Sharks Sign Quinnipiac’s Tim Clifton
Monday: The Sharks have officially announced the signing.
Saturday: The San Jose Sharks have entered the college free agent mix, as TSN’s Frank Servalli reports that the team has agreed to an entry-level contract with Quinnipiac University forward Tim Clifton. It is a two-year, two-way deal for the 24-year-old undrafted center. With Quinnipiac eliminated from the ECAC conference tournament by Harvard last night and not in the mix for an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament this year, Clifton will now likely head to San Jose to join the AHL Barracuda for the remainder of the season.
Clifton’s NHL signing may come as a surprise to some. One of the major catalysts in Quinnipiac’s run to the NCAA Championship last year, in which they lost for the second time in four years, Clifton’s numbers fell off significantly in his 2016-17 senior season. Clifton had amassed 43 points and a +27 rating in 39 games during his junior campaign, but followed it up this year with just 25 points and a -8 rating in the same amount of games. After having only a minor role in his first two year’s at Quinnipiac and a subpar final season, it appears that the Sharks are paying Clifton based on one season of high-end performance. Though the New Jersey native definitely has some potential, it seems likely that San Jose fans will have to wait some time to see if he develops into an NHL-caliber player.
It’s a low-risk investment for an organization that has found some recent success in the NCAA ranks. Ryan Carpenter, who has begun to carve out a role for himself in San Jose, was also an undrafted free agent who joined the Sharks out of Bowling Green State University in 2014, while rookie Danny O’Regan was skating with Boston University this time last year after being a late-round Sharks draft selection. Of course, the best college player in San Jose is none other than captain Joe Pavelski, who was a seventh-round pick of the Sharks in 2003 and played at the University of Wisconsin before becoming an NHL star. Clifton has a long way to go to be the next Pavelski, but could possibly become a Carpenter-type after a year or two in the AHL.
Nelson Nogier Recalled By Winnipeg Jets On Emergency Basis
The Winnipeg Jets have brought up Nelson Nogier on emergency recall, giving the 20-year old a chance at his NHL debut. The team will host Philadelphia tomorrow night, and are likely still without both Paul Postma and Jacob Trouba. As Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports, Ben Chiarot didn’t play for the last 10:57 of the third period, meaning he’s likely the one who has suffered an injury of some sort.
Nogier was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and proceeded to post two solid seasons of junior hockey before making his professional debut this season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. The Saskatoon native has 13 points in 53 games in the minors this season, playing as the youngest defender on the team.
Drafted as a defensive specialist, his offensive game has grown in the past few years to the point where he could make an impact at the NHL one day. A big-bodied, right-handed shot defender who can move the puck and contribute on both special teams is exactly what every team is looking for—every team except the Jets perhaps, when they’re at full strength. Though even the front office would likely agree he’s not quite ready for the NHL just yet, a little taste of what it’s like is often good for the development of prospects.
Buffalo Sabres Recall Casey Nelson, Brady Austin From AHL
It was clear they needed some reinforcements, and the Buffalo Sabres have received them. The team has recalled both Casey Nelson and Brady Austin from the Rochester Americans, according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. The team recently lost both Taylor Fedun and Cody Franson, making it a quartet of injured defensemen when including Justin Falk and Dmitry Kulikov. They’ve decided to go in two interesting directions with the recalls of Nelson and Austin.
Expected to be next in line, Nelson been with the team on two other occasions this season, playing nine NHL games. The former NCAA signing made his NHL debut at the end of last season, after completing an outstanding three-year stint at Minnesota State University. In his rookie season with the Rochester Americans this year, Nelson has 13 points in 45 games and has had some trouble adapting to the speed of the professional game. He’ll get a chance to prove that he has made the necessary adjustments over the next few games.
Austin on the other hand will be making his NHL debut should he make it into a game. The seventh-round pick from 2012 has been a minor league soldier for the Sabres organization for the past three seasons and is likely being rewarded for all his hard work. While he’s not expected to make much of an impact at the NHL level, perhaps he can be one of those rare prospects that elevates his game even further on the bigger stage. A native of Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Austin is a big defender who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves and protect a teammate if he’s needed. He should at least infuse some nastiness into the Sabres lineup when (and if) he gets into a game.
