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Archives for September 2019

Los Angeles Kings Sign Adrian Kempe

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The Los Angeles Kings have signed restricted free agent Adrian Kempe to a three-year contract worth a total of $6MM. The young forward was the final RFA the Kings had to sign and will be arbitration eligible when the deal expires.

Kempe, 22, was originally selected in the first round of the 2014 draft and has now been a full-time NHL roster player for two years. After a nice season in 2017-18 when he showed his upside with 16 goals and 37 points, his offensive production dried up a bit last year. Transitioning to center, Kempe recorded just 12 goals and 28 points on a Kings team that struggled to find much success. The fact that they’ve now locked him in at a very reasonable number coming off that down season leaves plenty of room for Los Angeles to receive excess value from this contract, especially if Kempe can take over as the team’s second-line center at some point.

To do that though, Kempe does need to bring more consistency to his game and be a threat more often in the offensive zone. At the international level the Swedish forward has shown he can be an extremely dangerous player with the puck, something that has to come out every night in the NHL. An excellent skater that has the size and skill to win one-on-one battles anywhere on the ice, there’s no reason why he can’t experience a breakout at some point during the length of this deal.

That’s what Los Angeles will hope for as they try to transition their team to a younger, more skilled group. The bruising, defensive, puck-control hockey that brought them so much success over the last ten years failed them last year when they dealt with injuries and inconsistency, meaning new head coach Todd McLellan will need to find a new way to compete in the Western Conference. Kempe and other young forwards will likely be given an opportunity to make a bigger impact this season, though they’ll need to prove they can carry the load early on.

Clayton Keller Signs Eight-Year Extension

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The Arizona Coyotes have locked up top young forward Clayton Keller to an eight-year extension. The deal will carry a cap hit of $7.15MM. Keller was scheduled to become a restricted free agent next summer, but instead will sign long-term with the Coyotes. Arizona GM John Chayka released this statement:

Clayton is elite in every sense of the word. He is not only an All-Star and one of the premiere offensive playmakers in the league, but he is equally special as a person with his drive and determination to be great. We are thankful to Clayton for believing in our future and look forward to him playing a vital role on this team for many years to come. We are also very appreciative of Mr. Meruelo’s willingness to invest in our future and solidify one of our core players here in Arizona for a long time.

In an unprecedented move, agent Scott Barlett released the full breakdown of the contract extension on Twitter. The deal will pay out as follows:

  • 2020-21: $2.5MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
  • 2021-22: $7.0MM salary
  • 2022-23: $4.5MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
  • 2023-24: $6.0MM salary
  • 2024-25: $7.0MM salary + Full no-trade clause
  • 2025-26: $7.0MM salary + Full no-trade clause
  • 2026-27: $6.5MM salary + Full no-movement clause
  • 2027-28: $6.7MM salary + Full no-movement clause

The 21-year old Keller has shown how good he can be in his young career, but this contract certainly doesn’t lack risk for the Coyotes. In his rookie year in 2017-18 the 2016 seventh overall pick exploded onto the scene with 65 points in 82 games, but Keller took a large step backwards last season. With just 14 goals and 47 points in 82 games, his production fell far short of expectations and put him in a points-per-game bracket alongside players like Brett Connolly, Josh Anderson and former teammate Alex Galchenyuk. That was even despite seeing slightly more ice time on the powerplay and overall.

Still, the Coyotes are betting that Keller’s first year is more indicative of his performance moving forward and it’s easy to see why. After shooting 10.8% as a rookie, a more than reasonable number for a player of his skill, Keller’s shooting percentage dropped all the way to 7.0% last season and should rebound considerably in the future. You can also bet on some natural development given his still very young age—he turned 21 just over a month ago. With strong possession numbers and a tantalizing skill set, the Coyotes may have a bargain down the line if he can continue to take steps forward.

That bet is exactly how the Coyotes have done business under Chayka. The GM has signed young players like Nick Schmaltz, Christian Dvorak and Jakob Chychrun to long-term deals before they really “proved themselves,” knowing that if he waited they might price themselves right out of Arizona’s market. The team can’t throw money around like bigger organizations like the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, but have shown a willingness to assume some risk on long-term deals in order to get who they believe are core players under contract.

