Snapshots: Winter Classic, Hartman, Johnson
Though it has not yet officially been announced, Kevin Weekes of ESPN reports that it will be the Pittsburgh Penguins who take on the Boston Bruins at next year’s Winter Classic. The event, held at Fenway Park, will be played on January 2, 2023. The Penguins had long been the favorite for the event, though it certainly won’t please some fans who haven’t seen an outdoor game involving their favorite team.
Pittsburgh, while not being involved in a Winter Classic since 2011, has played in three Stadium Series games since then, most recently in 2019 against the Philadelphia Flyers. In fact, those two Pennsylvania teams are tied for second in all-time outdoor appearances, only behind the Chicago Blackhawks. Five teams in the league (including the Seattle Kraken) have yet to play in an outdoor game, though the Carolina Hurricanes will finally break that run with a Stadium Series of their own next season.
- Ryan Hartman has earned a $4,250 fine for his gesture toward Evander Kane in last night’s game between the Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers. The league has listed the fine as unsportsmanlike conduct, and Hartman told reporters last night including Michael Russo of The Athletic that a fine would be “well worth it.” The Wild would end up winning the game 5-1 and won’t meet again during the regular season.
- Kent Johnson‘s immigration issues have been resolved, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, meaning the young forward will make his NHL debut tonight for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Johnson, 19, had 37 points in 32 games for the University of Michigan this season, scoring five in five for Team Canada at the Olympics as well. The fifth-overall pick from 2021 is incredibly skilled and should be an instant offensive boost for the Blue Jackets.
Nashville Predators Sign Adam Wilsby
The Nashville Predators have inked another one of their prospects, this time signing Adam Wilsby to a two-year entry-level contract. The deal will start in 2022-23. CapFriendly reports that the contract has a cap hit of $842,500, earning Wilsby a salary of $750,000 in year one and $775,000 in year two. Both seasons contain a signing bonus and minors salary of $80,000.
Wilsby, 21, recently finished his second full SHL season with Skelleftea AIK, where he recorded 17 points in 51 regular season games. The young defenseman was a fourth-round pick of the Predators in 2020, selected 101st overall. While he may not be the most exciting name in the Predators’ prospect pipeline, Wilsby can skate like the wind and at least represents some organizational depth on defense. His success in the SHL even early on suggests he could fit right in on an AHL blueline already, though it’s unclear at this point if that’s the plan for him next season.
Given that he’s unlikely to spend much time in the NHL, the team could still loan him back overseas for another year. In fact, since his SHL contract actually extends through 2022-23, that seems the likely scenario, despite this new entry-level deal with Nashville. It still might be some time until Predators fans see him in the NHL lineup, but the fact that his post-draft years have gone this well is always a positive.
Johnny Beecher Signs AHL Tryout Contract
Another Michigan Wolverine has decided to turn pro. Johnny Beecher has signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Providence Bruins of the AHL for the remainder of this season. Just like his former teammates Thomas Bordeleau and Brendan Brisson, this allows Beecher to play for Providence down the stretch, something that isn’t possible once he signs his entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. That may not have to wait long though, as general manager Don Sweeney explained:
We are appreciative to Mel Pearson and the Michigan coaching staff as they did a great job with his overall development. The Bruins and Johnny are leaving all options open with regards to his availability for the remainder of this season and playoffs. We will continue to communicate with his agent, Cam Stewart, while Johnny starts to play games and as we work towards finalizing his ELC.
Boston and Beecher can sign an ELC at any point, which would make him eligible to play in the NHL regular season and in the playoffs. If he does sign for 2021-22, it would be a three-year deal and the first season would burn immediately, regardless of how many games he played.
It will be interesting to see if Beecher actually climbs the ranks quicker than Bordeleau and Brisson, given his role with the Michigan team. Despite also being a high draft pick and top prospect when he entered the program, he never really found his way offensively and recorded just 39 points in three seasons. The wonder now is whether his offense will actually improve at the next level, when time and space are compressed even further, or if he is going to top out as another Bruins depth player selected in the first round.
