Snapshots: Blackhawks, Matthews, Bean
The Chicago Blackhawks have announced a three-year extension with their ECHL affiliate the Indy Fuel. The agreement will take them through the 2021-22 season and means the Fuel will remain affiliated with the only NHL team they’ve ever known. The Indianapolis franchise came into the ECHL in 2014, though haven’t yet found a ton of success. In their five-year run, the Fuel have only qualified for the Kelly Cup playoffs once and were swept out of the first round that season by the Toledo Walleye.
More and more around the league the ECHL is used as a development team crucial in the early years of raw or unexpected prospects. Notably it is a place where young goaltenders can sharpen their skills while playing a lot, something that Blackhawks netminder Collin Delia did as recently as 2017-18. Delia played ten games for the Fuel during that season and now looks like a potential starting option for the Blackhawks going forward. Justin Holl of the Toronto Maple Leafs is also an alumni of the Indy program, having started his professional career there by playing 66 games for the team in 2014-15.
- Speaking of the Maple Leafs, the team announced today that Auston Matthews has undergone a procedure to remove hardware from a 2014 surgery. Matthews broke his femur while playing in the USNTDP several years ago, and according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN the screws leftover from that procedure may have been causing back pain for the young star. This explains why Matthews will not be playing in the upcoming IIHF World Championship, though it is not expected to affect his offseason training schedule.
- The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Jake Bean from the AHL once again, though with the Charlotte Checkers starting their second round playoff series tomorrow evening he may not be on the roster very long. Bean has been up and down in the playoffs to give the Hurricanes some additional defensive depth as they deal with injuries to Calvin de Haan and Trevor van Riemsdyk, but he has yet to suit up. The 20-year old was named to the AHL All-Rookie team this season and made his NHL debut by suiting up twice for the Hurricanes earlier in the year.
Top Women’s Players Announce Boycott, Demand Changes
More than 200 of the world’s top women’s hockey players have released a joint statement today, announcing that they will not play in any professional league this season unless changes are made to compensation, insurance plans and resource availability. Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Brianne Jenner are all among the group that is looking for a way to create a sustainable professional model for women’s hockey. The statement in full:
We are fortunate to be the ambassadors of this game that we revere so deeply and yet, more than ever, we understand the responsibility that comes with that ambassadorship: To leave this game in better shape than when we entered it. That is why we come together, over 200 players strong, to say it is time to create a sustainable professional league for Women’s Hockey.
While we have all accomplished so much, there is no greater accomplishment than what we have the potential to do right here and right now – not just for this generation of players, but for generations to come. With that purpose, we are coming together, not as individual players, but as one collective voice to help navigate the future and protect the players’ needs. We cannot make a sustainable living playing in the current state of the professional game. Having no health insurance and making as low as two thousand dollars a season means players can’t adequately train and prepare to play at the highest level.
Because of that, together as players, we will not play in ANY professional leagues in North America this season until we get the resources that professional hockey demands and deserves.
We may have represented different teams, leagues, and countries – but this sport is one family. And the time is now for this family to unite. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for – our moment to come together and say we deserve more. It’s time for a long-term viable professional league that will showcase the greatest product of women’s professional hockey in the world.” #ForTheGame
This comes after the surprising announcement earlier this year that the CWHL would be shutting down after financial issues. The NWHL, the other professional women’s league in North America, received an increased investment from the NHL, but is still not directly affiliated with the league. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been clear in the past that the league may step in if there were no other options for women’s hockey.
A move like this boycott is a surprising one, but obviously necessary according to this group of players.
Kelly McCrimmon Promoted To Vegas GM
The Edmonton Oilers will not be hiring Vegas Golden Knights assistant general manger Kelly McCrimmon. That’s because the Golden Knights have promoted him to GM, while George McPhee will remain as President of Hockey Operations. Team owner Bill Foley released a statement:
This is a very exciting announcement for our club and Vegas Golden Knights fans around the world. George and Kelly are a fantastic team. From the mock draft exercises and preparation leading up to the Expansion Draft, building out our coaching staff, and continually improving our team through the draft, trades, signings and free agency, the work they have done over the last three years has been remarkable. Together they have constructed a championship-caliber team in a very short time. This personnel move ensures that our hockey operations group stays intact and positions our organization for long term success.
The Golden Knights have experienced unprecedented success for an expansion team, and a huge part of that has been the work that McCrimmon did as assistant GM. McPhee and McCrimmon were almost flawless in their execution of the expansion draft strategy that netted them players like Jon Marchessault, Shea Theodore and Nate Schmidt, and turned that strategy into a Stanley Cup Final appearance in their first season.
A promotion like this ensures that McCrimmon stays with the Golden Knights, something that wasn’t so clear before the announcement. Edmonton who were reportedly interested in hiring McCrimmon for their front office vacancy, will now shift their focus somewhere else and perhaps back to interim GM Keith Gretzky. The team had wanted to interview several candidates for the opening, and have had at least two with former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Mark Hunter. Hunter’s name is exactly who Darren Dreger of TSN suggests in a tweet, while also listing Gretzky and former NHL goaltender and Arizona Coyotes executive Sean Burke.