Part of this contract is also likely a reaction to the restricted free agent market this summer. A dozen teams are in limbo waiting for their young players to sign, something that Chayka will now not have to worry about with regards to Keller. The team still has some who will need new deals, but if Keller performs as many believe he can he would have been the centerpiece of the entire 2020 offseason for Arizona. That time can now be focused on other things as they try to establish themselves as a playoff contender in the Western Conference with new additions Phil Kessel and Carl Soderberg giving them some more depth up front.

As for what this means for that current RFA market, it’s unclear. We’ve heard all offseason how this class is set to re-establish the market for players coming off their entry-level deals, but Keller just sold four years of unrestricted free agency at a relatively low point in his negotiating leverage. Coming off a difficult season and still a year away, he decided to lock in long-term for a number that while substantial, is likely less than he could have gotten if he rebounded this year.

With Kessel now in the fold and Keller locked up, the Coyotes will now be expending quite a bit of capital on their forward group starting in 2020-21. The team will have more than $30MM tied up in five players including Kessel, Keller, Schmaltz, Dvorak and Derek Stepan, which doesn’t leave a lot of extra money for the rest given their hefty expenditures on defense. It very well could mean there is a move coming at some point down the line to free up some space, especially with several veterans who are set to become unrestricted free agents in 2021.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Nikolay Goldobin Signs With Vancouver Canucks

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As expected, the Vancouver Canucks have reached an agreement with restricted free agent Nikolay Goldobin. The young forward has re-signed with the team on a one-year, one-way contract worth $900K. Reports yesterday were that things had moved in a positive direction, and this deal will now leave the Canucks with just Brock Boeser left to get under contract. GM Jim Benning released a short statement on the signing:

Nikolay is a gifted offensive player who has shown good chemistry with some of our other younger players. He has taken steps to round out his game and we’re excited to see continued improvement from him this season.

Goldobin, 23, scored 27 points in 63 games last season for the Canucks but still hasn’t quite figured out his game at the NHL level. Armed with plenty of offensive talent, there are times when Goldobin fades into the background and doesn’t assert himself enough to deserve a bigger role. That said, there have been times that he looks right at home alongside top players like Boeser and the Canucks will hope he can grow on that moving forward.

The young forward will have arbitration rights as a restricted free agent when the deal expires next year. Vancouver will now turn its full attention towards Boeser and the ongoing negotiation which is still expected to take some time. Though Goldobin’s relatively low salary will give them some extra wiggle room, the Canucks don’t have a ton of cap space to fit Boeser in if the reports of demands reaching $7MM per season are to believed. There may be some more work coming for Benning and company to clear a bit of space, or the team may be heading into the year without much flexibility.

U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame Announces 2019 Class

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The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame has announced the class of 2019, which will include Gary Bettman, Brian Gionta, Neal Henderson, Tim Thomas and Krissy Wendell. The five will be inducted on December 12th in Washington, D.C.

Bettman has served as the commissioner of the NHL for the last 26 years, joining the league in 1993 after working with the NBA. While he is a controversial figure with many fans thanks to the multiple work stoppages that the league has gone through, there is no denying his impact in growing the game all over North America and the world. The NHL is about to welcome its 32nd franchise into play with the Seattle expansion and hockey markets have been developed in countless non-traditional areas in the United States. Bettman was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Gionta finished his playing career in 2018 with a bang by captaining Team USA at the 2018 Olympic Games, pulling on a sweater he has done many times in the past. The veteran of more than 1,000 NHL games has suited up for USA Hockey at the Olympics, World Championships, World Juniors and several other international tournaments over the years, representing his country well on the world stage. The Boston College star was an All-American before his professional career started and is currently ranked 43rd among American-born skaters in NHL points.

Thomas last played in the NHL during the 2014 season but is one of the most decorated American-born goaltenders in history. The proud recipient of the Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Vezina Trophy (twice), William Jennings Trophy, Olympic silver medal and World Championship bronze, Thomas’ spot in the U.S. Hall was only a matter of time. The goaltender represented his country several times on the international stage, including before his professional career even began and he was still playing at the University of Vermont.

