Snapshots: Williams, Drysdale, Nesterov
The Carolina Hurricanes are scheduled to play the New York Rangers in a qualifying round if the NHL resumes this summer, meaning they could potentially only have a handful of games remaining in the 2019-20 season. Does that mean that Justin Williams is closing in on retirement? Not so fast says Hurricanes GM Don Waddell, who told Sportsnet radio to not write off his team leader just yet.
Williams, 38, took the first part of this season off to spend with his family but returned to the Hurricanes lineup on January 19th. While he was held pointless in 12 of his first 15 games, Williams was actually on a five-game goal streak when the season was paused in mid-March. The 19-year veteran has 101 points in 155 career playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup three times.
- If you want to know a little more about the top-rated defenseman in this year’s draft, Craig Button of TSN breaks down Jamie Drysdale‘s potential. The smooth-skating Drysdale gets a 5/5 rating in both hockey sense and competitiveness from Button, with a comparison to Hall of Fame defender Sergei Zubov. Drysdale was ranked third among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and is expected to be off the board in the first few picks.
- Rick Dhaliwal of TSN is hearing that Nikita Nesterov may actually leave CSKA Moscow after all, despite reports earlier in the year that he was planning on signing a long-term deal with the KHL organization. Back in March, Nesterov reportedly turned down a hefty offer from the Los Angeles Kings, the same team Dhaliwal has heard linked to the free agent defender now. In the three seasons since he left the NHL, Nesterov has recorded 60 points in 136 games for CSKA.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Arthur Kaliyev, Jordan Spence
The Los Angeles Kings have inked a pair of top prospects, signing Arthur Kaliyev and Jordan Spence to three-year entry-level contracts. Both players are expected to return to the CHL next season.
Kaliyev, 18, was selected 33rd overall by the Kings last year after falling out of the first round. The young forward is one of the most lethal goal-scorers in all of junior hockey, lighting the lamp 126 times over his 192 regular season games for the Hamilton Bulldogs. After scoring 102 points in his draft year, the 6’2″ winger came back with an even better point rate in the shortened 2019-20, recording 98 in just 57 games.
While there is still work to do on several parts of his game, Kaliyev represents a potential top-six option for the Kings that could be lethal on an NHL powerplay. Should he fail to make the Los Angeles roster in 2020-21, he will not be eligible to play in the AHL and would have to return to Hamilton.
Spence meanwhile wasn’t drafted quite as high, picked 95th overall by the Kings last year, but is still making quite an impact. The 19-year old was named QMJHL defenseman of the year after recording 52 points in 60 games for the Moncton Wildcats. Actually born in Australia, Spence is quickly rising up prospect rankings despite being a mid-round pick and could legitimately challenge for an NHL roster spot in the next few years.
Like Kaliyev, Spence will not be eligible for AHL play next season and will likely return to help the Wildcats once again. Both contracts are eligible to slide forward if the players are sent back to junior.
QMJHL Hoping To Start 2020-21 Season In October
While the hockey world’s focus has been on the NHL and whether or not it will be able to resume the 2019-20 season this summer, other leagues have had to look forward and plan for the future. It was hard to know how a major junior league like the QMJHL would continue given its reliance on ticket sales to generate revenue, but today commissioner Gilles Courteau announced that they are targeting October 1st as a start date for the 2020-21 season.
A statement released by the Halifax Mooseheads (and mirrored by several other organizations) explained:
Although this is a positive announcement for all of us that are looking forward to getting back in the Scotiabank Centre, we fully understand that there are still a number of factors to be determined and approved by our Provincial Government and public health authorities before we can begin selling ticket packages.
The league is hoping for a full 68-game season, which would start just a few weeks after the originally scheduled opening day. Obviously as with any announcements like this, things could change in an instant. But they have at least circled a date to work towards.
Dallas Stars Sign Fredrik Karlstrom To Entry-Level Contract
Tuesday: In an interview with hockeysverige, Karlstrom announces that he will be staying in Sweden for another year.
Monday: The Dallas Stars have signed prospect Fredrik Karlstrom just before his draft rights expired, inking him to a two-year entry-level contract. Karlstrom could have become an unrestricted free agent had he failed to sign today, but he will join the organization that drafted him back in 2016.
One of the highest picks left unsigned from four years ago, Karlstom was selected 90th overall by the Stars. The 22-year old center has spent the last three seasons playing in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 2019-20 for Vaxjo HC. It’s hard to know exactly how his game would translate to North America, but there are a couple of things that stand out and could help Karlstrom make an impact in the AHL.
The first is his versatility, as Karlstrom has experience at both center and wing. The second is his penalty killing, where he has excelled in the past. While it’s not clear exactly what the Stars have planned for him, the 6’2″ forward will likely get a chance to prove himself whenever the 2020-21 training camps are underway. Given that the contract he signed last year with Vaxjo was a two-year pact, the Stars may also loan him back to continue his development overseas.
Washington Capitals Assistant Reid Cashman Hired By Dartmouth
The Washington Capitals will have Reid Cashman serving in his assistant coach role through the completion of the 2019-20 playoffs, but not thereafter. Cashman has been hired as the new head coach of the Dartmouth hockey program, which he will join whenever the Capitals season is over.
Cashman, 37, started his coaching career in 2011 at Quinnipiac University, serving as an assistant or associate for five seasons. He then joined the Capitals organization, first as an assistant with the Hershey Bears and then with the Capitals. The former AHL defenseman is an up-and-coming coaching prospect that could find his way back to the NHL eventually.