The next expansion franchise in Seattle will also have to cross McCrimmon’s name off the list, as they were another team with reported interest in bringing him aboard. That made a lot of sense given his experience in the process, but the new organization will have to find another way to navigate their expansion draft and inaugural season.
Oliwer Kaski Drawing NHL Interest
Since KHL contracts started expiring and free agency got underway there have been plenty of reports of NHL teams looking at Russian players that might fill their depth chart next season. The savvy ones will not forget that there are other professional leagues to pick from, and apparently one Finnish talent drawing interest from several teams. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that the Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the NHL teams pursuing Oliwer Kaski, an undrafted defenseman who spent last season playing for the Lahti Pelicans of Finland’s Liiga.
If Kaski does sign with an NHL organization, it wouldn’t be the first time he plays hockey in North America. The right-handed defenseman spent parts of two seasons playing at Western Michigan University, but returned to Finland in 2016 and has played there ever since. While his first two years at the highest level weren’t spectacular, he exploded after a move to the Pelicans and recorded 51 points in 59 games this season.
The 23-year old defenseman would be held to the entry-level system, but could potentially compete for a spot in the NHL right away depending on how the team feels that offensive game translates to North America. It’s not clear what other teams are chasing him, but you can bet his impressive performance had scouts from all over the league turning their heads to get a better look.
Snapshots: WHL, Drouin, KHL
The WHL handed out their awards today, and several NHL prospects took home some hardware. Ian Scott of the Toronto Maple Leafs took home the Goaltender of the Year award, Ty Smith of the New Jersey Devils was named Defenseman of the Year, and Joachim Blichfeld of the San Jose Sharks was awarded the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as Player of the Year.
All three players exceeded expectations this season, but the most interesting may just be Blichfeld who was a seventh-round pick of the Sharks back in 2016. While he will turn 21 this summer and was older than much of his competition, the simple fact that he’s developed so well from his draft day is a huge win for San Jose. The team already signed him to an NHL contract back in late 2017. The Sharks have done extremely well pulling value from the late rounds, as Kevin Labanc (171st overall in 2014) and Joakim Ryan (198th in 2012) are already paying off for them in this year’s playoffs.
- The Montreal Canadiens announced today that Jonathan Drouin underwent minor surgery yesterday to correct a fractured nose. The 24-year old forward had mentioned an injury that would keep him from playing in the IIHF World Championship, but it wasn’t clear exactly what that was. The release notes that Drouin is expected to resume his training in two to three weeks, meaning he’ll be ready in plenty of time for training camp in a few months.
- KHL free agency opened today and some familiar names have already re-signed, meaning there won’t be any NHL returns for them this season. Brandon Kozun, Paul Postma, Eric O’Dell, Anton Lander and Stephane Da Costa, have all signed new deals. The previously reported trade of Jiri Sekac to CSKA Moscow in exchange for the rights to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Igor Ozhiganov was also officially filed today.
Nashville Predators Sign Mathieu Olivier
The Nashville Predators have decided to reward AHL forward Mathieu Olivier with a two-year, entry-level contract. The undrafted Olivier joined the Milwaukee Admirals this season on an AHL contract, but will now be part of the Predators organization through the 2020-21 season.
Olivier, 22, was a physical force for the Admirals this season and finished tied for the AHL lead in fighting majors with nine. The former QMJHL forward was never expected to be an offensive star, but gives the team a sheriff on the ice while chipping in 12 points in 54 games. The Predators have never been shy about bringing in players like this, believing that there is still at least some role for them in professional hockey.
After a successful rookie season this NHL contract signifies that the Predators believe Olivier can continue to help their organization, and could be the answer to two expiring contracts in Zac Rinaldo and Cody McLeod. Both players are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer.
Boston Bruins Extend Anton Blidh
The Boston Bruins are in the thick of a playoff run, but that doesn’t mean the front office has stopped working. The team today announced a two-year, two-way extension for Anton Blidh, keeping him in the organization through the 2020-21 season. The deal will come with an NHL average annual value of $700K. Blidh was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer.
Blidh, 24, was a sixth-round pick by the Bruins back in 2013 and has been a big part of their AHL affiliate over the last several seasons. While he’s never been the top offensive threat for the Providence Bruins, Blidh provides a solid defensive and physical presence that carries a good amount of responsibility for the team. In 21 games at the NHL level he has just two points, but could potentially be an injury call-up next season to fill in on the fourth line.
At the league minimum of $700K, he’ll provide some inexpensive depth for the Bruins as they continue their pursuit of playoff success. Even if this season doesn’t end the way the team hopes, there is plenty of reason for hope in the future. Boston has built up a stable of young effective players that can be moved in and out of the lineup, including options like Blidh who will quietly bide their time at the AHL level.
