Minor Transactions: 11/03/20
Today is a big day for news, what with the NFL trade deadline and the MLB’s announcement of the Gold Glove winners of course, but the hockey world has managed to slip a few notable minor moves in as well. The NHL free agent market has quieted down, but other leagues continue to make roster transactions. Take a look:
- The AHL’s Stockton Heat have added a very talented collegiate player to their 2020-21 roster in former Bemidji State University captain Adam Brady. In an interview with the Smart Sports Podcast’s Darryl Smart, Brady announced that he had signed his first pro contract. While it would not have been a surprise to see Brady draw NHL interest, he states his excitement to be joining the Calgary Flames’ affiliate. A near point-per-game player in his senior season, Brady recorded a total of 81 points in 112 games over three seasons at Bemidji State. Although he is older than the typical NCAA free agent at 25, the skilled center should bring a pro-ready game that will make him an effective player immediately.
- Vladimir Sobotka did not last very long in the NLA. After his contract with the Buffalo Sabres expired back on October 9, Sobotka signed a temporary contract with SC Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland. Since then, he played in four games and recorded two assists. However, he didn’t do enough to earn a full-time roster spot. The Lakers announced today that they have declined the option to extend Sobotka’s contract. The veteran NHLer, who also has experience in the KHL and in his native Czech Republic, will be back on the hunt for another landing spot.
- In contrast, another former Boston Bruin has found employment overseas. Jordan Caron, who has bounced between Germany, Russia, and Switzerland over the past few years, has signed with Austria’s Villacher SV of the IceHL. The team announced the addition of the veteran forward, who will likely play a major role for the club. Caron has been a productive two-way forward in Europe as he was in the AHL, but could never translate that ability to the NHL in stops with Boston, Colorado, and St. Louis.
Marcus Davidsson Terminates Contract In SHL
Marcus Davidsson, a Buffalo Sabres draft pick from 2017, has terminated his contract with the Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL. Davidsson wasn’t seeing much ice time with the team and will instead look for an opportunity elsewhere. According to a report out of Sweden, that’s expected to be alongside his brother Jonathan Davidsson with Vasterviks IK. That Davidsson, originally a Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick, is under contract with the Ottawa Senators but is expected to be loaned to the Allsvenskan team.
The Sabres’ Davidsson was the 37th pick in the 2017 draft, and though still just 21, has a lot of work to do if he wants to one day play in the NHL. The forward had just 13 points in 31 games for Vaxjo last season, and a single assist in 12 matches this year. With dwindling ice time he’ll try to get things turned around in the lower league, as he approaches an important threshold in his career.
On June 1, 2021, Davidsson’s draft rights with the Sabres will expire, making him an unrestricted free agent if he does not have an entry-level contract by then. It’s very rare to see players selected so high go unsigned, but it is a possibility in this case if Davidsson wants to stay overseas to continue his development. Of course, the two sides could reach an agreement to sign his ELC and then be loaned back to Sweden, should they agree that he’s not ready (or willing) to play in the AHL.
There was a time where Davidsson looked like a sure thing for NHL duty down the road. In 2017-18 he recorded 21 points in just 39 games with Djurgardens IF of the SHL, an outstanding total for someone so young. He followed it up with another good season for the team in 2018-19, before a move to Vaxjo seemed to derail his performance. Perhaps a reunion with his brother, who was on those Djurgardens teams himself, will spark a resurgence from the Buffalo draft pick.
Minor Transactions: 11/02/20
The offseason has slowed to a crawl with just a few arbitration hearings to come and a handful of free agents to sign. With the news that the AHL and some junior leagues are targeting February as a start date, however, things will likely pick up in the way of minor signings. We’ll keep track of the notable ones right here:
- Kyle Wood, who finished the 2019-20 season in the Detroit Red Wings organization, has signed in the German second league. Wood, 24, was a third-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2014 but hasn’t actually played a single game in the NHL. It’s not every day that you find a 6’5″ defenseman that can record 43 points in 68 games, but that’s exactly what Wood did as a rookie in the AHL.
- Yuri Terao is headed back to Japan after his dynamic rookie season in the ECHL, at least until the minor league gets back underway. Terao is playing with his hometown Nikko Icebucks of the Asia League, but is expected to return to North America when the ECHL season starts. For the Utah Grizzlies last year, Terao scored 18 goals and 40 points in 61 games.
- Chicago Blackhawks forward Pius Suter, who had been on loan with the GCK Lions in the Swiss second tier, has been re-assigned to the ZSC Lions in the first tier. That’s certainly nothing to worry about for Suter, who spent the last five seasons with Zurich and won the league MVP in 2019-20.