This isn’t the first assistant coach that has already committed to a new program, as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Paul McFarland will be heading back to the OHL. The suspended season has changed a lot of plans for staff all across the league and the delayed start to 2020-21 could potentially lead to even more departures.
Snapshots: Stralman, Draft Rankings, Tourigny
The NHL has announced its return to play format and hopes to get players back on the ice in groups soon, but that doesn’t mean that the season is guaranteed to resume this summer. Some players are still worried about how safe it would be to gather teams in hub cities, including Anton Stralman who spoke with Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription required):
I think you should be concerned. There are so many ways to look at this thing. I know everybody wants hockey back, but safety has to come first. And it’s a little bit worrisome, I can’t deny that. Even though most players are young and healthy, I’m sure there are players like me that have underlying health issues. I don’t know how my body will react if I get this virus.
According to Smith, Stralman dealt with bronchiectasis in the past and only recently stopped taking medication for it. While he is the one speaking out about it, Stralman isn’t the only player who feels this way as James Mirtle of The Athletic points out on Twitter.
- For those who are looking forward to the draft instead, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic (subscription required) has published his final top-100 ranking of 2020 draft prospects. That includes Alexis Lafreniere at the top where he has been on every list so far, but also has some surprises a little further down the first round. Wheeler gives a detailed scouting report on each of the first 50 prospects and breaks them down into draft tiers.
- The CHL has named Andre Tourigny the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year for 2019-20 after leading the Ottawa 67’s to a 50-11-1 record. Tourigny was also an assistant with the gold medal-winning Team Canada at the World Juniors and has now put up consecutive 50-win seasons with Ottawa. Amazingly, despite winning coach of the year in the QMJHL, OHL and now CHL, Tourigny has still not been able to capture a league title.
Vegas Golden Knights Sign Connor Corcoran
Another player has decided to sign just before the deadline, as Connor Corcoran inks a three-year entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. Corcoran’s draft rights would have expired later today, but instead he’ll be joining the Golden Knights organization after an impressive OHL career.
Corcoran, 19, put up 19 goals and 54 points this season for the Windsor Spitfires while serving as an alternate captain. That significant jump in offense was likely played an important part in earning him this contract, given he was a fifth-round pick two years ago.
The 6’2″ defenseman will be eligible to join the new Henderson Silver Knights for their inaugural season to continue his development. Though likely still several years from competing for an NHL job, Corcoran has at least taken the first step and is now a professional hockey player.
The Golden Knights still must reach contracts with Xavier Bouchard and Jordan Kooy, or lose their draft rights today.
Chris Wideman, Frank Corrado Sign Overseas
With the start of the 2020-21 NHL season likely pushed back several months, players on the seven teams already eliminated have a very long wait before they can get into game action. For minor league free agents in those organizations, seeking out new opportunities is obviously a priority. Today, both Frank Corrado and Chris Wideman, players with NHL experience, have decided to sign overseas.
Corrado, 27, spent the 2019-20 season with the Belleville Senators of the AHL, recording 10 points in 36 games. The fifth-round pick has suited up 80 times in the NHL counting regular season and playoff games but has been limited to mostly minor league work the last few seasons. He’ll now take his talents to Sweden where he has signed with MODO, who now play in Sweden’s second league after suffering relegation a few years ago.
Wideman meanwhile will be headed to the KHL after playing this season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. The 30-year old Wideman was once a regular on the Ottawa Senators blueline but has bounced around the league the last few seasons and found himself firmly in the minor leagues in 2019-20. With 181 NHL games under his belt, he’ll try to find success overseas for the first time.
Winnipeg Jets Sign Declan Chisholm
With the deadline to sign coming up fast later this evening, the Winnipeg Jets have gotten an interesting prospect under contract. The team has signed Declan Chisholm to his three-year entry-level contract according to several reports including CapFriendly.
Chisholm, 20, had an outstanding season for the Peterborough Petes this year, recording 13 goals and 69 points in 59 games. The left-shot defenseman was part of a deadly powerplay and became the primary puck-mover for the squad, recording 48 more points than the next highest scoring defenseman on the Petes.
For a fifth-round pick like Chisholm getting an NHL contract is a huge step, but there should be even more excitement in Winnipeg for his arrival at the professional level. With the strong development steps he has taken over the last few years, Chisholm is now a prospect with legitimate NHL upside who could quickly take over a big role for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
Gerry Mayhew Wins AHL MVP
The Les Cunningham Award has been given to Gerry Mayhew of the Iowa Wild, named the AHL’s most valuable player after a vote from coaches, players, and media around the league. Mayhew follows Daniel Carr who won the award in 2018-19.
In only his third full season in the AHL, the 27-year old Mayhew has proven that hard work and determination can pay off. After going undrafted out of the USHL despite his strong play, the 5’9″ forward dominated at the collegiate level for Ferris State University. When he stepped into the AHL in 2017 his goal-scoring touch came with him.
Mayhew had already experienced success over the last two seasons, but this year he took his game to an entirely new level. With 39 goals he was the league’s scoring champ despite playing in just 49 games. Those 39 tallies were also the most by an AHL skater in nearly a decade, another incredible feat given his shortened season.
Not only was the AHL campaign cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak, but Mayhew also got his first chance in the NHL, playing 13 games for the Minnesota Wild.
Mayhew has one more year on his two-way contract with the Wild, which carries a $700K cap hit at the NHL level.