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USA Hockey Announces Preliminary WJC Roster

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USA Hockey has followed several other countries in announcing their preliminary roster for the upcoming World Junior tournament. The team will compete for spots at a training camp in Plymouth, Michigan later this month, where a 23-man roster will be selected.

The full camp roster:

Goaltenders:

Spencer Knight (FLA)
Isaiah Saville (VGK)
Dustin Wolf (CGY)

Defensemen:

Ty Emberson (ARI)
Jordan Harris (MTL)
Ryan Johnson (BUF)
Zac Jones (NYR)
Christian Krygier (NYI)
K’Andre Miller (NYR)
Alec Regula (CHI)
Mattias Samuelsson (BUF)
Spencer Stastney (NSH)
Cam York (PHI)

Forwards:

John Beecher (BOS)
Bobby Brink (PHI)
Cole Caufield (MTL)
Jack Drury (CAR)
Parker Ford (2020 eligible)
Jon Gruden (OTT)
Curtis Hall (BOS)
Trevor Janicke (ANA)
Arthur Kaliyev (LAK)
Robert Mastrosimone (DET)
Shane Pinto (OTT)
Jacob Pivonka (NYI)
Nick Robertson (TOR)
Alex Turcotte (LAK)
Trevor Zegras (ANA)

Submit Your Questions For The #PHRMailbag

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As December rolls along and we get closer to the NHL Christmas break, teams are starting to realize just what they are. Some are accepting their fate as a team outside of the playoff picture, making names pop up in trade speculation all over the league. Others know that they have a squad good enough to compete, but might want a little addition for the stretch run.

With that in mind, it’s time to run another edition of our mailbag. You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. Make sure you get your questions in early and we’ll try to get through as many as possible when the mailbag runs on the weekend.

If you missed our last edition it was split into two parts which you can read here and here. In the first, Brian tackled questions about the San Jose Sharks’ slow start, the Toronto Maple Leafs backup goaltending situation, and the Boston Bruins’ secondary scoring depth. The second part looked at the future for Kyle Turris, Ilya Kovalchuk and Henrik Lundqvist.

Snapshots: Three Stars, Lemieux, Makar

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The NHL has released their Three Stars of last week and the presumptive Norris favorite is at the top. John Carlson gets the honor after a six-point week with two game-winning goals, taking him to an incredible 43 points in 31 games this season. Carlson is on pace for 113 points this season, something only Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr have done as defensemen.

Second and third place go to Tristan Jarry and Jack Eichel, two more Eastern Conference players just coming into their own. Jarry was picked over Casey DeSmith as the Pittsburgh Penguins backup at the beginning of the season and has been exceptional. Eichel meanwhile has improved his offensive production for the fifth season in a row and now sits at 42 points through 31 games. The Buffalo Sabres captain may be overlooked at times due to team success, but is one of the most explosive scorers in the entire league.

  • Brendan Lemieux has been fined $2,000 for his elbow on Cody Glass over the weekend. Lemieux tried to hit Glass in the corner and ended up contacting him in the head with his elbow when the two spun away from each other. While not a suspension, the fine will impact any future Department of Player Safety decisions in Lemieux’s career.
  • Cale Makar was missing at Colorado Avalanche practice today, but it sounds like he avoided major injury. The team listed him as day-to-day after he was injured on a hit from Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand. Makar has been an incredible story this season as a rookie and seems to be running away with the Calder Trophy.

Boston Bruins Waive Steven Kampfer

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Monday: Kampfer and T.J. Tynan, who was also placed on waivers, have cleared according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Both can now be sent to the minor leagues.

Sunday: In an inevitable move, the Boston Bruins have announced today that veteran defenseman Steven Kampfer has been placed on waivers. The team hopes that he will clear waivers and can be reassigned to AHL Providence, but the team is taking a risk by exposing the ten-year pro. Kampfer has been held scoreless in four games so far this year, but recorded six points in 35 games with Boston last year and added another point in three playoff games.

The decision to waive Kampfer was inevitable not due to his play, but due to the roster crunch in Boston. Kampfer, who began his career with the Bruins back in 2010, returned to the team before last season as part of the return from the New York Rangers in exchange for Adam McQuaid. Kampfer was seen by many as a throw-in, but ended up playing a crucial role in 2018-19. Beginning the year as the team’s eighth defenseman, Kampfer was the only one of that eight who did not miss time due to injury in a season that featured 12 different defensemen for Boston. Kampfer was also the only one of those 12 who was not under team control beyond the end of the year. That changed in June, when the Bruins first move after the Stanley Cup Final was to re-sign Kampfer to a two-year, $1.6MM deal. The length and non-minimum value of the deal was a nice reward and promise of commitment for Kampfer’s hard work that season.

