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Roland McKeown Recalled By Carolina Hurricanes

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The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Roland McKeown from the AHL due to the concussion suffered by Brett Pesce in practice yesterday. Pesce was hit in the head by a puck, and is not travelling with the team on the current road trip to Colorado and Arizona. It seems unlikely that McKeown will get into the lineup, but if he does it would mark his NHL debut.

McKeown, 21, has turned into another top defensive prospect for the Hurricanes after a trade from the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings sent him along with a first-round pick (which turned into Julien Gauthier) for Andrej Sekera in 2015. Already stocked with talent on the NHL roster, McKeown is part of the next wave that will soon include Jake Bean and Luke Martin as well. In nine games for the Charlotte Checkers this year, McKeown has three points and is close to being ready to make the jump to the next level. Never an elite offensive talent, his two-way game will nevertheless fit in nicely in Carolina where mobility is king. His skating ability charts above most of his peers even at the professional level.

The young defenseman is another reason why so often Carolina is involved in trade speculation. As they’ve shown with Haydn Fleury’s easy transition this year, the Hurricanes system is stocked full of NHL-caliber defense prospects. Though Pesce is obviously a loss, it’s not like there aren’t several others waiting to step up and take on some of his minutes.

Carolina Hurricanes Recall Patrick Brown

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Patrick Brown has been recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes, robbing the Charlotte Checkers of their captain for the time being. Brown, just 25, was named captain last season during his third year with the AHL squad. Known for his leadership and work ethic more than anything else, Brown also wore the captain’s “C” at Boston College before signing with the Hurricanes as an undrafted free agent. That BC team had a ton of talented players including Johnny Gaudreau, Kevin Hayes and Michael Matheson (none of whom were freshmen), but it was Brown who was given the leadership role.

There is no doubt that Brown is a student of the game, and it started a long time ago when his father, Doug Brown, was playing in the NHL. The elder Brown spent 15 years in the league, playing mostly for Detroit and New Jersey and winning two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. A veteran of 854 career regular season games, Doug Brown would send his son off to follow his footsteps at BC and then to the NHL. Patrick’s uncle Greg Brown also attended the school, captaining the Eagles himself before a short-lived NHL career. Greg is back there now as an associate coach, who also works with the USA Hockey World Junior program.

It’s not the younger Brown’s first time in the NHL, as he’s played 28 games there over the past few years. It is interesting however that he would be called up after Janne Kuokkanen was sent down recently. Apparently the Hurricanes have decided that Kuokkanen’s development is more important, and that Brown can act as a insurance policy while they head out on the road to face Colorado and Arizona. It’s a nice bonus for him, as he’ll get to cash NHL-level checks for the time being. Brown re-signed with the Hurricanes this summer for one-year on a two-way deal that earns the minimum of $650K at the NHL level.

Janne Kuokkanen Sent To Charlotte Checkers

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As we noted in our previous looks at rookies whose contracts were eligible to slide this year, the Carolina Hurricanes have the opportunity to send 19-year old Janne Kuokkanen to the AHL instead of returning him to the London Knights. Kuokkanen played last season for the Knights, but was actually drafted out of the Finnish Liiga and thus was eligible for AHL play. That’s exactly what they’ve done according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer, putting a halt on his game counter for this year.

Kuokkanen has played just four games for the Hurricanes this season, fewer than the 10 needed for the first year of his entry-level contract to kick in. Minor league games do not count towards this threshold. Though he’s shown an ability to perform at the NHL level, Kuokkanen was given limited opportunities in the Hurricanes’ lineup, often sitting in the press box while Josh Jooris entered the lineup.

While this ends this short chapter of his NHL career, it by no means guarantees Kuokkanen will be in the AHL long. An injury, or some inconsistent play from one of the veterans could easily lead to another callup. For now though, the teenager will have to find his way along the AHL landscape.

Ryan Getzlaf Leaves Game With Facial Injury

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The already injury-riddled Anaheim Ducks have yet another health concern and possibly the most worrisome to date. The latest casualty was none other than captain Ryan Getzlaf, who took a shot to the face from his long-time partner in crime, Corey Perry, in the opening seconds of tonight’s game versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Getzlaf was evaluated for an “upper body injury” before eventually being declared out for the game by the team.

Initially, the injury seemed far from serious (video). Getzlaf seemed only stunned by the shot, which lost much of its momentum after a deflection by the ’Canes Sebastian Aho. There was no blood nor any exaggerated reaction and Getzlaf skated off the ice without issue. However, when he did not return, things became somewhat more daunting for the Ducks. Getzlaf, without a doubt, is the leader of the Anaheim forward corps and plays an invaluable role for the team. Fortunately, the injury still does not have the appearance of anything major and Getzlaf’s absence could be purely precautionary. At worst, a facial injury – even a bone break – tends to be a short-term loss. The Minnesota Wild’s Marcus Foligno for example missed only a week with a facial fracture suffered in a fight earlier this season.

