St. Louis Blues Extend ECHL Affiliation
The St. Louis Blues have agreed to a one-year extension with the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL. 2019-20 will be the third year the two organizations have partnered, giving the Blues a second minor league team to develop their prospects.
Tulsa actually advanced to the third round of the Kelly Cup playoffs last season, their best year since joining the ECHL. Led by star Adam Pleskach, who scored 38 goals and 75 points, the team put up a 42-24-6 record in the regular season. Like most teams, the Blues use their ECHL roster for raw or long-shot prospects but also continue to develop potential future goaltenders. Stanley Cup champion Jordan Binnington spent time in the ECHL during the early part of his career, and last season saw second-round pick Evan Fitzpatrick start 25 games for Tulsa.
As more and more teams invest heavily in their development systems, the low minors continue to increase in importance. If Fitzpatrick ends up back in the ECHL next season he can focus entirely on his training, instead of trying to learn a new organization and city.
Minor Transactions: 08/13/19
As August continues and we get further into restricted free agent contract negotiations, teams continue to fill our their organizational depth charts. Here are some minor moves from around the hockey landscape. We’ll keep updating as more come in:
- Northeastern has announced a pair of graduate transfers for the upcoming season, one with a very familiar hockey name. Brendan van Riemsdyk, younger brother of NHL players James van Riemsdyk and Trevor van Riemsdyk, will join the Huskies after three seasons at the University of New Hampshire. Undrafted, the 23-year old forward had 16 points in 36 games last season.
- Former Kelly Cup champion Gabriel Verpaelst has signed on with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL for next season, bringing his physicality to a new organization. Verpaelst has racked up 706 penalty minutes in 292 ECHL games including 65 fighting majors.
- The Halifax Mooseheads and Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL have completed a trade, swapping Cameron Whynot and a 2021 third for Xavier Parent. Whynot was the ninth overall pick in the most recent QMJHL draft and is already a 6’2″ defenseman at the age of 16. He is eligible for selection in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but still has a lot of development to do in junior. Parent meanwhile was also a high pick, selected fourth in 2017 by the Mooseheads. He recorded 34 points in 67 games last season and was part of the gold medal-winning Hlinka-Gretzky team. He was eligible this season but went undrafted by the NHL likely thanks in part to his 5’7″ stature.
Minor Transactions: 08/12/19
As August continues and we get further into restricted free agent contract negotiations, teams continue to fill our their organizational depth charts. Here are some minor moves from around the hockey landscape. We’ll keep updating as more come in:
- The Hershey Bears have signed Cole Ully to an AHL contract for the upcoming season, bringing in the former Dallas Stars prospect after two years spent mostly in the ECHL. Ully was drafted in the fifth round in 2013, but has still yet to really make a big impact at the AHL level.
- The Fort Wayne Komets have signed Brycen Martin and Olivier Galipeau to ECHL deals, giving them some added defensive depth. Martin, 23, was actually a third-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2014 but has only played in 21 AHL games and was not given a qualifying offer this offseason.
- The San Antonio Rampage have added some veteran goaltending to the mix, signing Adam Wilcox to a one-year AHL contract. Wilcox has played four seasons of professional hockey since leaving the University of Minnesota and even has an NHL appearance under his belt. The 26-year old put up an .896 save percentage in 28 games with the Rochester Americans last season.
Snapshots: Brodie, Marner, Staal
The Calgary Flames still need to shed some more salary in order to fit in what is expected to be a big contract for Matthew Tkachuk, and Sportsnet’s Eric Francis suggests on radio that T.J. Brodie might have to be the one to go. The defenseman has been involved in trade speculation for some time and as Francis notes, the team has two up-and-coming options in Rasmus Andersson and Juuso Valimaki (not to mention Oliver Kylington, who is also pushing for an NHL spot.)
The Flames already shed themselves of some money by buying out Michael Stone recently, but project to have just over $7.75MM in cap space to sign both Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane. The 29-year old Brodie has just one year left on his current contract with a $4.65MM cap hit and is still an effective offensive option from the blueline. Francis worries that the Flames may have to part with another player to find a fit for Brodie after a deal earlier this offseason fell apart with the Toronto Maple Leafs thanks to Nazem Kadri‘s no-trade clause. With just a month left before training camps open, Flames GM Brad Treliving still has plenty of work to do.
- Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they too have an unsigned restricted free agent holding things up. Mitch Marner still doesn’t have a contract for the 2019-20 season, but linemate John Tavares doesn’t seem worried. Speaking with TSN this weekend, Tavares explained that “there’s still some time” for the contract to be worked out and is hopeful that Marner is there on the first day of training camp. The Maple Leafs currently project over the salary cap for the upcoming season but have more than $10MM tied up in Nathan Horton and David Clarkson who will be placed on long-term injured reserve at some point.
- Jared Staal has been hired by the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears as an assistant coach, transitioning to a new role in professional hockey. The younger brother of Eric Staal, Jordan Staal and Marc Staal played two games for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012-13 but had spent most of his career in the minor leagues. His playing days ended after suiting up for the Edinburgh Capitals of the EIHL in 2016-17. The 28-year old was originally drafted in the 2008 second round, but couldn’t quite climb to the same heights as his brothers. Perhaps he’ll get to that level as a coach, something he’s obviously getting an early start on.
Minor Transactions: 08/08/19
As August continues and we get further into contract negotiations, teams continue to fill our their organizational depth charts. Here are some minor moves from around the hockey landscape. We’ll keep updating as more come in:
- Anthony Florentino has signed a one-year contract with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL, continuing his professional career after two seasons with the Cincinnati Cyclones. Originally selected in the fifth round by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, Florentino stayed at Providence College for all four years and never did get an NHL contract. Last year saw the defenseman record eight points in 62 games for Cincinnati.
- The Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL have convinced one of their import selections to sign for the 2019-20 season, inking Vitali Pinchuk according to his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey. Pinchuk was the 62nd pick in the CHL Import Draft earlier this year and will leave Belarus to start his North American career. The 17-year old is eligible for selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
- Peter Worrell has been a member of the amateur and youth hockey community in Florida since his retirement more than a decade ago, and will now join the Panthers organization directly. The former NHL enforcer has been named the director of the Florida Panthers IceDen where he will continue to help build the hockey community in the state. Worrell played 342 games for the Panthers during his career, racking up 1,375 penalty minutes.
Vegas Golden Knights Renew ECHL Affiliation
The Vegas Golden Knights and Fort Wayne Komets will be partners once again. The two organizations have renewed their affiliation for the 2019-20 season, giving Vegas a primary ECHL affiliate again this season. The Komets will once again benefit from receiving the Golden Knights’ raw or long-shot prospects and try to continue their streak of playoff appearances.
Last season saw the Komets post a 36-26-10 record in their first year with the Golden Knights, making it six consecutive seasons they had reached the postseason. That was thanks to a well-rounded attack and veteran goaltending. Former top Montreal Canadiens prospect Zach Fucale spent most of the season with the Komets, starting 34 games for the team and going 20-9-3. With Fucale now in the Syracuse Crunch organization the net will be open to other Golden Knights prospects. Dylan Ferguson, who will turn pro this season is a candidate, though it will depend what happens at the AHL level.
Top scorer Justin Hodgman has also moved on, taking his talents to Germany and the DEL. The former Arizona Coyotes forward had 57 points in 50 games for the Komets last season, edging out long-time ECHL superstar Shawn Szydlowski—who will return for 2019-20—for the team lead.
Minor Transactions: 08/07/19
As August continues and we get further into contract negotiations, teams continue to fill our their organizational depth charts. Here are some minor moves from around the league. We’ll keep updating as more come in:
- Jamie Devane and Yushiroh Hirano have joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the 2019-20 season on AHL contracts. It’s been a great week for Japanese hockey after 2020 draft prospect Yu Sato decided to bring his talents to North America and now Hirano has landed an AHL deal. The 23-year old forward played his first season of professional North American hockey last year and dominated the ECHL, scoring 57 points in 67 games. Devane meanwhile has been in the AHL for years now, most recently with the Ontario Reign where he racked up 79 penalty minutes in just 27 games last season.
- If you’re a CHL fan who has been impressed with Swiss goaltender Noah Patenaude at the current Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, you might get another chance to see him up close next season. The 16-year old has signed with the Saint John Seadogs and will make the jump to North America test his skills next season.
- Jaakko Haarti may not be coming to the NCAA after all. The Finnish defenseman will play with the Lahti Pelicans instead for the upcoming season, taking away a top recruit for UMass. The 5’10” Haarti recorded 14 goals and 28 points in the top Finnish junior league last season in just 50 games.
