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Snapshots: Draft Date, AHL, Weise

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While it would create a rather unusual situation, the NHL continues to assess the viability of moving up the NHL Entry Draft.  Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that they are still vetting the responses to the idea from teams and anticipate having a decision in the near future.  As things stand, this plan would involve bumping the draft up to early June so there would need to be time to allow for the Draft Lottery to take place (likely based on points percentage) and to put together the plans to hold one virtually as the NFL just did.

Of course, that would mean holding the draft before the season potentially ends and would significantly limit the ability to trade with the potential for play to resume afterwards.  There has been some trepidation from general managers so far but it appears the league is still giving serious consideration to this idea and we shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out if this is the path they indeed choose.

More from around the hockey world:

  • While the NHL still hopes to resume play this season, the AHL may not be able to follow suit. John Wawrow and Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press report that it’s quite likely that the league won’t be able to get back going.  That would certainly be understandable as games would inevitably have to be played without fans and with the AHL not having significant television contracts like the NHL does, they don’t have that level of revenue to fall back on.  The league, meanwhile, responded that there is “nothing imminent” when it comes to a possible cancellation of the rest of their season.
  • Canadiens winger Dale Weise has spent a good chunk of the season in the minors and it appears he knows that his NHL time may be numbered. In an appearance on Sportsnet 650 (audio link), the 31-year-old acknowledged that he is considering playing in Europe next season, a prospect that could be complicated by the resumption of the NHL’s season.  The pending unrestricted free agent has played in 23 games with Montreal this season where he has a goal and four assists in 23 games and wasn’t much more productive with AHL Laval, tallying three goals and four helpers in 27 contests.

Oilers Expected To Re-Sign Gaetan Haas

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While there won’t be many big contracts handed out during this current stoppage in the schedule, some teams haven’t shied away from handing out smaller deals.  It appears that the Oilers could soon be one of them as TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports (Twitter link) that the team is expected to re-sign center Gaetan Haas.  He is slated to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The 28-year-old joined Edmonton as an undrafted free agent last summer after spending the previous decade in the Swiss NLA.  While he showed some offensive potential in that league by picking up at least 33 points over his final three seasons there, that failed to translate to much NHL success as he has just five goals and five assists in 58 games while averaging 9:42 per night.

However, as someone that’s already familiar with Edmonton’s system, there would be some value to bringing him back for a deal that’s close to his $925K price tag.  Their cap situation means that they will need to have several players on low-priced deals and they already know that he can hold his own on the fourth line or serve as injury insurance.  However, after being waiver-exempt this season which Edmonton used to get him in a couple of games early on, he would need to clear waivers to go to AHL Bakersfield in 2020-21.

Chicago Blackhawks Release CEO John McDonough

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The Chicago Blackhawks have sent shockwaves across the hockey world today, announcing that they have “released” John McDonough from his role as team president and CEO. Chairman Rocky Wirtz explained the decision:

Thirteen years ago, I recruited John to the Blackhawks because of his leadership, direction and vision. John brought all of that to the table and more. His contributions went well beyond leading the team to three Stanley Cup Championships. He rebuilt the front office and helped guide the organization toward a winning vision. As difficult as this is, we believe it was the right decision for the future of the organization and its fans.

The club will immediately begin a search to fill the role of team president. Daniel Wirtz, who currently serves as vice president and alternate governor, will serve as president in the interim.

Immediately questions will be raised about the future of Stan Bowman, who took over as general manager in 2009 when Dale Tallon was fired weeks after signing Marian Hossa to a 12-year $63.3MM contract. The Blackhawks have failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs since winning the Stanley Cup in 2015, causing many fans to believe that the hockey operations should be under new leadership. Change near the top often drips down an organizational chart, meaning there could be further changes in the coming months.

Still, McDonough’s contribution to the Blackhawks should not be overlooked. When he took over as president in 2007 (CEO wouldn’t be added to his title until 2011), the Blackhawks were drawing just over 12,000 fans per game according to Frank Seravalli of TSN. As he leaves, they are currently on a 531-game sellout streak and won the Stanley Cup three times during his tenure.

Just over a month ago, Wirtz told Scott Powers of The Athletic (subscription required) that there would be no changes in the front office after a frustrating season. In fact, he went so far as to say “if I wasn’t confident (in McDonough, Bowman and head coach Jeremy Colliton), they wouldn’t be employed. Yeah, I’m very confident.”

Calgary Flames Sign Emilio Pettersen

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The Calgary Flames have signed one of their more interesting prospects, inking Emilio Pettersen to a three-year entry-level contract according to several reports including Frank Seravalli of TSN. Pettersen recently finished his sophomore season at the University of Denver, but will turn pro and join the Flames organization.

