Nashville Predators Sign Lukas Craggs
The Nashville Predators have dipped into the college free agent pool, signing forward Lukas Craggs out of Bowling Green State University to a two-year entry-level contract. Craggs will not return for his senior season, instead jumping into the Predators organization to start his professional career.
Craggs, 22, was actually pursued by several teams after his season came to an end, but isn’t the usual high-scoring college player that end up with NHL contracts at this time of year. While the Illinois native did record 25 points in 35 games, he’s known more for his physical play as he led the NCAA in penalty minutes with 118, the second consecutive season he has tallied more than 100. His overall body of work was enough to get him nominated for the Hobey Baker, though he was not named a finalist.
While Craggs’ offensive upside may be capped, his all-around game may actually lead him to fit in better at the NHL level than some of his contemporaries. While the top scorers may be looking for a chance to contribute in a team’s top-six, Craggs can easily find a way to fit in on the fourth line and use his physical play and energy. The Predators have never been shy to dress a player like that further down their lineup, and seem like a good fit as the organization to develop the Bowling Green forward.
Washington Capitals Sign Bobby Nardella
The Washington Capitals were told recently that Chase Priskie wouldn’t be signing with them, but that hasn’t stopped them from inking a top college defenseman. The team has signed a two-year entry-level contract with Notre Dame defenseman Bobby Nardella today. Since the Capitals are at their 50-contract limit for this season the deal will have to start in 2019-20. Nardella is expected to join the Hershey Bears on an amateur tryout for the remainder of this season.
Nardella, 22, played four years with the Fighting Irish and found great success moving the puck up quickly to their talented forwards. Recording 103 points in 147 NCAA contests, the 5’9″ defenseman set career highs with eight goals and 26 assists this season. He also wore an “A” as an alternate captain with the club, but will now face a brand new challenge at the professional level.
The undrafted Nardella has never been considered a top prospect, but has taken part in NHL development camps before and has an obvious tie to professional hockey. His father, Bob Nardella, played for years with the Chicago Wolves (in both the IHL and AHL) and won a Calder Cup in 2002. He now serves as an assistant with the team. The elder Nardella also twice suited up for Italy in the Olympics, but never did play in an NHL game. His son will try to change that with the Capitals organization.
Chris Kuc of The Athletic (subscription required) broke the news ahead of the official announcement.
Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Michael Hutchinson
11:35am: In a turn of events, Sparks was not at practice and his locker room stall has been removed according to Kristen Shilton of TSN. Head coach Mike Babcock said after practice that the goaltender would work on his own with the coaches to try and get his confidence back. Hutchinson will serve as backup for the time being.
8:42am: The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t been able to rely on backup goaltender Garret Sparks recently, who has won just a single game in his last eight appearances while posting an .891 save percentage during that time. Today, they made the interesting move of recalling Michael Hutchinson from the minor leagues. The Toronto Marlies, who are in a playoff position but have not clinched yet, play today and tomorrow.
Hutchinson is the fourth regular recall for the Maple Leafs, and will need waivers if the team wanted to send him back down. Sparks would also require waivers and is ineligible to play for the Marlies in the playoffs, meaning this move is likely just to give the Maple Leafs a third goaltender as they prepare for their first round series against the Boston Bruins. Obviously there could be an injury that hasn’t been announced, but so far Frederik Andersen is still scheduled to start game 82 against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
While Andersen is the obvious choice to start against the Bruins as well, Hutchinson’s presence gives the team an interesting decision on who to dress as a backup or insert into the net if needed. Sparks was retained at the beginning of the season over both Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard because of his relative youth and success in the minor leagues, but now has just a .902 save percentage on the year and .898 across 37 NHL appearances. Hutchinson meanwhile performed well for the Maple Leafs after coming over in a trade earlier this year, but has also had his fair share of struggles in the minor leagues.
The Maple Leafs also technically have Joseph Woll on the NHL roster, but the young goaltender is working to graduate from Boston College early and is not expected to see any action outside of the odd practice.
Andrew Agozzino Placed On Waivers
The Colorado Avalanche have placed Andrew Agozzino on waivers, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Agozzino is eligible for the AHL playoffs since he was sent down on February 25th, and could give some help to the Colorado Eagles over the last few days of their season.
Agozzino, 28, has played more games in the NHL this season than the rest of his career combined, suiting up 11 times for the Avalanche. The undrafted forward has been among the most productive scoring threats in the AHL for years, routinely scoring at least 20 goals and 50 points on whichever affiliate the Avalanche had at the time. Unfortunately that work hasn’t resulted in a ton of playing time at the highest level, but will be a welcome addition to the Eagles down the stretch.
On the final year of his current contract there is little reason for any other team to claim Agozzino, as he will be an unrestricted free agent in a few months. It seems likely that the Avalanche will try to re-sign him to some sort of deal to play at the minor leagues, though perhaps he believes he could get a better opportunity elsewhere. His current deal is actually quite lucrative for a two-way contract, as Agozzino is owed $300K even while in the minor leagues.
