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Archives for March 2019

Minor Transactions: 03/22/19

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Another week down in the NHL and a quiet night to finish things off. Just two games are on the schedule this evening, though they certainly mean a lot to the teams taking part. The Minnesota Wild will try to topple the Washington Capitals in a game that could be crucial in the Western Conference wild card race. Minnesota trails the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes by just one point, but have gone 3-4-3 in their last ten and need to find a way to get things back on track. Meanwhile the San Jose Sharks will try to stop their four-game losing streak when they take on the Anaheim Ducks. San Jose has slipped out of the race for first place in the Pacific Division, and need a win tonight to have any chance at catching the Calgary Flames.

  • The Ottawa Senators have sent both Vitaly Abramov and Filip Chlapik back to the minor leagues, as Jean-Gabriel Pageau has completed his suspension and Chris Tierney is expected back. Abramov made his NHL debut last night and played just under 14 minutes, but was a -3 on the night and didn’t record a shot on goal. He’ll continue to polish his game in the minor leagues and wait for another chance.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have recalled goaltender Eric Comrie under emergency conditions, as Laurent Brossoit left last night’s game with an injury. Comrie has been great once again for the Manitoba Moose, posting a 23-16-2 record and .916 save percentage this season. The 23-year old looks ready to take the next step, and will need to take advantage of any opportunity he gets in the Winnipeg net.
  • Paul Carey has been sent back to the minor leagues by the Boston Bruins, a common occurrence for him recently. The veteran forward has been bounced up and down several times this month, and only played in two games with the team. He’ll continue to serve as an insurance policy for them whenever someone is dealing with a minor injury or illness.
  • Nick DeSimone and Dylan Gambrell have been recalled by the San Jose Sharks, an interesting move given that DeSimone has never suited up in the NHL. The 24-year old defenseman has been outstanding this season in the minor leagues though, recording 39 points in 55 games.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled veteran winger Matt Puempel from the AHL. Puempel has had a stellar season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, second on the team in goals, assists, and points despite playing alongside several experienced AHL scorers. Yet, Puempel has not played for Detroit at all this season in year one of a two-year contract signed this past off-season. If he finally sees action on this call-up, he will try to show that he can make an impact at the NHL level and is deserving of a longer look in camp next fall.

Michal Kempny Out Indefinitely With Lower-Body Injury

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The Washington Capitals will be without one of their defensemen for some time, as Michal Kempny has been ruled out “indefinitely” with a lower-body injury according to head coach Todd Rierden (via team reporter Mike Vogel). Kempny injured his leg on Wednesday and needed help to leave the ice.

Since arriving in Washington at the trade deadline in 2018, Kempny has thrived. The 28-year old defenseman immediately found a role with the Capitals and averaged nearly 18 minutes a night en route to a Stanley Cup championship. He signed a four-year, $10MM extension with the team in June, and returned to play an even bigger role this season. Logging more than 19 minutes a night, the smooth-skating defenseman has 25 points in 71 games and ranks only behind John Carlson in blocked shots.

Unfortunately, that role will now have to be filled by someone else as Kempny deals with his leg injury. Christian Djoos is the obvious choice as he is with the team, though the team has been hesitant to use him much this season. After playing in 63 games last season, Djoos has suited up just 37 times in 2018-19 and is averaging just over 13 minutes in those appearances. The 24-year old will be needed to give more than that if the Capitals expect to go far in the playoffs again this year, at least until Kempny returns.

Yanni Gourde To Face Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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The Tampa Bay Lightning may lose one of their talented forwards for at least a game, as Yanni Gourde is scheduled to have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today. Gourde made clear head contact with Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal last night, and received a match penalty for it. Staal returned to the game.

Gourde was guaranteed a hearing with the league as a match penalty carries with it an indefinite automatic suspension, and it’s easy to see why he was assessed the penalty. Though there may be some leniency given due to the fact that Staal was being hauled down from behind and may have not been in the position Gourde expected, but there is clear, hard contact with his head and not really any other part of his body.

The diminutive Gourde is known for his offense but is also more than willing to engage physically, and has recorded 81 hits in 75 games this season. He has never been suspended in his short career however, which also may keep his penalty down. Regardless, the Lightning almost have nothing to play for down the stretch as they have already locked up the Presidents Trophy and will be the first seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Losing Gourde for a few games will only affect his pocketbook and future disciplinary action.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Ryan Lohin

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The run on college prospects continues, as the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Ryan Lohin to a two-year entry-level contract. Lohin recently finished his junior season at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, but will skip his senior year in order to turn pro. Lohin’s deal will kick in next season and he will report to the Syracuse Crunch on an amateur tryout for the rest of this year.

Originally selected in the seventh round of the 2016 draft, Lohin had quite the college career. Breaking onto the scene with 29 points in his freshman year and being a big part of a Hockey East title, the American-born center followed that up with two more solid offensive seasons. He was named captain prior to the 2018-19 season, and led the team in scoring with 27 points.

