Eastern Notes: Belmont Project, Krug, Botterill
Despite numerous recent delays in the groundbreaking of construction of the New York Islanders future 19,000-seat arena in the Belmont Park area, the Islanders got some good news today. Empire State Development hopes to approve the final environmental impact statement next week, according to David Winzelberg of the Long Island Business News.
The project has been held up due to the environmental report, but Empire State Development has scheduled a meeting of its board of directors and seek “authorization to accept and approve” it. The approval of the final environmental impact statement should be the final step to beginning the construction of the $1.18 billion plan to build the Islanders new arena, a 250-room hotel and a 435,000 square-foot retail village onto the Belmont property.
On a separate note, however, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was also scheduled to be on Long Island Monday to announce a new railroad station at the Belmont project, but has postponed that appearance.
- The Boston Herald’s Marisa Ingemi wonders if this might be the right time for the Boston Bruins to seriously consider moving defenseman Torey Krug. With a number of restricted free agents they must deal with, including an incredibly pricey one for Charlie McAvoy as well as contracts for Brandon Carlo and Danton Heinen, the team might want to free up some money. Throw in some of their holes on offense and their depth on defense, moving Krug might make some sense. The 28-year-old is on the final year of his contract and will likely get a significant raise from his $5.25MM current salary. Will Boston want to commit to a 29-year-old long-term?
- The Athletic’s Joe Yerdon (subscription required) writes that while the hiring of Jason Botterill two years ago hasn’t resulted in immediate success for the Buffalo Sabres, the same can’t be said for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Since Botterill and Randy Sexton took over in May of 2017, the two have put quite a bit of effort into rebuilding their AHL affiliate, which has now made the playoffs two years in a row after missing the playoffs for three straight years before that. That has been evident once again this week when the team added a number of top AHL talent, including forwards Jean-Sebastian Dea, Curtis Lazar and C.J. Smith, defenseman John Gilmour and goaltender Andrew Hammond. The belief is that Botterill believes that AHL success should only add that needed depth that can eventually help the NHL squad as well.
Ottawa Senators Sign Christian Wolanin
The Ottawa Senators have inked one of their young restricted free agents, signing Christian Wolanin to a two-year deal. The contract is a two-way deal in the first year that will pay him $800K in the NHL and $100K in the AHL, while the second year is a one-way contract and carries a $1MM salary. Wolanin will still be a restricted free agent at the end of the deal, as long as he plays in 40 NHL games over the duration.
Wolanin, 24, played 30 games for the Senators in 2018-19, recording 12 points and generally looking quite capable at the NHL level. In the AHL he was even better, recording 31 points to actually finish the season as the highest scoring defenseman on the team despite suiting up just 40 times. That success likely has him in line for a full-time NHL role, though after signing Ron Hainsey the team could potentially lean a different way. Wolanin’s future might also depend on how well top prospect Erik Brannstrom looks in training camp, since he is still waiver-exempt.
Still, some financial stability is worth it at this point for the fourth-round pick. Wolanin took his game to the University of North Dakota for three seasons after being drafted so he is only now coming off his entry-level deal. The $1MM in year two means he’ll be owed at least that much as a qualifying offer in the summer of 2021, when he likely will be eligible for arbitration.
Overseas Notes: Kiselevich, Mitchell, Rybar, McNeill
As expected, Bogdan Kiselevich has returned home to Russia as soon as he could. The 29-year-old defenseman is back with CSKA Moscow after just one year in the NHL, as the team announced a new three-year deal. Kiselevich was clearly not impressed by his usage in North America, as word got out quickly after the season that he would return to the KHL, before even testing the NHL market. In his “rookie” season, Kiselevich played in 32 games with the Florida Panthers and contributed eight assists. Although some of his other underlying numbers suggested that Kiselevich was being underutilized in Florida, he worked mostly as the team’s No. 7. He was then traded to the Winnipeg Jets at the NHL Trade Deadline, slotting even lower in their depth chart, and did not play a single game in the regular season or postseason. Seeing as a fully healthy Kiselevich played just one game after January, it’s understandable that he was happy to return to a top role for an elite KHL club loaded with former NHLers.
