Buffalo Sabres Sign Lukas Rousek
The Buffalo Sabres have signed Czech forward Lukas Rousek to a two-year entry-level contract, according to his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey. Milstein clarified to John Vogl of The Athletic that Rousek likely won’t be playing any AHL games this spring, given how long it would take him to get a visa and the short schedule remaining. The young forward will instead head to Buffalo early in the summer to train and his contract will begin in 2021-22.
It was quite the season for Rousek, who was just a sixth-round selection in 2019. After breaking out offensively last year for Sparta Praha, scoring 14 goals and 29 points in 52 games, the 22-year-old took his game to an entirely new level and racked up 38 points in 49 games for the 2020-21 season. That was good enough for 15th in the entire league, though actually just fourth on his team behind some of the league’s most respected names, including former NHL forward Michal Repik.
He went undrafted in his first two years of eligibility, but Rousek is proving that the Sabres were right in giving him a crack in 2019. A worthwhile pick, he’ll now have to try and make the transition to North American hockey and bring some of that offense to the AHL.
Alex Edler Suspended Two Games
The Department of Player Safety has come to a decision on Alexander Edler following his phone hearing, issuing a two-game suspension to the Vancouver Canucks defenseman. Edler’s ban comes for a kneeing incident in last night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which resulted in an injury to Zach Hyman. As the accompanying video explains:
It is important to note that it is not the evasive move that causes unavoidable knee-on-knee contact through no fault of Edler’s. Edler approaches Hyman with a wide base, which is common as part of a natural hitting motion. When Hyman makes his move, Edler has the option to make a full adjustment of his entire body and attempt a full body check, or to maintain his current course and attempt to slow Hyman down in some other fashion. Instead, fatigued after a long shift, Edler only adjusts his right leg, turning his right foot outward to extend his leg further. While this movement is slight, it insures that leg on leg contact will occur and ultimately means that Edler drives his knee directly into the knee of Hyman with force.
Edler received a major penalty and game misconduct on the play but will have to sit out two games as well. The Maple Leafs have not yet issued an update on Hyman’s status.
Though it cannot be considered in this instance, this isn’t the first time Edler has received a suspension for kneeing. While playing at the 2013 World Championships for Sweden, he was kicked out of the tournament for a knee-on-knee hit against Canada’s Eric Staal. He has also been suspended twice in his NHL career, but not since the 2013-14 season.
Edler only just returned along with the rest of the Canucks from a weeks-long layoff thanks to a COVID outbreak. They’ll now have to navigate the next two games–tomorrow against the Maple Leafs and Thursday against Ottawa–without one of their key defenders and a player who logs heavy minutes on a regular basis.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 04/19/21
There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:
West Division
- The San Jose Sharks have sent Jacob Middleton back to the AHL, moving him off the taxi squad for the time being. The 25-year-old defenseman has seven points in 20 games for the Barracuda this season, his fifth year with the club.
North Division
Central Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have officially recalled Gavin Bayreuther from the taxi squad after head coach John Tortorella told reporters that he would be making his debut tonight. Bayreuther played 19 games for the Dallas Stars in 2018-19, his only NHL experience so far. The team has also recalled Cliff Pu to the taxi squad.
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled forward Mathias Brome from the taxi squad, the team announced. The rookie import has played in 24 games with Detroit this season, but has only one point to show for it.
East Division
- In addition to signing Alexander Holtz to an AHL amateur tryout, the New Jersey Devils have made a taxi squad change. Tyce Thompson and Nikita Okhotiuk have both been loaned to the Binghamton Devils. Thompson, 21, will be joining the AHL club for the first time after playing in six NHL games directly after signing his entry-level deal. Okhotiuk meanwhile is still waiting to make his NHL debut.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned Cam York to the AHL, meaning his NHL debut will have to wait. The 20-year-old defenseman ended his college career and signed an entry-level contract last month, turning pro after two excellent seasons with the University of Michigan. Selected 14th overall in 2019, he will likely be fighting for a regular spot on the blue line come next season’s training camp.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Will Cuylle Agrees To Terms With New York Rangers
All the focus at the 2020 draft for the New York Rangers was on Alexis Lafreniere, the first-overall pick. But 59 selections later, the team took another standout CHL forward, selecting Will Cuylle from the Windsor Spitfires 60th overall. After spending this year in the minor leagues with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Cuylle has agreed to terms on his three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers.
