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Jordan Schroeder Signs In KHL

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After failing to suit up in a single NHL game for the first time in six years, Jordan Schroeder is taking his talents overseas. The pending unrestricted free agent has signed on with the KHL’s Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod for the 2019-20 season.

Schroeder, 28, played this season for the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL after a trade brought him to the Chicago Blackhawks organization last summer. The veteran minor league forward ended up with 45 points in 62 games, but failed to earn even a single call up. Prior to this year, Schroeder had played in at least 21 games in every season since 2012-13, suiting up for the Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets during that time.

His KHL deal is just for one season, meaning we very well could see a return to North America before long. Originally selected in the first round ten years ago, Schroeder has 42 points in 165 NHL regular season games but isn’t well suited to a bottom-six role. The 5’9″ forward has been an excellent AHL scorer throughout his career, and could very well find success on a KHL team that saw Andrew Calof lead the way with 41 points in 58 games last season.

Blackhawks Prospect Fredrik Olofsson Signs In Sweden

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Blackhawks prospect Fredrik Olofsson has signed a one-year deal with MODO of the Allsvenskan, the Swedish team announced.  As a result, Chicago will be losing the rights to the winger after August 15th.

Olofsson was a fourth-round pick (98th overall) of the Blackhawks back in 2014.  Unlike a lot of Swedish players, he has spent the past several years in North America, starting out at the USHL level where he played with his brother, who is currently in Montreal’s system.  He spent the past four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

The 22-year-old saved his best performance for last as he averaged just shy of a point per game in his senior campaign as he collected 34 points in 36 contests.  That was enough for the Blackhawks to give him a look at the AHL level as he wrapped up the season on an amateur tryout deal with Rockford but he only got into two games and evidently, it wasn’t enough for Chicago to offer him a two-year entry-level deal.  Once his negotiating rights expire, Olofsson will become a free agent.

Minor Transactions: 05/14/19

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The middle of May doesn’t always bring with it a number of small transactions, but today happens to be a different story. Here are some minor moves from around the league:

  • The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Patrick Brown once again, the latest transaction in a playoff-long shuffle between the AHL and NHL. Brown is up under emergency conditions meaning he will have to be sent back down if all of the Hurricanes are healthy enough to play in tonight’s game. He’ll start his own playoff series later this week when the Charlotte Checkers take on the Toronto Marlies in the AHL Eastern Conference Final.
  • The Rockford IceHogs have signed Liam Coughlin and Jack Ramsey to one-year AHL contracts, meaning they will stay with the Chicago Blackhawks organization for at least another year. The pair of draft picks both would have seen their exclusive negotiating rights expire later this summer after four year careers in the NCAA.
  • The Binghamton Devils have done the same, signing Ludvig Larsson to an AHL deal for 2019-20. Larsson played three years at Merrimack College before suiting up this season for Pennsylvania State University. Undrafted, he then spent seven games with the AHL Devils at the end of the year, enough to convince him to return to the organization for another season.
  • 37-year old former NHL defenseman Anton Volchenkov has re-signed with his KHL club for one more year, giving him another chance to continue a long and successful playing career. Originally selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2000 entry draft, Volchenkov played nearly 800 games in the NHL before returning to Russia, including 86 playoff contests.

Chicago Blackhawks Extend Slater Koekkoek

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The Chicago Blackhawks have finished some offseason business early, signing Slater Koekkoek to a one-year extension worth $925K according to Scott Powers of The Athletic. Koekkoek was scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Koekkoek, 25, is looking for a fresh start with Chicago after years of being the “extra guy” with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Selected 10th overall in 2012 because of his size and offensive upside, Koekkoek played just 85 games for the Lightning over parts of five different seasons, never playing more than 35 in a single year. The team decided to flip him to the Blackhawks in January this year in exchange for Jan Rutta, who Tampa Bay has since extended as well.

It seems like Koekkoek might get that fresh start under Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton, who used the young defender regularly down the stretch. In 22 games for the Blackhawks he averaged more than 16 minutes a night, including cracking the 20-minute threshold three times. If he receives that opportunity regularly we’ll get to see what he can do at the NHL level, but he will also set himself up for a bigger payday next summer. Koekkoek will be a restricted free agent once again, but will be arbitration eligible.

