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The 11th hour is approaching for several notable NHL rookies who are at -- or nearing -- the nine-game limit that forces teams to decide whether or not they want to keep them for the remainder of the season and lose a year off their entry-level contract. Its called the Slide Rule, and it will come into play over the course of the next few days. Every season, whether its out of financial nece sity or roster limitations, you can always count on several dozen neophytes on ELCs to make opening night rosters out of training camp, or soon thereafter. This season, 15 of the 19 teenagers who played at least one NHL game are eligible for a contract slide and remain on their respective rosters. The question is for how much longer? The Slide Rule affords NHL general managers the opportunity to see their notable prospects between the ages of 18 and 19 in an NHL uniform for up to nine games without burning a year off of the players entry-level contract (ELC), which can be no more than three years and $925,000 per season. Keeping younger players on ELCs on an active NHL roster is an enticing alternative for a GM for a variety of reasons. For starters, Ricky Person Jr. Jersey they give coaches the flexibility to replace an injured or slumping veteran with a quicker, more exuberant option. Additionally, kids on entry-level deals who contribute on the ice put the onus on older, more expensive roster players to earn their own ice time and justify their richer contract. The most important advantage of an ELC, however, is the ability of a GM to return that player to junior hockey or send them to the minor leagues without losing a full year off the contract as long as said player has not played in more than nine NHL games. It also is po sible for a GM to slide a teenagers contract before 10 games in consecutive seasons as long as the player doesnt turn 20 before January 1st. Below is a breakdown of current NHL rookies who will force their team to decide whether or not to keep them beyond the nine-game limit ( stick tap to CapFriendly.com and NaturalStatTrick.com for the data ): KEEPERS PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Maxime Comtois LW 19 ANA 2nd/2017 9 Comtois has earned the right to stay and then some. With seven even-strength points (2g, 5a) in nine games, Comtois has proven to hold considerable value to a Ducks team that began the season with injuries up and down their lineup. Hes proven to be a reliable two-way player and has been able to produce during five-on-five play without the benefit of favorable offensive zone starts. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Rasmus Dahlin D 18 BUF 1st/2018 9 The most hyped defenseman to come out of the draft in over 40 years, Dahlins poise and confidence helped stabilize a Buffalo defense corps thats been below average for quite some time. The Sabres won five of their first nine Lance Boykin Jersey games for the first time in seven seasons, and this young Swede is a big reason why. Hes recorded three points (1g, 2a) in his last six games. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Andrei Svechnikov RW 18 CAR 1st/2018 9 Carolina has one of the leagues most potent attacks in this early season, and part of that is because they are getting dominant play from their depth lines. Svechnikov (2g, 2a) may be only 34th in rookie TOI (13:08 per game), but hes tied for third with 7.54 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at even strength. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Brady Tkachuk (INJ) LW 18 OTT 1st/2018 4 Tkachuk roared into his first NHL season with six points (3g, 3a) in his first four games before being sidelined with a torn ligament in his leg, so any official decision regarding his future has been placed on hold. Theres no doubt the Senators view him as a critical piece to their rebuild, and the excitement he generated in such a short period of time should mean a full remainder of the season with the big club. PLAYER Quinton Jefferson Jersey POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Filip Chytil C 19 NYR 1st/2017 8 The Rangers clearly are in rebuild mode, so it makes sense to keep Chytil (0g, 2a), who not only plays a variety of roles, but also is tied for the best Goals For % relative to his teammates (+24.29) among forwards. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Henri Jokiharju D 19 CHI 1st/2017 8 Jokiharju cooled off after a hot start that saw him register five a sists all at even strength -- in his first three games. But he still plays over 21 minutes a night for a Blackhawks squad that relies on his speed and puck moving from the back end. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Juuso Vlimki D 19 CGY 1st/2017 8 Valimaki (1g, 0a) is a dependable bottom-pairing defender, and his advanced numbers relative to his teammates put him more in the middle than towards the bottom. He likes to shoot the puck, but needs to find a way to get more looks -- especially when almost 80 percent of his zone starts are in the offensive zone. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Miro Heiskanen D 19 DAL 1st/2017 7 The Stars have struggled since a 3-1-0 start, so its expected that a rookie defenseman playing almost 21 minutes a night is going to feel it in the stat sheet. Heiskanen, who has two a sists in seven games, was an elite top-pairing defender Jarran Reed Jersey playing against grown men in Finland each of the last two seasons, so its doubtful the AHL will do anything for his development. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Jesperi Kotkaniemi C 18 MTL 1st/2018 7 The resurgent Canadiens use Kotkaniemi in all situations, and his experience playing against men last year seems to have made his transition to the NHL a seamle s one. Hes recorded a respectable three a sists in seven games, and most of his advanced numbers lean towards the positive at even strength. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Evan Bouchard D 18 EMD 1st/2018 5 Edmontons power play thus far (27.8%) rebounded in a big way after being 31st a season ago, but this future quarterback has had little to do with it. Yes, Bouchard can move the puck and owns a cannon for a shot, but for now he seems comfortable as a bottom-pairing defender. Hes already played three full OHL seasons and isnt old enough to go to the AHL, so it makes sense to groom Bouchard in the NHL over anywhere else. He leads all Edmonton blueliners with 2.95 individual scoring chances per 60 minutes. PACK YOUR BAGS PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Michael Rasmu sen C 19 DET 1st/2017 8 Rasmu sens strong training camp has yet to translate to the NHL, where hes recorded one a sist in five games and isnt generating any offense for himself or his linemates. The game appears to be too quick for the towering two-way center, and its odd the Red Wings didnt attempt to use him on the penalty kill. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Isac Lundestrm C 18 ANA 1st/2018 7 The rash of injuries to the likes of Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Adam Henrique opened the door for this two-way Swedish forward to make an immediate impre sion only months after being drafted in the first round. Did Lundestrom (0g, 1a) do enough to prove he can hang with the big boys? Absolutely. But the numbers game likely puts him on a plane back to Sweden or straight to the AHL. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Kailer Yamamoto RW 19 EDM 1st/2017 6 Yamamoto (1g, 0a) is a dynamic player whom the Oilers are using in all situations, including spending some time with both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Unlike most teenage forwards, Yamamoto spent the majority of his time starting in the defensive end, which impacts his ability to get his lethal shot to bear. He has a few more games to find a way to create more offense, but a trip to the minor leagues wouldnt be the worst thing for his development. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Robert Thomas C 19 STL 1st/2017 5 Thomas (0g, 1a) barely plays in a lineup built to not only return to the playoffs, but challenge for a Stanley Cup. He has one a sist in five games, and the 8:57 a game he Devon Witherspoon Jersey averages is 67th among the 75 rookies who have played this season. You could make a case to keep him only if he was able to generate offense, even during limited time. PLAYER POS AGE TEAM Draft GP Alex Formenton LW 19 OTT 2nd/2017 4 This speedy winger was temporarily knocked out of action with a concu sion, and Ottawa has won all three games with him out of the lineup. Obviously just a coincidence, but signs point to the Senators using the slide rule on Formenton (0 points in 4 gp) for the second straight season. Hes only played in four games so he could be sticking around for a little while longer. |
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