The 6’3″ Cuylle only turned 19 in February, but he’s already off to quite the start for Hartford. He has five points in 13 games but is third on the team in penalty minutes with 26 and got his first AHL fight under his belt last month. It’s not that Cuylle is an enforcer (far from it), but the big winger is more than willing to engage physically, using his size and strength to lean on defenders. That has even been evident while playing against opponents sometimes a decade his senior in the AHL, a league he wouldn’t even be eligible to play in if this were a normal year.
With the OHL still suspended, Cuylle can continue to play with the Wolf Pack and test himself at the professional level. Unfortunately, given he doesn’t turn 20 until February 2022, he actually would need to go back to the OHL for next season if he fails to make the Rangers roster. That’s quite an odd development path, but perhaps Cuylle can take some of the lessons he has learned this season to dominate for Windsor and play an even more offensive role.
New Jersey Devils Sign Alexander Holtz
Here comes Alexander Holtz. The Swedish prospect has signed his three-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils, which will kick in for the 2021-22 season. Holtz will also be joining the Binghamton Devils for the rest of the season on an amateur tryout once his quarantine procedures are completed.
If you’re a frustrated Devils fan that has watched the New Jersey forwards struggle to score all season, meet your new savior. The 19-year-old forward is a pure goal scorer who has one of the best shots in the world currently outside the NHL. He isn’t just a “grip it and rip it” attacker though; instead, he creates chances in multiple ways and at multiple angles, capitalizing on whatever weakness the defense shows.
In 40 games for Djurgardens this season, his second full year in the SHL, Holtz had seven goals and 18 points. He added another pair of goals and four points in three postseason games, showing a glimpse of what lies ahead for the seventh-overall draft pick.
There’s no doubt that North American hockey will be a challenge for Holtz, but he is just another young blue-chip prospect to add to the system in New Jersey. The team has very few long-term financial commitments and the youngest roster in the NHL at the moment. In fact, after trading away the likes of Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac, the team doesn’t have a single forward on the roster over the age of 26. Holtz will be another piece of that group that the team hopes can grow together into a contender, and if there was anything it needed it was someone to consistently put the puck in the back of the net when some of the other skilled playmakers create space.
Boston Bruins Sign Brady Lyle
If you’ve been noticing the strong play of number 37 for the Bruins (Providence, that is) this season, you’re not alone. The Boston Bruins have rewarded Brady Lyle with a two-year entry-level contract. Lyle had been playing with the Providence Bruins on an AHL contract that actually extended through the 2021-22 season as well. That second year will be replaced by the entry-level deal and the new contract carries an average annual value of $800K at the NHL level.
Despite scoring at a strong rate in the OHL, Lyle went undrafted in each of his eligible years and ended up settling for that AHL contract last spring. At the beginning of this season when there wasn’t a clear timetable for the minor leagues, he was loaned to Slovakia where he recorded three points in six games with Detva HC. Since returning, he has been one of the most exciting players on the Providence roster, scoring six goals and 12 points in 19 games. Both of those numbers lead all defenders on the Bruins, but Lyle is also tied for the AHL lead in goals by a defenseman.
Sure, there’s still work to be done by the 21-year-old, but securing an NHL deal was the first step. Last month AHL reporter Mark Divver tweeted that “NHL teams are sniffing around” on Lyle, suggesting that Boston may not have been the only team interested in signing him to an entry-level deal.
Commenter Mute Button Now Available
For those looking to customize their commenting experience here at Pro Hockey Rumors, the website now has a mute button available. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see that each comment has the option to like, reply, flag, or mute. If you decide you would prefer to hide all comments from a specific user, including all comments on a thread they’ve started, hit the mute link. A box will pop up asking you to confirm. You can edit your mute list on your profile page. The Trade Rumors iOS app now has a flag button, but does not yet have the mute button.
Moving forward, the comment section will now be open on political and COVID-19 posts, while remaining closed on those related to domestic violence. Please review our commenting policy, which still does not allow attacks, insults, trolling, or harassment. Off-topic commentary is also not allowed, so please do not leave comments that are unrelated to the subject matter of the post. If you see comments that violate our policy, please flag them, consider muting the person, and do not reply. We can’t attempt to assess who started it.
We’ve created a “View Comments” button on each post, so that entering the comment section will be a conscious choice. Consider that you may be better off sitting out certain discussions. We’ve set up some guard rails, but the comment section reflects the attitudes and opinions of many different people. We’ll try to review everything that violates our policy, but we can’t moderate out stupidity, insensitivity, and various other subjective things. We’re hopeful that the mute button will allow PHR commenters more control over their experience.