- Count Zack Mitchell as another NHL castoff looking for a larger role in the KHL. After skating in 34 NHL games between two seasons with the Minnesota Wild in 2016-17/2017-18, Mitchell was relegated to the AHL for this entire past campaign after signing with the Los Angeles Kings last summer. Still a relatively young player at 26 who also has consistent AHL production and NHL experience, Mitchell likely felt he could do better. As a result, Mitchell has signed a one-year contract with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL, the team announced. A team that missed the playoffs last season and has few elite players or familiar NHL faces, Neftekhimik needs a elite addition and hopes Mitchell can fill that role. If he can lead them back to the Gagarin Cup stage behind a highly productive season, Mitchell will likely be able to find a deal back in North America next year.
- The Detroit Red Wings took a shot on young Slovakian goaltender Patrik Rybar last season after he had dominated the Slovakian and Czech pro ranks for several years. However, he ended up not getting much use as the fourth-string keeper in the organization. Rybar played in 37 AHL games and did not see any NHL action. In his minor league appearances, he also failed to put up the stupendous numbers that may have attracted another NHL suitor, posting a .908 save percentage and 2.49 GAA. Fortunately, those numbers were enough to turn heads in other major European leagues. Rybar has opted to sign with Karpat of the Finnish Liiga, the team announced. Karpat was the top team in the Liiga last year through the regular season and their play in net from Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Veini Vehvilainen and former NHLer Jussi Rynnas played no small role. With both of those keepers now gone, the Karpat net looks to belong to Rybar, with promising young goalie Justus Annunen, a Colorado Avalanche draft pick, as backup.
- Mark McNeill‘s precipitous drop from relevance continued last season and he is taking a drastic measure to rediscover his game. A 2011 first-round pick, McNeill was considered the top prospect of the Chicago Blackhawks for many years. Yet, to date he has just two NHL appearances to his credit. However, the heavy forward still put up good numbers in the minors in the Blackhawks’ and Dallas Stars’ systems. That is, until the past two years, when McNeill bounced around from Dallas to Nashville to Boston and posted back-to-back career lows of 25 points. Now, he must repair his image and show he can be a reliable scorer and has chosen Austria as the place to do just that. McNeill has signed with EHC Linz of the EBEL, the Black Wings announced. Linz counts Bracken Kearns and Justin Florek as their only other NHL veterans, so the opportunity will be there for McNeill to be the teams’s best player next season.
Tyler Wong Signs In KHL
The Chicago Wolves won’t be bringing back Tyler Wong for another season, as the former WHL superstar has signed a two-year deal with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. Wong had played the last two seasons under an AHL in the Vegas Golden Knights system, but will take his talents overseas.
Wong, 23, scored 198 points over his final two years of junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, but was never drafted and failed to earn an NHL entry-level contract. One of the standouts of the first Golden Knights’ training camp, he actually scored a hat trick in the franchise’s first ever preseason game. Unfortunately, that offensive prowess never translated to the professional level where Wong has scored just 21 points in 125 AHL games.
Undersized, Wong may actually be better suited for the KHL where he can continue to develop and try to earn another contract one day in North America. His brother, Austin Wong, was selected by the Winnipeg Jets 215th overall in 2018 and will play for Harvard this season.
Minor Transactions: 07/03/19
Even as several top NHL free agents remain unsigned, some teams have moved on to filling out their minor league depth charts for the upcoming season. We’ll keep track of some of the notable minor moves right here:
- The ECHL Kelly Cup champion Newfoundland Growlers will get several players back next season, as the Toronto Marlies have re-signed Matt Bradley, Brady Ferguson, Zach O’Brien, Scott Pooley and Kristians Rubins to minor league deals. All five were part of the Growlers title run in their inaugural season in the ECHL. O’Brien, 27, was named playoff MVP after scoring 29 points in 23 postseason games.
- The Colorado Eagles are loading up this offseason and now have another goaltender to add to the mix. Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic is reporting that former Arizona Coyotes prospect Hunter Miska will sign an AHL contract with Colorado. Miska, a former standout at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, made his NHL debut last season for the Coyotes but spent the majority of the season in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners, recording an .895 save percentage in 25 appearances.
- Mark Divver reports that the Providence Bruins will bring back Christopher Breen for another season. The mammoth defenseman is an effective penalty killer and imposing physical presence, but hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2013-14 season.
- The Manitoba Moose have agreed to terms with Alexis D’Aoust, Bobby Lynch, Cole Maier, Kristian Reichel, Graeme Craig, Jimmy Oligny and Hayden Shaw for the 2019-20 season, bringing back a good chunk of their organizational depth.
