Flames Promote Kerry Huffman To Director Of Hockey Strategy
The Calgary Flames are still making the final tweaks to their staff, including promoting NHL veteran Kerry Huffman to the position of Director Of Hockey Strategy, per Tony Androckitis of TheAHL.com. Androckitis adds that Huffman will also continue as a pro scout for Calgary – a role he took on last season.
Huffman has deep roots in North American pros, leading a career that’s taken him through a playing career, coaching career, and now a scouting career. It all kicked off when Huffman was selected 20th-overall in the 1986 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, following a stout season with the OHL’s Guelph Storm. He’d make his AHL and NHL debuts in the following season, though 1987-88 marked his formal rookie season, with Huffman managing 23 points in 52 games. That performance was enough to settle Huffman into a second-pairing role that he’d continue in through 1992. He built a strong reputation as a stout, two-way defender, capable of joining the offense or throwing around the body – factors that made him a core piece of the infamous trade that sent Eric Lindros to Philadelphia, and Huffman, Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, and more to the Quebec Nordiques.
Huffman’s reliability continued through two seasons in Quebec, though he’d go on to play parts of three seasons with the Ottawa Senators – and make a four-game reunion in Philadelphia – before finishing his career with three seasons in the IHL. In total, he played through 10 NHL seasons and 401 games, recording 145 points and 361 penalty minutes.
Huffman retired in 1999, marking an end to his formal hockey involvement until he began working as an NHLPA certified player agent in 2012, and coaching AAA youth hockey in 2014. That quickly evolved. He was named an assistant coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights in 2015, and made a move to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ bench in 2016. He supported the Phantoms through five fruitful years- including multiple 100-point seasons – before making yet another career change in 2021, when he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as a pro scout. He was promoted to Pittsburgh’s Director Of Professional Scouting in 2022, and moved to Calgary in 2023 – where he’ll now continue to take on new roles.
As pointed out by Androckitis, Huffman has been heavily involved in his team’s scouting and analytical departments, continuing to build on the stout hockey knowledge he flexed as a player. He’ll now get a chance to flex that knowledge, as Calgary becomes the fourth team to employ a Director Of Hockey Strategy – joining the Dallas Stars (Steve Greeley), Buffalo Sabres (Sam Ventura), and Seattle Kraken (Alexandra Mandrycky).
Flames Sign Tyson Barrie To PTO
Sep. 10: The Flames made Barrie’s PTO official this morning.
Sep. 3: In a twist of circumstances, the Calgary Flames are now reportedly nearing a professional try-out agreement with veteran defender Tyson Barrie. The move was first reported by PuckPedia and verified by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, who added that the team hopes this will result in more than just a league-minimum contract. Barrie was previously rumored to be headed to the Edmonton Oilers on a PTO, reuniting with the team after one year away. As pointed out by PuckPedia, Barrie maintains the ability to sign a free-agent contract with any team while on his PTO with Calgary.
Barrie will skate for his fourth Canadian franchise on this PTO – having previously played one year in Toronto and three in Edmonton. They were two stops along Barrie’s journeyman career, spanning 13 seasons and four franchises. He continues to be a productive defender, rivaling 40 points in nearly every season between 2013 and 2023 and boasting a career-high of 59 points set in 2018-19. But Barrie’s defensive consistency has completely fallen away, leaving him hard to trust even on a stout Nashville Predators blue line.
Luckily, Calgary has plenty of holes to patch on defense, after turning over Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, and Oliver Kylington last season. The Flames have brought in a heap of new faces to handle the change, adding Jake Bean, Daniil Miromanov, Kevin Bahl, Joel Hanley, and Brayden Pachal. Barrie boasts significantly more NHL experience and scoring upside than any of those options. That could be enough to win out a prominent role with a strong showing at training camp, especially amid competition a decade younger.
Any role on the Flames’ blue-line could come with major responsibility, as the team shops around top defenders MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson ahead of training camp. The departure of either player would immediately vacate 20+ minutes a night on Barrie’s right-hand side – making this veteran PTO signing timely insurance. But as it stands, the long-term outcome of Barrie, who managed just 27 points in 65 games over two seasons with the Predators, is still uncertain.
Big Hype Prospects: Benak, Demidov, Barlow, Eliasson
The hockey world has one final hurdle to get through before the hustle-and-bustle of the regular season – presently shrouded by the start of the college football and NFL seasons. To cut through that cloud, we’ll once again borrow the Big Hype Prospects series from MLB Trade Rumors and break down some of the prospects getting attention heading into the 2024-25 season.
Four Big Hype Prospects
F Adam Benak, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
2024 USHL Preseason: 6 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 TP
The USHL Pre-Season was bound to be headlined by Youngstown Phantoms tender Adam Benak – a starring Czech prospect and client of prolific NHL agent Allan Walsh. He brings a wealth of experience, most notably scoring eight points in eight games at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and 24 points in 26 games with the Czech U18 team through friendlies and tourney play. But even knowing that precedent, his start in the USHL has been shocking. Benak got the primary assist on the first goal of Youngstown’s pre-season – and while it was his only point of game one, he managed five points (1 G, 4 A) in Youngstown’s second pre-season game. Granted it was against a Green Bay lineup clearly not at full strength, but Benak nonetheless played at a step above everyone else, showing power in his strides and confidence on the puck. He worked best with winger Jack Hextall – Youngstown’s starring tender from the 2008 birth year. Hextall is still adjusting to junior-level physicality, but thrived in the tempo and space that Benak was able to create. His next game will be Youngstown’s season opener on September 18th, but Benak’s ability to control possession shined through in his pre-season action. There’s no telling how high on 2025 Draft boards the undersized, but highly-skilled centerman could climb if he carries that momentum into the regular season.
F Ivan Demidov, SKA (KHL)
2024 KHL Regular Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 TP
The start of the KHL season has brought the first look at Ivan Demidov, now the Montreal Canadiens’ newest top prospect. He’s served that title well, making SKA’s KHL roster with dominant pre-season performances, and – perhaps more impressively – admirably filling a third-line role through the year’s first two games. SKA has gained notoriety for how they’ve deploy their star teenagers over the last few years, though it seems Demidov is playing above that ire through the early going. There’s no denying Demidov’s prowess. He’s dominant on the puck, showing control at top speeds and using his body to defend possession while driving the net. He’ll be near the top of the shortlist when it comes to exciting prospects to follow this season – especially if he continues earning routine ice time in SKA’s lineup.