Bruins Recall Acciari And Kuraly On Emergency Basis
The Boston Bruins don’t play again until tomorrow night, but that hasn’t stopped them from using an emergency recall on two AHL forwards this morning. The team announced that forwards Noel Acciari and Sean Kuraly have been called up from the Providence Bruins. The pair arrived in Boston earlier today in time for practice and are expected to join the team in Toronto for tomorrow’s game.
Though it is unclear why, both Patrice Bergeron and Drew Stafford did not participate in practice this morning, in addition to Tim Schaller, who remains out, so the team was forced to take steps to fill the gaps that those top nine forwards would leave if they cannot play against the Maple Leafs. The Bruins already have rookies Peter Cehlarik and Austin Czarnik on the roster, though inactive for the past few games, but these call-ups provide coach Bruce Cassidy with options should he have to replace Bergeron and Stafford for an important division matc-up with playoff implications on Monday night.
Acciari, 25, was a regular in the Bruins lineup earlier this season after breaking in to the NHL in 2015-16, but an injury kept him sidelined in Boston and led to a demotion to the P-Bruins for recovery purposes, only he was never recalled after healing. The former Providence College star and Johnston native may feel right at home in Rhode Island, but his strong two-way play and hockey sense suggest that he should be playing a checking line role in Boston next year. So far the points have been few and far between in the NHL, where he had one assist in 19 games last year and two assists in 19 games this year. However, his AHL scoring pace has increased this season and he continues to be one of the more dependable defensive forwards in the minors.
Kuraly has not had the same opportunity to show his skill set in Boston, as he has played in just five NHL games in this, his first pro season, and has yet to record a point in limited minutes. However, Kuraly may have some more upside and versatility than Acciari. The former Miami University captain and a fifth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2011, Kuraly too is a defense-first two-way forward, but also contributes on the offensive side of the ice. Kurlay has 13 goals and 11 assists in 50 games with Providence in 2016-17 and has played a major role for the talented AHL team.
AHL’s Rampage Sign Pair Of College Free Agents
The Colorado Avalanche need all the help they can get, and their AHL affiliate may have helped them out by bringing in a couple NCAA free agents for Joe Sakic and his staff to take a look at over the next couple of months. The San Antonio Rampage announced today that they have inked Brady Shaw and Ben Storm to amateur tryout contracts. With their respective teams out of NCAA postseason contention, the pair will now get a chance to show how they fit at the next level in an effort to secure contracts with San Antonio (or possibly even Colorado) for next season or else become free agents again in a few months.
Of the two, the defenseman Storm is likely the better pro prospect. Ironically, Storm was a sixth-round draft pick of the Avalanche in 2013, prior to their affiliation with the Rampage, but has yet to sign an entry-level team with the deal and may never. Storm was a four-year starter at St. Cloud State University, holding down the blue line as a stay-at-home defenseman. Although Storm lacks much offensive upside – just four goals and 13 assists in 121 collegiate contests – he makes up for it with solid defense and checking. The 6’7″, 229-lb. behemoth from Laurium, Michigan is always the most physical presence on the ice and skates surprisingly well for a player his size. Storm may need some time in the minor leagues to refine his puck handling and movement, but as they say “you can’t teach size”, and Storm’s stature alone should keep the 22-year-old employed in pro hockey for a while.
The forward Shaw has a more uphill battle in pursuing his NHL dreams. After an explosive sophomore season at the University of Vermont in 2014-15, during which he recorded 31 points in 38 games and showed a complete game, Shaw’s performance has dropped off in each of the past two seasons. Shaw scored just 16 points in 36 games last year and 19 points in 34 games this season, all whilst struggling with the two-way pressure of playing a larger role on the team. A former star in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Shaw was a highly-touted prospect who simply didn’t meet expectations at the college level. The 24-year-old may be able to rediscover his game in the AHL, but as of now as a lot of work to do to become more than just a replacement-level minor league player.