The fact that a seventh-round pick has earned an NHL contract is another testament to the Lightning scouting staff, who have repeatedly turned late selections into assets for the organization. Even if Lohin never suits up at the highest level—something that is far from determined given his work ethic and development over the past few seasons—the 22-year old will have a home with the Crunch where he can continue to provide his solid two-way hockey.

Nashville Predators Sign Rem Pitlick

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The Nashville Predators have convinced Rem Pitlick to forego his final season at the University of Minnesota, and today signed him to a two-year entry-level contract.

Pitlick, 21, comes from a successful hockey family and was nominated for the Hobey Baker award this season after putting up 45 points in 38 games. Originally selected in the third round, he was an exceptional player in the USHL but some scouts had concerns around his size. Players measuring in under six feet as Pitlick does (5’9″) has never been a problem for the Predators though, as Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Ellis can attest to.

There’s a real chance that Pitlick can step right into a professional atmosphere and succeed, bringing some more offense to the Predators organization. It’s not clear yet if he’ll play games for the Milwaukee Admirals down the stretch, but should be a candidate for a big role with the AHL team next season—that is if he doesn’t surprise and nab a spot on Nashville’s roster.

Maple Leafs Notes: Babcock, Gardiner, Sandin

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have gone through perhaps their worst stretch of the season recently, allowing 28 goals in their last six games highlighted by a 6-2 loss to the last place Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. That has many fans worried about their upcoming playoff appearance that will likely be against the Boston Bruins, a team that has knocked them out two of the last three times they’ve made it to the postseason. Like with any team that struggles, questions about the future of the head coach have started to bubble up, and James Mirtle of The Athletic tried to answer them in his latest mailbag (subscription required).

Mirtle admits that there is something of a “disconnect” between Mike Babcock and GM Kyle Dubas, but wouldn’t go so far as to say that there is any real fire under the head coach’s seat. In fact, he believes that Babcock’s pedigree will keep him in Toronto through 2019-20 regardless of what happens this postseason. It is important to remember that Babcock still has four years remaining on his current contract, one that pays him an average of $6.25MM per season.

  • If Babcock wants to find any success this postseason he’ll have to hope his ailing defense can come together soon, and he received some good news on that front today. Jake Gardiner was on the ice to skate before practice, the first time he’s done any extensive work since his injury nearly a month ago. Gardiner has dealt with back problems all year, but could potentially be back in time to suit up in the playoffs. Fellow injured defenseman Travis Dermott was also on the ice prior to practice, but then joined his teammates while wearing a non-contract sweater. Dermott is expected to be back before Gardiner, though the team is running out of regular season games to get them back up to speed.
  • One thing that was considered when Gardiner and Dermott went down was whether or not to call up top prospect Rasmus Sandin. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet noted on the radio today that the team believed that he isn’t quite ready to compete at the NHL level despite his strong showing in the minor leagues. Sandin, who turned 19 just a few weeks ago, was Toronto’s first-round pick last June and has 24 points in 37 games in the AHL. The quick-thinking defenseman has improved his stock tremendously and could potentially be a candidate for NHL time next season.

NHL Prospects Receiving NCAA Conference Awards

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Tomorrow night kicks off the final weekend of conference tournaments in the NCAA, with Selection Sunday setting the stage for the NCAA Tournament beginning next week. With the collegiate regular season a thing of the past, the conferences haves used the gathering of their top teams ahead of this weekend’s games as a chance to hold end of the year banquets and announce award winners. To no surprise, many notable NHL prospects were also among those honored.

Perhaps the top pro prospect in the NCAA and the favorite to win the Hobey Baker Award this year, it was predictable that Cale Makar (COL) would first be unanimously named the Hockey East Player of the Year. The dynamic defenseman was the No. 4 overall pick by the Avalanche two years ago and has lived up to the hype through two seasons at the University of Massachusetts. Makar was one of six UMass players to also be named all-league players, including Mario Ferraro (SJ) and John Leonard (SJ) and scoring champion Mitchell Chaffee. 2018 first-round pick Joel Farabee (PHI) was named Hockey East’s Rookie of the Year following a point-per-game freshman campaign for Boston University. Similarly impressive teenager Cayden Primeau (MTL) was named Goaltender of the Year, backstopping Northeastern University with a .935 save percentage and 2.02 GAA. Providence College’s Vincent Desharnais (EDM) and the University of Maine’s Chase Pearson (DET) were also honored as the Defensive Defenseman and Defensive Forward of the year, respectively.

In the Big Ten Conference, recent Red Wings signing Taro Hirose (DET) out of Michigan State University was named Player of the Year, as well as scoring champion as the NCAA’s leading point-getter. The University of Minnesota’s Sammy Walker (TB) was named Freshman of the Year after the seventh-round pick surprised many this season. Quinn Hughes (VAN) of the University of Michigan and Evan Barratt (CHI) of Penn State University were other notable Big Ten stars, earning first-team all-conference considerations.

