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Pacific Notes: Sharks, Jones, Carrick, Podkolzin

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The Sharks have started reaching out to teams to ask permission to interview for their GM vacancy, Pierre LeBrun reported in a recent TSN Insider Trading segment.  Their internal list of candidates is still quite large – believed to be around 25 at the moment – but will be whittled down further before phone interviews begin which could be as soon as next week.  Given how many are on their list, this process may take a while and ownership has previously indicated that there are no issues with interim GM Joe Will potentially leading the team through the draft in July if the search takes longer than expected.  Lisa Dillman of The Athletic suggests (Twitter link) that ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is someone to keep an eye on; the former goaltender has interviewed for several GM openings recently and it seems like only a matter of time before he gets an opportunity.

More from the Pacific:

  • Although Ducks winger Max Jones has received a clean bill of health after recovering from a torn chest muscle, he’ll be held out for the rest of the year for precautionary reasons, relays Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. The 24-year-old has missed all but two games this season due to the injury and will look to lock down a full-time spot in the lineup in training camp.  In the meantime, he’ll likely continue to take part in Anaheim’s practices in a non-contact jersey.
  • In a separate column, Teaford adds that center Sam Carrick isn’t expected to return this season due to a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old had just 11 points in 47 over parts of five NHL campaigns heading into 2021-22 but he has basically been a regular for the Ducks this season, collecting 19 points (including 11 goals) in 64 games.  Carrick will be an unrestricted free agent in July.
  • While the plus/minus statistic has lost a lot of its relevance in recent years, it’s something the Canucks will be monitoring over these final few games. As Thomas Drance of The Athletic points out (subscription link), rookie winger Vasily Podkolzin is tied for third among Vancouver forwards in that particular stat with a +9 mark.  If he finishes in the top three, he earns an ‘A’ bonus of $212.5K, one that will count against Vancouver’s 2022-23 cap since the team has been in LTIR all season and has no banked cap room.

USA Hockey Reveals U18 World Championship Roster

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With the 2022 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship about to get underway, USA Hockey has revealed its roster for the eight-team tournament.  As expected, it features several projected high draft picks in July’s entry draft; the full team is as follows:

G Trey Augustine
G Michael Chambre
G Tyler Muszelik

D Hunter Brzustewicz
D Brady Cleveland
D Seamus Casey
D Ryan Chesley (A)
D Tyler Duke
D Charlie Leddy
D Lane Hutson
D Seamus Powell

F Gavin Brindley
F Logan Cooley
F Cutter Gauthier (A)
F Marek Hejduk
F Isaac Howard
F Devin Kaplan
F Ryan Leonard
F Cruz Lucius
F Rutger McGroarty (C)
F Frank Nazar
F Jimmy Snuggerud
F Cole Spicer
F Charlie Stramel

Cooley is a name that stands out as the center has worked his way up draft boards this season and is basically a consensus top-five selection with several scouting services placing him second.  He had a combined 89 points for the National Team Development Program this season and is heading to the University of Minnesota next season.  Nazar gives the US a dynamic one-two punch down the middle as the University of Michigan commit had 97 points this season and has a chance to be selected in the top ten in July as well.  Hutson won’t go as high given his size (5’9, 148 lbs) but he nearly had as many points as Cooley did this season which is quite impressive for a defenseman.  Because of his size, his draft rankings are all over the place with some ranking him as a first-rounder while others have him in the third round.

In terms of the 2023-eligible prospects, Brindley nearly doubled his production with Tri-City of the USHL this season and is the only player on the team that wasn’t in the development program all season.  Leonard and Stramel, meanwhile, spent time with both the U-17 and U-18 programs which bodes well for their draft stock.

The tournament is being hosted in Germany begins on Saturday and runs through May 1st.  It features teams from eight different countries split into two groups with each team playing the three opponents in their group before the medal round is set.

Metropolitan Notes: Penguins, Trocheck, Rangers

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With Tristan Jarry injured with a broken bone in his foot, Pittsburgh’s decision to not upgrade their backup goaltending spot at the trade deadline has come into question.  However, as Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette illustrates, doing so wasn’t a viable option for the Penguins on a couple of fronts.  They only had enough money to add one piece – winger Rickard Rakell – with team president Brian Burke acknowledging they felt they needed to upgrade up front which made that the direction they took.  On top of that, aside from Marc-Andre Fleury whose AAV was too expensive to fit in, there weren’t any realistic upgrades on Casey DeSmith that were readily available.  DeSmith is now getting a prime opportunity to prove his value not only to Pittsburgh but around the rest of the league as he gets set to hit the open market in July.