Picked 30th overall in 2019, Beecher was always more of a project, a mixture of raw tools that the Bruins hoped would form a dynamic two-way player. The 6’3″ forward can skate well, lean on opponents and finish around the net–but too often he isn’t the one to get it there. In the right situation, he may thrive, opening room for his linemates with at size and speed, but through three years at Michigan, it didn’t really happen.
You can bet that the Bruins have a plan for him though, and he enters an organization that does have some question marks coming down the middle. Patrice Bergeron will be 37 this summer and an unrestricted free agent, Erik Haula is signed for just one more year, and other young forwards like Trent Frederic and Jack Studnicka haven’t exactly established themselves as dynamic, must-see NHL options to this point. With room to grow in the system, Beecher will have to hope his game translates to the next level quickly.
AHL Shuffle: 04/13/22
Just three games grace the schedule tonight after the Seattle-Winnipeg game was postponed, meaning even more eyes will be on the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche, doing battle as a pair of Stanley Cup hopefuls. The Kings righted the ship last night with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and combined with the Golden Knights’ loss, now have a three-point lead in the race for the third Pacific Division spot. Colorado meanwhile has still now slowed down, winning six in a row and eight of their last ten to extend their lead to 14 points in the Central. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- After bringing him up under emergency conditions, Taro Hirose has been returned to the AHL by the Detroit Red Wings today. The 25-year-old didn’t actually get into a game, and is still stuck on 12 appearances this season for the Red Wings. Hirose is set to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, given how few NHL games he has played to this point.
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Egor Zamula, Tanner Laczynski, and Felix Sandstrom under emergency conditions, as Carter Hart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam Atkinson, and Patrick Brown are all out for tonight’s game. Sandstrom will start, just his second NHL appearance.
Central Division
Pacific Division
This page is updated throughout the day
Colorado Avalanche Sign Wyatt Aamodt
The Colorado Avalanche have landed a top college free agent, signing Wyatt Aamodt to a one-year entry-level contract. The deal will start in 2022-23, and Aamodt will join the Colorado Eagles on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season. Aamodt recently completed his senior season with Minnesota State, leading them all the way to the National Championship game.
If you already have a bounty of elite puck-moving defensemen, what do you target? A free agent that does just about everything else. Aamodt, 24, is certainly not much of an offensive threat but uses his physicality to shut down an opponent’s best players. In 41 games this season he recorded six goals and 12 points, both easily the highest totals of his four-year college career, but as captain of the Mavericks had much more impact at the defensive end of the rink.
As an undrafted free agent, there won’t be huge expectations put on the young defenseman, but Aamodt should add some more depth to the Avalanche system for the risk-free proposition of a one-year entry-level deal. Getting his feet wet at the AHL level will give the Colorado management a chance to see how he transitions to professional hockey and some insight into whether he’ll be able to handle himself in the NHL.
That’s certainly not a guarantee, as the left-shot defenseman doesn’t actually have a ton of size behind that physical playstyle. While the NHL continues to lean toward adding length and mobility on the blueline, it will be interesting to see if his play results in a chance with the Avalanche next season.
Snapshots: Seattle-Winnipeg, McGinn, Brown, Stone
The NHL has postponed tomorrow’s game between the Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets due to inclement weather heading toward the Manitoba area, rescheduling the match for May 1. That is the day before the playoffs are set to begin, another sign of just how difficult it would be for the Jets to make the postseason at this point. The team is currently only five points behind the Dallas Stars for the final wild card position, but have played two more games (leaving just eight remaining in their season) and are still dealing with the Vegas Golden Knights in between.
For Seattle, there hasn’t been any hope of the playoffs for a while now, but there are certainly things to get excited about. Matty Beniers will make his NHL debut tonight after signing his entry-level contract, giving fans the chance to see the first draft pick in franchise history.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have activated Brock McGinn off injured reserve, bringing him back after more than a month on the shelf. McGinn, 28, has 11 goals and 18 points this season through 56 games for the Penguins, but adds another level of depth for a roster that is still trying to improve their playoff position. The Penguins sit six points behind the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan, with just eight games left to play.
