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Daniil Chayka Signs Entry-Level Contract With Vegas Golden Knights

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Daniil Chayka, a second-round draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights this year, has signed his entry-level contract with the team. Per the team’s press release, it’s a three-year deal. Per PuckPedia, the details of the $925,000 average annual value deal are as follows:

2021-22: $750,000 base, $92,500 SB, $80,000 AHL (82 GP perf. bonus included)
2022-23: $750,000 base, $92,500 SB, $80,000 AHL (82 GP perf. bonus included)
2023-24: $832,500 base, $92,500 SB, $80,000 AHL

Chayka, entering the 2020-21 season, was regarded as one of the better defense prospects in the 2021 NHL Draft. He had tallied 34 points in just 56 games with the OHL’s Guelph Storm in 2019-20, suggesting that the large defensive defenseman had some offensive ceiling as well. While that may still be true, Chayka had a bit of a rough year back home in Russia in 2020-21 after the OHL’s shutdown. Bouncing between the KHL, VHL, and MHL, Chayka never played more than 11 games at any level and had some uncharacteristically concerning defensive struggles.

With Chayka returning to Guelph this season, Vegas will gain a better idea of how the 6′ 3″ defender can perform back in North America. He’s at least three or four years away from challenging for a roster spot in Vegas. But if Chayka can return to his 2019-20 level of play or even improve on it this season, his stock could rise post-draft within an already defensively sound organization.

Cole Caufield Listed As Day-To-Day

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The Montreal Canadiens today announced that forward Cole Caufield is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Caufield played in last night’s preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs but was pulled after warmups prior to today’s intrasquad scrimmage.

Head coach Dominique Ducharme confirmed today that Caufield’s injury isn’t serious, and his absence remains mainly precautionary. That’s good news for Canadiens fans, as Caufield still projects to slot in with Nick Suzuki on Montreal’s top line to begin the season.

Caufield netted a combined 17 points in 30 games between his regular season and playoff contests in 2020-21 and will improve on those totals this year, in all likelihood. He’ll undoubtedly see more than the 13:58 average ice time he saw last year.

Montreal has already struggled mightily with injuries to core pieces heading into training camp. Aside from captain Shea Weber being expected to miss the entire season, Carey Price and Mike Hoffman are both dealing with shorter-term injuries but could be out for the start of the season.

Caufield projects to be one of the favorites to take home the Calder Trophy this year along with a strong class of rookies. Last season, Caufield also scored 52 points in just 31 games while at the University of Wisconsin, along with five points in seven games for the United States at the World Junior Championships.

Snapshots: Vrana, Voracek, Augustana

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Hockey is back as the preseason enters its second day. While teams continue to announce roster moves and training camp cuts, there’s a variety of news and notes from around the league and sport that have come through the wire. The most notable takes us to the Detroit Red Wings, where head coach Jeff Blashill reports that forward Jakub Vrana will see a specialist on Monday for a shoulder injury suffered this week. After yesterday’s report from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen that Vrana would be reevaluated later, this is a quick turnaround from such an uncertain timeline. Any absence would be a huge blow to Detroit, for whom Vrana scored at a point-per-game pace last season.

Some other news from around the hockey world:

  • The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline notes the discrepancy in the role that Jakub Voracek will carry during his second tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Voracek’s last season in Columbus came in 2010-11 at the age of 21, playing 10 seasons and 727 games in Philadelphia after a trade. Dealt back to Columbus this offseason in exchange for Cam Atkinson, Voracek now returns as the oldest player on the Columbus roster. He’ll be tasked with being a strong voice in terms of leadership to help gel a rebuilding squad. It’s something that Voracek says he’s “ready to fill” due to his experience in Philadelphia.
  • After announcing a move to create a Division I hockey program back in June, South Dakota’s Augustana University will announce the program officially on October 5. Including the groundbreaking of the team’s new arena, the event will mark history for hockey in South Dakota. It continues a recent tradition of lesser-known schools breaking into the Division I scene.

Metropolitan Notes: Zibanejad, Lee, Malkin

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The New York Rangers began extension talks with top center Mika Zibanejad earlier this month, but the two sides have not yet reached a resolution on a new contact. However, don’t expect that to bother Zibanejad this season. The New York Post’s Mollie Walker reports that Zibanejad is unfazed by his impending free agent status. He has been candid with comments stating that he will leave negotiations to his agent and the Rangers’ front office while he remains focused on the upcoming season. “Right now, they’re taking care of business — so I’m taking care of mine,” Zibanejad stated. While many players state us much while actually posturing, Zibanejad really does have nothing to worry about. Sure, the skilled center has stated that he enjoys playing in New York and would like to sign long-term with the Rangers. However, the 28-year-old could also be the top name on the open market if he cannot come to terms with the team on a new deal. Walker reports that Zibanejad’s side is seeking upwards of $10MM per year on a seven- or eight-year term, while the Rangers would prefer to keep that cap number between $7-9MM. While Zibanejad would lose the possibility of that eighth year should he test the market, competition would also certainly drive that AAV up toward his asking price. As a result, Zibanejad has all the leverage in talks with New York, especially if he performs this season, so it makes sense that he can calmly focus solely on his play and let negotiations unfold behind the scenes.

