Detroit Red Wings Sign Simon Edvinsson
The Swedes are coming. Today, the Detroit Red Wings have officially signed top prospect Simon Edvinsson to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will begin in 2022-23, opening up the possibility of him playing in the NHL next season.
Edvinsson, 19, was selected sixth overall by the Red Wings in 2021 and has quickly become one of the most highly regarded prospects in the world. The 6’5″ defenseman recorded 19 points in 44 games for Frolunda HC in the SHL this season, and looked as though he was a step ahead of many of his contemporaries in the two games before the World Juniors was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Edvinsson has first-pairing upside for the Red Wings and could quickly join former teammate Lucas Raymond on the ice for them next season.
Still, he does have a contract with Frolunda through 2022-23, meaning if he failed to make the Red Wings roster the team could choose to send him back to Sweden to continue his development overseas. Because he is a first-round pick, that is up to Detroit management, who could also send him directly to the AHL if they feel that’s a better level for him to be playing at this point in his career. William Wallinder, another Swedish defenseman (who won the SHL Junior Player of the Year), wouldn’t have the same luxury–he would have to be sent back overseas if he signed his entry-level deal and failed to make Detroit’s NHL roster because he was selected in the second round.
Either way, getting Edvinsson signed is a huge win for the Red Wings, who look like they will be competing for a playoff spot sooner rather than later. The idea of an Edvinsson-Moritz Seider pairing should have fans drooling, as they transition out of the rebuild and try to start pushing the program back to great heights.
Because he’s still so young–Edvinsson only turned 19 in February–this contract could actually still slide forward as well, should he fail to make the Red Wings next season. Even spending the whole year at the AHL level would not burn the first year of the deal, as Edvinsson will have up to nine NHL games before it kicks in.
Morning Notes: Wallinder, Nurse, Chinakhov
Over the long history of the Detroit Red Wings, there have been some incredible Swedish players. The days of Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, and Tomas Holmstrom may be over, but there is a new wave of Swedish talent coming to claim the ice in Detroit. Lucas Raymond has been outstanding in his rookie season, scoring 56 points in 79 games, and top prospect Simon Edvinsson appears to be a first-pairing defenseman in the making.
It was another prospect though, who received the honor of being the best junior-aged player in the SHL this season. William Wallinder, selected 32nd overall in 2020, took home the award, the second straight time it has been given to a Red Wings defenseman. Moritz Seider–a German playing in the SHL–took it home a year ago, before bursting onto the scene as the likely Calder Trophy winner this season. Wallinder, 19, is another behemoth standing 6’4″, but is actually one of the best skaters in the SHL and recorded 19 points in 47 games for Rogle this season. Get ready, the Swedes are coming.
- Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft confirmed today that Darnell Nurse did not make the trip to Columbus and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The team is still hoping their top defenseman will be ready for the playoffs, but he won’t play in today’s afternoon affair or Tuesday’s match against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Oilers are firmly in a playoff position, two points ahead of their likely first-round opponent the Los Angeles Kings, but will certainly want Nurse to shake off any rust before the postseason begins. The 27-year-old has 35 points in 71 games this season while averaging over 25 minutes a night.
- It’s been more than three weeks since rookie Yegor Chinakhov was in the lineup for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he’ll make his return today against the Oilers. Team reporter Jeff Svoboda tweets that Chinakhov will go into the lineup for Brendan Gaunce, giving the 21-year-old a chance to add to his totals down the stretch. Selected 21st overall in 2020, the young forward has 14 points in 58 games this year.
AHL Shuffle: 04/24/22
Even on a Sunday afternoon, it is busy in the NHL these days, as four games will be held before this evening rolls around. Then there are seven more on tap for tonight, making it quite an eventful day. Those matches include a fierce battle between the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators and an all-Florida slugfest between the Panthers and Lightning. As all of those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have re-assigned Filip Gustavsson, Mark Kastelic, and Scott Sabourin to the AHL, giving them back to the Belleville Senators who are jockeying for playoff position. In return, they’ve recalled Kevin Mandolese. The 21-year-old netminder has split the season between the ECHL and AHL, posting a .901 save percentage in 17 appearances at the higher level.