Minor Transactions: 04/05/19
The NHL has just one playoff spot left to determine, and it’s going to come down to the wire. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens are tied at 94 points but the former has a chance to punch their ticket tonight. The Blue Jackets are ahead on the regulation+overtime wins (ROW) tiebreaker meaning if they win tonight the Canadiens won’t be able to catch them. As they and the rest of the NHL prepare for the last weekend of the regular season, we’ll be here keeping track of all the minor moves.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have returned Adam Johnson to the minor leagues after six games, giving their minor league affiliate a huge boost for the final few games of the AHL season. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are just three points out of a playoff spot in the AHL’s Atlantic Division, and Johnson is one of their best offensive players with 40 points in 63 games this season.
- Chris Thorburn has been recalled by the St. Louis Blues, a veteran addition as they head into the playoffs. Thorburn has played in just a single game for the Blues this season, instead spending the majority of the year at the minor league level for the first time since 2005-06. The 35-year old forward can provide a physical presence if required, but isn’t likely to make a huge impact in the playoffs.
- The Arizona Coyotes have returned Adin Hill to the minor leagues now that they’ve been eliminated from the playoffs. Hill was recalled to give them some insurance after Darcy Kuemper suffered a minor injury, but wasn’t needed after all.
- The Anaheim Ducks have sent Andy Welinski back to the minor leagues and are expected to assign more players to the San Diego Gulls in the coming days. The Ducks won’t be heading for the playoffs this season, but they can at least help the Gulls on their pursuit of a Calder Cup.
- Christian Wolanin and Rudolfs Balcers are on their way back to the Belleville Senators, as Mark Borowiecki and Bobby Ryan may return tomorrow for the Ottawa Senators. Wolanin and Balcers will help a Belleville team that is battling hard for a playoff spot against the Cleveland Monsters.
- The exodus has begun in Florida, where the Panthers have sent Jayce Hawryluk, Dryden Hunt and Sam Montembeault back to the Springfield Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds are technically still alive in the playoff chase, but would need an awful lot of things to go right over the last few games.
- Nathan Walker has been recalled by the Washington Capitals, likely meaning that a handful of forwards will be getting tomorrow night’s game off. The 25-year old has played three games with the team this season, but spent the majority of it in the minor leagues once again. Walker became the first Australian player (though he was actually born in Wales) to suit up in an NHL game last season, and has 34 points in 54 games this year with the Hershey Bears.
- The Edmonton Oilers have finally sent Josh Currie back to the AHL after the veteran minor leaguer enjoyed an unexpectedly long stretch at the top level in his first career NHL call-up. Currie scored two goals and five points in 21 games with the Oilers since joining the team in mid-February. He’ll now join the Bakersfield Condors, who lead the AHL’s Pacific Division and are preparing for a deep playoff run.
Will Lockwood: “Goal Is To Still Play In Vancouver”
Like every team in the league that has top prospects playing in college, the Vancouver Canucks find themselves hoping Will Lockwood will sign with them at some point before turning to unrestricted free agency. Lockwood already told the team he is returning to the University of Michigan for his senior season, and could potentially pick his professional destination by waiting until August 2020. Today however he gave Canucks’ fans a bit of hope when speaking on Sportsnet radio (via Rick Dhaliwal):
I talked with [Canucks’ GM Jim] Benning and [Utica Comets GM Ryan] Johnson, things don’t change for me, the goal is to still play in Vancouver at the end of next year. I also want to leave a little bit of a legacy in Michigan.
The decision was more difficult than I thought but the Canucks were very understanding and didn’t force me and gave me the time.
Lockwood, 20, was the Canucks’ third round pick in 2016 and exploded offensively this season for Michigan, recording 31 points in 36 games. He trailed only Quinn Hughes in team scoring, a player the team hopes he will follow to Vancouver after next season. Hughes signed this year and jumped right into the lineup, something that Lockwood could do in order to burn a year of his entry-level deal next season.
Hughes is not the only college star finding success with Vancouver. The team has signed Adam Gaudette and Brock Boeser the past two springs and both are now key contributors in the forward group. The undersized but talented Lockwood could be next, though he’ll be closer to unrestricted free agency than either of them were. Boeser signed as a sophomore and Gaudette as a junior.
PHR Live Chat Transcript: 04/04/19
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
Justin Brazeau Signs With Toronto Marlies
4:45pm: The Marlies have made it official, adding that the deal begins in the 2019-20 season. An AHL contract does not prevent another team from signing Brazeau, but it does give the Maple Leafs an opportunity to match whatever deal is presented, according to Dreger. As CapFriendly points out, this is a way to keep some measure of control over unsigned prospects and players of Brazeau’s ilk.
9:06am: One of the OHL’s most dangerous goal scorers has decided on his next destination, as Justin Brazeau has signed a two-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies according to Darren Dreger of TSN. Brazeau will earn $70K each year in salary and add a $60K signing bonus per season.