  • Across town, the New York Islanders are looking forward to the return of one of their own core players in Anders Lee. Lee missed the final 29 games of the regular season and the entirety of the postseason after undergoing ACL surgery in March, but is now back to full strength. Yet, his comeback is still on hold for the time being. Though Lee has not been limited in training camp, NYI Hockey Now’s Christian Arnold relays word from head coach Barry Trotz that Lee will not be rushed into preseason action. The star forward is expected to be held out of at least the first few Islanders preseason games, if not more. While the team wants Lee to be up to game speed by the start of the regular season, they are being cautious with his workload on a surgically repaired knee. A hard-working veteran, Lee will be ready to go for New York’s season debut regardless of how much work he puts in prior.
  • As for Evgeni Malkin, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports that it is status quo for the star center’s return from off-season knee surgery. While Sidney Crosby is only expected to miss a few games to start the year following his own wrist surgery, the expectation remains that Malkin will miss the first two months of the season. The Penguins surely had hoped that Malkin could fast-forward his return to action, especially since the team’s limited cap space handicapped their ability to find a suitable replacement down the middle. The focus so far in training camp has been on veteran Evan Rodrigues and youngster Radim Zohorna battling for a starting center role, though neither will be able to bring even replacement-level offense to the lineup. Jeff Carter, Teddy Blueger, and eventually Crosby will likely be the Penguins top-nine centers until Malkin returns and the lines are re-shuffled.

Training Camp Cuts: 09/26/21

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Training camp means training camp cuts. Even though the preseason only kicked off last night and waivers does not begin until later this week, teams are already making moves to trim their rosters of junior and waiver-exempt talent and failed tryouts. Keep up with all of those moves here:

Boston Bruins (via team Twitter)

D Ryan Mast (to Sarnia, OHL)
D Noah Dorey (released from ATO to Kelowna, WHL)

Los Angeles Kings (via team Twitter)

F Lorenzo Canonica (released from ATO to Shawinigan, QMJHL)
F Brett Hyland (released from ATO to Brandon, WHL)
F Logan Morrison (released from ATO to Hamilton, OHL)
F Tye McSorley (released from ATO to Oshawa, OHL)
D Cameron Supryka (released from ATO to Hamilton, OHL)
D Landon Kosior (released from ATO to Prince Albert, WHL)
D Dylan Robinson (released from ATO to Windsor, OHL)

Minnesota Wild (via team release)

F Caedan Bankier (to Kamloops, WHL)
D Daemon Hunt (to Moose Jaw, WHL)
D Carson Lambos (to Winnipeg, WHL)
D Kyle Masters (to Red Deer, WHL)
F Pavel Novak (to Kelowna, WHL)
D Ryan O’Rourke (to Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
G Trevin Kozlowski (released from PTO to Iowa, AHL)
F Bryce Misley (released from PTO to Iowa, AHL)

Montreal Canadiens (via team Twitter)

F Joshua Roy (to Sherbrooke, QMJHL)
F Xavier Simoneau (to Charlottetown, QMJHL)
G Joe Vrbetic (to North Bay, OHL)

New York Rangers (via team release)

G Talyn Boyko (to Tri-City, WHL)
F Jake Elmer (to Hartford, AHL)
G Dylan Garand (to Kamloops, WHL)
F Patrick Khodorenko (to Hartford, AHL)
F Ryder Korczak (to Moose Jaw, WHL)
D Hunter Skinner (to Hartford, AHL)
F Evan Vierling (to Barrie, OHL)
D Zach Berzolla (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
D Zach Giuttari (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
F Michael O’Leary (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
F James Sanchez (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
F Alex Whalen (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)

Pittsburgh Penguins (via team release)

F Sam Houde (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
D Chris Bigras (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
D Chris Merisier-Ortiz (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
D Josh Maniscalco (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
G Alex D’Orio (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
G Tommy Nappier (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
F Lukas Svejkovsky (to Medicine Hat, WHL)
F Josh Williams (to Edmonton, WHL)
D Isaac Belliveau (to Gatineau, QMJHL)
D Ryan McCleary (to Portland, WHL)

This post will be updated throughout the day.