However, the contract was likely also created with impending waiver exposure in mind. The Bruins knew that with seven bona fide NHL defenders under contract – Zdeno Chara, Torey Krug, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, John Moore, Matt Grzelcyk, and Kevan Miller – and the emergence of Connor Clifton as an NHL option, the odds that Kampfer could stick on the NHL roster all year was slim. They hoped that the extended term or slightly higher cap hit could dissuade teams from claiming Kampfer to serve in that same valuable depth role. Last week, when Clifton lost his waiver exemption and Moore returned from injury, it became clear that this theory would soon be tested.

With Miller still working toward a return to health, top defensive prospect Urho Vaakanainen playing well in a recent NHL stint, and veteran Alexander Petrovic excelling in Providence, the Bruins could survive the loss of Kampfer if he was to be claimed. However, the team could potentially need him more next year, after the likely free agent departures of Miller and Petrovic and possible retirement of Chara. Kampfer’s hard-working style and defensive awareness paired with considerable experience makes him a valuable asset, even if he is not getting regular ice time. For that reason, more than a few teams will entertain making a claim, especially contenders with depth concerns on the blue line. The Bruins can only hope that the other 30 teams decide he is not worthy of an NHL roster spot, even though the defending Eastern Conference champs proved otherwise last year.

Joe Veleno To Play For Team Canada

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The Detroit Red Wings have decided that minor league forward Joe Veleno will be allowed to play for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior tournament. Hockey Canada announced that Veleno will join the team in the Czech Republic for the preparation camp later this month. The rest of the roster will be determined at a selection camp that opens today in Oakville, Ontario.

Veleno’s addition should make a real difference on a Canadian team that might not be considered the favorites this time around. Though there is obviously a ton of talent on the squad, including speculative 2020 first-overall pick and reigning CHL Player of the Year Alexis Lafreniere, questions remain about the group’s depth on defense and in net.

The Red Wings prospect obviously can’t help those positions directly, but his excellent two-way play and experience should raise the Canadians to another level. Not only did Veleno play on last year’s edition of the squad, he now has 25 games of AHL experience despite being just 19.

Being the first QMJHL player granted exceptional status, Veleno already had four full years of CHL experience under his belt when this season started and thus was eligible to play in the AHL before his 20th birthday. While he only has nine points in those 25 games, there is no doubt he is developing at a quicker rate than if he had returned to junior hockey.

Madison Bowey Placed On Waivers

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The Detroit Red Wings have placed Madison Bowey on waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. He is expected to be sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins should he clear tomorrow.

Bowey, 24, was the player the Red Wings acquired along with a second-round pick in exchange for Nick Jensen last season. Though obviously the pick was important to the rebuilding franchise, Bowey too was expected to handle an increased role with the Red Wings and perhaps be a core player to build around. Instead, he has been an adventure in his own end this year and is now available for the entire league.

Through 22 games Bowey does have eight points, but has been destroyed (like many other Red Wings players) in the defensive end. He is scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the year but currently carries a $1MM cap hit, which could end up saving him from claim. Even if he does make it through however, there is a real chance the Red Wings wouldn’t extend him a qualifying offer at the end of the season, given it would have to be equal to that $1MM salary (at the NHL level).

Travis Konecny Out Indefinitely With Concussion

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The Philadelphia Flyers explained a few absences from practice today, but the most significant one was easily Travis Konecny. The young forward will be out indefinitely with a concussion, likely suffered on the huge hit he took from Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki over the weekend.

Losing Konecny is a huge blow to the Flyers’ offensive attack, given the new level he seemed to have found this season. The 22-year old forward has 11 goals and 28 points in 30 games, leading Philadelphia in both categories for the season. That offense was achieved at both even-strength and on the powerplay, spots where someone else will have to step up in his absence.

The Flyers have actually been a pleasant surprise this season in the Metropolitan Division, currently sitting in third place with a 17-8-5 record. Though it will be tough to hold off the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes without their best offensive piece, Philadelphia’s future looks extremely bright. Not only is Konecny still a very young player, but new teammates like Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost look like they will be contributors for a long time.

Andrew Shaw Placed On Long-Term Injured Reserve

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The Chicago Blackhawks have decided to place Andrew Shaw on long-term injured reserve, retroactive to November 30th. Shaw is out with a concussion and his new designation means he will be out at least until the Christmas break. With the added roster space, the team has recalled Adam Boqvist and Matthew Highmore from the minor leagues.

Shaw, 28, has dealt with several neck and head injuries in the past, even going into devastating detail of his symptoms with Eric Engels of Sportsnet in 2017. At that point Shaw was trying to help expose the danger involved in the “tough” attitude of playing through brain injuries, but more than two years later it stands as a troubling reminder of how he has suffered in the past.

The Blackhawks will obviously have to take it slow with Shaw’s recovery, but hopefully this time he has the support and knowledge to help him through the symptoms. For now, the team will have to move on without him in the lineup.

