Axel Andersson Signs In Sweden
For the second time in the past few weeks, an Anaheim Ducks prospect has opted to depart the minor-league ranks and return home. Defenseman Axel Andersson has now signed a two-year contract with Djurgårdens IF in the second-tier Allsvenskan, per a team announcement.
A pending restricted free agent, Anaheim can retain Andersson’s NHL rights with a qualifying offer next month.
A 2018 second-round pick of the Boston Bruins, Anaheim acquired Andersson in the deal which sent winger Ondrej Kase to Boston in 2020. Highly regarded as a prospect because of his puck-moving ability and power-play production, though he hasn’t quite yet panned out in a minor-league role for the Ducks.
He’s spent the last two and a half seasons in a San Diego Gulls uniform after Anaheim loaned him to the Allsvenskan’s Södertälje SK during the first part of the 2020-21 campaign. Since then, he’s struggled to stay healthy and stay in the lineup, posting 20 points in 84 career AHL games along with an even plus-minus rating.
It’s not the end of the road for Axelsson’s development at all, and it’s still a wise choice for Anaheim to qualify Andersson and examine bringing him back over when his contract with Djurgården expires, at which point he’ll be 25 years old. His AHL production wasn’t horrific, and he did show positive strides at points.
For Andersson, it marks a return to where he spent the two seasons prior to the 2018 draft developing, playing 84 games in the Djurgården junior program. The 6-foot, 179-pound right-shot defender should receive more opportunity on a Djurgården team looking to regain promotion to the SHL this season.
Arizona Coyotes “Exploring Options” With League After Arena Vote Fails
There have been question marks about the Arizona Coyotes’ future in the state for years, but as of late, most thought the team’s long-term home would be in Tempe. Last night, however, voters emphatically denied plans for a new arena and entertainment district in the city to provide a home for the Coyotes, throwing the team’s geographical future into significant turmoil.
The team’s statement, released last night after the vote results were apparent, stopped short of offering any promise to keep the team in Arizona. It did say that the team’s future will be “evaluated by our owners and the National Hockey League over the coming weeks.”
In all likelihood, that means some form of relocation, given arena troubles in Arizona already have them playing in the under-5,000-seat capacity Mullett Arena at Arizona State University. If the team is to avoid moving out of the state, however, TSN’s Darren Dreger says that likely relies on involvement from the owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, Mat Ishbia.
Under previous ownership, any financial partnership between the Coyotes and Suns seemed unlikely. But after former owner Robert Sarver sold the team last year, spurred by his league suspension for racist and misogynistic behavior, it’s unclear what involvement Ishbia would be open to having in the Coyotes’ future.
As Dreger says, Ishbia purchasing the Coyotes from current majority owner Alex Meruelo and moving the team to the Suns’ downtown arena, the Footprint Center, is unlikely. The arena, Arizona’s original home after moving to Phoenix, included sightline issues so poor it was driving away fans (and later, guiding the team into bankruptcy) after less than 10 years in the city. The arena also underwent a second major renovation in the past few years, and it’s unlikely the City of Phoenix, which the Coyotes are currently suing, would financially support another renovation so soon.
One relocation option that Dreger speculates could work is Salt Lake City. The owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, Ryan Smith, has past expressed interest in bringing an NHL team to Utah, and it would keep the larger markets of Houston and Atlanta available for the NHL to collect expansion fees later on.
If this does happen, while there is no guarantee, it could be immediate. Bally Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland says the league has not ruled out immediate relocation this offseason.
Salt Lake City has supported minor league hockey well. The Utah Grizzlies brand has existed there in some form since 1995, bouncing between the now-defunct IHL, AHL, and ECHL. In the 1996 IHL championship, the Grizzlies set a North American minor-pro attendance record with 17,381 fans. The game was played at the current home of the Jazz, Vivint Arena (then known as the Delta Center).
Dreger also says a last-ditch effort for the Coyotes to remain in Arizona could involve partnering with the Suns on a new building in downtown Phoenix. Again, considering the team’s pending multi-billion dollar suit against the city, it seems like an unlikely proposition.
Pacific Notes: Draisaitl, Kannok Leipert, Ekman-Larsson, Ranford
Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl‘s season may not be over just yet. After getting eliminated in the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights, Draisaitl told reporters today, including Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, that he may join Team Germany at the ongoing Men’s World Championship.