Snapshots: Mrazek, Olofsson, Panthers

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When the Eastern Conference Final resumes on Tuesday, the Carolina Hurricanes may have a different starting goaltender. NHL.com’s Shawn P. Roarke relays that Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour would not commit to starting Petr Mrazek again in Game Three. The Boston Bruins have scored 11 goals in the first two games of the series, all but one of which were attributed to Mrazek. He had only allowed allowed on goal in his previous two games and only 20 total in nine playoff games this season before arriving in Boston. Clearly, the Bruins have him figured out right now and it may be time for Carolina to give Curtis McElhinney a shot. Brind’amour approached Mrazek about coming out of Game Two, but the 27-year-old keeper wanted to stick it out, a right that the coach said he had earned. However, as Mrazek’s play did not improve as the game went on, he has likely lost that right to determine when he plays. McElhinney, who turns 36 next week, may have tread on the tired but is well-rested after making only three appearances so far in the playoffs. In those game, he has been stellar as well, posting a .947 save percentage and 1.56 GAA. If the Hurricanes are to win four of their next five games to come back and beat Boston, they’ll need some magic and Mrazek appears to be all out. Perhaps McElhinney has been saving some up for the first postseason run of his 12-year NHL career.

  • Chicago Blackhawks prospect Fredrik Olofsson is heading home to Sweden. Olofsson, who made his pro debut last month with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, has signed with MODO of the Swedish Hockey League, according to Swedish news source Kvalls Posten. This could be the end of Olofsson’s days in North American hockey, as he wraps up a solid NCAA career only to immediately bolt. Olofsson was a fourth-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2014 and played four seasons at the University of Nebraska – Omaha, leading the team in scoring in his senior season. The 22-year-old forward played in a pair of games with the Blackhawks’ affiliate, but has not been offered an NHL contract. He will thus become a free agent in August when his NHL rights expire, but doesn’t seem optimistic about his market. Interestingly, while Olofsson has represented Sweden on the international stage, he has never played competitively in his home country. Olofsson played his midget, junior, and college hockey in the U.S., but is now finally ready to return home.
  • The Florida Panthers are expected to be major players on the free agent market this summer, with much of the speculated centered on their interest in top free agents Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. While goaltending was certainly an issue this season and Bobrovksy would help immensely, defense was also a major concern and wouldn’t be addressed by grabbing only those two. Unsurprisingly, GM Dale Tallon tells The Athletic’s George Richards that a top-four right-handed defenseman is also on his wish list this summer. However, cap space is going to be tight for the Panthers and top righties like Erik Karlsson and Tyler Myers are likely out of their price range. Richards lists Anton Stralman and Adam McQuaid as right-side free agent options, while Ben Lovejoy, Dan Girardi, and Roman Polak would be other possibilities. If those aren’t impressive enough to be considered a top-four solution, Florida could be an intriguing trade partner for the Winnipeg Jets or Ottawa Senators for Jacob Trouba and Cody Ceci respectively.

Draft Notes: Turcotte, Podkolzin, Broberg

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With the 2019 NHL Entry Draft now less than six weeks away, a more clear picture is starting to form at the top of the first round. It’s long been assumed that American center Jack Hughes and Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko would be the 1-2 punch to open the draft, but what about after that? Over the course of the season, another pivot from the U.S. National Team Development Program has moved up the board and is beginning to get close to the consensus pick at third overall. Alex Turcotte has been a hard player for many to peg this year as injuries have kept him out for large periods of time, but now that scouts have begun to look at his season in totality, they are impressed. In his latest “31 Thoughts” column, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman relays an opinion formed from speaking with several teams that Turcotte and OHL defenseman Bowen Byram have separated themselves from the rest of the pack behind Hughes and Kakko. This would also seem to align with recent draft rankings from Friedman’s colleague Sam Consentino, who listed Byram third and Turcotte fourth, and The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, who ranks Turcotte third and calls him “arguably the most complete player in the draft.” Turcotte brings a balanced offensive game and an aggressive two-way style that all teams covet in a future franchise player.

