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Hiring Notes: Craig Johnson, Jim Johnson, Weight, Stars

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The Anaheim Ducks announced that they have hired former NHLer and recent member of the Los Angeles Kings organization Craig Johnson as an assistant coach on Dallas Eakins’ staff. Though Johnson doesn’t bring with him any previous NHL coaching experience, he does bring a wealth of hockey knowledge and experience between his 10 year playing career, coaching experience at various other levels, as well as other roles in scouting and directing. Johnson has spent the previous four seasons in the Kings organization, serving as a development coach, a professional scout, and an assistant coach on the staff of the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate.

One of the more intriguing aspects of this hire is Johnson’s ties to the southern California hockey scene. Johnson came to the Kings in February of 1996 as part of the deal that sent Wayne Gretzky to the St. Louis Blues. The forward would spend eight seasons in a Kings uniform before spending part of the 2003-04 seasons with the Ducks. Shortly after retiring from his playing career, Johnson became the head coach of Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s hockey team, which plays in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League (ADHSHL), leading the team to three national titles during his tenure before joining the Kings organization. Craig’s son Ryan Johnson was a first round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2019, becoming the second first-round pick in that draft to come out of the ADHSHL, along with the Philadelphia Flyers’ Cam York.

  • Craig Johnson was not the only Johnson the Ducks hired today, with the team also announcing the hire of Jim Johnson as Director of Player Development. Jim Johnson has held numerous roles in coaching between USA in the USNTDP and at several World Junior Championships, as well as in the NHL, spending time as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and most recently, the St. Louis Blues. In addition to his time behind the bench, he spent parts of thirteen seasons in the NHL, getting into 829 games as a defenseman.
  • Earlier today, news broke that Doug Wilson Jr. was no longer with the Sharks as their Scouting Director (link). It does appear the organization has added a new name to its front office, however, with former NHL star Doug Weight joining the organization as a senior advisor to the hockey ops department, says The Athletic’s Corey Masisak (link). Masisak points out that Weight had played several seasons alongside new Sharks GM Mike Grier while the two were with the Edmonton Oilers. Weight also spent time as an advisor and assistant GM with the New York Islanders before becoming the team’s Head Coach after Jack Capuano was fired during the 2016-17 season.
  • The Dallas Stars also announced two front office hires to the organization’s Hockey Analytics Department. Matt Rodell has been hired as the team’s Director of Hockey Analytics and Brad Behan has been hired as Coordinator of Hockey Analytics. Rodell has spent the previous five seasons in the Stars organizations in various capacities while Behan spent the 2021-22 season as an intern for the department.

Matt Moulson Joins Maple Leafs Front Office, Signaling Retirement

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Longtime NHL and AHL forward Matt Moulson has joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as a pro scout, per the team’s website. The move to scouting signals that Moulson has retired from hockey after a 16-year professional career that included 605 NHL games.

Moulson hasn’t played in the NHL since 2017-18 with the Buffalo Sabres, but he’s been floating around the AHL with the Ontario Reign and Hershey Bears since then, maintaining a solid professional career, although falling short of a Calder Cup. A three-time 30-goal scorer, Moulson did his best work with the New York Islanders alongside current Maple Leafs captain John Tavares.

The point production burnt out quickly after turning 30, though, notching no more than 14 goals or 41 points in a season during his four NHL seasons spent in Buffalo after departing the Islanders during the 2013-14 season. Waived and loaned to Ontario in 2017-18, Moulson made a home for himself tutoring youngsters in the minors, aiding both Los Angeles’ and Washington’s development systems along the way.

Moulson finished a strong AHL career with 424 games played, 159 goals, and 350 points, including a trio of seasons spent with the Manchester Monarchs early in his career, back when he was the property of the Kings in the mid-2000s. Now 38, Moulson will make a swift transition to scouting with the Leafs.

Prospect Notes: Beck, Nelson, Lucius, Guhle

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Hockey Canada has made some changes to their National Junior Team summer development camp roster, from which the organization will select their contingent for the 2023 World Junior Championship in December. In lieu of San Jose Sharks defense prospect Gannon Laroque being unable to participate due to injury, Hockey Canada has added a pair of 2022 draft-eligible prospects in forward Owen Beck and defenseman Ty Nelson to their list.

Beck, ranked 33rd in TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s final scouting poll, netted 51 points in 68 games for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads in 2021-22. The public opinion on him is rather skewed, with some listing Beck in the mid-to-late first while some have him deep within the second round. Regardless, he’s one of the better OHLers available in this year’s class. He’ll rely on his strong skating and transitional play to try and improbably work his way onto the final roster. Nelson, who hails from the OHL’s North Bay Battalion, was ranked 50th in McKenzie’s consensus rankings after a 51-point season.