- Dustin Brown has also been activated, this time by the Los Angeles Kings, giving the team a huge boost after yesterday’s announcement that Drew Doughty would miss the rest of the season. While the 37-year-old isn’t the player he once was, Brown can still contribute and has 25 points in 57 games this season. More importantly, he’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion and extremely important member of the leadership group in Los Angeles, who are headed to the playoffs should they be able to hold onto that Pacific Division spot.
- Mark Stone is a game-time decision for the Golden Knights, though it means they will have to make several other roster transactions if they want to activate him from long-term injured reserve. As CapFriendly points out, even loaning every eligible player to the minor leagues wouldn’t clear enough space, meaning someone else would have to be transferred to long-term injured reserve (or, technically they could make a trade, though that brings other complications) for Stone to be activated.
Brendan Brisson, Thomas Bordeleau Sign AHL Tryouts
Another pair of top college prospects have turned pro, as Brendan Brisson has signed a tryout agreement with the Henderson Silver Knights and Thomas Bordeleau has signed one with the San Jose Barracuda. Notably, both players would not be eligible to be assigned and play with the Silver Knights had they signed entry-level contracts with the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks respectively, so this is a way to get some AHL games first. At any point, the NHL squads could sign them and insert him into the lineup, should they have the cap space to carry the extra contract. If not, entry-level deals for 2022-23 will likely follow.
Brisson and Bordeleau are both Michigan standouts, and more Wolverines to leave the program behind in the last few days. They follow the likes of Matty Beniers, Owen Power, and Kent Johnson to professional hockey, though they won’t jump directly into the NHL lineup like their former teammates.
Selected 29th overall in 2020 Brisson, 20, has taken a clear step forward in each of his post-draft seasons. As a freshman for Michigan in 2020-21, he recorded 21 points in 24 games, while helping the U.S. take home gold at the World Juniors. This year, his offense exploded, with 21 goals and 42 points in 38 games, just barely coming in behind Beniers for the team lead. He was also selected to the U.S. Olympic team, where he scored twice in four games.
A tireless worker and creative play-driver, Brisson can generate opportunities for himself and his linemates with equal frequency. Returning to college likely would have put him in the conversation for the Hobey Baker or at least the national scoring race but there wasn’t a lot of extra development necessary for him to make an impact at the professional level. He should do that right away for the Silver Knights, who have seven games left in the regular season but have already clinched their spot in the Pacific Division playoff race.
Bordeleau, 20, was the 38th pick in 2020 and took a similar path, though his freshman season was even more impressive with 30 points in 24 games. This season he had 37 in 37, finishing third among Michigan forwards and fourth overall. Unfortunately, Bordeleau was robbed of two different opportunities to play at the World Juniors thanks to COVID testing; one year it was his positive result, another his roommate’s. It was actually when several of his teammates left for the Olympics that his game really rounded into form, given more responsibility and ice time. He’ll likely get that same opportunity in the coming years in San Jose, should he see extended time in the minor leagues.
A natural center that can fit any role, Bordeleau may end up topping out as a middle-six option at the NHL level. But with his offensive upside, work ethic, and penalty killing ability, there’s a long professional career ahead of him. That starts, for now at least, with the Barracuda, who are unfortunately only going to play a few more games this season. They’re last in the Pacific and are not going to make the playoffs, with just five games remaining on the schedule.
Toronto Maple Leafs To Meet With Matthew Knies
The Toronto Maple Leafs already signed Nick Abruzzese out of the college ranks and quickly inserted him into the lineup, where he has played three games so far. The Harvard alum is still waiting for his first NHL point, but looks like a key part of the depth chart as they head toward the playoffs. Another name that could potentially have an impact down the stretch is Matthew Knies, the standout freshman from Minnesota who is one of the biggest risers from the 2021 draft.