Yet, in the context of Anaheim’s mounting losses, any extended absence for Getzlaf could be problematic. Ryan Miller finally made his ducks debut tonight and Hampus Lindholm and Ondrej Kase re-joined the team this week as well, but that still leaves an injured reserve that features Ryan Kesler, Patrick Eaves, Cam Fowler, and Kevin Bieksa and an active Sami Vatanen who still seems unprepared to resume play. The Ducks already have Korbinian Holzer and Jaycob Megna playing key roles on the blue line; the team can’t afford the same lack of depth up front, particularly at center, where a long stretch with 35-year-old Antoine Vermette as the top option down the middle could spell disaster for the team. The Ducks need to get healthy, and suddenly that starts with avoiding any sidelining of Getzlaf (if possible).

Teravainen Listed As Game-Time Decision For Sunday

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  • After leaving Friday’s game with an upper-body injury, Hurricanes winger Teuvo Teravainen will skate Sunday morning and is listed as a game-time decision for their game against Anaheim, the team announced (via Twitter). Teravainen is off to a nice start in his second season with Carolina, recording five points in the first nine games of the season which ranks him tied for third on the team.

Sale Of Carolina Hurricanes Hits A Snag

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It’s no secret that the ownership situation of the Carolina Hurricanes has been less than ideal in recent years. However, it seems current owner Peter Karmanos will hold onto the team at least for a little while longer. According to The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell, negotiations toward a sale of the team have been slowed due to financial complications.

Chuck Greenberg, a partner in the ownership group of the MLB’s Texas Rangers, has been actively pursuing a deal with Karmanos to purchase the Hurricanes. Campbell reports though that rumors had recently arisen that Greenberg had pulled out of a possible deal due to a lack of financial banking. When he reached out, Greenberg ensured Campbell that he was very much still talking to Karmanos, but that he had in fact been having issues raising sufficient funds. It is estimated that Karmanos is open to selling the team for $500MM, which is hard number for anyone to produce offhand. Take it into account the recent struggles, both in the NHL standings and in attendance numbers, for the Hurricanes and it is understandable why drumming up interest in purchasing Carolina has been somewhat of a struggle for Greenberg.

Yet, things are trending in the right direction. The Hurricanes have the longest playoff drought in the league, having last seen postseason action in 2008-09. When the ’Canes were en route to a Stanley Cup in 2005-06 though, the RBC Center was selling out. With a young core, including arguably the league’s best group of youthful defensemen, and a few top-notch prospects still to come, the future is bright. Carolina may only be 4-3-1 to start the season, but no one would be surprised if their (lack of a) postseason streak snapped this year. A few years from now, they could be a Stanley Cup contender and no one would be shocked. So, with a chance to buy low on a promising franchise, Greenberg can find a way to secure his funding if he really is serious about the transaction. Then, the Hurricanes can truly move forward, with a new ownership group at the lead.

Jay McClement Signs With Swiss Club Olten

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It’s been a whirlwind month for consummate pro Jay McClement. The veteran center was very nearly the winner of the third-line center sweepstakes for the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Instead, the team released him to the surprise of many after an impressive effort in the team’s preseason finale. Now, less than thirty days later, McClement has finally found employment – with EHC Olten of the NLB.

The Swiss National League B, the relative minor league to much more well-known NLA, seems like an odd landing spot for a veteran of more than 900 NHL games. However, the team has confirmed the signing (link in Swiss) with much excitement. The contract is only for 2017-18, but holds a mutual option for next season. Could McClement exercise that option? He is 34, far from his prime, but just a few years ago played one of his best seasons – an 82-game, 21-point 2014-15 campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes. McClement seems to have some gas left in the tank, so an extended stay in the Swiss minors would be surprising. However, McClement could more or less be done with hockey and sees Olten as a “retirement job”.

Olten isn’t completely unknown. The NLB squad in a perennial contender and rosters to other NHL veterans, Americans Tim Stapleton and Ryan Vesce. Neither has skated in the league since 2010, but nevertheless bring an experience and style that McClement could work with.

If it doesn’t work out? There’s a chance that McClement could be a contender for a bottom-six role for Team Canada at the Olympics, which would take up a significant amount of his time over the course of this season. Then, when his contract expires, don’t be surprised if McClement declines his offer and tries again at one last chance in the NHL.

Keeping An Eye On Entry-Level Slides: An Update

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Two weeks ago we ran an article looking at the young players in the NHL who were also eligible to see their contracts slide by one year. Should they be sent back to their junior or European clubs before playing in 10 NHL games, they would avoid burning the first year of their entry-level contracts.

At the time, none of the players eligible had surpassed that threshold. Today is a different story. Three players have already played their 10th game in the NHL, changing the goalposts somewhat for their respective teams. Now, those clubs must decide whether or not to keep them past the next threshold of 40 games, when they’ll get a year closer to unrestricted free agency. Below, we’ll take an updated look at the entire group.