  • A second Lucius brother has officially left the University of Minnesota program. 2022-eligible Cruz Lucius, the younger sibling of Winnipeg Jets prospect Chaz Lucius, has switched his college commitment to rival Wisconsin. Cruz’s draft stock was hurt by injury this season, but he still managed eight points in six games for the U.S. at the U18 World Juniors and 25 points in 33 games with the U.S. National Development Team Program. If McKenzie’s consensus rankings are a proper indication, he’s slated to hear his name called in the mid-to-late third round.
  • Anaheim Ducks defense prospect Brendan Guhle won’t be staying in North America for 2022-23 after signing a contract with the DEL’s Eisbären Berlin. Guhle, originally selected 51st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, will still belong to the Ducks organization if they issue the pending restricted free agent a qualifying offer. Guhle has just 65 NHL games to his name at this point, tallying 14 points. He had just seven points in 37 games last season in the AHL with San Diego.

Xavier Simoneau Signs AHL Contract

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Overage draft pick Xavier Simoneau will start his professional career with the Laval Rocket in 2022-23 after signing a one-year AHL contract today. The 21-year-old forward recently finished his fifth season in the QMJHL.

Selected 191st overall in 2021 by the Montreal Canadiens, Simoneau is a dynamic offensive player that racked up 86 points in 48 regular season games for the Charlottetown Islanders this season. Overall for his CHL career he had more than 300 points, while also winning the Humanitarian of the Year award in 2020.

The biggest obstacle at the next level will be his size, as Simoneau stands just 5’7″ but plays a relatively physical game. It can be difficult for those types of players to find the same success at the professional level, which is likely the reason that he’ll start on a minor league deal instead of an NHL entry-level contract.

Montreal has until June 1, 2023, to decide whether he’s worth that ELC, at which point he would become an unrestricted free agent.

Snapshots: DeSmith, Mock Draft, McCallum

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Once Tristan Jarry got injured late in this past season, many figured that backup goalie Casey DeSmith would have a prime opportunity to earn some extra money on his next contract. The pending unrestricted free agent was the team’s starter in Game One of the first round against the New York Rangers, but his chance at showcasing his talents on a national stage was cut short. Like Jarry, DeSmith was also knocked out with an injury. Louis Domingue, third on the Penguins’ goalie depth chart, got that valuable opportunity instead. Even with that missed opportunity, DeSmith still enters free agency on solid ground. The Penguins, though, are reportedly hoping he doesn’t get there. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Penguins are “trying to sign” DeSmith to a new deal, with the two sides working at reaching an agreement on an acceptable contract.

The motivations for the Penguins are clear and based in DeSmith’s performance. He has been a steady, reliable backup for three seasons now, and carries a career .916 save percentage in 97 NHL games. DeSmith went 11-6-5 in 2021-22, and had a 2.79 goals-against-average and .914 save percentage. DeSmith is an undrafted player who made his professional debut as an ECHL goalie after finishing his college career at the University of New Hampshire. DeSmith’s NHL resume is more consistently successful than Scott Wedgewood’s, who today signed a two-year deal worth $1MM AAV. With DeSmith already earning $1.25MM on his last deal, and with a more extensive track record of success at the NHL level, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him double Wedgewood’s number on his own next contract.

Now, for some other notes from across the league:

  • We are rapidly approaching the NHL Draft, and rumors are swirling constantly. This is a rare year for NHL fans as there is some real mystery at the top of the draft. Who the Montreal Canadiens, the hosts of the draft, pick there is anyone’s guess. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman waded into the murky waters of next week’s draft, and projected all seven rounds as part of a full mock draft. (subscription link) Pronman writes that the “winds seem to be blowing” towards the Canadiens selecting Slovakian winger Juraj Slafkovsky at the number-one slot, and as a result of that choice Kingston Frontenacs center Shane Wright slides all the way to the Seattle Kraken at the fourth pick. Pronman projects that the New Jersey Devils will take a big defenseman in David Jiricek, and that the Arizona Coyotes will stick with American center Logan Cooley, who they are often connected to. If Pronman’s extensive work is any indication, it will be an extremely exciting – even chaotic – draft night.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, announced today that they have signed forward Lynden McCallum to a one-year AHL contract. McCallum is a former Brandon Wheat King, playing for the WHL club from 2017-18 to 2020-21. GM Kelly McCrimmon has deep ties to the Wheat Kings, so it’s easy to see the connection between McCallum and the organization McCrimmon currently runs. McCallum was an impressive ECHL player in his first professional season, scoring 17 goals and 32 points in 36 games for the Fort Wayne Komets. His AHL run was far less productive, as he only managed five points in 20 games, although his ice time did decline from 17:39 per game in Fort Wayne to only 10:32 per game in Henderson. With this extension, the 22-year-old McCallum will get another chance to continue his run of success at the ECHL level with the hopes that his stay in the AHL can be more permanent this time around.

Ryan Murphy Signs In KHL

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After a season with the Detroit Red Wings that failed to result in any NHL action, Ryan Murphy is going back to Russia. The veteran defenseman has signed a new one-year contract with Salavat Yulaev Ufa for the 2022-23 season.

Murphy, 29, was the 12th overall pick back in 2011 but failed to ever really establish himself as a full-time NHL player. The offensive defenseman managed 175 games, most recently with the New Jersey Devils in 2019, but left for the KHL that year to try his hand overseas. On his return in 2021, he wore an “A” as an alternate captain with the Henderson Silver Knights and won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s best defenseman.

