Overseas Notes: Da Costa, Streit, Steen
Yet another NHL veteran who was trying to hold out for a new contract in North America is now close to settling for European employment. The Swiss Hockey News reports that Stephane Da Costa is nearing an agreement with Geneve-Servette of the Swiss NLA. Da Costa, 28, was a superstar at Merrimack College from 2009 to 2011 and looked to be the next great story in the NHL after signing with the Ottawa Senators – an undrafted player coming from a non-traditional hockey country of France. While Da Costa proved to be a lethal producer in the AHL, he could never quite stick in Ottawa and left the NHL in 2012. Da Costa spent the past three years with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, putting up solid numbers, but it has been his international play on the part of France that has really turned heads. Beginning with a stellar 10-point performance at the World Championships last spring, Da Costa had reportedly been drawing interest from NHL teams and fully planned on playing with the world’s best this season. Yet, with the new season underway, those offers never came and it seems Da Costa is now ready to move on. While Geneve-Servette is off to a tough start in the NLA – second-to-last currently – they are not without considerable talent up front, including NHL veterans Nathan Gerbe, Nick Spaling, and Cody Almond, as well as San Jose Sharks prospect Noah Rod. Da Costa could help kick start a team that typically performs near the top of the NLA and made it to the final of the 2017 Swiss Cup tournament.
- Da Costa hasn’t yet signed with Geneve-Servette, but by the time he does he may no longer be the biggest name in terms of recent additions. With Mark Streit being placed on waivers by the Montreal Canadiens yesterday (with a very good chance of clearing today), it seems more likely that the veteran defenseman will ask for his release than be assigned to the AHL but the Canadiens. Given that the soon-to-be-40-year-old could have simply rode off into the sunset after winning the Stanley Cup last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it is clear that he wants to keep playing. That opportunity will likely come in his native country of Switzerland, where Streit has suited up for the NLA’s HC Davos, ZSC Lions, and SC Bern over his career. A return home to much fanfare and a chance to play in the Olympics seems like much more fitting end for Streit than playing in the minors
- A seemingly minor move in the KHL could be of some interest to Boston Bruins fans. In a round-up of their minor transaction over the past few days, the league revealed that the rights to forward Oskar Steen, Boston’s sixth-round pick in 2016, had been acquired by SKA St. Petersburg. While Steen has been playing for Farjestad of the SHL for three years now, an opportunity to play for SKA may be tough for the young Swede forward to pass up. Farjestad is no slouch, but SKA has been wildly successful in recent years, winning two of the past three KHL titles and again tearing up the league with a 17-point lead over the next-best team. SKA graduated players like Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeni Dadonov to the NHL this off-season, but still carry top prospects like Nikita Gusev and Igor Shestyorkin and talented veterans like Ilya Kovalchuk, Viktor Tikhonov, Sergei Plotnikov, and even long-time defenseman Maxim Chudinov, former property of the Bruins. Joining that mix could be a good career-move for the under-utilized Steen, could give SKA a further boost, and could help round out yet another promising prospect to add to the Bruins’ ranks.
James Wisniewski Signs in Germany
Globetrotter James Wisniewski is back at it. The former high-scoring NHL defenseman split the 2016-17 season with clubs around the planet, beginning with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL, a brief stop with Swiss club Lugano for the Spengler Cup, and wrapping up the campaign back home in the U.S. with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. With his pleas for NHL employment seemingly unanswered, Wisniewski is off to a new destination to begin what could be another whirlwind season.
Like fellow NHL veteran defenseman Mark Stuart, Wisniewski too has signed on in Germany for his next hockey adventure. However, the major – and surprising – difference between the two deals is that Stuart has joined German powerhouse Adler Manheim, while Wisniewski has agreed to terms with the Kassel Huskies of the DEL2, the second tier of German professional hockey. The team issued an excited press release announcing their big acquisition (link in German), as Wisnieksi is a caliber of player the likes of which has never been seen in Kassel, a small city in the center of the country. Wisniewski will be the first NHL veteran to ever suit up for the Huskies and one of only a small group to ever play in the league at all.
The strange fit for the talented Wisniewksi is made more sensible in the context of what promises to be another season of multiple stops. It has already been mentioned that Wisniewski is a likely candidate to put on the Team USA sweater at the 2018 Olympics and, following that international showcase, could easily return home to the states with many of his AHL-contracted teammates and may even perform well enough to draw interest as a stretch run addition in the NHL. Wisniewski continues to find unique ways to extend his playing career and, while he hasn’t played in an NHL game since he was injured in the Carolina Hurricanes’ season opener in 2015, his undeniable ability and dedication to the game will keep him relevant in the world of hockey. Until Wisniewski calls it quits (unlikely), it’s difficult to rule out a potential return to the NHL down the road. Only now, he’ll have the designation of being the first to work his way through the German minor leagues en route to his comeback.