A key part of the development of women’s hockey in the United States, Wendell represented USA Hockey on many occasions at the international level, including captaining the 2006 Olympic bronze medal-winning squad. With two Olympic and six World Championship medals, she’s one of the most decorated American-born women to ever play the sport. An incredible offensive talent, Wendell put up 247 points in 147 games while representing the United States and finished her collegiate career at the University of Minnesota with an 104-point season, despite playing just 40 games.

Henderson, a finalist for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award in 2018, has been a constant in the D.C. area hockey community for the last four decades. His programs have helped young players who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to learn the sport, while spreading the game throughout the area.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Florida Panthers Sign Troy Brouwer To PTO

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The Florida Panthers will be bringing Troy Brouwer back to camp this season, but it won’t be with a contract. The team has signed Brouwer to a professional tryout instead, giving him a chance to earn his spot on the team or at least showcase his abilities around the league. Brouwer played last season for the Panthers on a one-year, $850K contract after being bought out by the Calgary Flames. He’ll still earn $1.5MM in each of the next three seasons thanks to the buyout.

Brouwer, 34, played in 75 games for the Panthers last season and recorded 12 goals and 21 points, but that wasn’t enough to earn him a new contract just yet. The team has added even more depth to their already dangerous forward group with names like Brett Connolly and Noel Acciari coming in through free agency and have several other prospects pushing for NHL playing time. The capability of those prospects may be exactly what Brouwer is battling against, as if someone like Owen Tippett plays himself onto the opening day roster there might not be room for the veteran.

Still, Brouwer provides a nice bit of insurance for the club in training camp. If they suffer injuries or someone doesn’t live up to expectations, the Panthers could likely just come to a one-year agreement with the power forward to give them another option in the bottom-six. A Stanley Cup champion from 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Brouwer’s presence and experience can only help the young forwards in Panthers camp trying to make their way in the NHL.

If he doesn’t land a deal with the Panthers, Brouwer could very well end up somewhere else just before the season begins. We’ve seen players on tryouts in the past end up signing elsewhere after proving they still have what it takes to play in the NHL.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Dallas Stars

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Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2019-20 season. This will focus more on those players who are integral parts of the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Dallas Stars

Current Cap Hit: $80,529,999 (under the $81.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

D Miro Heiskanen (two years, $894K)
F Roope Hintz (one year, $812K)

Potential Bonuses

Heiskanen: $2.5MM

Hintz was a regular for Dallas in the second half of last season before really turning it on in the playoffs.  He tied for the team lead in goals in the postseason and in doing so, he should be a safe bet to be a regular this season.  However, with the limited track record, he shouldn’t be a candidate for a long-term contract just yet.

Heiskanen had a tremendous rookie season and quickly established himself as a fixture on the top pairing.  At 20, there’s still plenty of room for improvement as well.  Keep a close eye at what the top of the post-ELC RFA market winds up being for the defensemen that are still unsigned.  That figure will probably wind up as a starting point for extension talks in July.

One Year Remaining, Non-Entry-Level

F Radek Faksa ($2.2MM, RFA)
F Martin Hanzal ($4.75MM, UFA)
F Mattias Janmark ($2.3MM, UFA)
G Anton Khudobin ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Corey Perry ($1.5MM, UFA)
D Roman Polak ($1.75MM, UFA)
D Andrej Sekera ($1.75MM, UFA)

Potential Bonuses

Perry: $1.75MM
Sekera: $500K

Hanzal was supposed to come in and stabilize their center situation.  Instead, he has been injured – a lot.  He’s not expected to play this coming season which makes him an LTIR candidate and gives Dallas the potential for some in-season cap flexibility.  That’s not a good return value-wise on a player that was supposed to be a core piece but it’s something at least.  Janmark had a year to forget as his goal total dropped from 19 to just six.  As a result, he got his qualifying offer and nothing more but a repeat performance could see his AAV cut in half a year from now.  Faksa was the one player outside of their big three up front that put up a double-digit goal total (even if his output also dipped).  This is the final year of his bridge contract but it’s hard to imagine that the Stars will want to commit to a long-term deal.  Instead, something that buys out a year or two of UFA eligibility with AAV a little over $3MM may be the likelier outcome.  Perry had a tough injury-plagued season with Anaheim and was bought out in June.  Expectations will be a lot lower with the Stars but the pressure will still be high as a rebound year would go a long way towards getting him a raise and a multi-year contract.

