Eugene Melnyk Dies At 62
The hockey world is in mourning this evening, as the Ottawa Senators confirmed that owner Eugene Melnyk has died at age 62. A message from the Melnyk family indicated that he passed “after an illness he faced with determination and courage.”
Melnyk purchased the Senators in 2003, when the team was facing bankruptcy and possible relocation. While the team has still yet to raise the Stanley Cup as champions, they did reach the Final in 2007 and went to the Conference Finals in 2017.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released the following statement:
The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. The words ‘passion’ and ‘commitment’ define the man who has owned the Ottawa Senators since 2003. Whether it was in the boardroom with his fellow governors, at the rink with his beloved Senators or in the community with his philanthropy, he cared deeply about the game, about his team and about bettering the lives of those in need, particularly underserved children, organ donation and, most recently, with his commitment to his parents’ home country of Ukraine.
While successful in business, it was our game and his Senators that he was most passionate about. Eugene was often outspoken but he maintained an unwavering commitment to the game and his roots and he loved nothing more than donning a Senators sweater and cheering on his beloved team.
On behalf of the entire National Hockey League, I extend my deepest sympathies to Eugene’s daughters, Anna and Olivia, his extended family, and all those who benefited from his generosity.
The entire hockey world, including those of us at PHR, send our condolences to his children Anna and Olivia, partner Sharilyne and the rest of the Melnyk family.
Snapshots: Trivigno, Miller, Officiating
One of the most interesting college free agents this spring is UMass-Amherst captain Bobby Trivigno, who put up 49 points in 37 games for the Minutemen and was named a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker award. The undersized forward has quite a few suitors, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, who reports that Trivigno has already met with some of the New York Rangers front office and has received interest from at least the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators as well.
The 23-year-old forward stands all of 5’8″ 162-lbs but has been an outstanding player for UMass last four years and will get his choice of where to start his professional career. Of note is that Brett Peterson, an assistant GM in Florida and former VP of the Wasserman hockey wing, was previously Trivigno’s advisor–a stand-in agent for college athletes.
- As J.T. Miller continues to try and drag the Vancouver Canucks back into playoff contention, some have started thinking about what his next contract will look like. While speaking with Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested that it will be similar to the one Mika Zibanejad signed with the Rangers. Zibanejad inked an eight-year, $68MM ($8.5MM AAV) contract extension in October, at age-27, to keep him off the open market; his career-high in points is currently 75, though he will likely pass that this year. Miller, 29, has already blown past that mark, recording his 80th point of the year on Saturday night.
- The GM meetings have begun in Florida, and one of the things being discussed is a rule change for penalties that could come into effect next season. Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the committee discussed a change that could see officials review a five-minute major penalty and choose to remove it entirely. Currently, they can only reduce it to a two-minute minor after review. Dreger adds that there will also be a renewed focus on line changes down the stretch, stressing that the player going off the ice has to be within five feet of the boards when the change is made.
Washington Capitals Extend Mike Vecchione
The Washington Capitals have signed Mike Vecchione to a one-year, two-way extension that will keep him in the organization through 2022-23. The pending free agent forward will earn a $750K salary in the NHL, and a $275K salary in the AHL next season.
Vecchione, 29, has played just one game for the Capitals this season, his first NHL experience since originally signing out of the NCAA in 2017. Once a highly sought-after college free agent, the minor league veteran has now settled into a top role in the AHL, where he’ll likely play out most of this new contract.
In 46 games with the Hershey Bears this year, Vecchione has 38 points, taking his AHL total to 162 in 257 games. This new contract means he won’t have to fight for a new contract in the summer when he would have hit free agency and keeps him with the same organization–something that has been out of reach the past few seasons.
While he doesn’t provide any real impactful depth for the Capitals, there is at least a chance that he could see some more NHL time. If he does, he’ll cost just the league minimum, a handy option to have as Washington and the rest of the league continue to deal with a relatively flat cap.
NHL Upholds Nino Niederreiter Suspension
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the one-game suspension assessed to Nino Niederreiter after the Carolina Hurricanes forward filed an appeal. The suspension was handed out more than a week ago and Niederreiter has already missed a game and then returned to the lineup, meaning this appeal was simply to try and clear his record and recoup the forfeited salary.
Niederreiter was suspended for slashing Axel Jonsson Fjallby while the Washington Capitals forward was still on the bench. At the time, the Department of Player safety called the incident a “controlled, and purposeful stick swing directed toward an opponent on the bench” and worthy of a suspension, even with a relative lack of force.
