Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Ducks Rumors

Minor Transactions: 10/9/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

It has been a busy day on the transactions front as some teams have pulled up previously cut players to round out their roster for their final preseason games while other players will be looking to catch on either in the minors or overseas.  Here’s a rundown of those moves.

  • The Senators announced (Twitter links) that they’ve recalled defensemen Dillon Heatherington, Mark Kastelic, and Lassi Thomson plus winger Egor Sokolov from AHL Belleville. All four were previously cut in training camp but will be on the roster for their preseason finale against Toronto tonight.
  • With Cam Talbot unavailable due to a personal matter, the Wild announced that they’ve recalled goaltender Andrew Hammond from AHL Iowa. He’ll serve as Kaapo Kahkonen’s backup for their preseason finale in Chicago.
  • Vegas’ AHL affiliate in Henderson revealed (Twitter link) that the Golden Knights have brought up forwards Jonas Rondbjerg and Jake Leschyshyn from the Silver Knights for their final preseason game tonight versus San Jose.
  • Greg McKegg gets another look with the Rangers as Rick Carpinello of The Athletic notes (Twitter link) that the veteran forward has been recalled for tonight’s game against the Islanders. McKegg returned to New York this season after spending 2020-21 with Boston.
  • After having his contract terminated by Winnipeg last month, Joona Luoto is heading back home as Tappara in the SM-liiga announced that they’ve inked the 24-year-old to a one-year deal. Luoto played in Tappara’s program – his hometown team – before making the jump to North America in 2019 where he played in 16 games with the Jets.
  • Marko Dano’s two-month tryout in Trinec was a successful one as the Czech squad announced they’ve extended his contract for the rest of the season. The 26-year-old was non-tendered by Winnipeg this summer after not seeing any NHL action for the first time in his professional career.
  • Kunlun Red Star of the KHL announced (Twitter link) that they’ve signed winger Cliff Pu to a one-year deal. The 23-year-old wrapped up his entry-level contract last season, recording 10 points in 16 games with AHL Cleveland but was non-tendered by Columbus this summer.
  • Veteran winger Brandon Mashinter has decided to call it a career and has joined Jacksonville of the ECHL as an assistant coach. The 33-year-old played in parts of four NHL seasons with the Sharks, Rangers, and Blackhawks, notching five points and 50 PIMS in 64 games.  Mashinter spent last season in Slovakia after a two-year stint in Germany.
  • After clearing waivers, Sonny Milano has been reassigned to the AHL by the Anaheim Ducks. Milano played in just eight games total last season, two of which were with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. It seems like that total could increase considerably this season unless the Ducks decide he is worthy of a recall at some point.
  • The Dallas Stars have demoted defenseman Andreas Borgman to AHL Texas. However, with 36 players still on their training camp roster, the team has a ways to go. Borgman, 26, suited up for seven games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season but appears to be no better than tenth on the Stars’ depth chart.

Anaheim Ducks Sign Ben Hutton To PTO

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Better late than never, huh Ben Hutton? With most NHL teams trimming their training camp rosters down considerably over the past few days, the Anaheim Ducks have gone in the other direction. CapFriendly reports that the team has extended a PTO to veteran free agent defenseman Hutton. With Hutton unlikely to suit up for the Ducks tonight, he will have only two preseason games and just over a week of camp to prove he can stick with the team before they open the regular season on October 13.

The timing of this late tryout offer could imply that is is simply a precursor to a signing, merely getting Hutton into camp while the two sides hammer out the fine print on a contract. After all, it is not as if Anaheim is unaware of what Hutton brings to the table. The 28-year-old blue liner began the 2020-21 campaign with the Ducks after signing a one-year deal in free agency (another late-offseason deal). Hutton skated in 34 games with the team, recording five points and over 18:30 of ice time per night, before he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifth-round pick. Hutton is an experienced defender who was logging major minutes and recording substantial minutes with the Vancouver Canucks not too long ago and would easily bolster a shallow Anaheim defense corps at a cheap price.

