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Prospect Notes: Jenik, Sadek, Hughes

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Though the team hasn’t announced the deal yet, Jan Jenik has announced that he has signed an entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes (h/t Craig Morgan from The Athletic). Jenik is currently dealing with an injury but his junior team the Hamilton Bulldogs were recently eliminated from the OHL playoffs meaning he could jump to the AHL to get a look at the professional level.

Jenik, 18, was selected 65th overall in 2018 and split this season between the Czech Republic and OHL. In 27 games for the Bulldogs he recorded 30 points, but could potentially go back to the junior ranks next season to continue his development. Another lottery ticket for the Coyotes, we’ll have to wait to see when they actually announced the contract.

  • The Iowa Wild have signed Jack Sadek to an amateur tryout, allowing the 21-year old defenseman to get his feet wet at the professional level after a season in the NCAA. The seventh-round pick finished his career at the University of Minnesota with an 18-point season, but will have to prove he deserves an NHL contract in Minnesota. Sadek technically will become an unrestricted free agent in August if he waits that long, but a minor league pact could keep him in the Wild organization.
  • The time has come for Vancouver Canucks prospect Quinn Hughes, who will make his NHL debut tonight after nursing a foot injury. Hughes signed his first NHL contract after deciding to leave the University of Michigan, and will be must-see action for prospect watchers all around the league. The talented defenseman is a dynamic skater and brings some incredible offensive upside to the table. With five games left in the season for the Canucks, Hughes could actually earn himself a $25,000 bonus if he suits up in all of them according to CapFriendly.

Oliver Wahlstrom Signs Entry-Level Contract

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It wasn’t clear what was the next step for Oliver Wahlstrom after informing Boston College that he would not return next season, but he has made another decision. The young forward has signed his entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, starting the deal in the 2019-20 season. Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post reports that Wahlstrom is expected to report to the AHL on an amateur tryout.

Wahlstrom, 18, was selected 11th overall last June by the Islanders and eventually settled on BC after long and very public commitments to various other schools in the NCAA. He struggled when he got there though, scoring just 19 points in 36 points. There were rumors of him leaving midseason, but he’ll now finally get the chance to turn pro and start the next stage of his development.

It seems likely that the Islanders will take it slow, given the huge upside that Wahlstrom has shown in the past. A hockey star at a very young age, the talented forward possesses an incredible shot and offensive instincts but sometimes lacks the ability to create chances for himself. When he was picked there were immediate dreams of him finishing off countless passes from Mathew Barzal in the NHL, but Wahlstrom is still a long way away from that level.

Since he doesn’t turn 19 until June, Wahlstrom can actually see his entry-level contract slide once again in 2019-20 if he doesn’t play ten games in the NHL. That’s regardless of how many times he suits up in the minor leagues, meaning the Bridgeport Sound Tigers will probably be penciling in his name more often than not next season.

Dudek, Carpenter Sign Amateur Tryouts

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Another pair of NCAA players have inked amateur tryouts in the AHL, as J.D. Dudek and Bobo Carpenter have signed with the Binghamton Devils and Bridgeport Sound Tigers respectively. Carpenter signed his entry-level contract with the Islanders earlier this week but won’t see it kick in until next season.

Dudek meanwhile will be rejoining an organization he was previously associated with. Originally selected by the New Jersey Devils in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, Dudek’s rights were traded to the Edmonton Oilers last season as part of the package for Patrick Maroon. It’s interesting then that he’ll be playing with Binghamton, and may suggest that he is going to wait until August and become an unrestricted free agent. In his four-year career at Boston College, Dudek recorded 56 points in 149 games.

In related moves, Binghamton have released both Nick Sorkin and Desmond Bergin from their professional tryouts. Bergin has played for three different AHL teams this season, but both players spend most of their time in the ECHL.

Brad Malone Placed On Waivers

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Thursday: Malone has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the AHL.

Wednesday: The Edmonton Oilers have placed forward Brad Malone on waivers. Malone is eligible for the AHL playoffs, and could join the first place Bakersfield Condors tomorrow if he clears.

Malone, 29, most recently played a game for the Oilers on March 11th, and has just 13 under his belt this season. The journeyman forward has played for four minor league and three NHL clubs since being selected in the fourth round in 2007, but has just 30 points in 196 career games at the highest level. That includes exactly zero across his two years with the Oilers.

Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, it is unlikely that Malone will be claimed. It also isn’t clear if the Oilers intend on bringing him back to the organization on another two-way deal, or if he will have to look for another opportunity this summer.

Minor Transactions: 03/28/19

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Just a handful of games remain in the 2018-19 NHL regular season, and eight of them will be played tonight. All the focus is on Columbus as the Blue Jackets will host their playoff competition in the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens sit two points ahead of the Blue Jackets for the final wild card spot but have played one extra game and do not hold the tiebreaker, meaning tonight is an absolute must-win for the team. Columbus meanwhile can’t fall any further behind after spending so many assets to put themselves in a position of contention this season. As they and the rest of the league prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.

  • After recalling Victor Olofsson from the AHL yesterday, the Buffalo Sabres have sent Tage Thompson down in his place. Thompson hasn’t had the kind of impact the Sabres hoped for this season, recording just 12 points in 65 games after being acquired as part of the Ryan O’Reilly deal. The 21-year old still has quite a bit of potential, but will have to really take a step forward next year to be considered a core piece.
  • Before their game against the New York Rangers last night, the Boston Bruins returned Karson Kuhlman to the minor leagues. Kuhlman has played seven games for the Bruins this season, recording two goals and three points in his first year of professional hockey. Signed out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the 23-year old has 30 points in 58 games at the minor league level.
  • The Dallas Stars have recalled Landon Bow after Ben Bishop suffered another minor injury, but the veteran goaltender is expected to stay with the team on their current road trip. That means Bow will likely not see any action, though he is expected to back up Anton Khudobin tonight.
  • The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Matt Tennyson, despite having ten defensemen on the roster already. Jake McCabe was back at practice today, though both Zach Bogosian and Rasmus Ristolainen remained out. Tennyson has played four games for the Sabres this season, spending most of the time in the AHL instead.
  • Jake Dotchin is back up with the Anaheim Ducks, possibly through the end of what has been a difficult season for the big defenseman. Dotchin had his contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning terminated in training camp due to his physical fitness levels, but was able to find a new home with Anaheim. Yet, he has so far suited up in just 20 games for the Ducks, recording one lone point, after he played in more than half of Tampa’s games last season and registered double-digit point. Dotchin will be a restricted free agent this off-season and it will be interesting to see if the Ducks opt to qualify him or not.
  • The San Jose Sharks have called Nick DeSimone over from the AHL locker room. The team continues to shuffle through Barracuda defenders and DeSimone is the next in line. The 24-year-old is tied for second in scoring for AHL San Jose and has certainly earned his NHL debut at this point.
  • Martin Frk has been reassigned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, their parent club, the Detroit Red Wings, announced. Frk has been disappointingly unproductive in the NHL this season, recording five points in 25 games. He’s done much better in the AHL, with 13 points in just ten games, but Detroit was hoping for that contribution to be at the top level. Frk is an RFA this off-season and the Red Wings will have to decide whether or not to bring him back.

Boston Bruins Extend AHL Affiliation

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The AHL is well known for its continually changing landscape, with teams switching cities, franchise affiliations and names regularly. Not so with the Providence Bruins, who have been affiliated with the Boston Bruins since they became a team in 1992. That agreement is not going to end at 27 years, as the two organizations finalized a 10-year extension today taking them through the 2028-29 season. Boston president Cam Neely explained the decision:

Player development is one of the most important parts of our hockey operations strategy which has the goal of achieving long term and sustainable success. Our partnership with the Providence Bruins has been a key part of our player development over the past three decades and we are very happy to have a long-term deal solidifying this relationship for 10 more years.

The Providence-Boston affiliation has long been the gold standard for any organization, as they represent everything you want in a development agreement. Their geographical proximity has been copied by most of the league, and their commitment to development and AHL success is a testament to the work both parties have put in. The P-Bruins have won just a single Calder Cup since coming into the league, but have missed the playoffs just five times in 27 years. They’re set to head there again, even while providing countless players for Boston to use while dealing with NHL injuries.

The number of players that have played at least one game for both Bruins organizations is more than 200, and includes names like David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy and Patrice Bergeron. Providence will continue to try and churn out NHL-caliber talent while vying for the Calder Cup every single year.