F Colby Barlow, OHL
2023 OHL Regular Season (Owen Sound): 50 GP, 40 G, 18 A, 58 TP
Early year speculation has Colby Barlow as near-certainly bound for a trade away from the Owen Sound Attack. Where he’s headed hasn’t yet come clear, but it seems the Winnipeg Jets first-round pick will have a chance to join a stronger roster after scoring six fewer goals and 15 fewer assists last season, compared to the 2022-23 season. He still managed a 40-goal season, speaking to his assured scoring and offering intriguing upside for the winners of Barlow’s trade sweepstakes. Pre-season trades led other top NHL prospects like Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie to bountiful seasons last year, with both players turning pro this summer. Now, it could be the precedent to a big year for Barlow, hopefully providing momentum into his transition into Winnipeg’s pro flanks.
D Gabriel Eliasson, OHL
2023 J20 Nationell Regular Season: 36 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 TP
Gabriel Eliasson is hard to ignore. Literally – he’s 6-foot-7, 216-pounds. But he caught scouts attention for more than just his size – also flashing impressively fluid skating, strong puck control, and – above all else – an old-school style of headhunting. Eliasson seemed to study at the Jacob Trouba school of hitting-defensemen, earning a total of 200 penalty minutes through 65 total games last season, split between league and international play. He’s a high upside bet – with the size and control to play high levels, but lacking poise. Still, the Ottawa Senators were willing to gamble on Eliasson early, taking him 39th-overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. Now, reports claim that Eliasson is headed to the OHL, rather than making his expected move to the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the Big Ten’s University of Michigan. Eliasson was selected by the Niagara IceDogs in the most recent CHL Import Draft, though additional info suggests he could be traded when Import trades open on September 25th. Fans will have to wait in anticipation for that move, though the thought of Eliasson in the OHL is certainly an interesting one. His reckless abandon would have been well-matched in Cedar Rapids, while the OHL could better encourage the fluid play-driving that makes his skillset so unique. While Eliasson may not be a star at the heights of his peers on this list, his unique frame and heavy hitting will make him an exciting name to follow – whether it be in the OHL or USHL.
Summer Synopsis: Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild had a far tamer summer than some of their peers around the league – ultimately relying on strong decision-making in the draft and free agency to help round out their lineup, rather than overturning major positions. That could bode well for a team anticipating the return of Jared Spurgeon, and seeing more and more progress out top youngsters like Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi. Hard-hitting depth signings have bolstered those options – effectively placing the faith in Minnesota’s returning stars to carry the team over the 12-point deficit that held them out of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Draft
1-12: D Zeev Buium, Denver (NCHC, NCAA)
2-45: F Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert (WHL)
4-122: D Aron Kiviharju, HIFK (Liiga)
5-140: D Sebastian Soini, Ilves (Liiga)
5-142: G Chase Wutzke, Red Deer (WHL)
6-174: D Stevie Leskovar, Mississauga (OHL)
Minnesota has quietly built one of the best prospect pools in the NHL over the last few years, making up for a lack of much pick value with lucrative drafting. That sentiment reached a peak this year, with the Wild landing a littany of falling talents. That started with Zeev Buium, who held a claim as the top defender of college hockey’s National Championship last year, using his superb puck-control to drive play and open chances for the Pioneers. Buium was an expected top-10 name, but the Wild jumped when they saw him fall out, trading two picks to the Philadelphia Flyers to move up to the 12-spot.
Their hot day continued when the Wild landed Ryder Ritchie in the second round, and Aron Kiviharju in the fourth round. Both players held first-round acclaim at one point this season. Ritchie – a high-IQ winger with tireless drive and special teams upside – seemed a typical casualty of eager drafting. But the first-round precedent was much more emphatically zapped away from Kivihajru when he went down in November with an ACL injury. The injury limited the standout Finnish defender – once considered in a conversation with Macklin Celebrini and Ivan Demidov – to just seven games and two points last season. He returned to the ice in April, and even managed light work at the NHL Draft Combine, but that wasn’t enough to reassure teams of his upside. Still, Kiviharju has 28 games of Liiga experience to his name at just 18 years old – and could emerge as one of the 2024 Draft’s biggest steals if he returns to his prior glory.
Minnesota backed two high-value picks with a trio of safe bets. Sebastian Soini is far from the most refined defender, but has shown a strong ability to square up to, and beat, opponents when defending the rush. He has a long reach, heavy frame, and hard passing – keeping him effective on his own side of the red line. Wutzke stands as Minnesota’s perennial goalie-pick, after managing a .904 save percentage in 36 games with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. Wutzke boasts plenty of athleticism and speed, but needs to continue honing his ability to square up to pucks and stop on a spot. The list of role-based picks ends with Leskovar, who made a name for himself as a mean defender this year. He posted just 12 points through 61 games this year, but added 113 penalty minutes – taking pleasure in using his six-foot-three, 200-pound frame to dominate the gritty areas of the ice. While his profile doesn’t scream upside, Leskovar could prove yet another lucrative Minnesota prospect, with a size and the physical edge that seem well-matched for the pros.
UFA Signings
F Ben Jones (two-years, $1.6MM)*
F Brendan Gaunce (two-years, $1.6MM)*
F Reese Johnson (one-year, $775K)*
F Travis Boyd (one-year, $775K)*
F Yakov Trenin (four years, $14MM)
D Jacob Middleton (extended to four years, $17.4MM)
D Cameron Crotty (one-year, $775K)*
D Joseph Cecconi (one-year, $775K)*
G Troy Grosenick (one-year, $775K)*
* denotes two-way
Minnesota’s off-season was spent rebuilding the depths of the AHL Iowa Wild, who lost a long list of young, upside-bets to other minor league deals this season. Rather than mimic the youth, Minnesota opted to sign a litany of proven veterans – adding 614 games worth of NHL experience through just the additions of Gaunce, Johnson, and Boyd. All three played NHL games last season – and Boyd even managed double-digit goals and 34 points as recently as 2022-23. But their two-way deals suggest that Minnesota is looking more for top-line minor-leaguers capable of being impactful call-ups, rather than everyday lineup pieces.
That’s largely thanks to the addition of Yakov Trenin, who rounds out a Wild bottom-six that didn’t see much change this summer. Trenin became a polarizing player last season, after failing to carry his production to the Colorado Avalanche, despite the team giving up Jeremy Hanzel and a third-round pick in a Trade Deadline swap for the winger. But Trenin did bring his hard-nosed physicality, ultimately ranking fourth among Avalanche forwards with an average of 10.89 hits-per-game. Even better, Trenin carried that physicality through 16 games in Colorado, while only managing one penalty. He’s formerly a 17-goal scorer, twice netting 24 points on a season, but Trenin’s mean streak is what makes him stand out. That’s a factor that’s been missing from the Wild bottom-six since the departure of Brandon Duhaime and aging of Marcus Foligno. Trenin should bring that in droves – while holding onto a fairly manageable $3.5MM cap hit.