In the two-page decision, Bettman explains:
Mr. Niederreiter has no history of supplemental discipline in his ten (10) year NHL career, and his demeanor during the hearing was remorseful and respectful. However, I cannot discount the intentional, retaliatory, and potentially dangerous nature of his action. I accept that this was not a forceful act; however, the onus is on Mr. Niederreiter as a Player on the ice not to engage with Players on the bench, even if the Players on the bench engaged with him and especially when contact is with a Player who is unsuspecting and not involved. Moreover, even while I accept Mr. Niederreiter’s statement that his slash was not forceful, any intentional use of a stick to make contact with a Player’s neck or head is unacceptable, and certainly with a Player on the bench. While Mr. Jonsson-Fjallby was not injured in this instance, a matter of centimeters could have led to a dramatically different result.
Niederreiter forfeited just over $26K for the incident and will have it added to his supplementary discipline history. It will be considered in any future rulings. Tonight, meanwhile, he’ll be back on the ice against the Capitals.
Snapshots: Three Stars, Hanson, Murray
The NHL has released its Three Stars for last week, with Cam Talbot of the Minnesota Wild taking the top spot. The Wild went out and landed the best reigning Vezina Trophy winner at the deadline, but the incumbent started managed to post a 3-0 record with a .959 save percentage last week. Talbot now has 27 wins on the year and carries a .911 save percentage into the stretch run.
Second and third went to two Alberta superstars, as Johnny Gaudreau and Leon Draisaitl take home the honors. The Calgary Flames forward ended up with ten points in three games including a five-assist effort against Edmonton, and now has reached 90 points for the second time in his career. Meanwhile, the Oilers had their own star in Draisaitl, who added six goals and two assists last week. That takes him to 47 of each on the year, setting him up for the third 100+ point season of his career, should he stay healthy down the stretch.
- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have signed a pair of college free agents to professional tryouts, adding goaltender Darion Hanson from the University of Connecticut and Will Riedell from Ohio State. Neither one has signed NHL or even AHL contracts to this point, but will get a chance to taste professional hockey down the stretch before deciding what comes next. Hanson, 24, had a .923 save percentage in 35 starts for UConn this season.
- Matt Murray was back on the ice this morning for the Ottawa Senators, as he works his way back from an upper-body injury. The veteran netminder has been out since earlier this month, leading to the Senators recalling and taking Mads Sogaard on the road with them to Nashville for tomorrow’s game. Murray, 27, has had a nightmare season, losing 14 of 20 appearances and seeing time in the minor leagues. While he had been seemingly turning things around in late February, two early starts in March saw him allow 13 goals on 53 shots before going back on the shelf.
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Colin Swoyer
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to comb the ranks of the undrafted college free agent, this time signing Colin Swoyer after Michigan Tech’s season came to an end over the weekend. Swoyer has agreed to a one-year entry-level contract that will be for the 2022-23 season and carries an average annual value of $750K at the NHL level. He’ll now join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season.
Swoyer, 23, spent four years at Michigan Tech, following a part of seasons in the USHL. Completely overlooked by scouts during his draft years–Swoyer wasn’t even listed on NHL Central Scouting’s top-200 North American skaters–his development in college has now led to an outstanding opportunity for the young defenseman.
The Penguins, known for their willingness to take chances on college free agents, have just seven defensemen in the entire organization signed through 2022-23 (eight now). While several of the younger minor league options will get new deals as restricted free agents, there is always room for a player like Swoyer to make an impact in an organization that sheds draft picks so frequently.
Whether he can make that impact remains to be seen, but the soon-to-be 24-year-old will get at least a year to try. Despite turning 25 before his entry-level contract ends, Swoyer will not qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2023; he will be a restricted free agent when this first contract expires.
Carolina Hurricanes Acquire Tarmo Reunanen
The AHL trade deadline frenzy continues, this time with the Carolina Hurricanes adding some interesting defensive depth from the New York Rangers. The Hurricanes have acquired Tarmo Reunanen in exchange for Maxim Letunov. Because this deal was done after the NHL trade deadline, both players are no longer eligible to play in the NHL this season. They can however continue to play in the AHL, where they will report to their new teams.
Reunanen, 24, is in the final year of his entry-level contract, originally signed with the Rangers in 2019, and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The fourth-round pick actually played in four NHL games last season, but has been limited to minor league action this time around, recording 17 points in 40 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He’ll now join the Chicago Wolves, who happen to be the best team in the AHL so far, sitting first in the Central Division with a 39-11-10 record.
This is an interesting move for the Hurricanes because of Reunanen’s contract status, even though he could potentially return to Finland in the offseason. Adding an RFA for Letunov, who will be a Group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, seems like at the very least a nice swap of assets for Carolina.
The 26-year-old Letunov has been a good minor league player over the last few years, but has seen his offensive output drop considerably this season. In 60 games with the Wolves he had just 23 points, something that will be easily replaced by Richard Panik, who was also loaned to the team today from the Bridgeport Islanders.
