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Archives for June 2020

Dallas Stars Sign Fredrik Karlstrom To Entry-Level Contract

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Tuesday: In an interview with hockeysverige, Karlstrom announces that he will be staying in Sweden for another year.

Monday: The Dallas Stars have signed prospect Fredrik Karlstrom just before his draft rights expired, inking him to a two-year entry-level contract. Karlstrom could have become an unrestricted free agent had he failed to sign today, but he will join the organization that drafted him back in 2016.

One of the highest picks left unsigned from four years ago, Karlstom was selected 90th overall by the Stars. The 22-year old center has spent the last three seasons playing in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 2019-20 for Vaxjo HC. It’s hard to know exactly how his game would translate to North America, but there are a couple of things that stand out and could help Karlstrom make an impact in the AHL.

The first is his versatility, as Karlstrom has experience at both center and wing. The second is his penalty killing, where he has excelled in the past. While it’s not clear exactly what the Stars have planned for him, the 6’2″ forward will likely get a chance to prove himself whenever the 2020-21 training camps are underway. Given that the contract he signed last year with Vaxjo was a two-year pact, the Stars may also loan him back to continue his development overseas.

Anaheim Ducks Sign SHL MVP Kodie Curran

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The Anaheim Ducks have made an intriguing free agency splash by signing defenseman Kodie Curran, the reigning MVP of the Swedish Hockey League. Curran has inked a two-year, one-way contract with the Ducks that carries a $1MM AAV, reports numerous sources including the OC Register.

To say that Curran has had an unconventional path to the NHL would be an understatement. The 30-year-old was never drafted after playing his developmental years with AJHL and USports. He played two seasons in the minors in North America before embarking on a career in Europe in 2016. Over the past four years, he has played in Demark, Norway, and Sweden, dominating in all three countries. He won a championship in each of his single seasons in the top Danish and Norse leagues and was an All-Star and top defenseman each year as well. The highlight of his career came this past season in the SHL, when he recorded 49 points in 48 games for Rogle BK to lead all defensemen in assists and points, to lead all imports in points, and to take home the honors of Defenseman of the Year and MVP.

His greatest challenge will now come in the NHL though and he will face an uphill battle to make the Anaheim roster before he even has a chance at regular action at the top level. The Ducks have six defensemen on one-way contracts already signed for next season, including four making $4MM or more against the cap. This does not include RFA defender Jacob Larsson, who will also be back with the team. They also have young blue liners like Brendan Guhle and Josh Mahura who will push for opportunity. Curran will need to be at his best to make the Opening Night roster and to stick in Anaheim. However, he has shown an impeccable ability to rise to the occasion in recent years and it will be exciting to see if he does so again in his newest venture.

Washington Capitals Assistant Reid Cashman Hired By Dartmouth

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The Washington Capitals will have Reid Cashman serving in his assistant coach role through the completion of the 2019-20 playoffs, but not thereafter. Cashman has been hired as the new head coach of the Dartmouth hockey program, which he will join whenever the Capitals season is over.

Cashman, 37, started his coaching career in 2011 at Quinnipiac University, serving as an assistant or associate for five seasons. He then joined the Capitals organization, first as an assistant with the Hershey Bears and then with the Capitals. The former AHL defenseman is an up-and-coming coaching prospect that could find his way back to the NHL eventually.

This isn’t the first assistant coach that has already committed to a new program, as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Paul McFarland will be heading back to the OHL. The suspended season has changed a lot of plans for staff all across the league and the delayed start to 2020-21 could potentially lead to even more departures.

Snapshots: Stralman, Draft Rankings, Tourigny

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The NHL has announced its return to play format and hopes to get players back on the ice in groups soon, but that doesn’t mean that the season is guaranteed to resume this summer. Some players are still worried about how safe it would be to gather teams in hub cities, including Anton Stralman who spoke with Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription required):

I think you should be concerned. There are so many ways to look at this thing. I know everybody wants hockey back, but safety has to come first. And it’s a little bit worrisome, I can’t deny that. Even though most players are young and healthy, I’m sure there are players like me that have underlying health issues. I don’t know how my body will react if I get this virus.

According to Smith, Stralman dealt with bronchiectasis in the past and only recently stopped taking medication for it. While he is the one speaking out about it, Stralman isn’t the only player who feels this way as James Mirtle of The Athletic points out on Twitter.

  • For those who are looking forward to the draft instead, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic (subscription required) has published his final top-100 ranking of 2020 draft prospects. That includes Alexis Lafreniere at the top where he has been on every list so far, but also has some surprises a little further down the first round. Wheeler gives a detailed scouting report on each of the first 50 prospects and breaks them down into draft tiers.
  • The CHL has named Andre Tourigny the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year for 2019-20 after leading the Ottawa 67’s to a 50-11-1 record. Tourigny was also an assistant with the gold medal-winning Team Canada at the World Juniors and has now put up consecutive 50-win seasons with Ottawa. Amazingly, despite winning coach of the year in the QMJHL, OHL and now CHL, Tourigny has still not been able to capture a league title.

Vegas Golden Knights Sign Connor Corcoran

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Another player has decided to sign just before the deadline, as Connor Corcoran inks a three-year entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. Corcoran’s draft rights would have expired later today, but instead he’ll be joining the Golden Knights organization after an impressive OHL career.

Corcoran, 19, put up 19 goals and 54 points this season for the Windsor Spitfires while serving as an alternate captain. That significant jump in offense was likely played an important part in earning him this contract, given he was a fifth-round pick two years ago.

The 6’2″ defenseman will be eligible to join the new Henderson Silver Knights for their inaugural season to continue his development. Though likely still several years from competing for an NHL job, Corcoran has at least taken the first step and is now a professional hockey player.

The Golden Knights still must reach contracts with Xavier Bouchard and Jordan Kooy, or lose their draft rights today.

Chris Wideman, Frank Corrado Sign Overseas

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With the start of the 2020-21 NHL season likely pushed back several months, players on the seven teams already eliminated have a very long wait before they can get into game action. For minor league free agents in those organizations, seeking out new opportunities is obviously a priority. Today, both Frank Corrado and Chris Wideman, players with NHL experience, have decided to sign overseas.

Corrado, 27, spent the 2019-20 season with the Belleville Senators of the AHL, recording 10 points in 36 games. The fifth-round pick has suited up 80 times in the NHL counting regular season and playoff games but has been limited to mostly minor league work the last few seasons. He’ll now take his talents to Sweden where he has signed with MODO, who now play in Sweden’s second league after suffering relegation a few years ago.

Wideman meanwhile will be headed to the KHL after playing this season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. The 30-year old Wideman was once a regular on the Ottawa Senators blueline but has bounced around the league the last few seasons and found himself firmly in the minor leagues in 2019-20. With 181 NHL games under his belt, he’ll try to find success overseas for the first time.

Winnipeg Jets Sign Declan Chisholm

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With the deadline to sign coming up fast later this evening, the Winnipeg Jets have gotten an interesting prospect under contract. The team has signed Declan Chisholm to his three-year entry-level contract according to several reports including CapFriendly.

Chisholm, 20, had an outstanding season for the Peterborough Petes this year, recording 13 goals and 69 points in 59 games. The left-shot defenseman was part of a deadly powerplay and became the primary puck-mover for the squad, recording 48 more points than the next highest scoring defenseman on the Petes.

For a fifth-round pick like Chisholm getting an NHL contract is a huge step, but there should be even more excitement in Winnipeg for his arrival at the professional level. With the strong development steps he has taken over the last few years, Chisholm is now a prospect with legitimate NHL upside who could quickly take over a big role for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

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