With that said, Hutton’s numbers have been on decline for years now and he did next to nothing with Toronto following last season’s trade. This PTO may simply be a courtesy by the Ducks to see if Hutton has any gas left in the tank and to let other teams take a look at his game in preseason action. While likely still a capable competitor, Anaheim may be better off going with younger options such as Josh Mahura or even Axel Andersson over Hutton, especially knowing that they do have some solid call-up options in Brendan Guhle, Brogan Rafferty, and Greg Pateryn. Hutton will have to show that he is a significantly superior option to any of these players if he wants to lock down a job with Anaheim.

Minor Transactions: 10/1/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With minor league camps about to get underway, there will be an influx of players inking tryout deals at the lower levels.  We’ll keep track of those moves here along with any other smaller moves of note.

  • Hurricanes prospect Patrik Puistola is staying in Finland as Jukurit of the SM-liiga announced that they’ve added the winger and signed him to a two-year contract. The 20-year-old was a third-round pick of Carolina back in 2019 (73rd overall) and had 14 points in 50 games with JYP last season in his first full year at the professional level.  This contract takes Puistola to the end of Carolina’s four-year period where they hold his rights so they will need to sign him at that time or lose him to free agency.
  • The Canadiens have signed goalie Alex Dubeau to an AHL camp tryout, his agent Nicola Riopel announced (Twitter link). The 27-year-old spent last season in Washington’s system, playing in 26 games with South Carolina of the ECHL.
  • While many teams are trimming their training camp rosters, the Ducks are adding to theirs, announcing the additions of winger Morgan Adams-Moisan and goaltender Frank Marotte to their camp roster.  Adams-Moisan had 14 points and 123 penalty minutes in 37 games with Fort Wayne of the ECHL last season while Marotte posted a .917 SV% in a dozen contests with Allen of the ECHL last year while making two appearances with Bridgeport of the AHL.

Tobias Rieder Signs PTO With Anaheim Ducks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

According to CapFriendly, the Anaheim Ducks have signed veteran forward Tobias Rieder to a professional tryout, adding him to the competition at training camp.

Rieder, 28, now has 478 regular season NHL games under his belt after playing 44 with the Buffalo Sabres this year. He registered just five goals and seven points in those games, however, continuing the pattern of offensive futility he has established over the last few seasons.

There was a time that Rieder could be counted on for around 15 goals and 30 points, but during a brutal goalless season with the Edmonton Oilers–one which sparked Edmonton’s then-CEO to go on an infamous rant to season ticket holders–that all seemed to change. The speedy forward had just four goals and ten points in 2019-20 with the Calgary Flames and is now fighting for a job in the NHL.

Even with his struggles, there is some upside to bringing a veteran like Rieder into camp. The Ducks have several young forwards fighting for a role on the team this season and players like Rieder will only serve to push them to work harder. He could perhaps land an NHL contract, but it’s not clear exactly how he’d fit in with the already overcrowded Anaheim roster.

Injury Notes: Matthews, Holloway, Kesler

at CDT | by 4 Comments

Only fours weeks in to a “minimum” six-week recovery period following impromptu wrist surgery, Auston Matthews is hopeful that he will be at full strength to begin the regular season. The Toronto Maple Leafs star tells NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger that his rehab is “coming along well”, though there are still several major steps to go. Matthews remains in a splint and remains at least a couple of weeks from moving beyond that stage of his recovery to actually testing his wrist and building his strength back up. Matthews claims that the injury, which plagued him for much of last season, is not serious, but he is happy that he decided to address it this summer after the pain had returned during his early off-season workouts. Hopefully an elective surgery for a “not serious” injury doesn’t impact the start of Matthews’ season, but as of right now he does not believe that will be the case. Matthews tells Zeisberger that he plans to resume skating this week and then take his wrist rehab “day by day” as the season approaches. The Leafs open up training camp and begin preseason play within Matthews’ minimum recovery window, so that is surely to impact his preparation for the season, but if the reigning Rocket Richard winner is at least healthy by Toronto’s October 13 opener with no more lingering wrist discomfort, then the surprise surgery will have been the right choice on all accounts.