More from the Metropolitan:

  • Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck is having a nice season with 20 goals and 28 assists in 78 games, setting him up nicely to have plenty of interest in his first trip through unrestricted free agency this summer. However, he reiterated to Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin that his preference remains to stay in Carolina.  The recent extension given to Jesperi Kotkaniemi could potentially complicate that plan as their intention is to move Kotkaniemi to his natural spot down the middle and Trocheck’s pending free agency is a logical way to do that.  If the 28-year-old ultimately reaches the free agent market, Trocheck will have plenty of suitors to choose from in July.
  • The Rangers won’t have forwards Andrew Copp (lower-body injury) and Filip Chytil (upper-body injury) in the lineup on Saturday against Boston, relays Mollie Walker of the New York Post. Both players were injured on Thursday (Copp’s came after scoring a natural hat trick in the first period) and are currently listed as day-to-day.

Seattle Kraken Sign Ryker Evans

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The Seattle Kraken have inked their second-ever draft pick, defenseman Ryker Evans, to a three-year entry-level contract. The team announced that Evans will join the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers for their first-round matchup in the Calder Cup playoffs. The Athletic’s Ryan S. Clark clarified that the plan is for Evans’ entry-level deal to begin next year, so he can sign an amateur tryout agreement to play for the Checkers this year. In a statement, Kraken GM Ron Francis had the following to say about Evans:

We’re excited to sign our second-ever draft pick, Ryker had a really impressive season with the Regina Pats and we’re looking forward to having him continue his development with our organization.

Evans, 20, experienced a huge rise in his prospect profile in just one season. After going undrafted as an eighteen-year-old prospect in the 2020 draft, Evans posted 28 points in 24 games in the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 WHL season and, off the back of that success, got selected just outside of the first round (35th overall) in the 2021 draft. In the team’s announcement of the contract, the Kraken stated their amateur scouts were “pounding the table” to get Evans. With his level of production, it’s easy to see why. Evans has followed up his 2020-21 success with another productive season for the Regina Pats, this time posting 61 points in 63 games.

Evans had to battle being tagged as “undersized” earlier in his career, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a high-quality defensive prospect. He was recently named to the second All-Star team of his division in the WHL, and his puck-moving style is a great fit for the modern NHL. While the Kraken haven’t had a ton to celebrate in their inaugural season, and much of the fanbase has already set their sights on the draft lottery next month, Evans’ progression to being one of the top offensive defensemen in the WHL has to be a reason for optimism for the young franchise.

Latest On Bruce Boudreau

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While a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild last night all but ended the Canucks’ fading playoff hopes, their fans can enter this offseason with a good degree of optimism about the future of their team. A major reason for why that optimism is possible is coach Bruce Boudreau, who was hired earlier this year as a replacement for fired coach Travis Green. Boudreau has revived the Canucks, and under his watch, the team has gone 30-14-9, one of the best runs in the NHL. But despite that reasonable optimism thanks to Boudreau’s work, his future in Vancouver has been a bit cloudy. GM Patrik Allvin was non-committal when asked about Boudreau’s future, and talk of his contract situation has made headlines across the NHL in recent months. Boudreau is believed to have the option for a second year on the contract he signed with Vancouver, but the exact conditions of that second year are a bit murky, as it is believed that each party (both the Canucks and Boudreau) have an “out” if that is the route they choose. So while few could have imagined a better run of success for Boudreau, there is still uncertainty surrounding his future as the coach of the Canucks.

But that uncertainty may slowly be giving way to growing confidence in Boudreau returning for another season. The Athletic’s Thomas Drance has reported (subscription required) that Boudreau met with his representation this week, and that there is a “growing sense” in Vancouver that the Canucks will attempt to retain Boudreau “in some fashion.” But Drance clarifies that finances could get in the way of a smooth return. Boudreau is reportedly set to make $2.5MM next season if he coaches on the Canucks, a number that Drance believes represents a “low-end valuation” of what he would be paid as a free agent. So, in theory, given that Boudreau has an “out” in his contract and the large number of head coaching vacancies expected for this offseason, it seems that it may not be totally out of the realm of possibility that Boudreau opts to take a contract with a larger commitment from another club.