Minor Transactions: 03/27/19

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The NHL has just four games on the schedule for this evening, but plenty of reason to tune in. The Western Conference matchups are especially interesting, as the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche try to hang on to their wild card spots. Both teams will take on clubs ahead of them in the standings, and pull even with both the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild in games played. As they prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll be here keeping track of all the minor moves.

  • The Avalanche have loaned Mark Barberio to the AHL on a conditioning assignment, giving him a chance to get back into game shape. The 29-year old hasn’t played since January and has suited up just 12 times this season due to injury. He had already re-joined the Avalanche for full practices, but will now get to play a few games for the Colorado Eagles before coming back up to the NHL.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Martin Frk from the AHL as Luke Glendening and Anthony Mantha are dealing with injuries. Both players are expected to suit up for the team tomorrow, but the Red Wings needed some insurance just in case.
  • The Bruins announced that they have assigned center Karson Kuhlman to AHL Providence.  He was recalled on Saturday following the injury to Sean Kuraly and got into two games with Boston on his recall, scoring once.  However, the return of winger Marcus Johansson meant Kuhlman could no longer remain with the team on an emergency recall.

Carl Dahlstrom Signs Two-Year Extension

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The Chicago Blackhawks have locked up another young defenseman, signing Carl Dahlstrom to a two-year extension. Dahlstrom was set to become a restricted free agent this summer and would have been arbitration eligible. The deal will carry an $850K average annual value, and keep him under contract through the 2020-21 season.

Dahlstrom, 24, was originally selected by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2013 draft but didn’t make his NHL debut until last season. The 6’4″ 231-lbs defenseman has just six points this season through 35 games, but has shown enough ability to be a contender for a more full-time role next season. Part of that decision will come down to new head coach Jeremy Colliton, who had Dahlstrom in the AHL previously and has thrust him into some tough minutes at the NHL level this season. It will also depend on where the other young Chicago defensemen land on the depth chart after what will be a fascinating training camp.

Chicago has a wave of young blue liners coming with names like Henri Jokiharju, Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin and the recently signed Chad Krys, but it is Dahlstrom that will now have a guaranteed role in the organization for the next two seasons. Whether that is as a reliable defensive option with the NHL club, or another year bouncing back and forth isn’t clear, but he’ll at least not have to worry about the financial side of the game for the time being. Dahlstrom will still be a restricted free agent at the end of the extension.

Philadelphia Flyers Have Nothing To Lose This Off-Season

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After re-signing forward Michael Raffl to a two-year extension today, the Philadelphia Flyers are in an enviable position heading into the off-season. New GM Chuck Fletcher has his team in position to enter the summer free agent market without any risk of losing any valuable unrestricted free agents. Add that to ample cap space and a deep pipeline of talent at all positions and the Flyers are in position to only get better this summer and the Eastern Conference should be on alert.

Of course, there are still areas of need in Philadelphia. The one gaping hole is in net, where the team needs a long-term option to pair with young phenom Carter Hart. Of their small list of UFA’s, four are goaltenders: Brian Elliott, recent trade acquisition Cam Talbot, injured Michal Neuvirth, and buried Mike McKenna. However, the price of acquiring Talbot earlier this year – young keeper Anthony Stolarz – has led many to believe that the Flyers see Talbot as that long-term fit. An extension has yet to be signed, but the Flyers very well may have the answer to their question in goal already on the roster.

Elsewhere, forward Phil Varone is perhaps the closest thing to a difficult free agent loss that Philly could suffer this off-season. Varone, 28, had 50 NHL games to his credit over five years prior to this season but has ended up skating in 43 more so far with the Flyers while on a minimum two-way contract. It’s possible that Varone could bolt this summer, but a one-way contract would likely be enough to keep him around and, if he does leave, his seven points would not be hard to make up for. Jori Lehtera has the most name recognition among impending free agent forwards, but the 31-year-old has not been the same players since the move to Philadelphia two years ago and was buried in the minors after recording just three points through his first 27 games of the season. Lehtera won’t be back with the Flyers and is likely on his way out of the NHL altogether. Other UFA forwards include Corban Knight, Tyrell Goulbourne, Michael Vecchione, Byron Froese, Greg Carey, and Cole Bardreau, a group of 25-and-over players who have combined for one point in 19 NHL games this season. Carey, the leading scorer of the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, is perhaps the only one of group that the Flyers could see as a loss if not retained.