  • The Edmonton Oilers are not expecting to see much from top prospect Dylan Holloway in their upcoming rookie camp as the talented forward is still working his way back from a broken thumb. Holloway suffered the injury at the end of the collegiate regular season, but continued on with the University of Wisconsin having qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers only lasted two games, but it still delayed Holloway’s surgery into April. This was expected to still be enough time for him to be fully healed by now, but instead Holloway is still being bothered, reports The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson. Holloway had x-rays done last week and is awaiting and evaluation from the Oilers’ medical staff. He is listed on the camp roster, but unlikely to partake in much if any action. Instead, he will hope to be healed up in time for NHL camp in two weeks. Holloway’s thumb injury cost him a chance to finish out last season with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors and gain some pro experience, so the skilled forward may be looking at a slow start to the season in the minors anyhow before getting a look in Edmonton.
  • Though it may seem obvious by now given that he has not played in two years and now is working as a volunteer coach, Ryan Kesler is officially acknowledging that he does not expect to play in the NHL again. The veteran forward spoke with NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman and stated that he does not see his body getting back into playing condition again. “And to be honest, I’m still a far way away to even coming close,” Kesler said. Suffering through injuries to both hips, Kesler was slowed even before being sidelined. He tells Kimelman that he lost his drive and love for the game for some time as he dealt with constant pain and lacking results and he tried to keep playing. Now, with one year remaining on his contract with the Anaheim Ducks, Kesler continues to rehab and work toward getting back into a place that he is happy with, but acknowledges that he cannot be an NHL player again, nevertheless live up to his own reputation. Hopefully Kesler can get to a point that he is at least comfortable skating and can continue to be on the ice as a coach.

Overseas Notes: Sorensen, Josefson, AIK

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

2020-21 was a season to forget for Marcus Sorensen. After recording 30 points in 80 games in 2018-19, Sorensen looked like he was emerging as a two-way threat for the San Jose Sharks. However, he followed that up with only 18 points and a -12 rating in 66 games in 2019-20. Sorensen was looking to get back on track this past season, but instead the decline continued. Sorensen recorded just five points and was a minus player yet again in 29 games with the Sharks. Unsurprisingly, it has been a quiet summer on the NHL market for Sorensen. However, he may have found a good option back home in Sweden. Swedish source Afton Bladet reports that the SHL’s Djurgardens IF is closing in on signing Sorensen to a long-term deal. The 29-year-old has been offered a four-year contract worth $12MM Krona ($1.44MM US). Sorensen was a prolific scorer for Djurgardens for several years before leaving for the NHL and the club hopes he still has gas left in the tank.

  • Fueling the pursuit of Sorenson is the indefinite loss of former NHLer Jacob Josefson from the Djurgardens roster. Afton Bladet notes that Josefson has been struggling with post-concussion symptoms since this past spring and that a recent resurgence has sidelined him without any certain timeline for a return. Josefson, 30, has been Djurgardens’ captain for the past four years since leaving the NHL, not to mention one of their best players. If he isn’t available this season, Sorensen will be asked to step in and take on that leading role. The hope is that Josefson, who played eight seasons in the NHL with New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, will be back on the ice before too long.
  • Elsewhere in Sweden, the Allsvenskan’s AIK is loading up with NHL prospect talent. On consecutive days, he club has announced loan agreements to bring in standouts from the 2020 NHL Draft for the upcoming season. Winnipeg Jets second-round pick Daniel Torgersson is on his way from Frolunda HC, while Anaheim Ducks fourth-rounder Thimo Nickl arrives from Rogle BK. Torgersson, a big power forward, was nearly a point per game player at the junior level last year and played briefly in the SHL. Nickl, a rangy, two-way defenseman, played in the QMJHL two years ago and held his own in the pros this past season between the SHL and Allsvenskan. The 19-year-olds will provide a major boost to AIK before they potentially look to join their respective NHL teams next year.

