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Snapshots: Backes, Purcell, Ramo

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When the Boston Bruins take on the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center tonight, it will be quite the homecoming for Bruins forward David Backes. At age 32, Backes is just 35 games into his first season outside of St. Louis after playing his previous 727 games with the Blues. A second-round pick in 2003 out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Backes spent a decade in St. Louis, playing the best part of his career in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. The big forward earned a spot on the team in 2006-07 and never looked back. He became the model of consistency for his teammates, putting in the hard work each and every game and getting the big numbers to go with it. With five 50+ point seasons over the span of ten dominant years, Backes has earned his place all over the Blues’ record books. He’s fifth in games played, sixth in goals, eighth in assists, sixth in points, sixth in +/-, fifth in penalty minutes, and on and on. The Blues captain from 2011 to 2016, Backes left his mark on the St. Louis organization and the city certainly made a life-long impact on him as well. Backes got emotional when the Bruins honored his time in St. Louis when the Blues visited Boston earlier this season, so one can imagine the feelings that will be flowing tonight when he returns home, with his wife and daughter along for the ride as well, watching from the stands they used to sit in for years.

As much as Backes may have fond memories about his time in St. Louis, he is enjoying his new home in Boston and since returning from a concussion, has been playing the best hockey of the season in his first few games back. In fact, St. Louis is likely missing Backes more than vice-versa. Both the Bruins and Blues currently have 47 points on the year, but Boston is positioned well to earn an automatic playoff berth in the weak Atlantic Division, while St. Louis is soundly behind rivals Chicago and Minnesota in the Central Division and are having to fight off Winnipeg, Dallas, and Nashville as well. The Blues have clearly taken a step back in 2016-17, and the team has faced much criticism for letting hard-working, “heart and soul” guys like Backes and Troy Brouwer leave this off-season.  Though Backes has only 21 points so far for Boston, the B’s have greatly benefited from his physical play, offensive instincts, and net-front presence. The Bruins are still searching for the right mix up front and have additionally faced some bad luck early on this year. Once they get things sorted out and get rolling, Backes’ ability will be invaluable to their stretch run, and St. Louis will be yearning for the same contribution from their side.

In other news:

  • Another player missing the good ole days is Los Angeles Kings winger Teddy Purcell. Despite signing an affordable one-year, $1.6MM contract this summer, Purcell cleared waivers in early December and was sent down to the AHL, where he remains buried. Purcell had just two assists in 12 games for the Kings prior to his demotion, but since has 14 points in 12 games with the Ontario Reign. His coach in Ontario, Mike Stothers, has seen this success and was blunt in his evaluation, simply stating that Purcell is “too good for this league”. While he added that “maybe this (AHL stint) is what he needs to get back up to the NHL”, it’s pretty clear that Purcell’s talent is being wasted in the minors. Just last year, Purcell had a 43-point season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, and only in 2011-12 did he have his career-high 65-point campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning. A gifted play-maker and sleek skater, there are surely teams around the NHL who could use his talents. However, with so many squads right up against the salary cap limit, even a measly $1.6MM hit can be problematic. If Purcell is not in the plans of the Kings, expect to hear his name more and more as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches. Los Angeles is willing to move the talented forward and Purcell is eager for another shot, but it’s just a matter of finding a fit, literally.
  • Karri Ramo is hoping to find an NHL gig in the coming months as well. Still an unrestricted free agent, Ramo was unable to find a guaranteed job this summer, settling instead for a minor league tryout deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. However, that went over about as well as his summer job search, as Ramo posted an .880 SV% and 3.80 GAA in three games with the Marlies before putting an end to his PTO. ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun spoke with Ramo’s agent, Todd Diamond, who revealed that Ramo had to have clean-up surgery in the knee that he injured in 2015-16, which could partially explain his poor performance in the AHL. Ramo is expected to be back to 100% by mid-February, just in time for a team who missed out on adding insurance in net in the quiet 2017 trade market to take a gamble on an NHL veteran. However, there are not too many teams looking for goalies as of now, especially with Ramo’s top option, the Maple Leafs, solving their problems by claiming Curtis McElhinney off of waivers earlier today. Ramo may be hard-pressed to find a position in the NHL this season, and may be better off rehabbing and working out in anticipation for next year.

