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Archives for April 2017

Snapshots: Hughes, Hurricanes, Ekman-Larsson

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It’s not a name that you may be familiar with just yet, but Jack Hughes is one to remember. The 15-year old was captain of the Toronto Marlboros, one of the best midget teams in the country and expected to go first overall in the upcoming OHL draft to the Barrie Colts. Eligible for the 2019 NHL entry draft, Hughes is an early (very early) favorite for the top few picks.

Instead, Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that Hughes—born in Orlando, Florida—will sign with the US National Development Team for the next part of his hockey career. As Dreger says, it will be interesting now to see how far he falls in the OHL draft as there have been examples before of players telling the league they would be heading somewhere else, only to sign with a stronger team (see: London Knights) after falling in the draft. Regardless of where he plays, Hughes is a phenom that deserves attention even at a young age.

  • In addition to recalling Bryan Bickell less than five months after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the Carolina Hurricanes have brought up Andrew Poturalski from Charlotte and sent Lucas Wallmark and Phillip Di Giuseppe to the AHL. Poturalski went undrafted and signed with the Hurricanes last spring out of the University of New Hampshire. He has shown immense promise in his rookie AHL season, scoring 48 points in 69 games.
  • Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s season has come to an end early, as the team granted him early release to head home and deal with the death of his mother. She had been fighting a battle with cancer all season, something that has weighed on Ekman-Larsson throughout the year. “This has been a very difficult year for me personally,” said Ekman-Larsson in a statement on the team website. “I’d like to thank the Coyotes organization and all of my teammates for their incredible support all season long. I’m sorry that I’ll miss our last three games but family comes first.”
  • The Coyotes won’t be the only team without a top defender for the last few games, as the Florida Panthers will likely shut down Aaron Ekblad for the remainder of the season according to George Richards of the Miami Herald. Ekblad returned from a concussion on March 21st—a move that seemed reckless at the time—only to suffer headaches immediately after the game, causing coach Tom Rowe to admit his mistake. For the Panthers, who are eliminated from playoff contention, protecting your superstar defenseman is more important than winning some meaningless games down the stretch.

Reto Berra Expected To Sign In NLA After Season Ends

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Even though Reto Berra is currently playing for the Florida Panthers and will be in net tonight against the Montreal Canadiens, RTS Sports is reporting that he has agreed to a three-year contract with Friborg-Gottéron of the Swiss NLA. The netminder has been rumored for months to prefer a return to Switzerland after the season. Berra is in the final season of a three-year, $4.35MM deal he signed with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014 and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

While it’s not unusual for a player to leave the NHL to play in his home country, it is surprising to see it play out so publicly while Berra is getting his chance to start. With Roberto Luongo and James Reimer still battling injuries, the team had to turn to Berra to finish the season for them. A good showing could have easily turned into a contract somewhere around the league as a backup, though it is clear he would rather return home to start. At times, Berra has looked like a viable starting option in the NHL, only to lack the consistency that one needs. He clearly has talent to play among the best in the world and with the NLA continually getting better and better as a league—some even consider it among the top three in the world—he’ll still face challenges every night.

At 30 years old, it’s not impossible for him to return to the NHL but it does seem unlikely. After this year ends, the next chance an NHL fan will likely get to see him would be at an international event like the World Championships, where he has played five times throughout his career.

Snapshots: Franson, Bean, Senators

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Cody Franson hasn’t had a very successful Buffalo Sabres career. In two seasons marred by injury, the right-handed defender has failed to reach the 30 point mark that he had broken the past two seasons and will miss the playoffs once again. Today, when he was back in Toronto to face the Maple Leafs he was asked about a possible return to his former team in the offseason. Franson is a pending unrestricted free agent, and will have to make a decision on where he wants to try and rebuild his value.

To several reporters including Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Franson made it very clear that he would be open to a return. “Oh yeah, for sure” he told Johnston, before explaining that playing in Toronto was a “dream come true” for him and his family. Despite having poor point totals and injury concerns, Franson actually still has solid possession numbers and is a candidate for a nice value contract on the open market. He’s clearly not a lock-down defender and never will be, but since he moves the puck so efficiently he doesn’t spend as much time in his own zone. For Toronto fans screaming for the heads of Roman Polak and Matt Hunwick, Franson would likely be welcomed back with open arms.