OHL Will See Influx Of 2021 NHL Draft Selections For 2021-22

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

After a year that saw a straight-up canceled season, one of the most prestigious junior programs in the world will see an influx of talent for the 2021-22 campaign. The Canadian Hockey League as a whole has received some welcome news over the past few days, as high-end prospects from the 2021 NHL Draft have signed on to play with various teams in the CHL next season. Today, Stanislav Svozil, a third-round pick of Columbus, added himself to that list. We’ll dive into a list of notable first-rounders from the 2021 Draft who are expected to be returning to the OHL or coming there for the first time after stints elsewhere last season.

F Mason McTavish (Anaheim Ducks, 3rd overall) – A somewhat surprising selection, the 6′ 2″, 207-pound power forward will be among the OHL’s biggest stars when the league resumes play after a lost 2020-21 season. McTavish played last season on loan with EHC Olten in the second-tier Swiss League, and impressed with 11 points in 13 regular-season games and seven points in just four playoff games. With an impressive 11 points in seven games for Canada’s U18 squad, serving as their captain during the U18 World Championships, McTavish comes back to his Peterborough Petes as the team’s best and most dynamic forward. He’ll look to improve on his rookie season with the team in 2019-20, in which he scored 29 goals and 42 points in 57 games.

D Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles Kings, 8th overall) – One of the most dynamic defensemen in the draft, Clarke fell all the way to Los Angeles at eighth overall, a lucky break for an already stacked prospect pool. Clarke, property of the OHL’s Barrie Colts, spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan with HC Nove Zamky in Slovakia’s Tipos Extraliga. Posting 15 points in 26 games, the two-way defender flaunted his skating ability on a professional stage. The immense growth in his game overseas will surely be on full display this year in Barrie.

F Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers, 16th overall) – A teammate of McTavish’s with EHC Olten in 2020-21, Othmann looks to bring his elite shot back to the OHL for 2021-22 with the Flint Firebirds. Othmann was able to score some decent playing time in Switzerland, posting 16 points in 34 regular-season games. Those numbers in a professional setting lead many to believe that Othmann will improve on his 17 goals and 33 points that Othmann put up in 55 games with Flint in 2019-20.

F Oskar Olausson (Colorado Avalanche, 28th overall) – Joining Clarke with the Barrie Colts, Olausson is somewhat of a surprise addition to this list. The newly-minted Avalanche prospect has spent the entirety of his career in his native Sweden, yet his decision to move to North America signals a desire to join the Avalanche organization professionally as soon as possible. Picked up by Barrie in the OHL’s Import Draft, Olausson will find more opportunity there than he would have overseas, especially after his HV71 team was relegated to the second-tier Allsvenskan for the upcoming season. His offense should help create an extremely strong attack in Barrie, who’ll have one of the deeper teams in the league next season.

 

Anaheim Ducks Sign Three Draft Picks

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Anaheim Ducks have announced deals for three draft picks, inking Mason McTavish, Olen Zellweger and Sasha Pastujov to three-year entry-level contracts.

It was reported yesterday that Pastujov would be signing, as his plans for next season have changed. The young forward took back his commitment to the University of Notre Dame and will instead play for the Guelph Storm of the OHL. A player in the NCAA isn’t able to ink an NHL contract, but that’s not the case for someone in the CHL. Pastujov can continue his development in the junior league while also being under contract with the Ducks, receiving his signing bonus in the process.

The 18-year-old was a big-time offensive threat for the U.S. National Team Development Program, but dropped to the third round of the recent draft. The Ducks snapped him up with the 66th pick, and will hope that he can continue that development path in the OHL. Pastujov’s contract will slide forward should he spend the year in junior, meaning the first season will not be burned in 2021-22.