The Wild also proved diligent with the extension of defender Jacob Middleton, who will now stick around for four more years after his current deal expires next summer. Middleton proudly planted his feet on Minnesota’s second pairing this season, netting seven goals and 25 points while averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time each game. While his upside has been debated, this deal sets up the 28-year-old, former seventh-round pick for a hardy career as a second-pair option.
Trade Acquisitions
F Graeme Clarke (acquired from New Jersey)
F Jakub Lauko (acquired from Boston)
Minnesota made a pair of trades in June, first acquiring forward Jakub Lauko when Boston opted to trade up in the fourth-round – moving from 122 to 110. But it’s Minnesota stands as the early winner of the deal after using the later selection on defender Aron Kiviharju. Lauko is fine supplementary material as well, having scored 10 points in 60 games last season – his first full year in the NHL. He’s a heavy-framed centerman who’s worked his way up to the top flight with diligent two-way play and consistent physicality. Those are the pieces Minnesota feels their missing – if their UFA signings are any indication. Lauko won’t be one to jump off the page this season, but he will stand as a legitimate option for the Wild’s fourth-line center role – likely entering competition with new additions Boyd, Gaunce, and Johnson.
Meanwhile, Clarke will begin fighting his way to the NHL lineup in a new setting, after moving to Minnesota in a one-for-one swap with Adam Beckman. He climbed the mountain with the New Jersey Devils last year, being awarded the first three games of his NHL career after posting 25 goals and 49 points in 67 AHL games. He went scoreless in his NHL appearances but made a few good plays and looked capable of keeping up with opponents. Clarke, still just 23, has managed 149 points through 218 career AHL games – speaking promise to his long-term upside.
RFA Re-Signings
F Graeme Clarke (one-year, $800K)*
F Adam Raska (one-year, $775K)*
F Sammy Walker (one-year, $775K)*
D Declan Chisholm (one-year, $1MM)
D Brock Faber (eight years, $68MM)
* denotes two-way
Minnesota quickly re-signed Clarke, adding him to the quartet of depth pieces ensured with one-year, two-way deals. He’ll join Raska and Walker in competition for the final pieces of Minnesota’s lineup, though it’d be Raska who stands as the early favorite, having already played five games with the Wild last year. He didn’t score in the outings – not helped by his meager AHL production of seven points in 49 games – but Raska did stand as the heavy-frame, gritty piece Minnesota needed. The addition of Trenin could make Raska’s role a bit more obsolete, especially if he can’t boost his scoring, which could pave way for the higher-skilled options of Clarke or Walker. The latter also appeared in four games with the Wild last year, and also went without a point, though he did manage a much more substantial 45 points in 70 AHL games.
But while the depth forwards vie for spots, it seems Declan Chisholm has locked in his lineup role – earning a one-way deal after scoring eight points in 29 games with Minnesota last season. He was a mid-year waiver claim, and will now, at the least, fill the seventh-defender role vacated by Dakota Mermis.
All of the previous RFA signings pale in comparison to the lofty extension of RFA Brock Faber, who will become a wealthy man when his entry-level deal expires next summer, after opting to go the long-term route on an extension. Faber was simply phenomenal last season, stepping up as Minnesota’s unrivaled top defender after captain Jared Spurgeon went down with a season-ending injury. Faber played in all 82 games of his rookie season, scoring eight goals and 47 points and dominating both sides of possession. He was a favorite for the Calder Trophy, but ultimately placed second behind Central Division competitor Connor Bedard. Still, Faber seems bound for a long pro career, after averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time in just his first season.
Departures
F Servac Petrovsky (unsigned draft pick, invited to Utah’s Rookie Camp)
F Jujhar Khaira (Tampa Bay, one-year, $775K)*
F Jake Lucchini (Nashville, two years, $775K)*
F Nick Swaney (Chicago Wolves, AHL, one-year, $775K)*
F Steven Fogarty (retirement)
F Turner Elson (unsigned, unrestricted free agent)
F Adam Beckman (traded to New Jersey)
F Vinni Lettieri (traded to Boston)
D Alex Goligoski (retirement)
D Dakota Mermis (Toronto, one-year, $775K)*
D Will Butcher (signed with Barys Astana, KHL)
G Zane McIntyre (signed with Straubing, DEL)
* denotes two-way
As aforementioned, Minnesota turned over much of their minor league depth this season. Many of those options took lateral steps – including Khaira, Lucchini, and Mermis, who will all re-enter the race of top-line minor-leaguers fighting for an NHL spot. Mermis stands as a particularly-interesting option, moving to a Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line in the midst of a major overhaul. The 30-year-old defender worked his way into the first NHL role of his career last season, initially being recalled as the seventh-defender but ultimately slotting into a third-pair role in 47 games. He scored eight points in those appearances, while managing his responsibilities in all three zones. Toronto is experiencing some confusion around signee Jani Hakanpaa – though a major depth role could open up on the left-hand side, should Hakanpaa opt not to join the Leafs.
Will Butcher is another exciting departure, making the move to Russia after finding little success in the NHL. Butcher scored 44 points in 81 games as a rookie in 2017-18, but has seen a hit in scoring every year since, ultimately falling to a routine AHL role through the last two seasons. That proved insufficient for the former fifth-round pick, who has now joined Barys for the first two games of the KHL season, recording one assist.
Salary Cap Outlook
Minnesota is entering training camp tightly bound by the salary cap. They carry just $756.4K in open space, per PuckPedia – not even enough to afford a league-minimum deal. But the Wild have all of the pieces of their lineup locked up, with no remaining RFAs – effectively shifting their focus from buying new additions to finding ways to pad their cap space for any necessary moves once the season starts.
Key Questions
How Will The Defense Shape Up? The ace up Minnesota’s sleeve for the last few years has been the unrelenting tandem of Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. The two complimented each other beautifully, effectively controlling play on both ends of the ice any time they’re out there. But Spurgeon missed all but 16 games last season, pushing Minnesota into a bit of a scramble for effective right-handed defenders. Luckily, Faber emerged as a star – taking on the bulk of Spurgeon’s role while Zach Bogosian and Mermis offered secondary support. Spurgeon is expected to be ready to go for next season and will certainly boost the defense, though how his role is balanced against Faber – and if the two can work with Brodin and Middleton to form another formidable blue-line – will be the chief focus of Wild fans as games roll around.
