Snapshots: Nash, Predators, Deslauriers
The oft-overlooked IIHF Men’s World Championship is drawing near, and Hockey Canada has added another former player and budding management star to the fold. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the organization has added Rick Nash as an assistant general manager, supplementing Shane Doan. Nash has three seasons of managerial experience now, all in his former stomping grounds in Columbus. After serving two seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21) as a special assistant to the general manager, he was named director of player development this season in addition to having his number retired by the organization. The tournament begins on May 13th.
Elsewhere from the NHL tonight:
- Injury trouble continues for the Nashville Predators as they try to solidify a Wild Card spot. Defenseman Mark Borowiecki is again marred by injury, with an upper-body ailment holding him out tonight, as well as Matt Luff, who sits with a non-COVID illness. Both have been used sparingly when in the lineup this season, but Borowiecki is still a valuable role player who’s still managed to get into 47 games this year despite injury. Luff, after tearing up the AHL with 31 points in 30 games, has six points in 21 games with the Predators.
- Instant fan-favorite Nicolas Deslauriers returns to the Minnesota Wild tonight after missing the team’s last two games. Deslauriers is averaging a penalty minute per game during his 10-game tenure in Minnesota, and he’s contributed two goals as well. The 31-year-old has looked like a natural fit in the team’s bottom-six forward group, adding a physical edge to an already gritty group of forwards.
Julian Napravnik Signs In AHL
The NCAA scoring race this season was won by Philadelphia Flyers prospect Bobby Brink, who outpaced Arizona Coyotes prospect Nathan Smith‘s 50-point campaign with 56 of his own. Two undrafted free agents were tied for third at 49–Bobby Trivigno, who signed an entry-level contract with the New York Rangers, and Julian Napravnik, who has now found his own home for the 2022-23 season. Napravnik has signed an AHL contract with the Hershey Bears for next year, while also agreeing to an amateur tryout agreement for the rest of this season.
Napravnik, 24, is a German winger who came to North America in 2016 to join the USHL’s Des Moines Buccanneers, where he quickly found success. By 2018 he was joining Minnesota State-Mankato, and as a junior had developed enough to score at a better than a point-per-game pace. This season, his 49 points came in just 40 games, coming in just behind Smith for the team lead.
Given he will turn 25 next month, it’s not entirely surprising that Napravnik had to settle for an AHL deal, but he’s still a pretty substantial acquisition for the Bears. At the very worst, the team is adding a player that can help on the powerplay and add some offensive punch to the depth chart. At best, he could quickly become a strong contributor at the AHL level and be a name on NHL radars by next season.
AHL Shuffle: 04/14/22
The NHL schedule is jam-packed with action these days, and tonight is no different. Twenty-four of the league’s teams are in action, including some incredibly important Western Conference matchups. The Dallas Stars welcome in the Minnesota Wild in a game that will break at least one Central Division streak–each of the top six teams in that division are currently on winning streaks–while the Pacific-leading Calgary Flames say hello to the Vegas Golden Knights in a potential first-round preview. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling:
Atlantic Division
Metropolitan Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned Jake Christiansen to the minor leagues, ending his short run with the team. The 22-year-old defenseman has played in eight games for the team this season, recording his first NHL goal. In his last appearance, he saw just five shifts and 3:45 of ice time.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have returned Tanner Laczynski and Felix Sandstrom to the minor leagues, following the latter’s strong performance last night. In just his second game at the NHL level, and behind a Flyers team that is now near the very bottom of the league standings, Sandstrom stopped 30 of 33 shots. He now has a
Central Division
- The Nashville Predators have recalled Cody Glass, adding the young forward for the stretch run. Glass, 23, has been exceptional for the Milwaukee Admirals, scoring 60 points in 63 games this season. Selected sixth overall in 2017, he has played in 70 NHL games to this point.
- Connor Dewar has been recalled by the Minnesota Wild, giving them another body for tonight’s game. The young forward has five points in 30 games this season with Minnesota–and 17 in 19 games with the Iowa Wild.
Pacific Division
- Juuso Valimaki is on his way back to the AHL, sent to the Stockton Heat after his short recall. Valimaki has played just nine games at the NHL level this season, and just two since October.
This page is updated throughout the day
Johnny Beecher Signs AHL Tryout Contract
Another Michigan Wolverine has decided to turn pro. Johnny Beecher has signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Providence Bruins of the AHL for the remainder of this season. Just like his former teammates Thomas Bordeleau and Brendan Brisson, this allows Beecher to play for Providence down the stretch, something that isn’t possible once he signs his entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. That may not have to wait long though, as general manager Don Sweeney explained:
We are appreciative to Mel Pearson and the Michigan coaching staff as they did a great job with his overall development. The Bruins and Johnny are leaving all options open with regards to his availability for the remainder of this season and playoffs. We will continue to communicate with his agent, Cam Stewart, while Johnny starts to play games and as we work towards finalizing his ELC.