Elsewhere, a trifecta of NHL hopefuls won both Player of the Year and Defenseman of the Year for their conference. Adam Fox (CAR) is the most notable, as the Harvard University product enjoyed yet another dominant year in the ECAC and could be an impact player immediately once he joins the Hurricanes. Jimmy Schuldt hopes to do the same wherever he ends up, as the priority free agent from St. Cloud State University was named both Player of the Year and Defensive Defenseman of the Year for the NCHC and will push for a National Championship this year before turning his attention to the pros. Finally, Atlantic Hockey’s undisputed top player was Joe Duszak (TOR) of Mercyhurst University, who recently signed with the Maple Leafs after leading all NCAA defensemen in scoring.

 

Other awards of note include the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Scott Perunovich (STL) winning the NCHC’s Offensive Defenseman of the Year Award for the second year in a row and Cooper Zech (BOS) being named the WCHA’s Rookie of the Year despite already leaving Ferris State University after just one year for the AHL’s Providence Bruins. With the NCAA postseason still to come, there will be more honors on the way for college hockey’s top players, but the conference awards already show that the best of the collegiate ranks includes many NHL draft picks and free agent signings, who will hopefully go on to continue their strong play at the next level.

 

 

Mathias Brome Drawing NHL Interest

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With the NHL regular season in its home stretch and most European pro leagues already on to the postseason, talk has already begun about players who could be looking to make the jump overseas this off-season. There are always several European free agent signings each summer, with this past off-season an especially busy period for such moves, and this year should not be any different. One of the names that could join the NHL ranks is Swedish forward Mathias Brome. Hockey News Sweden reports that several teams are looking into importing the young winger this off-season.

Brome, 24, just finished his second season in the Swedish Hockey League, setting new career highs. Brome finished tied for 14th in scoring in the league with 35 points in 52 games and was a top-20 goal scorer with 15 tallies. While it may not seem like overly impressive output, the SHL sported just one point-per-game scorer in 2018-19, so Brome’s numbers were truly among the best in the league. However, they weren’t enough to help his team earn a playoff berth. Mora IK finished second-to-last in the league and will have to play to avoid relegation for the second straight season.

Brome will likely take any chance he can get in the NHL, but he will be eager to move on from Mora one way or another if the team is relegated out of the SHL. Brome’s contract with Mora expires at the end of the season and if he does not end up in the NHL, Hockey News Sweden states that he will be a hot commodity among other SHL squads.

However, the report indicates that a move to the NHL is the most likely result. A number of teams have reportedly reached out to Brome, with Hockey News Sweden specifically naming the Vegas Golden Knights as a team with great interest. A well-rounded, two-way winger, Brome may not have the flashy offensive ability that some of his countrymen possess, but makes up for it with a balanced game that should fit nicely with being a useful depth piece in the NHL. Should Brome land an NHL contract, he will likely begin his career as a top-six AHL player or bottom-six player in the NHL. Having the ability to play either a scoring role or checking role makes Brome a versatile option. This very well could be the main reasons that there is an influx of interest in the young forward. We’ll see soon enough if that interest translates to a contract from Brome.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau Handed One-Game Suspension

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The decision has come down from the NHL Department of Player Safety and Ottawa Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be suspended for his team’s next game. Pageau was assessed a minor penalty for boarding late in the second period of Wednesday night’s game at the Vancouver Canucks for a check on defenseman Ashton Sautner. However, the league felt that the altercation deserved further examination and held a hearing with Pageau this morning. The result is a one-game ban that will leave Pageau sidelined when the Senators travel to play the Calgary Flames tonight.

Player Safety opined that the hit in question was clearly made from behind and was a premeditated move by Pageau (video):

Sautner goes into the corner to collect the loose puck. As he tries to corral the puck while moving up the wall, Pageau is in pursuit from behind… Pageau delivers a hard hit into his back, driving him into the boards with force. This is boarding. It is important to note that from the moment Sautner collects the puck until contact is made, Pageau sees nothing but Sautner’s numbers. This is not a case in which a sudden move by Sautner just prior to contact turns a legal hit into an illegal one. Pageau has sufficient time to adjust his course and deliver a legal hit, minimize the force of the hit, or avoid the hit entirely. Instead he delivers this hit directly through Sautner’s back, driving him forcefully into the boards.

Pageau perhaps avoided further punishment due to the fact that he has no history of supplemental discipline, either by suspension or fine, as well as the fact that Sautner was able to return to the game in the third period. Nevertheless, his absence leaves Ottawa even more short-handed that usual. After trading away several core forwards ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, Pageau was left as one of the de facto leaders of the Senators offense. Without him in the lineup, their minimal odds against the Flames are even worse. On top of that, it’s yet another missed game for Pageau, who was sidelined for the first half of the season with an off-season Achilles injury. His suspended game will be his 43rd absence in a season to forget.

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