Which Star Will Emerge? Minnesota doesn’t boast the superstar talents of a team like Toronto or Edmonton, but they’ve quietly found major contributors through the likes of Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek. All three took a big step forward last year – with Kaprizov rivaling his career-highs with 46 goals and 96 points; and both Boldy and Eriksson Ek setting career-highs with 69 and 64 points respectively. The trio provide confident momentum at every forward position, and could each continue their climbs next year, backed by a healthy blue-line and rounded-out offense. Kaprizov seems a certain bet to rival the 100-point ceiling again, though both Boldy and Eriksson Ek are sleeper candidates to join him on that flight. Boldy in specific seems to be settling into more-and-more of an impact role, even scoring 20 points across the last 18 games of the season. While the depth scoring of Minnesota’s offense may prove a concern, the trio of stars leading the pack all seem destine for a big year.
Who’s On First – Or, In Net? The Wild seemed to be headed for a quiet and amicable split with future Hall-of-Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. His contract was due this summer, and while he’s spent three hardy years in Minnesota, the 2023-24 campaign marked the first time since the dead-puck era – 2005-06 to be exact – that Fleury posted a sub-.900 save percentage. Minnesota has the effective Filip Gustavsson and top prospect Jesper Wallstedt waiting for a more concrete shot at the starting role – which made it all the more confusing when the Wild granted Fleury’s request for a farewell tour, signing him to a one-year, $2.5MM contract. Fleury ceded the lion’s share of starts last season – with Gustavsson playing in 45 games and posting an .899 – while Wallstedt posted a .910 in 45 AHL games. That seems to be the split Minnesota is headed for again this season, though how Gustavsson is able to control more starts – and how Wallstedt is able to overcome legendary competition for the backup spot – could go a long way towards determining the Wild’s odds at success.
U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame Announces 2024 Class
The USA Hockey Hall of Fame has announced that they’ll be enshrining NHL veterans Matt Cullen and Kevin Stevens, Women’s Hockey legend Brianna Decker, original Chicago Blackhawks owner Frederic McLaughlin, and the entirety of the gold medal-winning 2002 Paralympic Sled Hockey team.
Cullen played in parts of 21 NHL seasons between 1997 and 2019. His career kicked off with six years in Anaheim, where he planted his feet as a routine, middle-six centerman and scored 200 points across 427 games. He was traded to Florida in 2003, serving as the main return in a deal that delivered Sandis Ozolinsh and Lance Ward to Anaheim. That move kicked off the journeyman style that Cullen quickly became known for. He moved teams five more times before 2010 – including a brief stint with the Stanley Cup-winning 2006 Carolina Hurricanes. That was the first of three Stanley Cups that Cullen would hoist; earning the latter two as part of Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Cup wins in 2016 and 2017. He played in two more seasons after that final Cup win, but ultimately decided to hang up the skates in 2019, after recording 1,516 games and 731 points in the NHL. Cullen has served as a development coach for the Penguins ever since.
Stevens was a part of Pittsburgh’s other back-to-back Cup wins, serving as an instrumental scorer on the 1991 and 1992 Cup-winning teams. He scored a career-high 54 goals and 123 points in the latter season, adding 28 points in 21 postseason games during the Cup run. It was the headlining year in Stevens’ decade-long tenure with the Penguins, ended by a 1995 trade to the Boston Bruins. Like Cullen, the trade kicked off a journeyman stage of Stevens’ career – leading him through one year in Boston, two in Los Angeles, three with the Rangers, and even 23 games with the Philadelphia Flyers. But Stevens returned home in midway through the 2000-01 season, playing in 32 more games with Pittsburgh before retiring at the age of 36. He ended his career with 726 points in 874 games – including two 100-point and two 80-point seasons. Stevens was hired into a scouting position with Pittsburgh in 2005. He maintains the role to this day.
Decker has built a resume that might rival the multiple Cup wins of Cullen and Stevens. She’s won gold on every stage, including twice at the World-U18 Championship, once at the Olympics, and six different times at the Women’s World Championship. Decker’s first taste of international play came at the 2008 World-U18 Championship, when she managed seven points in five games at the age of 17. She was elevated to the World Championship roster in 2011 and stayed on the lineup through 2021. Decker managed a dazzling 28 goals and 68 points in 44 games through the decade of Worlds experience – scoring that was complimented by her nine points in 11 games as part of three Olympics, and routine point-per-game scoring in pro women’s leagues. Her career ended with just one appearance at the 2022 Winter Olympics – though she’s joined Team USA as an assistant coach at the last two Women’s World U18 Championships.
McLaughlin is the first non-player on this list. He’s instead the man who brought the NHL to Illinois – purchasing the rights to a Chicago-based expansion team in 1926. As rumor tells it, McLaughlin decided to name the team the “Black Hawks” after the U.S. Army’s 86th Infantry “Blackhawk” Division, where McLaughlin rose to the rank of Major during World War I, commanding the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion. McLaughlin had no prior ice hockey business experience, but built a pipeline between Chicago and the WHL that delivered plenty of high-impact pros to the new club. With those investments, McLaughlin was able to lead his team to Stanley Cup wins in 1934 and 1938 – though Chicago has since vindicated his legacy with four more Cup wins. He became revered across the hockey world, even being dubbed, “the biggest nut I’ve ever met” by then-Maple Leafs manager Conn Smythe, as captured in Blades on Ice: A Century of Professional Hockey by Chrys Goyens and Frank Orr. McLaughlin passed away at the age of 67 – owning the Blackhawks until his death. He was inaugurated into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.
Finally, the 2002 Team USA Paralympic Sled team earned a milestone victory with their gold medal. It was America’s first time winning the event, eight years after its inception. They went undefeated through six games, beating out Norway 4-3 in the Gold Medal game. The lineup was led by Sylvester Flis, whose 11 goals and 18 points still stand as tournament records. Team USA has since become the kings of sled hockey, taking home Gold at the last four Paralympics. That legacy began with this club – and the USA Hockey Hall of Fame will now be acknowledging that contribution.
RFA Notes: Raymond, Berggren, Pelletier, Perfetti
The Detroit Red Wings are making progress on a long-term contract with star forward Lucas Raymond, shares David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Raymond is one of three restricted free agents still awaiting a deal from the Red Wings, alongside winger Jonatan Berggren and defender Moritz Seider.
Pagnotta added that talks between Raymond and Detroit have picked up over the last 10 days, but that the two sides are, “still grinding away at it.” The Red Wings kick off training camp on September 18th.
While Seider was Detroit’s unrivaled top defender last season, it’s Raymond who feels like the chore that needs done. The 22-year-old winger broke out this season, leading the Red Wings in scoring with a career-high 31 goals and 72 points in 82 games, topping his previous high of 23 goals and 57 points set as a rookie. He’s now up to 174 points in 238 career games, and stands as perhaps the most promising player on a Wings lineup in flux. His next contract will likely eat up the bulk of Detroit’s remaining $17.648MM in cap space, though the Wings will need to walk a fine line to not price themselves out of a similarly-hefty deal for Seider.
