Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek is one of the more prominent pending restricted free agent blueliners this summer. The 26-year-old had a career year in 2023-24, recording 48 points in 81 games while logging over 23 minutes a night, numbers that would serve him well in an arbitration hearing. However, Patrick Johnston of the Vancouver Province reports that there has been little action on contract talks on a new deal for several months. Vancouver has to issue a $5.28MM qualifying offer later this month, something they should have no concerns about doing. However, with the arbitration filing deadline coming early in July, it stands to reason that they should start discussions with Hronek’s camp in the near future.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- It looks like pending Rangers RFA Karl Henriksson could be heading back overseas next season. Smalandsposten in Sweden reports that SHL Vaxjo is showing interest in signing the 23-year-old. Henriksson has spent the last two seasons with AHL Hartford and had 11 goals and 13 assists in 64 games in 2023-24. He already has a fair bit of experience in Sweden’s top level, playing in 94 games in parts of four seasons with Frolunda before coming to North America. Even if he signs back home, New York can still retain Henriksson’s NHL rights with a qualifying offer later this month.
- While some of the expected top picks in the upcoming draft could jump to the NHL right away, that won’t be the case for Anton Silayev. He’s already signed through the 2025-26 season in the KHL and there’s no transfer agreement in place between that league and the NHL that could allow him to come sooner. However, as Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis relays, NHL teams feel the big blueliner doesn’t intend on signing another deal in Russia after this one and instead intends to come to North America in 2026. Given some of the uncertainty surrounding Russian prospects, his reported intention to come over two years from now should help his draft stock.
- The Avalanche will soon be looking for a new Director of Amateur Scouting. Notre Dame College announced (Twitter link) announced that they’ve hired Wade Klippenstein as their new Director of Hockey Development. Klippenstein has been in Colorado’s scouting department since 2016, serving as their top amateur scout for the past three seasons but Colorado Hockey Now’s Evan Rawal reports that Klippenstein was informed that his contract would not be renewed, leading to this move. He won’t be with them at the draft later this month.
Silayev could be a decent draft and stash pick for the Hawks in the 2nd round. Davidson already launched a 2nd round pick proving he’s not interested in quantity anymore just quality. They already have the quantity of prospects. Silayev could be a guy worth even the Hawks own 2nd round pick. It might depend on what else is there but he’s certainly worth a shot at 48. Unless somebody else wants to bet higher.
he’s expected to go early in the 1st round
If somebody wants to toss away a 1st round pick on a guy who at the very best will be able to play here in 2027 that’s the kind of pick that could get a GM fired. I say have at it.
Maybe you should ask Daniel Briere about his 7th overall pick last year. Not thinking he was, or is worried about his job.
So is being the GM in Philadelphia considered a long term job now? What if Michov decides to stay or better yet Putin tosses a hissy fit and doesn’t let people out of the country? Then how safe is his job? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
There were concerns of Michkov not being able to come over too, and he only fell to 7. Defencemen also generally take longer to develop, so maybe another year or 2 in Russia isn’t the worst thing. Absolutely no chance Silayev is there at 48. I doubt he drops out of the top 16.
Not sure I understand your logic. If a team believes Silayev is the Best Player Available why would they not take him? You’re waiting at least 3 years for 98% of the players that are drafted. So what if it’s in Russia. Now I don’t think Silayev has huge offensive upside but he will be a bona-fide elite shut down defender which means he’s going for sure top ten and potentially top 5 in this draft.
Oh and did anyone mention he’s 6’7”!!! And even with that massive farm he is a very good skater. He’s going probably 5-8 you may not want your team to take him but whoever does very well may be getting one of the best picks (franchise wise long term) of the draft. I’m he’s the kind of guy you win cups with.
Did I mention the Hawks already have Del Mastro, Jones and Murphy at 6’4″”, Alex Vlasic at 6’6″ and Crevier at 6’8″. If we were starting a Basketball team I’d be impressed. But we’re all full up. We’ve got tall covered. What we need are skaters who play Defense which makes Levshunov that much more appealing.
And not one of those players are elite defenders nor elite skaters. Del Masteonis an offensive D man. Vlasic is a decent shutdown guy but nothing to write home about and Crevier probably will be a 7th D at best. Silayev is elite AND 6’7”. You don’t find a package like that too often. He’s going early I think no later than 7th. And that pick will look good in ten years his floor is high.
And to be fair we all know Chicago is not taking him at 2 so you’re safe. It sounds like they’re going Levshunov which is a nice pick but Demidov should be their pick. Him and Bedard could literally be like Crosby/Malkin or McDavid/Draisaitl. Levshunov is a safe pick they say more upside than Korchinski and his floor also is very high. But man to pass on Demidov could be passing on a franchise player.
Do people not understand contracts get ripped up all the time in Russia? It could be null and void next week. That’s just how it is.