AHL Notes: Marody, Fizer, Johnson, Newkirk, Scheel
AHL fixture Cooper Marody is returning to the Flyers organization after signing a two-year AHL contract with Lehigh Valley yesterday, per a team release. The 27-year-old became a UFA this summer after the two-year, two-way deal he signed with Philadelphia as a Group VI UFA in 2022 expired.
Marody was a sixth-round pick of the Flyers back in 2015 but never signed with them, instead landing with the Oilers as a free agent after a dominant senior season at Michigan in 2017-18. He spent four seasons in Edmonton as one of the AHL’s most dominant scoring threats, routinely putting up over a point per game, but appeared in only seven NHL games for them during that time. He reunited with Philly on the open market, but much like his time in Edmonton, he didn’t get an NHL shot and spent the entirety of his now-expired two-year deal in the minors.
Lehigh Valley hasn’t gotten the best version of Marody, but he’s still been a bonafide top-six AHL contributor. He led them in scoring last season with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 68 games. Marody has 271 points in 297 career AHL games dating back to his professional debut and will take part in his eighth minor-league season in 2024-25. He’ll play an important role in helping anchor the Flyers’ farm team as they look to graduate prospects from Lehigh Valley in the latter stages of their rebuild.
More updates from the AHL:
- The Blues’ primary affiliate was busy yesterday as the Springfield Thunderbirds announced a trio of signings. Forwards Tarun Fizer and Reece Newkirk, as well as goaltender Cam Johnson, will help fill out St. Louis’ organizational depth next season. Fizer does still carry a bit of upside at age 23, but the former Western Hockey League All-Star has struggled to keep a full-time role in the AHL since turning pro. The 5’11” winger had five points in 30 games for the Belleville Senators last season but looked quite comfortable at the ECHL level, posting 10 points in a 10-game stint for the Allen Americans. He’ll look to provide scoring depth for the T-Birds but may begin the season on assignment to the Blues’ new ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades. Newkirk, 23, was a fifth-round pick of the Islanders and 2019 but became a UFA this summer upon being non-tendered at the conclusion of his entry-level contract. He had three points in 16 games with AHL Bridgeport last season but, like Fizer, was an effective producer in limited ECHL minutes with 14 points in 16 games for the Worcester Railers. Johnson, 30, has backstopped ECHL Florida to three consecutive Kelly Cup championships and will head back there for another campaign. He’s been unreal in ECHL playoff action, posting a .928 SV% and 1.97 GAA with 11 shutouts and a 47-16 record in 63 games over the past three years.
- The Avalanche continued to replenish their goaltending depth with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles signing Adam Scheel to a one-year deal. Scheel, 25, was an undrafted free agent signing by the Stars out of North Dakota in 2021 but wasn’t given a qualifying offer when his entry-level contract expired in 2023. He spent last season in the starter’s crease for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, making a career-high 42 appearances with a 2.84 GAA and .907 SV%. He’ll compete for playing time with the Avs’ NHL-contracted depth goalies, Kevin Mandolese and Trent Miner.
Evgeny Kuznetsov Signs Four-Year Deal In Russia
As expected, veteran center Evgeny Kuznetsov is headed home to Russia. The 32-year-old has signed a four-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League, per the league.
The move was initially reported by Championat’s Arina Nuriakhmetova back on July 15 but was quickly refuted by Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev. Kuznetsov, who was entering the final season of his contract with the Hurricanes in 2024-25, landed on unconditional waivers two days later and had his contract terminated after clearing the following day.
Last week, Babaev told Russian media that Kuznetsov was still receiving interest from other NHL teams after the mutual termination with Carolina, potentially in a ploy to drum up interest in the KHL. Now, he lands what’s assumedly a rich multi-year commitment from one of Russia’s hockey powerhouses.