Lightning Recall Joel Vermin From Syracuse
Update (11:00am CST): Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times relays word from Lightning bench boss Jon Cooper that Palat is indeed ready to go and will be in the lineup tonight. Subsequently, Vermin has been returned to Syracuse, according to this tweet from the Elite Prospects Twitter account. It would seem then that Vermin was up as a potential emergency recall as it’s unlikely he would have been reassigned to the AHL immediately upon word Palat was healthy enough to play had the team exercised one of its four recalls.
8:45am CST: The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced the call-up of winger Joel Vermin from their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Bryan Burns, who covers the club for the team’s official website, added via Twitter the recall was necessary due to Ondrej Palat being banged up and questionable for tonight’s tilt against the Washington Capitals. Again according to Burns, Palat’s status should be made more clear following the team’s morning skate.
Vermin is one of several players the Lightning have had to shuttle back-and-forth between the big club and the Crunch in a season mired by injuries. In 11 appearances on the year, the 25-year-old winger has registered three points, all assists, to go with two penalty minutes while averaging 11;20 of ice time per game. The Swiss-born Vermin was originally a seventh-round draft selection by Tampa Bay in 2013 and has turned in a solid campaign for Syracuse with 12 goals and 28 points in 43 games for the Crunch.
The Lightning, despite selling assets at the trade deadline, have managed to sneak back into the playoff race and are currently just one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final Eastern Conference wild card slot. Already without centers Cedric Paquette and Tyler Johnson, both out of action since March 9th, the Tampa may also have to make do without the versatile Palat, who has 14 goals and 36 points on the season.
All told, 2016-17 has been a disappointing year for the Lightning, who were expected to be among the league’s elite teams and a Stanley Cup contender. Injuries to key players, including a significant knee injury which sidelined team captain Steven Stamkos back in November, have been a major factor in the club’s struggles but a surprising run which has seen the team accumulate 27 standings points over the last 18 contests has provided hope the Lightning will overcome and make the postseason. Should they do so, the Lightning would be a team no one wants to face, particularly with Stamkos eyeing a return to the lineup.
Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Miro Aaltonen To ELC
The Toronto Maple Leafs have dipped their toes back into the KHL market, signing 23-year old forward Miro Aaltonen to an entry-level contract. A former sixth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks, he became a free agent when his season ended in Russia. As is usual with the Maple Leafs, no details on the contract have been revealed at this point.
Aaltonen has played professional hockey in his home country of Finland for several years, including lining up with Jesse Puljujarvi and Sebastian Aho for Karpat last season. Though he was much older than that pair, he kept up with them offensively and has broken out even further this year in the KHL. Scoring 19 goals and 44 points in 59 games this season for Chekhov Vityaz, Aaltonen ranked third on the team in scoring and first among 24-or-under players in the entire league.
Blessed with unbelievable skill, Aaltonen has always been undersized and without elite top end speed was thought of as somewhat of a project. Now as he’s started to fill out and increased his skating ability, he may well translate his success to the North American game. His play down-low is excellent for his size, protecting the puck and shaking defenders behind the net. While he may be headed for the AHL to begin his career for the Maple Leafs organization, it’s not out of the question for him to move through the system quickly and make his NHL debut next year.
While success in Finland and Russia does not guarantee success here, the Maple Leafs have found success bringing players over as recently as this season. Nikita Zaitsev, had played in the KHL for years before making it across the pond this season. He’s now playing top-pairing minutes as a rookie for the Maple Leafs, and though there has been bumps in the road has established himself as an NHL force. They’ll try to find the same success with Aaltonen, who will likely join the Marlies for their AHL playoff run this year.
Minor Moves: Driedger, Andersson, Stone
It was a short and sweet call up for the Senators’ Chris Driedger, who will be sent down today according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. The goaltender was an emergency call up when Craig Anderson was injured this week, though he never got into a game. He has three appearances in his NHL career, but spent most of his time in the minor leagues.
