Blackhawks Sign Nick Lardis To Entry-Level Deal
The Blackhawks signed left-wing prospect Nick Lardis to a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday, per a team announcement. The deal carries a cap hit of $897K.
Lardis, 18, was picked up by Chicago last summer, heading to them with the 67th overall pick in the 2023 draft. The Ontario-born winger has been a much-improved talent this season with OHL Brantford, notching 29 goals and 50 points in an injury-plagued campaign that limited him to 37 games.
The speedy sniper is a top-10 talent in a top-10 prospect pool. In The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler’s 2024 rankings, he was the ninth-ranked prospect in the organization. His skating is his biggest threat, both in terms of his straight-line speed and edgework, but he has quite a capable shot as well. He lacks over-the-top size at 5’11” and 165 lbs, somewhat limiting his appeal on draft day last year, but was a solid value selection at the time. Early returns look very promising. Since beginning his major junior career in 2021, he’s amassed 84 goals and 152 points in 169 games for Peterborough and Brantford/Hamilton.
Lardis will likely return to Brantford next season, as he still needs a bit more development time. Making Chicago’s roster out of camp appears unlikely, and he’s too young for assignment to AHL Rockford per the NHL/CHL transfer agreement. If he plays fewer than 10 NHL games next season, his ELC will defer to 2025-26. Given his age, he’s only eligible for a slide once, not twice. In that very likely event, he’d become an RFA upon expiry in 2028.
Kraken Sign Victor Ostman To Entry-Level Deal
The Kraken have signed goaltender Victor Östman to a two-year, entry-level contract, per a team announcement Wednesday. It’s the maximum allowable ELC with a cap hit of $950K.
Östman, 23, was one of the top goaltenders on the college free-agent market. Undrafted out of the Swedish junior circuit in 2019, Östman came over to North America for his age-19 season and suited up in major junior play for the USHL’s Chicago Steel behind a stacked roster that included multiple current NHLers, namely Sabres defenseman Owen Power, Flames winger Matthew Coronato, and Golden Knights forward Brendan Brisson. He jumped to the collegiate ranks during the COVID pandemic, locking down the starters’ net during a shortened season at the University of Maine and never looking back. He’s been their go-to option in the crease ever since, posting a .905 SV%, 2.82 GAA, five shutouts, and a 35-38-7 record in 86 appearances.
Curiously, while the team in front of Östman vastly improved this season, his senior campaign was the worst of his collegiate tenure. Maine made the NCAA tournament for the first time in 12 years on the backs of brothers Bradly Nadeau (a Hurricanes first-round pick) and Josh Nadeau, but Östman struggled to the tune of a .892 SV%, his first season under .900 at any level in five years. He essentially split starts this season with countryman and freshman Albin Boija, who vastly outperformed him with a .916 SV%, 2.01 GAA, and two shutouts in 18 appearances.
The Swedish big man (6’4″, 205 lbs) will begin next season under contract with Seattle but could finish out 2023-24 on an ATO with AHL Coachella Valley. Both Kraken-contracted netminders in minors, Chris Driedger and Ales Stezka, are pending UFAs, while 2022 second-round pick Niklas Kokko is under contract and could come to North America after an exceptional campaign in the Finnish Liiga split between Kärpät and Pelicans. Östman’s step back this season suggests full-time AHL work may be a bit too much to ask out of the gate, and he could begin the season on assignment to ECHL Kansas City if one of Driedger or Stezka is brought back and Kokko is brought over from Finland.
Östman will be an RFA when his ELC expires in 2026.
Central Notes: Dadonov, Hakanpaa, Niederreiter, Toffoli, Hayes
Injured Stars skaters Evgenii Dadonov and Jani Hakanpää haven’t yet returned to full team practices, but head coach Peter DeBoer is optimistic they’ll be options when the playoffs kick off on April 20, Brien Rea of Bally Sports Southwest reports. Both are sidelined with lower-body injuries, although only Dadonov is on long-term injured reserve. His role has been filled expertly by rookie Logan Stankoven, who’s mustered six goals and 12 points in 17 games since making his NHL debut in late February. The 35-year-old is only a season removed from being one of Dallas’ more important secondary scorers in last year’s run to the Western Conference Final, potting four goals and 10 points in 16 playoff games. However, he’s been limited to 23 points in 50 games this season after inking a two-year, $4.5MM extension to remain in Dallas over the summer. As such, there’s no guarantee he enters the playoff lineup ahead of Stankoven even if healthy, and the skill winger isn’t the best fit for a fourth-line role.