Polak brought some experience to the back end last season and impressed enough to sign before free agency got underway with a nice raise.  At this stage of his career though, he’s probably going year-to-year and with a very limited offensive game, he’s going to stay in this price range for any future deals.  Sekera has dealt with knee trouble the last couple of seasons which eventually got him bought out by Edmonton to free up some cap space.  If he can show that he has recovered and can lock down a top-four role, he could garner a lot of interest and a good raise next summer.

Khudobin is coming off a very strong season that saw him post a new career best in games played to go along with a .923 SV%, a mark that was well above average for all goaltenders let alone backups.  A similar performance could elevate him to a status where a team might be willing to make him the 1A part of a platoon which would carry an extra million or so on his contract.

Two Years Remaining

F Andrew Cogliano ($3.25MM, UFA)
F Blake Comeau ($2.4MM, UFA)
F Jason Dickinson ($1.5MM, RFA)
D Taylor Fedun ($738K, UFA)
D Stephen Johns ($2.35MM, UFA)
D Jamie Oleksiak ($2.138MM, UFA)

Cogliano was brought in to shake up their forward group in a midseason trade but he wound up producing at lesser rate than he did with Anaheim.  He’s coming off a career-low in points (17) and ATOI (12:35).  At this point, he looks like a potential buyout candidate next summer if he doesn’t turn things around.  Comeau saw as much ice time last season as he did the year before with Colorado but barely wound up with half the production.  Their additions are likely to push him down the depth chart which may not help either.  It’s hard to see him getting a raise two years from now.  Dickinson is coming off his first season that saw him play somewhat regularly plus a good showing in the playoffs.  That earned him a bridge contract but he’ll need to progress off of the fourth line over the next couple of years or risk being surpassed by a cheaper fit for that unit.

Johns missed all of last season with a concussion and while the team is optimistic he’ll be able to return this year, it’s still far too early to assess what his next contract could look like.  Oleksiak has had a weird journey the last couple of years.  He was deemed expendable by Dallas and was traded to Pittsburgh only to be traded back last season for the same price the Penguins originally paid.  However, despite the reacquisition, his role with the Stars was even more limited than it was the first time around.  He’s someone that they will likely look to trade again and could also be a buyout candidate next summer.  Fedun was acquired last year to serve as AHL depth but when injuries arose, he made the most of it and basically became a regular in the second half.  That earned him a bit of job security with a two-year deal and if Dallas tries to push him through waivers, his performance last year could get him a look elsewhere.

Three Years Remaining

D John Klingberg ($4.25MM, UFA)
F Joe Pavelski ($7MM, UFA)
F Alexander Radulov ($6.25MM, UFA)

Pavelski’s departure from San Jose comes as a bit of a surprise but the fact he was able to get a three-year at the age of 35 isn’t.  He’ll provide the Stars with another legitimate scoring threat beyond their top line while playing a strong all-around game.  The final season could be a bit iffy in terms of value but it was still a worthwhile move for them.  Radulov has fit in quite well in his first two seasons with the Stars and has been an important part of that top trio.  Like Pavelski, the final year could be a little worrisome but he has already given them a strong return with two straight 72-point seasons.  Neither player will likely come close to this amount on their next contract if there is one.

The decision to bypass a bridge deal for Klingberg back in 2015 looks like a brilliant decision now.  He’s on one of the best bargain contracts in the league as a legitimate number one defenseman making the rate of a number four option.  At an absolute minimum, he should be able to double his current AAV on his next deal.  Chances are that he’ll be able to do even better, especially with the rates for top blueliners going up now.  An AAV around the $10MM range is certainly obtainable and with the two forwards having expiring deals, the Stars should be able to afford to keep him around at that rate if they so desire.