Most Man-Games Missed At Midway Point

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While the headlines follow teams missing multiple major contributors to injury – case in point the resilient 2016-17 Montreal Canadiens, whose injury issues have been well-documented – there’s an argument to be made that losing a greater amount of depth players is in fact more detrimental to a team’s success, even if it doesn’t garner as much attention. ESPN’s Matthew Coller examined the amount of ice time, in man-game minutes, lost this season due to injury and the resulting success or failure of the most injured and most healthy teams. Despite the story line, the Canadiens only rank tenth right now in missed minutes, perhaps providing some explanation to how they have maintained their winning ways despite being banged up. Other teams have not been so lucky.

Of the five most injured teams in the first half of 2016-17, four have drastically underachieved, even though you might not suspect that they have had such bad injury struggles. At the top of the list is the Detroit Red Wings, whose historic playoff streak is in extreme jeopardy as they sit in the basement of the Atlantic Division through 40 games. Two of their season’s biggest bright spots have also been two of their largest injury concerns, as 11 games were missed by leading scorer Thomas Vanek, signed to a one-year “show me” deal this summer, and resurgent goalie Jimmy Howard is on the shelf for the second time already and expected to be out until February. Add in a long, ongoing absence of Darren Helm and off-and-on issues with defenseman Brendan Smith among other injuries, and the Red Wings lead the league with 3,122 minutes missed. Few have pointed to injuries as the main reason for Detroit’s dismal showing, but there’s evidence to express that it may be the primary influence. Backing up the claim are the struggles of the Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, and Winnipeg Jets as well, all of whom have suffered noteworthy injuries, but also an excess of depth injuries as well. These four teams are all performing below what was expected of them in 2016-17, and injuries may be the prime source of blame. Only the Edmonton Oilers have bucked the trend, as they have been able to survive numerous serious injuries to their defenseman and are having their best season in recent memory with the second most man-games missed in the entire league.

Aside from the Washington Capitals (who have been impossibly healthy with just 10 games and about 170 minutes missed) and San Jose Sharks at #1 and #2, two teams who seemingly have not had issues with major injuries in recent years, a lack of man-games missed can certainly make a case as a vital ingredient to the success of overachieving teams this season. Rounding out the top five are the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Carolina Hurricanes, all of whom have lost less than 1,000 minutes to injury and all of whom are surely big surprises thus far in 2016-17. No one could have expected the Blue Jackets to hold the NHL’s best record at this point, nobody guessed that the Senators would be contenders in the Atlantic, and many picked the Hurricanes to be the worst team in the league. Even though Ottawa has seen Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone all miss time and Carolina just got Jordan Staal and Elias Lindholm back from injury, the overall roster-wide health is what has kept these teams afloat. All three rosters could easily be exposed by a string of long-term injuries, but they have been able to make it this far without encountering such loss and it has boosted them to the positions they are currently in.

Many teams have had recent success with top-heavy lineups containing a handful of stars and relative no-names as filler (read: Chicago Blackhawks), and there’s no reason to believe that doesn’t work. However, these injury trends seem to show that missing time as a whole due to injury instead of injuries to individual top players is what can derail a team. A team built with depth in mind can combat the loss of two, three, or four starters, but a top-heavy team can struggle to replace one star, nevertheless multiple full-time contributors. The man-games missed to success correlation is an interesting concept for team builders to follow and understand. It’s a risk-reward scenario, and several teams this season are showing the extremes of success and failure as a function of injury.

Devils Place Greene, Auvitu On Injured Reserve

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It’s a double whammy on defense for the New Jersey Devils today, as they moved veteran Andy Greene and rookie Yohann Auvitu to the injured reserve, ahead of the team’s upcoming four-game road trip. Greene still plans to travel with the team, just in case, while Auvitu will stay behind. When the captain Greene was first diagnosed with an upper body injury, it was thought to just be day-to-day, but when his 350-game active streak was snapped on Friday, there was the impression that it was more serious. Auvitu was then knocked out of the Devils’ game on Saturday with a lower body injury and did not return. Both players missed Monday’s contest, and the team is winless over these past three games. New Jersey may have to do without them for a while longer, but needs to find a way to win even with a depleted defensive corps.

The 34-year-old Greene is an invaluable asset for the Devils. The head of their young blue line group and the unrivaled leader of the locker room, Greene has an important role on the team. A veteran of 680 NHL games, all with New Jersey, Greene has established himself as a smart and reliable two-way defender whose absence is felt whenever he is sidelined. While his age has begun to show this season with some defensive lapses, Greene has still contributed three goals and six assists and leads the team in ice time. The Devils are certainly a better team with the captain in the lineup and will be fortunate if he is able to return during their road trip.

