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Snapshots: Ho-Sang, Price, Mitchell

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Joshua Ho-Sang hasn’t had the season many were hoping for this year, and he doesn’t really think it’s all his fault. Ho-Sang has played in just 22 games at the NHL level, scoring 12 points but spending most of the season in the AHL once again. He spoke to Arthur Staple of The Athletic (subscription required) about it, and was quite candid in his approach.

I love those guys, I want to make that clear,” Ho-Sang said of his former Islanders teammates. “I know they’re working hard. But I got sent down for defense and what are they in goals against in the NHL? I only played (22) games up there this year. I don’t think it’s my fault. They really painted it like it was my fault at the beginning of the year and I didn’t like that.

Obviously there is more than just defense in the critique of Ho-Sang’s game, and Staple does a wonderful job breaking down what has happened between the two sides, including quotes from GM Garth Snow. It’s a very interesting situation to keep an eye on, as Ho-Sang has all the offensive talent in the world and is still an important part of the Islanders’ future.

  • Carey Price won’t play in the upcoming World Championships, instead focusing on his health and being ready for the 2018-19 season with the Montreal Canadiens. Price has had a tough season battling through injuries, and putting up the lowest save percentage of his career at just .902. About to start an eight-year, $84MM contract, he’s the key to any potential Canadiens bounce back next season and down the road. Brendan Gallagher also won’t suit up at the Worlds, while Alex Galchenyuk is still weighing a decision.
  • Also from the staff at The Athletic, Scott Powers reports (subscription required) that Ian Mitchell will not turn pro this summer and instead is expected to return to the University of Denver for his sophomore year. Mitchell, 19, was selected in the second round by the Chicago Blackhawks last June and excelled in his first year for DU. 30 points in 41 games easily led the club’s defensemen in scoring, and he should take another step forward next year to be one of the nation’s most dangerous offensive blueliners.

Chicago Blackhawks Place Jean-Francois Berube On Waivers

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Wednesday: Berube has cleared waivers and been assigned to the minor leagues. Collin Delia, a 23-year old goaltender in his first professional season, has been recalled. Delia signed last summer out of Merrimack College, and has now spent time in the ECHL, AHL and NHL this season.

Tuesday: Though we haven’t had much waiver action since the trade deadline, the Chicago Blackhawks have decided to use it today. The team placed goaltender Jean-Francois Berube on waivers today, likely to have him head to the AHL since he is eligible to play there. Berube was included on a paper transaction at the deadline so that he could maintain AHL eligibility, where Rockford is heading to the playoffs.

It seems very unlikely that anyone would claim Berube, after his poor performance this season and one-way deal in 2018-19. Berube hasn’t been able to help the Blackhawks in Corey Crawford’s absence, posting an .891 save percentage in 11 games. His numbers in the minor leagues, like they’ve been his entire career, are much better.

The 26-year old goaltender is earning just $700K next season, meaning his cap hit won’t affect the Blackhawks while he’s in the minor leagues. Still, he’s not that attractive an asset as they’ll owe him the entire salary regardless of which level he plays.

Since Crawford has not skated with the team recently, the Blackhawks will likely recall another goalie (perhaps Jeff Glass) tomorrow.

Blake Hillman Signs Two-Year Entry-Level Contract With Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Blake Hillman to a two-year entry-level contract, and will have him join the team right away. That will end up using the first year of the deal, meaning that Hillman will become a restricted free agent after the 2018-19 season.

Hillman is just the latest player from the University of Denver to turn pro, after Henrik Borgstrom, Troy Terry and Dylan Gambrell all signed yesterday. The sixth-round pick by the Blackhawks has developed into a legitimate prospect, who will likely see some time on the ice in the last few games of the season.

The 22-year old Hillman could play a role for the Blackhawks next season, though with six NHL defensemen already under contract he’ll have to battle for playing time. Though he hasn’t shown a ton of offensive upside, Hillman is extremely effective in his own end and shuts down rushes quickly with an active stick. Whether he can continue to play at that level in the NHL is unclear, but he’ll get a chance to prove himself before long.