A minor league deal does not technically give the Toronto Maple Leafs Brazeau’s rights, but does bring him into their organization and allows him to work with their development team. It’s not the first time they’ve signed a player to an AHL deal to start his development, in fact Justin Holl went down a very similar path. The team signed Holl to an AHL contract in 2015 after he didn’t catch on in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, and eventually rewarded his hard work with an NHL contract. That’s the same path they’re likely hoping for with Brazeau, who comes to the team after an outstanding junior career.
In 68 games this season Brazeau led the entire OHL with 61 goals, using his immense size—6’6″ 226-lbs—and strength to drive the net and bury any loose pucks. There are still plenty of holes in Brazeau’s game, but it was obvious that he needed a new challenge.
He’ll certainly get one with the Marlies, who won a Calder Cup last season but have struggled to repeat their historic success this time around. Part of that is their trouble in net, but the NHL team has also regularly pulled up their best talent over the last few years. With Jeremy Bracco making a case for his own promotion—the 22-year old leads the AHL with 75 points—they will need some more offensive punch next season. Brazeau will be asked to provide that, though how much actual playing time he gets is still to be seen.
Columbus Blue Jackets Recall Alexandre Texier
The Columbus Blue Jackets are in a battle for a playoff spot with just two games remaining, and have brought up some reinforcements for the final stretch. Adam Clendening has returned from the AHL after just a day, but perhaps more importantly Alexandre Texier has been recalled for the first time. The 19-year old forward has lit up the minor leagues since coming over from Finland after his season there concluded, and presumably will enter the lineup at some point over the next two games. Otherwise it’s tough to explain the recall, since the Cleveland Monsters are in the thick of a playoff race of their own and have two road games coming up on Friday and Saturday.
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that Texier will wear number 42 with the Blue Jackets, and could become just the 12th French-born player to ever suit up in an NHL game.
Originally selected 45th overall in 2017, Texier went to Finland to continue his development and performed quite well even as a rookie. This season he returned to KalPa and exploded for 41 points to lead the team, giving the Blue Jackets hope that he could contribute in North America quickly. After being assigned to the Monsters he has scored five goals and seven points in seven games, and will now get a chance to show what he can do at the NHL level.
If Texier plays well and helps the Blue Jackets into the playoffs there’s a chance he could suit up in the postseason, but the team will have to consider what is at risk. As a 19-year old his contract is still set to slide forward a year, meaning he could burn a year by playing in 10 games or more. That number includes playoff matches, which means they would need to win a round for it to become an issue. That too applies to his expansion draft eligibility, which would only become an issue after 11 games played.
Poll: Who Will Be The Top Selection At The 2019 Entry Draft?
For more than a year, the overwhelming response to the question “who will be the first-overall pick in 2019?” would result in one name. Jack Hughes, the superstar center from the U.S. National Team Development Program who has dominated players older than him and found success internationally. The 17-year old Hughes recorded a point-per-game and took home a silver medal at the most recent World Juniors despite it being an under-20 tournament. His incredible puck skills and effortless skating have been on display since before the Buffalo Sabres selected Rasmus Dahlin first overall last June, and some contended that he would push for a top selection if he were eligible in 2018.
Over the last several months though, a new contender has entered the ring and pushed for the top spot in 2019. Kaapo Kakko scored the gold medal-winning goal against Hughes’ American squad in that World Junior tournament, and set records for scoring at his age in Finland’s top league with 22 goals in 45 games. Kakko is set to compete for a spot on the Finnish World Championship team, which will be taking on top NHL talent in May.
That impressive season has put him right in the mix for first overall. Last month Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet put Kakko ahead of Hughes in his draft rankings, though he wouldn’t go so far as to actually predict a team would pass on the shifty American. The expectation that Hughes will still be selected first overall is held up by Bob McKenzie of TSN’s latest ranking, which polled ten scouts who all had Kakko in second place. That said, McKenzie goes to great lengths explaining just how close that race is, and how there is still time for the Finnish forward to overtake Hughes for the top spot.
Perhaps it will come down to a stylistic preference, depending on who actually gets the chance to pick first. The draft lottery will be held next week and the Colorado Avalanche will have the best odds at selecting first, thanks to their trade with the Ottawa Senators. Hughes has incredible transition and playmaking ability and has continually lifted the play of those around him. His puck control and vision is unmatched in the draft, and many believe he can be a catalyst at both even-strength and on the powerplay.
Kakko is a much different player, relying on his puck protection skills and first step out of the corner to create chances for himself and others. While he’s much bigger than Hughes that protection aspect isn’t necessarily his physicality, but his ability to elude checkers with excellent footwork while driving to dangerous areas. There’s no reason to doubt either will round out there games and be stars in the league, but different teams may believe the ceiling (or floor, for that matter) is higher for one or the other.
So we ask you, who will end up going first overall in 2019? Will the presumptive favorite be snapped up, resulting in the second American-born first-overall pick in four years, or will Kakko fly by Hughes on his way to becoming the first Finnish player to be taken at No. 1? Cast your vote below and leave a comment to explain your decision.
Who will be the first pick in the 2019 draft?
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Jack Hughes 74% (393)
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Kaapo Kakko 26% (141)
Total votes: 534
[Mobile users click here to vote]