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Brad Malone Signs AHL Deal To Remain With Bakersfield

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Journeyman forward Brad Malone may not be playing on an NHL contract for the next two years, but he will be content to stay in the same place for a while longer. The 30-year-old forward will remain in the Edmonton Oilers organization by signing a two-year AHL deal with the Bakersfield Condors, the affiliate announced. After playing with four different organizations over five year span, Malone has now spent three years with the Oilers and has two more years with their farm team to look forward to.

Malone, a standout college player at the University of North Dakota, has always been a productive AHL player. A fourth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2007, he recorded 36 points in 67 AHL games as a first-year pro in 2011-12. The mark still stands as a career-best, but eight years later Malone was poised to break that mark this season with 31 points through 49 games prior to the suspension of the season. Over his career, Malone has also been a valuable NHL depth piece, contributing 85 points in 161 games with Colorado, Edmonton, and Carolina Hurricanes, with whom he scored a career-high 15 points in 2014-15.

However, Malone did not see any NHL action this season (so far) for just the second time in his pro career. He will be on the wrong side of 30 as of next month and it is clear that he is not going to become an NHL regular at this point in his career nor do the Oilers see him as worthy of a contract slot as a depth piece either. He remains a valued veteran presence in Bakersfield and can still produce and perhaps he can earn another NHL contract if he keeps his play up. For now though, he will settle for a familiar place to play and will have to work to prove that he can still be an Oiler in addition to a Condor.

Carolina Hurricanes Nearing Deal With Chicago Wolves

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The Carolina Hurricanes are closing in on signing an affiliation agreement with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, moving their AHL partnership away from the Charlotte Checkers who have served as their primary minor league affiliate since relocating from Albany in 2010. The Checkers, presumably upset with the decision, released a statement on the situation:

While we are aware that the Carolina Hurricanes are nearing an affiliation agreement with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, the Hurricanes have had little dialogue with us regarding this matter.

In an era when NHL teams are placing great value on affiliations with closer proximity between the two clubs, we understand the confusion that such a move would cause.

We will explore other options for our affiliation and look forward to continuing in the American Hockey League when play resumes.

The Wolves, a long-standing independently-owned AHL franchise, became available when the Vegas Golden Knights recently bought the San Antonio Rampage and subsequently moved them to Henderson to serve as their affiliate. When the St. Louis Blues (previously partnered with San Antonio), took up a partnership with the Springfield Thunderbirds, there was already rumors that Carolina would be joining the Wolves and that the Florida Panthers (previously partnered with Springfield) would partner with the Checkers.

Florida remains the only team without an AHL affiliate at the moment, meaning that partnership seems likely at this point. According to Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer, the Hurricanes could announce their deal with the Wolves as soon as next week when the rest of the AHL season could be officially canceled.

Snapshots: Draft Date, AHL, Weise

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While it would create a rather unusual situation, the NHL continues to assess the viability of moving up the NHL Entry Draft.  Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that they are still vetting the responses to the idea from teams and anticipate having a decision in the near future.  As things stand, this plan would involve bumping the draft up to early June so there would need to be time to allow for the Draft Lottery to take place (likely based on points percentage) and to put together the plans to hold one virtually as the NFL just did.

Of course, that would mean holding the draft before the season potentially ends and would significantly limit the ability to trade with the potential for play to resume afterwards.  There has been some trepidation from general managers so far but it appears the league is still giving serious consideration to this idea and we shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out if this is the path they indeed choose.

More from around the hockey world:

  • While the NHL still hopes to resume play this season, the AHL may not be able to follow suit. John Wawrow and Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press report that it’s quite likely that the league won’t be able to get back going.  That would certainly be understandable as games would inevitably have to be played without fans and with the AHL not having significant television contracts like the NHL does, they don’t have that level of revenue to fall back on.  The league, meanwhile, responded that there is “nothing imminent” when it comes to a possible cancellation of the rest of their season.
  • Canadiens winger Dale Weise has spent a good chunk of the season in the minors and it appears he knows that his NHL time may be numbered. In an appearance on Sportsnet 650 (audio link), the 31-year-old acknowledged that he is considering playing in Europe next season, a prospect that could be complicated by the resumption of the NHL’s season.  The pending unrestricted free agent has played in 23 games with Montreal this season where he has a goal and four assists in 23 games and wasn’t much more productive with AHL Laval, tallying three goals and four helpers in 27 contests.

