Snapshots: Price, Leiweke, Belpedio
Carey Price is planning on returning to the Montreal Canadiens net this season, and will even travel with the team to Toronto this weekend. Though he won’t play, he told John Lu of TSN that he never even considered shutting down for the year.
Price also told Lu that his concussion symptoms were “different…more noticeable” than his previous experience with the injury in 2012, which shouldn’t instill much excitement in Montreal fans. Price is easily the most important piece for the Canadiens going forward, especially given that he is starting an eight-year, $84MM extension next season. Obviously no one can predict his health going forward, but the team needs him injury-free if they’re to turn around what has been a disaster year.
- Tim Leiweke was already the President of the Oak View Group, the investing group that has applied for an expansion team in Seattle. Yesterday on the Fan 590 in Toronto, he admitted that he will also be a minority owner of that team should it be awarded. Leiweke has ties to Toronto as the former CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and other professional sports organizations. Before that, Leiweke was also CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owned the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Galaxy. Needless to say he has quite a bit of experience in professional sports front offices, and now joined by his brother will be able to set up the business side of a Seattle franchise well for the long-term.
- Louis Belpedio is expected to eventually sign his entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild, but for now will just settle for an amateur tryout with the Iowa Wild of the AHL. The third-round pick could wait until the middle of August and become an unrestricted free agent after completing his college career this month, but has already begun discussions with Minnesota.
Kevin Stenlund To Join Cleveland Monsters
Now that the SHL season is over for many teams, Swedish players and prospects will begin to make the journey to North American professional hockey. One of those players, Kevin Stenlund, has been assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect is coming off another good season with HV71, and already signed his entry-level contract last spring.
Stenlund, 21, was selected 58th-overall in 2015 and is another intriguing forward prospect for the Blue Jackets. He really showed off in the playoffs last year for HV71, where he had 10 points in 16 games en route to a championship. This year he came back with 22 points in 43 games, and continued to play his solid two-way game.
The 6’4″ 210-lbs Stenlund is a responsible defensive presence that has been credited for his high hockey IQ since draft day. Though he may not be a huge offensive producer at the next level, he’s on a fast track for the NHL if he can continue to hold his own at the center position. He’ll be challenged at the AHL level down the stretch, but could compete for a job with the Blue Jackets within the next calendar year.
Minor Transactions: 03/16/18
Arizona probably ruined your bracket anyway, so why bother with March Madness anymore? There’s still hockey going on, and like always we’ll keep track of all the minor moves around the league right here. Check back throughout the day to stay up to date (or head to Hoops Rumors if you somehow picked Buffalo, and are still in a basketball mindset).
- Last night the Edmonton Oilers recalled Ty Rattie from the minor leagues, where he had been the Bakersfield Condors’ best player for much of the season. With 43 points in 53 games, Rattie has once again shown that he can dominate the lower levels. His opportunities in the NHL have been short lived, as he’s suited up just 37 times across parts of five seasons.
- The Vegas Golden Knights also used last night to send a pair of players back to the AHL, assigning Maxime Lagace and Tomas Hyka to the minors. Malcolm Subban is ready to make his return, as the Golden Knights continue to stroll towards the playoffs.
- After calling them up to cover for some minor injuries, the Boston Bruins have sent both Anton Blidh and Paul Postma back down to the AHL. The Bruins are set to take on Tampa Bay Lightning in a game with huge playoff ramifications tomorrow, and will hopefully get back some of their injured players.
- Adin Hill is on his way back to the minor leagues, meaning Antti Raanta is close to returning for the Arizona Coyotes. Raanta hasn’t played in two weeks, but is expected back in the Arizona crease before long. The 21-year old Hill has played four NHL games this season, recording an .891 save percentage.
Prospect Notes: Kahun, Tomek, Scarfo
Not long after the initial report that German Olympic hero Dominik Kahun was drawing NHL interest, there is now a more concrete picture of what the market looks like for the young scoring forward. German new site TZ reports that Kahun’s jump overseas is a sure thing, as ten NHL teams have legitimate interest in signing him. They go one step further, adding that the Chicago Blackhawks are at the top of the list and have offered Kahun a two-year contract worth around $940K per year. While it may not seem like that much, the article indicates that the contract would be worth more than three times Kahun’s current pact with EHC Munich. It’s also a fair value for an unproven import. The 22-year-old certainly shows some promise though, with nearly a point per game pace in the German DEL and at the Winter Games in 2017-18. The Blackhawks, or whoever else ends up winning the bidding war, will land an exciting prospect in Kahun.