- The Montreal Canadiens have recalled goaltender Cayden Primeau on an emergency recall. Primeau, 22, has been forced into action for Montreal on many occasions this season thanks to the record-setting number of injuries the team has faced. He has struggled at the NHL level this year, with an .868 save percentage in 12 appearances, although he has been better with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, where he has a .910 in 32 games there.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Colorado Eagles of the AHL have announced that goaltender Justus Annunen has been re-assigned to their team from the Colorado Avalanche, in advance of the Eagles’ Calder Cup Playoff run. Annunen, 22, was the 64th overall pick in the 2018 draft and has appeared in 48 games for the Eagles this year. He has an .893 save percentage in those 48 games, and he has also appeared in 97 minutes of NHL action this year, and he has a .863 in that small sample size for the Avalanche.
Pacific Division
This page is updated throughout the day.
Kyle Clifford, Wayne Simmonds Earn Fines
Sometimes a game that has so much hype surrounding it can turn into something very different, very quickly. With so many talking about last night’s Toronto Maple Leafs-Tampa Bay Lightning game as a potential first-round preview, there was a buzz in the air when the game started. In the end, the Maple Leafs are just lucky to escape without any suspensions.
Both Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds have earned fines today for incidents in last night’s game, which turned into a circus after Erik Kallgren allowed six straight goals in just over 20 minutes of gameplay. The game finished 8-1, with the Maple Leafs taking 63 minutes in penalties and the Lightning adding 49 of their own.
Clifford was fined $2,500 for his high-stick on Corey Perry, when he reached over the top of officials to get at the restrained Tampa Bay forward. Clifford was given a match penalty which comes with an automatic review, but Perry did not suffer an injury on the play. He will escape without a suspension, though his fine was the maximum allowable under the CBA.
For Simmonds, it’s a $2,250 fine for charging Mikhail Sergachev, a play that didn’t even result in a penalty from the on-ice officials. Simmonds did end up with 15 minutes in penalties, including a misconduct as the referees tried to get control of the game. He too will avoid a suspension, though, like any fine, this will be considered whenever there is another supplementary discipline decision.
AHL Shuffle: 04/22/22
There are just four games on the schedule for this evening but all eyes will likely be on the matchup in Edmonton. The Oilers will welcome the Colorado Avalanche in a battle between two of the most impressive offensive units in the NHL, and two of the playoff teams in the Western Conference. The Avalanche have actually lost two straight, which still leaves them at 8-2 in their last ten, while the Oilers are now 8-1-1 as they try to establish themselves as a true Stanley Cup contender. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have assigned Chase Pearson to the AHL once again, his fourth transaction in just the last week. The 24-year-old forward has played in three games at the NHL level this season and is still looking for his first point.
- Rafael Harvey-Pinard has been returned to the AHL by the Montreal Canadiens, after playing just over 11 minutes in the game last night. The 23-year-old forward has now seen action in four NHL games and has one goal to his name.
- The Boston Bruins have returned forward Jack Studnicka to the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Studnicka, 23, has been one of the team’s top prospects in recent seasons and has gotten into 14 games for the big club so far in 2021-22. He has three points in those 14 games this year and has 33 points in 37 games this season in Providence.
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have sent goaltender Felix Sandstrom down to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Sandstrom, 25, was a third-round pick in 2015 and has gotten into 42 games for the Phantoms this season, where he has posted a .901 save percentage. Sandstrom has also gotten into 3 games for the Flyers this season and has a .915 at the NHL level.
- The New Jersey Devils have announced that they have recalled forward Nolan Foote from the AHL’s Utica Comets. Foote, 21, was a 2019 first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he arrived in New Jersey as part of the Blake Coleman trade in 2020. Foote has been good in the AHL this year, with 14 goals and 32 points in 55 games, but has been held off the scoresheet in his two NHL games this season.
Central Division
- Dylan Samberg isn’t going anywhere as the Winnipeg Jets have converted his emergency recall into a regular one. Samberg has now played in 11 games this season–his first at the NHL level–and already has four points. The 23-year-old defenseman was a second-round pick in 2017 and appears to be a likely part of the team’s blueline moving forward.