Darren Dreger of TSN reports that Knies is expected to meet with Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas tomorrow to discuss his future, though several reports have indicated to this point (including Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet) that he is leaning toward a return to school for another season. Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked about the young forward today, and explained his excitement to reporters including David Alter of The Leafs Nation:
He’s obviously a player we’re excited about. He’s had a monster season in college hockey, not just college hockey but World Juniors, Olympics. He’s really made his mark. We’re very excited about him and having him in the organization. Obviously, we’re going through a process right now and sorting through what’s going to be the net step for him. Our focus remains what’s happening here. When the time is right for him, of course we’ll welcome him. This season, down the line, whenever that may be. They’re going to go through that process.
Knies, 19, fell to the Maple Leafs at No. 57 in last year’s draft after an uninspiring 2020-21 season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. His size and skill were an intriguing package though, and he showed exactly why when he hit the college circuit. In 33 games as a freshman with the Golden Gophers, Knies scored 15 goals and 33 points, becoming arguably the team’s most dangerous player by the end of the season. He also was given a chance to play at the Olympics for Team USA, where he recorded a goal and an assist in four games.
The question of course is whether another year of development at Minnesota would be beneficial, especially since the team is still loaded with talent. Brock Faber decided to return, instead of signing with the Los Angeles Kings, and others like Ryan Johnson and Jackson Lacombe have yet to make their decisions. It’s not even clear how much opportunity would be waiting in Toronto right away, given how deep their forward group already is.
Notably, the Maple Leafs did leave room in terms of contract slots for this very situation. Knies could take one of those slots, burn the first year of his entry-level contract and reach restricted free agency a year early. Whether that would be the best for his career in general still remains to be seen.
Justin Barron, Jake Allen Out Rest Of Season
The Montreal Canadiens season hasn’t gone according to plan, and it’s ending a little prematurely for another two players. The team announced today that Justin Barron and Jake Allen will not play again this season, though both are expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp.
Barron, 20, was acquired by the Canadiens at the trade deadline and played five games for the team before suffering an ankle injury. It will not require surgery, but he won’t be back in the lineup in 2021-22. The young defenseman was the big prize for the team in the Artturi Lehkonen sweepstakes and represents someone that can play a full-time, impact role as soon as next season. Selected 25th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020, Barron had 20 points in 43 games this season for the Colorado Eagles before the trade.
Allen meanwhile has had just a nightmare season, missing several months due to injury already. He appeared in 35 games, won just nine of them and posted a .905 save percentage. He suffered a groin injury over the weekend, but is expected to be ready by training camp. At that point he is expected to once again be the backup, given Carey Price‘s expected return, though Allen will likely still see a lot of playing time. Signed through 2022-23 at a $2.875MM cap hit, he will hit unrestricted free agency at the end of next season.
The team also announced that Emil Heineman, another prospect acquired earlier this season and recently signed to an entry-level contract, is in Montreal being evaluated for an upper-body injury. There is no timeline for his return, meaning the Laval Rocket will have to wait to get a chance to see him on the ice.
AHL Shuffle: 04/12/22
After a very quiet Monday, the NHL is packed full of action this evening, with 28 of the 32 teams in action. That includes first-overall pick Owen Power making his debut for the Buffalo Sabres, playing just down the road from where he was born. The Mississauga, Ontario native will hit the ice for the first time against the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing on a pairing with Henri Jokiharju. While they and the rest of the league prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- Last night, the Montreal Canadiens sent Jesse Ylonen back to the AHL, after he played against the Winnipeg Jets. The young forward has five points in 14 games this season, his first real taste of the NHL. Through 45 games with the Laval Rocket though, he has 30 points and should help the minor league team in their chase for the Calder Cup.
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Taro Hirose from the AHL under emergency conditions, giving them an extra body for tonight’s game. Hirose, 25, has played in 12 games for the Red Wings this season but done damage at the minor league level, racking up 47 points in 54 games.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Alec Regula, according to Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. Regula has scored in each of his last two AHL games, and now has four goals and 25 points in 40 appearances for the Rockford IceHogs this season. The 21-year-old defenseman is still waiting on his first point in the NHL though, scoreless through his first nine tries.
Pacific Division
This page is updated throughout the day