Gerry Mayhew Wins AHL MVP
The Les Cunningham Award has been given to Gerry Mayhew of the Iowa Wild, named the AHL’s most valuable player after a vote from coaches, players, and media around the league. Mayhew follows Daniel Carr who won the award in 2018-19.
In only his third full season in the AHL, the 27-year old Mayhew has proven that hard work and determination can pay off. After going undrafted out of the USHL despite his strong play, the 5’9″ forward dominated at the collegiate level for Ferris State University. When he stepped into the AHL in 2017 his goal-scoring touch came with him.
Mayhew had already experienced success over the last two seasons, but this year he took his game to an entirely new level. With 39 goals he was the league’s scoring champ despite playing in just 49 games. Those 39 tallies were also the most by an AHL skater in nearly a decade, another incredible feat given his shortened season.
Not only was the AHL campaign cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak, but Mayhew also got his first chance in the NHL, playing 13 games for the Minnesota Wild.
Mayhew has one more year on his two-way contract with the Wild, which carries a $700K cap hit at the NHL level.
Vegas AHL Affiliate Announces Name, Logo
It’s official, the new AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights will be known as the Henderson Silver Knights. While the name comes as little surprise after reports months ago, the logo—which is very reminiscent of the Golden Knights themselves—was revealed in a ceremony tonight.
The Silver Knights were born when the Golden Knights bought the San Antonio Rampage earlier this year and almost immediately announced they would be relocating to Henderson. The team will play out of Orleans Arena in Las Vegas until a new facility is constructed.
As with everything the Golden Knights have done so far, the production value on a minor league name announcement was top notch. As Patrick Williams of NHL.com tweets, the event “raises the bar” for the AHL as a whole. Bill Foley, owner of both teams, announced that his goal is to “bring the Stanley Cup here and now also the Calder Cup.”
The Silver Knights will begin play in the 2020-21 season. Foley announced tonight that 7,600 season ticket deposits have already been taken.
Josh Norris Wins AHL Rookie Of The Year
It’s been quite the season for Ottawa Senators prospect Josh Norris, who kicked off his professional career after two successful years at the University of Michigan. Not only did Norris lead all first-year AHL players in scoring with 61 points in 56 games, but he was named to the All-Rookie and First All-Star Teams as well. Today, the league announced what was obvious after those previous accolades: Norris is your AHL Rookie of the Year, winning the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award.
Originally selected 19th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2017, Norris was a key part of the Erik Karlsson trade the next year. At that point, the young forward was still in college and unsigned, but it was obvious he had huge potential as a future top-six contributor.
The 21-year old even got a chance to suit up with Ottawa for a few games, but will still be looking for his first NHL point when things resume in the winter. Whether he starts with the big club is unclear, but Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion did call Norris a “future star” today on a conference call with reporters including Wayne Scanlan of Sportsnet.
Jake Bean Wins AHL Defenseman Of The Year
After handing out the top goaltending honors yesterday, the AHL continued today by announcing the top defenseman. The Eddie Shore Award has been given to Jake Bean of the Charlotte Checkers after a vote from coaches, players and media members around the league.
Bean, 21, isn’t just another AHL defenseman. Drafted 13th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016 he is still one of the top defensive prospects in the game, even if it has taken him a few years to reach the NHL. 2019-20 served as his second full season in the AHL and after making the All-Rookie Team and winning a Calder Cup championship in his first, it was hard to believe he could take another step forward.
A step forward he did take however, scoring 48 points in 59 games with the Checkers and landing a spot on the league’s First All-Star Team. The defenseman of the year award is just a cherry on top of an outstanding season, one that should probably be Bean’s last in the AHL.
Still under his entry-level contract in 2020-21, Bean represents an inexpensive option for the Hurricanes if they decide to shed some salary from the back end. After acquiring Brady Skjei midseason it may be difficult to keep around others like Joel Edmundson and Trevor van Riemsdyk—who are both scheduled for unrestricted free agency—meaning there could be an additional opportunity in the NHL.
That’s not guaranteed however, as Carolina still has Skjei, Jaccob Slavin, Jake Gardiner, Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton penciled into full-time roles for the time being. Haydn Fleury is also still around, though he needs a new contract as an RFA. The Hurricanes may be the most difficult blueline in the league to crack for a young player, but at this point it’s hard to argue Bean could have done anything more to prove he is ready for the next level.
Kaapo Kahkonen Wins AHL Goalie Of The Year
The minor leagues were absolutely littered with high-end goaltending prospects this season, but only one could take home the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the league’s best netminder. That honor was given to Kaapo Kahkonen of the Iowa Wild today, after a vote from coaches, players, and media around the league.