The 20-year old forward was originally a sixth-round pick of the Flames in 2018 following two seasons in the USHL. Norwegian-born, he has been playing in North America since 2014 and has improved at every level. This season recorded 35 points in 36 games for DU, leading the program in scoring and earning himself a Hobey Baker nomination as one of the best players in college hockey.

It’s hard to know exactly where Pettersen’s potential will end up taking him, but at this point he looks like a late-round steal for the Flames. The next step will be continuing to produce at the AHL level, in hopes of one day contributing in the NHL.

Troy Grosenick Named AHL Man Of The Year

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Milwaukee Admirals goaltender Troy Grosenick has been named the 2020 AHL Man of the Year, winning the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award. The honor is given to an AHL player for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations. Landon Ferraro was the previous winner, taking home the award in 2019 as a member of the Iowa Wild.

Grosenick, 30, joined the Admirals in 2018 following a trade from the San Jose Sharks and is the first player born and raised in the Milwaukee area to play for the organization. The veteran netminder was part of several charitable campaigns this season, donating money and time to childhood cancer research and anti-bullying programs.

Not only was he outstanding off the ice, but Grosenick was also a star on it, recording a .920 save percentage in 33 appearances for the Admirals and posting a 20-9-3 record on the year. He has two career NHL appearances, both with the Sharks in 2014-15.

Joel Ward Announces Retirement

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Though he hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2017-18 playoffs, Joel Ward was still hoping to make it back at some point. Today, however, he has given up that chase and announced his retirement through a piece in The Players’ Tribune.

Ward, 39, played 726 regular season games in the NHL, a total he used as the title for his piece. The fact that he even spent a single day at the highest level was not something that seemed possible when he went undrafted and spent four years at the University of Prince Edward Island. The epitome of hard work and not giving up on your dream, Ward would eventually make the NHL with the Minnesota Wild at age-26.

A veteran of 11 seasons, the gritty forward also suited up 83 times in the playoffs. Those postseason games included a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 with the San Jose Sharks, the closest he ever came to lifting the ultimate prize over his head.

A two-time 20-goal scorer, Ward had 133 over his career and recorded 304 points. A player perfect for the playoffs, his production shot way up when the games meant the most. In his 83 playoff appearances he had 22 goals and 52 points (and 132 hits).

Chicago’s Jacob Nilsson To Return To Sweden

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Just two years after leaving his native Sweden, Chicago Blackhawks forward Jacob Nilsson is heading back. Farjestad BK of the SHL has announced that they have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the 26-year-old forward. Nilsson, who signed a one-year extension with Chicago last year, was poised to become a restricted free agent this off-season but has seemingly already made his decision.

Nilsson, who Farjestad accurately calls a “late bloomer” in their press release, played in the junior and minor league levels in Sweden until 2017-18 when his former club, Mora IK, was promoted to the SHL. After just that one lone season, Nilsson’s strong two-way play caught the eye of the Blackhawks and earned him an entry-level contract. However, last season Nilsson appeared in just two games with Chicago and had not played in an NHL game this season.

With that said, Nilsson has been fairly productive in the AHL, recording 22 goals and 53 points over two seasons with the Rockford Ice Hogs. He may not have NHL ability, but Farjestad is excited to bring in the skilled center. He joins fellow Swede and former Blackhawks teammate Victor Ejdsell with his new club and they hope to lead Farjestad to a similar or better result as this season, in which the team finished second in regular seasons standings but lost their shot at a title due to the cancelled postseason.

Zach Redmond Commits To Red Bull Munich In DEL

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While the season remains suspended in both the NHL and the AHL, that doesn’t mean that some players may not be thinking about their future. According to dagenshockey, former NHL defenseman Zach Redmond has committed to signing a contract overseas with the DEL’s EHC Red Bull Munich for the 2020-21 season.

The 31-year-old defenseman has spent the last two seasons with the Rochester Americans on an AHL contract after playing 133 games with the Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. Redmond battled through several injuries throughout his career, including a significant injury back in 2013 while with the Jets when a teammate accidently skated over his thigh in a drill, forcing emergency surgery. Regardless, he worked his way back into the lineup and eventually played most of a full season with the Avalanche back in 2014-15 season as well as a depth player for many years after that.

He has had a critical role, however for the Amerks as a leader and veteran. He posted a 21-goal, 50-point season in 2018-19. He started strong this season as well, but struggled in the second half as he has five goals and 30 points in 59 games.

Atlantic Notes: Red Wings, Stamkos, Romanov

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With plenty of cap room and a major need in the net, many feel that the Detroit Red Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman might make a splash into the free-agent market this offseason. Longtime goaltender Jimmy Howard is 36 years old, coming off his worst season and is an unrestricted free agent, meaning that a return is extremely unlikely. Throw in the fact that there are several big names that could become available at the time, including Braden Holtby and Robin Lehner, and it’s very likely the Red Wings will be exploring that market.

