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Philadelphia Flyers See Value In Goaltending Like Vegas Does

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The emergence in the last couple of years of prospect Carter Hart, who won the CHL Goaltender of the Year award Saturday for the second straight year is the only hope the Philadelphia Flyers have to filling the one major gap on their roster — goaltending. With the team locked into another year with the tandem of average goalies Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth, the team has to hope that Hart, who will join the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms next year, can live up to the hype and lead the Flyers to that next level in a year.

Only 19 years old, Hart has put up three dominant seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. In the 2015-16 season as a 17-year old, Hart posted a 2.14 GAA and a .918 save percentage. The Flyers drafted him in the second round after that season. He followed that year up with a 1.99 GAA and a .927 save percentage in the 2016-17 season to capture his first CHL Goaltender of the Year award. It only got better. Despite a respite in December to represent Team Canada at the World Juniors, he tallied a 1.60 GAA and a .947 save percentage for one of the best junior seasons for a goalie ever.

He joined Lehigh Valley for their playoff run recently, but didn’t get into a game. That job should be handed to him next season, although Hart is looking to make the rare jump straight to the Flyers.

“I want to be (in the NHL) next season,” he said to the Courier-Post. “That’s my goal for the summer is to get bigger, faster and stronger so I’m prepared for training camp. That’s really all I’m focused on right now is that this summer is huge for me. I’m excited to go home, whenever that is, and get my training started and get ready for next season.”

Philly.com’s Sam Carchidi finds himself comparing this year’s Flyers team to that of the Golden Knights squad that sits four wins away from a Stanley Cup title. The one big difference that the scribe notes between the two teams is that Vegas hit the jackpot when they got Marc-Andre Fleury in the expansion draft from the Pittsburgh Penguins. That move is the key factor that the Flyers lacked this year. When Elliott was not hurt, he put up decent numbers with a 2.66 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 43 games, but that isn’t good enough for a team to take that next step in the playoffs. Neuvirth wasn’t much better with a 2.60 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 22 games.

The scribe points out that what Fleury has done is shown the other 30 general managers in the league that goaltending is the most important position of the game. The Flyers only hope is that Hart is as good as advertised once he reaches the professional ranks. The hope is that one year in the AHL will hopefully prove he’s ready to be that goaltender of the future in Philadelphia. Of course, the Flyers may have learned this lesson several years ago and have their own pipeline with promising Swedish goaltender Felix Sandstrom expected to come over to the U.S. to join Hart in Lehigh Valley next season.

 

CHL Announces Top Players Awards for 2017-18

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The CHL announced their top player awards Saturday with Alex Barre-Boulet garnering the Sportsnet Player of the Year Award. The 21-year-old who played for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL, tallied 53 goals and 116 points to capture the award, beating out Everett Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart and the Sarnia Stings forward Jordan Kyrou. The 5-foot-9 Barre-Boulet, who went undrafted, signed an entry level contract in March with the Tampa Bay Lightning and will likely report to their AHL franchise next year.

While Hart fell short of winning the Player of the Year award, he didn’t walk away without one as the Philadelphia Flyers prospect won the Vaughn Goaltending of the Year award for the second time. The 19-year-old who starred for Team Canada at the World Juniors as well, blew the competition away with a 1.60 GAA in 41 games and putting up an impressive .947 save percentage. He beat out Windsor Spitfires Michael DiPietro and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies’ Samuel Harvey.

The Vegas Golden Knights picked up another award as prospect Nicolas Hague won the Superstore Defenseman of the Year award. The second-round pick in 2017 from the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads totaled 35 goals and 78 points in 67 games last season. He beat out Moose Jaw Warriors Kale Clague and Acadie-Bathurst Titan’s Olivier Galipeau.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts won the Sherwin Williams Top Prospect Award as the Barrie Colts winger put up 40 goals in his rookie year in the OHL. Svenchikov is considered by many to be the second player to come off the board in the 2018 NHL Draft. He beat out Spokane Chiefs defenseman Ty Smith and Halifax Mooseheads Filip Zadina.