- An intriguing career path continues for young Slovakian goalie Matej Tomek. A third-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers back in 2015, Tomek originally enrolled at the University of North Dakota in 2015-16 and expected to take over for departed starter, and Hobey Baker finalist, Zane McIntyre. Instead, he lost out to Cam Johnson, who remains the North Dakota starter to this day, and made just two appearances in two seasons, struggling mightily. Tomek left school, joining the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks for the 2017-18 season, and saw improved performance at the junior level. Now, Tomek has announced that he’s heading back to the NCAA, committing to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for next season. Tomek still has two years of eligibility remaining, but may only need one to re-establish his pro potential. All three Omaha keepers have struggled this year and Tomek may have an easy path to take over next season. Even if starter Evan Weninger holds on to the job or at least forces a split in net, Tomek can always stick around for the 2019-20 campaign when he would surely be the starter. Either way, Flyers fans should be happy to see another of their many promising goalie prospects working to get back on track.
- A top senior scorer and college free agent is off the market, but he’s not headed to an NHL team just yet. Ryan Scarfo, the leading scorer for Union College, has signed with the AHL’s Belleville Senators, the team announced. Scarfo will skate with the team on a tryout deal for the remainder of this season, but already inked a full AHL contract for the 2018-19 season. Scarfo, 24, saw a major boost in production in his fourth and final year as a starter for Union. The alternate captain led all Dutchmen in goals and points and his rugged, two-way play also placed him in the top five on the team in plus/minus and penalty minutes. His 20 goals additionally ranked 13th in the entire NCAA. Scarfo has likely reached the extent of his skill development, but with some time in the minors, can further polish his hockey sense. He has some upside to be a bottom-six forward given his ability to be physical and find the back of the net. A strong performance in his first pro season in 2018-19 could earn Scarfo a big-league deal with the Ottawa Senators or another NHL squad sooner rather than later.
Scott Eansor Earns Two-Year Contract With New York Islanders
Hard work continues to pay off for Scott Eansor, who has earned his first contract with the New York Islanders after a strong season in the AHL. The team announced today a two-year, two-way contract with Eansor, though financial details were not released. Because of his age (22), this is the standard entry-level contract length.
The 5’9″ 185-lbs forward had been playing under an AHL contract this season after going undrafted during his junior career. In 57 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Eansor registered 16 goals and 22 points.
The Islanders were very familiar with what Eansor could bring even before he started playing for their minor league team. He was the counterpart to Mathew Barzal for several years with the Seattle Thunderbirds, taking some of the defensive load off his shoulders while chipping in offensively. If he could one day play a similar role in the NHL, the Islanders would be extremely happy. That goal is still a long-shot, but Eansor has continued to work hard to make it a reality. He’ll have to continue to impress at the minor league level, but as the league turns to more and more undersized players, his chances have never been better.
Minor Transactions: 03/15/18
Yes, March Madness is about to open and unless your favorite NHL team is in the thick of a playoff race you might be tempted to turn on some basketball—the staff at Hoops Rumors certainly wouldn’t hold it against you—but there is still a lot going on around the hockey world. We’ll keep an eye on all the minor moves around the league, and update them right here. Check back between halves to make sure you don’t fall behind.
- After Frederik Andersen left last night’s game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team has recalled Garret Sparks under emergency conditions. Andersen is out with an upper-body injury and won’t play tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, but there is no indication on how long he’ll be out. Sparks has been arguably the best goaltender in the AHL all season, and will get a chance to at least back up in tonight’s game.
- The Boston Bruins have used two emergency recalls, bringing Anton Blidh and Paul Postma up from the minor leagues. The Bruins are dealing with injuries to Jake Debrusk, Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, who all left the last game against the Carolina Hurricanes and did not return. It’s not clear which ones will be out for the team, but any of them would be tough blows for a team chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Eastern Conference (and perhaps the league).
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Nathan Gerbe To Two-Year Extension
The Columbus Blue Jackets have seen enough from Nathan Gerbe to determine that they want to keep him around. The veteran forward has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension that will take him through 2019-20. The deal pays Gerbe an average annual value of $675K in the NHL, and breaks down as follows:
- 2018-19: $650K NHL/$250K AHL, $400K guarantee
- 2019-20: $700K NHL/$250K AHL, $400K guarantee
Gerbe will take home no less than $400K for each season, not a bad deal for a player who was close to being out of North American hockey altogether at one point. In 18 games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, Gerbe has 12 points. In his two NHL contests, he’s been held scoreless.
The 5’5″ forward has found quite a bit of success at the highest level of hockey, going back to his days as an offensive powerhouse for Boston College. Though the professional ranks haven’t brought the same level of offensive success, Gerbe does have two 16-goal, 31-point seasons in the NHL and has always produced at the AHL level. After a brief sojourn in Switzerland, Gerbe is back on North American soil and will have to accept his role as a fringe NHLer.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic provided the financial details of the contract.
ECHL Announces Changes For 2018-19 Season
The ECHL is slowly getting more of a reputation as a development league vital to NHL success. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins have put a lot of resources into creating a sort of “AA” squad, where players can work on specific skills before making the jump to the AHL. Next year, the league will make some changes to their alignment, while also introducing and saying goodbye to various clubs.
