Minnesota Wild Suspend Ivan Lodnia
There have long been expectations for Ivan Lodnia to get to the pro ranks in North America and now, just when it seemed like he was finally there, it may already be over for the young forward. Lodnia, in the fifth year of his entry-level contract but just the first in which he had planned to play within the Minnesota Wild organization, has been suspended indefinitely. Lodnia opted not to report to the ECHL’s Iowa Heartlanders after failing to earn a roster spot with the AHL’s Iowa Wild. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that the team has in turn informed Lodnia’s agent that he is on unpaid suspension until he agrees to play in the ECHL – or until the two sides decide on a mutual contract termination.
Lodnia, 22, was once a well-regarded prospect for the Wild, but that status is now in doubt. A 2017 third-round pick, Lodnia had the rare development path of playing for both the U.S. National Team Development Program and in the Canadian major junior ranks with the OHL’s Erie Otters and Niagara Ice Dogs. Lodnia signed his entry-level deal in the same year that he was drafted and proceeded to play at a near point-per-game pace in the OHL that season and even earn some AHL action on an amateur tryout with Iowa. Following a move to Niagara, he succeeded in topping a point-per-game pace in his final two junior seasons. The young forward looked primed to get his start in the AHL last season, but due to the delay in the start of the season he instead was playing in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk and the Wild opted to leave him on loan with the club through the 2020-21 campaign. Lodnia managed only seven points in 27 games with Minsk, but it was it his first pro experience.
One can understand why Lodnia might be confused and frustrated with his current situation. A young forward with strong junior numbers, solid draft pedigree, and pro experience who the team once valued so much that they signed him almost immediately drafting him: why is he not getting a chance in the AHL? While Lodnia does not seem like the caliber of prospect that should be in the ECHL, ultimately it is his job to play where the Wild ask him to play. After a season spent overseas seeing minimal ice time, Minnesota may want him to play top line minutes in the ECHL rather than a depth role in the AHL. The team may also be concerned about him even getting into the Iowa lineup with a full set of a dozen forwards signed to NHL deals who are also currently assigned to the AHL. Not only that, but Iowa’s current forward corps boasts a number of top prospects as well as seasoned veterans. Lodnia may simply be the odd man out right now.
Whatever the reasons, Minnesota has the right to assign their prospects where they see fit and to suspend them if they do not report. Per Russo, Lodnia is currently at home and still debating whether he will report to Iowa City or not and will remain suspended until there is a shift in the status quo. If no resolution can be reached, Lodnia’s contract could be terminated, making him a free agent. It’s an interesting possibility given that, on paper, he still looks like a good prospect and may not be the typical clean waive-and-terminate if other NHL teams are interested. However, Lodnia’s insistence on playing where he wants and not where the team needs him could be a turn off to rival clubs. With KHL experience already on his resume, perhaps a termination could lead to a return to Europe like so many do, though it would be a disappointing result for a long path toward NHL relevance for Lodnia.
Minor Transactions: 10/13/21
The NHL season may be officially underway following Tuesday’s opening pair of contests, but many players are still trying to find homes for the 2021-22 campaign. Follow along as we track these and other notable minor moves across the hockey world:
- Coming off of a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, the fifth NHL contract of his career despite having played only 30 NHL games and zero since 2016-17, veteran defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon wasn’t so lucky this time around. The 28-year-old has settled for an AHL pact, signing a one-year deal with the Utica Comets per a team release. Wotherspoon has extensive AHL experience, including several seasons of strong production and history as a locker room leader, making him an attractive get for the Devils new affiliate. Whether he can turn this opportunity into an NHL deal next season though remains to be seen.
- Similarly, defenseman Luke Green has been unable to find a new NHL deal after he was not qualified by the Winnipeg Jets this summer. However, Green could not land an AHL gig either. The 23-year-old has signed with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, per the league’s registry. After two years in the AHL and one season in Finland without any production, Green has to prove that he is more than just his junior numbers in the QMJHL by finding some sustained success in the pros.
- Fredrik Handemark‘s stay in Russia has been even shorter than it was in North America. After coming over from Sweden last season and playing in eight games with the San Jose Sharks and another 14 in the AHL, it was somewhat surprising to see Handemark head back to Europe this off-season. However, he was at least heading to one of the best teams outside of the NHL in KHL powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg. Yet, just 15 games into his contract with SKA and despite having totaled six points already, Handemark and the club have agreed to a mutual termination of his contract, St. Petersburg announced. Swedish source Expressen reports that Handemark is expected to return to the Malmo Redhawks of the SHL, where he was captain for several years before jumping to San Jose, and is likely to sign a long-term deal. At 28, Handemark’s days in the NHL (and any other league) are likely over if this is the case.
