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Detroit Red Wings Sign Bobby Ryan To PTO

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The Detroit Red Wings will give Bobby Ryan another chance to play this season, or at least a chance to earn a contract. The veteran forward has signed a professional tryout with Detroit and will be at training camp when it starts in a few days.

Ryan, 34, played 33 games for the Red Wings last season, scoring seven goals and 14 points before injury shut him down. He quickly explained then that he wanted to continue his playing career if possible, but a PTO wasn’t an unforeseeable conclusion at this point. There was a time that Ryan was one of the most feared power forwards in the league, scoring 30+ goals on a regular basis, but that player has been gone for years now. Over the last two seasons, he has combined for just 22 points in 77 games, though he remains a beloved teammate and locker room presence.

The interesting thing about Ryan is that a league minimum contract shouldn’t be a problem, given that he will still earn $1.83MM from the Ottawa Senators this season after a 2020 buyout. In fact, he’ll earn that amount in each of the next four seasons after they bought out the final two years of his seven-year, $50.75MM deal. Ryan played for the Red Wings last year with a $1MM salary, but likely won’t even command that much if he does earn a deal again this year.

Of course it may not be in Detroit at all, given how many youngsters they also want to fit into the lineup. A tryout gives Ryan the chance to showcase himself for the whole league and prove that there’s still something left in his tank.

Filip Lindberg Eyeing NHL Role With Penguins

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Training camp is a time for special interest stories. Seasoned vets and rookies alike sit down with their teams’ communications staffs and talk about their summers, their history with the team – or for newcomers their introduction, and their hopes and dreams for the seasons. However, no team is going to provide their fans with false hope about a prospect’s chances to help the team with stories of unreasonable expectations for the season. They may ask an AHL-bound player about his aspirations for the year, but will keep their own statements at least relatively grounded.

So when the Pittsburgh Penguins publish an article about premier college free agent signing Filip Lindberg hoping to win a job with the NHL team in his first pro season, it isn’t just puffery. When the team writes that “Lindberg is in [a] competition for playing time amongst the other netminders here in Pittsburgh as he looks to earn a starting role”, it doesn’t require much reading between the lines. It appears that the reigning NCAA National Champion, at just 22 years old, will actually have a chance to battle for a roster spot this preseason.

The Penguins were expected to bring in a veteran goaltender this off-season following inconsistency issues with starter Tristan Jarry and injury concerns with backup Casey DeSmith. Louis Domingue is not exactly what fans were expecting. Instead, Lindberg was the real value addition to the crease this summer. A seventh-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2019 following his freshman season at UMass, Lindberg had far outplayed his draft stock by the time he decided to leave college early and turn pro this year, spurning Minnesota for free agency in the process. In three NCAA seasons, Lindberg never posted a GAA over 2.00 nor a save percentage below .927. In 50 appearances for the Minutemen, he recorded a stunning .937 SV% and 1.55 GAA and, unsurprisingly, a .711 points percentage. This culminated in an NCAA Tournament performance for the ages, earning two shutouts for a .986 save percentage and 0.33 GAA in three games en route to UMass’ first ever title.

As accomplished as he may be at the college level, is Lindberg really ready for the NHL as a first-year pro? Maybe not for most NHL teams, but the Penguins have limited options. Jarry, 26, still appears to be locked in as the team’s starter, especially with another season left on his contract. However, 30-year-old DeSmith who has had struggles with injuries and inconsistency and is in the final year of his deal with the Penguins may not have much left to offer. Even if DeSmith begins the season on the NHL roster, he may not last. Would it really then benefit Pittsburgh to bring in journeyman Domingue over potential future NHL starter Lindberg? A strong performance in camp would be a good start for the college star, but may not be enough to win him a job outright. However, continued excellence in the AHL, including stealing starts from Domingue, could quickly put Lindberg in line for an NHL shot and perhaps even a full-time job in year one.

Before too long, even the starter’s job could belong to the lightning-quick netminder. Lindberg already unseated one Matt Murray in his career. Who’s to say he can’t do the same to Matt Murray’s replacements in Pittsburgh?