- Mitchell Chaffee has been returned to the AHL by the Minnesota Wild, after making his NHL debut a few days ago. The 24-year-old forward was filling in while Marcus Foligno dealt with a positive COVID-19 test, but it appears as though he’ll now head back to the AHL.
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Bokondji Imama from the AHL, meaning he could make his NHL debut down the stretch. The 25-year-old forward has 12 points and 178 penalty minutes for the Tucson Roadrunners this season.
Pacific Division
- The Vegas Golden Knights have assigned forward Jake Leschyshyn to the Henderson Silver Knights. Leschyshyn, 23, was the 62nd overall pick in the 2017 draft and has played in a hefty chunk of games for Vegas this season. He has six points in 41 games at the NHL level this year and 26 points in 32 games for the Silver Knights.
This page is updated throughout the day
Damien Riat Signs Extension In Switzerland
It seems as though Damien Riat‘s time associated with the Washington Capitals could be coming to an end. The Swiss forward has spent this entire season on loan to Lausanne HC, and today the club announced that he has signed an extension.
Riat, 25, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer when his entry-level contract expired. The Capitals could continue to hold his rights by issuing him a qualifying offer, though that would only last until he turns 27 in two years’ time. Given the fact that he already returned to Switzerland after just half a season with the Hershey Bears in 2020-21, it seems more likely that his time in North America is over.
A fourth-round pick of the Capitals in 2016, Riat burst onto the scene with several impressive international performances at the World Juniors, and then was part of the Swiss team that took home a silver medal at the 2018 World Championship. He’s been a strong performer for years in the NL (formerly the NLA), and this season put up 28 points in 35 games for Lausanne.
Last season, after starting the year in Switzerland, Riat came to North America for the first time and registered nine points in 33 games for Hershey. If that turns out to be his only taste of pro hockey on this side of the pond, it will seem like a bit of wasted potential. Perhaps he will revisit the idea in the future, though it is unclear how long this new multi-year contract extends.
PHR Chatter: Talking About The Tank
As we head into the stretch run of the 2021-22 season, PHR is excited to announce a new feature aimed at encouraging discourse between reader and writer. On Friday mornings (and perhaps even more often than that), we’ll post a topic of discussion that we think will draw out varied and interesting perspectives from both our commenters and the other staff writers.
For too long there has only been a couple of outlets for our readers to interact with the PHR staff. Live chats and mailbags offer a chance at some discussion, but also run the risk of being too crowded or even outdated by the time the answer arrives. With this new feature, we’re hoping to get weekly chatter going on a topic that normally would have to be brought into the spotlight by a reader before even being discussed.
Last week, the discussion centered around the playoff structure and how it could be improved moving forward. This time, let’s discuss the idea of a “scorched earth” rebuild, and whether embracing a “tank” season to secure a higher draft position is really the best way forward.
Is it worth it to add a few points of lottery points to your chart, at the cost of playing terrible hockey in front of your fans for months (if not years)? What about the “culture of losing” which is referenced so often when a team fails to live up to expectations? Does it make a difference whether the team is a small market or classic hockey powerhouse? This will be a free-flowing discussion that doesn’t have a lot of guidelines, so make sure you chime in and check regularly to continue the conversation.
Chicago Blackhawks Sign Ethan Del Mastro
The Chicago Blackhawks have signed another prospect, inking OHL defenseman Ethan Del Mastro to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal will carry an NHL cap hit of $878,333. Del Mastro currently plays for the Mississauga Steelheads, where he will finish the season.
Selected 105th overall in 2021, the big, physical defenseman has taken his game to an entirely new level this season. Del Mastro is a prime example of how unclear the scouting community was on the upside of some mid-round players after he missed the entire 2020-21 season due to the COVID-canceled OHL campaign. That makes his stat page look a little odd, as Del Mastro had just seven points at the OHL level before exploding with 48 in 68 games this season.
Notably though, it’s not even really his offensive upside that is so intriguing. Not often do you find a defenseman that is both this big and this mobile, as Del Mastro is an excellent skater that can smother opponents quickly on the rush and punish them in the corners or in front of his own net. There’s a reason why the Steelheads made him captain, and at least some of that is because of his willingness to drop the gloves to protect his teammates.