St. John’s, Newfoundland in Canada will welcome minor league hockey back, as the ECHL will expand to the maritime city. The Maple Leafs are expected to change their affiliation from the Orlando Solar Bears to St. John’s, where they previously housed their AHL team for many years.
The Quad City Mallards, affiliated with the Vegas Golden Knights this season, have withdrawn their membership from the ECHL and will cease operations. The Mallards actually signed a multi-year partnership with Vegas, who will now be left to find another affiliate for next season.
Alignment will change with the team changes, and the league will be as follows in 2018-19:
North Division
Adirondack Thunder
Brampton Beast
Maine Mariners
Manchester Monarchs
Reading Royals
St. John’s (TBA)
Worcester Railers
South Division
Atlanta Gladiators
Florida Everblades
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Jacksonville Icemen
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
South Carolina Stingrays
Central Division
Cincinnati Cyclones
Fort Wayne Komets
Indy Fuel
Kalamazoo Wings
Toledo Walleye
Wheeling Nailers
Mountain Division
Allen Americans
Idaho Steelheads
Kansas City Mavericks
Rapid City Rush
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wichita Thunder
Minor Transactions: 03/13/18
The entire hockey world was watching last night as the league’s top two goal scoring talents went up against each other in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy. Though Patrik Laine is quite the challenger, Alex Ovechkin showed once again why he is regarded as one of the greatest of all-time. Ovechkin scored two, including the 600th of his career, just the fourth player in history to do so in fewer than 1,000 games.
As the league sends out congratulations to Ovechkin for his impressive accomplishment, they’ll continue to try and make minor tweaks to their roster to take him down once again in the postseason. We’ll keep track of all the minor transactions right here.
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Linus Ullmark from the minor leagues in time for today’s practice. Ullmark is the future in goal for the Sabres, as both Robin Lehner (RFA) and Chad Johnson (UFA) are free agents this summer. Lehner will bring quite an expensive price tag, and has struggled at times this season.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Andreas Johnsson to the NHL for the first time in his career. The young forward has been the best player on the Toronto Marlies for most of the season, and has earned a taste of the next level after the Marlies clinched a playoff spot on the weekend. Calle Rosen has also been recalled under emergency conditions, meaning the sickness Nikita Zaitsev has been suffering from could be more serious than expected.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned Anthony Stolarz to their ECHL team today, which could mean that the goaltender is ready to get into some games finally. Stolarz has been ravaged by injuries for the last year, but remains an interesting option for the Flyers going forward. His 6’6″ frame and relatively good performance at the AHL level shows some potential, but he’ll have to stay healthy and prove that he’s ready for a full workload.
- Interestingly, the Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned Louis Domingue to the minor leagues now that Peter Budaj is healthy enough to play again. Domingue played well in his short stint as the backup for Andrei Vasilevskiy, but will now wait in Syracuse for another opportunity.
- Ville Husso is on his way back down after backing up Jake Allen for the St. Louis Blues yesterday, meaning Carter Hutton is likely ready to return. The Blues play again on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche, in a very important game if they have any hope of making a charge at the playoffs.
- The Washington Capitals have decided that Madison Bowey is better off playing for the Hershey Bears than sitting in the press box, and have assigned the defenseman to the AHL. Bowey had been sitting out since the team acquired Michal Kempny and Jakub Jerabek at the deadline, and needs to get back into game action. The 22-year old looks like a big part of the future of the Washington blue line, and will likely be back up if they face any injuries down the stretch.
- Ryan Sproul is on his way up to the New York Rangers, as the team deals with an injury to Anthony DeAngelo and a setback in Kevin Shattenkirk‘s recovery. Sproul has played just four games in the NHL this season, but once again has shown his offensive ability in the minor leagues with 29 points in 49 games.
Steve Mason Out 2-3 Weeks With Knee Injury
It’s been a season to forget for Winnipeg Jets goalie Steve Mason. Mason has suffered two concussions in 2017-18, one in November and one in January, missing a combined 28 games. Now he’s back on the shelf, after playing his first game since early January on Tuesday night, a shutout win against the New York Rangers. In the contest, Mason suffered a lower-body injury which, according to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, turned out to be a seriously tweaked knee.
In speaking with head coach Paul Maurice, Gulitti reports that Mason underwent surgery today and is expected to be out 2-3 weeks. Michael Hutchinson, who was recalled from the AHL on Thursday while Mason’s condition was still up in the air, will remain in Winnipeg to back up Connor Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck has not just helped to make up for the loss of Mason most of the year, but has thrived in his absence. Although Mason signed a two-year, $8.2MM with the Jets this past summer to presumably start in Winnipeg, that seems unlikely to ever happen given Hellebuyck’s emergence. The 24-year-old has blossomed into one of the top goalies in the league this season, posting a .923 save percentage and 2.38 GAA through 56 games already. Mason’s injury woes have certainly affected him – when healthy he has still struggled, posting a .906 save percentage and 3.18 GAA – but both his absence and poor performance have been non-factors for Winnipeg despite what many would have expected prior to the season.