Now just a year later and he’s headed back to the KHL to continue his career. With Ufa, he’ll get a chance to play under someone who has plenty of NHL experience of his own in Viktor Kozlov. He has been promoted to head coach for this season, after previously serving as an assistant.

While it has been a somewhat disappointing career so far for the former top prospect, there’s no doubt that Murphy can be a difference-maker at the KHL level. He’s also still young enough that there could be another NHL contract in his future, even if the AHL is more likely his stomping ground moving forward.

Dallas Stars Sign Ryan Shea

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The Dallas Stars have inked Ryan Shea to a one-year, two-way contract extension for next season, avoiding arbitration. The young defenseman has yet to play in the NHL but does not qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency because he has just two pro seasons under his belt.

Shea, 25, was originally a fourth-round pick of to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 but after failing to sign with them, hit the open market in 2020 following his college career. He played four years at Northeastern, eventually being named captain of the club in 2019 as a senior. After waiting until August, he signed an entry-level deal with Dallas, and quickly entered their AHL program with the Texas Stars.

After participating at the World Championship last summer, Shea showed a stark improvement this season, scoring 32 points in 66 games for Texas, helping the club reach the playoffs (but not advance). This deal will give the 6’2″ defenseman another opportunity with the minor league club, though it seems unlikely he will challenge for an NHL roster spot.

Just yesterday, the team signed pending UFA Joseph Cecconi, who like Shea could see the odd injury call-up this season. The difference of course is that because of his relatively late start as a pro, Shea is still waiver-exempt for 2022-23 and can be sent to the minor leagues without issue.

The Stars have now locked up a good amount of depth at the position, as Alexander Petrovic was also signed earlier this month.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Sean Malone

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The Buffalo Sabres are bringing back AHL standout Sean Malone for another year, inking him to a one-year contract worth $750K. The minor league forward was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Malone, 27, was great for the Rochester Americans this season, scoring 20 goals and 37 points in just 39 regular season games. His strong play continued into the playoffs, when he added another seven points in ten games, giving the young minor league squad a reliable veteran leader in the middle of the ice.

While the Americans were driven by talents like JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn, and Arttu Ruotsalainen, Malone, along with Michael Mersch, Ethan Prow, and others offered a more experienced group to help the on-ice development of the top prospects. That can continue next season now, as he returns on a no-risk one-year deal.

There’s also a chance that Malone earns some time with the big club, though it has been five years now since he signed out of Harvard and he has just two games to his name at the NHL level. One of those actually came with the Nashville Predators, during the year he was away from the Sabres organization. A Buffalo native, Malone came back in 2021 and is now getting a chance to continue with his hometown club, even if it’s mostly for minor league action.

Tarmo Reunanen Signs In Finland

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The Carolina Hurricanes don’t have to worry about a restricted free agent negotiation with Tarmo Reunanen. The young defenseman has signed a two-year contract with Lukko in Finland after he failed to suit up for a single playoff game for the Calder Cup-winning Chicago Wolves.

Reunanen, 24, landed with Carolina at the deadline in a minor league trade in order to provide Chicago with additional defensive depth, something they proved unnecessary as they stomped their way through the AHL playoffs. His exclusive rights can be retained by issuing him a qualifying offer, though it does seem like this may be the end of his time with the Hurricanes.

A two-year deal will leave Reunanen 26 years old at its expiry, and just a year away from unrestricted free agency. He could at that point sign a contract to return, though this isn’t just a new opportunity–it’s a return home. He played several seasons for Lukko before coming over and had his only Liiga playoff appearance with them in 2019.

The Finnish blueliner didn’t even come over to North America until 2020, despite being a fourth-round pick in 2016. He managed four games at the NHL level with the Rangers and 69 more in the minor leagues, split between the Wolves and the Hartford Wolf Pack.

An offensively-gifted defenseman, he did rack up 37 points in those AHL contests but wasn’t able to really make a mark at the NHL level. He’s a name to keep an eye on down the road but one that very well may be staying overseas at this point.

Kim Pegula “Progressing Well” From Undisclosed Health Issue

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There was some dark news in the Buffalo Sabres community a handful of weeks ago when it was announced that Sabres (and Buffalo Bills) owner Kim Pegula was receiving serious medical treatment as a result of “unexpected health issues.” As it had been a considerable amount of time since that announcement with no update, fans were becoming increasingly concerned with her health status.

Now, via the Sabres, the Pegula family said in a statement today that Kim is “progressing well,” resting, and rehabbing from her health issue, asking fans to continue to respect their privacy. The full statement is as follows:

Kim is progressing well and is resting and rehabilitating from a health issue. We are grateful for the medical professionals providing her care and to everyone for their prayers and well wishes. We ask that you please continue to respect our need for privacy during this time.

Pegula, 53, has been the owner of the Sabres since the 2015-16 season when she was transferred principal ownership of the team from her husband Terry. She was also named team president in 2018-19 and has also served in that role for their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

PHR sends their best wishes to the Pegula family and the Sabres community for her continued recovery.

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