What the Flyers really need, even with many promising forward prospects, is to add another proven top-six forward to the roster and should be able to do so with significant salary cap flexibility. Even after negotiating new contracts with their restricted free agents, the Flyers should have enough cap room to bid for one of the top forwards on the market if they so choose. Even if they lose out on a top name, their offense cannot be any worse than it was this year and it was still good enough to give the Flyers a shot at the postseason.

On the blue line, the Flyers are deep and versatile with a mix of talented young players and established veterans. Not one defenseman in the entire organization is an unrestricted free agent, so that group will be back in full force next season, possibly with some additions.

Simply put, there is no way that Philadelphia can get any worse going into next season barring a bad trade, an RFA holdout, or some other unexpected calamity. They do not have one unrestricted free agent whose loss could really hurt them (unless a Talbot deal falls through). On the other hand, their cap space and depth of prospects give them a great chance to improve next season one way or another. Right now, the Flyers are a fringe playoff team, which is not any team’s goal. However, Philly should enter 2019-20 with that as their floor and, depending on what they do over the summer, could have a much higher ceiling. And that is a good place to be.

AHL Signings: Marchin, Sawchenko, Boston College

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The last time that the Providence Bruins signed a standout player from a nearby university it worked out pretty well for the organization. Providence inked former Quinnipiac University defenseman Connor Clifton to an AHL deal in the 2017 after the Arizona Coyotes opted not to sign their draft selection. Clifton later earned an entry-level contract with strong play in his first pro season and is currently up with the Boston Bruins, having played in 15 games with the team this year while also leading all Providence defensemen in scoring. The P-Bruins have made a similar signing and all parties involved hope it ends up as well as Clifton’s did. The Providence Journal’s Mark Divver reports that Brown University captain Tommy Marchin has signed an AHL contract for next season with the team in the same city as his alma mater. It appears that he will suit up on an amateur tryout offer for the remainder of this season. Marchin, Brown’s Hobey Baker candidate this season, enjoyed a strong collegiate career outside of a sophomore slump, twice cracking 25 points in a season. At 6’3″, 216 lbs., Marchin is a power winger with good offensive instincts who should be able to contribute immediately for the P-Bruins. Perhaps he too will earn his way to Boston as well someday.

  • Many were surprised when highly-touted WHL goaltender Zach Sawchenko went undrafted year after year from 2015-2017 despite starting nearly every game for the Moose Jaw Warriors and leading a Canadian World Junior entry during that time and routinely displaying great athleticism. Sawchenko finally opted to go to college and has played the past two seasons for the University of Alberta, putting up stellar numbers. While not the usual route, that decision has led Sawchenko to finally reaching his dream of playing pro hockey. The San Jose Barracuda have signed the 21-year-old keeper to a two-year AHL deal, his university team has announced. Sawchenko could be in line for immediate play time next season, as current tandem Antoine Bibeau and Josef Korenar have evenly split starts this year, but neither has stood out. The situation is open for Sawchenko to assert himself as a starting option with consistent play. And with struggles in net for the San Jose Sharks as well, this is an ideal opportunity for Sawchenko to show he can be an NHL option one day.
  • Boston College seniors are a hot ticket item right now, as Joseph Woll and Casey Fitzgerald have signed NHL contracts this week and now two veteran leaders have inked AHL deals. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have added both forward Chris Brown and defenseman Michael Kim to their roster for the remainder of the season, the team announced, bringing in a pair of respected and experienced Eagles. Brown is the more interesting addition, as he was a draft pick not of Pittsburgh but of Buffalo back in 2014 and is technically Sabres property until August. Yet, logic would dictate that if Brown and Buffalo were considering an entry-level deal, he would be joining the AHL’s Rochester Americans. His move to the WBS Penguins would indicate that Brown will be a free agent later this summer. The 23-year-old center is a capable two-way forward who has a limited offensive ceiling but could still be a role player at the pro level. As for Kim, the 23-year-old Toronto native has been consistently productive from the blue line over the past few years and plays a solid possession game. Although he went undrafted, Kim is well-regarded and should land an AHL contract at the very least heading into next season.

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