Atlantic Notes: Senators, Dahlin, Alzner
The Ottawa Senators are very much a brand new team entering the 2019-20 season. Gone are the likes of Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Cody Ceci, and Zack Smith. New to the team are names like Artem Anisimov, Nikita Zaitsev, Ron Hainsey, and Connor Brown, while prospects like Erik Brannstrom, Drake Batherson, Josh Norris, and Max Veronneau are set to push for regular roles. On top of all of the roster turnover, the team also has a new head coach in D.J. Smith. Given these considerable changes, Smith’s comments to Sportsnet’s Wayne Scanlan comes as little surprise. First and foremost, Smith tells Scanlan that the Senators will not name a captain in the coming season. The team did not have a captain last season following the departure of Erik Karlsson and now has even fewer tenured veterans. He did say that there will be veteran members, old and new, who he will rely on to play leadership roles in the locker room, but simply feels that the team must wait for a captain to naturally emerge. It also may not necessarily be one of the established veterans, as Smith notes that he will make a “conscious effort” to share ice time and responsibility evenly between the older players and many young players pushing for an opportunity. More than anything, Smith states that he hopes to change the culture in Ottawa, instilling a sense of belief and confidence in the new additions, young players, and perhaps even some of those long-time Senators who have survived a couple of difficult seasons. Based on Smith’s comments, it seems that the Senators will be a very new team indeed in many ways this coming season.
- A young leader is developing for one of the Senators’ divisional rivals, the Buffalo Sabres. Phenom Rasmus Dahlin, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and a Calder Trophy finalist last season, is not afraid to speak his mind and knew what he was doing when he made some bold predictions to the Associated Press’ John Wawrow. “We’re going to be a winning team and be in the playoffs,” Dahlin told Wawrow, “I’m putting more pressure on myself… I think everyone is putting more pressure on ourselves now, and we’re ready to go… I feel more prepared. I feel more mature. Like that one year of experience, I know what’s coming this season. I feel more comfortable in my position… we’re going to get something good going on here.” It’s a strong statement from Dahlin and one that will surprise many. The Sabres have not made the playoffs since 2011 and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference this past season after a late-season collapse. The team arguably plays in the toughest division in the game as well, as Atlantic powerhouses Tampa Bay, Boston, and Toronto will almost certainly claim the top three seeds in the division, leaving Buffalo to fight for one of two wild card spots. Yet, the Sabres have to be happy that their 18-year-old centerpiece is bold enough to put those playoff expectations on his shoulders and will look to follow him back to postseason glory this season, no matter how tough the road may be.
- Montreal Canadiens defenseman Karl Alzner would like to be part of his team’s playoff push next season as well. Unfortunately, Alzner’s poor play left him relegated to the AHL for all but nine games last season. After spending the summer working out with teammates Carey Price and Shea Weber, Alzner tells TVA’s Louis-André Larivière that he feels he is ready to once again be a regular contributor and hopes he is given a fair shot to compete for such a role in the team’s upcoming training camp. While Alzner stated that he does not want to waste years of his career, whether or not he has an NHL role is ultimately up to him. His own play and taxing $4.625MM cap hit are why he spent last season with the Laval Rocket and he must prove that he is worth keeping on the roster. Alzner revealed that he did not formally request a trade last season, but that he will likely do so if he is cut from Canadiens camp this fall. However, there may not be much of a market for his services and likely even less interest in promising him a regular role at the NHL level.
Minor Transactions: 08/23/19
As the RFA market shows slight signs of movement, other teams are still working to fill out their organizational depth charts. We’ll keep track of all the minor moves around the world of hockey and fill you in right here. Keep checking back as this page will be updated throughout the day:
- Three defensemen have jumped right from their NHL entry-level deals down to ECHL contracts today. All three are returning to the teams they spent the majority or entirety of last season with. The first, Chris Martenet, was a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2015. Martenet is a hulking 6’7″ defenseman whose skills and skating never quite caught up to his stature. He has opted to stay with the Brampton Beast on a one-year deal, the team announced. Next, the Orlando Solar Bears are happy to have Cody Donaghey back for another year, after the blue liner recorded 43 points in 64 games last season. Although Donaghey, a prospect of the Ottawa Senators and then San Jose Sharks, has just one AHL game to his credit, he has proven to be an adept puck-mover in the ECHL. Finally, Michael Downing will return to the Florida Everblades on a one-year deal, the team announced. Downing, who was in fact an effective AHL regular early in his career, still failed to live up to his fourth-round selection back in 2013 by the Florida Panthers, as well as a his standout collegiate career with the University of Michigan. Nevertheless, he stands the best chance of the trio of fighting his way back to the AHL level.