Kuznetsov was still a 70-point threat as recently as two years ago, but those days are clearly behind him. 2023-24 was the worst campaign of his career and saw his lengthy stint with the Capitals end. Washington dumped the last year and a half of his $7.8MM cap-hit contract on the Hurricanes at 50% retention in a deadline deal, leaving both teams on the hook for $3.9MM against the cap for 2024-25. That cap hit vanished for both clubs when Kuznetsov’s deal was terminated earlier this month, though.
In 63 games split between the Caps and Canes, Kuznetsov produced only eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points. Those 0.38 points per game were the worst of any NHL season for “Kuzy,” including his 17-game stint as a rookie in 2013-14. Before being traded to Carolina, Kuznetsov spent time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and was placed on waivers upon leaving, but no team claimed the full remainder of his contract.
Drafted 26th overall in 2010, Kuznetsov was once a top-six fixture in Washington and often alternated with Nicklas Backstrom as the team’s first-line center in his prime, routinely suiting up alongside countryman Alex Ovechkin. His career-best season in 2017-18 came at just the right time for the Caps, as after producing a career-high 83 points in the regular season, he led the playoffs in scoring with 32 points in 24 games to help Washington to its first and only Stanley Cup championship.
Today’s move keeps Kuznetsov with SKA through 2026, all but certainly marking the end of his NHL career. He finishes with 173 goals, 402 assists, 575 points and a +38 rating in 743 career games, 723 of which came in a Capitals sweater.
He’s the second notable former NHLer St. Petersburg brought home this summer, joining ex-Blackhawks defenseman Nikita Zaitsev.
Kaiden Guhle Signs Six-Year Extension With Canadiens
The Canadiens have signed top-four defenseman Kaiden Guhle to a six-year, $33.3MM contract extension, per a team release. Guhle will cost $5.55MM against the salary cap starting in 2025-26 and will remain under contract through the 2030-31 season. Renaud Lavoie of TVA has the full breakdown of the deal:
2025-26: $2MM base salary, $5MM signing bonus
2026-27: $5.25MM base salary
2027-28: $6.55MM base salary
2028-29: $5MM base salary
2029-30: $5MM base salary, modified no-trade clause (five-team no-trade list)
2030-31: $4.5MM base salary, modified no-trade clause (five-team no-trade list)
It’s a hefty second contract for the 22-year-old, who was entering the final season of his entry-level deal. He’s the second young Hab to ink a long-term extension this month, joining 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, who signed an eight-year, $60.8MM deal immediately upon becoming eligible to extend on July 1. This isn’t a max-term extension for Guhle, but it is long enough to walk him to unrestricted free agency upon expiry in 2031, when he’ll be 29.
The deal provides some cost certainty for both the Canadiens and Guhle, whom they selected 16th overall in 2020. After a pair of post-draft seasons in juniors, Guhle jumped to the NHL in 2022, bypassing an assignment to AHL Laval. Leg and ankle injuries cost him nearly all of the back half of his rookie season, limiting him to 44 games overall in 2022-23.
But the Edmonton native showed he was on track to shoulder top-four minutes. He averaged 20:31 per game, providing decent offensive contributions with four goals, 14 assists and 18 points (0.41 PPG) despite not seeing significant power play time. Things were a bit of a struggle defensively as Guhle posted a -19 rating, 43.6 CF% and 40.2 xGF%, but that was to be expected for a rookie blue liner thrust into difficult usage on a rebuilding team. He did see usage on the Habs’ second penalty kill unit, primarily with Mike Matheson, averaging 2:07 per game shorthanded.
Last season, Guhle’s point totals took a step back, but his all-around game avoided a sophomore slump. His average time on ice increased by 20 seconds, and perhaps most importantly, he avoided any major injuries, playing in 70 of Montreal’s 82 games. He finished third among Canadiens defensemen in scoring with 22 points (six goals, 16 assists). He finished second on the team in blocks with 178, trailing only Matheson, his usual defense partner at even strength. That’s notable for the lefty, who’s been able to look comfortable on his off side in top-pairing duties with Matheson. Guhle’s possession metrics improved in 2023-24 across the board as well, despite seeing an uptick in defensive zone starts.