Other notes from around the league:
- Pagnotta also mentioned that Detroit and Berggren are expected to agree to a contract before the start of training camp, though the deal will hinge on the final price given to Raymond and/or Seider. Berggren led the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in scoring with 56 points in 53 games last season. It was Berggren’s first year back in the minors, after playing through his NHL rookie season in 2022-23 – ending with 15 goals and 28 points in 67 games. Detroit will have plenty of room to award hard-workers at training camp with NHL ice time to start the season – a group Berggren will hope to lead after signing a new deal.
- Detroit’s forward momentum with their RFAs hasn’t trickled up to Canada, with the Calgary Flames still far off from a deal with RFA forward Jakob Pelletier, per TSN’s Salim Nadim Valji. Valji adds that things could change quickly but are, for now, quiet. Pelletier has become a fan-favorite prospect, solidified by his routinely strong performances in the minor leagues. The 23-year-old has 111 points through 119 AHL games, but has struggled to translate that production to the top flight, with just 10 points in 37 career NHL games. Like Detroit, Calgary stands a chance to award young players with strong lineup roles. Pelletier seems a favorite to handle one of those spots, though he’ll first need to bridge the gap in quiet negotiations.
- Winnipeg is going through sluggish talks of their own with RFA winger Cole Perfetti, who has yet to hear back on a firm offer reports Pagnotta. Perfetti potted 19 goals and 38 points in 71 games last year – but looked capable of much more with a stronger role in the lineup. He’s 22, and carries an admirable 75 points and 140 games of NHL experience. Those numbers fall closely in line with Senators centerman Shane Pinto, who recently signed a two-year, $7MM extension after missing the bulk of the 2023-24 campaign. That deal stands as Perfetti’s strongest comparable, though it may be hard to bear for a Winnipeg team with just $5.776MM in remaining cap space.
Canadian Notes: Robertson, Perfetti, Demko
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson has emerged as a top name on the trade market headed into training camp, following reports that he’s still hoping to start the year on a new team. But Sportsnet’s Luke Fox shared he isn’t expecting the recent momentum to spark a trade before the Leafs kick off camp, citing Robertson’s lack of much negotiating power.
Robertson’s name has floated around trade rumors since last season’s Trade Deadline and peaked with a formal trade request at the start of free agency. But nothing has come together yet, placing Robertson in a mix of young, shoot-first wingers on the trade market, alongside the likes of Arthur Kaliyev (link) and Connor McMichael (link).
Robertson played in his first full NHL season this year, though it only resulted in 56 games and a third-line role. He showed flashes of strong play, ultimately scoring 14 goals and 27 points. That brings his career totals up to 34 points, split evenly, in 87 games – commendable production for a former second-round pick and in line with Kaliyev and McMichael. That lack of distinction might make Robertson a tougher sale so close to the season. That is if the Leafs even choose to fulfill his trade request – which seems growingly unlikely as the team’s brass continues sharing excitement over Robertson’s potential in a growing role.
More notes from around the league:
- The Winnipeg Jets are one of many teams still negotiating with top RFAs, needing to work out a deal for winger Cole Perfetti after he managed a stout 29 goals and 75 points in 140 NHL games on his entry-level contract. The Athletic’s Murat Ates took to projecting what Perfetti’s next deal could look like given his minimal experience in Winnipeg’s top-six. Ates drew a strong comparison to Ottawa’s negotiations with Shane Pinto, which ultimately ended in a two-year, $7.5MM bridge contract. Pinto also has 140 games of NHL experience and 70 total points, earned while planting his feet as Ottawa’s third-line center. That’s proven a more reliable role than Perfetti’s earned up to this point, though Ates reasoned that the two are comparable enough to earn Perfetti a similar bridge deal.
- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko has reportedly returned to the ice, shares CHEK Sports’ Rick Dhaliwal, who added that the starting goaltender could be healthy enough to participate in training camp. The Canucks were previously prepared for Demko to sit out of the team’s opening camp as he recovered from a groin injury taking longer than expected to heal. That’s certainly a timely update, with Vancouver recently sharing that Arturs Silovs – Demko’s presumed backup – is also bearing through a lower-body injury. The Canucks have been connected to free agent goaltenders like Kevin Lankinen but could be waiting out Demko’s early steps back before they make any signings official.
Blues In Rare Position To Promote Multiple Prospects
The St. Louis Blues are in a bit of a funk. They’ve missed each of the last two postseasons – only the fourth time in the team’s 57-year history that they’ve missed consecutive playoffs – but are still being elevated by the next-level talent of players like Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Jordan Binnington. That’s kept the team from falling completely into the NHL’s basement, but their core is still aging rapidly. It seems the clock is ticking in St. Louis – as the Blues find themselves in urgent need of a surge in young talent to keep the lineup from falling into a rebuild.
Unfortunately, promoting young players hasn’t been much of a hallmark of recent Blues hockey. Only two teenagers – Thomas and Robby Fabbri – have played meaningful minutes in St. Louis since 2010, and still, both players faced third-line roles and plenty of scrutiny over their ice time. But they each found ways to produce, scoring 33 and 37 points in their rookie seasons respectively, and both eventually working onto St. Louis’ top line. That was short-lived for Fabbri, but the duo’s success nonetheless showed the payoff of giving top prospects NHL minutes.
The Blues have more recently seen those same patterns with 21-year-old Jake Neighbours, who worked up to an impressive 27 goals and 38 points in 77 games this season. It was Neighbours’ first full year in the NHL – though he entered with 52 games of prior experience – and he walked out the tail end of it with a firm grasp on a second-line role. Joel Hofer, 24, made a similar climb to prominence this year, appearing in 30 games and matching the .913 of starter Binnington – having graduated from two proud seasons as the AHL starter.
It’s continued evidence of young players finding success in NHL minutes – spelling tons of excitement for a Blues team preparing to host Dalibor Dvorsky, Zachary Bolduc, and Zach Dean at training camp. The latter two each received their NHL debuts last Spring, with Bolduc even formalizing his rookie season with 25 games played. But Bolduc managed just nine points, while Dean went scoreless in nine games. Their quiet scoring prevailed in the minors leagues as well, but both Bolduc and Dean took big strides in improving their ability to match pro pace. Meanwhile, Dvorsky was tearing up the OHL, recording 45 goals and 88 points in just 52 games. He looked like a pro among amateurs, likely thanks to the 38 games he played in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan in 2022-23.