- After spending more than half the 2018-19 season in the AHL, Craig Wyszomirski has signed with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel. The 26-year old defenseman recorded seven points in 34 games split between the Utica Comets and Ontario Reign, while playing the rest of the season with the Manchester Monarchs at the ECHL level. The former Merrimack College stalwart will have to try again to prove he is good enough to play in the higher minors.
- Josh Winquist is trying to prove the same thing after playing just five games last season due to injury. Once a solid offensive contributor at the AHL level, the 25-year old has signed on with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL to resurrect his career. The last time he played a full season in the ECHL he put up 53 points in 55 games for the Orlando Solar Bears.
- After four years at Bowling Green State University, Stephen Baylis is trying to catch on with the Los Angeles Kings organization and will participate in their rookie tournament. Baylis ended his college career as captain of the Falcons, scoring 22 points in 37 games last season. The 25-year old was undrafted out of the CCHL.
Stefan Matteau Signs AHL Contract
After failing to see any time in the NHL last season, Stefan Matteau has settled for an AHL deal this time around. The 25-year old forward has signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Monsters. Matteau qualified for Group VI unrestricted free agency after playing last season with the Chicago Wolves.
Originally a first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils, Matteau actually jumped directly into the NHL as a teenager. Playing 17 games with the Devils before heading to junior during the 2012-13 season, the big forward seemed to be on track to quickly become a key part of their forward group. Even the next year playing with the Albany Devils things still seemed on the right track, as Matteau scored 26 points in 67 games as one of the youngest players in the AHL. Unfortunately he was unable to ever really take that next step, and found himself shipped to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Devante Smith-Pelly in 2016.
From there, the young forward has found himself in the minor leagues for entire seasons save for eight games with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18. While he is still a decent AHL player he never became the dominant power forward that some believed he could be. Now with just 64 NHL games under his belt and an AHL contract in his pocket, he’ll have to really take another step forward if he’s ever to make it back to the best league in the world.
Minor Transactions: 08/22/19
As the RFA market shows signs of movement, other teams are still working to fill out their organizational depth charts. As we keep track of all the minor moves around the world of hockey, we’ll fill you in right here. Keep checking back as this page will be updated throughout the day:
- The Binghamton Devils have signed Eamon McAdam to a one-year, AHL contract. The 24-year old goaltender was in the Toronto Maple Leafs system last season but failed to receive a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. McAdam split time between the Toronto Marlies and Newfoundland Growlers, suiting up for 19 games for each team. Selected in the third round six years ago, he has yet to make his NHL debut.
- The Hartford Wolf Pack have signed Zach Tolkinen to an AHL contract, bringing back the veteran ECHL defenseman after he got his first taste of the AHL last season on a loan. Tolkinen played nine games with Hartford but was held scoreless, serving most of the season as the captain of the Maine Mariners.
- Veteran winger T.J. Hensick has signed an ECHL contract with Toledo. The veteran of over 100 NHL games and 600 AHL contests split last season between the Walleye and San Jose of the AHL. Despite picking up an impressive 20 points in 23 games with the Barracuda, he was unable to secure an AHL deal for the upcoming season.
Minor Transactions: 08/21/19
As the RFA market shows signs of movement, other teams are still working to fill out their organizational depth charts. As we keep track of all the minor moves around the world of hockey, we’ll fill you in right here. Keep checking back as this page will be updated throughout the day:
- The Stockton Heat have signed four players, inking Terrance Amorosa, Zach Osburn, Matthew Gaudreau and Mitch Hults to one-year, two-way minor league contracts. Gaudreau is the name that will stick out to Calgary Flames fans for obvious reasons, as he is the younger brother of star forward Johnny Gaudreau. The 24-year old has spent the last two seasons with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL while getting a handful of games at the AHL level.