Joe Veleno Signs Entry-Level Contract
The Detroit Red Wings have signed one of their top prospects, inking Joe Veleno to a three-year entry-level contract. Veleno’s Drummondville Voltigeurs were recently knocked out of the QMJHL playoffs.
Heading into the 2017-18 season some believed that Veleno was a potential top-five pick in the 2018 draft, given his standing as the first player in QMJHL history to be granted exceptional status, allowing him to join the league a year early like John Tavares, Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad and Sean Day did in the OHL. Still, there was some concern given the fact that he hadn’t yet dominated the league. Those fears were anything but allayed when Veleno got off to a rather pedestrian start with the Saint John Sea Dogs, scoring just six goals and 31 points in his first 31 games of the season. The star center looked disinterested at times, but seemed to really pick up his game after a midseason trade to Drummondville. Veleno finished his draft season with 79 points in 64 games, still a disappointing output for a player who was vying for a top draft slot.
So, when the draft rolled around in June there was plenty of mystery surrounding Veleno. It wasn’t clear where he would end up, and as the first round went on his name continued to fall. It wouldn’t be until the 30th selection and the Red Wings’ second pick—acquired as part of the Tomas Tatar trade—that Veleno would hear his name called.
This season though, in a year where he had the chance to prove his doubters wrong, Veleno has excelled. The two-way center recorded 42 goals and 104 points in 59 games, good enough for fourth in the QMJHL, and finished with a +63 rating. He showed exactly the kind of progression that the Red Wings had hoped for, and will head into training camp this summer trying to earn a job with the NHL team.
Youth Added To Team USA For IIHF World Championship
USA Hockey has announced a trio of new additions to their IIHF World Championship roster, and all three represent the next wave of NHL talent. Not only will the team bring in potential first-overall pick Jack Hughes, but newly acquired New York Rangers prospect Adam Fox is heading to Slovakia along with Ottawa Senators defenseman Christian Wolanin.
Hughes is obviously a huge addition after lighting up the U18 tournament last month, but Fox represents a very interesting situation. The 21-year old defenseman was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Rangers just yesterday, but hasn’t officially signed his entry-level contract. While it is obviously expected to happen before the season begins, technically he still could return to Harvard for his senior season in 2019-20. Fox will be joining Brady Skjei on the Team USA roster, a potential defensive partner next season with the Rangers.
Wolanin meanwhile is a little bit older than the other two, after turning 24 in March, but also brings a little bit of NHL experience. The Senators defenseman has 40 games under his belt at the highest level, but still spent most of this season in the minor leagues with the Belleville Senators. The former University of North Dakota standout has 15 points in those first 40 NHL contests, and is expected to take on a bigger role with Ottawa next season.
The full roster is now as follows:
G Thatcher Demko
G Cayden Primeau
G Cory Schneider
D Quinn Hughes
D Alec Martinez
D Brady Skjei
D Ryan Suter
D Noah Hanifin
D Adam Fox
D Christian Wolanin
F Alex DeBrincat
F Jack Eichel
F Luke Glendening
F Patrick Kane
F Clayton Keller
F Chris Kreider
F Dylan Larkin
F James van Riemsdyk
F Frank Vatrano
F Colin White
F Johnny Gaudreau
F Derek Ryan
F Jack Hughes
Hughes, at just 17 years old will become the youngest player ever to suit up for Team USA at the World Championships.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Ryan McLeod
Wednesday: The Oilers officially announced a three-year entry-level contract for McLeod which will start next season, and an amateur tryout that allows him to join the Condors right away. McLeod will wear No. 28 for Bakersfield.
Tuesday: The Edmonton Oilers were far from playoff contention this season, but that wasn’t the case for their AHL affiliate. The Bakersfield Condors were one of the most exciting teams in the AHL this season and will begin a second-round playoff series on Friday against the San Diego Gulls. According to Mark Spector of Sportsnet they’re hoping to get some help for that series in the form of top prospect Ryan McLeod, who the Oilers are working to get signed this week.
McLeod, 19, was selected 40th overall last June and had another solid season in the OHL. The incredibly smooth skating forward recorded 62 points in 63 games split between the Mississauga Steelheads and Saginaw Spirit, only to record another 12 in 17 playoff contests. The Spirit were defeated by the Guelph Storm in seven games during the Western finals, meaning McLeod is free to join the AHL for the rest of the season.
Like his older brother, New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod, the Oilers prospect is a confident two-way player that looks ready to make a contribution at the professional level. While he may not have the huge point production of some of his contemporaries, his skating, size and work ethic are all good enough for him to take the next step. That speed is of considerable interest to an Oilers team that always seemed one step behind their opponents thi season—except of course for their captain—and something they will welcome happily into the organization.
Since he won’t turn 20 until September 21st, McLeod will not burn the first year of his potential entry-level contract even if he jumps right into the AHL playoffs this season.