Four Or More Years Remaining

F Jamie Benn ($9.5MM through 2024-25)
G Ben Bishop ($4.917MM through 2022-23)
D Esa Lindell ($5.8MM through 2024-25)
F Tyler Seguin ($9.85MM through 2026-27)

Seguin voiced his frustration with his contract situation last summer but they were able to agree on this deal just before training camp.  The performance that followed was rather underwhelming in the first half although he turned it on down the stretch.  This is a bit of a high price tag but he’s in the prime of his career and a safe bet to be around a point per game so it’s not a massive overpayment.  Benn is coming off a tough season that saw his output drop from 79 to 53 points which isn’t the type of return they need from one of the top-paid wingers in the league.

Lindell has largely flown under the radar but has emerged as a quality top pairing defender.  His offensive game will limit his overall earning upside but this should still prove to be a good contract for Dallas for a long time.

Bishop is coming off his best season at the age of 32 and is signed at a well below market rate as far as starters go.  However, injuries have limited him to less playing time than most starters in the last few years.  As he gets older, the deal will carry a bit more risk but right now, it’s a strong value contract.

Buyouts

F Valeri Nichushkin ($700K in 2019-20, $450K in 2020-21)

Retained Salary Transactions

None

Still To Sign

D Julius Honka

Honka’s stock has plummeted over the past year and a bit.  He has gone from a young defender with some upside to one that can’t crack the lineup and needs a change of scenery.  They’ve been open to moving Honka for a little while now and it’s possible that some other team will be the one signing him to his next deal.

Best Value: Klingberg
Worst Value: Benn

Looking Ahead

As a result of their offseason spending, the Stars would have been tight to the Upper Limit for this season had it not been for Hanzal’s injury.  Now, their ability to place him on LTIR will give them some in-season flexibility which will certainly come in handy.

There aren’t any big expiring deals to worry about for next season so the Heiskanen extension will be the next big task for GM Jim Nill.  While they have some big tickets on the books, they have enough bargain deals that they should be in reasonable shape cap wise for the next few years.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Evening Notes: Kempe, Capitals, NHLOA Talks

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Some progress appears to be getting made when it comes to contract talks between the Kings and RFA center Adrian Kempe.  GM Rob Blake told reporters last week (including Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider) that things are getting close while Lisa Dillman of The Athletic adds (Twitter link) that it will wind up being a short-term bridge deal.  The 22-year-old saw his output dip last season from 16 goals and 37 points to just 12 and 26 respectively so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Los Angeles isn’t ready to commit a long-term contract to him just yet.  While he’s currently unsigned, there will be at least one Kempe in training camp for the Kings after they signed his brother Adrian Kempe early in free agency this summer.

Elsewhere around the hockey world:

  • Capitals GM Brian MacLellan stated last week that they’ll likely have to make a trade for salary cap reasons. With that in mind, J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington examined some of the potential cost casualties.  Considering they’re firmly in win-now mode, it’s unlikely that they’ll part with a core player which limits their options.  He lists defenseman Christian Djoos, center Chandler Stephenson, and center Travis Boyd as potential trade options though the latter makes just over the league minimum so the savings from moving him could be limited.  They’ll have to trim more than $1MM off their payroll and with so few options to deal from, it may take multiple moves to get there.
  • While the CBA between the NHL and NHLPA is attracting the headlines at the moment with the league opting to not opt out and the players having until the middle of the month to decide, there’s another contract that’s being worked on. Sports Illustrated’s Michael Farber reports (Twitter link) that the deal between the league and the NHL Officials’ Association expired on Saturday without a new agreement in place.  However, the hope is that a new deal will be agreed on by the start of the season.  The officials will be reporting to their own training camp this weekend.

Canucks Notes: Boeser, Goldobin, Juolevi

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The Vancouver Canucks are one of the teams looking at the start of training camp in a few days with one of their key players still without a contract as Brock Boeser remains unsigned now into September. Though there is obvious upside for both the player and team to have things resolved before camp, Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet tweeted yesterday that there is still “lots of work to do” before a deal can be made.