For the Canucks, it seems as though retaining Boudreau should be more of a straightforward decision than it has been. Boudreau’s work revived the team as they were deeply struggling during the final days of the Jim Benning/Travis Green era. Crucial star players, players who look set as the pillars of the Canucks’ franchise going into the future, have seen their play improve under Boudreau’s watch. Overall they have been one of the tougher teams to defeat in the entire league since he has taken over, and it’s not easy to come up with reasons why an organization in search of its first long-term coach since Alain Vigneault would choose to go in a different direction when they already have Boudreau behind their bench. But if there’s one thing that seems likely under the Canucks’ new regime, it’s bold changes. With names like Brock Boeser who were once seemingly untouchable floating in trade rumors, it would not be an incredible surprise if Boudreau were coaching elsewhere by the time players report for training camp this fall.

Grant Hutton Clears Waivers

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April 22: Hutton has now cleared waivers, according to CapFriendly.

April 21: While a rarity to see waivers post-Trade Deadline, they are still in effect. The New York Islanders took advantage of this today, reports TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, as they’ve placed defenseman Grant Hutton on waivers.

Not a household name in the slightest, you might be surprised to learn Hutton has 16 games of action this season with the Islanders. While some came earlier in the season when the team was rattled with COVID cases, the 26-year-old has climbed up the organizational depth chart, actually playing in 11 straight games between March 27th and April 15th. In that timeframe, he averaged 13:42 of ice time per game and recorded his first NHL goal. Originally getting into the lineup with Scott Mayfield’s injury, they’ve had other depth defenders get healthy (like Sebastian Aho), and the organization has decided to send him down to the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders.

Since Hutton can’t actually play in the NHL for another team this season, considering he would be changing teams after the Trade Deadline, there’s almost zero risk that he’ll get claimed off waivers. With the defenseman hitting unrestricted free agency at the end of this season as well, there’s no reason for a team to pick him up.

Hutton has 19 points in 45 games this season with Bridgeport.

Robin Lehner To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

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1:57 PM: Coach Pete DeBoer has added some mystery to the situation. Despite ESPN’s reporting and corroboration from other media sources, when asked about Lehner’s situation DeBoer stated that the reports of Lehner undergoing season-ending surgery are not accurate “to his knowledge.” He said that he expects Lehner to be at practice tomorrow. This is certainly an unexpected development, and a situation that we will keep updating as more information becomes available.

1:11 PM: As the Vegas Golden Knights look to make the playoffs over this final stretch of the season, they now will have to do so without their starting goaltender. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan has reported that Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner’s season is over, as he has opted to undergo surgery for a major knee injury he suffered against Philadelphia last month. Lehner had attempted to play through that injury over the past month but has finally made the choice to end his season to get started on the recovery process.

This was the 30-year-old Lehner’s first season as the Golden Knights’ unquestioned starting goalie thanks to the offseason departure of Marc-Andre Fleury, and Lehner finishes his season having posted mixed results. His .907 save percentage over 44 games played ranks 30th in the NHL, and his inconsistency has been a factor in the Golden Knights’ struggles this season. He has had games where he has shown the brilliance that made him a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2018-19, but has also had games where he has looked off and struggled to make expected saves. The Golden Knights are committed to him financially, as he holds a contract worth $5MM against the cap through 2024-2025, but coach Pete DeBoer’s comments and Lehner’s struggles to fill Fleury’s shoes leave questions about his long-term future in Vegas’ crease.

With Lehner out, the fate of the Golden Knights’ season now rests in the hands of goaltender Logan Thompson. The undrafted Thompson, 25, has earned the trust of coach Pete DeBoer in recent weeks and has posted a sterling .920 save percentage in 15 games this season. While the former Brandon Wheat King was stopping pucks in the ECHL as recently as 2019-20,  it is his rapid rise through the ranks of Vegas’ organization that has put him in this position. He posted a .943 save percentage in 23 games last season for the Henderson Silver Knights and has a .920 in games at that level this season. Given the lofty expectations surrounding the Golden Knights, the entire organization has to be hopeful that Thompson can continue that run of success into Vegas’ next four games and save their season.

Kyle Clifford, Wayne Simmonds Earn Fines

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Sometimes a game that has so much hype surrounding it can turn into something very different, very quickly. With so many talking about last night’s Toronto Maple Leafs-Tampa Bay Lightning game as a potential first-round preview, there was a buzz in the air when the game started. In the end, the Maple Leafs are just lucky to escape without any suspensions.

Both Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds have earned fines today for incidents in last night’s game, which turned into a circus after Erik Kallgren allowed six straight goals in just over 20 minutes of gameplay. The game finished 8-1, with the Maple Leafs taking 63 minutes in penalties and the Lightning adding 49 of their own.

Clifford was fined $2,500 for his high-stick on Corey Perry, when he reached over the top of officials to get at the restrained Tampa Bay forward. Clifford was given a match penalty which comes with an automatic review, but Perry did not suffer an injury on the play. He will escape without a suspension, though his fine was the maximum allowable under the CBA.

