted Kennedy did so in 1955.
Matthews scored 60 goals and 106 points in 73 games with the Leafs in 2021–22. New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin and Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid were also named finalists for the Hart.
Matthews was named a first-team all-star and also received the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s most outstanding player (as determined by the members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association). He became the first Leafs player to win the Lindsay (formerly the Lester B. Pearson Award) since it was first handed out in 1971.
After a disappointing second-round exit to the New York Rangers, the Carolina Hurricanes are looking at an offseason full of questions. One of them has already cropped up in the form of Ethan Bear. Arriving last season in exchange for Warren Foegele, the former Edmonton Oiler was expected to be a solid option on Carolina’s backend. That didn’t exactly happen, and now, the team’s given him permission to speak with others as a pending RFA.
CAR has given RFA Ethan Bear permission to talk to other teams. From what I hear, Hurricanes still wish to sign Bear, but two sides are not close on an agreement. Remember, nothing can happen before July 13 without Carolina approval.
But who exactly is Ethan Bear, and should the Canucks be interested in acquiring his services?
A look at Ethan Bear
Standing at 5’11 and weighing 197 pounds, Bear might not be the biggest defenceman on the market. However, he does have a very important physical attribute: he’s a right-handed shot. For a Vancouver team that’s been needing some solidification on the right side, this alone is already an intriguing proposition.
Bear was drafted in the 5th round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Oilers, appearing in 190 games and putting up 47 points across four seasons so far into his career. The defenceman spent the first three seasons in Edmonton before being dealt to Carolina last summer.
Last season was not easy for Bear. He started the year off in the top four with Jaccob Slavin, putting up 6 points in 16 games and averaging 18 minutes of ice time. However, Bear tested positive for COVID-19 on November 22nd, putting him out of commission for a week. He never really looked the same when he returned, losing his spot in the lineup by season’s end and being scratched during the playoffs.
As Bear got dropped down to the third pair, his shot suppression unfortunately went with it. Just take a look at the heat map comparing his 2021-22 season with the season before.
Ethan Bear’s defensive heat map from @HockeyViz looks frightful after this season but he was outstanding defensively the season before. I’d be willing to take a chance on him getting back to his previous form. pic.twitter.com/gLqoK1riEb
That being said, most of that ugly red is on the left side of the ice, suggesting that his partner wasn’t exactly holding up their end of the bargain. In fact, some underlying numbers point to Bear as being one of the more effective defencemen on the Canes roster. He posted a 56.4 CF%, putting him second on the team among defencemen who played more than 50 games, as well as leading in the least giveaways. Ironic, considering that he’s best remembered for a giveaway that allowed the Jets to even up game 4 in the 2021 playoffs.
Something that jumps off the screen when watching the tape on Bear is his skating. While he’s no Quinn Hughes, Bear is quick and constantly keeps his feet moving, allowing him to walk the line and stay with attackers in the defensive zone. His tenaciousness and ability to keep forwards to the outside, forcing them into the boards and coming up with the puck is downright impressive. He isn’t afraid to play physically even if he isn’t the biggest player on the ice. Couple that with a quick stick and good defensive instincts, Bear can make a positive impact on the back end.
Small complimation of Ethan Bear's play over the past few games
Note how a lot of them are against players on the 1st line like Schiefele, Gaudreau and Connor, and also note how he's doing this with little time with the top 6. #LetsGoOilerspic.twitter.com/dkb7L3TW9X
He also has untapped offensive potential. Yes, 47 points in 190 NHL contests isn’t the most impressive, but Bear’s demonstrated that he has a great shot. During his time with the Oilers, he was able to exploit the weak side of the ice with an excellent wrister or slapper whenever given the chance. Bear’s head is constantly on a swivel, pinching at opportune times to make life uncomfortable for the defence.
Bear also has the potential to be a fan favourite. He’s been a role model for Indigenous communities all across Canada, overcoming systemic barriers with his patented work ethic. UNINTERRUPTED produced an excellent short video about Bear’s struggles, which can be watched here.
It’s important to take last season in context with his career. Bear showed that he could handle himself in heavy minutes. In his rookie season of 2019-20, Bear played the third-most minutes amongst Edmonton defencemen, averaging 21:58 TOI a game. This came with matchups against top lines from opposing teams, playing against the best that they had to offer.
The improvement he’s shown year after year is encouraging, even if the offensive totals aren’t exactly there. The advanced analytics show that his CF%, xGF%, GF% and SCF% are all at or above 50, meaning that Bear’s controlling the play in a positive manner when on ice. It also should be noted that Carolina’s systems result in their players being analytic darlings, but the eye test matches with what it shows in the case of Bear.
Ethan Bear has been given permission by CAR to speak to other teams about a new RFA contract.
Results were okay in a depth spot but he had better two-way results in a bigger role in EDM. Easy to forget he played some of the biggest minutes in the NHL in 19-20. #LetsGoCanespic.twitter.com/AtewopucMt
This begs the question, why would Carolina let Bear talk with other teams if he’s shown himself to be a potential top-4 option? It’s a combination of his qualifying offer and his fit with the Canes. Bear’s QO is set at $2 million, which isn’t much, but the Hurricanes also have 10 players to sign with around 19 million in cap space. That includes the likes of Martin Necas, Max Domi, and Tony DeAngelo, not to mention any improvements they would want to make on the roster.
There’s also been a reported gap in Bear’s valuation of himself and the team. It makes sense, with Carolina deeming him healthy scratch material, while he’s shown that he can fit in a team’s top four. This could also be a result of his fit in the Carolina system, just not being the right type of defender for the team.
So, should the Canucks be interested?
They absolutely should be in the mix. Bear is still young, at 24 years old there’s still plenty of development to be had. He’s a right-handed defenceman that’s capable of playing in the top 4 and has shown himself to be a good, responsible defender with offensive upside. He’s a buy-low candidate that could prove to pay dividends really soon.
Evolving Hockey projects Bear’s next contract to be at around $2.8 million. It’s good value for what a team will get from him. If the Canucks decide to offer sheet him at or around that price, a second-round pick will be given up in compensation. Only 35% of second-round picks have gone on to play more than 100 NHL games historically, so there is something to be said about giving up a lottery ticket.
Otherwise, a trade could be within the realm of possibility. Consideration has to be paid to Carolina’s cap situation and the players that have and want to resign. It’ll be a juggling act to balance that and the Canes want for a win-now piece, especially after these past playoffs.
At the end of the day, I think the Canucks should absolutely be interested in getting Ethan Bear. He’s demonstrated that he can be a decent top 4 option and has room for improvement. A young, cap-friendly right-handed defenceman is a rare commodity in the NHL, and Vancouver could benefit greatly from having cap space to play with.
And who knows? Bear could end up being the perfect fit alongside one of the many talented LHD in the Canucks lineup.