However, the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James writes neither Holtby or Lehner are likely candidates to come to Detroit next season. Holtby might not be too interested in joining a rebuilding team and the scribe believes that both players’ price tags are likely to be too rich for what the Red Wings are going to be interested to pay. Holtby is currently making $6.1MM per season, while Lehner is currently on a one-year deal at $5MM. Neither is likely to be willing to take much of a pay cut.

James suggests the team is likely going to look for a player to join Jonathan Bernier in more of a tandem role on a short-term deal, including players like Cam Talbot, Anton Khudobin and Jaroslav Halak.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning suffered a major loss back in early March when it was announced that captain Steven Stamkos would miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury. The recovery time would likely have forced him to miss at least the first-round of the playoffs. However, the suspension of play due to COVID-19 has allowed Stamkos the time he needed to get healthy and recently told Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription required), that he’ll be ready to go when play resumes. “With the timing of all this, it was devastating at the beginning because I thought I would possibly be missing some playoff games,” Stamkos said. “And the stoppage happened, and we didn’t know how long it was gonna be. So the silver lining in that was I’ll be ready when we resume. So I’ve been able to still use this time to rehab. I’ve been going to the rink … about three times a week to skate and just start feeling normal again.”
  • Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that while Montreal Canadiens fans are waiting for top prospect Alex Romanov to sign on the dotted line in the next few days, that might have to wait. Despite that fact that his KHL contract will expire on April 30, Romanov doesn’t intend to sign a contract until he knows what is happening in regards to the NHL’s 2019-20 season. He does intend to sign once play is expected to resume, but the 20-year-old wants to make sure he doesn’t sit for a lengthy amount of time. The defenseman has already played two full seasons in the KHL and many hope that Romanov is ready to step into Montreal’s lineup as soon as next season.

Stretch Run Storylines: Edmonton Oilers

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As things stand, the NHL is planning to have games resume at some point over the coming weeks.  Assuming the regular season continues, there will be plenty of things to watch for over the stretch run.  Over the weeks ahead, PHR will examine the top stretch run storylines for each team.  We continue our look at the Pacific Division with Edmonton.

No one was quite sure what to make of the Edmonton Oilers coming into the 2019-20 season. Back in 2016-17, the team made a promising playoff run, suggested that Connor McDavid was set to take Edmonton to years of deep playoff runs. Instead, the team collapsed for two straight years, being bounced from the playoffs both years and struggling with a weak defense and a lack of top-six talent. Add a new general manager in Ken Holland and the team under new head coach Dave Tippett is back in the playoff race, beginning to look like that 2016-17 team.

Hart Trophy For Draisaitl?

McDavid may be the face of the franchise, but Leon Draisaitl has been grabbing many of the game-to-game headlines as the German center has finally moved from McDavid’s wing to center his own line and has found success. He has formed his own line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto, which has had great success throughout much of the second half of the season. The 24-year-old who had 50 goals and 105 points a year ago, has already surpassed that point total in less games. He has 43 goals and 110 points through 71 games and is leading the league in scoring.

Could Draisaitl be joining McDavid as a Hart Trophy winner? He is 13 points ahead of McDavid who is second in the league in scoring. With the turnaround success of the Oilers, who are in second place in the Pacific Division, Draisaitl may just be the lead candidate for the trophy.

Trade-Deadline Acquisitions

The Edmonton Oilers picked up three players at the trade deadline in a hope to bolster their defense and their offense to another level. The team gave up two second-round picks in order to pick up the speedy Andreas Athanasiou, while also moving a future fifth-rounder for winger Tyler Ennis. They also moved Kyle Brodziak and a fourth-round pick to Detroit for veteran defender Mike Green.

However, the Oilers have yet to get much of a return on those investments as Athanasiou has appeared in just nine games with just one goal. Ennis has fared better with two goals and four points in nine games. Green has appeared in just two games due to injuries. The hope is all three can make significant strides when/if play resumes. However, if the season is cancelled, the Oilers will only have Athanasiou left as the other two will be unrestricted free agents and no guarantees that they will return next season.

With so few games under their belt, the learning curve for all three players could be significant as they have to learn a new coaching system and how to play with new linemates.

Loss Of A Teammate

With all the tragedy stemming from the COVID-19, the Oilers suffered a separate loss when forward Colby Cave passed away on Apr. 11 when he was placed into a medically-induced coma due to a brain bleed. The forward had appeared in 44 games with the Oilers over the past two years and he played in 11 games this year with Edmonton.

While he wasn’t a full-time player with the Oilers, he was a big part of the team and the Oilers will have to deal with that loss as a team. How the team handles it could have a big effect on how the team performs in the playoffs when/if the league gets the season re-started.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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