If he does go, it would be his sixth appearance for Germany at the tournament, his first since 2019. The 27-year-old, coming off a career-high 128 points in 2022-23, would immediately become the best player at the tournament. Germany’s gotten off to an unlucky start during the tournament, facing stiff competition in their first three games (Sweden, USA, Finland) and losing all of them, in regulation, by one goal. Having recorded 17 points in 15 games over his last two Worlds tournaments, he’d greatly improve Germany’s attack against weaker Group A opponents down the stretch and have them rolling into the playoff stage.
- The AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks have signed defender Alex Kannok Leipert to a one-year contract extension, as announced today. The 22-year-old defender has attended development camp with Vancouver while in Abbotsford on an AHL contract, and he’ll continue to work within the organization in hopes of earning an NHL deal. Since wrapping up his junior career with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2020-21, Kannok Leipert has a goal and eight assists in 85 career AHL games, along with a +19 rating.
- Staying in the Canucks organization, Vancouver activated defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson from injured reserve today, per CapFriendly. Ekman-Larsson, 31, missed the last 27 games of the regular season with an ankle injury. With four years remaining on his contract carrying a $7.26MM cap hit, Ekman-Larsson recorded just two goals and 22 points in 54 games, matched with a -24 rating.
- One of the Los Angeles Kings’ longest-tenured members earned a promotion today, with the team naming Bill Ranford their director of goaltending after 17 seasons as a goalie coach. Under Ranford’s tutelage, the Kings showcased potential Hall of Famer Jonathan Quick in the crease en route to two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. The added responsibilities mean Ranford will not only oversee the coaching of goalies at the NHL level but he’ll also be involved in the development and scouting of goalies at all levels inside the organization.
Latest On Pittsburgh Penguins Front Office Search
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in for a busy offseason, replacing key front-office fixtures after missing the playoffs for the first time in almost two decades. In addition to yesterday’s reporting on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ intention to hire two separate people for the roles of general manager and president of hockey operations, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun expanded in detail today on the current status of Pittsburgh’s search to fill their vacant roles.
LeBrun relayed previously corroborated reports from league sources that the Penguins have conducted initial Zoom interviews with potential candidates for the general manager role, with this number set at around a dozen. From this group, Pittsburgh has begun the process of narrowing down individuals for in-person second-round interviews for the job.
LeBrun has now confirmed seven individuals who were part of that complement of about 12. Among them is Los Angeles Kings senior advisor Marc Bergevin, Carolina Hurricanes assistant general manager Eric Tulsky, St. Louis Blues VP of hockey operations Peter Chiarelli, Buffalo Sabres associate general manager Jason Karmanos, and three members of the New Jersey Devils organization: senior vice president and assistant general manager Dan MacKinnon, assistant general manager Kate Madigan, and director of player development Meghan Duggan. There are two other likely candidates that LeBrun could not confirm, Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Mathieu Darche and Seattle Kraken assistant general manager Jason Botterill, who previously held the same role with Pittsburgh.
Some candidates from the first round of interviews were informed today that they are no longer being considered for the positions, LeBrun said.
Also in line with previous reporting, LeBrun mentioned the Penguins expressed interest in including Brad Treliving, the former general manager of the Calgary Flames, in their first round of interviews. However, the Flames denied permission, given Treliving’s expiring contract with the team legally expires on June 30.
As for a president of hockey operations, LeBrun also linked the Penguins to former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka. Chayka held his post with the Coyotes from May 2016 to July 2020, when he abruptly resigned before the start of the delayed Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL later suspended Chayka from working in the league for the entire 2021 calendar year after he pursued other league opportunities while still under contract with Arizona. It also later came to light that, under Chayka, the Coyotes had held an illegal private scouting combine for eligible draft prospects in direct violation of league rules, resulting in multiple pick forfeitures for Arizona.
Surprisingly, the reason for the uncertainty about Chayka’s potential involvement with the Penguins isn’t due to his concerning NHL history – rather, LeBrun reports Chayka could have additional NHL opportunities available to him outside of Pittsburgh.
Laurent Brossoit Not Expected Back For Western Conference Final
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy indicated today that goaltender Laurent Brossoit is unlikely to be available for their upcoming Western Conference Final series against the Dallas Stars. Brossoit has not played or practiced since sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 3 of their Second Round win against the Edmonton Oilers.
Brossoit had performed spectacularly down the stretch for Vegas, posting a 7-0-3 record and .927 save percentage in 10 starts after an early-season injury slipped him down the depth chart and earned him an extended stay in the minors for the first time in years. He carried that over into the postseason, and while his .894 save percentage in eight playoff starts isn’t exactly flattering, he did provide some needed big saves and played a key role in guiding Vegas to the NHL’s final four.