Boston and Beecher can sign an ELC at any point, which would make him eligible to play in the NHL regular season and in the playoffs. If he does sign for 2021-22, it would be a three-year deal and the first season would burn immediately, regardless of how many games he played.
It will be interesting to see if Beecher actually climbs the ranks quicker than Bordeleau and Brisson, given his role with the Michigan team. Despite also being a high draft pick and top prospect when he entered the program, he never really found his way offensively and recorded just 39 points in three seasons. The wonder now is whether his offense will actually improve at the next level, when time and space are compressed even further, or if he is going to top out as another Bruins depth player selected in the first round.
Picked 30th overall in 2019, Beecher was always more of a project, a mixture of raw tools that the Bruins hoped would form a dynamic two-way player. The 6’3″ forward can skate well, lean on opponents and finish around the net–but too often he isn’t the one to get it there. In the right situation, he may thrive, opening room for his linemates with at size and speed, but through three years at Michigan, it didn’t really happen.
You can bet that the Bruins have a plan for him though, and he enters an organization that does have some question marks coming down the middle. Patrice Bergeron will be 37 this summer and an unrestricted free agent, Erik Haula is signed for just one more year, and other young forwards like Trent Frederic and Jack Studnicka haven’t exactly established themselves as dynamic, must-see NHL options to this point. With room to grow in the system, Beecher will have to hope his game translates to the next level quickly.
AHL Shuffle: 04/13/22
Just three games grace the schedule tonight after the Seattle-Winnipeg game was postponed, meaning even more eyes will be on the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche, doing battle as a pair of Stanley Cup hopefuls. The Kings righted the ship last night with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and combined with the Golden Knights’ loss, now have a three-point lead in the race for the third Pacific Division spot. Colorado meanwhile has still now slowed down, winning six in a row and eight of their last ten to extend their lead to 14 points in the Central. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- After bringing him up under emergency conditions, Taro Hirose has been returned to the AHL by the Detroit Red Wings today. The 25-year-old didn’t actually get into a game, and is still stuck on 12 appearances this season for the Red Wings. Hirose is set to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, given how few NHL games he has played to this point.
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Egor Zamula, Tanner Laczynski, and Felix Sandstrom under emergency conditions, as Carter Hart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam Atkinson, and Patrick Brown are all out for tonight’s game. Sandstrom will start, just his second NHL appearance.
Central Division
Pacific Division
This page is updated throughout the day
AHL Shuffle: 04/12/22
After a very quiet Monday, the NHL is packed full of action this evening, with 28 of the 32 teams in action. That includes first-overall pick Owen Power making his debut for the Buffalo Sabres, playing just down the road from where he was born. The Mississauga, Ontario native will hit the ice for the first time against the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing on a pairing with Henri Jokiharju. While they and the rest of the league prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- Last night, the Montreal Canadiens sent Jesse Ylonen back to the AHL, after he played against the Winnipeg Jets. The young forward has five points in 14 games this season, his first real taste of the NHL. Through 45 games with the Laval Rocket though, he has 30 points and should help the minor league team in their chase for the Calder Cup.
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Taro Hirose from the AHL under emergency conditions, giving them an extra body for tonight’s game. Hirose, 25, has played in 12 games for the Red Wings this season but done damage at the minor league level, racking up 47 points in 54 games.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Alec Regula, according to Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. Regula has scored in each of his last two AHL games, and now has four goals and 25 points in 40 appearances for the Rockford IceHogs this season. The 21-year-old defenseman is still waiting on his first point in the NHL though, scoreless through his first nine tries.
Pacific Division
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San Jose Sharks Sign Nick Cicek
The San Jose Sharks may still be working with an interim general manager but that won’t stop them from signing contracts for next season. The team has signed minor league defenseman Nick Cicek to a two-year entry-level contract. PuckPedia reports that the deal will begin in 2022-23, and carries an NHL cap hit of $837.5K.
Joe Will, interim GM, released the following statement:
Nick has a strong track record of leadership in his career, having been the captain of the Portland Winterhawks last season, and he has even been an alternate captain for the Barracuda this year in select games. Among AHL rookie defensemen, he’s top 10 in scoring and top 15 in goals. Nick has a bright future and we’re excited to add him to our NHL defensive depth.
Cicek, who will turn 22 next month, joined the San Jose Barracuda this season after going undrafted out of junior and has been outstanding from the drop of the puck. With 23 points he sits ninth among all AHL rookie defensemen in scoring, just one point behind Artemi Kniazev for the team lead despite playing in seven fewer games than the second-round pick. The 6’3″ Cicek has also racked up 60 penalty minutes, including a pair of fights. One of those came after Andreas Englund hit San Jose forward Jeffrey Viel, earning Cicek a misconduct for instigating.