Minor Transactions: 03/27/18

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Just a handful of games remain in the NHL regular season, and teams are beginning to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Yesterday, the New York Islanders were knocked out of the race after their loss at the hands of the Florida Panthers. It’s been a tough season for the Islanders, who expected to be in the race in the last season of John Tavares’ current contract. Now all Islanders eyes turn to the offseason and what their captain will decide to do.

While the Islanders wait out the last few games, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves around the league right here. Check back throughout the day to stay up to date on all the comings and goings.

  • The Winnipeg Jets have sent Michael Hutchinson back to the minor leagues, likely meaning he’s healthy enough to get back into game action. The Jets still have three goaltenders on their NHL roster, with Steve Mason still working his way back from a knee injury and Eric Comrie serving as backup.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks have re-assigned Matthew Highmore to the minor leagues, despite playing 14 minutes last night. The young forward has two goals in his 13 games this season, but with the solid debut of Victor Ejdsell, perhaps there isn’t enough room to give him the ice time the team wants. Highmore has 35 points in the AHL this season in his first year of professional hockey.
  • Last night the Detroit Red Wings recalled Joe Hicketts from the minor leagues, giving the 21-year old another chance in the big leagues. Hicketts played one game for the Red Wings earlier this year, but has spent most of the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
  • The Buffalo Sabres have sent Justin Bailey back to the minor leagues, as they prepare for Casey Mittelstadt’s debut on Thursday night. Bailey has played in just 12 games with the Sabres this season, recording four points in the process.
  • Alexandar Georgiev is on his way back to the minor leagues, as Henrik Lundqvist is heading back into the net. GM Jeff Gorton told media this was always the plan when they had two healthy goaltenders in the NHL, and meant nothing against Georgiev’s play in his short stint. The 22-year old goaltender has a .918 save percentage in ten NHL games so far, and has put himself into contention for the full-time backup role next year.

Chicago Blackhawks Sign Joni Tuulola To Entry-Level Deal

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Monday: The Blackhawks have officially announced the signing, and that Tuulola will report to the Rockford Icehogs for the rest of the season.

Thursday: According to Scott Powers of The Athletic (subscription required), the Chicago Blackhawks have signed Joni Tuulola to a two-year entry-level contract. Tuulola is expected to head to the AHL for the rest of the season, now that his year in Finland is over.

Tuulola, 22, was selected in the sixth round in the 2015 draft but broke out this season playing in Vaasa, Finland. After previously recording a career-high of 14 points, he registered 30 in 58 games for Sport, leading their defense corps in scoring while taking on a much bigger role. Part of the 2016 gold medal-winning Finnish World Junior Squad, Tuulola has developed nicely over the last few years and will now try professional hockey in North America.

Though he could potentially show enough at training camp to earn a spot with the Blackhawks, Tuulola’s role is more likely on the Rockford IceHogs next season as he adapts to the different league. The Blackhawks already have six NHL defensemen under contract for next season, and will have quite a battle for playing time in the AHL.

Chicago Blackhawks Sign Dylan Sikura To Entry-Level Deal

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3:25 p.m.: Powers tweeted that Sikura’s deal will be a two-year entry-level deal and he will wear No. 95 for the Blackhawks on Thursday.

1:05 p.m.: The Chicago Blackhawks have officially signed Northeastern star Dylan Sikura to an entry-level contract, according to The Athletic’s Scott Powers (subscription required). There is no word on contract specifics yet. Sikura, Chicago’s top prospect and a Hobey Baker Award finalist, is expected to leave for Chicago tonight, but will not be allowed to play in Monday’s NHL game due to visa issues. Instead, he is expected to make his Blackhawks’ debut on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Sikura’s college career at Northeastern, who was eliminated Saturday by Michigan 3-2, is over after four years. As reported yesterday, the 22-year-old forward was rumored to have already a deal in place after the Huskies were eliminated. As a fourth-year senior, Sikura could have chosen to become a unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, but the opportunity to play for the Blackhawks immediately was likely enough incentive to sign. The Blackhawks tried to sign him after a solid junior campaign, but he opted to return to Northeastern and there was some concern he would sign with Chicago at all.