All three forwards are capable of a jump to the top flight, with the sturdy frames of Bolduc and Dvorsky looking especially mature. That’s great news, as St. Louis sits with, perhaps, their most uncertain bottom-six since the early-2000s. It’s a hodge-podge group, where Alexey Toropchenko stands as the only confident inclusion. Joining him will be a mix of quiet Blues veterans – like Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker, and Kasperi Kapanen – and new acquisitions – like Radek Faksa, Mathieu Joseph, and Alexandre Texier. That’s plenty of manpower to round out a bottom-six, but none of those options would stand as particularly daunting against a young prospect who impresses out of camp.
Making things more exciting is St. Louis’ win of the sweepstakes for Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. They shelled out $6.87MM in offer sheets to bring in the duo, but now add two more exciting young players into their mix of potential breakout names. Holloway is the more experienced of the two, having played in 89 games across the last two seasons. He’s only scored 18 points, split evenly, in those appearances, but looked to have a bit more momentum when he put up nine points in 25 games during the most recent postseason. Holloway has shown he’s capable of being productive with a pro role, scoring 26 points in 30 career AHL games, and should get a chance to quickly earn a prominent role on St. Louis’ lineup. Broberg’s story is largely the same – low-scoring through roughly a season’s worth of NHL appearances (13 points in 81 games) but encouraging minor-league production (65 points in 87 games) and a chance to quickly earn a major role.
That gives St. Louis the rare mix of multiple U23 prospects vying for NHL ice time, and the lineup spots to truly accommodate multiple rookies. It’s been six seasons since the Blues iced carried multiple U23 players on their everyday roster (2017-18, Robert Thomas and Vince Dunn) – but the stars are aligning, making now a better time than ever for St. Louis to fully embrace their burgeoning top prospects. If and how the quintet of Dvorsky, Bolduc, Dean, Holloway, and Broberg are able to earn out NHL roles will stand as the most prophetic question as the Blues look to finally return to the postseason.
Top NHL Draft Prospects To Again Headline College Hockey
For the third time in four years, college hockey produced three first-round picks in the 2024 NHL Draft. That’s incredibly impressive for a league that usually only boasts a handful of draft-year prospects. The trio continued what’s the growing trend of draft-year prospects opting for the hard-nosed college setting, picking things up from top 2023 prospects Adam Fantilli, Matthew Wood, and Charlie Stramel. And while Celebrini’s performance as the youngest Hobey Baker Award winner in history will be hard to follow up, there are still plenty of top names in the 2025 draft class ready to continue proving U18 players can thrive at the collegiate level. Five college athletes are entering their first year of draft eligibility this season. With puck drop just over one month away, let’s break down each of them.
James Hagens, C, Boston College (from USA, NTDP)
All of the focus entering the season will be on James Hagens, the early favorite to go #1 in the 2025 Draft after a dazzling season with last year’s U18 NTDP. Hagens was the confident and consistent star-power behind players like Cole Eiserman and Teddy Stiga – offering the stout two-way play, nifty puck skills, and hard play-driving needed to elevate both players into record-breaking scorers. Hagens recorded 102 points in 58 games for his efforts and proved his worth against peers at the World U18 Championship, where he managed an incomprehensible 22 points in just seven games. He broke Nikita Kucherov‘s scoring record at that tournament, and is now headed to a picture-perfect role at Boston College. The Eagles just lost their premier top-line center Will Smith to the NHL, but maintained his long-time wingers Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. Both wings are star NHL prospects in their own right, respectively offering the hard-nosed forechecking and heavy shooting needed to elevate a high-skill and fast-paced centerman. It’s hard to imagine a better setting for Hagens as he looks to compete with star Canadians like Porter Martone and Matthew Schaefer for first overall.
Logan Hensler, LD, University of Wisconsin (from USA, NTDP)
While Hagens offered the all-around stardom to lift up his more one-dimensional linemates on offense, Logan Hensler was providing the same value on defense – supporting both the all-out-offense of Cole Hutson and the reserved-defense of EJ Emery. He handled upwards of 20 minutes a night at points through the year, excelling thanks to a natual ability to dominate control of the neutral zone. He’s strong on the puck even at top speeds, and keeps his head up for passing options through transition. He keeps an active stick and drives opponents into the boards well off of the puck, helping Hensler put up 31 points and strong defensive outings through 61 games. Now, after two seasons of tough competition for ice time, Hensler is bound for a Wisconsin blue-line that’s wide open. He faced top-line competition through parts of the last two seasons – and could now be the unrivaled top Badgers defender, commanding a D-corps with plenty of new faces. Hensler’s well-rounded toolkit should be enough to take that assignment in stride, but will it be enough to earn the spot of top defender in the 2025 class?
Sascha Boumedienne, LD, Boston Univeristy (from Youngstown, USHL)
Rivaling Hensler for the spot of top defender will be Sascha Boumedienne, the son of Josef Boumedienne, a near-300-game veteran of the AHL and long-time (and recently departed) scouting director for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sascha carries Swedish nationality, and has represented the country internationally in each of the last three years, but this season will mark his first time playing a full season outside of Ohio. But he’s nevertheless grown to prominence, largely thanks to his 6-foot-2, 183-pound frame. Boumedienne knows how to use that size to full effect, showing little fear in engaging physically and a strong understanding for how to use his body to protect the puck. That’s great news, because Boumedienne is on the puck more often than not – boasting impressive puckhandling and explosivity for a defender his size. He’s a hard-passing, hard-shooting, and hard-hitting prospect, who should get a chance to hone each of those traits behind a retooled Boston University. The Terriers are adding a number of strong defenders this season, including Cole Hutson, but Boumedienne’s high-energy, in-your-face style could make him the favorite for top-pair minutes early on. He’s considered the favorite of the many top 2025 defenders playing in America next year – though that title will hinge on Boumedienne’s ability to earn ice time on a talented blue-line.
Cullen Potter, LW, Arizona State University (from USA, NTDP)
The list of NTDP players headed to college isn’t done yet – but Cullen Potter adds an interesting spin, having bought his way out of the NTDP a year early to pursue what should be a starring role at Arizona State University. Potter was the scoring leader on last year’s U17 NTDP squad, showing impeccable individual skill to the tune of 46 points in 54 games – continuing the all-out-offense he showed in youth hockey. But that was just two years ago, and while Potter has shown plenty of scoring upside, he’s also struggled to play through really physical games. Thankfully, Cullen is the son of true USA Hockey legend Jenny Potter – a former Olympic gold medalist (among many, many other accolades) who excelled at playing through contact and using a smaller frame to her advantage. Cullen carries many of the on-puck traits of his mother, and will now look to discover her ability to play against stronger competition. He’ll certainly face plenty of it as ASU prepares for their first year in the NCHC.