  • Jake Bean is headed to the Charlotte Checkers to get a taste of professional hockey now that his Calgary Hitmen have been eliminated from the WHL playoffs. The first-round pick (13th overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes last summer, Bean is about as good of a defensive prospect as you’ll find around the league. His 45 points in 43 games this season in junior showed once again that his offensive game is ready for the next level, and he is starting to fill out physically. The 18-year old will have to make the NHL team out of camp next season or return to the Hitmen for a fourth year and anchor a Team Canada blueline at the World Juniors.
  • The Ottawa Senators are in a fight with the Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division, and they keep getting hit with injuries. According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, Cody Ceci, Marc Methot and Zack Smith will all not return before the end of the regular season, while Erik Karlsson again missed practice today and is out for tonight’s game. The team will have one reinforcement though, as Colin White will make his NHL debut on the fourth line alongside Tommy Wingels and Chris Kelly. Ryan Dzingel will be scratched in favor of the top prospect, who signed his entry-level contract just yesterday.

Carolina Hurricanes Recall Bryan Bickell

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In one of the more inspiring stories in the league this season, Bryan Bickell is on his way back to the NHL. The Carolina Hurricanes have called up the three-time Stanley Cup champion on Monday morning. Bickell had been playing with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, where he had four points in ten games while maintaining that he’d be back in the NHL this season. Bryan Bickell

Bickell was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in November, which immediately put a halt to his NHL career as he and his family determined how to go about his future. Though he obviously had new challenges to overcome, he was cleared to return to professional hockey in February and cleared waivers in order to play longer than a normal conditioning stint in the minors. At the time, Bickell said that he still planned on making an NHL return this season and Hurricanes’ head coach Bill Peters said to “not bet against him.”

The Hurricanes acquired Bickell along with Teuvo Teravainen last summer from the Chicago Blackhawks in what was basically a salary dump, but have hoped for some contribution from the big winger. Capable of scoring 10-15 goals while providing a physical presence, he is a nice supplementary piece if overpriced at $4MM. While he is headed to unrestricted free agency this summer, it might not be out of the question for the Hurricanes to bring him back at a discounted rate as they look to compete next season. They will be looking for some help for their young talented forwards, and have been extremely supportive to Bickell and his family throughout the diagnosis and treatment.

Even if it’s just for a handful of games before hitting the open market, it will be nice to see Bickell back in an NHL rink. Whatever you may think of him as a player, it is tough to see a young person in what should be the prime of their athletic career be taken away from their passion. PHR welcomes you back ’Bicks’, and hopes the return goes as smoothly as possible.

Morning Moves: Connor, Roslovic, Holmstrom, Vermin

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The Winnipeg Jets have decided to bring up a pair of top prospects, recalling both Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic from the Manitoba Moose. Both first-round picks in 2015, they are the next wave of talented youngsters for Winnipeg to build around. Connor made his NHL debut at the beginning of the season, playing nineteen games with the Jets and registering four points. He has dominated the AHL since his return with 42 points in 45 games.

Roslovic on the other hand has yet to skate in an NHL game, but should be just as touted as a prospect. With 45 points in 61 games in the AHL while playing a more demanding position (center), Roslovic looks like a top-six option for the Jets down the line. The 20-year olds will get another taste down the stretch and both vie for full-time NHL gigs next season.

  • The Red Wings have called up Evgeny Svechnikov from the AHL under emergency conditions. The Russian prospect is expected to make his NHL debut tonight, according to Ansar Khan of MLive. Likely the top prospect in the Red Wings system that hadn’t seen NHL ice yet, Svechnikov will be a key part of any rebuild Detroit tries. His offensive upside is tremendous, both on the rush and off the cycle.
  • Khan also reports that Axel Holmstrom has joined the Grand Rapids Griffins, now that his Swedish season has ended. The seventh-round pick of the Red Wings in 2014, Holmstrom is a 20-year old forward who has been playing in the Swedish men’s league for several years. A star at the World Juniors in both 2015 and 2016, his international success has shown an ability to skate alongside some of the more skilled players in the world (like William Nylander) and not miss a beat.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have added another transaction to the lengthening list for Joel Vermin. The forward was sent back down to the Syracuse Crunch today after his latest stint in the NHL. Vermin has been the insurance policy for a team ravaged by injuries this season, playing in 17 games spread across many different call-ups.
  • Minnesota has decided to send Alex Stalock back down to the AHL, after making two starts in the place of Darcy Kuemper while the team was struggling. Stalock actually performed quite well in both, stopping 51 of a combined 54 shots. It will be interesting to see what the Wild do in the playoffs if Kuemper doesn’t bounce back in his next opportunity to back up Devan Dubnyk.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Sonny Milano from the Cleveland Monsters amid his excellent sophomore season. The 20-year old first-round pick has 43 points in 59 games and has continually shown off his incredible offensive upside. A highlight-reel player, Milano provide some amazing moments but still has work to do to become a top player in the NHL. His all-around game isn’t at a top-line level, but with a few games at the end of the season he may get to see what it takes to become a star in the NHL.

