NCAA Notes: Sanderson, Kleven, Gabriele, Tsekos, UFAs
Though a recent hand injury was an unexpected variable in the situation, there was very little doubt that Ottawa Senators top prospect Jake Sanderson would sign with the team at the conclusion of his season. After North Dakota was bounced from the NCAA Tournament by Notre Dame on Thursday – due in no small part to Sanderson’s injury absence – his signing now seems imminent. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the 2020 No. 5 overall pick is expected to sign his entry-level contract in the coming days. Sanderson may only be 19, but he has little left to gain from the college level. With 26 points in 23 games, Sanderson was not only one of the top scorers for the Fighting Hawks but one of the NCAA’s most productive defensemen. That doesn’t even speak to his top-notch defense either, which may be an even stronger part of his game than his offense. The only question facing Sanderson now is whether he will see NHL action this season, a decision that will be made by the Senators’ medical staff once his contract is signed.
Sanderson’s pair mate at North Dakota and fellow Senators prospect Tyler Kleven is reportedly facing a more difficult decision. Garrioch reports that Senators GM Pierre Dorion suggested to both Sanderson and Kleven that they turn pro after the collegiate season, but Kleven is less convinced. While the two have nearly identical resumes – two years with the USNTDP, two World Junior selections, two years at North Dakota – Kleven is a less developed prospect than Sanderson at this point. While the 6’4″ defenseman may always rely on a heavy, defense-first game, there is a case to be made for finally getting out from under Sanderson’s shadow and trying to develop more of a two-way game at North Dakota next season rather than following him to Belleville and staying in his same role. With that being said, Kleven excels at what he does well and has the size and hockey sense to jump to the pro level already.
- Another top prospect defenseman considering signing his entry-level contract but taking a late-season injury into account is the Boston Bruins’ Mason Lohrei. The USHL’s reigning Defenseman of the Year continued his meteoric rise from being a surprise second-round pick in 2020 to starring for Ohio State this season. Lohrei was second on the Buckeyes in scoring with 29 points in 31 games, demonstrating high-level puck-moving ability, and at 6’4″ and 200 pounds already has pro size. An older freshman at 21, it would not be a shock to see Lohrei turn pro but given that he still has room to grow and would likely be slated for the AHL next season, he could also easily return to Ohio State, especially after the team so narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament berth this year. The Bruins are doing their part to help convince Lohrei to make the transition to the pros now though, adding a familiar face to their AHL lineup. The Providence Bruins have announced that fellow Ohio State defenseman and frequent pair mate of Lohrei’s, Grant Gabriele, has signed an amateur tryout and a contract for the 2022-23 season. The Bruins saw plenty of Gabriele while watching Lohrei and noticed that the senior defender had pro ambitions of his own, recording 20 points in 37 games while playing a solid two-way game. Even Lohrei returns to Ohio State next season, Providence will benefit from at least one Buckeye blue liner.
- The Colorado Avalanche have dipped into the college free agent pool as well with an AHL contract for Zach Tsekos. The Colorado Eagles announced that they were adding the skilled center on an ATO for the remainder of the year and then a contract for 2022-23. Less a prospect and more an immediate minor league depth option, the 25-year-old Tsekos just completed a whopping six-year college career, spending two seasons with Sacred Heart and three seasons with Clarkson. Productive each and every year, Tsekos still saved his best for last with 31 points in 35 games. Tsekos has been nothing if not consistent in his NCAA career and if that translates to the pro level then he could become an NHL option down the road for Colorado.
- The first round of NCAA Tournament games are now complete and a pair of prime undrafted free agents have already seen their seasons come to an end and are now on contract watch. UMass’ Bobby Trivigno and Michigan Tech’s Brian Halonen, both Hobey Baker Award finalists and quite possibly the two best individual efforts in college hockey this season, have both seen their teams eliminated. The senior forwards are likely already fielding contract offers and it should only be a matter of time before their first pro steps are revealed. Meanwhile, other top free agents like Minnesota’s Ben Meyers and Western Michigan’s Ethen Frank are still alive in the tournament – at least until Sunday when one will be eliminated as the two teams square off.
AHL Shuffle: 03/25/22
Five games hit the NHL schedule this evening, including an important match between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers. In fact, it could very well be a preview of the first round of the playoffs, given those two sit second and third in the Metropolitan Division at the moment. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Red Wings have recalled goaltender Calvin Pickard under emergency conditions from the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 29-year-old has played in two games with Detroit this season but has spent most of the year in the minors, posting a save percentage of .918 in 43 games. Pickard will take the place of Thomas Greiss on the roster with Greiss being ruled out for the weekend.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
Pacific Division
- Though it still hasn’t come through the AHL transactions portal, the Vancouver Canucks confirmed to Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV that Will Lockwood has been recalled to the NHL. The 23-year-old Lockwood has just two appearances at the NHL level, both coming last season.