Boqvist’s recall is a positive move, but it will bring up several questions. If the 19-year old plays in another four games in the NHL his entry-level contract will kick in for 2019-20, burning the first season. This also likely means he won’t be released for the World Juniors, a tournament he is still eligible for despite playing professional hockey this season. Camps for that tournament are opening this week, though the flashy defenseman would probably be welcomed into Sweden’s group without going through the regular selection process.

Minor Transactions: 12/09/19

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A new week begins in the NHL with four games on the schedule, including the NHL’s two hottest teams. The Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche are both on six-game winning streaks and will welcome in the Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames respectively. As teams prepare for that action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled Cory Conacher again, but this time he’s coming with another teammate. Mitchell Stephens has been recalled as well and could make his NHL debut tonight after taking part in the morning skate. Tyler Johnson was absent according to Joe Smith of The Athletic, leaving an opening for the young forward.
  • Marcus Hogberg is back for the Ottawa Senators, while Craig Anderson is heading back to the injured reserve list. Anderson suffered a lower-body injury over the weekend when taking on the Philadelphia Flyers, meaning Anders Nilsson will take over the starting duties once again in Ottawa.
  • Jordan Kyrou has recovered fully and is on his way back to the St. Louis Blues. He and Austin Poganski have both been recalled by the club, giving them a little more forward depth while they continue to deal with major injuries.
  • Michael Dipietro has been returned to the minor leagues by the Vancouver Canucks, meaning Jacob Markstrom is back with the team. Markstrom had been granted a leave of absence to attend the memorial service of his late father.
  • The Avalanche are dealing with a few minor injuries, leading to the recall of goaltender Adam Werner from the AHL. Philipp Grubauer has been listed as day-to-day, but with Colorado taking on the Flames tonight they needed someone to backup Pavel Francouz.
  • Caleb Jones is getting another chance at the NHL level, recalled by the Edmonton Oilers today. The team has sent Joel Persson to the AHL in his place. Jones, 22, has played in nine games for the Oilers this season.
  • Nico Sturm has been returned to the minor leagues by the Minnesota Wild, after being recalled just a few days ago. Sturm is still waiting to make his NHL debut after signing with the team in the summer.

Five Key Stories: 12/2/19 – 12/8/19

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The first full week of December is in the books and there were a few newsworthy events across the hockey world which are highlighted in the top stories of the week.

New Arena Deal For Calgary: After several years of ups and downs in negotiations, the Flames have a ratified agreement in place for a new arena in Calgary.  The project will cost roughly $565MM to complete with $290MM of that being publicly funded.  Although the financial arrangement is in place, the design still has to be done which has resulted in a rough timeline to begin construction in the fall of 2021 so it will be a while before the team will be finished at the Saddledome.

Stephenson To Vegas: With Carl Hagelin set to return off LTIR, the Capitals were once again about to face a cap crunch.  Rather than shuffle a few pieces on their roster back and forth, they opted instead to trade center Chandler Stephenson to Vegas in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick.  While Stephenson’s $1.05MM salary isn’t particularly high, it was a premium that Washington simply couldn’t afford.  The 25-year-old made quite the impression with the Golden Knights as he scored in his first game with his new team.

Coaching Change In New Jersey: The Devils were a popular pick to be a big factor in the Metropolitan Division this season but instead, they’ve underachieved considerably.  As a result, GM Ray Shero decided to make a change behind the bench as he fired head coach John Hynes.  Assistant Alain Nasreddine has taken over on an interim basis.  The team went just 9-13-4 under Hynes this season and they haven’t fared much better with their new bench boss just yet as they’ve yet to win in three games since the change.  Hynes’ tenure wraps up with a 150-159-45 record over parts of five seasons.  Former Florida and Toronto head coach Peter Horachek has moved from a scouting role to serve as an assistant on Nasreddine’s staff.

Another Pittsburgh Injury: To say that the Penguins have been hit hard by the injury bug this season would be quite the understatement.  Their lengthy list of injuries has grown as winger Patric Hornqvist will be out longer-term with a lower-body injury less than two weeks after missing time with a different lower-body issue.  Despite missing several key players, Pittsburgh hasn’t missed a beat as they’re one of the top scoring teams in the league.

Stajan Retires: Veteran center Matt Stajan has decided to call it a career at the age of 35.  The 2002 second-round pick carved out a lengthy career for himself, reaching the 1,000 games played mark in his final NHL season back in 2017-18.  Stajan only played for two NHL organizations throughout his career which spanned parts of 15 seasons.  He was with Toronto from 2003 to 2010 before being sent to Calgary in a midseason deal where he spent parts of nine seasons.  He suited up last season with EHC Munich in the German DEL but wasn’t able to attract any NHL interest last summer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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