Alex Nylander Recalled By Buffalo, Set To Make Debut

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As rumored yesterday, the Buffalo Sabres have recalled top prospect Alex Nylander, who will make his debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs (including his brother William) this evening. Nylander was the Sabres first pick, eighth overall in last summer’s entry draft. Despite only turning 19 yesterday Nylander has played the entire season with Rochester of the AHL, as though he played last year with Mississauga of the OHL, he had been on loan from his Swedish club and is not restrained by the usual age limit.

Nylander’s father, Michael, was a long time NHL forward and even spent last season coaching in Mississauga. His boys will now play an NHL against each other for the first time in their careers, after meeting in the preseason last year. Depending on where the Sabres decide to deploy the younger Nylander, they may even be on the ice quite a bit against each other.

The Sabres’ Nylander is quite a prospect, though he hasn’t made the immediate impact of his brother at the AHL level. 27 points in 62 games is still very impressive for a rookie playing almost the entire season at the age of 18. His style of speed, power and skill hasn’t quite meshed but is still an intriguing mix that should bring him success at the higher level. While he does still possess some of the silky smooth style his father and brother were known for, his is a more straight-line game that has better defensive upside. Sabres fans should be incredibly excited to see him after what has been a very disappointing season.

Florida Panthers Recall Ian McCoshen, MacKenzie Weegar

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Prior to their game against Montreal this evening, the Florida Panthers have recalled both Ian McCoshen and MacKenzie Weegar from the AHL. Both players have yet to make their NHL debuts, though Weegar has spent time with the team this year. With Florida officially eliminated from playoff contention, the team will turn to some young professionals to get a taste of the league in the last few games.

Weegar, 23, has excelled in the AHL this season with 32 points in 57 games. The former seventh-round pick has shown a steady improvement during his three professional seasons, which will now culminate with a chance at the NHL. The offensive defenseman can quarterback a powerplay and rush the puck with ease, making him an interesting candidate for a spot on the Panthers next year, as the NHL moves more and more towards defensemen who can skate quickly and launch long passes.

McCoshen, 21, was signed out of Boston College last summer after leaving school a year early. The big two-way defenseman was Florida’s second round pick (31st overall) in 2013 and has big upside to his defensive game. He’ll likely be an NHL player for many years, though he may have to wait another season in the AHL before obtaining a full-time role. While he can do it all and will benefit from this taste of the NHL, a little more refinement is necessary to his overall game.

Dalton Prout To Face Player Safety Hearing

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The NHL Department of Player Safety has scheduled a meeting with New Jersey Devils defenseman Dalton Prout. Following the physical blue liner’s big hit on Philadelphia Flyers counterpart Radko Gudas in Saturday’s game, Player Safety announced that Prout would face a hearing on Monday. The hit in question was high and came well after Gudas had moved the puck and resulted in a scrum between the teams. Prout was given a pair of major penalties for interference and fighting and a game misconduct.

This isn’t the first time that Prout has had trouble with the NHL law. The former Columbus Blue Jacket defender was suspended one game last season for a sucker punch on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. The two incidents share a common theme: going too far to avenge or protect a teammate by injuring an unsuspecting opponent. Kucherov was the third man in on a fight and was roughing up Nick Foligno when Prout came in and blindsided him with a shot to the face. Similarly, Prout’s hit on Gudas yesterday came after the big defenseman laid a massive hit on Devils’ rookie John Quenneville. Just as Prout got a suspension in 2015-16, he will likely get yet another this year for this more recent incident.