Alex Edler To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety
The Vancouver Canucks are just getting back in the swing of things but at least one of their veteran players won’t be in the lineup for the next while. Alexander Edler will have a hearing today with the Department of Player Safety for his kneeing incident in last night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Partway through the second period, Hyman stole the puck at center ice and was trying to carry it into the zone when Edler closed the gap for a hit. His right leg was extended and the two went knee-on-knee, resulting in Hyman crumpled on the ice in pain. The Maple Leafs forward left the game and did not return, while Edler received a major penalty and game misconduct.
Toronto hasn’t announced how severe the injury is for Hyman (though captain John Tavares did say his teammate was “optimistic” in the locker room), but it appears as though Edler will miss at least one game. Even if he isn’t the all-situations workhorse he was a few years ago, Edler is still an important part of the Canucks’ defense and will be missed, especially given how difficult the team’s schedule is for the rest of the season.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Dylan Holloway
6:50pm: NHL insider John Shannon reports that Holloway’s contract will begin in 2021-22, so even if his thumb does heal in time, he won’t be playing for the Oilers until next season.
4:05pm: One of the most impressive players in college hockey has decided that two years is enough. Dylan Holloway has turned pro and signed his entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. It is not immediately clear whether the contract is for this season or next. Since he turns 20 in late September, Holloway’s three-year deal will not be eligible to slide, meaning if it is for 2020-21, the first year will be burned no matter where or how many games he plays this spring. Alternatively, if it begins in 2021-22 he would not be eligible to play for the Oilers this season, though could still join the Bakersfield Condors on an amateur tryout. The young forward is currently dealing with a broken thumb suffered at the end of his college season, so he can’t play for either of them at the moment.
Holloway, 19, was the 14th overall pick in the 2020 draft and exploded at the University of Wisconsin, registering 11 goals and 35 points in 23 games. He was named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for his performance, though teammate Cole Caufield would eventually take home the trophy. Caufield also got the better of Holloway at the World Junior tournament, where the latter’s Team Canada finished with a silver medal.
If you hadn’t already started to respect the AJHL as a breeding ground for top NHL prospects from Cale Makar‘s emergence, Holloway might be able to change your mind. The Alberta native decided not to play in the WHL to maintain his NCAA eligibility and scored 40 goals and 88 points for the Okotoks Oilers in 2018-19, earning AJHL MVP honors. He also was part of the Canadian contingent that won gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky in 2018, playing on a powerhouse squad with the likes of Alexis Lafreniere, Bowen Byram, and Dylan Cozens.
Because he turned 18 just a few days after the cutoff for the 2019 draft, Holloway is a more advanced player than some of his 2020 contemporaries. That is only magnified by the fact he has already played two years of NCAA hockey, developing from a talented but inconsistent freshman to a dominant sophomore. His puck protection skills have hit a new level and he was one of the most reliable two-way players on a strong Wisconsin roster.
There’s a real chance that Holloway could grab a spot on the Oilers roster right now if healthy, but at very worst he’ll be in the mix for a full-time spot in 2021-22.
Lucas Raymond Signs Entry-Level Contract
The Detroit Red Wings have signed another impressive young forward, reaching a three-year entry-level contract with Lucas Raymond. The deal will kick in for the 2021-22 season and, according to PuckPedia, carry a cap hit of $925K. The contract includes up to $850K in Schedule “A” performance bonuses and $1.65MM in Schedule “B” bonuses each season.
Raymond, 19, was the fourth-overall pick in the 2020 draft behind the trio of Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, and Tim Stutzle. The Swedish forward spent this season in the SHL, once again suiting up for Frolunda. In his second full season for the professional club, he was given even more responsibility and ended up with 18 points in 34 games.
While that number doesn’t jump off the page, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to Raymond’s offensive upside. The 5’10” winger has brilliant vision and routinely creates space for his teammates by drawing defenders into him before finding a passing lane. He’s best with the puck on his stick, carrying it through traffic or protecting it in the offensive zone. His future will likely be riding shotgun with the Red Wings best goal scorer, racking up points while still being a dangerous shooter in his own right.
Of course, there’s still development to go for the top pick, but getting Raymond under contract means we may see him in the NHL as soon as next season. The fact that he has years of professional experience will only help his transition to the NHL or AHL in 2021-22, should the Red Wings decide that North America is best for him. Of note is the fact that since Raymond’s birthday falls in March, his contract will be able to slide even next season–meaning he will have to play in at least 11 NHL games in 2021-22 to burn the first year.