Here is a list of all the CHL award winners:

Player of the Year: Alex Barre-Boulet
Defenseman of the Year: Nicolas Hague
Goaltender of the Year: Carter Hart
Rookie of the Year: Alex Lafreniere
Coach of the Year: Drew Bannister
Scholastic Player of the Year: Alexandre Alain
Humanitarian of the Year: Garrett McFadden
Sportsman of the Year: Aleksi Heponiemi
Top Scorer: Jayden Halbegwachs
Top Prospect of Year: Andrei Svechnikov

Morgan Frost, Carter Hart To Join Lehigh Valley Phantoms

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Though they’re both not expected to get into the lineup at this point, Morgan Frost and Carter Hart will be joining the Lehigh Valley Phantoms during their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Toronto Marlies. Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Frost will join them on the road, while Hart will meet the team when they return for game three.

Frost, 19, was the Flyers’ first-round pick last summer and put up an incredible 112-point season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. His club barely missed out on an opportunity to go to the Memorial Cup, but he’ll get some more high-level experience by just being around the Phantoms during their Calder Cup run. The two-way center has propelled himself into the conversation as one of the best prospects in the entire league with his play this season, especially following his 29-point postseason run. Frost only turned 19 two days ago, and is likely headed back to the CHL next season.

Hart on the other hand has been among the best—if not the best—goaltending prospects in the world for the last few years, and was selected 48th overall in 2016. The 19-year old won his third consecutive Goaltender of the Year award in the WHL, while also taking home league MVP honors after an incredible season with the Everett Silvertips. Hart posted a 31-6-3 record and .947 save percentage this season, and took Everett all the way to the finals before losing to the Swift Current Broncos. Hart will likely enter professional hockey next season, leaving junior hockey as arguably one of the best WHL goaltenders of all-time.

2018 Memorial Cup Preview

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The finale of the 2017-18 major junior season kicks off on Friday with the beginning of the Memorial Cup tournament. Each year, the champions of the three CHL leagues—the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL—and a rotating host team face off in a round-robin tournament with the championship being held on Sunday, May 27. This year’s tourney takes place in Regina, Saskatchewan and features the host Regina Pats of the WHL, the OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs, the QMJHL champion Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and the WHL champion Swift Current Broncos. Below is a summary of each of the contending squads to help prepare for the upcoming games:

Regina Pats (40-25-7)

The host Pats are not quite on the level of the other three teams, as per usual, but that doesn’t mean they can’t string together enough wins to steal the Memorial Cup away. The Pats finished third in the WHL’s East Division, although their 87 point were good enough for seventh in the league. The team is well acquainted with another Memorial Cup competitor, the Swift Current Broncos, as they finished just behind the eventual champs in the division and fell to them in the first round of the WHL playoffs in seven games. If not for that match-up, Regina had the talent to advance further in the postseason.

The team finished fifth in the league in goals against behind a stout defense featuring three highly regarded NHL prospects: Libor Hajek (NYR), Cale Fleury (MTL), and Josh Mahura (ANA). The offense is led by another standout Ducks prospect, first-rounder Sam Steel (ANA), and has scoring depth in the form of Jake Leschyshyn (VGK), Matthew Bradley (MTL), and draft-eligible Emil Oskanen. The hosts will be far from a pushover in this tournament.

Swift Current Broncos (48-17-7)

The Broncos have the benefit of staying nearby in Saskatchewan and facing a team that they handled all year long in Regina. The team is also on a bit of a hot streak having beaten two division champs, the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Everett Silvertips, en route to their WHL title. Swift Current is a well-rounded squad who finished second in goals against and third in goals for this season. Star center Glen Gawdin (CGY) contributed to both of those marks with both an outstanding 125 points and checking game that earned him over 100 penalty minutes and a +61 rating. Gawdin and partner-in-crime Aleksi Heponiemi (FLA) finished second and third respectively in WHL scoring and form a formidable duo on the team’s top line.

Offensive defenseman Colby Sissons (NJD) and his under-rated pair mate Artyom Minulin are a force themselves on the blue line. However, the key to the Broncos success in the tournament will lie with goaltender Stuart Skinner (EDM). Skinner’s play was incredible in the postseason, as he posted a .932 save percentage and 2.20 GAA in 26 starts. If that level of play continues, Swift Current will be hard to beat.