Hakanpää’s absence hasn’t been as lengthy, not suiting up since March 16 against the Kings. The 32-year-old Finn had been pushed down the depth chart anyway, thanks to the emergence of Thomas Harley in a top-pairing role and the acquisition of Chris Tanev from the Flames, taking him out of his usual second-pairing role alongside countryman Esa Lindell. When he returns to health, it’ll be in battle with Nils Lundkvist for bottom-pairing minutes alongside veteran anchor Ryan Suter. Still an incredibly competent shutdown blue-liner, Hakanpää has two goals and 12 points in 64 games this season, his third in the Lone Star State. His possession metrics remain below average but are still in an excusable range given his extreme defensive-zone usage at even strength, although his short-handed metrics have taken a tumble. He’s one of their most relied-upon penalty-killers when healthy, averaging 3:16 per game.
Other updates out of the Central:
- Jets winger Nino Niederreiter will be out at least one week after sustaining a laceration on the back of his leg from a skate cut against the Kings on Monday, head coach Rick Bowness said today (via John Lu of TSN). Bowness called the injury “a pretty bad gash” and said it would have been more severe had Niederreiter not been wearing Kevlar socks. Niederreiter’s return timeline will keep him out of the next three games, but he could re-enter the lineup in a key battle for playoff positioning against the Stars next Thursday. The 31-year-old has once again excelled as a remarkably consistent two-way middle-six winger, potting 18 goals and 33 points in 75 games this year in spite of slightly reduced minutes. He potted four points in five games in Winnipeg’s first-round loss to the Golden Knights last year and will be a secondary X-factor if Winnipeg wants to escape a likely showdown with the Avalanche in a few weeks. Niederreiter will be replaced in tomorrow’s lineup against the Flames by trade-deadline pickup Tyler Toffoli, Bowness confirmed. He’d missed Winnipeg’s tilt against Los Angeles with an illness. Toffoli has been a solid pickup for Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, scoring four goals and two assists for six points in 11 games. He’s now reached the 30-goal plateau in back-to-back seasons for the first time.
- Blues center Kevin Hayes has the flu and is questionable for a practically do-or-die game against the Predators tomorrow, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports. He’s expected to travel with the club as they embark on a three-game road trip, though, and could return soon after if he misses the Nashville contest. Their already slim postseason chances would drop to around 1% with a regulation loss and 2% with an overtime loss, per MoneyPuck. They’re three points back of the Kings for the final wild-card spot in the West with one more game played, although L.A. is on a three-game losing streak. Hayes has disappointed after coming over in an offseason trade from the Flyers, notching 13 goals and 29 points in 75 games in a bottom-six role. It’s the worst offensive output of his 10-year career by a significant margin. If he’s unable to suit up against the Preds, Nikita Alexandrov and Zachary Bolduc are both extras on hand and available to enter the lineup.
East Notes: Couturier, Rasmussen, Danforth, Kuraly
A difficult season for Flyers captain Sean Couturier continues. The 31-year-old sustained an undisclosed injury in Monday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders, and head coach John Tortorella is “not sure when he’ll be back,” he told reporters today (via Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia). He carries a day-to-day designation, though, and hasn’t specifically been ruled out of Friday’s contest against the Sabres. He’s without a point and has a -4 rating in six games since returning from back-to-back healthy scratches in mid-March, not the response he or Tortorella was looking for. Couturier’s recent struggles have been a significant reason why the Flyers’ playoff chances have dropped by about 25% in the past few weeks, as they now find themselves in a nearly neck-and-neck race with the Capitals and Red Wings for two playoff spots. He’s logged over 15 minutes in a game just twice since the beginning of March and has played mostly fourth-line minutes since his healthy scratches. The 2011 eighth-overall pick has at least managed to remain mostly healthy after missing most of the last two seasons due to back injuries, but his offensive impact has been greatly diminished with 11 goals and 36 points in 70 games, his worst point-per-game pace in nine years.