Auvitu was somewhat of an unknown entering 2016-17, a 27-year-old Frenchman signed out of the top Finnish league. Auvitu was not intended to have a large role right away, but due to injury has been pressed into service and has performed well in 25 games thus far. The NHL newcomer has two goals and two assists and plays a sound defensive style for a player unfamiliar to the North American game. Auvitu would have been looked to for increased ice time and responsibility with Greene sidelined, but now appears as if he could be out even longer.

With John Moore still out with a concussion, the result of a vicious hit in a recent match-up, adding Greene and Auvitu to the injury mix puts a lot of pressure on a New Jersey defense that wasn’t deep to begin with. Former Merrimack College defenseman Karl Stollery has been recalled, alongside forward Blake Coleman, to fill the spots surrendered by Greene and Auvitu, and he is likely to see his first action as a Devil since signing with New Jersey this summer. Through 12 games with the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, Stollery has yet to record his first NHL point. However, Stollery had 24 points with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda last season and has nine helpers with the Albany Devils so far in 2016-17, so New Jersey will hope that those puck-moving skills show up if Stollery gets the call. Breakout star Damon Severson will continue to be relied upon for some offensive contribution from the blue line, while veterans Ben Lovejoy and Kyle Quincey protect their own zone. To really make up for the loss of Greene and Auvitu though, the Devils need Stollery, Jon Merrill, Seth Helgeson, and rookie Steve Santini to step up in their absence.

Maple Leafs Claim Curtis McElhinney Off Waivers

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As expected, veteran goaltender Curtis McElhinney did not survive his trip to waivers. When it was reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets’ long-time backup had been replaced by young Anton Forsberg, it was immediately clear that there would be some interest in his services. To no surprise, the goalie-needy Toronto Maple Leafs scooped up the 33-year-old backstop, who will assume the role of backup to Frederik Andersen in Toronto, likely for the remainder of the season.

In nine NHL seasons, spent mostly as a backup for the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, and Columbus Blue Jackets, McElhinney has had his ups and downs. Ironically, 2016-17 has been the journeyman’s best season to date. In seven appearances, McElhinney has a .924 save percentage and 2.39 goals against average, well above his career marks of .905 and 2.96 and career-highs for a season in which he’s played in more than two games. It’s been a nice bounce-back season for Sergei Bobrovsky’s understudy, as McElhinney struggled last season, posting an .890 SV% and 3.31 GAA in 18 games. However, with the NHL’s best record and another remarkable season from Bobrovsky, the Blue Jackets felt they could risk losing McElhinney, despite his return to success, if it meant they could give more ice time to NHL-ready prospects Forsberg and Joonas Korpisalo.

Columbus’ loss is Toronto’s gain, as the upstart Maple Leafs may have found the backup goalie they’ve desperately needed. Their newly-acquired starter Andersen has been solid thus far, but fellow summer acquisition Jhonas Enroth was a bust, posting a dismal .872 SV% and 3.94 GAA in six appearances before losing his job. His replacement, rookie Antoine Bibeau, has been spectacular in his two starts with a .927 SV% and 1.98 GAA, but sitting on the bench for the Leafs is detrimental to the development of the Marlies starter. Toronto’s other 22-year-old, Garret Sparks, has not been given a chance this season after stuggling as the Leafs’ backup in 2015-16. The acquisition of a seasoned veteran like McElhinney, especially when it’s at no cost to the team, is exactly what Toronto needed.

NHL All-Star Rosters Announced

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The NHL has announced the rosters for All-Star weekend, coming up at the end of the month in Los Angeles. For the second year in a row, the league will return to its 3-on-3 tournament format. A team from each division – Atlantic and Metropolitan in the East and Central and Pacific in the West – will field an 11-man roster to take part in the skills competition and tournament. The captains for each team were announced previously, with arguably the three best players in the NHL leading their respective divisions in Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Carey Price, and fan-favorite P.K. Subban heading the Central squad, if healthy. The remainder of the selections are as follows:

Atlantic – F Nikita Kucherov, TB; F Brad Marchand, BOS; F Auston Matthews, TOR; F Frans Nielsen, DET; F Kyle Okposo, BUF; F Vincent Trocheck, FLA; D Victor Hedman, TB; D Erik Karlsson, OTT; D Shea Weber, MTL; G Tuukka Rask, BOS

Metropolitan – F Taylor Hall, NJ; F Evgeni Malkin, PIT; F Alex Ovechkin, WAS; F Wayne Simmonds, PHI; F John Tavares, NYI; D Justin Faulk, CAR; D Seth Jones, CLB; D Ryan McDonagh, NYR; G Sergei Bobrovsky, CLB; G Braden Holtby, WAS

