Wake With Elias: Is Jay Beagle’s NHL career in Jeopardy?

First, let’s start with a sliver of good news.

It took more than a week for this to finally happen, but hopefully this is a sign that the Canucks are on the mend.

Now, one of the only Canucks who isn’t in COVID-19 protocol is Jay Beagle.

However, according to recent reports, Beagle could be out of the lineup longer than any Canuck who recently contracted the novel coronavirus.

Rick Dhaliwal gave a report on Beagle earlier this week, saying that his injury “sounds like a very long-term thing.”

Sportsnet’s Randip Janda echoed the same sentiment by saying “I wouldn’t be surprised if this stretches on from this year into next.”

Beagle has been on LTIR retroactive to March 31st. By all accounts it sounds like he’s done for the season.

If this is the end for Beagle, he’ll go down with one of the better “rags to riches” stories in NHL history. An undrafted forward who hadn’t played above the ECHL by the age of 22, Beagle went on to play over 600 NHL games, winning the Cup with Washington in 2018.

If he were to end up on LTIR for the 2021-22 season, this would open up an additional $3 million in cap space. By some of the estimates I made a couple weeks ago, this would give the Canucks around $11 million in cap space next season (in an optimistic scenario) , after Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and a couple of depth players sign.

By that estimation, the Canucks would have $11 million to fill 5-6 roster slots.

No word yet on what exactly Beagle’s injury is. He is owed $1 million in actual salary by the Canucks next season.

• In other Canucks news, there’s more information on how the outbreak started. [Sportsnet]
• Also, experts question the Canucks’ ability to finish their season. [CBC]
• By the way, if the Canucks do actually come back from this to finish the season, y’all better be cheering your hardest. Kyle Bhawan and I touch on that, the entire COVID situation, and the future of orgies on the latest episode of the Silky N’ Filthy Podcast. [Nucks Misconduct Podcasts]

NHL News

• From “a lost soul” to franchise-record holder, Jack Campbell’s ascension in Toronto has been remarkable. [CBC]

Campbell and the Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens last night. It was Campbell’s 10th straight win, which is a Leafs’ franchise record.

• This isn’t the first broken player the Maple Leafs have taken in this season. This one is behind a paywall, but it offers good insight into what went wrong for Alex Galchenuk, and what the Leafs have done to try and resurrect his career. [The Athletic]
• With the NHL basically carrying on without Vancouver, I thought I’d tune the Avalanche and the Wild game last night. Apparently, I’m Colorado’s kryptonite...

After going 19 games without a regulation loss, the Avs got lambasted 8-3 by Minnesota. The score wasn’t necessarily reflective of the game (Grubauer let in six goals on 14 shots by the third period, and the Avs dominated the second period). However, this further cemented Kirill Kaprizov’s Calder Trophy case. [Hockey Wilderness]

• In other neat news, the Avs now have three players from Nova Scotia on their roster. Unfortunately, one of them also has the nickname “Big Tuna.” [CBC]

Sorry, Jake Virtanen.

• Finally, the New York Islanders continue to be all-in under Barry Trotz and Lou Lamorello. They acquired Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.