Minor Transactions: 10/03/21
There are plenty of transactions happening between NHL and AHL clubs as training camp cuts continue, but those minor league squads are also making other moves to fill out their training camp rosters. As always, we’ll keep track of those moves right here:
- The Hershey Bears released their training camp roster today, and it has some interesting names included on tryouts. Jake Massie, who was forced to sign an ECHL contract with the South Carolina Stingrays, will get a chance to show the AHL affiliate what he can do as well. The 24-year-old defenseman signed an entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers in 2019 when his college draft rights expired, but was not given a qualifying offer this summer.
- The Ontario Reign will have undrafted WHL defenseman Bobby Russell in camp on a tryout, after he signed an ECHL deal with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Russell had 12 points in 21 games for the Spokane Chiefs last season and will get a chance to show what he can do in the minor leagues this fall.
- Pascal Laberge, a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2016 will be at Providence Bruins camp according to Mark Divver after signing with the Maine Mariners earlier this summer. Laberge, 23, haas played the last three seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms but failed to receive a qualifying offer this offseason.
- Brandon Saigeon, a fifth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2018, will be in camp with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 23-year-old spent the 2019-20 season with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies and never did sign an entry-level deal with the Avalanche.
This page will be updated with further transactions as they are reported
Seattle Kraken Sign ECHL Affiliation Agreement With Allen Americans
The Seattle Kraken announced today that they’ve signed an affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Allen Americans. It marks the second minor-league affiliation Seattle’s signed, supplementing their one-year pact with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Terms of the agreement have yet to be disclosed.
Needless to say, this agreement marks Seattle’s first foray into ECHL affiliation. Allen, located just to the north of Dallas, TX, was not affiliated with an NHL team last season.
While the Kraken don’t have a full roster by any means in terms of players under NHL contracts, Allen could still prove valuable to the organization this season. There’s expected to be a logjam for playing time in Charlotte, as they’re sharing an affiliate for this season only with the Florida Panthers. It could mean that a player like Luke Henman, who was the first to sign a contract with the Kraken this summer, is assigned there to have a more everyday role. The same could go for one of Seattle’s two goalies designated for the minors, most likely Antoine Bibeau as he’ll be preceded by Joey Daccord on the depth chart.
Regardless, it’s not exactly common that one sees an ECHL player called up for NHL action. While it’s usually only seen for goalies under emergency situations (see Michael Houser), the ECHL can still serve as a valuable step in the developmental path for prospects. While the Kraken won’t be able to fully stock those cupboards for a year or two, it could be a sign of a long-standing agreement.
Minor Transactions: 09/29/21
Though the numbers have dwindled, there are still many players looking for work this season. The includes in North America, where some are seeking minor league deals or hoping to capitalize on PTOs, as well as in Europe, where most leagues are already underway but players are still trying to find their way into the action. Keep up with all of these transactions here:
- Miraculously, 38-year-old power forward Evgeny Artyukhin is back for another year of hockey. The Russian forward has signed a one-year deal with the KHL’s Admiral Vladivostok, the team announced. Admiral becomes his ninth different KHL club in his 18-year pro career, which also included a multi-year stint in the NHL. Artyukhin is so old (how old is he?) that the last NHL club he played for was the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010. A 2001 Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick, Artyukhin spent two seasons with the Bolts, collecting 33 points in 145, before splitting his final NHL season between the Anaheim Ducks and the Thrashers with 16 points in 54 games. An effective bottom-six forward who played a physical game and could chip in on offense, Artyukhin likely could have played longer in North America, but was always drawn back to Russia. And KHL teams are drawn to him; it seemed that Artyukhin’s career could be over back in 2018-19 when he missed the whole season due to injury, but now he is on to his second contract in two years as he continues to elongate an already impressive career.
- Two Boston PTO’s have earned a contract with the Bruins, the AHL’s Providence Bruins that is. Defensemen Aaron Ness and Jack Dougherty have signed on with the junior Bruins for this season reports Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal. The organization has yet to confirm, but it would not be a shock given that both players are currently in camp. Ness, who turned down a PTO with the Seattle Kraken to join the Bruins instead, is coming of a contract with the Arizona Coyotes and saw NHL action just last year. He brings 72 NHL games and over 500 AHL games worth of experience to Providence. Dougherty, 25, is a former top prospect of the Nashville Predators who has struggled to make his mark in the pros but has been extremely consistent in the minors.