- Jaycob Megna has signed a one-year AHL contract with the San Jose Barracuda, giving the team a veteran defenseman for the lineup next season. Megna, 27, has played 43 NHL games but spent the entire 2019-20 season with the Chicago Wolves, scoring three goals and ten points.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Dillon Heatherington Signs In KHL
After spending the entire 2019-20 season in the AHL, Dillon Heatherington has decided to look elsewhere for his hockey employment. Heatherington has signed a one-year contract with Barys Nur-Sultan in the KHL.
The 25-year-old defenseman was originally a second-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013 but ended up traded to the Dallas Stars organization before ever playing a game in the NHL. With the Stars, he ended up becoming a core member of their AHL team, reaching the Calder Cup Finals in 2018 and wearing a letter as alternate captain the following year. He also played in 12 games for Dallas during his time there, including a playoff game in 2019.
Now heading to the KHL, Heatherington is certainly not off the radar of NHL teams down the line. Still young enough to develop further and big enough to make scouts believe he could play a role, it seems likely that you’ll hear his name again down the line as a potential free agent signing in North America.
Buffalo Sabres Loan Jonas Johansson To Germany
After making his NHL debut this past season and putting up stellar numbers in the AHL, young Buffalo Sabres goaltender Jonas Johansson is hoping to take the next step this coming season. Given the struggles that veteran Carter Hutton experienced this year, Johansson should have the opportunity to challenge for an NHL role from the get-go. Being fully prepared for a training camp battle will be a major factor in Johnasson’s odds in the position battle, so the net minder is getting an early start to his season. The Krefeld Pinguine of Germany’s DEL have announced that they have acquired Johansson on loan from the Sabres.
The DEL has postponed its regular season start until mid-December, but the league has put together a preseason tournament for eight of their 14 teams, called the Magenta Sport Cup. Johansson’s loan covers the extent of the tournament, which begins on November 11. After that point, it is unclear if he will stay with the Krefeld or will return to Buffalo in anticipation of NHL training camp opening.
By landing Johansson, Krefeld gets a goalie who recorded a .921 save percentage and 2.28 GAA in the AHL last season, both of which were top-ten marks. While he was limited to just five AHL appearances in 2018-19, his performance was even better. Johansson, 25, stands 6’5″ and 214 lbs. and is a great positional goaltender. He will be a major asset for Krefeld, as he hopes to be in the backup role for Buffalo.
Winnipeg Jets Extend Sami Niku
Oct 30: The Jets have officially announced the contract, signing Niku to a two-year deal with, as reported, a $725K cap hit.
Oct 29: The Winnipeg Jets have come to terms on a new contract with restricted free agent Sami Niku. TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that the young defenseman has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal carries an AAV of $725K, with the 2020-21 minimum $700K in year one and the 2021-22 minimum $750K in year two.
Niku, 24, is exiting his entry-level contract still unsure of his NHL ability and long-term fit in Winnipeg. The 2015 seventh-round pick was a fast-rising prospect who was a force at the pro level in Finland’s Liiga at a young age and looked like he might be ready to take on the NHL. His AHL numbers, especially on offense, continue to show a player with great skill and mobility. The NHL has been an entirely different case though. Niku has struggled to stick with the Jets, playing in just 48 games over three seasons. In that time, he has put up modest offensive totals, but has struggled in other aspects of the game. He contributes little defensively, is prone to turnovers, and has poor possession numbers. The team does not trust him with significant ice time, shelters him from difficult match-ups, and tries to prevent exposure in the defensive end. Yet, his potential for offense continues to entice and Niku’s 2019-20 numbers offered a slight glimmer of hope that his defense may be improving.
Yet, Niku has also served as a fixture on the rumor mill when it comes to potential Winnipeg trades. Signing an affordable, multi-year deal won’t change that, as potential suitors who believe in his upside will be happy to take a two-year gamble. The Jets appear likely to make a trade before next season too. Niku’s signing puts the team over the salary cap based on a projected 23-man roster, including Niku as the eighth defenseman. Even if the club is able to put Bryan Little and his $5.29MM cap hit on Long-Term Injured Reserve, the team still needs to re-sign RFA forward Jack Roslovic. With little flexibility and a blue line that could still use another bona fide top-four member, the Jets could still be dealing and Niku could still wind up elsewhere.
Minor Transactions: 10/29/20
The offseason has slowed to a crawl with just a few arbitration hearings to come and a handful of free agents to sign. With the news that the AHL and some junior leagues are targeting February as a start date, however, things will likely pick up in the way of minor signings. We’ll keep track of the notable ones right here:
- The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have signed four players, agreeing to terms with Seth Helgeson, Jeff Kubiak, Erik Brown and Nick Pastujov on AHL contracts. Helgeson, the only one of the four with any NHL experience, has played the last three seasons with Bridgeport, wearing an “A” and lending a veteran presence to the blue line. The 30-year-old defenseman played in 50 NHL contests with the New Jersey Devils between 2014-17. Pastujov, 22, was a seventh-round pick of the New York Islanders in 2016 but was not signed by the team this offseason when he left the University of Michigan.