Kahkonen, 23, was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild way back in 2014, but only came over to North America for the 2018-19 campaign. He was named to the AHL All-Star Game and led the league in shutouts during his first season, but took another huge step forward this year.
In 34 appearances, Kahkonen registered a .927 save percentage and led the league in wins (25) and shutouts (7). Iowa ended up with the best record in franchise history, partly because of his strong play in net.
Kahkonen also received his first opportunity in the NHL, playing in five games for Minnesota. The young goaltender posted a .913 save percentage in those games, a good indication that he’ll be able to handle the transition at some point in the future.
Snapshots: Henderson, UAH, Lizotte
The Vegas Golden Knights new AHL affiliate will announce their team name on Thursday night, revealing the logo they will use for the 2020-21 season (should it happen) as well. The team, which will eventually play out of Henderson, Nevada is expected to be named the Henderson Silver Knights (although Murder Hornets was also a popular choice).
The Henderson City Council recently approved $42MM in funding for a new arena to house the AHL franchise, though it is not expected to be ready until 2022. For now, they will play games at Orleans Arena just a few blocks away from T-Mobile Arena, the home of the Golden Knights.
- If you’re one of those fans disappointed by the recent news that the University of Alabama-Huntsville had canceled their men’s hockey program due to financial concerns, you have a chance to help. The hockey community has started a GoFundMe to try and save the Chargers, working out a deal with the school to keep the program in place if it raises $1MM by the end of the week. Cam Talbot, the school’s most notable hockey alumni, is even spreading the word in hopes that his former program won’t be shut down.
- Jon Lizotte has re-signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2020-21, returning on an AHL contract after starting his professional career this season. The former St. Cloud State defenseman scored 17 points in 59 games for WBS but still won’t be on an NHL deal when hockey kicks back up. The 25-year old would need to take a substantial development step to really challenge for an NHL roster spot in the future.
Snapshots: Ozhiganov, Veilleux, Saganiuk
Standout KHL defenseman Igor Ozhiganov has secured some consistency in his career, at least for a little while. Ozhiganov initially left the KHL and CSKA Moscow after eight years following the 2017-18 season to sign in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a good but not great debut season with Toronto, Ozhiganov opted to return home to Russia, signing with Ak Bars Kazan. However, Kazan traded the top defender for fellow NHL vet Viktor Tikhonov early in the season. Ozhiganov headed to SKA St. Petersburg, where he enjoyed one of the best stretches of his KHL career with 12 points in 35 games. Elite blue liners are often hard to come by in the KHL and SKA has decided not to let Ozhiganov go. The club has announced a new two-year extension that will keep Ozhiganov in St. Petersburg until the 2022 off-season. At that time, Ozhiganov will still be just 29 years old, but an NHL comeback seems unlikely. However, if he continues to perform at a high level with one of the top clubs in the KHL, that could certainly change.
- The AHL’s Laval Rocket got lucky this season when a midseason tryout turned into one of their more productive players. Quebec native Yannick Veilleux, who had previously played with Laval in 2017-18, re-joined the club mid-year after playing in the ECHL and proceeded to record 12 goals and 20 points in 26 games. It was the 27-year-old forward’s best AHL season by far and has now earned him a second chance. The Rocket have announced a one-year, one-way extension for Veilleux, who finished second only to Riley Barber in per-game scoring for Laval this season. The team hopes he can replicate that success next year, while Veilluex himself hopes another strong season could lead to an NHL contract.
- The next stage of 17-year-old USNTDP forward Colby Saganiuk’s developmental path will still take place in Pennsylvania, but now with a different team. Saganiuk, who calls Pittsburgh home, was drafted by the nearby Erie Otters last year but was also being pursued by Penn State University as well. Earlier this season, Saganiuk made the decision to join the NCAA rather than the OHL when he committed to Penn State. However, he has now reversed that decision. The Otters have announced that Saganiuk has signed his OHL contract and will join the club next season. While it is possible for a college player to leave for the Canadian juniors, the opposite is not allowed, meaning Saganiuk has given up the option of the NCAA route. This change of decision is likely tied to Saganiuk’s poor 2019-20 season. Considered one of the top players on the USNTDP U-17 squad, Saganiuk instead saw limited action and struggled to produce. Rather than stick with the developmental program for another year before joining the Nittany Lions, it seems Saganiuk has opted for a change of scenery sooner rather than later by committing to Erie. Whether he is able to bounce back next season and revive his draft stock remains to be seen, but Saganiuk will be an interesting player to watch in the junior ranks next season.