For the Canadiens, it’s a sizeable long-term investment in a player who projects to be a strong anchor piece of their top four on defense for years to come. He doesn’t have upside as a true No. 1 at this stage, but he isn’t being paid like one on this extension. $5.55MM is a comparable cap hit to what players like Brett Pesce and Matt Roy earned on the open market this summer, both good comparables for Guhle’s ceiling.
Considering his prime will come near the tail end of this deal when it costs a lower percentage of the salary cap, it seems like a smart choice early on. Becoming a UFA at 29 also permits Guhle to land a second big payday, either on a max-term extension or elsewhere on the open market.
Guhle will cost just $863K against the cap this season in the final year of his ELC.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Flames Re-Sign Dustin Wolf To Two-Year Deal
The parade of unsigned RFAs inking deals today continues. Joining the list is Flames top goaltending prospect Dustin Wolf, who PuckPedia reports has signed a two-year, $1.7MM deal. It’s a two-way pact in 2024-25 ($850K NHL/$275K AHL) before transitioning to a one-way structure in 2025-26 ($850K). He has a $375K salary guarantee this season. The team made Wolf’s deal official shortly after the initial report.
It looks to be a short-term bargain pact for one of the best young goalies in the world. Wolf, 23, was a seventh-round pick back in 2019 but has been dominant in the juniors and minors since. The California native won the Western Hockey League’s top goaltender award in his final two seasons with the Everett Silvertips and followed that up by winning the AHL’s top goalie award in each of his first two professional seasons. Over the last four seasons, Wolf has a 2.29 GAA, .926 SV%, 11 shutouts and a 97-32-10 record in 141 games with the Calgary Wranglers and Stockton Heat.
Things haven’t been quite as smooth at the NHL level for Wolf, though. The 6’0″ netminder has gotten spotty action the past two years but was relied upon more heavily as a third-string option last season, starting 15 games and making two relief appearances. He was below average in that run, posting a .893 SV% with a 3.16 GAA and a 7-7-1 record. Putting such a young goalie behind a non-playoff team is always a tough ask, though.
But with Jacob Markstrom traded to the Devils and no other notable moves in the Calgary crease, Wolf projects to start next season on the NHL roster, working in tandem with Daniel Vladar. It would be surprising to see the Flames take advantage of the two-way structure of his deal this fall, although it is worth noting he’s still waiver-exempt. That changes in 2025-26. Behind Wolf and Vladar, the Flames’ third-string option is 27-year-old Devin Cooley, who had a .870 SV% in six games for the Sharks to end last season. It was his first time seeing NHL action.
Wolf will be 25 years old upon expiry in 2026 and will still be an RFA. He’ll be eligible for salary arbitration at that time.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Rangers, Ryan Lindgren Avoid Arbitration
4:25 PM: The Rangers have confirmed the signing according to a public announcement.
12:52 PM: The Rangers and defenseman Ryan Lindgren have reached an agreement prior to their arbitration hearing, which was scheduled for Aug. 2. It’s a one-year deal worth $4.5MM, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Lindgren, 26, will return to the Blueshirts for his seventh NHL season. In his time in New York thus far, the Minnesota-born blue liner has blossomed as a stay-at-home partner for Adam Fox on the team’s top pair. Lindgren’s averaged 19:34 per game since 2020-21, and his offense has remained consistent, providing between 15 and 20 points per campaign. However, he’s coming off a difficult season, one that likely impacted how long negotiations stretched out.
At first glance, last season seemed par for the course for Lindgren, who had 17 points and a +22 rating in 76 appearances while averaging 19:21 per night. But advanced metrics painted a much different story, as his relative CF% and xGF% dipped into the negatives for the first time since his rookie season. The Rangers were out-attempted 1,258-1,153 with Lindgren on the ice at even strength, and his pairing with Fox only controlled 46.5% of expected goals, per MoneyPuck. That figure is way down from 54.6% in 2022-23.
