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Archives for March 2017

Snapshots: Protected List, Stalock, Fritz

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The NHL has announced that it will now release publicly both the protected and available lists for the upcoming expansion draft when they are distributed to teams around the league. This comes as a reversal of their previous decision, and one that fans will embrace. While the front offices of many teams likely didn’t want the list to become public because of potential public relations or player morale problems—incessant critiquing of their jobs is something they live with, but not something they enjoy—it is something that fans of the sport wanted so overwhelmingly that the league will now consent.

Expected to be released on June 18th, the actual date of the release has not yet been announced. Either way, it will be an exiting day for fans and media members alike that will have a few days to pick through the rosters and project who will be picked by the Vegas Golden Knights. Teams must submit their protected list on the 17th, while the team will be announced at some point on the 21st.

  • Alex Stalock has been recalled by the Minnesota Wild, and he is expected to make the start tomorrow night against the Ottawa Senators. The team will give Devan Dubnyk three days off before he returns Saturday, given his struggles this month. After leading the league in save percentage for much of the season, Dubnyk has posted an .889 number in March as the team has fallen out of first place in the Central Division. Stalock will be making his first NHL start since February of last season.
  • The New York Islanders have signed Tanner Fritz to a two-year extension starting next season. It will be a two-way deal, and Fritz had been playing on an AHL deal with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers up to this point. The former Ohio State Buckeye broke out this season in the AHL, scoring 40 points in 61 games. The 25-year old is still waiting for his NHL debut, but this is a solid step in that direction.
  • Dallas has recalled young defenseman Julius Honka from the AHL, bringing him back up for the end of the season. Honka, the team’s first-round pick from 2014, played ten games for the team earlier this year and did not look overmatched. He has excelled in his three years at the AHL level, recording at least 31 points in each season and generally moving the puck with swift, crisp passes. He’ll get another tryout this spring before likely being installed full-time on the blue line for the Stars next year.

Minor Moves: Sparks, Labate, Kloos

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Garret Sparks has been returned to the Toronto Marlies after backing up Curtis McElhinney on Tuesday night. The Maple Leafs will welcome Frederik Andersen back into the lineup when they take on the Nashville Predators tomorrow night, though whether he starts or not is still up in the air. Sparks hasn’t played a single game for the Maple Leafs this season after taking the starting job down the stretch last year. He’s faced injury and a suspension earlier this year for “violent and sexist language toward a user in an online group.”

A seventh-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2011, Sparks has battled his way up the depth chart in Toronto and now sits as the starter for the Marlies as they head into the playoffs. With McElhinney hitting the open market as a free agent this summer, it is possible that Sparks would be first in line for the backup job next season.

  • After spending the past month playing five or six minutes a game for the Vancouver Canucks, the team has decided to send Joseph Labate back to the AHL. The huge winger has played just thirteen games for the Canucks this season, scoring zero points and registering 21 penalty minutes. A fourth-round pick in 2011, Labate hasn’t quite turned into the power forward they’d hoped, and is barely qualified for fourth line duty at this point.
  • The Minnesota Wild have made the signing of Justin Kloos official, inking him to a two-year deal starting in 2017-18. He’ll report to Iowa on an amateur tryout for the rest of the season. Iowa could actually still make the playoffs, as despite their 31-28-8 record this season they trail the Cleveland Monsters by only three points for the final spot in the Central Division. With nine games remaining, Kloos will try to make his impact felt immediately at the professional level.

Injury Notes: Stamkos, Penguins, Andersen

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Steven Stamkos was present at practice in full today, taking line rushes and participating in powerplay drills. He’s now “day-to-day” according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, and will continue to be evaluated daily. He won’t play tomorrow against Detroit, but could return soon for the chance to help Tampa Bay into the playoffs.

Stamkos has been out since November and has always put a return this season as a goal in his rehab. Despite trading away two centers at the deadline and three others dealing with various injuries, the team now finds themselves just three points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand over the Boston Bruins. Those two teams will meet on Tuesday in what could be the deciding game for both their playoff lives.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally getting healthier, with Conor Sheary and Chad Ruhwedel both game-time decisions for tonight according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. While Jake Guentzel and Ron Hainsey won’t be available, both took the ice wearing normal jerseys today for the Penguins option skate. The Penguins have lost three games in a row and are falling out of President’s Trophy contention, and with it an “easier’ matchup in the first round. As things stand currently, they’d take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round.
  • After missing just one game, Frederik Andersen may be back in the Toronto Maple Leafs net sooner than later. Kristen Shilton of TSN reports that the goaltender said he feels ready to go for the team tomorrow, but he and the medical staff will talk more after landing in Nashville for their game tomorrow night. Andersen was taken out with a possible concussion from Saturday’s game in Buffalo, but returned to the ice the next day without any symptoms.