Prospect Notes: Kaprizov, CHL Defensemen, Draft
The Minnesota Wild and their fans are still waiting to see Kirill Kaprizov hit the ice with the team five years after they drafted him. The 23-year old forward is widely regarded as one of the best players outside the NHL, but for years there was little indication he wanted to come to North America. Now that there is—Kaprizov has made it clear that he is ready to sign with the Wild—the current league pause is getting in the way.
Despite being on the reserve list of the Wild, Kaprizov (and other players like him in similar situations around the league) isn’t being allowed to sign with the team for the 2019-20 season because of the current pause. Minnesota GM Bill Guerin is still holding out hope that the league will change their mind, telling Dan Myers of NHL.com that both sides are just taking it “day-by-day” and not jumping into an agreement for 2020-21 until it is necessary. As Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) has explained several times, a delayed start to 2020-21 could pose a threat for the Wild should Kaprizov decide he doesn’t want to wait around for the season to begin, but it does seem like finally, both sides are on the same page.
- Each of the three leagues that make up the CHL have announced their Defenseman of the Year awards. Ty Smith repeats for the WHL, taking home the award for the second consecutive season and joining Kris Russell, Dion Phaneuf and Nolan Baumgartner as the only back-to-back winners. The New Jersey Devils prospect recorded 59 points in 46 games for the Spokane Chiefs and looks ready to make the jump to the NHL in short order. Noel Hoefenmayer doesn’t have quite the same name recognition as Smith, given that he was a fourth-round pick in 2017 and failed to sign with the Arizona Coyotes, but he was just as impressive this year in the OHL. Hoefenmayer recorded 82 points in 58 games for the Ottawa 67’s, an incredible total even if he was playing his over-age season. Hoefenmayer recently signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, his hometown minor league team. Jordan Spence takes home the award for the QMJHL, more exciting news for the Los Angeles Kings whose prospect pool is bursting at the seams with talent. As Scott Wheeler of The Athletic points out on Twitter, Spence now has a QMJHL Rookie of the Year and Defenseman of the Year award in his cabinet, but still isn’t even one of the very best prospects in the Kings’ system.
- Everyone is waiting to see when the draft will be for this season, but the push to have it take place in June before finishing the season has seemingly come to an end. In fact, Bob McKenzie of TSN asked some general manager around the league yesterday, who told him they have “no clue” on when it will be. McKenzie reports that the entire focus is on returning to play right now and that the decision on when to hold the draft “won’t be made anytime soon.”
AHL Announces 2019-20 First, Second All-Star Teams
After revealing their All-Rookie Team yesterday, the AHL has handed out another set of accolades for the best players in the league. The 2019-20 First and Second All-Star selections have been released, awards that are voted on by coaches players and media. Impressively, two of those All-Rookie players are also among All-Star groups—Joshua Norris and Brogan Rafferty.
While these teams do not predict future NHL success as well as the All-Rookie group, there are still plenty of NHL stars that have been awarded AHL All-Star honors in the past. This year’s group is especially young, including seven players age 23 and under.
First All-Star Team:
G Kaapo Kahkonen, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
D Jake Bean, Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)
D Brennan Menell, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
LW Reid Boucher, Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
C Joshua Norris, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
RW Sam Anas, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
Second All-Star Team:
G Connor Ingram, Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)
D Jacob MacDonald, Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)
D Brogan Rafferty, Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
LW Gerald Mayhew, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
C Alex Barre-Boulet, Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)
RW Drake Batherson, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
Jesper Olofsson Signs AHL Contract
Victor Olofsson scored 20 goals and 42 points in his rookie year with the Buffalo Sabres, so the organization is climbing the family tree. Jesper Olofsson, his older brother, has signed a one-year contract with the Rochester Americans of the AHL for the 2020-21 season. He spent the last five seasons in the SHL, but will try his hand on North American ice next season.
Olofsson, 28, was never a top prospect in Sweden, failing to earn himself a spot in the World Juniors or a draft pick from the NHL. Instead, he slowly made his way through the ranks until finding success as an older rookie in the SHL during the 2015-16 season. Since then he’s been a capable member of whatever SHL he played for, but it’s hard to imagine him becoming an impact NHL talent at this point.
What he can do however is provide some experience to the Rochester squad while giving his younger brother a little comfort in his sophomore season. If his proximity gives Victor any sort of confidence boost, you can bet the Sabres will chalk the signing up as a win regardless of how he performs at the AHL level.