That mix of skill and toughness is obviously an attractive package, especially when it comes in someone that is so lauded for his leadership as Will points out. Whether Cicek can continue his development and become an NHL player remains to be seen, but the Sharks obviously like what he has done this year enough that they’ve rewarded him with a contract that makes it possible.
Ethen Frank Signs AHL Contract
The most prolific goal scorer in all of college hockey has found a home to ply his trade next season, signing an AHL contract with the Hershey Bears. Ethen Frank will join the Bears on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season as well, after finishing his final season of eligibility with Western Michigan University.
Frank, 24, tickled the twine 26 times this season for the Broncos, edging past Northeastern’s Aidan McDonough for tops in the country. The undrafted forward leaves college with 70 goals over his 158-game career, an impressive accomplishment regardless of competition. He’ll now try to take that production to the professional level, joining one of the strongest programs in the entire AHL. The Bears, though not in a dominant position this season, are one of the most stable development outfits in the minor leagues and should give him a good opportunity to try and prove his worth.
It’s not an entry-level contract, but Frank will at least be in front of Washington Capitals evaluators on a regular basis. Perhaps he can parlay this AHL contract into an NHL deal down the road, with the Capitals or someone else. For now, the focus will have to be on finding the back of the net at the next level.
AHL Shuffle: 04/11/22
It’s a new week in the NHL, but an off-day for most teams. The league is almost entirely quiet tonight, with only a game between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens on the docket. Despite that, some teams may be making some changes to the roster, given the condensed schedule over the final few weeks. As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling right here.
Atlantic Division
Metropolitan Division
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have assigned Anthony Angello and Radim Zohorna to the AHL, which certainly could suggest that Brock McGinn is close to a return from long-term injured reserve. Despite having no roster size limits, the team still does need to be cap compliant, something that would now be possible even if they activate McGinn.
Central Divison
- The Jets have recalled Mikey Eyssimont from the AHL, following the injury to Mark Scheifele last night. The star forward will not play this evening, though a more detailed timeline has not yet been released. Eyssimont, 25, has not yet made an appearance at the NHL level, but has 15 goals and 35 points in 53 games with the Manitoba Moose.
- The Nashville Predators have returned Connor Ingram to the AHL, after he served as the backup yesterday. Juuse Saros, who he replaced, missed the game with a non-COVID illness. Ingram, 25, made his NHL debut this season and posted a .906 save percentage in two appearances.
- The Arizona Coyotes have assigned Jan Jenik to the AHL, after he played in another handful of games recently. The 21-year-old forward has two goals in ten appearances this season.
Pacific Division
This page is updated throughout the day
AHL Shuffle: 04/10/22
After a dozen games on Saturday, seven more are on the docket today. After colliding yesterday, the Capitals and Penguins are back in action Sunday and again face stiff competition. Washington will face the Bruins this afternoon, while the Penguins square off with the Predators later in the day. The Stars are also facing a back-to-back this weekend and looking for a better result today versus Chicago after falling to New Jersey on Saturday. Every point matters at this point in the season and teams are working diligently to make sure they are prepared for each and every game. Keep up with all of those roster preparations here:
Atlantic Division
- After Jake Allen, who has been oft-injured this season, left with an injury yet again last night, the Montreal Canadiens have made a move to replace him. The team announced that Cayden Primeau has been recalled from the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The 22-year-old has played well in the minors this season, but struggled at the top level. In a dozen NHL games, Primeau has an .868 save percentage and 4.62 goals against average to the tune of a 1-7-1 record.
- The Ottawa Senators have re-assigned rookie Mark Kastelic to AHL Belleville, opening up a roster spot for the return of Tim Stutzle. Kastelic is a big, two-way center and the former captain of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen who is asserting himself as a solid bottom-six option for Ottawa, recording 25 points in 56 AHL games this season, in turn earning him 11 NHL games.
Metropolitan Division
- Hayden Hodgson is heading back to the AHL after a brief recall to the Philadelphia Flyers. The team has announced that the recently-signed forward has been returned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. After pro four seasons, spent mostly in the ECHL, Hodgson is enjoying a breakout campaign with 19 goals and 31 points in 46 games in the AHL, leading to an NHL contract and three points in six games with the Flyers over the past few weeks.
- With center Casey Cizikas‘ one-game suspension served, the New York Islanders are returning forward Andy Andreoff to the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders. Andreoff, 30, is a veteran of 185 NHL games and has 39 points in 55 AHL games this season.
Central Division
- The Nashville Predators have announced that with goaltender Juuse Saros out day-to-day with a non-COVID illness, goaltender Connor Ingram has been recalled from Milwaukee of the AHL. Ingram, 25, has appeared in 2 games so far this season and has a 1-1 record and a .906 save percentage. Ingram has a .914 in 50 games in the AHL this season.
Pacific Division