Hamilton Bulldogs (43-18-7)

The OHL champs were also East Division regular season champs and held the third-best record in the league. They were also third-best in goals against and fifth-best in goals for. Hamilton took their game to the next level in the playoffs though, dropping just five games in four series, including taking down arguably the best team in junior hockey this year, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, in a six-game final series.

The Bulldogs are led by a forward corps that is unrivaled in depth in this tournament: Robert Thomas (STL), Matthew Strome (PHI), Will Bitten (MTL), MacKenzie Entwhistle (ARI), and overage phenom Brandon Saigeon. The only question is whether or not Hamilton has the difference-makers elsewhere in their lineup to keep up in the tournament.

Acadie-Bathurst Titan (43-15-10)

The Titan finished with the second best record and goal differential in the QMJHL and with the Maritimes Division title, but were clearly the best team in the league come playoff time, when they completed two sweeps and lost only four games on their way to a relatively easy championship. Keeper Evan Fitzpatrick (STL) was the star of the show in the postseason, continuing his strong play from the regular season. Forward Antoine Morand (ANA) and potential top-ten pick defenseman Noah Dobson led their respective units, but watch out for Flyers first-rounder German Rubtsov (PHI) to be the key to the Titan’s success in the tournament.

The Vegas Train Isn’t Slowing Down: 2018-19 & Beyond

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They’re just off to a hot start. His shooting percentage is unsustainable. The schedule gets tougher in the second half. They’re not playoff-tested.

All of these things have been said about the Vegas Golden Knights, and all of them have been shot down as the team keeps rolling through the NHL like they were relegated from an even higher league. The team knocked out the San Jose Sharks yesterday on the back of another shutout by Marc-Andre Fleury, and will now sit and wait for the winner of Nashville-Winnipeg. Both the Predators and Jets are impressive hockey clubs, but if you think they’ll be big favorites over the Golden Knights, you haven’t been paying attention.

Vegas may well go all the way to the Stanley Cup in their first season. They could even take home the trophy, handing it to Fleury, James Neal, David Perron, and Deryk Engelland before handing it to some of the less experienced players. Eventually it would end up in the hands of 22-year old Shea Theodore, a defenseman who started the year in the AHL only to now log more than 22 and a half minutes a night in the playoffs. Or Alex Tuch, the 21-year old prospect the Golden Knights received from Minnesota who, while still unpolished, can look like an animal off his leash at times as he disrupts breakouts and crashes heavily on the forecheck.

It would be passed to Malcolm Subban, a forgotten first-round pick who showed that all he needed was a chance and some confidence. He’ll still be 24 when next season begins, and looking like the obvious successor to Fleury down the road.

It’s that “down the road” that is so interesting for the Golden Knights. That’s when everyone was expecting them to compete. Down the road. Maybe sometime in the future. When their draft picks develop.

Those draft picks are developing already.

Cody Glass, the first draft pick in Vegas franchise history, recorded 102 points in 64 games for the Portland Winterhawks this season. He only just turned 19, but on a weaker team would be pushing for a role in the NHL as soon as next season. Nick Suzuki, his CHL counterpart selected just a few picks later, recorded 100 points in 64 matches. 42 goals tied him for third in OHL scoring, and he won’t turn 19 until August. Only AHL eligibility rules will likely stop him from playing professional hockey next season, as he’s already too good for the junior ranks.

Erik Brannstrom, the forgotten first-round pick, logged a regular shift on defense against professionals in the SHL, recording 22 points in 44 games. Fellow drafted blueliner Nicolas Hague put up 35 goals and 78 points as a dominant presence in the OHL.

Some criticized the Golden Knights for giving up three draft picks for Tomas Tatar at the trade deadline, especially because of the limited impact he’s had for them. But Vegas still holds 11 combined picks in rounds 1-3 of the 2019 and 2020 drafts, and will continue to pump talent into their pipeline. They’re not going away.

This summer could see the departure of Neal and Perron, and the offense will suffer. There is a chance that Fleury takes a step backwards, and the top line doesn’t produce as much. But there is more talent coming, there are more players ready to take the next step. Even as the core changes in the next few years, Vegas is set up for long-term success. The train isn’t slowing down, it’s just going to change conductors.

Pavel Padakin Garnering NHL Interest

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The off-season has yet to officially begin, but there have already been a number of international signings in recent weeks and there are surely more to come. Among those potential imports on the way could be KHL forward Pavel Padakin. Agent Igor Larionov confirmed to Russian source Championat that the Ukranian right winger has received several offers to play in the NHL next season.