- Jared Cockrell will have to spend another year in the ECHL to prove he is ready for the next level. The former Colgate standout transferred to St. Cloud State last year and appeared in the NCAA Championship with the Huskies. Soon after he signed with the Wheeling Nailers and got in 16 games, but disappointed with only one point and a -8 rating. His college play suggests that he is far better than that performance and he will look to show that this season after re-upping with Wheeling, per a league release. Cockrell will have his eye on establishing more consistent play at both ends in the Coast and then maybe he could be in line for an AHL loan at some point this year.
Conner Bleackley Signs In ECHL
In 2013, the Colorado Avalanche selected Nathan MacKinnon. In 2015, they picked Mikko Rantanen. Those two players would go on to be the building blocks of a team that is a top contender for the Stanley Cup, but in between, there was a draft class as forgettable as any in franchise history. The 2014 Colorado class has just 66 games to its name, all by Anton Lindholm, who currently plays in the KHL.
The first pick by Colorado that year was a WHL center named Conner Bleackley, selected 23rd overall after he scored 68 points in 71 games for the Red Deer Rebels. He had been named captain of the Rebels at a young age and looked like a good bet as a two-way contributor down the middle, a nice complement to MacKinnon’s huge upside. Bleackley would never get that chance with the Avalanche though, as he was shipped off to the Arizona Coyotes (along with fellow 2014 draft pick Kyle Wood) for Mikkel Boedker in 2016 before he even signed an entry-level contract. With just months to go before his draft rights expired, Bleackley didn’t reach a deal with the Coyotes either, meaning he could re-enter the 2016 draft.
This time, after dealing with injuries and failing to take a step forward in his final two years of junior, Bleackley fell to the fifth round where the St. Louis Blues used the 144th pick on him. The Coyotes ended up getting a compensation pick instead (which helped them move up in the first round to select Jakob Chychrun), and Bleackley would finally sign his entry-level deal, this time with St. Louis.
Unfortunately, that promising two-way NHL center never appeared, and Bleackley has bounced around the minor leagues ever since. He’s no longer an NHL prospect, but that doesn’t mean his playing career is over. The 25-year-old has signed with the ECHL’s Maine Mariners for the 2021-22 season, returning to a team he played for in 2019-20. Overall, Bleackley has suited up for the Chicago Wolves, Missouri Mavericks, Tulsa Oilers, San Antonio Rampage, Texas Stars, Idaho Steelheads, Hartford Wolf Pack, Allen Americans, and the Mariners since turning pro in 2016.
Minor Transactions: 09/21/21
Today certainly had a flurry of big-name news, a rarity for this time of year. But even through the Kirill Kaprizov contracts and the Elvis Merzlikins extensions of the world, NHL teams have made a flurry of minor transactions today in preparation for training camps. As camps begin and rosters are announced, players still without a confirmed home for next season will pop up across the league. Here are some of today’s minor transactions:
- The expansion Seattle Kraken have added a good bit of depth on try-out deals. The team’s invited Tye Kartye and Cole Mackay of the Soo Greyhounds to camp, as well as Francis Marotte of the ECHL’s Allen Americans. Kartye and Mackay, both forwards, have been teammates with the Soo since 2018. Both haven’t played hockey since the 2019-20 season due to the OHL’s shutdown in 2020-21. They were both on the path to success, however, potting over 50 points individually. They’ll gain some valuable experience at an NHL camp. Marotte, a 26-year-old netminder, comes in after just one season of professional hockey. He impressed in the ECHL this year, boasting an 8-3-1 record and .917 save percentage.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have added a trio of their own on tryouts, headlined by defenseman Ian McCoshen. Now 26, the former second-round pick by Florida now hasn’t seen NHL action since 2018-19. He’s unlikely to see NHL ice within the Vegas organization, one of the deepest defenses in the league, but could be a solid AHL body if he ends up signing with the team. They’ve also brought in OHLers Kaleb Pearson and Daniel D’Amato. Pearson scored 52 points in 62 games in 2019-20 with the Owen Sound Attack, and he’s headed to Prince Edward Island to play collegiate hockey this season. D’Amato will suit up for his Erie Otters again this year after scoring 32 points in 63 games back in 2019-20.
Minor Transactions: 09/16/21
Prospect tournaments are underway and NHL training camp is right around the corner. Though there won’t be huge changes to the rosters at the highest level for a few weeks, minor league teams are still working to find the right mix. As always, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.
