UPDATE—Window open for Scrivens to play in AHL if signed
By Cam Charron
11 years ago
The second agreement reached today allows veteran minor-leaguers – those on non-entry two-way contracts – to be passed through waivers before midnight Saturday, when the CBA expires.The “waiver window” had to be created by the league and union, otherwise those players would have been “stuck” at the NHL level and unable to play in the American Hockey League during the lockout. For the Blue Jackets, it affects forwards Cody Bass, Nick Drazenovich, Andrew Joudrey and Ryan Russell, defenseman Nick Holden, and goaltender Curtis McElhinney.
Hey, at least they agree on something now. The only current Maple Leaf this affects will be Ben Scrivens, and that’s only if he’s signed to a deal by the time the lockout hits. Cody Franson, who also doesn’t have a deal, would have to sign a two-way deal, depending on the terms of this agreement.
Scrivens’ long battle with restricted free agency should hopefully end sometime soon. The Toronto Marlies could sign him, but, again, with Scrivens being no longer waiver exempt, that creates chaos when the Leafs try to recall him at the end of the lockout. He’s been working out alongside a handful of other Leafs and Marlies at the MasterCard Centre over the last couple of weeks.
Among the other Leafs you’d hope to see down at Ricoh to get as much competitive hockey as they can. Matt Frattin is still waiver-exempt, as are Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner, and all of them played during the playoffs run of last year. Their status won’t be affected. Korbinian Holzer, despite being signed a one-way this offseason, is still exempt from waivers. His one-way deal is good for his accountant and people who frequent bars with him.
It’s now September 12, so by midnight Saturday, I’m hoping that Scrivens has a one year, two-way contract that permits him to be sent down to the AHL and build up playing time under these rules. No idea where James Reimer will be allowed to go, and you’d like to see him get playing time somewhere.
Above, I mentioned current Maple Leaf. Depending on his feeling, Leo Komarov could play in the AHL under the terms of this agreement, as he’s still on his entry-level deal for another season. You hope he stays in North America past November in event of a lockout, since he’s a player with a style that I think suits a new-look fourth line.
Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that the hockey club has signed goaltender Ben Scrivens to a two-year contract.Scrivens, 26, split the 2011-12 season between the Maple Leafs and the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. The 6-2, 192-pound goaltender played 12 games for the Maple Leafs registering a record of 4-5-2, a 3.13 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. He made his NHL debut, recorded his first win and stopped 38 shots in the Leafs 4-1 victory on November 3 at Columbus.In 39 regular season games with the Marlies, Scrivens compiled a record of 22-15-1, four shutouts, an AHL-best 2.04 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. He was named the AHL’s goaltender of the month for March and was the recipient of the AHL’s Harry Hap Holmes Memorial Award as the goaltender with at least 25 games played on the team that allowed the fewest goals in the regular season. In the Calder Cup playoffs, the Spruce Grove, Alberta native played in all 17 Marlies games and earned a 1.92 goals against average, a .935 save percentage and three shutouts.
No word yet on whether it’s a one-way or two-way deal, but at two years, you have to think there had to be some give on Scrivens’ end. After his play in the playoffs, he probably deserves a raise on the $85K he made last year.
ANOTHER UPDATE—According to various Twitter reports, the first year of the deal is two-way, and the second is a one-way. So we’ll see Scrivens in Toronto this season regardless of a lockout. Excellent news.
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