Dubnyk’s resurgence a headline story
Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk highly appreciates the best season of his career because it followed a summer of great discontent. The 27-year-old was forced into some serious soul-searching at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 campaign after being moved from the Edmonton Oilers to the Nashville Predators and finally to the Montreal Canadiens, who opted not to bring him back. In the course of one year he went from being the No. 1 goalie in Edmonton to being a minor leaguer. Five years in the NHL meant nothing at the start of last summer (2014), when Dubnyk found himself without a job. It’s amazing that he re-emerged as the leader of a 2014-2015 Wild team that climbed from the back of the pack all the way into a playoff spot.
After joining Minnesota in a deal with the Arizona Coyotes on January 14, Dubnyk posted an unbelievable 27-9-2 record with an incredible 1.78 goals-against-average, .936 save percentage and five shutouts in 39 games. These were some of the best goalie stats in the entire NHL over that period.
He gave his team a chance to compete every night, energizing his teammates with the desire to take their collective game to the next level. Four places and eight points out of a playoff spot (12th in the conference) when acquiring Dubnyk, the Wild finished as the Western Conference’s seventh seed and got as far as the second round of the Western Conference playoffs before being eliminated by powerhouse Chicago. The new goalkeeper had a huge impact on the ice with the other players.
Ranking 29th in the league with a save percentage below .900, it was clear Wild GM Chuck Fletcher needed to do something to give his team a chance to climb back into contention. The club’s goaltending had been decimated by injuries for two seasons. The options were limited, as not too many teams look to move a goaltender three months into a season.
He found a willing trading partner in the Coyotes, who were looking to give Mike Smith the opportunity to rediscover his crease magic. The team’s No.1 struggled early, opening the door for Dubnyk to see some action in net. He impressed, but Arizona wanted Smith to play all of the time. Minnesota Wild goaltending coach Bob Mason had recommended a look at Dubnyk a year earlier when Wild goalies were falling like flies. Playing in the Western Conference made him more familiar.
Dubnyk’s goal heading into 2014-2015 was to create an opportunity for the future, perhaps a year or two down the road. To get the chance in Minnesota halfway through the same season was totally unexpected.
Since the trade, all he did was play the best hockey of his young career. In one five-game span in late January, he stopped 130 of 133 shots he faced, a phenomenal .977 save percentage. After nine shutouts in his first 192 NHL games, he had five shutouts in his first 16 games with the Wild.
The team’s confidence level spiked dramatically upward since the Ukrainian claimed the starting netminder’s job. Wild skaters entered every game knowing they were going to win the game.
Dubnyk is grateful that the Coyotes gave him a chance after Montreal sent him to the AHL at the end of 2013-2014. He wasn’t sure there would be a spot for him in the NHL with only 60 goaltending jobs in the league. What he thought was a good fit in Arizona was trumped by the even more perfect fit in Minnesota where he played like a superstar. And the Wild followed his lead by playing their best hockey alongside their reinvigorated new goalie.
Best of all, Dubnyk is an unrestricted free agent, free to negotiate a new contract with any team in the league. Minnesota got first crack at this suddenly hot talent, one who is certain to ink a several-year contract for more dollars than he ever could have imagined.
Dubnyk Deal: June 27 saw the Minnesota Wild agree to terms with goaltender Devan Dubnyk on a six-year, $25 million contract. The annual average value of the deal is $4.166 million and there is a limited no-trade clause for part of the contract. It was clear Dubnyk preferred to remain in Minnesota and the club was quite adamant in retaining his services.
Dubnyk was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and at 29 is entering the prime of his career. Both he and the Wild believe he’s at the stage of his career where he’s ready to take off. If the latter part of the 2014-2015 season is any indication, Dubnyk has already experienced liftoff.
Isles reward Boychuk with mega deal
The New York Islanders signed defenseman Johnny Boychuk to a seven-year, $42 million contract extension in mid-March of 2015. Boychuk was second among Islanders defensemen in points (35), assists (26) and plus/minus rating (+14) during the 2014-2015 season. The Edmonton native established career highs in goals (9), assists and points in his first season with the Isles and ninth professional campaign.
“Johnny’s influence in our dressing room, both on and off the ice, has been immeasurable,” Islanders GM Garth Snow said in announcing the contract extension. “His veteran presence is an asset that we are thrilled to help lead our club.”
What a difference four years make. In 2011, GM Snow made what he thought was a bold move: trading for the rights to free-agent defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, hoping the veteran would sign with the Islanders and be the foundation of their blue line. The club offered a big money deal, Ehrhoff rejected it, was traded to the Buffalo Sabres where he signed a 10-year deal.
So Snow realized the best way to attract a pending unrestricted free agent was to acquire one, then indoctrinate him into the franchise and its culture.
In acquiring Boychuk from the Boston Bruins and Nick Leddy from the Chicago Blackhawks, Snow was lucky. The two contenders didn’t have the salary cap space to keep either player. Both would have been free agents this summer (2015) and the Islanders grabbed them without a second thought. They were one of the top defensive pairings in the league in 2014-2015.
Now Snow had two players familiar with the organization and with each other. He had two players who knew what he was building and that it was getting results as the Islanders challenged for a division title. He even had two players who knew, long term, the team would be moving into new “digs” in Brooklyn for 2015-2016.
The result was the signing of Leddy for seven years and $38.5 million and Boychuk for seven years and $42 million, including an annual cap hit of $11 million for the club’s top defensive pairing. Not too bad.
In Boychuk’s case, it is likely the Islanders traded for average salary, a smart move. Several young Islander forwards will be due for new deals in the next few years. As success arrives for the Islanders, so will an inflated payroll.
But success is arriving for the Islanders due in large part to Johnny Boychuk. Boston’s loss was Long Island’s gain. He’s already become a cornerstone for what Snow has built and is building with this franchise.
Ukrainian utterings: The Devils were dissapointing in 2014-2015 with captain Bryce Salvador (15 games) missing most of the campaign due to injury and Travis Zajac (25 points in 74 games) a victim of no talented wingers on his forward line. Salvador’s NHL career may be coming to an end…On the flipside, Jordin Tootoo was a pleasant surprise in New Jersey, his comeback performance definitely deserving of another contract. He was his old self, pitching in a few goals (10) while playing his punishing style of physical hockey…Disappointing doesn’t even describe Toronto’s season as Joffrey Lupul (55 games) was one of many Leafs to miss significant time because of physical ailments…Daniel Winnik was a most welcome addition to Pittsburgh’s playoff push, chipping in with 9 points in his 21 games as a Penguin. Known throughout his career as a third-line grinder, he’s made himself a more valuable commodity thanks to his occasional offensive production…Zach Boychuk failed another audition with Carolina, Matt Halischuk skated the entire year in Winnipeg and Mark Pysyk should start 2015-2016 as a top-six defenseman in Buffalo…
Ihor Stelmach may be reached at [email protected]