Health Notes: Morin, Drouin, Ylonen

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The news out of Philadelphia surrounding Samuel Morin does not sound good. Anthony SanFillipo, co-host of Flyers podcast “Snow The Goalie”, reports that multiple sources have shared that the defenseman-turned-forward has suffered another “significant” knee injury. Morin, 26, has previously suffered two torn ACL’s in his career, both occurring within a 20-month period in 2018 and 2019. As a result, Morin played just six NHL games and five AHL games over those two affected seasons. To date, the 2013 No. 11 overall pick has played in only 29 NHL games and has just one point. While this has had a serious impact on Morin’s development as a pro, he appeared to be back on track this past season with 27 games played between the Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms and was adjusting nicely to his new position. However, yet another knee serious knee injury could very well mean another lost season for Morin, if not the end of his playing career. It’s a devastating result for a player who showed so much promise coming out of the QMJHL. SanFillipo says to expect a formal announcement from Philadelphia this week.

  • Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin has finally spoken up about his leave of absence this past season. Drouin told Chantal Machabee of RDS in a one-on-one interview that he dealt with mental health issues last year. While Drouin notes that he has dealt with anxiety for years, it turned more serious late in the 2020-21 campaign when that anxiety led to insomnia. Drouin tried to push through, but it became too difficult to handle and he decided he needed to take a break. “It was really a step back, to have a lifestyle that was easier for me,” Drouin said. “There are times when I could go three evenings without sleeping and go and play two games in two nights. This is not something that is normal for any human and I had to change that a bit.” The Canadiens placed Drouin on LTIR and he missed the team’s miraculous run to the Stanley Cup. However, he is ready to get back to work this season. Drouin said he’s “doing very well” and that “the passion never left” and that he is excited to return to the game. Habs fans hope that the talented forward is ready to get back to his scoring ways as well.
  • Montreal will have no shortage of health issues to monitor this season. Young forward Jesse Ylonen, who is expected to challenge for an NHL roster spot, will not be vaccinated against COVID-19 this season, reports TVA. This is apparently a “personal decision” that will leave Ylonen as one of only 15 or so players expected to be unvaccinated. It has already forced Ylonen into a quarantine upon his arrival to Montreal which caused him to miss a rookie game on Saturday. That could be just the beginning though, as Ylonen will be subject to unpaid suspension if he is unable to travel due to local health policies or worse if he contracts COVID.

Snapshots: Petruzzelli, Lowe, Kimball

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When the signing deadline came and went for college draft picks without a deal for Keith Petruzzelli, it wasn’t clear what the plan was for the towering goaltender. The Detroit Red Wings had picked him 88th overall in 2017 and he had played four seasons at Quinnipiac University. Normally that would mean he would be forced to turn pro, but he actually could have returned to school for a fifth NCAA season because of the extra year of availability granted after COVID-19 caused many schools to pause their programs.

That’s exactly what the Red Wings wanted Petruzzelli to do, according to a report from Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, but the 22-year-old was ready to test himself at the next level. He signed a two-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, joining a Maple Leafs’ organization that is still searching for its “goaltender of the future.” The 2021 Hobey Baker finalist explained to Wheeler exactly why he chose Toronto to start his pro career and went in-depth on the struggles he has had to add weight to his 6’6″ frame in the past. There’s still a long way to go for the young netminder, but an NHL deal at some point down the road seems likely.

  • Kevin Lowe, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2020 will have his No. 4 retired by the Edmonton Oilers on November 4. It’s fitting that the New York Rangers are in town on that night, as that’s the only other NHL team Lowe played for during his 19-year career. A veteran of 1,254 regular season games, Lowe was a core member of the Oilers teams that won five Stanley Cup championships in seven years and was still effective enough to help the Rangers take home the 1994 title at age-35. Lowe now serves as alternate governor for the Oilers after previously serving as head coach, general manager, and president of hockey operations for the club.
  • The Washington Capitals have named Dr. Aimee Kimball as the senior director of team and organizational development. Kimball has spent the last 15 years in the NHL, including the last four years with the New Jersey Devils as director of player development. The Capitals explain that in her role, Kimball will provide “skilled direction and support in the areas of player development falling outside the standard skills (strength, and on-ice training).” As a mental training consultant, Kimball spent a decade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, including during their championship seasons of 2009 and 2016. She also currently serves as a mental performance coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team as the prepare for the upcoming 2022 Olympics.