Snapshots: Vecchione, Forsbacka-Karlsson, Fucale

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After the Minnesota locked up hometown boy Justin Kloos earlier today, Michael Russo of the Star Tribune is hearing that another college free agent is being pursued by the Wild. Mike Vecchione, the nation’s leading scorer (tied) and finalist for the Hobey Baker trophy is on the radar of the Wild, is a free agent and being chased by many teams around the league, apparently including Minnesota.

The 24-year old went undrafted out of the USHL despite scoring everywhere he goes, and proved this year that he’ll be able to compete at the professional level. No lock for the NHL, the undersized forward does present some intriguing potential with his high-end skill and skating.

  • While Don Sweeney told reporters today that Charlie McAvoy would be heading to Providence on an amateur tryout, he also mentioned that Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson hasn’t yet made a decision whether he’ll head back to Boston University or not. The second-round pick of the Bruins scored 33 points in 39 games this season, and played exceptional in the NCAA tournament. His future lies in the NHL, but could use another year of dominance at the college level before transitioning to the professional game.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have recalled Charlie Lindgren from the AHL and returned Zach Fucale. Fucale had been on an emergency recall, but isn’t really an option for the Canadiens down the stretch. Lindgren at least has a full season of success at the AHL this year, and could potentially play  for the NHL club if they were in trouble. All this because Al Montoya has suffered a lower-body injury of some sort and is currently unavailable.

Justin Kloos Signs Two-Year Contract With Minnesota Wild

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After reporting that it was down to just a few teams for University of Minnesota forward Justin Kloos, Michael Russo now reports that the Wild have come to an agreement with him on a two-year contract. Kloos will also sign an amateur tryout to play for the Iowa Wild for the remainder of this season. Justin Kloos

Kloos is a hometown boy for the Wild, growing up in Lakeville, Minnesota and won the state Mr. Hockey award before heading to college. During his stint in the NCAA, the 5’9 178-lbs center showed his drive and worth ethic every game, never slowing down or taking a shift off. His speed is his calling card and though he has some excellent playmaking skill, it’s the ability to consistently beat defenders to loose pucks in the offensive zone that really intrigues.

Scoring at least 32 points in all four years, Kloos scored 43 in 38 games this season and captained the team the last two years. While he doesn’t have the traditional size of an NHL center, he’ll look to players like Tyler Johnson to try and emulate success in the top league. The ability to create both off the rush and below the goal line will benefit him as he joins the professional ranks.

It’s not clear if the Wild will keep Kloos in the middle, but the team has often moved players in and out of the center position in order to build the best roster. Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund have both spent most of the season on the wing despite coming up as centers, and with Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal on the books for next season, it would be hard for Kloos to crack that group. He’ll try to make his mark at the AHL level for the time being and prove he can compete with the bigger, faster players.

UMN has now lost several key players from their roster, with Kloos joining Vinni Lettieri and Jake Bischoff in the professional ranks. One to watch on the Golden Gophers next year will be Brent Gates if he decides to go back to school. The Anaheim Ducks third-round pick will be given more responsibility and should thrive after a solid sophomore season.

Charlie McAvoy Working On Amateur Contract With Boston

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Wednesday: Don Sweeney has made it official, McAvoy will sign an ATO and play this weekend for the Providence Bruins.

Tuesday: According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Boston Bruins and uber-prospect Charlie McAvoy are working towards signing an amateur tryout to have the Boston University defender playing in Providence by the weekend. While some Bruins’ fans want him to join their defense corps right away, signing an ATO doesn’t actually preclude him from then signing an entry-level contract at a later date.

Picked 14th overall last summer, McAvoy has had another phenomenal season for BU and the US World Junior Team. Logging big minutes for one of the best teams in the country, McAvoy registered 26 points in 38 games and was a defensive presence in his own end. A smooth decision maker, McAvoy shows exceptional talent when retrieving pucks in his own end, eluding forecheckers and exiting the zone with ease. While his offensive abilities have a lot of upside, it’s his defensive growth that has scouts and fans so excited.

At the World Juniors McAvoy showed off that growth, registering six points in seven tournament games and leading his team to the gold medal. An alternate captain, it was his second time straight medal after winning bronze in the 2015-16 event. If he does turn pro, he’ll challenge for a spot on the Bruins’ blue line next season. Right-handed, he looks like a natural partner for Torey Krug down the line.

Morning Notes: Poolman, McAvoy, Hextall

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The other day, we reported that Winnipeg Jets prospect Tucker Poolman had suffered an injury that would keep him from signing his entry-level deal this season and getting into the Winnipeg lineup. According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, that shoulder injury requires surgery and will keep him out four to six months, and he agrees that it may impact his decision to hit free agency this summer.