- Former Arizona Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers prospect Kale Kessey has signed with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, the team announced. Kessey has largely played in the ECHL over the past three years, but the 2011 fourth-rounder will push for a regular role with Hershey. His penalty minutes are a thing to behold.
Montreal Canadiens Sign Phil Varone
The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with free agent forward Phil Varone on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal is worth $700K in the NHL level but will pay the minor league veteran $450K in the AHL.
Varone, 28, actually got the biggest NHL opportunity of his career last season, playing 47 games with the Philadelphia Flyers. He recorded just seven points during that time in extremely limited minutes, but has been a top minor league scorer for years. In fact in 2017-18 with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Varone recorded 70 points in 74 games to rank second in the entire league—one point behind Laval Rocket forward Chris Terry, who has since moved on. Varone won the AHL MVP that season.
In Montreal, he’ll likely have to fight tooth and nail to secure a roster spot. The Canadiens already have ten forwards on more expensive one-way contracts, plus three restricted free agents and two entry-level players penciled in. That means he’s most likely ticketed for the minor leagues once again, where he will try to help the Rocket and serve as injury insurance for the Canadiens.
Florida Panthers Ink Philippe Desrosiers
Wednesday: Both contracts have been made official.
Tuesday: The Florida Panthers have completed the complete restructuring of their depth chart in net, as TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reports that Philippe Desrosiers has been signed to a one-year, two-way deal with a minimum $700K cap hit. The Dallas Stars product will likely compete to be third-string behind free agent addition Sergei Bobrovsky and rookie Samuel Montembeault, who has been confirmed as the backup. The trio represent a brand new lineup in goal, as the Panthers began last season with Roberto Luongo (retired), James Reimer (traded), and Michael Hutchinson (traded) in the top three spots.
Desrosiers, 23, was a second-round pick in 2013 after establishing himself as a young workhorse with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic. However, he has not lived up to that reputation in the pros, spending most of his time in the ECHL over the past four years. However, things began to change this season as Desrosiers finally played more games in the AHL than ECHL and posted a solid .910 save percentage and 2.54 GAA in 26 contests. Despite hinting at his remaining upside, Desrosiers did not earn a qualifying offer from the Stars, allowing him to test the market for a better opportunity.
Desrosier’s competition to be the next man up in AHL Springfield next year is veteran Chris Driedger and rookie Ryan Bednard. Driedger, 25, has made three NHL appearances in his career but, like Desrosiers, has also spent considerable time in the ECHL. While he may have the edge in experience and an existing familiarity with the organization entering his second year with the team, Driedger lacks some of the potential of his competitors and it may cost him in appearances. Bednard, 22, has yet to make his pro debut after signing late in the season with Florida following a postseason run with Bowling Green State University to wrap up his college career. After a stellar senior year, Bednard is likely the favorite to emerge as the No. 3 keeper for the Panthers, but his lack of pro experience may keep him from claiming the title right away.
CapFriendly reports that the Panthers have also signed AHL forward Joel Lowry to a minimum one-year, two-way contract. Lowry logged 30 points in 55 games for Springfield last season, earning himself an NHL deal for the first time in four years.
Penguins Re-Sign Joseph Blandisi
Joseph Blandisi will extend his stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Acquired mid-season from the Anaheim Ducks, Blandisi played in only six games with the Penguins and was held off the score sheet, but did enough to earn a new contract anyway. TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reports that Pittsburgh has signed Blandisi to a one-year, two-way deal with a minimum $700K salary at the NHL level.
Blandisi is likely happy to have some certainty heading into next season after being traded in each of the past two seasons. A former New Jersey Devils prospect, Blandisi played well as a rookie, recording 17 points in 41 games to go with a near point-per-game AHL campaign, but was moved to Anaheim in 2017-18 after his numbers failed to improve the year before. However, Blandisi was held scoreless in the three games apiece in each of his two seasons with the Ducks, prompting another trade to Pittsburgh. While his NHL production did not improve with the Penguins, his AHL scoring remained consistent.
Blandisi is not especially big, but plays an aggressive, hard-nosed game. With minor league production that hints at an ability to score – even if the NHL numbers don’t match just yet – and a physical style that can work well in a checking role, the 24-year-old is a nice depth piece and will push for play time in Pittsburgh next season.
Anaheim Signs Anthony Stolarz
After standing pat on day one of free agency, the Anaheim Ducks have come alive today with their third signing. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, a Group 6 unrestricted free agent, has signed with the team, reports TVA’s Renaud Lavoie. It is expected to be a two-year, one-way contract for Stolarz worth $750K.