The team’s backup to start the season, Adin Hill, came in and finished the job in Brossoit’s absence, currently leading all playoff netminders with a .934 save percentage. In Game 6, he allowed Edmonton’s first two shots on goal but saved the next 38 en route to a series-clinching win. Even if Brossoit had been available to them, the team would’ve likely kept Hill in the starter’s crease.
One option that could become available, though, is Logan Thompson, who led all Vegas netminders this year with 36 starts and 21 wins. Thompson has missed much of the last three months with a lower-body injury that was aggravated in March, but Cassidy’s comments today alluded to the possibility of Thompson becoming an option during this series. He didn’t explicitly state Thompson had returned to practice, however.
Thompson did perform well in his first season as an NHL starter and could’ve outlasted Edmonton Oilers counterpart Stuart Skinner for a Calder Trophy nomination had he not faced injury issues down the stretch. If his regular-season performance with the Golden Knights during this season and last is any indication, he’s a better backup option at this point in time than veteran Jonathan Quick, who Vegas has dressed on the bench in Brossoit’s absence.
William Nylander, Timothy Liljegren Reportedly Joining Sweden At Worlds
According to a report from Swedish outlet Sportbladet, a pair of Toronto Maple Leafs are heading to the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship after their elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Winger William Nylander and defenseman Timothy Liljegren are joining the Swedish squad, while Sweden has reportedly sent defensemen Joel Persson and Christian Folin home from the tournament to create room on the roster.
After a disappointing loss to the Florida Panthers, Nylander and Liljegren are now set to bring their skills and experience to the international stage. The news bolsters a Swedish contingent that’s yet to lose through three games at the tournament, although they’ve struggled to produce offense outside of a 5-0 win against Austria.
Nylander should help with those scoring woes, coming off the first 40-goal season of his NHL career. He’s been money in the bank for Sweden at this tournament, recording 15 goals and 37 points in just 21 World Championship appearances across three tournaments (2017, 2019, 2022). It’s a significant boon to a Swedish team that has scored just three goals in two games against Germany and Finland, including a shootout marker.
Joining him is Liljegren, who’s made significant strides in his all-around ability since the last time he represented Sweden internationally at the 2018 IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship. One of the more intriguing young two-way defenders in the sport, Liljegren now gets a chance to add an additional spark to a Sweden defensive corps that’s excelled thus far at the tournament, one that includes former teammate and defense partner Rasmus Sandin.
Neither Persson nor Folin had suited up yet for Sweden in the tournament. While they’re both capable contributors to the Swedish lineup, and both have NHL experience, the swap for Nylander and Liljegren is a significant upgrade to a Swedish team with hopes of capturing the gold medal at this tournament.
Sweden can make it four games without a loss when they take on Hungary on Thursday.
Minor Transactions: 05/16/23
For the first time since the playoffs began, we have a break in the NHL schedule. While the four remaining teams won’t start their Conference Final series until Thursday and Friday, offseason activity hasn’t slowed down in other leagues as rosters for 2023-24 take form. As always, we’re keeping tabs on all notable minor transactions from across the hockey world, and we’ll list today’s right here.
- SHL veteran Filip Sandberg signed a one-year extension with Skellefteå AIK today, the team announced. Sandberg, who began his pro career with HV71, was an undrafted free agent signing by the San Jose Sharks in 2017 but played just over one full campaign with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda before returning to Sweden in November of 2018. After two additional seasons with HV71 and a brief stop in Finland with TPS, Sandberg is now back in his home country, having recorded 11 goals and 27 points in 52 SHL games with Skellefteå last season.
- The SHL’s Frölunda HC and longtime forward fixture Ryan Lasch have agreed to part ways this offseason with a year left on his contract, the team said Tuesday. The 36-year-old American never made much of an impact professionally stateside, mostly due to his 5-foot-7, 157-pound frame, but has excelled overseas in a longstanding pro career. Lasch led the entire SHL in scoring in 2021-22, recording well over a point per game, but lost a step this year with Frölunda, posting just five goals and 24 points in 41 games.
- Former Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Kristers Gudlevskis is extending his stay in Europe with a two-year contract in Germany, signing today with the DEL’s Fischtown Penguins. The 30-year-old Latvian netminder was pivotal last season in earning Swedish club MODO Hockey promotion back to the SHL, recording a .920 save percentage in the regular season, but MODO opted to bolster their crease this offseason by signing pending Anaheim Ducks free agent Olle Eriksson Ek. Gudlevskis now returns to Fischtown, where he played 25 games in the 2019-20 season.