- Jonathan Martin‘s entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks expired earlier this summer and the team opted not to extend him a qualifying offer. Despite scoring 28 points in 57 AHL games last season, it seems other NHL teams weren’t enamored with the forward either. Martin has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners, the team announced. The 23-year-old will look to work his way back into NHL consideration with a strong perfromance this season.
- Kelly Cup champion Derian Plouffe has signed with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, leaving the Toronto Marlies/Newfoundland Growlers after just one full season in professional hockey. Plouffe put up 23 points in 56 games with the Growlers and took home the championship after spending four years at Niagara University. Fellow former Growler Gabriel Gagne has also left the Maple Leafs organization, as the former Ottawa Senators prospect has signed with the ECHL’s Allen Americans, the team announced. The towering power forward recorded 16 points in 55 AHL games last season and is a major addition for Allen.
- Connor Moynihan won’t be playing for the Rockford IceHogs this season, instead signing an ECHL deal with the Tulsa Oilers. The Oilers decided to bring in both Connor and his brother Danny Moynihan, who actually retired from professional hockey temporarily because of a heart condition. He returns after a year off and last played with the Utica Comets and Kalamazoo Wings in 2017-18.
- The Boston Globe’s Matt Porter reports that forward Tanner Pond has signed a two-way deal with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Pond played in a career-high 46 AHL games with the Providence Bruins last year, playing a reliable energy role. He’ll look to carve out a regular role for himself again in the coming season with Bridgeport.
- Thomas Beretta has transferred to the University of Vermont after three seasons at Michigan Tech. The senior forward is looking for a fresh start after missing more than half of the 2018-19 season due to injury. His scoring pace was the greatest of his collegiate career last season though, so if he can adjust to the tougher competition of the Hockey East Conference, he could be in for a breakout campaign just prior to becoming a free agent next summer.
Minor Transactions: 08/20/19
Even while the biggest news of the day revolves around unsigned restricted free agents like Matthew Tkachuk and Mitch Marner, teams are still working to fill out their organizational depth charts. As we keep track of all the minor moves around the world of hockey, we’ll fill you in right here. Keep checking back as this page will be updated throughout the day:
- The Hartford Wolf Pack have officially signed Jeff Taylor to an AHL contract, bringing in the 25-year old defenseman after he spent last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Taylor didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Penguins organization this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. He recorded eight points and 33 penalty minutes last season.
- 17-year old forward Michael Posma has announced his commitment to Boston College for the 2020-21 season. After being selected three times in the USHL draft he is expected to play for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders this year before joining BC. In 27 games last season at the high school level, Posma recorded 46 points. He is eligible for selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
- Ryan Verbeek is back from a one-year stint overseas playing in France and will join the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. The nephew of former NHL forward Pat Verbeek, Ryan hasn’t had quite the same smooth path in his hockey career. Nevertheless he’ll start his North American professional journey this season, coincidentally (or not) with the ECHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings where his uncle serves as assistant GM.
Columbus Blue Jackets Extend AHL Affiliation
The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced a multi-year extension with the Cleveland Monsters, keeping them as their AHL affiliate for the foreseeable future. Blue Jackets’ assistant GM Bill Zito explained why they made the decision to extend:
The partnership has been very successful for both organizations and markets over the past four years and we look forward to having our top prospects continue their development in Cleveland.
When Cleveland started their affiliation with Columbus in 2015-16, they immediately experienced the most success the franchise had ever seen. Going 43-22-11 under head coach Jared Bednar, the team won the Calder Cup championship after an impressive playoff run. That group—still known as the Lake Erie Monsters at the time—was led by some incredible postseason performances by a trio of youngsters including Lukas Sedlak, Oliver Bjorkstrand and 18-year old Zach Werenski. The team also included current Blue Jackets’ like Josh Anderson, Sonny Milano and Markus Hannikainen.
It’s that development success that makes this extension so important for the Blue Jackets, especially given the geographical proximity of the Monsters. Teams all across the NHL are trying to bring their AHL affiliates closer to home in order to take advantage of cap savings and emergency recalls, as well as giving their young players a chance to practice with the veterans at various times throughout the year. There are countless benefits from having a strong partnership with your primary minor league club, and this one has been quite fruitful for the Blue Jackets.