Elsewhere out East:
- Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen won’t play against the Rangers on Friday due to an undisclosed injury and has been awarded a day-to-day designation, head coach Derek Lalonde said today. The 2017 ninth-overall pick has a career-high 33 points and was one of four Red Wings to play all 75 games this season. He’s unlikely to reach the offensive ceiling expected of a top-10 pick, but the 24-year-old sits among one of Lalonde’s most trusted shutdown forwards and has averaged 15:11 per game, also a career-high, while shifting from center to wing for most of the campaign. 60.3% of his even-strength zone starts have come in the defensive end, leading all qualified Red Wings forwards and trailing only Moritz Seider among skaters. Robby Fabbri is expected to slide into a top-nine role with Rasmussen out, while Daniel Sprong returns to the lineup as the fourth-line right wing.
- Blue Jackets forward Justin Danforth is dealing with an illness and is questionable for tomorrow’s clash against the Islanders, head coach Pascal Vincent told Jeff Svoboda of the team’s official site. If he’s ruled out, they’ll need to make an emergency recall from AHL Cleveland, as they aren’t carrying any healthy extras on the roster. Saddled with short-term injuries, Columbus has cycled through a multitude of youngsters as of late that they’d certainly rather have playing important developmental minutes in the minors down the stretch. One player nearing a return is Sean Kuraly, who Vincent said practiced today and is close to returning but won’t be ready tomorrow. He carried a week-to-week designation after sustaining a lower-body injury against the Canadiens on March 12. Danforth has played only once since returning from a concussion that sidelined him for nearly a month, posting zeros across the board in 9:31 of ice time in a 4-1 win over the Avalanche on Monday.
Capitals Reassign Matthew Phillips
The Capitals have loaned right-winger Matthew Phillips to AHL Hershey, GM Brian MacLellan announced today. His roster spot goes to Tom Wilson, who is eligible to return tomorrow against the Penguins after serving a six-game suspension for high-sticking Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor.
Phillips, 25, has actually been recalled multiple times over the past two weeks, appearing on Washington’s roster on three separate emergency loans since Wilson’s suspension. He only entered the lineup in the first game of Wilson’s absence, skating just over four minutes in a 7-6 shootout win over the Hurricanes on March 22. Barring further injuries or suspensions, this transaction is likely Phillips’ last of the regular season.
It’s been a tumultuous campaign for the top minor-league producer, who landed his first one-way contract in free agency with the Caps last summer. However, he hasn’t spent the entire season in the Washington organization – he was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh when the Capitals attempted to assign him to the minors in mid-Februrary. After a three-game stint in the ‘Burgh, he landed on waivers again in early March, upon which Washington reclaimed him and sent him directly to Hershey.
Unfortunately for the 5’8″ winger, his strong recent history at the AHL level hasn’t translated to the majors. He’s been rendered ineffective in 31 NHL games with the Caps and Pens this season, limited to one goal and four assists with poor possession impacts. It’s quickly becoming clear the 2016 sixth-round pick is best suited for the minor-league level, where he has a goal and two assists in limited action (five games) with league-leading Hershey.
He should play a key role in Washington’s affiliate’s quest to win back-to-back Calder Cup championships. The Alberta native was electric over his previous two seasons in the Flames organization, scoring 67 goals and 144 points in 131 regular-season games for AHL Stockton/Calgary. Upon expiry of his one-year, $775K contract, he’s set to remain under team control this summer as an RFA.
The Caps managed a 3-2-1 record in their last six contests without Wilson, keeping pace in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. They hold the second wild-card spot ahead of Wednesday’s action with 82 points, one back of the Flyers, who occupy third place in the Metropolitan Division, although they’ve played two fewer games. Events are transpiring toward a three-team coin flip for the final two spots, with odds slowly evening out between Philadelphia (61.9%), Washington (54.8%) and Detroit (42.8%), per MoneyPuck. A crucial overtime win over the Flyers earlier this week has the Islanders back in the playoff conversation too, although they can likely only afford one loss in their seven remaining games with only a 22.7% chance at postseason play.
Injury Notes: Nichushkin, Rielly, Edmundson
Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin will join the team on their road trip and could return Friday against the Oilers, head coach Jared Bednar said today on Altitude Sports Radio (via Altitude’s Conor McGahey). The 29-year-old has carried a day-to-day designation since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Canadiens on March 26. Bednar said Nichushkin will meet the team in Minnesota ahead of tomorrow’s matchup against the Wild, which will mark his fourth straight absence.