Central – F Patrick Kane, CHI; F Patrik Laine, WPG; F Nathan MacKinnon, COL; F Tyler Seguin, DAL; F Vladimir Tarasenko, STL; F Jonathan Toews, CHI; D Duncan Keith, CHI; D Ryan Suter, MIN; G Corey Crawford, CHI; G Devan Dubnyk, MIN

Pacific – F Jeff Carter, LA; F Johnny Gaudreau, CGY; F Bo Horvat, VAN; F Ryan Kesler, ANA; F Joe Pavelski, SJ; D Brent Burns, SJ; D Drew Doughty, LA; D Cam Fowler, ANA; G Martin Jones, SJ; G Mike Smith, ARI

As is with most All-Star games, the majority of the selections are not surprises. However, while there isn’t quite a John Scott in the 2016-17 group, there are still some names that stand out from the crowd. Rookies Matthews and Laine, although subject to much fanfare as they’ve enjoyed excellent NHL starts, still jump out as being All-Stars in their first pro seasons. With each team required to have a representative, Vancouver’s Horvat and Florida’s Trocheck pop as guys who aren’t quite superstars yet, but are deserving as standout performers on their respective teams. Another interesting story line, though likely more sickening for fans of the struggling franchise, is that the New York Islanders have just one player headed to L.A. in Tavares, but also see 2016 free agent departures Okposo and Nielsen joining him.

Some notable absences, due to tight roster restrictions, include Chicago’s Artemi Panarin (though the Blackhawks are already the only team with four representatives), Boston’s David Pastrnak, Columbus’ Cam Atkinson, Montreal’s Max Pacioretty, Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek, Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen, and Edmonton’s Cam Talbot. However, all things considered the rosters seem fair and balanced and All-Star weekend is shaping up to be the great event it always is.

 

Minor Transactions: 1/10/17

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In the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to shake up their roster. After sending Erik Condra and Adam Erne back down to the AHL yesterday, the team has recalled forward Gabriel Dumont from the Syracuse Crunch today. The 26-year-old center is in his first season with Tampa Bay, after signing a deal with the team this summer, but has yet to make his Lightning debut. It is expected that he will get the opportunity to do so when the Bolts return to action on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres. Dumont has not played an NHL games since February 2015, and in total has a goal and two assists in 18 NHL games with his former team, his hometown Montreal Canadiens. Dumont has ten points in 19 games for the Crunch so far in 2016-17.

Meanwhile, Tampa also made a move in net, sending down backup Adam Wilcox and replacing him with highly-touted prospect Kristers Gudlevskis. This could signal the end of Andrei Vasilevskiy ’s long run without a rest. Since Ben Bishop went down with injury, Vasilevskiy has started ten games in a row and the Lightning have allowed six goals in three of those last four starts. Wilcox did not make an appearance in his stint with the team, but considering the diminishing returns of Vasilevskiy, it would seem likely that Gudlevskis gets the chance. The young Latvian keeper has made just one NHL appearance per year in three of the past four seasons, missing out on his annual try in 2014-15 and coming in as a late-game replacement earlier this year. Though a small sample size, Gudlevskis has a stunning .959 save percentage and 1.37 goals against average in those few appearances. Though Vasilevskiy is on a three-day break and Bishop appears close to returning (back at practice today), expect Gudlevskis to get a shot while in Tampa and have his first multi-game NHL season.

Update (4pm CT): Forget all of that about Gudlevskis getting to make an appearance on this trip to Tampa. Less than 12 hours after recalling the minor league goalie, the Lightning have returned him to the Syracuse Crunch. This means that the Bolts coaches liked what they saw out of Bishop today and expect the star keeper to be back in action sooner than predicted. Heading back to the AHL with Gudlevskis is defenseman Slater Koekkoek, the 2012 first-rounder who is still trying to carve out a role for himself with the Lightning. Koekkoek has already far surpassed his career high in games with 29 on the season, but has little to show for it with four assists and a -4 rating. He’s continually been shifted in an out of the lineup and has now been demoted to Syracuse for the eighth time this season.