San Jose Sharks Recall Joakim Ryan, Place Paul Martin On IR
The San Jose Sharks have made a change to their roster today, placing Paul Martin on injured reserve and recalling Joakim Ryan from the AHL. Ryan is expected to make his NHL debut alongside Brent Burns, an imposing task for the young player. Martin—Burns’ usual partner—left practice on Tuesday after re-aggravating an ankle injury.
Ryan was a seventh-round pick of the Sharks in 2012, but took a big step forward in the AHL last season. Scoring 49 points in 65 games, and then continuing that offensive production in the playoffs, Ryan and fellow defenseman Tim Heed were a huge part of the team’s success. Heed is also expected to make his season debut, and suiting up for just his second NHL game tonight when the Buffalo Sabres come to town.
Normally a strength of the Sharks, they find themselves stretched thin on defense early this season. With the loss of David Schlemko to Vegas in the expansion draft, the trade of Mirco Mueller to New Jersey, and now injury to Martin to start the year, the team will be relying on two names who weren’t ever expected to make it this far. Both late round picks, Ryan and Heed have slowly but surely developed into legitimate NHL candidates, and will get their chances this season. Ryan, the younger of the two at 24, will have to rely on his elusiveness and try to adapt to playing with the ever-roaming Burns.
Philadelphia Flyers Send Samuel Morin To AHL
The Philadelphia Flyers have decided that it’s not quite time for Samuel Morin in the NHL. The team loaned the young defenseman to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms today in a move that will allow him to get back into game action. In the first four games of the Flyers’ season, Morin has been a healthy scratch.
Morin made his NHL debut last season, playing in just a single game in March. He showed then what Flyers’ fans had hoped to see, and flashed that same impressive potential in the preseason again this year. The 6’6″ defender has immense upside, able to shut down attackers and provide capable outlet passes. Still, he’ll have to put his head down and keep working in the AHL until his chance comes.
The Flyers are already icing three young defensemen, as Ivan Provorov (20), Travis Sanheim (21) and Robert Hagg (22) all suited up in their most recent game. While Brandon Manning will likely work his way back in at some point, the team clearly didn’t want to add another rookie to the mix. Morin, apparently the odd man out, could be the first call-up should the Flyers face an injury at some point.
With the move, the team is down to 22 players on the roster meaning they could make a corresponding move before Saturday night’s matchup with the Washington Capitals. It even technically could be Morin, as the Phantoms play once before the weekend (Friday versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). Perhaps they just wanted to get him into a game and keep his legs fresh.
Pittsburgh Penguins Recall Chris Summers
The Pittsburgh Penguins, fresh off their trip to the White House, have recalled defenseman Chris Summers from the AHL. Summers had been playing with the Wilke-Barre/Scranton Penguins after signing a two-year, two-way deal this offseason.
The Penguins are expected to be without Ian Cole tomorrow night when they take on the Washington Capitals, after the defenseman was hit in the face with a shot earlier this week. The Roman Josi blast knocked out several of Cole’s teeth, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The team was carrying just one extra defenseman, meaning Summers now represents the only option should another get hurt just before game time.
Pittsburgh will not need a corresponding move, as they were carrying just 22 players on the roster. Patric Hornqvist, who hasn’t played yet this season is still on injured reserve but will likely be activated before Wednesday’s game.
Summers was a first-round pick of the Arizona (then Phoenix) Coyotes back in 2006, but has never been able to crack an NHL lineup on a regular basis. In 70 career games split between six different seasons, the 29-year old has just nine points. He’ll serve as a veteran option for the WBS Penguins this season, and could bounce up and down a few more times. Though he’ll have to clear waivers to go back down, it’s unlikely that anyone would put in a claim on the defensive specialist.
St. Louis Announces Affiliate, Colorado Awarded AHL Franchise
Though it had been reported much earlier this summer, the San Antonio Rampage finally officially announced their new five-year partnership with the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are operating this season without a primary AHL affiliate, after the Chicago Wolves signed a new deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. The Colorado Avalanche, who are currently affiliated with the Rampage, will be partnered next season with the Colorado Eagles, the AHL’s 31st franchise.
For St. Louis, this season has already been a tough one to operate through as they split their prospects between several teams around the league. Jordan Binnington, for example, was originally assigned to the Chicago Wolves before a logjam of Vegas goaltenders forced them to find a him a new home. Binnington is now playing in Providence with the Bruins’ affiliate. They do have many players already in San Antonio, getting used to the city and facility. The team will gain control of hockey operations and the coaching staff next year, giving them an increased ability to develop their prospects.
San Antonio was one of the AHL’s worst teams last year, registering just a 27-42-7 record and missing the playoffs for the second straight season. In fact, the team has won just a single playoff series in their entire existence, something the Blues organization will look to change from day one. Already their prospects have made their presence felt, with Samuel Blais and Jordan Schmaltz scoring to lead them to a win in their opener. Schmaltz, a first-round pick of the Blues scored the winner and is expected to be a leader on the team’s blueline this season.
For Colorado, this is not a loss. While they’ve had a fine relationship with San Antonio since 2015 (the team previously had affiliations with Florida and Arizona), getting the Eagles franchise is a solid step forward. Their primary minor league affiliate will now be right next door—the Eagles currently play in Loveland, CO—giving them even better coaching, development and scouting opportunities. The Eagles were previously an ECHL franchise, who won the Kelly Cup as league champions last season.