Sikura, Chicago’s sixth-round pick back in 2014, is coming off a successful college career at Northeastern in which he 58 goals in his four years there, including 43 during his junior and senior years combined. During those final two years, he put up 111 points. An undersized forward at 6-foot, 166 pounds, he is considered to have excellent skating ability and goal-scoring skills and is expected to be a big part of Chicago’s rebuilding plan.

Minor Transactions: 3/25/18

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There have already been a couple early moves today as the league prepares for the second-to-last week of the regular season. Expect more to come as injuries and college additions continue to shift roster makeup. Others will be made to specifically prepare for key match-ups, such as major playoff position battles today between the Penguins and Flyers and Predators and Jets. Keep track of all the action here:

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled forward Ben Sexton from their AHL affiliate in Belleville, marking the first big-league call-up for the 26-year-old. Sexton was a leader and top scorer as a college player at Clarkson University from 2010 to 2014, but the Boston Bruins, who had drafted him in the seventh round in 2009, moved on after just two disappointing minor league campaigns. Ever since, Sexton has been much more productive in the AHL and has finally earned his first NHL shot in his first season with the Senators after posting 10 goals and 21 points in 28 games so far in 2017-18.
  • Victor Ejdsell is also making his first trip to the NHL, not long after making his North American pro debut. The Chicago Blackhawks have announced Ejdsell’s promotion this morning and the 22-year-old Swedish forward could be in the lineup in short order, seeing as it was an emergency recall. Ejdsell was acquired by Chicago in the Ryan Hartman trade last month and only joined the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs last week. Ejdsell recorded 34 points in 50 games in the Swedish Hockey League this season before making the jump and notched an assist in his first AHL game.
  • With backup Al Montoya suffering through a minor ailment, the Edmonton Oilers announced they are recalling Laurent Brossoit on an emergency basis. The 25-year-old goaltender and one-time back-up this year has struggled in the NHL, posting a 3.22 GAA and a .886 save percentage in 13 games this year. He’s fared slightly better with the Bakersfield Condors with a 2.72 and a .912 save percentage in 22 games. The Oilers also announced they have sent forward Brad Malone to Bakersfield. Malone had been recalled Friday, but did not play Saturday.
  • The St. Louis Blues’ Samuel Blais has been up and down quite a bit in the past couple of days. The 21-year-old winger was called up Friday on an emergency basis and sent back down that night. He was recalled Saturday on an emergency basis and was assigned back to the San Antonio Rampage this morning, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He did not play in either Friday’s or Saturday’s games. The Blues have also assigned emergency fill-in Ville Husso to the San Antonio Rampage, according to NHL.com’s Lou Korac. The move suggests that Blues backup Carter Hutton, who has been out with a neck injury since Mar. 3, is ready to return to the team.

Snapshots: Andersson, Chytil, Gaudette, Sikura

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The New York Rangers rebuild might continue at a new level next week as NHL.com’s Dan Rosen writes that Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault, general manager Jeff Gorton and assistant general manager Chris Drury will talk later today about promoting 2017 first-round centers Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil.

Both first-round picks have fared well this season. Andersson, the seventh overall pick last year, started the season in the SHL, where he put up seven goals and seven assists in 22 games. He played in the World Junior Tournament and helped Sweden to a silver medal and then came to the U.S. and joined the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. There he’s put up five goals and 14 points in 23 games. Chytil, on the other hand, started the season in New York and played two games before the team decided to assign him to Hartford. There in 44 games, Chytil, the No. 21 pick last year, has put up 11 goals and 20 assists.