For Zellweger, it’s much of the same story. The 34th overall pick from this year’s draft, he’ll be heading back to the WHL to refine what is an intriguing package of tools. Just 5’10”, Zellweger is one of the youngest players in the 2021 draft class and won’t even turn 18 until next month. He flew up draft boards this year, going from C-rated to the start of the second round. There’s no doubt that size will be a challenge, but scouts rave about Zellweger’s maturity, work ethic, and hockey IQ, not to mention his obvious skating ability.

The big fish in this group though is McTavish, the third-overall pick from last month’s draft. Physically, McTavish could likely handle the grind of an NHL season right now. The Swiss-born, Canadian center spent this year overseas playing for Olten EHC where he scored nine goals and 11 points in just 13 games. His physical, bang-and-crash style makes a fan of every coach he plays for, as McTavish regularly engages down low and comes out with control of the puck. That’s not to say he lacks offensive flair, though there may not be the same kind of scoring upside in McTavish as future teammate Trevor Zegras.

That’s likely exactly why the Ducks are so excited by the pick, as the 18-year-old can provide a stylistic complement to the slick Zegras down the middle in Anaheim. While those days still may have to wait for a little while, there’s little doubt that McTavish will climb the ranks quickly and become an NHL talent before long. If he does return to junior this season for the Peterborough Petes, it will be more about letting him dominate a level offensively and perhaps play at the World Juniors. His contract–like the other two–would slide if that happens, meaning the Ducks would have McTavish signed through at least 2024-25.

Ducks’ Sasha Pastujov To De-Commit From Notre Dame, Sign In OHL

at CDT | by 2 Comments

A top American prospect is expected to make a major shift in his development plan. Forward Sasha Pastujov, who stunningly fell to the Anaheim Ducks in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft when some had him pegged as a first-rounder, is about to be the subject of another surprise. ESPN’s John Buccigross reports that Pastujov is giving up on his college commitment to the University of Notre Dame. Instead, Pastujov will sign an entry-level contract with the Ducks and then sign in the OHL with his rights-holder, the Guelph Storm.

Pastujov initially committed to the Fighting Irish back in 2018, which has always drawn some scrutiny with Notre Dame serving as a rival to the University of Michigan, where older brothers Nick and Michael Pastujov played their college hockey. Sasha was expected to enroll at Notre Dame this fall and looked like the crown jewel of the incoming freshman class. A product of the U.S. National Team Development program, Pastujov recorded 30 goals and 65 points in 42 games this season, leading the team by a wide margin. It was the second straight season that Pastujov has scored at better than a point-per-game pace for the USNTDP, which led many to believe that his offensive skill and instinct would lead to an early selection in the draft. It also set him up well to make an immediate difference in the NCAA.

Well, now that impact will occur in the OHL, as Guelph has suddenly been gifted a top prospect as they get set to return to action. There has been no word as to what caused Pastujov’s sudden charge of heart, though there was no indication of such a move until after his selection, suggesting that perhaps Anaheim had some input. On the other hand, Pastujov is also the third member of the most recent USNTDP U-18 team to break his commitment to a college program in favor of major junior. Tampa Bay Lightning third-round pick Roman Schmidt abandoned Boston University in favor of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, while San Jose Sharks sixth-rounder Liam Gilmartin opted for the OHL’s London Knights over Providence College. It’s a strange trend for this year’s American crop, counter to the massive growth of the college game in recent years. For whatever reason, Pastujov has made the decision that he thinks is best for his development and now he and Ducks just hope it works out.

 

Ducks Would Prefer To Trade Some Veterans

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

While it has been a very quiet summer for Anaheim aside from the re-signing of Ryan Getzlaf to a one-year deal, it appears that the Ducks are trying to be active on the trade front.  Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register notes that GM Bob Murray is focusing on trades that would move out some veterans with an eye on netting younger players in return that fit their rebuilding window.  The Ducks have certainly shifted towards a younger roster in recent years and could have as many as seven forwards 25 or younger in their opening lineup.  Bringing in players in that age group certainly makes sense but with a lot of teams capped out, swapping an expensive veteran for a cost-controlled youngster is something that’s certainly going to be easier said than done.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top