New York Rangers Re-Assign Chytil, Release Desjardins
After acquiring Adam Cracknell off waivers yesterday, the New York Rangers have decided to assign Filip Chytil to the AHL, and release Andrew Desjardins from his professional tryout. Though it was expected that Chytil would be re-assigned before burning a year of his entry-level contract, most had assumed he would be sent back to the Czech Republic. While that may still happen at some point, for now he will be with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.
Chytil was a huge surprise at training camp after being selected 21st-overall this summer, showing that he could compete with NHL players right away. The 18-year old made the team over fellow first-rounder Lias Andersson, but wasn’t given much of a chance in game action. Still, getting a chance to see what NHL life is like for at least a few days should help Chytil’s development in the long run. The next step is to decide where he should play for the rest of the season. If he does stay in the AHL, the Rangers can use a more hands-on approach for his deployment and practice habits.
Desjardins was always an afterthought for this roster, and the addition of Cracknell removed any hope he had of eventually earning a contract. While he brings experience in the form of 408 career NHL games and a Stanley Cup, he doesn’t offer much more than that. The 31-year old recorded just a single point last season in Chicago, and has just 64 total for his career.
Dallas Stars Recall Forward Remi Elie
The Dallas Stars have replaced the outgoing Adam Cracknell by recalling Remi Elie from the AHL. Cracknell was claimed off waivers yesterday by the New York Rangers. The Stars continue to carry eight defensemen, making Elie their only spare forward on the roster.
With the loss of Cracknell, the Stars have decided to turn to Elie who brings and excellent blend of speed and toughness to their bottom-six. The 22-year old played 18 games with the NHL club last season, scoring seven points and racking up 30 hits. While he was originally drafted—40th-overall in 2013—as more than a bottom-six player, he nevertheless can fit into an energy role on the team and wear down defenders.
The Stars are off to a disappointing 0-2 start after being one of the most active teams this summer. Bringing in Alexander Radulov, Marc Methot, Ben Bishop, Martin Hanzal and others, the team hasn’t seemed to click just yet and has just four goals on the season. Though Elie isn’t the solution to all of their problems, he will offer some youth to the club and perhaps spark them whenever he does get into the lineup. The Stars take on the Red Wings tonight as they look to get back on track.
Boston Recalls Heinen, Signs White To PTO
The Boston Bruins continue to make minor moves to tweak their lineup. Today, the team has recalled Danton Heinen from the Providence Bruins of the AHL, while signing Ryan White to a professional tryout. White had previously been on a PTO with the Vancouver Canucks this fall.
Yesterday, with the return of Torey Krug the Bruins sent Matt Grzelcyk back down to Providence, which opened a potential roster spot. They’ll add Heinen to lengthen out their forward depth, especially in the wake of their 4-0 loss at the hands of Colorado yesterday. The team was out of sorts offensively, really feeling the absence of Patrice Bergeron on their top line.
While Heinen isn’t a Bergeron replacement by any means, he does have youth and skill on his side. The fourth-round pick put up 44 points as an AHL rookie last season, and will help to provide some center depth. While there is no word on whether he’ll be inserted into the lineup, he could potentially take Austin Czarnik‘s spot should head coach Bruce Cassidy so choose.
White on the other hand will just try to fight to earn a two-way contract with the club. The bang-and-crash forward split last season between the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild, recording 16 points and 187 hits. The 29-year old forward can contribute in a fourth line role, but could also just have been brought in as a motivating tactic for Cassidy’s team.
Dylan Strome Loaned To AHL, Mario Kempe Recalled
The Arizona Coyotes have sent top prospect Dylan Strome to the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL, while recalling Mario Kempe. Strome played just 11:46 in Arizona’s loss to Vegas this weekend, a relatively low number for a young player of his potential. The team likely wants him to get a bigger workload as they try to develop him into the type of player they believe him to be.
Strome, 20, was selected third-overall by the Coyotes in 2015 ahead of players like Mitch Marner, Noah Hanifin and Pavel Zacha. Though his development has come along slower than those three, he was expected by many to spend much of this season on the NHL roster. Last year, Strome was sent back to junior after just seven games in the NHL, but dominated upon his return. With 109 points in just 57 games (including playoffs), Strome showed he had outgrown the OHL.
Still, he hasn’t shown enough just yet to warrant an NHL roster spot every night. Though a move to the AHL is disappointing, he’ll be able to work on his game and skate against professionals on a nightly basis. Should he show he can dominate at that level, he’ll be back in the NHL before long.
Kempe was an interesting name this summer when the Coyotes decided to sign him and bring him back to North America. The 29-year old was a prospect of the Philadelphia Flyers previously, but has spent the last decade in European leagues. Last year, he played 56 games in the KHL recording 34 points. He signed a one-year two-way contract with the Coyotes this summer, worth the minimum $650K at the NHL level.