Padakin, 23, has more North American experience than the typical young international player. After coming over as a 17-year-old in 2011 to play in the U.S. Tier II junior-level North American Hockey League, Padakin was able to make the jump to major junior the next year, joining the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. After three seasons in the WHL, Padakin signed a minor league deal and split the 2015-16 season between the AHL and ECHL. Only after that did he return to Europe, signing with Sochi.

However, after leading his team in assists this season, as well as finishing third in points and second in plus/minus, Padakin in back in North America to train and meet with team executives. While his career statistics don’t indicate that Padakin could make a major impact on an NHL team right away, his familiarity with the North American game matched with a solid skill set could make him a nice AHL depth addition for the time being.

2018 WHL Bantam Draft Results

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Though they’re not quite as noteworthy as the NHL Entry Draft, junior drafts can give fans a glimpse of the future of professional hockey. Today, the WHL held their 2018 Bantam Draft where the Edmonton Oil Kings held the first-overall pick.

With that pick Edmonton took Dylan Guenther, a 15-year old center who put up huge numbers in the CSSBHL. 103 points in just 30 games, he easily led the league in scoring and will now try to continue that success in the CHL. Eligible for selection in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, we’ll surely hear his name a few more times over the next few years.

The rest of the first round results can be found below, while the entire draft can be seen here.

  1. Edmonton Oil Kings: C Dylan Guenther
  2. Kootenay Ice: D Carson Lambos
  3. Prince Albert Raiders: D Nolan Allan
  4. Calgary Hitmen: F Sean Tschigerl
  5. Kamloops Blazers: C Logan Stankoven
  6. Saskatoon Blades: F Colton Dach
  7. Red Deer Rebels: C Jayden Grubbe
  8. Lethbridge Hurricanes: C Zack Stringer
  9. Prince George Cougars: C Craig Armstrong
  10. Seattle Thunderbirds: C Kai Uchacz
  11. Medicine Hat Tigers: C Cole Sillinger
  12. Vancouver Giants: C Zack Ostapchuk
  13. Victoria Royals: D Nolan Bentham
  14. Tri-City Americans: D Mark Lajoie
  15. Brandon Wheat Kings: F Jake Chiasson
  16. Red Deer Rebels: D Kyle Masters
  17. Spokane Chiefs: D Graham Sward
  18. Kelowna Rockets: C Trevor Wong
  19. Portland Winterhawks: C Gabe Klassen
  20. Edmonton Oil Kings: D Keegan Slaney
  21. Prince George Cougars: G Tyler Brennan
  22. Moose Jaw Warriors: F Eric Alarie

Dennis Cholowski Joins Grand Rapids Griffins

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Dennis Cholowski has had quite the path to professional hockey, but that dream finally seems a reality. The Detroit Red Wings prospect has been assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he’ll likely suit up in the playoffs and then stay with for the 2018-19 season—that is, if he doesn’t make the NHL out of camp. Cholowski’s CHL team, the Portland Winterhawks, were eliminated from the WHL playoffs recently, ending his junior career.

In 2016, Cholowski was selected in the first round by the Red Wings who knew full well that he was planning on heading to college. The young defenseman had played in the BCHL to maintain NCAA eligibility, and was headed to St. Cloud State in 2016-17. He would make it to the collegiate ranks, but spend just one season at St. Cloud before signing his entry-level contract. That came with a single game for the Griffins last spring on an amateur tryout, though he’d have to wait for another opportunity in professional hockey.

Instead, he was sent to the CHL where he signed a deal with the Prince George Cougars. Prince George had drafted him way back in 2013 with the 200th selection in their bantam draft, never really expecting him to play for them. Instead, they received half a season—and an excellent one at that, scoring 39 points in 37 games—before moving him to Portland for a boatload of draft picks. Cholowski wold continue his strong play, scoring another 34 points in 44 games for the Winterhawks down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Cholowski was seen as a reach of sorts in his draft year, but looks like he’ll pay off for the Red Wings at the next level. A talented puck-mover, he’ll be a key part of how the Detroit re-tool looks over the next few seasons. For now, he’ll get some playoff experience with the Griffins who are trying to defend their 2017 Calder Cup Championship.