- With Max Pacioretty suffering a setback and Brett Howden still dealing with the effects from last night, the Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Pavel Dorofeyev from the AHL. The 21-year-old forward has been great for the Henderson Silver Knights, registering 23 goals and 40 points in 51 games. Later in the day, Dorofeyev and defenseman Zack Hayes were sent back to Henderson.
Owen Sillinger Signs AHL Contract
If you’re the Columbus Blue Jackets, why not take a chance on another player named Sillinger? The Cleveland Monsters, Columbus’ AHL affiliate, have signed undrafted college free agent Owen Sillinger to a professional tryout contract for the rest of this season and an AHL deal for 2022-23.
Sillinger, 24, recently finished his senior season at Bemidji State University, where he dominated with 17 goals and 47 points in 39 games. He also happens to be the older brother of Blue Jackets’ rookie phenom Cole Sillinger, and son of long-time NHL forward Mike Sillinger, who also spent time in the Columbus organization.
While Owen doesn’t have quite the same profile as Cole, he’s still a talented forward that will help the Monsters next season. He served as captain of Bemjidi State this season, playing with their other brother–Lukas Sillinger–another undrafted talent.
An AHL contract means he can’t be recalled to the Blue Jackets, but does at least bring him into the organization and gets them an even closer look at his skill. The team–or some other team–could potentially turn that contract into an entry-level deal if they feel he could contribute at the next level.
The Monsters have also signed Robbie Payne to another AHL contract for 2022-23. Payne has six goals and 11 points in 19 games for Cleveland this season.
Victor Rask Recalled From AHL
One of the last trades to come through NHL Central Registry before Monday’s deadline was a curious one between the Minnesota Wild and Seattle Kraken. The Kraken would receive Victor Rask, while the Wild would essentially receive nothing in return, listing only future considerations. Minnesota was also retaining half of Rask’s contract, which made it seem more like trying to give the veteran forward a fresh start with another NHL franchise than anything else.
Then, Rask was quickly assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, throwing some more confusion at the deal. Perhaps this was the plan all along though, as Rask has now been recalled to the Kraken.
While he may still serve as an extra forward to start, this is an opportunity that Rask shouldn’t overlook. The 29-year-old forward has completely fallen off the map when it comes to being an effective NHL forward and has just 23 goals since the start of the 2018-19 season.
What was once a burgeoning young career has turned into one that may have trouble finding a contract in the summer, when Rask becomes an unrestricted free agent. A chance with Seattle down the stretch could mean the difference between an NHL future and some other avenue of professional hockey in 2022-23.
Matthew Peca Signs Two-Year Extension
Late last night, CapFriendly reported that the St. Louis Blues signed Matthew Peca to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal comes with an NHL cap hit of $762.5K and will keep him in the organization through the 2023-24 season. The Springfield Thunderbirds, who Peca is currently playing for, have now officially announced the contract.
Peca, 28, is having a fantastic season for the Thunderbirds, scoring 20 goals and 51 points in 53 games so far. He’s added just five NHL contests and one point, meaning this is a lot more about organizational depth than making a real impact for the Blues moving forward.
Still, the contract represents some stability for the pending free agent forward and keeps their AHL affiliate happy with a star player in the system. Peca meanwhile is a perfect injury replacement, as he has actually scored 21 points in 83 career NHL games–not bad for someone who has averaged fewer than 11 minutes in those games.
Christian Jaros Clears Unconditional Waivers
March 24: Jaros has cleared waivers and will now have his contract terminated.
March 23: The New Jersey Devils have placed Christian Jaros on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. Just this week, Jaros already cleared regular waivers and was assigned to the minor leagues. If he clears again, he will become an unrestricted free agent. He would then be able to sign with any club he wanted, though he would not be eligible for the NHL playoffs.
The Devils have also recalled A.J. Greer and Kevin Bahl from the AHL, who will join the team in Toronto when they face the Maple Leafs this evening.
Jaros, 25, has actually not played a single game in the minor leagues this season, suiting up 11 times for the Devils instead. Originally selected 139th overall in 2015, he quickly rose through the ranks and was making his debut by the 2017-18 season with the Ottawa Senators. It looked as though he would quickly establish himself as a full-time NHL option, though after his progression stalled, he’s now bounced around and could be headed back to Europe.
In Bahl, the Devils have the big ticket from the Taylor Hall trade up with the big club, after his successful sophomore AHL campaign. The 6’6″ defenseman has 15 points in 49 games for the Utica Comets and from all accounts has taken a strong step forward in his development. He’s now played 11 games and is still looking for his first goal.