Calgary Flames Sign Emilio Pettersen

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The Calgary Flames have signed one of their more interesting prospects, inking Emilio Pettersen to a three-year entry-level contract according to several reports including Frank Seravalli of TSN. Pettersen recently finished his sophomore season at the University of Denver, but will turn pro and join the Flames organization.

The 20-year old forward was originally a sixth-round pick of the Flames in 2018 following two seasons in the USHL. Norwegian-born, he has been playing in North America since 2014 and has improved at every level. This season recorded 35 points in 36 games for DU, leading the program in scoring and earning himself a Hobey Baker nomination as one of the best players in college hockey.

It’s hard to know exactly where Pettersen’s potential will end up taking him, but at this point he looks like a late-round steal for the Flames. The next step will be continuing to produce at the AHL level, in hopes of one day contributing in the NHL.

Troy Grosenick Named AHL Man Of The Year

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Milwaukee Admirals goaltender Troy Grosenick has been named the 2020 AHL Man of the Year, winning the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award. The honor is given to an AHL player for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations. Landon Ferraro was the previous winner, taking home the award in 2019 as a member of the Iowa Wild.

Grosenick, 30, joined the Admirals in 2018 following a trade from the San Jose Sharks and is the first player born and raised in the Milwaukee area to play for the organization. The veteran netminder was part of several charitable campaigns this season, donating money and time to childhood cancer research and anti-bullying programs.

Not only was he outstanding off the ice, but Grosenick was also a star on it, recording a .920 save percentage in 33 appearances for the Admirals and posting a 20-9-3 record on the year. He has two career NHL appearances, both with the Sharks in 2014-15.

Chicago’s Jacob Nilsson To Return To Sweden

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Just two years after leaving his native Sweden, Chicago Blackhawks forward Jacob Nilsson is heading back. Farjestad BK of the SHL has announced that they have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the 26-year-old forward. Nilsson, who signed a one-year extension with Chicago last year, was poised to become a restricted free agent this off-season but has seemingly already made his decision.

Nilsson, who Farjestad accurately calls a “late bloomer” in their press release, played in the junior and minor league levels in Sweden until 2017-18 when his former club, Mora IK, was promoted to the SHL. After just that one lone season, Nilsson’s strong two-way play caught the eye of the Blackhawks and earned him an entry-level contract. However, last season Nilsson appeared in just two games with Chicago and had not played in an NHL game this season.

With that said, Nilsson has been fairly productive in the AHL, recording 22 goals and 53 points over two seasons with the Rockford Ice Hogs. He may not have NHL ability, but Farjestad is excited to bring in the skilled center. He joins fellow Swede and former Blackhawks teammate Victor Ejdsell with his new club and they hope to lead Farjestad to a similar or better result as this season, in which the team finished second in regular seasons standings but lost their shot at a title due to the cancelled postseason.

Zach Redmond Commits To Red Bull Munich In DEL

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While the season remains suspended in both the NHL and the AHL, that doesn’t mean that some players may not be thinking about their future. According to dagenshockey, former NHL defenseman Zach Redmond has committed to signing a contract overseas with the DEL’s EHC Red Bull Munich for the 2020-21 season.

The 31-year-old defenseman has spent the last two seasons with the Rochester Americans on an AHL contract after playing 133 games with the Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. Redmond battled through several injuries throughout his career, including a significant injury back in 2013 while with the Jets when a teammate accidently skated over his thigh in a drill, forcing emergency surgery. Regardless, he worked his way back into the lineup and eventually played most of a full season with the Avalanche back in 2014-15 season as well as a depth player for many years after that.