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LD, University of Michigan (from USA, NTDP)
Continuing the list of hockey families is Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, the son of Manon Rheaume – the only woman to suit up for an NHL team and a goalie consultant for the Los Angeles Kings. Dakoda didn’t follow in the goaltending path, but he has shown a clear respect for protecting his netminder and starting play from his own end. Rheaume-Mullen is aggressive and hard-nosed, seeking out the puck even if it means driving through opponents. He’s stronger than his frame suggests, and uses that to force his way into action every single shift. He did struggle to find space on the offensive side of the red line as the year went on, ultimately posting no goals and 18 points in 61 games, but his hard-nosed drive made Rheaume-Mullen hard to deny. Michigan is bringing in a cohort of new defenders this season, putting Rheaume-Mullen into competition with players like Tyler Duke, Will Felicio, Hunter Hady, and Tim Lovell. But if he can carve out a spot among that group, he’s almost assured to built NHL Draft stock, behind a Wolverines team with their sights on another run to the Frozen Four.
Shane Vansaghi, RW/C, Michigan State University (from USA NTDP)
The final NTDP alum headed to college is power-forward Shane Vansaghi, who didn’t achieve much scoring with the National Team but won the hearts of many USA Hockey staff with the energy and heft he brought to every single shift. Vansaghi is flat-out strong, and looked undermatched against USHL competition that struggled to take him down. But much of his ice time was typically spent filling roles, whether it be using his strong strides to be the first-man-in on the forecheck, or strong board-play to help rotate the puck around to flashier linemates. That lack of independence capped Vansaghi at 41 points in 113 games with the NTDP, though he started to show more individual effort near the tail end of the year. He’ll look to continue that momentum into his freshman season, where he’ll play under the diligent watch of former NTDP head coach Adam Nightingale, who’s built a track record of bringing the most out of his high-potential prospects. That fact alone makes Vansaghi one of this year’s top draft sleepers.
Summer Synopsis: Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings missed the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the thinnest of margins after tying with the Washington Capitals in points, but falling five games shy of Washington’s regulation wins. It was splitting hairs, and while Washington went on to be unceremoniously swept by the New York Rangers, it was nonetheless encouraging to see Detroit mixed up with playoff hopefuls. The Red Wings are currently riding an eight-year playoff drought – set on trusting that the long-term outlook of general manager Steve Yzerman (creatively dubbed the ‘Yzerplan’) will return them to their previous glory. But one summer of high-turnover removed from their first 90-point season in nine years, Detroit still doesn’t jump off the page as a playoff favorite.
Draft
1-15: F Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Mora IK, Sweden
2-47: F Max Plante, USA U18, NTDP
3-80: F Ondrej Becher, Prince George, WHL
4-126: G Landon Miller, Soo, OHL
5-144: D John Whipple, USA U18, NTDP
6-176: X Charlie Forslund, Falu IF, Sweden
7-203: F Austin Baker, USA U18, NTDP
7-208: X Fisher Scott, Dubuque, USHL
Yzerman kicked off the summer in typical Red Wings style: opting to take an under-discussed European with their first-round pick. This year’s selection of Brandsegg-Nygård is a bit less egregious than most, largely thanks to his already-established role in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier pro league. Brandsegg-Nygård managed 18 points across 41 games with Mora IK this season, while also supporting Norway internationally at the World Juniors and World Championship. He scored five points in both tournaments, playing five games in the former and seven in the latter. All the while, Brandsegg-Nygård looked as reliable as they come with his two-way play, excelling at forcing turnovers and playing through contact. His upside isn’t as high as those drafted around him, but Brandsegg-Nygård seems to have all of the fixings of an eventual lock in the NHL lineup.
Detroit will have to hope that’s the case, if for no other reason than to elevate a draft class that’s otherwise a bit lackluster. The Red Wings made a pair of interesting picks in the second and third rounds, first taking the undersized but highly intelligent Max Plante, balanced out by hefty role specialist Ondrej Becher. The pair matches up nicely – both showing the ability to support their teammates from anywhere in the offensive end, but also lacking a layer of explosivity or assured decision-making.
That missing piece will make Plante and Becher’s climb to the pros tough, but they’re still both more projectable than Detroit’s string of late-round picks defined by players with clear standout traits and glaring pitfalls. Charlie Forslund and Austin Baker are perhaps the most interesting – bot high-energy power-forwards unafraid of playing into the dirty areas of the ice. Where Baker earns his role with gritty play behind the net and in the corners, Forslund has found good use of his heavy shot. But the latter is also extremely unproven, getting drafted directly out of Sweden’s U18 league.
Joining the pair of power-forwards are high-upside picks Landon Miller – an athletic goaltender with a six-foot-five frame, but poor track record; Fisher Scott – a diligent defenseman on his own side of the red line; and John Whipple – once a top defense prospect in his age group who’s sacrificed offensive upside for added physicality. All three players have pieces to add after last season, but should find more upside as they settle into stronger roles next season.
UFA Signings
F Jakub Rychlovsky (two-year, $1.9MM)*
F Patrick Kane (extended one-year, $4MM)
F Christian Fischer (one-year, $1.1MM)
F Vladimir Tarasenko (two-years, $9.5MM)
F Tyler Motte (one-year, $800K)
F Joe Snively (one-year, $775K)*
F Sheldon Dries (two-years, $1.6MM)*
D Erik Gustafsson (two-years, $4MM)
D Tory Dello (one-year, $775K)*
G Cam Talbot (two-years, $5MM)
G Jack Campbell (one-year, $775K)*
* denotes two-way contract
The Red Wings were facing looming turnover this summer and chose to embrace it with open arms, finding multiple long-term NHL veterans to fill the holes
in their lineup. That started with re-signing Patrick Kane to a true, one-year contract – after he joined the team midway through last season. Kane managed an impressive 47 points in 50 games, but continued to let up opportunity off of the puck. Those concerns could be mitigated by Vladimir Tarasenko, likely Kane’s new wing pairing. Tarasenko recorded 55 points in 77 games last season, split between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers, and seemed to be on an upswing in a career plagued by fluctuating defensive performances.
Tarasenko and Kane each bring 100 games worth of playoff experience and Stanley Cup precedent – invaluable experience for a Red Wings team needing a push. But they’ll likely be the only ones to impact the top ranks of Detroit’s lineup. Their free agent signings otherwise fill the menial and gritty roles down the depth chart, with Christian Fischer and Tyler Motte bound for a fourth-line battle, while Erik Gustafsson carries his depth offense to yet another new blue-line.