Interestingly, Prout’s hit was not the only questionable one of the game. Following Prout’s ejection, Flyers’ enforcer Dale Weise was called for a retaliatory hit on Devils’ star Kyle Palmieri not long after. Weise was also ejected from the game, but it was announced that he would not face any further discipline. Given that Palmieri was not involved with the any of the previous aggressions, it seems strange that such blatant targeting of a talented player would not warrant the same scrutiny as Prout’s initial infraction.

Joe Thornton Suffers Knee Injury, Leaves Game

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Toward the end of the first period in tonight’s San Jose Sharks contest against the Vancouver Canucks, Sharks veteran Joe Thornton collided with Canucks forward Michael Chaput and injured his left knee. As you can see, Thornton’s knee appeared to bend backward and then buckle under his weight. Thornton was helped to the bench and labored toward the tunnel. Thornton reportedly “crawled” toward the locker room, unable to put any weigh on his left leg. There is no word yet on the specifics or severity of the damage, but as of now it looks to be a serious injury. The Shark announced that Thornton’s return was questionable, but the optics of the hit suggest that, at the very least, Thornton is done for the night.

Thornton, likely a future Hockey Hall of Famer, has still been putting up big numbers at age 37, with 50 points through 78 games thus far. However, at 6’4″, 220 lbs., “Jumbo Joe” has less margin for error when it comes to injury relative to his aging peers. With a big frame and a powerful stride, Thornton can ill-afford to have a lower body injury, but that is certainly how things appear as of now. Serious injury or not, Thornton can expect to miss some time as a result of the collision. The defending Western Conference champions normally have the depth to deal with a loss up front, even one as major as Thornton, but with Logan Couture already sidelined, things may become difficult in San Jose. The Sharks have already been struggling of late, with just two wins in their last ten games, and Thornton missing time won’t help the matter. Rather than battling the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers atop the Pacific Division, the Sharks may now be using their stretch run to fend off the Calgary Flames and to jostle for position with the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators in hopes of not playing the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. Regardless of their final position, the Sharks Stanley Cup hopes would take a major hit if Thornton’s season is over.

Beyond just 2016-17, a serious injury for Thornton could raise major concerns over his future and the Sharks’ off-season plans. Thornton is an unrestricted free agent this summer, previously ranked third overall of the class by PHR, and many expected the Sharks to retain their star veteran at all cost. However, a heavy forward in his late 30’s coming off a career-low in goals already has some red flags, and adding a major knee injury could take extending Thornton off the table for San Jose and could potentially make it hard for him to find a job this summer. For Thornton and all Sharks fans, the hope is that the injury is not that serious and this scenario never comes to fruition. For now, the assumption is otherwise.

Canucks Extend Jayson Megna

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The Vancouver Canucks announced this evening that they have reached an agreement on a one-year, one-way deal with forward Jayson Megna. The extension carries a $675K cap hit for the 2017-18 season and provides some job security for the hard-working veteran forward.

In the team’s press release, GM Jim Benning describes Megna as a players whose “character and professionalism” are valued by the organization. As a bottom-six depth forward, it’s the intangibles that make a major difference for a player like Megna and the Canucks clearly have enjoyed having him around in his first season with the team. The Florida native had spent much of his early pro career with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, playing mostly in the AHL, and again skated in mostly minor league games after signing with the New York Rangers last year. In Vancouver, Megna has apparently finally found a full-time NHL home. Megna has played in 53 games for the Canucks in 2016-17, versus just four with the AHL’s Utica Comets, and has recorded four goals and four assists in that span, one point shy of his career high. Megna also does the non-flashy things well, such as checking, blocking shots, and winning battles along the boards.

However, like many minor signings this season, the Canucks are likely just posturing that this signing is for need and fit and not just for the upcoming Expansion Draft. After trading Jannik Hansen to the San Jose Sharks at the Trade Deadline, Vancouver put themselves in a position where they needed to add another body that qualifies for exposure – having played 40 games this season or 70 games over the past two seasons and having term on his contract – or else risk losing a good, young forward. With an extension signed, Megna now qualifies for sacrifice to the Vegas Golden Knights. However, don’t expect the 27-year-old grinder to be the pick. Megna appears to have found a unique fit in Vancouver, but has previously been an AHL-caliber player for all intents and purposes. The Knights will inevitably end up with quite a few players of similar talent levels, but will likely choose to go younger than the likes of Megna.

 

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