He has had a critical role, however for the Amerks as a leader and veteran. He posted a 21-goal, 50-point season in 2018-19. He started strong this season as well, but struggled in the second half as he has five goals and 30 points in 59 games.

Edmonton Oilers Linked To Theodor Lennstrom

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Veteran Swedish defenseman Theodor Lennstrom has informed Frolunda HC that he will not honor the final year of his contract and will not play in the SHL next season. The question now is where exactly he will play. Swedish source Kvalls Posten seems confident that the answer is the NHL, as they report that Lennstrom is choosing between a number of offers, but seems most likely to land with the Edmonton Oilers.

Lennstrom, 25, was undrafted out of Sweden and has never played anywhere else but his native country, but finally seems ready to take the next step in his career and sign an entry-level contract in the NHL. Lennstrom is an offensive defenseman, excelling in the skating and possession aspects of the game. His defensive game is likely not quite ready for the NHL though and he may need to start in the AHL upon arriving to North America or else play in a sheltered, power play-dependent role at first.

If he is to succeed at the top level, Edmonton seems like a strong choice. Kvalls Posten notes that team has two fellow Swedish defensemen in Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson, as well as a former teammate of Lennstrom’s in Joakim Nygard. On the other hand, the Oilers do have a decent amount of depth on the blue line and that position battle would become even more crowded if another Swede defender, top prospect Philip Broberg, also decided to jump to North America this off-season. There remain a number of other teams interested in Lennstrom as well, specifically the New Jersey Devils as a top suitor for his services, so his decision is far from made.

Adam Helewka Signs AHL Contract

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The merry-go-round continues to spin for Adam Helewka, who has now signed an AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters, minor league affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The young forward split last season between the KHL and SHL, spending most of the year with Linkopings HC.

That stint overseas—during which Helewka recorded 19 points in 44 games—came after an interesting few weeks. Originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2015, the former WHL star had already been traded twice previously when he found himself on his way to the New Jersey Devils organization in June of 2019. His contract was terminated a few days later, giving him the chance to pursue an opportunity in the KHL.

Four different minor league teams, two overseas clubs, and several organizations later, Helewka will try to get his career back on track with the Monsters. The 6’2″ forward has 118 points in 119 AHL appearances and still could have a chance to improve his game enough to get an NHL crack one day. That would have to be quite the development step though and requires him to eventually sign another NHL contract at some point down the road.

Snapshots: Early Draft, Brome, Martin

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The NHL floated a “trial balloon” earlier this week with the idea that the 2020 Entry Draft could be held in June, before a potential restart for the 2019-20 season. That brought up all kinds of questions about how the draft order would be determined and if teams would be able to complete trades, something draft day has been known for in the past. On yesterday’s edition of Insider Trading for TSN, Pierre LeBrun explained that he asked around front offices to gauge their response to the idea.

LeBrun states that 15 teams gave him a “hard no” on the idea of a June draft, with only five open to the idea. That kind of response certainly won’t help the plan get off the ground, meaning we may have to wait until after the season concludes to get the draft over with.

  • One player that won’t have to wait for the draft to find out where he’ll play next year is Mathias Brome, a 25-year old forward that has spent the last three seasons in the SHL. Rick Dhaliwal of TSN reports that the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings are “in the mix” to sign Brome once the new transfer agreement comes into place. With 17 goals and 43 points for Orebro HK this season, Brome ranked sixth in league scoring and could be considered an option to step directly into the NHL.
  • Max Martin didn’t get drafted when he was eligible either, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be playing professional hockey. The Kamloops Blazers standout has signed a one-year contract with the Texas Stars of the AHL for the 2020-21 season, giving him a chance to show what he can do at the next level. The 20-year old defenseman had 14 goals and 58 points in 57 games after an early-season trade from Prince Albert. The Blazers just so happen to be owned by Tom Gaglardi, who also owns the Dallas and Texas Stars.

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