The younger brother of Capitals netminder Charlie Lindgren will try and redeem himself in a 2024-25 campaign that will be the most important of his career. That’s because a one-year pact walks him directly to unrestricted free agency next summer.
After signing Lindgren, the Rangers’ projected opening-night roster is at a full 23-player count with $623K in projected cap space, per PuckPedia. That prorates to about $2.8MM in space come trade deadline day. He’ll be given a chance to reprise his first-pairing role alongside Fox, hopefully with better possession play at even strength.
Last season, Lindgren finished seventh on the Rangers in hits (114) and fifth in blocks (103). Drafted by the Bruins in the second round in 2016, Lindgren was acquired in a 2018 deal that sent Rick Nash to Boston.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Canadiens Re-Sign Justin Barron To Two-Year Deal
The Canadiens have re-signed defenseman Justin Barron, according to a team release, which states that the Canadian righty will receive a two-year, $2.3MM contract. He’ll cost $1.15MM against the cap through 2025-26.
After a trio of seasons with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, the Avalanche selected Barron 25th overall in 2020. He spent his post-draft season back with Halifax before inking his entry-level contract with Colorado in April 2021, finishing out the season with their AHL affiliate. He made his NHL debut for the Avs the following season but played just two games before he was sent to Montreal in a deal for winger Artturi Lehkonen.
The 22-year-old has steadily climbed up the Montreal depth chart since. He’s spent the slight majority of the last two seasons on the Canadiens roster but has still seen significant time with their AHL affiliate in Laval. That’s where he played the back half of last season, playing almost exclusively in the minors after being sent down in mid-January. He was, however, recalled for a seven-game stretch in April to finish the regular season in Montreal.
In 94 games with the Avs and Habs the past few years, the Halifax native has 12 goals, 18 assists and 30 points with a -8 rating while averaging 18:33 per night. He’s already held his own offensively while playing fringe top-four minutes and likely still has second-pairing upside long-term. Barron has solid possession numbers and has consistently had better shot attempt shares than the Habs’ team average.
All signs point to him being ready to graduate to full-time NHL usage next season, but he enters a tight competition for spots with other youngsters like Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj, who signed a slightly richer two-year deal earlier today. Notably, Barron’s $1.15MM cap hit is the maximum that can be stashed in the minors without incurring a penalty. However, sending him to Laval would require exposing him to waivers, and he’d likely get claimed.
Barron was Montreal’s last remaining unsigned RFA. He’ll be eligible for arbitration when his new deal expires.
Eric Staal Announces Retirement
It’s been all quiet on the Western Front for Eric Staal for over a year now. The free-agent center reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Panthers in 2023 but didn’t sign or play anywhere last season.
On Tuesday, Staal confirmed he’d played his last NHL game, signing a one-day contract with Carolina to retire as a Hurricane. The Canes will also retire Staal’s No. 12 at a yet-to-be-announced game this season.
“I want to thank my family, former teammates, coaches and staff members who played a role in helping me live my dream, playing in the NHL,” Staal said in a statement released by the team. “I will forever treasure the memories and friendships made during my 18 years in the world’s best league.”
“There was no doubt in my mind that when it became time to hang up my skates, I would want to retire as a Carolina Hurricane,” he continued. “To now also know that the team is retiring my No. 12 is truly humbling and I am extremely grateful and honored.”
Staal, 39, is often overlooked as one of the NHL’s early salary-cap-era stars. But the Thunder Bay, Ontario native was always expected to make an indelible impact on the Canes after being drafted second overall in the famously stacked 2003 draft. While he hasn’t played there in over eight years – his tenure ended with a trade to the Rangers in 2016 – he’s still arguably the most impactful talent in Carolina history since the franchise relocated from Hartford in 1997.
His best came early, erupting as a sophomore in the 2005-06 season to lead the Canes in scoring with 45 goals and 100 points, both career-highs. 21 at the time, Staal was the centerpiece of the Canes’ best season in franchise history to that point, crossing the 50-win and 100-point thresholds for the first time. It ended in glory, adding nine goals and 28 points in 25 playoff games as he led the team in scoring en route to their first and only Stanley Cup.