10+ Games Played

Mikhail Sergachev (TBL)
Victor Mete (MTL)
Alex DeBrincat (CHI)

Each of these three seemed to have a good shot at staying with their respective teams right from the start, but now the most interesting thing to watch will be that 40 game mark. For Sergachev especially it holds quite a bit of value. Due to a condition on the trade that brought him to Tampa Bay, if he fails to play 40 games this season the Montreal Canadiens would have to send a second-round draft pick (Montreal would also receive a sixth-round pick in return). That extra asset could be tantalizing for the Lightning, but with Sergachev’s outstanding start—the young defenseman has 10 points in 11 games—it may not be worth sending him away from the team.

8-9 Games Played

Pierre-Luc Dubois (CBJ)
Nico Hischier (NJD)
Jesper Bratt (NJD)
Nolan Patrick (PHI)

All four of these players seem destined to play past the nine game threshold, with Dubois set to play his tenth game tonight, and Patrick only sitting out due to injury this week. Bratt and Hischier have played in all eight of New Jersey’s games, combining for 13 points. Their strong early play will likely keep them in New Jersey for the year.

Interestingly, Dubois has lasted in the Columbus lineup despite registering just one point all season. He’s not being sent back before tonight’s game, but it will be interesting to see how the season plays out. He’s not struggling with the pace of play, but hasn’t received the opportunity to really show what his offensive ceiling is. Should Columbus face more injuries, Dubois could be thrust into a more important role.

5-7 Games Played

Kailer Yamamoto (EDM)

Yamamoto is one of the most interesting cases, because though he’s played seven games with the club and at times been one of the ice-time leaders beside Connor McDavid, he was scratched last night against the Dallas Stars. As Leon Draisaitl and Drake Caggiula came back, there seemingly wasn’t a spot left for Yamamoto in the top nine.

The diminutive forward has three points through his seven contests, but isn’t a lock to stay past nine games if the Oilers feel he still needs some more development. Though he obviously has the skill to play at this level, if they’re not going to play him every night his path may lie back in the WHL. That would certainly change the fate for the Spokane Chiefs, his junior team, who are currently 8-6-1 on the season.

1-4 Games Played

Owen Tippett (FLA)
Janne Kuokkanen (CAR)
Samuel Girard (NSH)

Tippett finally worked his way into the lineup for Florida, and the early results suggest he could stay there all year. The winger from the Mississauga Steelheads scored his first goal last night, and could find himself getting more ice time as the Panthers try to dig their way out of a rough start. By no means is he guaranteed, but the team has hinted that he would stay in the NHL right away since the start of training camp.

Kuokkanen started off hot for the Hurricanes in limited minutes, but has been relegated to the press box for the team’s last five games. As we wrote in the previous article, the Hurricanes could actually send him to the AHL instead of back to junior, meaning he could bounce up and down this season.

Girard has certainly impressed in the three games he’s played, but none of those have come in the team’s last four. He may be back in the lineup tonight however when the team takes on the Chicago Blackhawks, and if he keeps up his high level of play they may have no choice but to keep him around. Still, it’s always tough for a 19-year old defender to stick in the NHL and especially one that is just 162-lbs. He’ll have to show beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s ready to be a contributor to this team all season.

No Longer On Roster

Logan Brown (OTT)
Filip Chytil (NYR)
Alex Formenton (OTT)
Martin Necas (CAR)

All four made their NHL debuts, but were eventually sent back before breaking the first threshold. Only Chytil remains in the North American professional ranks, currently playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.

Hurricanes Send Necas Back To HC Kometa Brno

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The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have returned 2017 first-round pick Martin Necas to HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga, the top professional league in the Czech Republic. The 18-year-old center was allowed to play nine games with the NHL club before the team would have to decide whether to burn his first year of his entry-level contract. However, Necas has been returned after playing just one game for the Hurricanes.

Having played in six of the team’s preseason games, a few were surprised when Necas made the team, a team hoping to make the playoffs this year. However, the youngster’s raw skill was evident and the team hoped to capitalize on that. The Hurricanes also had the option of sending Necas to Charlotte of the AHL, but he has said on several occasions he would prefer to return home to play with his old team, if given the option.

The 12th overall pick in this year’s draft, Necas made his NHL debut on Oct. 17 against the Edmonton Oilers, but didn’t register a point in less than seven minutes of ice time. He has been scratched in all the other games. Returning to his team in Brno, Necas put up seven goals and eight assists in 41 games there last year. He also scored four goals in 10 playoff games as well.

The move also gives Carolina some maneuvering room for the future. Prior to loaning Necas to the Czech Extraliga, the Hurricanes had 50 contracts, the maximum you can have. Now, the team has 49, according to CapFriendly.

Skinner Riding Major Hot Streak

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  • Michael Smith of NHL.com writes that Carolina Hurricanes winger Jeff Skinner, who added his fourth and fifth goals of the season in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars is continuing where he left off. Skinner attempted to fuel a comeback with his team down by four goals, but the team fell short. Already a three-time 30-goal scorer, the 25-year-old has been the main offensive firepower for the Hurricanes this season. Smith writes that if you go back to March of last year, Skinner has scored 22 goals in his last 25 games.

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