- Hubert Labrie, Jack Dougherty, and Cole Cassels have all signed one-year AHL contracts with the Belleville Senators, returning to the organization they played for last season. Cassels is the son of longtime NHL forward Andrew Cassels, who played more than 1,000 games at the highest level, racking up 732 career points.
Colton White Re-Signs With New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Colton White to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry a $700K salary in the NHL, paying White just $90K in the AHL. The 23-year-old was not eligible for salary arbitration.
After the additions of Ryan Murray and Dmitry Kulikov this offseason, White may find himself a little further down the organizational depth chart than expected. The 2015 fourth-round pick has actually played in a handful of NHL games the last two seasons, even receiving more than 20 minutes of ice time in a February game against the St. Louis Blues. It’s going to be tough to find those minutes this year, meaning he’ll probably have to settle for a role on the Binghamton Devils of the AHL once again.
Still looking for his first NHL point, White does have 51 in 163 career AHL games, a fine total for a mid-round pick still trying to find his way. If his game continues to improve, perhaps an opportunity will come about next season when Murray, Kulikov and Connor Carrick are all scheduled for unrestricted free agency. If not, he’s still a valuable piece to have in the minor leagues in case of injury.
Minor Transactions: 10/28/20
The AHL may have delayed the start of their season for several months, but that won’t stop teams from continuing to fill out their rosters, especially with the ECHL still hoping to begin in December. Meanwhile, hockey is in full swing in Europe and clubs continue to make moves, whether that be loan agreements with NHL teams, free agent signings, or trades. Keep up with all of these minor transactions from today:
- The AHL’s Chicago Wolves, now an affiliate of the Hurricanes, have added a pair of veteran minor leaguers to their roster, both of whom played for Carolina’s previous affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers last season. The team has announced that defenseman Cavan Fitzgerald and forward Colin Markison have each signed a one-year contract. Fitzgerald, 24, was a member of the San Jose Sharks prior to joining Charlotte last season, but played exclusively in the AHL on his entry-level contract. A productive two-way defenseman, Fitzgerald is a quality addition to the Chicago blue line. Markison, 28, has four NCAA seasons with the University of Vermont and five AHL seasons with Bridgeport, Texas, and Charlotte on his resume. An undersized scorer, Markinson’s production has fluctuated over the years and may depend on his role and the system in Chicago.
- The Boston Bruins had already loaned Joona Koppanen overseas to KOOVEE of the Finnish minor league Metsis, but he is now on the move to the top level. Liiga club Ilves has announced that Koppanen has now joined them on loan, a reunion with a player who grew up in the system and played for the main club in 2017-18. Koppanen, 22, is a big power forward who recorded 18 points in 43 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins last season and already had a whopping 17 points in ten games with KOOVEE this year. Koppanen appears to be a prospect on the rise, but is buried behind a team NHL and AHL roster for the Bruins. Ilves’ stated that Koppanen’s loan is until “further notice”, which could mean the 6’5″ center might stay in Finland beyond NHL training camp.
- While the deal has yet to be finalized, former NHLer Viktor Tikhonov is on the move in the KHL. The two sides are still working out the details, but Tikhonov has been traded from Ak Bars Kazan to Spartak Moscow, according to Sport.ru. Spartak had previously pursued Tikhonov as a free agent this summer, but he opted to re-sign with Ak Bars. Tikhonov was traded to Kazan last season from SKA St. Petersburgh, where he had played for seven of the past eight seasons. The one break was in 2015-16, which he split between the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks. Tikhonov is no longer an elite scorer in the KHL, but his experience and two-way acumen still make him a valuable asset.
Carolina Hurricanes Re-Sign Max McCormick
The Carolina Hurricanes are welcoming back a valued depth forward. The team has announced a new one-year, two-way contract with veteran Max McCormick. The extension carries a $700K NHL salary and $125K AHL salary. McCormick will be an unrestricted free agent once again at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
McCormick, 28, initially arrived in Carolina as a free agent last summer. He did not see any NHL action this season for the first time since 2014-15, but still managed to prove his worth to the club. McCormick recorded 35 points in 56 points, placing him among the top five scoring forwards for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. With fellow top scorers Janne Kuokkanen and Julien Gauthier now gone and the Hurricanes’ affiliate relocating to Chicago, McCormick’s return provides some consistency and leadership to a team undergoing major changes.
McCormick has the ability to contribute at the NHL level as well. As a member of the Ottawa Senators, he played in 71 games over four years and chipped in ten points and 136 hits as an impact fourth liner. McCormick plays a heavier game than his stature may indicate and can hold his own on a checking line. The Hurricanes have not used a typical checking line in recent years, but should they opt to insert some grit and energy into the bottom-six, McCormick is a great option.