For Simmonds, it’s a $2,250 fine for charging Mikhail Sergachev, a play that didn’t even result in a penalty from the on-ice officials. Simmonds did end up with 15 minutes in penalties, including a misconduct as the referees tried to get control of the game. He too will avoid a suspension, though, like any fine, this will be considered whenever there is another supplementary discipline decision.

AHL Shuffle: 04/22/22

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There are just four games on the schedule for this evening but all eyes will likely be on the matchup in Edmonton. The Oilers will welcome the Colorado Avalanche in a battle between two of the most impressive offensive units in the NHL, and two of the playoff teams in the Western Conference. The Avalanche have actually lost two straight, which still leaves them at 8-2 in their last ten, while the Oilers are now 8-1-1 as they try to establish themselves as a true Stanley Cup contender. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Detroit Red Wings have assigned Chase Pearson to the AHL once again, his fourth transaction in just the last week. The 24-year-old forward has played in three games at the NHL level this season and is still looking for his first point.
  • Rafael Harvey-Pinard has been returned to the AHL by the Montreal Canadiens, after playing just over 11 minutes in the game last night. The 23-year-old forward has now seen action in four NHL games and has one goal to his name.
  • The Boston Bruins have returned forward Jack Studnicka to the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Studnicka, 23, has been one of the team’s top prospects in recent seasons and has gotten into 14 games for the big club so far in 2021-22. He has three points in those 14 games this year and has 33 points in 37 games this season in Providence.

Metropolitan Division

  • The Philadelphia Flyers have sent goaltender Felix Sandstrom down to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Sandstrom, 25, was a third-round pick in 2015 and has gotten into 42 games for the Phantoms this season, where he has posted a .901 save percentage. Sandstrom has also gotten into 3 games for the Flyers this season and has a .915 at the NHL level.
  • The New Jersey Devils have announced that they have recalled forward Nolan Foote from the AHL’s Utica Comets. Foote, 21, was a 2019 first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he arrived in New Jersey as part of the Blake Coleman trade in 2020. Foote has been good in the AHL this year, with 14 goals and 32 points in 55 games, but has been held off the scoresheet in his two NHL games this season.

Central Division

  • Dylan Samberg isn’t going anywhere as the Winnipeg Jets have converted his emergency recall into a regular one. Samberg has now played in 11 games this season–his first at the NHL level–and already has four points. The 23-year-old defenseman was a second-round pick in 2017 and appears to be a likely part of the team’s blueline moving forward.
  • Mitchell Chaffee has been returned to the AHL by the Minnesota Wild, after making his NHL debut a few days ago. The 24-year-old forward was filling in while Marcus Foligno dealt with a positive COVID-19 test, but it appears as though he’ll now head back to the AHL.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Bokondji Imama from the AHL, meaning he could make his NHL debut down the stretch. The 25-year-old forward has 12 points and 178 penalty minutes for the Tucson Roadrunners this season.

Pacific Division

  • The Vegas Golden Knights have assigned forward Jake Leschyshyn to the Henderson Silver Knights. Leschyshyn, 23, was the 62nd overall pick in the 2017 draft and has played in a hefty chunk of games for Vegas this season. He has six points in 41 games at the NHL level this year and 26 points in 32 games for the Silver Knights.

This page is updated throughout the day

Damien Riat Signs Extension In Switzerland

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It seems as though Damien Riat’s time associated with the Washington Capitals could be coming to an end. The Swiss forward has spent this entire season on loan to Lausanne HC, and today the club announced that he has signed an extension.

Riat, 25, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer when his entry-level contract expired. The Capitals could continue to hold his rights by issuing him a qualifying offer, though that would only last until he turns 27 in two years’ time. Given the fact that he already returned to Switzerland after just half a season with the Hershey Bears in 2020-21, it seems more likely that his time in North America is over.

A fourth-round pick of the Capitals in 2016, Riat burst onto the scene with several impressive international performances at the World Juniors, and then was part of the Swiss team that took home a silver medal at the 2018 World Championship. He’s been a strong performer for years in the NL (formerly the NLA), and this season put up 28 points in 35 games for Lausanne.

Last season, after starting the year in Switzerland, Riat came to North America for the first time and registered nine points in 33 games for Hershey. If that turns out to be his only taste of pro hockey on this side of the pond, it will seem like a bit of wasted potential. Perhaps he will revisit the idea in the future, though it is unclear how long this new multi-year contract extends.

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