2019 Memorial Cup To Be Held In Halifax

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The CHL Memorial Cup is one of the biggest tournaments in the world for junior-aged players, and attracts scouts from every organization in the NHL on a yearly basis. A good showing there can change a young player’s draft stock, and a poor one can cast doubt on your professional future (shortsighted as that may seem).

While the city of Regina, Saskatchewan prepares to host the 2018 event, the CHL has announced that Halifax, Nova Scotia will welcome in the hockey world in 2019. As a reward for hosting, the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL will get automatic entry to the tournament, where they will face off against the WHL, OHL and QMJHL champions (or runners-up should they take home the league crown).

Halifax is a very interesting choice, as they should be a powerhouse once again next season and could very well win both the QMJHL title and Memorial Cup. This year the team is already quite strong, and could send four players to the podium in the first round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Filip Zadina is the obvious example, as the Czech sniper is expected to go somewhere in the top three or four picks in June. Beyond him though, Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Jared McIsaac both have made great cases to go in the top-31. The fourth member of a potential first-round group is Alexis Gravel, the top ranked draft eligible North American goaltending prospect, though his market is much harder to read. Though many scouts believe Gravel will eventually become a top-tier netminder, he hasn’t shown that elite ability on a consistent basis—though, his start to the playoffs has been exquisite.

Even if Zadina graduates to the NHL right away (which is far from certain), the Mooseheads will be a contender next season with the talent already on the roster. Given the way CHL teams can also accumulate talent in-season with trades from rebuilding squads, you can bet the Mooseheads will be far from an underdog when the Memorial Cup comes to town.

Snapshots: Emergency Goalie, Lundqvist, Pettersson, College Free Agents

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The Winnipeg Jets may have called up Michael Hutchinson on paper, but they weren’t actually able to get him on the roster in time for their game tonight against the New Jersey Devils. According to the team, Hutchison’s flight into New York was delayed and he was unable to arrive to the game in time. As a result, the Jets were forced to sign an emergency backup to a tryout deal. The man behind Connor Hellebuyck tonight will be Zane Kalemba, a New Jersey native and a friend of Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler. Kalemba played junior hockey with Wheeler for the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers and went on to star for Princeton University. Kalemba only retired from hockey in 2016, having spent time in the ECHL, CHL, and several European leagues. An experienced keeper who, most importantly, was nearby, will have to do for the Jets tonight.

  • A goalie in the tri-state area with a little more experience than Kalemba is New York Rangers superstar Henrik Lundqvist. In fact, when Lundqvist takes the ice tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he will tie former Tampa goalie Nikolai Khabibulin for the most NHL starts by a foreign-born goalie. The Rangers report that Lundqvist’s appearance, his 799th, is enough to share the top mark. When the Swedish keeper makes his next start, which could be as early as Saturday, he will not only reach a benchmark 800th appearance, but will also become the most experienced foreign keeper in NHL history.
  • Another Swede setting records is Vancouver Canucks prospect Elias Pettersson. Pettersson, who was selected fifth overall last year by Vancouver, has been playing in the top Swedish pro league, the SHL, this season. After a four-point outburst today, the Canucks pointed out that Pettersson’s 55 points on the year set a new record for the most points by a player under 20 in SHL history. The Vaxjo Lakers forward snapped a 42-year-old record while also taking over the league scoring lead. That’s not too shabby for a young player who looks to be an absolute stud-in-the-making for the Canucks.
  • Some other young players looking to make an impact in the pros is the 2018 crop of college free agents. While Zach Whitecloud’s deal with Vegas today was the first NHL deal so far, a few other NCAA prospects have already hooked up with AHL teams for contracts and tryout agreements for the remainder of the season and could earn big-league deals if they impress. These transactions include Whitecloud’s Bemidji State teammate Kyle Bauman joining the Ontario Reign (LAK), the San Jose Barracuda (SJS) inking Alaska-Fairbanks’ Zach Frye, Yale’s Ryan Hitchcock going nearby to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI), the Chicago Wolves (VGK) adding Wisconsin’s Ryan Wagner, and both Derian Plouffe of Niagara and Josh Kestner of Alabama-Huntsville signing with the Toronto Marlies (TOR).

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