So will Turcotte be the pick for the Chicago Blackhawks at No. 3? There are factors working in his favor, the greatest of which might be that Turcotte is a Chicago-area native. Born and raised in Illinois, Turcotte would be an easy player to market to the fan base as the heir apparent to Jonathan Toews, especially with the stylistic similarities between the two. The other major influence, as noted by Friedman, is that the Blackhawks have used three first-round picks and a second-round pick on defensemen in the last two years alone. Unless they are infatuated with Byram, Chicago will go with a forward at third overall. If it is indeed Turcotte, playing for his hometown team right out of the gate may be enough to make him walk back his commitment to the University of Wisconsin, that is if the Blackhawks think he is ready for the NHL right away.

  • Friedman opines that this year’s draft will really begin when someone selects Russian winger Vasili Podkolzin. One of the more polarizing players in this draft class, Podkolzin’s draft stock depends not only on how teams view his ability, but also on how soon they expect him to contribute. Friedman reports that Podkolzin is locked into two more years on his current KHL contract, meaning anyone using a top pick on him will have to wait until at least 2021-22 to see any return. That guaranteed absence only boosts the “Russian factor” fear, that Podkolzin will take his time or potentially may never make the jump to the NHL. On ability alone, Podkolzin is easily a top-ten talent this year, but scouts differ on where in that range he should land. Add in the number of teams drafting in the top ten who want to improve immediately and Podkolzin’s draft slot becomes a complete mystery. Although this deep and talented class provides little consensus, even on early picks, Friedman’s take that the Podkolzin pick will truly shift the draft board is more than fair.
  • Another top draft prospect seemingly not expecting to rush across the Atlantic is defenseman Philip Broberg. Once considered the surefire second-best defender in the draft class, Broberg’s stock has fallen somewhat this season as scouts have begun to realize that his size, strength, and skating mask some holes to his game in the skill and IQ departments. Broberg very well may still be second defenseman off the board and is a lock as a first-round pick, but he no longer has the top-five or even top-ten guarantee he may have anticipated at this time last year. As such, Broberg is clearly expecting a longer stay in his native Sweden rather than an immediate jump to the NHL. Swedish news source Norran reports that Broberg is expected to sign a contract with the Swedish Hockey League’s Skelleftea AIK. Broberg joined the AIK organization midway through last season, but had not seen any action at the highest level. That will change next season, as Broberg will stay in Sweden but venture into the top pro ranks rather than play at the junior level or in the AHL instead. The transfer agreement between the NHL and SHL means that Broberg will not be locked in to his contract the same way Podkolzin is, but it also makes it unlikely that he’ll be seen in North America next year.

Victor Ejdsell Returning To Sweden

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Sometimes it the grass isn’t greener on the other side. After being pursued heavily by several NHL teams in the spring of 2017, Victor Ejdsell has decided to return to Sweden after just a single full season in North America. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect has signed a two-year deal in the SHL.

Signed by the Nashville Predators in 2017, Ejdsell would stay in Sweden for most of the 2017-18 season to continue developing. While he was there the Blackhawks would acquire him as part of the return for Ryan Hartman, meaning his North American debut would come for the Rockford IceHogs. It didn’t take long for him to make the jump to the NHL, playing in six games for Chicago and recording one point. This season, he spent the entire year with the IceHogs but managed to tally just 29 points in 61 games.

A return to Sweden doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given the fact that Ejdsell’s NHL future wasn’t clear. It was obvious he couldn’t step right into a full-time role next season, but the Blackhawks have also added several other prospects of late that will challenge his playing time at the AHL level. Instead, he can now try to secure big minutes in the SHL where he played quite well in that 2017-18 season. By giving him a qualifying offer the Blackhawks will retain his rights, though it’s not clear if there is a future for him in the organization.

Chicago Blackhawks Sign Two Prospects

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The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with two of their international prospects, signing Mikael Hakkarainen and Tim Soderlund to three-year entry-level contracts. Both deals will carry the maximum $925K cap hit in the NHL.