But then there’s Cam Talbot, who joins a goalie room that was seemingly already filled by Ville Husso and Alex Lyon. Talbot started for the Los Angeles Kings last season, posting a commendable .913 through 54 appearances. That was better than either Husso or Lyon managed in Detroit, and Talbot now carries the added distinction of being the only Red Wings signed through the 2025-26 season. But it seems premature to assume he’ll be the first choice for the starting role in a room with $4.75MM-man Husso, and emerging minor-league veteran Lyon. The trio will be entrenched in a deep position battle when training camp opens up – one that may not have much impact on Detroit’s long-term outlook.
It’s also worth taking a moment to point out the signing of undrafted free agent Jakub Rychlovsky – a 23-year-old winger who scored 26 goals and 46 points in 51 Czechia Extraliga games last season. He’s a well-built, shoot-first winger who could claw his way into strong opportunity on an open Red Wings’ bottom-six.
Trade Acquisitions
G Gage Alexander (acquired from Anaheim)
Detroit acquired Gage Alexander in return for Robby Fabbri and a fourth-round pick in their only trade action of the summer. It was a deal that seemed more designed to trim lineup fat than anything else, undercut by Alexander’s struggles as a pro. He’s managed an .884 save percentage through 22 ECHL games, and a .887 in 16 AHL games, over the last two seasons, losing ground to a the many other goalies fighting for ice time in Anaheim’s minor leagues. Alexander is a sharp and athletic skater but has major holes to patch before he’s ready for the top flight. He’ll look to hone those abilities and earn a spot on the Grand Rapids Griffins this season.
RFA Re-Signings
F Joe Veleno (two-years, $4.6MM)
Begrudginly, the Red Wings’ only RFA action has come through Joe Veleno’s bridge contract. The deal itself is good value. Veleno showed he can hold strong Detroit’s third-line center role last season, managing a stout 12 goals and 28 points in 80 games. He’ll now get a chance to really plant his feet in the lineup and earn a pay raise before his prime.
But Detroit is still working on new deals for franchise pieces Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. Unlike the ongoing negotiations of Jeremy Swayman or Seth Jarvis (the latter recently resolved), there’s been little update on where Detroit sits with their two lineup pillars. The Red Wings have just enough cap space to give both players as much as $8.75MM a year on new deals – which should be enough to secure both long-term – but may opt for bridge contracts amid a growing salary cap. The duo joins Jonatan Berggren, who scored 56 points in 53 AHL games last season, as Detroit’s only remaining RFAs.
Departures
F Theodor Niederbach (unsigned draft pick, unrestricted free agent)
F Daniel Sprong (Vancouver, one-year, $975K)
F David Perron (Ottawa, two-years, $8MM)
F Matt Luff(unrestricted free agent)
F Taro Hirose (unrestricted free agent)
F Zach-Aston Reese (Vegas, one-year, $775K)*
F Robby Fabbri (traded to Anaheim)
D Jake Walman (traded to San Jose)
D Tnias Mathurin (unsigned draft pick, unrestricted free agent)
D Radim Simek (unrestricted free agent)
D Shayne Gostisbehere (Carolina, three-years, $9.6MM)
G John Lethemon (signed with Liberec, Czechia Extraliga)
G James Reimer (Buffalo, one-year, $1MM)
G Michael Hutchinson (unrestricted free agent)
* denotes two-way contract
Detroit’s heft of free agent signings was necessitated by a long list of departures, kicked off by the pre-draft and surprising trade of Jake Walman to San Jose. Yzerman revealed that the move was a needed cap-dump, but that doesn’t make losing the prolific partner of star defender Seider any easier. Walman scored 12 goals last season, the most of any Red Wings defender since Mike Green in 2016-17. Third on the list is Gostisbehere’s 10 goals last season. But now both defenders are headed for new opportunities, to be replaced by Gustafsson and Detroit’s top defense prospects, like Simon Edvinsson. That’s encouraging turnover for a team amid a rebuild, but the Red Wings are suddenly in the mix of playoff hopes – and could be prone to losing a step with such a shift on the back end.
The loss of pivotal middle-six wingers Perron and Sprong also opens glaring holes, though Detroit did better at matching the missing shooting talent with the signing of Tarasenko. He should make up for one of the veterans, leaving one open spot for a scoring winger on Detroit’s third line. That could prove a good opportunity for prospects like Berggren or Brandsegg-Nygård, though it’ll be a role ultimately filled in training camp.
Interestingly, Detroit also let numerous draft picks walk to free agency this summer – but replaced them with signings of undrafted free agents like Rychlovsky, Snively, and Dries. There will be plenty of openings in Grand Rapids this season, giving the new faces a chance to form into the sub-in support Detroit’s offense needs.
Salary Cap Outlook
The Red Wings enter September with $17.65MM in cap space, per PuckPedia. Their RFAs will zap that up quickly once they’re signed, which could make it difficult for the Wings to maintain enough cap space to be comfortable during the regular season. Detroit isn’t out of the weeds of cap troubles just yet. The extent of their troubles will become clear when Raymond and Seider land on a price.
Key Questions
Is Cam Talbot The Starter? Cam Talbot has taken on the role of traveling nurse in his later career, bouncing around goalie-needy teams and always finding
strong results. He’s posted a .911 save percentage in 198 games over the last five seasons, as part of four different clubs. It’s not much of a secret that the tandem of Ville Husso and Alex Lyon wasn’t going to get Detroit to the playoffs, but to see them bid for Talbot’s traveling support is a certain surprise. That’s emphasized by the red-hot emergence of Sebastian Cossa in the minor-leagues. One of the two star goalie prospects in Detroit’s system, Cossa managed a .913 save percentage in 40 AHL games last year – and could challenge the NHL roster sooner rather than later. That’s a lot of competition for one spot, and all four options carry their own right to ice time. Who wins out the Red Wings’ crease – and the extent of role give to Ville Husso and his $4.75MM cap hit – could go a long way towards determining whether this season will be the year that Detroit breaks their playoff drought.
Which Prospects Will Emerge? The Red Wings are entering September down a winger and a defender, and aren’t in much of a position to buy any more free agents. That should spell a great opportunity for top prospects like Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Simon Edvinsson, and Shai Buium. All four are expected to attend Detroit’s training camp and each boast the talent to warrant NHL games, though there’s no guessing how comfortable they look once they’re in the lineup. If not with one of their prospects, Detroit will need to fill their fringe with the lackluster-but-consistent impacts of vets like Tyler Motte and Erik Gustafsson. The quartet of top prospects would be much, much more exciting options – but they’ll first need to win a spot out of camp.
Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.