Rosen said if the Vigneault, Gorton and Drury agree, the two prospects could be inserted into the Rangers’ lineup as soon as Monday.

  • With the elimination of Northeastern University from the NCAA tournament, that could be good news for the Vancouver Canucks who will try to pry prized prospect Adam Gaudette from his collegiate team now that his season is over. In fact, Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal tweets that he’s heard from a source that says contract negotiations are expected to heat up tomorrow. The college junior was the Canucks fifth-round pick in 2015 and has put up 56 goals and 56 assists in his last two seasons with Northeastern. TSN’s Bob McKenzie also adds that the Canucks are expected to make a strong pitch to the 21-year-old center who is a top Hobey Baker Award candidate this year. Gaudette is expected to meet with his family/advisor soon.
  • Also, as reported earlier today, Northeastern’s elimination also fuels the report that the Chicago Blackhawks and Dylan Sikura will be coming to an agreement soon. Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times has a new update in which a league source has confirmed that Sikura will be in a Blackhawks uniform on Thursday.

Western Notes: Oilers’ Offseason, Kane, Denver Players, Sikura

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The Edmonton Oilers are not heading to the playoffs and are currently looking at all their in-house options before the season ends. Then the team will embark on the next bunch of steps to fix the team that one year ago was the talk of the league. The Athletic’s Jonathan Willis (subscription required) comes up with an eight-point plan on how to fix the team this offseason, primary of which is to watch its spending, both on free agents as well as the possibility to send off some of their own contracts as well.

One of the first suggestions is that Edmonton should not overreact when it comes to some of their underperforming players. While several of their defensemen had tough seasons this year including Oscar Klefbom, Andrej Sekera and Adam Larsson, Willis believes that it’s unlikely that they will struggle again and the team must preach patience. However, the team needs to unload expensive contracts of bottom-tier players, suggesting the team might want to see if they can trade off defenseman Kris Russell and forward Zach Kassian to free up some of their money.

As for free agency, the team should avoid big-name free agents and look to sign some of the more modestly-priced players that will be on the market even suggesting that they could consider bringing back Patrick Maroon if he will agree on a short-term deal.

  • The Chicago Blackhawks great Patrick Kane said he hasn’t decided yet whether he will play at the World Championships in Copenhagen in May, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. He said he’ll consider it after his season ends, but it’s “definitely an option. After I didn’t go last year, I was thinking that maybe I should have went.”
  • Although this note is about a Western collegiate team, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman (subscription required) had an interesting nugget in his prospect mailbag. Pronman was asked of the potential signings of the University of Denver’s three forward prospects in Henrik Borgstrom, Troy Terry and Dylan Gambrell, three of the team’s top players. Pronman’s response is that he believes all three will be signing with their respective teams the moment their college season is over. Denver is currently playing in the NCAA tournament. Borgstrom, the Florida Panthers’ 2016 first-rounder scored 22 goals in his sophomore season. Terry, the Anaheim Ducks’ 2015 fifth-rounder picked up 13 goals and 44 points in his junior campaign, while Gambrell, San Jose Sharks’ second-round pick in 2015, finished his junior year with 13 goals and 42 points. All three could be major contributors to their teams as soon as next season.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks also could benefit greatly soon as well as Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that if Northeastern University loses today or Sunday, expect prospect Dylan Sikura to be signed and in the Blackhawks lineup by Thursday. The Northeastern senior, who was the sixth-round pick in 2014, has had dominant season the past two years, combining for 42 goals and 110 points in two seasons. Northeastern is playing Michigan today.

Jonathan Toews To Miss Multiple Games Due To Upper-Body Injury

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  • The Blackhawks will be without center Jonathan Toews for the next few games due to an upper-body injury, head coach Joel Quenneville told reporters, including Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. The injury was sustained on Tuesday against Colorado although the captain was on the ice late in the contest.  He will be re-evaluated next week.

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