In other moves:

  • The Nashville Predators have promoted forward Pontus Aberg to the NHL squad, as the rookie winger has been nearly a point-per-game player for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season. He has already earned nine games with Nashville so far, but has just one goal and one assist to show for it. The Predators hope he can bring his minor league scoring touch to the big leagues and stick around for a longer stint this time around. The 2012 second-round pick has had a strong AHL career, but had not developed a complete enough game for the NHL level until this season, as least in the eyes of GM David Poile. 
  • As speculated yesterday, the Calgary Flames have recalled defenseman Brett Kulak from the Stockton Heat. In a corresponding move, Tyler Wotherspoon is headed back to the AHL. The 23-year-old Kulak has bounced back and forth this season, but has already played in a career-high 15 NHL contests. He has three assists in that span, and a goal and four assists in 11 games with Stockton. Wotherspoon has been held scoreless in four NHL games this season, and has six points in 20 AHL games so far. The 2011 second-round pick has not developed as the Flames would like and has seen his small role somehow decrease over the past few seasons.
  • A day after placing veteran goalie Curtis McElhinney on waivers (and subsequently losing him) and re-calling young Anton Forsberg, the Blue Jackets were forced to promote Joonas Korpisalo today as starter Sergei Bobrovsky is sick and unable to go tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes. Forsberg will start tonight’s game, with Korpisalo as the backup.
  • The Buffalo Sabres have placed forward Derek Grant on waivers. The journeyman center has played in 35 games already with the Sabres, but has only three assists to show for it. A team still looking for their identity, Buffalo is better served playing their own home-grown young talent rather than mediocre veterans, likely promting Grant’s movement.
  • Andrej Nestrasil has cleared waivers and will be assigned to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, reports Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis. The Hurricanes have been busy on the waiver wire this season, including both claiming and losing Detroit’s Martin Frk and recently adding former St. Louis Blue Ty Rattie. Given Nestrasil’s age and his decent output in each of the last two seasons, as well as the fact that the only other player on waivers, McElhinney, was claimed, Carolina is lucky that this waiver transaction wasn’t yet another newsworthy one.
  • As expected, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled defenseman Andrey Pedan from the Utica Comets of the AHL. With Ben Hutton joing the laundry list of out or injured Canucks blue liners, Pedan can expect an extended stay in Vancouver, which needs all the defensive depth it can get right now.
  • With T.J. Oshie ready to return to the Capitals lineup, Washington has returned forwards Paul Carey and Liam O’Brien to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. While both forwards are having good seasons in the AHL with 25 and 18 points respectively in 28 games apiece, neither has managed to turn minor league success into any NHL production. The duo have combined for four points total in 42 combined games over the past four seasons.

More to come

CHL Trades Involving NHL Prospects

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Today is the trade deadline for the Canadian Hockey League, which encompasses the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Western Hockey League (WHL). Like the NHL, teams out of the playoff picture move top players for youth and prospects. The best players are expected to make the NHL and not return, so they are akin to NHL free agents in that their current team may lose them for nothing.

Below are all the NHL prospects moved (updated as trades come in):

F Jeremy Bracco (TOR): Kitchener Rangers -> Windsor Spitfires
F Mitchell Stephens (TB): Saginaw Spirit -> London Knights
F Anthony Cirelli (TB): Oshawa Generals -> Erie Otters
D Mitchell Vande Sompel (NYI): Oshawa Generals -> London Knights
D Chris Martenet (DAL): London Knights -> Ottawa 67’s
LW/D Carsen Twarynski (PHI): Calgary Hitmen -> Kelowna Rockets

Snapshots: Ovechkin, Malgin, Flyers

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin chases two important milestones tonight: 29th most career NHL goals and 1000 career NHL points. Ovechkin entered the game tonight against the Montreal Canadiens with 543 goals and 996 points. One more goal ties him with Canadiens’ legend Maurice Richard for 29th most goals. As of writing, Ovechkin has one assist so far in his game tonight, leaving him 3 points short of 1000.
  • Florida Panthers forward Denis Malgin left tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils with an upper-body injury. Malgin sustained the injury when Devils forward Pavel Zacha hit him into the boards midway through the first period. Zacha received a 5-minute boarding major on the play. The NHL Department of Player Safety may review this play for further discipline. N.J. Record writer Andrew Gross reports that Malgin will not return to the game.
  • Philadelphia Flyers prospect German Rubstov terminated his contract with the KHL’s Vityaz Podolsk to join the Chicoutimi Saugueneens of the QMJHL, reports RDS (source in French). As Tony Androckitis of Highland Park Hockey points out, Rubstov is eligible to play in AHL despite being under 20 because Rubstov played professionally in Europe before being drafted. It is the same exception to the CHL transfer rules that current Buffalo Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander uses to play for the AHL’s Rochester Americans at 18 years old. Rubstov played for Russia in the World Junior Championships this year but went pointless in five games.