AHL Shuffle: 03/24/22
The NHL is back in full swing this evening with ten games on the schedule, as teams all across the league enter the home stretch. Ben Chiarot will make his return to Montreal (though he never really left) to face the Canadiens as a member of the Florida Panthers, while Evander Kane welcomes in his old teammates from San Jose when the Sharks face the Edmonton Oilers. As those teams and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Chase Pearson from the AHL, his first call-up of the season. The 24-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game since signing out of the University of Maine in 2019 and has 17 points in 47 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins this year.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
Pacific Division
This page will be updated throughout the day
Philippe Myers Loaned To Toronto Marlies
When the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Alex Biega to the Nashville Predators on deadline day, the return was listed as future considerations. It seems now that those considerations may have revolved around Philippe Myers, the big defenseman who cleared waivers over the weekend.
Myers has been loaned from the Nashville Predators to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, where he will apparently continue his season instead of joining the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL affiliate of the Predators.
The 25-year-old Myers, who once looked like he would be a long-term pillar in the Philadelphia Flyers defense corps, was traded to the Predators as a major part of the deal that sent Ryan Ellis out of town. His time in Nashville hasn’t gone smoothly though, registering just four points in 27 games while seeing his playing time trend endlessly downward. While he led of his season with 21 minutes against the Seattle Kraken in October, Myers was averaging just over 12 minutes by the end of his run earlier this month. After clearing waivers, it is not clear where exactly his future lies.
With a back-loaded contract that carries a $2.55MM cap hit through next season, Myers actually is an interesting buyout candidate for the Predators. Because of his age, the team would only need to cover one-third of the remaining salary, and it would actually result in a $616,666 cap bonus in 2022-23, before a $633,334 penalty in 2023-24. That is to say, the Predators could clear his entire hit off the books for next season and even create a little bit extra room, if they were to, for instance, be trying to fit in an expensive extension for a goal-scoring winger.
At any rate, it’s unclear how long his stay in Toronto will be, but the Marlies have for now added a player that was once a dominant presence at the AHL level. In 2018-19, before he burst onto the NHL scene, the undrafted Myers had 33 points in 53 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms while being a physical defensive force in his own end.
AHL Shuffle: 03/23/22
One thing to remember about the post-deadline NHL season is that teams no longer have to limit their roster to 23 players. If they have the cap space to recall more, they can do so without issue. With that in mind, there could be some additional minor league shuffling as teams bring along extra bodies on road trips or fill in for minor injuries. As always, we’ll keep track of all those moves right here.
Atlantic Division
- Justin Barron has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens, though head coach Martin St. Louis isn’t sure yet if he’ll play right away. The 20-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Artturi Lehkonen deal and has played just two games at the NHL level so far in his young career.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled forward Jan Jenik from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. Jenik, 21, was the 65th overall pick at the 2018 draft and has 37 points in 44 AHL games this year. The Czech winger has also gotten into three NHL games in 2021-2022 and has yet to register a point.
Pacific Division
- The San Jose Sharks have recalled Lane Pederson from the AHL, as they continue their Canadian road trip through Edmonton. Timo Meier left last night’s game with an apparent leg injury, though Curtis Pashelka of Mercury News tweets that the team is still hopeful he plays tomorrow.
- Speaking of Edmonton, the Oilers have loaned Brad Malone back to the AHL, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins prepares to return to action. Nugent-Hopkins hasn’t played since February, but had 37 points in his first 45 games this season and will provide a huge boost if he’s able to play tomorrow.
- The Anaheim Ducks have recalled two young players from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. The first is goaltender Lukas Dostal, 21, who will back up John Gibson tonight as Anthony Stolarz is out with an illness. Dostal has gotten into 29 games this season and boasts a sterling .921 save percentage. He has also played in three NHL games and has a similarly impressive .929 in that smaller sample size as well. After Dostal, the team is also calling up Brendan Guhle. Guhle, 24, originally came to Anaheim in the team’s trade of Brandon Montour to Buffalo in 2019, and he has played in five NHL games this season with zero points.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Linus Karlsson Hoping To Sign With Vancouver Canucks
It was another impressive performance from Linus Karlsson last night, who scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season for Skelleftea AIK, breaking the SHL’s rookie goal-scoring record in the process. The 22-year-old forward could soon follow the footsteps of the player who previously held that record, as he told Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV that he hopes to sign with the Vancouver Canucks following the SHL season.
Elias Pettersson was the previous record holder, having scored 24 during the 2017-18 season, his only campaign in the SHL. He followed it up with an incredible ten-goal performance in the playoffs, something Karlsson will have to try to replicate with his powerhouse club. Skelleftea AIK is in first place in the SHL after last night, with just one match to come before the playoffs begin.
Karlsson, 22, was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the third round of the 2018 draft, but was flipped to Vancouver in a trade for Jonathan Dahlen in 2019. Importantly, Karlsson could actually become an unrestricted free agent on June 1 if the team can’t work out an entry-level contract, something that the rest of the league is likely keeping an eye on.
The young forward has dominated at every level as he moves through the Swedish hockey system, and now has 45 points in 51 games as a rookie in the SHL. While he will turn 23 in November, much older than Pettersson was when he was setting the records, he is still an important piece for Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin to get under contract, even just to see how he will fare in North America.