New York Islanders Sign Otto Koivula, Cole Bardreau

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Sep 20: The Islanders have officially announced that they’ve agreed to terms with Andreoff, Bardreau, Koivula, Timashov and Paul LaDue, all players whose deals had been previously reported. The team did not confirm any of the contract details.

Sep 16: Just following the news that Andy Andreoff and Dmytro Timashov are signing with the New York Islanders, CapFriendly reported two other players that are now under contract with the team. Otto Koivula, one of the teams remaining restricted free agents, has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $750K in the NHL, $125K in the AHL and carries a $175K minor league guarantee. Cole Bardreau meanwhile has inked a two-year, two-way contract that carries an average annual value of $750K at the NHL level, pays him an average of $170K in the AHL and contains minor league guarantees of at least $205K.

Koivula, 23, split last season between Finland and the AHL, suiting up 20 times for the Bridgeport Sond Tigers. He had just two goals and nine points in those games, but has been a very strong contributor in the past. In fact, he played well enough to earn 12 games at the NHL level in 2019-20, though he failed to record a single point during them. The 6’5″ forward was a fourth-round pick by the Islanders in 2016 and is coming off his entry-level contract.

Bardreau, 28, is a little bit of a different story. The undrafted center has been a long-time minor league staple, first playing five years for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before joining Bridgeport in 2019. He scored ten goals and 16 points for them in 24 games last season and shouldn’t be expected to have much of an impact in the NHL. Bardreau did get ten games with the big club in 2019-20, but is likely getting locked up to be a key part of the Sound Tigers attack for the next two seasons.

Like all of the other reported deals, the Islanders have not yet officially confirmed either Koivula or Bardreau.

Minor Transactions: 09/20/21

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Training camps open in just a few days, and though there are still several restricted free agents to sign, the focus for many organizations is filling out their minor league depth charts. With that in mind, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.

  • The Hartford Wolf Pack have signed a pair of players, inking Zach Berzolla and Zach Giuttari to one-year AHL contracts. Giuttari is returning to the Wolf Pack after playing 22 games for the club in 2020-21. The 25-year-old defenseman registered six points in his first season of professional hockey. Berzolla, 23, played his senior season with Colorado College before suiting up for the Florida Everblades down the stretch. A Howell, New Jersey native, he’s back on the east coast.
  • Luke Moncada, who played last season with the Cleveland Monsters, is on his way overseas to play for the Vienna Capitals. The former North Bay Battalion star had just three points in 17 games for Cleveland, but will add a powerful presence to the ICEHL team as he continues his hockey career in Europe.

This page will be updated with further transactions as they are reported.

Seattle Signs Aaron Ness, Brent Gates To PTOs

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Without a minor league squad to draw from, the Seattle Kraken would have a relatively thin group to take part in training camp this season. That explains why they’ve added another two players on professional tryouts today, signing Aaron Ness and Brent Gates according to CapFriendly. The pair join Scott Wilson and Ryan Lohin who had already been reported on tryout contracts.

Ness, 31, is a top minor league defenseman who has continually registered huge point totals over a long career. In 2018-19 with the Hershey Bears, he hit a career-high of 55 in 71 games and has 260 overall in his 536-game AHL career. Last season, he was stuck almost exclusively on the taxi squad of the Arizona Coyotes, playing in just a single game at any level. Ness does have 72 games of NHL experience, and is exactly the kind of defenseman that seemed necessary for the Kraken earlier this summer–one who could clear waivers without much issue but still be a useful call-up if necessary.