Boeser, 22, has already scored 59 goals in his young career but has been limited by injury in each of his two full seasons with the Canucks. While other players like Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and Mikko Rantanen have huge point totals to bring up in negotiations, Boeser has a career-high of just 56 thanks to all the time he’s missed. There’s no question how important he is to the Vancouver attack but there are serious risks on both sides to both a bridge deal and long-term deal, which may have made the negotiations a bit more difficult. Boeser is expected to be looking for a four-year deal with a cap hit around $7MM, but with less than two weeks before training camp opens things may have to change to get it done in time.

  • The Canucks have another restricted free agent that gets much less publicity, but still could be an important piece. Nikolay Goldobin hasn’t been able to find his way in the NHL just yet, but Dhaliwal reports that there has been “positive dialogue” towards a new contract. The 23-year old Goldobin had 27 points in 63 games last season and showed flashes of the offensive ability that made him the 27th overall pick in 2014, but he needs to find more consistency in order to really be an impact player for the Canucks moving forward.
  • Speaking of high draft picks that haven’t quite found their way, the Canucks still have high hopes for defenseman Olli Juolevi as he continues to rehab a knee injury. Juolevi may not participate much in the upcoming prospects camp according to Ben Kuzma of The Province, who spoke with Canucks GM Jim Benning. Benning explained that the team wouldn’t “throw [Juolevi] into the fire” as they try to avoid any setbacks and have him ready for the start of the season. Juolevi underwent knee surgery last December and still has not made his NHL debut despite being the fifth overall pick in 2016.

Seattle Hires Ricky Olczyk As Assistant GM

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The Seattle expansion team now has a third member of their hockey operations department. The club has hired Ricky Olczyk as an assistant general manager, serving under GM Ron Francis. Olczyk spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but has previous experience as an assistant GM alongside Francis with the Carolina Hurricanes and served for several years in the same capacity with the Edmonton Oilers. He’ll join Francis and director of hockey administration Alexandra Mandrycky in the expansion team’s front office for the time being.

Bringing in Francis with so much runway before their inaugural season in 2021-22 gave the Seattle group the ability to slowly watch the market and pounce on front office candidates that may come available, but the first hire is one that comes with plenty of familiarity. Olczyk (who is the brother of former NHL player Ed Olczyk) spent four years beside Francis with the Hurricanes, slowly building the foundation for the team that broke out last season and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Carolina minor league and development system was extremely strong during that time, though much of that credit has to go to former Charlotte Checkers coach and GM Mike Vellucci, who is now with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Even including that run with the Hurricanes however, Olczyk’s time as an NHL assistant GM hasn’t been very successful. Hired by the Oilers in 2007, Olcyzk was part of an organization that had continual turnover and that failed to reach the postseason in any of his six years with the team. In fact, given that the Hurricanes only made the playoffs after he left the organization, Olczyk’s career as an AGM still doesn’t have a single postseason appearance in it. The blame for both team’s failures obviously can’t be placed on Olcyzk alone, but he’ll have to hope that a fresh start in Seattle will bring more success.

Minor Transactions: 09/03/19

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It’s now September and teams are still filling out their organization depth charts as they wait on the restricted free agent market to heat up. With moves being made daily in the minor, professional, collegiate and European leagues, we’ll keep track of all the notable ones right here. Check back often for an updated list:

  • Conner Bleackley’s career has taken another turn, this time towards the Idaho Steelheads organization. Originally selected 23rd overall in 2014, Bleackley never signed with the Colorado Avalanche and instead re-entered the draft in 2016 where he was taken by the St. Louis Blues. After a few unsuccessful seasons on his entry-level contract, the Blues decided not to issue Bleackley a qualifying offer this summer making him an unrestricted free agent. He’ll join the ECHL’s Steelheads for 2019-20.
  • If you want to bring a Kelly Cup championship to your ECHL team, why not take a chance on Shawn St. Amant. The 22-year old forward has already won two ECHL championships with the Colorado Eagles in his young professional career, and spent most of last season with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The Fort Wayne Komets have agreed to terms with St. Amant for the 2019-20 season.
  • The New York Rangers will have another goaltender in training camp later this month, as Francois Brassard has been added on a tryout. The 25-year old made his ECHL debut last year after spending three years at Carleton University, and posted a .917 save percentage in six games with the Maine Mariners. Brassard was a sixth-round pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2012 but never signed.

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