Poolman would become a free agent in August and able to sign with any NHL team, though McKenzie wonders if he’d choose to go back to school for another year and come out in 2018 with no restrictions on what kind of contract he could sign. Like Matt Read of the Philadelphia Flyers, who avoided an entry-level deal when he signed in 2011, Poolman could get a one-way deal worth much more than a standard ELC.

  • Charlie McAvoy is close to signing an amateur tryout with the Providence Bruins, but that doesn’t stop him from signing an entry-level deal this year if the Bruins feel they are desperate enough. As we discussed in the comments of the article yesterday, and confirmed by McKenzie in the video above, McAvoy would burn a year of his ELC if he should sign for this season despite being only 19. Because he turns 20 between September 16th and December 31st of this year, his contract wouldn’t slide even if he played fewer than 10 games. Like Colin White in Ottawa, this is still a possibility if the team feels as though they could help them win in the playoffs this season.
  • Ron Hextall will likely be the GM of Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships, provided Philadelphia doesn’t make the playoffs. The team is currently six points behind Boston for the final spot, but have several teams in between them. Expect former NHL goaltender Sean Burke to also be part of the management team after his involvement in Hockey Canada over the past several years.

Evening Transactions: Bruins, Sharks

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Some assorted transactions from around the NHL this evening:

  • After recalling him earlier today on an emergency basis, the Bruins have sent goalie Zane McIntyre back to Providence, reports Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). The 24-year-old was insurance for injured goaltender Anton Khudobin, who was ultimately healthy for this evening’s contest. In eight games with the Bruins this year, McIntyre has compiled an .858 save percentage.
  • Union defender Nick DeSimone will join the Sharks organization, reports Elliotte Friedman on Twitter. We heard earlier this week that the free agent was expected to garner interest from multiple teams. DeSimone set career-highs this season in both goals (nine) and points (19).

USWNT Ends Boycott, Will Play In World Championships

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Nearly two weeks after the United States Women’s National Hockey Team announced that they’d be boycotting the upcoming World Championships, the squad has reached an agreement with USA Hockey. The two sides announced that they’ve finalized a new four-year deal “that will result in groundbreaking support” for the USWNT. According to Ken Campbell of THN.com (via Twitter), the deal is believed to be between $3.7MM and $4MM.

Previous reports had indicated that the players were looking for better financial support after dedicating years to the team. An ESPN story claimed that the women received only $1,000 for each of their six months of Olympic residency, and nothing during the remainder of the four years of training. With the new deal, the women will receive $2,000 a month and could earn up to $71K in non-Olympic years (via Campbell). The team is also set to receive the same amenities as the men’s team, including flying business class.

It had been a war of words since then, as USA Hockey stated that they were “disappointed” in the player’s demands. On the flip side, captain Meghan Duggan said that USA Hockey’s statements were “incredibly dishonest and misleading.” Following the NHLPA’s public support of the women, there were rumblings that American NHL players may refuse to play in this spring’s World Championships in solidarity. Fortunately, the two sides quickly moved to find a resolution, and reports from this morning indicated that a new deal was close.

“Today reflects everyone coming together and compromising in order to reach a resolution for the betterment of the sport,” said Jim Smith, the president of USA Hockey. “We’ll now move forward together knowing we’ll look back on this day as one of the most positive in the history of USA Hockey.”

“Our sport is the big winner today,” said Duggan. “We stood up for what we thought was right and USA Hockey’s leadership listened. In the end, both sides came together. I’m proud of my teammates and can’t thank everyone who supported us enough. It’s time now to turn the page. We can’t wait to play in the World Championship later this week in front of our fans as we try and defend our gold medal.”

The powerhouse program will return to work immediately, as ESPN’s Craig Custance tweets that the squad will practice on Thursday in preparation for their matchup against Canada on Friday night.

Snapshots: Red Wings, Kings, Bruins

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou will not play tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Athanasiou is day-to-day after suffering an injury on the final play of last night’s game in the first of back to back games against the Hurricanes. The Red Wings forward was cross-checked by Hurricanes forward Victor Rask, causing Athanasiou to hit goaltender Eddie Lack. Lack ended up leaving the game on a stretcher, and now Athanasiou will miss some time as well.
  • The Los Angeles Kings have scratched forward Marian Gaborik tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, reports Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times. Gaborik has struggled this season, posting 10G and 9A in 51 games for the Kings. The Czech forward has endured multiple injuries this season, which may cause concern for the Kings who have Gaborik signed through 2020-21.
  • The Boston Bruins caused a small stir when they used an emergency call-up on goaltender Zane McIntyre this afternoon. Media initially speculated that Tuukka Rask was injured, but later Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reported that backup Anton Khudobin suffered a minor injury today. Despite the recall, however, McIntyre did not suit up as Khudobin was okay to play by game time.

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