2022 Olympic Schedule Revealed

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The International Ice Hockey Federation has unveiled the schedule for the Men’s Hockey tournament at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Made even more exciting by the return of NHLers to the event, the tournament will be played over two weeks in February, preceded by the NHL’s All-Star Weekend and during which time the league will have a scheduled break. Relayed by NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, the full schedule can be found here.

The tournament will begin on February 9 and the impact of the time difference between the host nation, China, and North America will be felt immediately. Russia (Russian Olympic Committee) takes on Switzerland in the debut game at 3:40am ET/12:40am PT, a late-night time slot that will be very difficult for many viewers. Canada (vs. Germany) and the United States (vs. China) each play their first game on February 10 at 8:10am ET/5:10 PT, a morning time slot that is better but still not ideal. Of the 30 scheduled games, 19 will take place in one of these two time slots. There will also be a quarterfinal match-up held at 1:00am ET/10:00pm PT as well as at 9:30am ET/6:30am PT.

Fortunately, the remaining nine games will take place at a more manageable 11:10pm ET/8:10pm PT time slot. This includes the much-anticipated group play collision between the U.S. and Canada on February 11. It also includes the gold medal game on February  19. There will be some quirky viewing times over the course of the 11-day tournament, but without any NHL games to compete and given the stakes and stellar talent on display at the Olympics, hockey fans will be able to figure it out.

Minor Transactions: 09/25/21

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NHL teams may be busy with training camps now in full swing – and camp cuts already underway – but those players without a contract or even a camp invite have to look elsewhere. The result is a slew of AHL signings, which could continue up until AHL camps also get ready to begin. Follow along with those moves and other transactions right here:

  • The Hartford Wolfpack have announced one-year extensions with forwards James Sanchez and Alex Whalen as well as for defenseman Jeff Taylor. Sanchez and Whalen are both recent college products, with Whalen playing all of last season with Hartford after leaving nearby Quinnipiac University and Sanchez joining the team after his senior season at Arizona State University. Sanchez, who struggled at the University of Michigan in his first two NCAA seasons, put up strong numbers after transferring to ASU and looked good in eight games with the Wolfpack late last season. He could be a player worth watching for Rangers fans interested in a dark horse prospect. Taylor, 27, has bounced between the AHL and ECHL for the past four seasons, including the past two under contract with Hartford.
  • Not returning to the Wolfpack this season is Gabriel Fontaine. Fontaine, a 2016 draft selection, has spent the past four seasons under contract with the New York Rangers. However, he became an unrestricted free agent this summer when the team declined to extend him a qualifying offer. Rather than stick with the franchise and sign an AHL deal with Hartford, Fontaine has instead signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Eagles, the team announced. Fontaine is also attending Colorado Avalanche training camp on a PTO. The 24-year-old center has yet to find his footing in the pros, but could benefit from this change of scenery.
  • Another player not expected back in Hartford is defenseman Brandon Crawley. A fellow non-qualified Rangers prospect, even after spending some time on New York’s taxi squad last year, Crawley has been seeking another NHL deal this summer. Instead, he has settled for an AHL deal. His agency, WD Sports & Entertainment, has announced that Crawley has come to terms on a contract with the Syracuse Crunch. The team has not yet confirmed the deal.
  • Things are not going as planned of late for Jaromir Pytlik. The big Czech forward was considered a consensus second- or third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, but ended up falling to the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round. Setting out to prove wrong those teams that passed on him, Pytlik made the jump from the second-tier league in the Czech Republic to the Liiga, the top-tier league in Finland. He signed a two-year deal with KalPa with the expectations of owning a regular role. Yet, after just two games, KalPa has reassigned Pytlik to IPK of the second-tier Metsis, the team announced. It’s another hurdle for a well-rounded prospect who needs to establish his pro ability.

Injury Notes: Vrana, Martin, Keeper

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Expectations are high for 25-year-old Jakub Vrana this season after the talented forward arrived in Detroit late last season in the Anthony Mantha trade and promptly recorded eight goals and 11 points in 11 games. However, his 2021-22 season is not off to as smooth a start. As Kevin Allen writes for Detroit Hockey Now, Vrana arrived late to training camp due to visa issues and was only able to take the ice for the first time today. Less than ten minutes into his first session back with the team, Vrana suffered a shoulder injury and had to leave. Head coach Jeff Blashill did not have a prognosis after practice, stating only that Vrana would be “re-evaluated later”. As Allen notes, Detroit was missing Tyler Bertuzzi for nearly all of last season and don’t need another core scorer with a nagging injury again this year. Hopefully Vrana’s shoulder ailment is nothing serious.