It’s been a successful season in limited action for Nichushkin, who returned to the club in early March after spending nearly two months in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Back in his usual top-six role, Nichushkin had four goals and four assists for eight points in eight games since re-entering the lineup after the trade deadline, again averaging over 20 minutes per game. The two-way force has 26 goals and 50 points in 48 games on the season and is on pace to finish above the point-per-game mark for the first time in his nine-year career. His return will allow grinder Brandon Duhaime, who’s jumped up to a second-line role alongside Artturi Lehkonen and Casey Mittelstadt at times since being acquired from Minnesota nearly a month ago, to slot into a more comfortable fourth-line role for his offensive abilities.
Some other modifications to players’ injury statuses this morning:
- Line rushes indicate top Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly will return tonight against the Lightning after missing four games with an upper-body injury, David Alter of The Hockey News relays. The 30-year-old will return to a top-pairing role flanked by Ilya Lyubushkin, who have controlled 56% of expected goals in 92 minutes together since the latter was re-acquired from the Ducks on March 1, per MoneyPuck. Rielly is averaging 23:49 per game this season, the second-highest mark of his career, and has 51 points in 65 contests. He’s missed nine games on the whole this season, including a five-game suspension in February for cross-checking Senators forward Ridly Greig. 40-year-old Mark Giordano, who had one goal in three games since returning from a concussion, exits the lineup to accommodate Rielly.
- Sticking with the Leafs, defenseman Joel Edmundson participated in an optional skate today but has been ruled out of Toronto’s next two games with his undisclosed injury, head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters today (via Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun). The trade-deadline pickup from the Capitals hasn’t played in a week and a half, last suiting up on March 24 against the Hurricanes. Edmundson, 30, had yet to get on the scoresheet in seven games with the Leafs but had seen a sharp improvement in his possession quality control, recording a 50.5 xG% in more strenuous defensive minutes compared to a 47.5% mark with the Caps. The 6’5″ bruiser is now five years removed from his Stanley Cup win with the Blues and is looking to get back there by excelling in a shutdown role in Toronto. He remains with a day-to-day designation and could return when the Leafs take on former GM Kyle Dubas and the Penguins next Monday.
Panthers, Cooper Black Agree To Terms On Entry-Level Deal
The Panthers have agreed to terms with undrafted free agent goaltender Cooper Black on a two-year, entry-level contract beginning next season, GM Bill Zito announced Tuesday. His ELC boasts the maximum allowable base salary ($855K) and signing bonus ($95K), carrying a cap hit of $950K, per PuckPedia. He’ll earn a minor-league salary of $80K.
Black, 22, is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign with Dartmouth College. In 30 appearances, he recorded a .910 SV%, 2.58 GAA and two shutouts with a 13-8-8 record after winning only five games in 30 showings last season. He guided the Big Green to a fourth-place finish in conference play, sweeping their ECAC quarterfinal series against Union before losing 6-3 to the eventual champion Cornell in the semifinal. That earned him a nomination for the Ken Dryden ECAC Goaltender of the Year award, his second significant collegiate honor. He was named to the ECAC’s All-Rookie Team last season after playing in all 30 games as a freshman.
The Michigan native is listed as 6’8″ and 240 lbs, which would make him the tallest goalie in NHL history if he ever cracks the majors. Zito did not confirm if Black will finish this season on a tryout with AHL Charlotte, as is the norm for future contracts signed with time remaining in the season.
Black becomes the fifth goaltender under team control for 2024-25, joining Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight, as well as minor-league options Evan Cormier (pending RFA) and Mack Guzda (10.2(c)). Guzda has missed most of this season with injuries but could be in line for the starting role with Charlotte if the Panthers feel Knight is ready for full-time NHL action again next season. Knight, a 2019 first-round pick, is in the first season of a three-year, $13.5MM extension that still costs Florida $3.35MM against the cap when buried in the minors. He’s rebounded well in the minors after a slow start, posting a .905 SV% in 42 games on the year.
The Panthers likely won’t have Black occupy anything larger than an AHL backup role next season, although logging increased playing time as a starter for ECHL Florida is also an option. He’ll be an RFA in 2026 when his ELC expires.
Bruins Sign Jaxon Nelson To Entry-Level Deal
The Bruins have signed top college free agent center Jaxon Nelson to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2024-25 season, per a team announcement. He will finish this season on an ATO with AHL Providence.
Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal reported yesterday that Boston was in on Nelson. According to Jess Myers of The Rink Live, the Penguins and Red Wings were finalists for his services.
Nelson, 24, finished his five-year run at the University of Minnesota last weekend when Boston University bounced them in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament. As one of the team’s captains this season, Nelson broke out for a career-high 19 goals and 31 points in 39 games. Interest in him on the open market spiked over the last few weeks, as he closed out the season with a ridiculous 11 goals and two assists for 13 points in his final eight games. In 169 games with the Golden Gophers, the Minnesota native scored 42 goals and 47 assists for 89 points, with 69 PIMs and a +22 rating.
A bulky, physical center, Nelson is among the most NHL-ready players available on this year’s undrafted free-agent market. He’s a polished product after five years in school, and he has ideal size down the middle at 6’4″ and 220 lbs. Bruins GM Don Sweeney cited Nelson’s “leadership qualities as captain of a very successful collegiate program” as one of the more significant reasons they pursued him.
The Bruins will hope he can challenge for a roster spot next fall. They’ll have some turnover in their bottom six, with Danton Heinen, Pat Maroon, and James van Riemsdyk headed for unrestricted free agency. Nelson cracking the squad at his $870K cap hit would provide a cost-effective plug and allow Sweeney to pursue more impactful targets on the open market. He’ll be waivers exempt until he reaches 60 career NHL games or spends two seasons under contract. Upon the end of his deal in the summer of 2025, he’ll be an RFA.
Wild’s Liam Ohgren To Finish Season In AHL
Top Wild forward prospect Liam Öhgren has arrived in North America and will be assigned to finish the season with AHL Iowa in the coming days, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Öhgren, 20, was the 19th overall selection in the 2022 draft and is a consensus top-three prospect in the Minnesota system alongside netminder Jesper Wallstedt and Russian winger Danila Yurov. He signed his entry-level contract shortly after being drafted but has been loaned out to the Swedish pro circuit in back-to-back seasons, sliding the start of the deal to 2024-25.
This season was Öhgren’s first playing full-time in the top-level Swedish Hockey League, although injuries limited him to 26 games with Färjestad BK. His season came to an end last week after they were swept in the SHL quarterfinals by Rögle. The gifted sniper put his talents on full display, scoring 12 goals and 19 points, ranking second on the team in goals per game. He was one of the most explosive scorers in junior hockey during his draft season, lighting the lamp 33 times in 30 games with Djůrgardens’ U-20 club.
In all likelihood, the Stockholm native has played his last game in Sweden. He’ll likely start next season with Iowa to become more acclimated to the North American game, especially after missing such a large chunk of 2023-24, but he is a sure bet to at least see a handful of NHL contests. He’s unlikely to see any postseason action with Iowa to close out this year, as they’re seven points out of a playoff spot in the AHL’s Central Division with eight games remaining. His ELC will expire in 2027.
Devils Reassign Santeri Hatakka
The Devils announced Monday afternoon that the team has assigned blue-liner Santeri Hatakka to AHL Utica, indicating that Jonas Siegenthaler could be ready to return Tuesday after missing over two weeks with a concussion.
The move brings an end to Hatakka’s fourth recall of the season. Picked up from the Sharks in last year’s Timo Meier trade, Hatakka has provided New Jersey with some solid minutes when called upon to fill depth roles due to a rash of injuries on defense. The quick-footed left-shot defender has a solid 49.8 CF% at even strength, 1.9% better than his teammates without him, and two assists in 12 games this season. However, he hasn’t controlled possession quality despite some favorable offensive usage, logging a -1.7 expected rating.
Even with Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton unavailable, Hatakka’s role had dwindled over the past few days. He played just over five minutes in his last appearance on March 24 and was scratched in three of New Jersey’s last four games.
Hatakka had been on the NHL roster since March 13, when he was recalled under emergency conditions. On March 18, he was papered down to Utica for a brief period, and six days later, his emergency recall was converted into a standard one. That transaction burned the second of four allotted post-trade deadline standard recalls.
Barring further injuries, Hatakka will likely finish out the year in Utica. There, he has four goals, 13 assists and 17 points in 41 games with a +1 rating. He’ll provide reinforcements to a Utica team that’s three points out of a playoff spot in the AHL’s North Division, trailing Laval with two games in hand. He’s in the final season of his entry-level contract and will need a new deal before July to avoid reaching restricted free agency.