- Cameron Gaunce will be in Los Angeles Kings camp on a professional tryout according to John Hoven of SiriusXM NHL, though that’s more of a showcase for the Ontario Reign than anything else. Gaunce, 31, has just 37 NHL games under his belt and just five since the end of the 2016-17 season. He is however one of the best defensemen in the minor leagues, meaning he could very well land another two-way NHL contract but spend the majority of the season in the AHL.
- Greg Meireles, who played three games for the Syracuse Crunch last season but spent most of his time in the ECHL, has signed a one-year deal with the Manitoba Moose. The 22-year-old forward was a sixth-round pick by the Florida Panthers in 2019 but became a free agent earlier this year when he failed to sign his entry-level contract. He’ll now take his talents back to Canada to play for the Moose and try to establish himself as an AHL player.
This page will be updated as further transactions are reported
Minor Transactions: 09/15/21
There’s not a lot going on in the NHL as we await training camp and the last few RFA contracts, but the minor leagues are still busy filling out their rosters in preparation for the 2021-22 season. As always, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.
- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have re-signed Dylan MacPherson, bringing him back on an AHL contract. The 23-year-old defenseman split last season between the Wheeling Nailers and AHL Penguins, scoring just one point in ten games at the higher level. Undrafted out of the WHL, MacPherson was never a big offensive weapon but brings some useful size to the back end.
- Cedrick Andree, who played two games for the Belleville Senators last season, has signed with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays for the upcoming campaign. The 21-year-old goaltender had a ton of success at the junior level, posting a 67-21-4 record for the Ottawa 67’s, but is undersized and went undrafted.
- Chris Nell, another goaltender who had a few games in the AHL last season, has signed with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL once again. The 27-year-old has been in that league for several years now, with an .895 save percentage over 80 games.
- Sometimes it’s just not worth trying to return to North America. Mat Robinson has signed a new deal with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, meaning he’ll play his ninth consecutive season there after some previous experience in the AHL, ECHL, Norway and Sweden. The 35-year-old also suited up for Canada at the 2018 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the process.
- Tanner Fritz has signed a one-year AHL contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack after spending the last several seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The 30-year-old forward had six points in 30 games last season.
This page will be updated as further transactions are announced
Minor Transactions: 09/14/21
The late off-season is certainly not a time known for big moves in the NHL, but behind the scenes there are a number of players making very difficult decisions as the season draws near. Sometimes the summer has not turned out how they expected an a tough call must be made on a new direction. Other times a long-considered decision reaches a head and a player must make a leap. Whatever the situation, don’t miss out on minor yet notable moves still occuring as we approach the beginning of training camps and preseason action:
- Liam Kirk 2.0? As one Brit gets ready for his first pro season in North America, another is about to make the jump to the top of the junior ranks. The U.K. is a rare spot for hockey talent, which is why Kirk’s draft selection and upcoming campaign with the Arizona Coyotes has drawn so much attention. Now, Alex Graham is hoping to follow in his footsteps. Despite playing almost exclusively in England thus far in his young career, Graham drew the attention of at least one Canadian junior team as he was selected by the OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs in the second round of the 2021 CHL Import Draft. Today Niagara announced that Graham has signed on with the team and will make his North American debut this season. While much is still unknown about Graham, the 18-year-old has produced in the U.K. and certainly has appealing size. There is still time for him to show what he can do and draw some NHL Draft interest over the next year or two.
- Blake Hillman will be back in the ECHL next season, signing a one-year deal with the Toledo Walleye. A cautionary tale for college players, Hillman left the University of Denver a year early to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018. The defenseman even burned the first season of his two-year ELC that spring, playing in four games with Chicago. A disappointing AHL season later, Hillman was off an NHL contract and could not even contend for an AHL pact and seemingly remains in the same situation now. The two-way blue liner likely could have used that extra year of development in the NCAA before he was thrown into the flames of the pro game.
- Former AHL defenseman and long-time Swedish standout Sebastian Erixon has decided to call it a career at just 32. The talented but oft-injured defenseman has had an up-and-down career but excelled when healthy, both in the SHL and in a 2011-12 season spent with the Chicago Wolves. However, the injuries have become too much and forced the Farjestad captain into early retirement, the team announced. Erixon’s is a career with plenty of what-ifs, as he flashed NHL talent over a solid career in Sweden but could never string together enough top-notch, healthy seasons to make himself a legitimate contract candidate.