After parts of five seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers organization to begin his pro career, Stolarz finally got a change of scenery when he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in February for Cam Talbot. Stolarz was immediately considered a likely backup candidate for Edmonton moving forward, but failed to impress in six appearances with the team down the stretch and by all reports the Oilers made no attempt to keep him.
Stolarz now joins yet another team in Anaheim and hopes he can get his career back on track. Stolarz was a second-round pick in 2012 and injuries have prevented him from playing up to the expectations of his high draft price. Still just 25 though, Stolarz still has upside and his underlying numbers, in both the NHL and AHL, have been good when healthy.
Managing their depth in net could be tricky for the Ducks, however. Anaheim re-signed Ryan Miller to a one-year deal and may see Stolarz as the future backup to John Gibson after that deal expires, but in 2019-20 the team will either have to carry all three goalies or risk losing Stolarz on waivers. How it all plays out will be interesting to watch.
Notable AHL Signings: 7/1 & 7/2
It’s not uncommon to see many players coming off NHL contracts, including those who have found success in the AHL, opt to sign minor league contracts early in July. As the new league year begins, many unrestricted free agents find that the market for their services at the top level does not develop. Rather than hold out hope for a two-way NHL contract further into the off-season, many are content to accept AHL contracts, which don’t rule out the possibility of signing in the NHL but provide some certainty about the coming season. Through the first two days of free agency, more than a few familiar names have settled for minor league pacts:
- Tyler Sikura has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, remaining in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Sikura has been a key contributor for Rockford the past two years, even earning a one-year contract with Chicago this past season, but did not make an NHL appearance. He was likely content to stay with organization anyway, as he can continue to play with younger brother Dylan Sikura.
- After playing a key shutdown role for the Charlotte Checkers en route to a Calder Cup championship, defenseman Josiah Didier has signed a one-year deal with the Providence Bruins. Providence has several top prospects on their blue line, but are lacking depth and Didier should again play an important role for his team next season.
- The San Antonio Rampage have signed former Detroit Red Wings prospect and second-round pick Zach Nastisiuk to an AHL contract, as well as fellow forwards Cameron Darcy and J.J. Piccinich. The trio will have to fight for ice time in the minors, as the St. Louis Blues have signed quite a few depth players already over these past two days.
- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms went big game hunting among AHL veterans yesterday, signing five-time AHL All-Star Cal O’Reilly to a two-year deal and bringing back their own All-Star, Greg Carey. O’Reilly, 32, has been on an NHL contract in each of the past five seasons, but had to settle for a step down this year despite another strong campaign. The center was a point-per-game scorer for the Iowa Wild, notching 67 points in 67 games to finish in the top ten in the AHL in scoring. It was his sixth AHL season with 60+ points. Carey, 29, saw his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers expire, but remains in the organization, where he has recorded three straight 50+ points seasons. The Phantoms also signed another Iowa forward, Gerry Fitzgerald, and defenseman Eric Knodel to one-year contracts.
- A trio of familiar names have joined the Hartford Wolfpack: goalie Thomas McCollum, forward Harry Zolnierczyk, and defenseman Vincent LoVerde. All three players are coming off of NHL contracts but will have to work their way back into relevance at the top level. McCollum and Zolnierczyk both have played in the NHL, albeit not in several years, and LoVerde is a two-time AHL All-Star and Calder Cup champ. It’s quite a haul for Hartford.
- Sam Vigneault left Clarkson University early to join the Columbus Blue Jackets, but his play in the minors tailed off over the past two years and his entry-level contract expired without an NHL experience. However, he’s content to stay in the organization, as Vigneault has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
- Former top goalie prospect Zach Fucale has had a tough go of it in the pros. A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, Fucale has been relegated to the ECHL for much of the past three seasons. He managed to find an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch, but considering the depth in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing three goalies yesterday, Fucale is likely headed back to the ECHL.
- Cole Schneider has been a force in the AHL for years, recently wrapping up his sixth straight season of 50+ points. However, the 28-year-old has been unable to translate that offense to the NHL. Although he still had enough value to warrant a trade to the Nashville Predators this season, Schneider never made an appearance for the team. That hasn’t stopped him from sticking with the organization though. The Milwaukee Admirals have brought back the talented forward on a one-year deal.