  • The New York Islanders iconic fourth line has looked a little different so far in camp with Richard Panik lining up with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck rather than Matt Martin. No, head coach Barry Trotz isn’t just breaking up a line with proven chemistry. Instead, Newsday’s Andrew Gross reports that Martin is dealing with an ankle injury. Rather than taking part in line rushes as a full participant in practice, Martin has been skating by himself so far in camp. There is no timeline for when the veteran forward might return. In the meantime, Panik will have the opportunity to show that he should not be one of many notable victims of the Islanders’ impending roster crunch.
  • A scary scene occurred at Vancouver Canucks camp today as defenseman Brady Keeper has to be stretchered off the ice following an apparent seriously leg injury. As The Athletic’s Thomas Drance recalls, Keeper blocked a shot in the leg and went down in audible pain. Drance describes his state as “a ton of distress”. The stretcher was eventually brought out as Keeper could not get up under his own power. While any serious injury such as this is unfortunate, don’t underestimate the potential impact that an extensive absence for Keeper could have on the Canucks. The 25-year-old may only have two NHL games under his belt, but the market was such for the Group 6 UFA this summer that the Canucks signed him to a one-way contract and at a value above the $750K minimum. Vancouver seemingly felt that Keeper could be an NHL contributor this season, even though he is one of 11 or 12 defenders battling for a roster spot. Fortunately that depth will also help the team overcome the potential long-term loss of a player they clearly had plans for this season.

Blues Agree On Five-Year Extension With GM Doug Armstrong

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5:15pm: St. Louis has officially announced a five-year extension for Armstrong. The extended term begins at the end of the current season and will see Armstrong become the longest-tenured GM for St. Louis. A member of the Blues since 2008 and the top executive since 2010, Armstrong is carving out a special place for himself in the history of the franchise.

2pm: The Blues have called a press conference for 5:00 PM CT today for what they’re describing as a “major announcement”.  Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic and ESPN’s Kevin Weekes report (Twitter links) that the announcement will be a multi-year contract extension for general manager Doug Armstrong.

Armstrong has been working in an NHL front office for close to three decades now after starting out with Minnesota as their assistant back in 1992-93 before the franchise moved to Dallas.  He stayed with them until being let go partway through the 2007-08 season but caught on with the Blues soon after, starting as their Director of Player Personnel in 2008-09 and being promoted to GM two years later, a role he has held ever since, making him the fifth-longest-tenured GM in the league at the moment.

Armstrong has brought in several core players to the Blues in recent years including centers Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn plus defenseman Justin Faulk through trades while inking blueliner Torey Krug and winger Brandon Saad over the last two offseasons in free agency.  St. Louis has made the playoffs in all but two seasons with Armstrong at the helm with their best performance coming in 2019.

Rutherford notes that Armstrong was signed through this season with an option for the 2022-23 campaign.  It appears that option will be exercised with more years tacked on or torn up entirely as part of this new agreement.

Islanders Sign Jon Gillies To PTO

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The New York Islanders have announced their training camp roster and it features a few non-roster invites, but none more interesting than goaltender Jon Gillies. Gillies comes over from the St. Louis Blues as an unsigned unrestricted free agent and could actually have a shot at a contract. The other two invites are AHL Bridgeport players, veteran defensemen Seth Helgeson and Mike Cornell. 

Whether it be his Providence College connection with GM Lou Lamoriello or simply his status as one of the few experienced goaltenders left available on the open market, Gillies has found his way to the Islanders this preseason and it could be a PTO worth watching. While New York has a stout NHL tandem in Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin, their depth is a concern. 35-year-old Cory Schneider was re-signed, but his 2020-21 season with the Isles resulted in zero NHL appearances and just two abysmal AHL starts. Ken Appleby was signed in April strictly for Expansion Draft purposes and he too was limited last season with just seven AHL appearances. Appleby, 26, played exclusively in the ECHL in 2019-20 as well. Jakub Skarek, 21, struggled with Bridgeport last season, while Tristan Lennox, 18, is not ready for the pros. With a strong camp performance, it is easy to see how Gillies might be able to fill a role for the Islanders this season.

A third-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2012, Gillies was a top college goalie and NCAA National Champion with the Providence Friars before turning pro early in 2015. Gillies performed well at the pro level immediately and his early returns in the AHL and in a small sample of NHL appearances put him position to battle to be the Flames’ goaltender of the future. However, this was a competition that he would lose to David Rittich. Relegated to the AHL for the entire 2018-19 season, Gillies performed poorly and his NHL trajectory was knocked off course. With that said, he has improved in each of the past two seasons and spent much of last year on the St. Louis taxi squad as the next man up in net. At 27, Gillies still has plenty of tread left on the tires. The Islanders have experience in Schneider and upside in Skarek, but if they truly need a netminder to step in to an NHL role this season, Gillies could be their best bet – especially if he can make the most of his PTO with a strong camp performance.

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