While there is still obviously a lot of work to do before he is making an impact at the NHL level, this is exactly the kind of defenseman that has become so sought after in recent years, as teams put huge importance on length and mobility in the postseason. An entry-level contract is a nice first step, but the Blackhawks will now need to find a way to develop Del Mastro into the best version of himself.
Guy Lafleur Dies At 70
Another hockey legend has passed away, as the Montreal Gazette reports the family of Guy Lafleur has announced that the Montreal Canadiens icon has died following a long battle with cancer. He was 70.
Lafleur, one of the most popular NHL players to ever live, hoisted the Stanley Cup on five occasions, took home the Art Ross as league scoring champion three times and twice was named the league’s most valuable player. A no-doubt Hall of Famer, he recorded 1,353 points in his 1,126-game career, almost all of which was spent in the province of Quebec, where he’d become a legend long before ever making it to the NHL.
In 1970-71, in his final year of junior hockey, Lafleur scored 130 goals in just 62 games for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. That record would stand for more than a decade, until Mario Lemieux broke it in 1983-84, and still registers second all-time in the league’s history (Lafleur also has fourth, with 103 goals the previous season). The first-overall pick in 1971, the smooth-skating forward stepped directly into the spotlight and would lift the Stanley Cup in year two. By 1977, he would be setting a career-high of 136 points, while also representing his country at the Canada Cup.
There were very few players that combined the same level of talent and flash, as Lafleur did more than just rack up points. He excited the crowd every time he touched the puck and reached a level of popularity (or hate, depending on your allegiance) rarely seen in the sport to that point. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, he was a no-doubt selection when the NHL released their Top 100 players list in 2017.
The entire hockey world, including those of us at PHR, send condolences to the Lafleur family.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Mackenzie Blackwood Still Expected To Play Before Season Ends
The New Jersey Devils need a goalie. The team has received an .883 save percentage this season, better than only the Seattle Kraken’s .881. Currently, they’re rolling with a tandem of Andrew Hammond and Jon Gillies that have 94 NHL games between them, despite being 34 and 28 years old respectively. Earlier this month, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet put it clearly on the 32 Thoughts podcast:
They’re going to have to find a goalie. They’re really going to have to find a goalie. What the Devils are selling to their fans, and some of their players, and they’ve said it publicly to the media is: ‘our underlying numbers say we’re a better team. We just can’t stop the puck.’ Well you can’t keep coming with that narrative.
Friedman goes on to note that Mackenzie Blackwood‘s injuries this season have been an important part of the disappointing season that has taken place. The young netminder was on Team Canada’s long list for the Olympics at the start of the season and looked like the obvious choice long-term in the Devils’ net. The Sportsnet insider goes on to explain that maybe it is time for a fresh start somewhere else, though that would certainly not solve the issues in New Jersey moving forward.
That’s what makes the last few games of the season so interesting for the Devils, and Blackwood in particular. Head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters including Mike Morreale of NHL.com again today that the plan is still to get Blackwood back into a few games before the end of the year. New Jersey has just six games left including tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, and has Blackwood still listed as day-to-day, though he did appear at the optional morning skate today.
Is there a chance that the Blackwood-Jonathan Bernier tandem return for 2022-23? Sure, as they are both signed through next season before being scheduled for free agency in the summer (RFA status for the former). But there will also be a strong desire to take a big step forward for the Devils next season, given how well some players have performed. Jesper Bratt recorded his 70th point of the season a few days ago, Nico Hischier has a career-high with 58 points, and Jack Hughes (when healthy) has looked every bit the first-overall pick. The team can’t be let down by bad goaltending again, not while they’re investing so much into free agents like Dougie Hamilton to try and contend for the playoffs.
While both Nico Daws and Akira Schmid saw NHL action and look like promising prospects, it’s hard to trust a pair of 21-year-olds who recorded .893 and .833 save percentages. Gillies and Hammond haven’t done much better, and are unrestricted free agents at the end of the year.
So while games at the end of a bad season rarely mean much of anything, Blackwood’s return would be significant.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images