Rob O’Gara Signs With AHL San Antonio
Once a highly-touted prospect, it looks as though defenseman Rob O’Gara will need to work his way back into the NHL. Newsday’s Colin Stephenson reports that O’Gara has signed with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. The 26-year-old was a Group 6 unrestricted free agent this summer after failing to play in 80+ NHL games through his first three pro seasons. Yet, 2018-19 was his first campaign without any NHL action.
A late-round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2011, O’Gara played four seasons at Yale University and grew into one of the most effective two-way defenders in the NCAA during that time. He signed with Boston in 2016 and immediately became a key player at the AHL level and also made three NHL appearances. He played in eight more NHL games for the Bruins the following season, but was traded to his hometown New York Rangers in exchange for Nick Holden. O’Gara finished the season with the Rangers, playing in 22 games down the stretch and looking like a candidate for a regular role moving forward.
Unfortunately, that’s not how things played out this past season. O’Gara was cut from training camp and never re-emerged as a top recall option, even as the Rangers struggled. O’Gara was a solid defensive presence for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, but didn’t take advantage of a full year in the minors with an improved offensive contribution. As such, the local product did not earn a new deal with New York and seemingly was unable to find a two-way role with any other NHL team. In San Antonio, he will have to reassert himself as a legitimate NHL option with a consistent, well-rounded game if he hopes to one day make it back to the top level.
Beau Starrett Signs With Bakersfield Condors
With this year’s big fish of the college free agent market, Chase Priskie, off the board after signing with the Carolina Hurricanes, Cornell University forward Beau Starrett became arguably the top name remaining. Well, he is now under contract as well, albeit not in the NHL. The AHL’s Bakersfield Condors have announced a one-year deal with Starrett for the 2019-20 season. The former Chicago Blackhawks prospect is still available for an NHL team to sign, but the parent club Edmonton Oilers have the right of first refusal.
The signing has added meaning for the Oilers organization, as Starrett’s brother, Shane Starrett, is a goalie in the system. Shane was an undrafted product who played just two dominant seasons at the Air Force Academy before signing an entry-level contract with Edmonton in 2017. The 25-year-old was stellar in the AHL last season and looks to have a reasonable case for NHL opportunity sooner rather than later. Signing his brother could be added recognition of Edmonton’s commitment to the promising netminder.
Beau did not have as strong a college experience as his brother, though. Despite being the higher-rated prospect of the two, as evidenced by his selection by the Blackhawks in the third round in 2014, Starrett failed to live up to the hype at Cornell. In four seasons with the Big Red, Starrett failed to ever surpass 15 points in a season. Although his eight goals as a senior matched his first three seasons combined, Starrett’s offensive upside at the pro level remains unknown. It could be that the 23-year-old, who was once a star at the junior level in Massachusetts, simply has failed to pan out and will be more of a defensive forward at the next level, or perhaps Cornell was not the right place for his development and the Oilers see more to his game than the Blackhawks did. This season in Bakersfield will be telling as to what to expect from the younger Starrett moving forward, but it’s a risk-free addition to the Edmonton organization as, at worst, it will at least make their third-string goalie happy.
Minor Transactions: 08/19/19
It’s the dog days of summer, and while many prominent free agents, restricted and unrestricted, remain unsigned, major NHL signings are few and far between. Yet, minor league teams, foreign clubs, and college programs continue to make make moves in preparation for the coming season. Keep up with all of those minor transactions here:
- The Rochester Americans have signed John Wiitala to a one-year AHL contract, giving him his first opportunity at the professional level. Wiitala played four years at Ohio State University, scoring 17 points in 36 games as a senior. The undersized forward will try to help the Americans repeat their excellent 2018-19 season which ended in a 46-23-7 record.
- Ara Nazarian has signed a one-year AHL deal with the Binghamton Devils, following four years at the University of New Hampshire. The 23-year old forward scored 12 goals and 23 points in 33 games as a senior and will get a chance to test himself at the next level.
- Nashville Predators draft pick Vladislav Yeryomenko has signed a three-year contract with Dynamo Minsk of the KHL, ending any speculation that he might sign an entry-level deal in the NHL. The 20-year old defenseman was picked 151st overall in 2018 and played the last three seasons in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen. The Predators will now hold Yeryomenko’s draft rights indefinitely.