Over parts of 12 seasons in Raleigh, Staal solidified himself as the Canes’ post-relocation leader in games played (909), goals (322), assists (453), points (775), power-play goals (105), power-play points (252) and hat tricks (13) – hat tip to the team’s Walt Ruff for those stats. He averaged over 20 minutes per game in a Carolina uniform and served as their captain from 2009 to 2016, succeeding franchise pillar Rod Brind’Amour.
Age-related decline came for Staal early, though, and his point totals were steadily decreasing by the time he was traded to the Rangers at age 31. His stay with the Blueshirts didn’t extend past the last few months of the season, and he landed in the State of Hockey with the Wild as a free agent in the summer of 2016. He had a bit of a resurgence in Minnesota, most remembered for a 42-goal, 76-point campaign in 2017-18 that placed him 17th in Hart Trophy voting. But his days of being a dominant top-line threat were behind him.
He played the final few seasons of his career with the Sabres, Canadiens and Panthers, serving as a good veteran depth piece on Montreal and Florida teams that each reached the championship series (2021 and 2023, respectively). But he couldn’t recapture the honor he had nearly two decades ago and was on the losing end of both series.
All in all, Staal wraps up his career with 455 goals, 608 assists and 1,063 points in 1,365 NHL games across 18 seasons. The eldest of the four Staal brothers with NHL experience, including Jared Staal, Jordan Staal and Marc Staal, retires at 76th on the league’s all-time scoring list. All of us at PHR congratulate Staal on a championship-caliber career and wish him the best as he enters the next phase of his hockey career.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Central Notes: Faber, Wood, Hemming, Buchinger
The Wild’s franchise-record extension for rising sophomore defenseman Brock Faber turned some heads yesterday, but general manager Bill Guerin believes the deal is “worth the risk,” he told Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscriber link).
Smith adds that Guerin has acknowledged the league-wide trend of banking on potential core pieces early in their careers, getting the cost certainty that comes with rich, long-term deals compared to bridging players through their prime and then overpaying for their twilight seasons.
“This is a different game now, a different generation, a different way of doing business,” Guerin said. “It’s really important you have to do a lot of work to make sure who you’re identifying as your foundation guys… I’d much rather have a guy Brock’s age on an eight-year deal than a 31-year-old guy. It makes sense. [Faber’s] shown he’s mature enough to handle it.”
More out of the Central Division:
- As the Predators’ No. 1 forward prospect, winger Matthew Wood is looking to be more efficient at filling out his 6’4″ frame, he tells Robby Stanley of NHL.com. “I feel a lot stronger on my feet. I think I’m starting to use my body a bit better and starting to learn about that. Strength is definitely something I’m working on, and that’s going to take my game to the next level,” Wood said. The 19-year-old is transferring from UConn, where he had 27 goals and 62 points in 70 games over the first two seasons of his collegiate career, to Minnesota for his junior season in 2024-25.
- The new-look Stars have been built on the back of expert player development, a pattern they’re hoping to repeat with 2024 first-round pick Emil Hemming. Dallas already has the Finnish winger signed to his entry-level contract, and he’ll be closer to the Stars this season by moving from his home country to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. It’s part of an attempt to strike gold yet again and work more directly with the 6’1″, 205-lb forward on developing his all-around game, writes Sean Shapiro of EP Rinkside on his personal blog (subscriber link).
- In an interview with Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (subscriber link), Blues defense prospect Michael Buchinger says he’s ready to make the jump to the pros this fall after wrapping up his junior career with the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm. “I just think making the first decision, not trying to overthink, not trying to make a fancy pass,” Buchinger said. “Obviously at the pro level, everyone’s in that right position. Just understanding the systems and where guys are going to be and making a really quick, smart decision. I think the rest will take care of itself.” The No. 88 pick in 2022 will have his entry-level contract go into effect this year, and he’s expected to start the campaign on assignment to AHL Springfield, where DeFranks notes he should have ample power-play opportunity thanks to roster turnover.