This page will be updated throughout the day…
New Jersey Devils Extend Timur Ibragimov On AHL Contract
New Jersey Devils prospect Timur Ibragimov will be staying in the organization next season on an AHL contract. The Utica Comets announced today they’ve reached a one-year agreement with Ibragimov, who New Jersey acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the Timo Meier trade.
San Jose had selected Ibragimov, 22, in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. The Russian winger has split the last two seasons between the AHL and ECHL, trying to acclimate his offensive game to North American ice.
Some extended ECHL time with the Wichita Thunder seemed to help Ibragimov this season, recording 32 points in 53 games there. While they aren’t earth-shattering numbers by any means, and likely why he didn’t earn an NHL contract with the Devils this offseason, he did have six points in 15 games with the Comets after the trade from San Jose.
Ibragimov also has two years of professional experience overseas under his belt, with the Russian minor league VHL in 2019-20 and a 51-game loan to TPS in the Finnish Liiga in 2020-21. With TPS, he recorded 14 points in 51 games, eventually losing in the league final.
He boasts decent size at six feet and 201 pounds, but he’ll need to maintain the scoring pace he displayed near the end of the season in Utica to avoid another ECHL demotion, especially as he’s not signed to an NHL contract.
Snapshots: Tempe Arena Vote, Lilja, Korshkov
Today is the day Arizona Coyotes fans have been nervously waiting for. In Tempe, it’s the final day to cast a vote in the local referendum, which determines whether the team can move forward with its plan for a new arena and entertainment district in the city, as NHL insider Frank Seravalli outlines in his latest for Daily Faceoff.
While an already high turnout thanks to lots of mail-in ballots have the Coyotes optimistic about a ‘yes’ result, Seravalli says it’s anything but a sure thing. Seravalli relayed reports from NHL sources that political opposition groups outspent the Coyotes massively on advertising ahead of the election, while the Coyotes management (including general manager Bill Armstrong) has been actively soliciting votes door-to-door in the community.
Results could be announced as soon as 10 p.m. CT tonight, with a ‘no’ vote effectively killing the Coyotes’ future in the state. Further hurdles still need to be cleared in order for the project to move forward if Tempe voters opt to approve the project, such as ongoing legal battles with the City of Phoenix, but regardless, it’s a transformative night for the NHL and its most maligned franchise.
More from around the hockey world today:
- Per reports out of Russia, former Columbus Blue Jackets winger Jakob Lilja could be extending his stay overseas — this time with the NL’s HC Ambrì-Piotta. The 29-year-old Swedish winger played in 37 games with Columbus in 2019-20, his only season in North America to date, recording five points. Since then, he’s had three relatively successful seasons in the KHL with Barys Nur-Sultan (now Barys Astana) and Dynamo Moskva, but he’ll have a bit more ice time available to him in Switzerland. Ambrì-Piotta’s roster for next season already includes former NHLers Tim Heed and Filip Chlapik, as well as Arizona Coyotes center prospect Manix Landry.
- 2016 second-round pick Egor Korshkov has been dealt in the KHL, heading to Amur Khabarovsk after three seasons with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. The former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect never panned out, only playing one full season in the AHL, but he did score one goal in his only NHL appearance in the 2019-20 season. His player rights have since been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and, later, the Florida Panthers, where he remains on their reserve list should he ever choose to return to the NHL. Now 26, Korshkov had just four goals in 40 KHL games last season.
USA Hockey Adds Tyler Kleven To World Championship Roster
After a 2-0 start to the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship, USA Hockey announced after today’s win against Hungary they’ve added Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven to their tournament roster.
Kleven, who registered two assists in eight games down the stretch of the 2022-23 season with Ottawa, could suit up when the United States faces Germany in continued round-robin play tomorrow. The 21-year-old second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft signed his entry-level contract with Ottawa after the end of his junior season at the University of North Dakota.
While this will be Kleven’s first World Championship appearance, he’s no stranger to the United States national program. He played with the National Team Development Program for two seasons before joining North Dakota in 2020-21 and played for Team USA at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship, recording one point in a combined seven games between tournaments.
Kleven brings an added layer of size and physicality to the American roster, becoming the third defender on the team who stands at least 6-foot-4 and weighs 200 pounds (Nicklaus Perbix, Dylan Samberg). A defensive player first and foremost, Kleven will try and shut down some of the tougher opponents remaining on the Americans’ group schedule, namely Germany and Sweden.