Hakkarainen, 21, was the 139th overall pick in 2018 and continued his career with the Muskegon Lumberjacks after a single game with Providence College to start the year. The forward left the college after being unhappy with the sport-school balance, and ended up setting a new high with 47 points in 42 games for Muskegon. That apparently impressed the Blackhawks enough to sign him to his entry-level deal, though it is not clear where his next step will be. Hakkarainen could go to the Rockford IceHogs next season or head back overseas to continue his development.

Soderlund, 21, was the team’s fourth round pick in 2017 and played another full season in the SHL. While he only recorded 14 points in 48 games, his skating ability and relentless energy are the traits that will serve him well in a transition to North American hockey. Soderlund stands just 5’9″, but is an excellent forechecker that has found plenty of success at the international level. In 2018 he took home a silver medal at the World Juniors with Sweden, recording five points in seven games.

Western Notes: Fedun, Oilers’ Front Office, Holden, Kubalik

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With lots of questions surrounding the last spot on the Dallas Stars’ defense, SportsDay’s Matthew DeFranks reports that Taylor Fedun is expected to play after participating in warm-ups before Game 6 of their second round series against the St. Louis Blues. The veteran defenseman was questionable to play, but he successfully warmed up with no issues.

The team has been hampered by injuries at the third pairing spot alongside Ben Lovejoy, as both Jamie Oleksiak and Joel Hanley are out with injuries, while Fedun has also struggled to get on the ice. The team had a number of options if Fedun could not go, including Dillon Heatherington and Gavin Bayreuther.

  • While nothing has been signed, the Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins suggests that if/when Detroit Red Wings Senior Vice President Ken Holland takes over as General Manager in Edmonton, he’s likely to bring front office personnel with him. He writes that Detroit’s Director of Amateur Scouting Tyler Wright is a likely candidate to follow Holland, as well as Ryan Martin, the Red Wings Assistant General Manager, who is the team’s salary cap guru. He adds that rumors that Dave Tippett could end up as the team’s head coach would be a good move considering the relative success he had in Arizona when the team had little to work with.
  • After being relegated to the press box for all but one game in the playoffs, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden is motivated to come back and reclaim a spot on Vegas’ blue line, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Ben Gotz. The 31-year-old played in his least amount of regular season games since the 2013-14 season after he was passed on the depth chart by Jonathon Merrill. With one more year on his contract at $2.2MM, Holden must prove he is capable of being a regular. “Whenever you’re sitting out, it’s added motivation to try to bring your level up,” Holden said. “It’s good for a team to have that healthy competition, because that pushes all of us to be better.”
  • The Athletic’s Scott Powers (subscription required) writes that while the Chicago Blackhawks are finalists in the sweepstakes to sign Swedish forward Anton Wedin, the team is also expected to sign NLA forward Dominik Kubalik after the World Championships. Kubalik, whose rights were acquired from the Los Angeles Kings on January 24th of this year, is coming off a 25-goal, 57-point season in the Swiss League. The 23-year-old is expected to challenge for a bottom-six spot in the Blackhawks’ lineup immediately.

Blackhawks Interested In Anton Wedin

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The Blackhawks have been active in terms of bringing in international free agents in recent years and if they have their way, they’ll do so again this summer. Jimmy Greenfield of the Chicago Tribune reports that on top of wanting Russian winger Ilya Mikheyev (Toronto and Vegas appear to be the favorites to land him), they also have interest in Swedish winger Anton Wedin.

The 26-year-old had been more of a complementary player with Timra in recent years but when they were promoted to the SHL for this past season, his offense took off. Despite missing 20 games due to injury, Wedin finished third on the team in scoring with 14 goals and 13 assists in 32 contests and then led the team in scoring in their seven-game relegation series (one they lost) with two goals and seven helpers.

The fact that Timra is once again heading to the second tier Allsvenskan could very well make Wedin amenable to leaving. Chicago has a few vacancies to fill up front for next season and while they have more salary cap space to work with than usual, that could change quickly if they opt to make a big splash on the free agent market. They fared well when they brought winger Dominik Kahun over last offseason and someone like Wedin could have a chance to make a similar impact if they’re able to agree on a contract.

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