Devils Re-Sign Nico Daws To Two-Year Deal
The Devils have re-signed RFA goaltender Nico Daws to a two-year deal, according to a press release from the team. It’s a two-way pact in 2024-25 ($775K NHL/$350K AHL) before upgrading to a one-way structure in 2025-26, paying him $850K. That works out to an average annual value and a cap hit of $812.5K. Daws also has a salary guarantee of $465K this season, the team said.
Daws, 23, was selected with the 84th overall pick out of the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm in 2020. He signed his entry-level contract with the Devils one year later after playing one season of pro hockey with Germany’s ERC Ingolstadt. He was immediately thrust into action, making 23 starts and two relief appearances in the 2021-22 campaign. The Germany-born Canadian was one of seven netminders the struggling Devils used that season. He was arguably the best of all of them, leading them with 10 wins and posting a .893 SV%, the highest among NJ goalies with at least 15 GP that season.
After the Devils acquired Vitek Vanecek from the Capitals ahead of 2022-23, Daws could more comfortably return to a development role in the AHL. He responded with an All-Star season for the Utica Comets, posting a .904 SV% and 2.70 GAA in 33 contests with two shutouts and a 16-14-3 record. He added a .920 SV% in six playoff games before undergoing offseason hip surgery that delayed his debut last season until December.
Upon returning to health, Daws was again called upon to aid a New Jersey crease struggling with injuries and poor play from its veterans and other youngsters. He remained a passable NHL option, posting a .894 SV%, 3.15 GAA and -5.1 GSAA in 21 performances and a 9-11-0 record.
With other early-20s competitor Akira Schmid out of the picture after being traded to the Golden Knights a few weeks ago, Daws enters 2024-25 as the Devils’ undisputed No. 3 netminder. He remains waiver-exempt and will likely start the season in Utica with veterans Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom manning the NHL crease. Daws has 14 games remaining until he loses that waiver exemption and will require them beginning in 2025-26, regardless of what NHL action he sees this season, per CapWages’ waivers calculator.
Canadiens Re-Sign Arber Xhekaj To Two-Year Deal
RFA defenseman Arber Xhekaj has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Canadiens, the team announced in a press release. The deal is worth $2.6MM and will pay him an average of $1.3MM per season.
Xhekaj, whose younger brother Florian Xhekaj is also in the Habs’ system, has spent the last two seasons in Montreal. He’s posted 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) and a -3 rating while averaging 15:34 per game in 95 contests.
Undrafted, Xhekaj burst onto the scene directly out of junior hockey just one season after inking his entry-level contract with the Canadiens. After losing his 2020-21 season due to COVID-19, Xhekaj signed with Montreal in October 2021 and returned to the Ontario Hockey League for his final season of juniors, which the hard-hitting defender split between the Kitchener Rangers and Hamilton Bulldogs.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Xhekaj was drawing trade interest throughout last season, with the Flyers named specifically as a suitor. No move materialized, though, and Montreal projects to enter next season with the same group of promising young defenders. Their only noticeable departure on the blue line this summer was stay-at-home depth piece Johnathan Kovacevic, who they traded to the Devils for a 2026 fourth-round pick after last month’s draft.
The deal comes in around expected for the 23-year-old, who didn’t have enough professional experience accumulated to file for salary arbitration this summer. While the Ontario native is certainly becoming a fan favorite in Montreal, he’s been given only sparse opportunities on special teams and has logged decisively bottom-pairing minutes at even strength. The left-shot defender can also play comfortably on the right side, potentially giving him the edge in a battle for a spot in the opening night lineup with other developing prospects like Justin Barron, Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble.
After the signing is registered, the Habs will be left with just over $6.6MM in projected cap space with a roster size of 22, per PuckPedia. The last remaining roster spot could go to Barron, who’s still an RFA in need of a deal for next season.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.