Mike Richards Still Looking To Play

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Hockey writer Dhiren Mahiban tweeted today that Mike Richards still wants to play in the NHL, but may also look to Europe if nothing materializes. Richards last played for the Washington Capitals last season but could not find any takers in the offseason for a 2016-17 contract.

Richards finished last season with 2G and 3A in 39 games for the Capitals. He averaged just over 12 minutes a game—a career low for the veteran forward. The former Philadelphia Flyer’s production dropped dramatically in his last three seasons, scoring 41 points in 2013-14, 16 points in 2014-15, and 5 points last season as mentioned above.

Richards joined the Capitals after having his contract terminated by the Los Angeles Kings in 2015. The Kings stated that Richards breached his contract when he was charged for possession of Oxycodone after crossing into Canada from the United States. The NHLPA filed a grievance, and the two sides eventually reached a settlement that pays Richards $10.2MM over 17 years until 2031-32, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Kings benefitted because the small settlement payments are less than the cap hit would have been had the team bought out Richards. The RCMP eventually dropped all charges.

Richards is only 31, and could model a comeback from the Kings’ Devin Setoguchi. Setoguchi battled substance abuse during his NHL career before entering rehab. He is not lighting up the scoreboards, but his 4G and 5A in 34 games signals potential to be a 3rd or 4th line energy player. Richards can also look to Sam Gagner and his resurgent season with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season as inspiration. Most thought Gagner was done following a slew of disappointing campaigns, but the former Edmonton Oiler now has 14G and 16A in 38 games on a one-year, $650K contract.

Junior Notes: Stephens, Salituro, Bracco, Patrick

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With the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline fast approaching, several big deals have gone down today. The first, and arguably the most impactful, is the highly-speculated trade of Saginaw Spirit forward Mitchell Stephens. The 2015 second-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning is fresh off of a point-per-game performance for Canada at the World Juniors and has 28 points in 22 games thus far in the 2016-17 OHL season. He now heads to the storied London Knights franchise, the defending Memorial Cup champions and winners of three of the last five OHL titles. The former Spirit captain waived his no-trade clause to go to the Knights, where he’ll join a multitude of fellow elite prospects including Olli Juolevi, Cliff Pu, and Max Jones. The return for Saginaw is four second-round picks and two-third round picks over the next seven years.

After acquiring New York Islanders defenseman prospect Mitch Vande Sompel yesterday and Stephens this morning, the Knights still weren’t done. They’ve also added Columbus Blue Jackets forward prospect Dante Salituro. Salituro has yet to play a junior game this season, signing an entry-level deal with Columbus this summer and bouncing around through the AHL and ECHL so far this year, but the 20-year-old still has his junior eligibility and is expected to join the Knights for the remainder of the season. It was a risk-free trade for his former team, the Ottawa ’67s, who obtained Chris Martenet and a trio of future draft picks (2nd, 3rd, and 5th) for a player who was not even on the roster.

Armed with their three new additions to an already talented lineup, the London Knights should again make a deep run in the OHL playoffs. They currently hold a slim lead on the Erie Otters and Owen Sound Attack in the OHL’s Midwest Division, and trail the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds by just three points for the best record in the league.

In other juniors news:

  • Another big trade today was that of Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and World Juniors standout Jeremy Bracco. After returning to the Kitchener Rangers with a gold medal in hand, the 2015 second-rounder is on the move again, this time to the Windsor Spitfires. Bracco has 51 points in only 27 OHL games this season, and chipped in three goals and two assists for Team USA as well. Bracco is now guaranteed to see some Memorial Cup action this year, as Windsor is set to host the event. They would be a contender to compete regardless, as they boast two 2016 first-round picks on defense in Montreal’s Mikhail Sergachev and Winnipeg’s Logan Stanley, as well as 2017 top prospect Gabriel Vilardi up front. Adding Bracco to Vilardi should boost the offense in Windsor and make them a real threat to unseat the Soo Greyhounds in the West Division.
  • Over in the WHL, the Brandon Wheat Kings probably feel as if they have made a huge trade themselves, as they announced that presumptive #1 overall pick in 2017, Nolan Patrick, is ready to return this week. The big center has missed all but six games this season – though still has nine points – but has finally recovered from his upper body injury. Expect the top prospect to put up big-time points down the stretch for the Kings, as he looks to shake off any skepticism stemming from his absence and re-assert himself as the definitive top pick this June.

 

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