Now with Anderson seemingly healthy enough, Drieger will head back to the Binghamton Senators and try to finish the season with a strong showing. The netminder has just a .906 save percentage in the AHL this season, though that is easily the best on the baby-Sens. The 22-year old is one of several goaltending prospects that Ottawa will make their mark on the NHL sooner or later.
- According to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet, the Calgary Flames have made Rasmus Andersson a regular call up in order to keep him with the NHL team. Originally recalled on an emergency basis, Andersson will stick around for at least a while to make sure the Flames have enough depth on defense. He actually hasn’t gotten into a game yet, as Dennis Wideman has figured into the lineup over the recent stretch of games.
- It doesn’t look like Andersson will get in anytime soon, as Michael Stone will return to the lineup tonight in place of Wideman. Stone was injured in the March 9th game against the Montreal Canadiens, and has missed the last three games. He is still undefeated as a member of the Flames, as the team traded for him just before starting the 10-game win streak that ended on Wednesday against Boston. He’ll look to remain that way tonight when the Flames take on the Dallas Stars.
Tyler Kelleher Signs With Milwaukee Admirals
Despite being tied to the New Jersey Devils in recent days, Tyler Kelleher of the University of New Hampshire has signed an AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals—Nashville’s AHL affiliate—for the remainder of the season and all of 2017-18. The Predators seem to have swooped in and stolen the 22-year old forward right out from under the rest of the league’s noses. 
A finalist for the Hobey Baker award for the nation’s top player, Kelleher scored 63 points in 40 games for New Hampshire this season. The extremely small winger has been more than a point-per-game player during his college career, and will go down as one of the all-time great offensive weapons to come out of the school.
It is that size though, that will be his biggest obstacle at the professional level. Listed at just 5’6″ 160-lbs, Kelleher has always been one of the smallest players at whatever level he’s played. It’s likely why he wasn’t drafted despite a successful stint on the US Development Team, and likely why he couldn’t lock down an entry-level contract this spring.
This doesn’t mean that the Predators are the only destination for the young sniper, but it will give them a leg up if he proves that he deserves an NHL deal eventually. If he can bring that dynamic offensive game to the next level, they could easily have found another exceptional talent that was overlooked because of his height.
Morning Notes: Vrana, Burakovsky, Josephs
The Hershey Bears are in a dog fight for a playoff position in the AHL, and they’re going to get some help. The Washington Capitals have sent Jakub Vrana back to Hershey where he will be a welcome addition for this weekend when they will play back-to-back-to-back games Friday through Sunday. With three teams tied at 77 points in the Atlantic Division, this weekend will mostly likely decide the Bears fate.
Vrana has spent this season split between the two clubs, scoring 26 goals in 36 games at the minor league level. The former 13th-overall pick has excellent scoring ability and has proven it since coming over from the Swedish leagues in 2015. Last spring, he contributed 14 points in 21 playoff games as the Bears went all the way to the Calder Cup finals.
- Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press thinks that Vrana’s demotion means good things for Andre Burakovsky in regards to Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Burakovsky has missed almost six weeks with a hand injury but is scheduled to rejoin practice fully today. The team will welcome him back, as they’ve lost five of their last six games and just barely hold their grip on the Metropolitan Division.
- The Penguins have signed another college prospect, but this time to an AHL contract. Troy Josephs of Clarkson University has inked a minor league deal for the 2017-18 season, and will join the WBS Penguins on an amateur deal for the rest of this year. Josephs was a seventh-round pick of the Penguins back in 2013, but decided to head to Clarkson for the full four years. Now that he’s graduated, he’ll join the pro ranks and try to continue his scoring dominance. This year saw him score 20 goals and 33 points in just 37 games, playing often with Sam Vigneault, the newest Columbus Blue Jacket.
- Carolina will send Lucas Wallmark back to the AHL after just three games. The 21-year old forward made his NHL debut this week, and even scored his first point. With 39 points in 59 games in his rookie year at the AHL level, the ‘Canes look like they’ve found a gem in the fourth round. The 97th overall pick in 2014, he’s one of only two players from that round to register a point in the NHL—the other, Viktor Arvidsson, has 67, including 51 this season.