Gates meanwhile has still never played in an NHL game, despite being the 80th overall pick in 2015. The 24-year-old center split last season between the Tulsa Oilers, Indy Fuel, San Diego Gulls, and Rochester Americans. He has found some success at the ECHL level, but it seems very unlikely that Gates will earn an NHL contract with the Kraken. Instead, he’ll just be another body to help fill out the camp and get a chance to showcase himself to other organizations around the league.

Boston Bruins Sign Zach Senyshyn

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The Boston Bruins have reached an agreement with their final restricted free agent, signing Zach Senyshyn to a one-year, two-way deal. The contract will carry an NHL salary of $750K. Of note, the young forward will be 25 at its expiry, meaning he could become a Group VI unrestricted free agent if he fails to land a regular spot in the Bruins lineup this season.

Now 24, Senyshyn was the 15th overall pick in 2015, the last of the infamous three consecutive picks the Bruins held. Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk and Senyshyn have combined for just 146 NHL points, while each of the three picks that followed–Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Thomas Chabot, have eclipsed 150. 

He’ll never escape that label, and in Senyshyn’s case, it is deserved. The winger hasn’t even had a ton of success at the minor league level, reaching a career-high of 26 points in 2017-18 with the Providence Bruins. His per-game production did take a jump in 2020-21 with seven goals and 13 points in just 18 AHL games, but he still seems very far from making an impact at the NHL level.

In 14 career games with Boston, Senyshyn has just one goal and three points. To be sent to the minor leagues this season he would need to clear waivers, but that wasn’t a problem at the beginning of 2020-21. He passed through in January without a claim.

Montreal Canadiens Sign Cody Goloubef To PTO

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The Montreal Canadiens will have some more defensive depth in training camp, as the team announced today that Cody Goloubef has signed a professional tryout.

Goloubef, 31, has bounced up and down between the AHL and NHL for the last decade, totaling 160 games played at the highest level. None of those came last season as he instead spent the entire year with the Belleville Senators, recording six points in 31 games. He split the 2019-20 season between Ottawa and Detroit, suiting up 26 times.

While his NHL career has been unspectacular, Goloubef did get the chance to suit up for Team Canada at the 2018 Olympics, where he registered two points in six games and took home a bronze medal. The same year he won the Spengler Cup but has otherwise not suited up internationally since the 2009 World Junior Championship.

For Montreal, this is likely nothing more than some training camp depth, though Goloubef could certain land a two-way deal to play for the Laval Rocket. It’s unlikely he’ll see much time in the NHL this season.

Travis Zajac Signs One-Day Contract With Devils, Announces Retirement

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New Jersey, he’ll always be a Devil. Travis Zajac has signed a one-day contract with the New Jersey Devils before announcing his retirement from a playing career that lasted more than 1,000 games. Zajac will remain with the Devils organization in an on/off-ice player development and consulting role, while also working to grow the club’s youth hockey initiatives. The veteran forward thanked everyone along the way, while Devils managing partner David Blitzer released a statement as well:

During his 15-year NHL career, Travis Zajac’s consistent preparation, commitment and performance epitomized what it meant to be a New Jersey Devil. Win or lose, Travis’ teammates, coaches and fans could always count on him to play the right way.  I am thrilled that Travis, his wife Nicole and their children will continue to make New Jersey their home, and they will be a valued part of the Devils organization moving forward.

Originally selected 20th overall in 2004, Zajac would be in the NHL full-time by 2006-07 and never look back. He scored 17 goals and 42 points that rookie season, numbers that would seem routine for him over the next decade. He reached a career-high of 25 goals and 67 points in the 2009-10 season and racked up 552 points in 1,037 career regular season games. All but 13 of those came with the Devils organization, though Zajac did have a short sojourn with the New York Islanders earlier this year, as GM Lou Lamoriello, who drafted him so many years ago, acquired the 36-year-old forward for a playoff run.

Despite having so much personal success, Zajac actually didn’t get that many chances to suit up in the postseason. He managed just 71 playoff games over his long career, only once going deep–the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012. A reliable two-way presence, he did receive Selke Trophy votes in seven different seasons, finishing sixth in 2010.

Now hanging up his skates, he’ll join the same Devils organization that has always been his home and help the next wave of talent reach the NHL.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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