That’s not to say the Hartford Wolf Pack are throwing in the towel, though. Letunov was a second-round pick in 2014 and has shown a scoring touch in the past, even reaching 40 points in 50 games during the 2019-20 season. That same season he managed three games with the San Jose Sharks, where he scored his first (and only) NHL goal. With Hartford still firmly in the playoff chase in the AHL’s Atlantic Division, he should help their offensive output down the stretch.
Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues Complete Minor League Trade
Though the NHL trade deadline was last week, the AHL’s is today, with players dealt today still eligible to suit up down the stretch and into the playoffs. While there usually isn’t a ton of action, today did see Brady Lyle traded from the Providence Bruins to the Springfield Thunderbirds in exchange for future considerations.
Lyle, 22, is in the first season of his two-year, entry-level contract that he signed with the Boston Bruins last spring. He has yet to earn a recall to the NHL at all, and had just nine points in 48 games for Providence this season. He will not be eligible to play for St. Louis for the rest of the season, but can help Springfield as they continue their chase for the Calder Cup. The Thunderbirds are currently in first place in the Atlantic Division, six points ahead of Providence–though they’ve played four more games than the Bruins.
Boston clears a roster spot with the deal, though they already had five empty slots to work with this spring when it comes to undrafted signings. Lyle was one of those signings a year ago, after going undrafted out of the OHL. The 22-year-old finished his junior career with 65 points in 62 games for the Owen Sound Attack in 2019-20, but hasn’t been able to find that kind of offense at the professional level.
David Jiricek Not Part Of Czechia Training Camp Roster
March 28: Unfortunately, after additional testing, Jiricek will not be able to take part in the camp. He has been ruled out for health reasons and replaced on the camp roster by David Kvasnicka. That chance to show what he can do on the international stage will have to wait.
March 25: Among the top prospects for the 2022 draft, there are really only two defensemen that stand out as candidates to go in the top ten. One of them is Simon Nemec, the Slovakian standout who would have played in the U18 Worlds, U20 World Juniors, and the Olympics all in the same season, had COVID restrictions not put some of that action on pause. Nemec is a star in the Slovakian league already and will likely suit up for his country at the World Championships, as he did last year.
The other is David Jiricek, whose draft stock was relatively uncertain after an early injury at the World Juniors. He hasn’t played since then, meaning it wasn’t clear at all whether scouts would get another chance to see him playing at a high level before this summer’s draft. Good news, Jiricek was named today to Czechia’s training camp roster for the World Championships, suggesting he could be ready to play in the May tournament, well ahead of the July draft.
The first thing you’ll notice about Jiricek, 18, is how mobile he is for a 6’3″ defenseman, seemingly floating around the ice both with the puck and without it. In 29 games at the highest level in Czechia, he recorded five goals and 11 points, his second full season with HC Skoda Plzen, even as a teenager. While some will undoubtedly prefer Nemec when it’s all said and done, Jiricek has ranked ahead of him at several stages. At the mid-season rankings, NHL Central Scouting had Jiricek fourth among all European skaters, with Nemec sixth. Bob McKenzie’s TSN mid-season scout poll published in January also had Jiricek as the top defenseman, this time seventh (Nemec ranked ninth).
While other defensemen may still make late pushes (Pavel Mintyukov and Denton Mateychuk come to mind), Jiricek and Nemec appear to be battling for the honor of being the first blueliner off the board in July. An appearance at the World Championship, where he could be on the ice against NHL talent, would certainly give the former a chance to impress.
Of course, NHL talent that is eliminated will also be joining the group, and other more veteran names from Europe. David Krejci, for instance, is expected to join the Czechia team a week or two before the tournament.
Kris Russell Placed In COVID Protocol
The Edmonton Oilers will be without Kris Russell for the next little while, as he was placed in the COVID protocol today. He hasn’t played since the team returned from the United States, and had been ruled out with an “undisclosed” injury, suggesting that he did receive a positive test result at some point in the last few days. The team has not confirmed that or how long Russell will be sidelined, only listing him in the protocol.
Russell, 34, has played in just 24 games for the Oilers this season, missing a good chunk of the year on long-term injured reserve. In fact, he has received that designation on two separate occasions this season, only being activated most recently on March 17. In the four games since then, Russell has actually shown rather well, and overall on the year he’s been fine in his depth role.
Some fans may even have missed his physical, shot-blocking presence when the Oilers gave up nine goals to the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, though it’s certainly not clear his 15-minutes a night would have made much of a difference. In that game, the team leaned heavily on Tyson Barrie, including more than three minutes of short-handed ice time for the usually offensive defenseman.
Russell will not be available for tonight’s game against the Arizona Coyotes, though it is unclear whether he will be back for the team’s other two matches this week, both at home against strong Western Conference opponents.