- The Charlotte Checkers have signed Cedric Lacroix to a two-way AHL contract, bringing in an ECHL standout for a new opportunity. Lacroix played his first professional season with the Wheeling Nailers in 2018-19 and recorded 42 points in 71 games. That was more than he had in four whole seasons at the University of Maine, but he didn’t forget his roots as a physical presence. In those 71 contests, Lacroix finished sixth in the league by racking up 215 penalty minutes including 12 fighting majors.
Minor Transactions: 08/06/19
As August begins and we get closer to the end of arbitration and contract holdouts, teams continue to fill our their organizational depth charts. Here are some minor moves from around the league. We’ll keep updating as more come in:
- Former NHL forward Quinton Howden was traded in the KHL and will now play for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in 2019-20. The 25th overall pick from 2010 ended up in the KHL starting in 2017 after several seasons bouncing between North American leagues. Howden played a total of 97 games in the NHL and scored 17 points, but got to suit up for Canada at the Olympics last year after leaving the league behind. Younger brother Brett Howden is just beginning his own pro career, playing in his rookie campaign with the New York Rangers this past season.
- Former Edmonton Oilers prospect Greg Chase has signed with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, the team announced. Chase was a seventh-round pick of the Oilers back in 2013 and enjoyed a strong junior career in the WHL. However, after turning pro in 2015, Chase largely spent his first three seasons on his entry-level contract in the ECHL, struggling to make a difference in the AHL and getting nowhere close to the NHL. He was not re-signed by the Oilers last summer and spent most of the season with the ECHL’s Maine Mariners. A point-per-game player for the Mariners, Chase earned a brief loan to the Wolf Pack and clearly did enough to earn a contract. The Chase family has some history in Hartford, as uncle Kelly Chase played several seasons with the Hartford Whalers, as well as the St. Louis Blues.
- After leaving Colorado College mid-way through the 2018-19 season, forward Ty Pochipinski has selected a new college program. The Air Force Academy has announced that Pochipinski has committed to their team and is set to enroll this fall. Pochipinski recorded one point in four games with Colorado College last season before leaving to join the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. He’s likely seeking more opportunity by jumping to the Air Force Falcons. Father Trevor Pochipinski was a four-year starter for the Colorado College Tigers and was actually drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round of the 1986 NHL Draft, although he never played for the team.
Minor Transactions: 08/05/19
As August begins and we get closer to the end of arbitration and contract holdouts, teams continue to fill our their organizational depth charts. Here are some minor moves from around the league. We’ll keep updating as more come in:
- Pro enforcer Bobby Farnham has decided to take his talents to the EIHL, signing a one-year deal with the Belfast Giants. Farnham has bounced up and down between the AHL and NHL for years, mostly as an imposing physical presence. Despite being just 5’10” the 30-year old Farnham has always been willing to drop the gloves or go after a player in the corner. In 67 NHL games he has 138 penalty minutes a total dwarfed by the 1,044 he has received through 404 AHL games.
- Farnham will be joined in Belfast by former NHL player Liam Reddox who has spent the last eight seasons with the Vaxjo Lakers. Reddox actually served as captain of the Swedish team for the last four years, but will be looking for a new challenge in 2019-20. Once the 112th pick of the 2004 draft, Reddox played 100 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers before leaving for the SHL in 2011.
- There was a trade in the ECHL this morning, with the Maine Mariners acquiring the rights of Jordan Klimek in exchange for Derek Pratt and Garrett Cecere. All three are former NCAA players looking to make their way in professional hockey.
Minor Transactions: 08/02/19
As August begins and we get closer to the end of arbitration hearings and contract holdouts, teams continue to fill our their organizational depth charts. Here are some minor moves from around the league. We’ll keep updating as more come in:
- Zack Stortini has decided to retire after a 14-year playing career, instead joining the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL as an assistant coach. Stortini was part of of the Charlotte Checkers last season that won a Calder Cup, though he only played in 24 games and didn’t suit up in the playoffs. The veteran forward played in 257 NHL games over his career, racking up 725 penalty minutes. A captain of the Wolves for three years during his junior career, he’ll start the next chapter of his hockey story in a familiar place.
- The Milwaukee Admirals have signed Josh Healey to a one-year AHL contract, bringing in the 25-year old defenseman after he was left unqualified by the Calgary Flames. Healey was a top NCAA free agent in 2017 after four years at Ohio State where he was an offensive threat and a huge open-ice hitter, but failed to transition very well to the professional ranks. In 107 AHL games with the Stockton Heat he had just 15 points and 88 penalty minutes.
- Two-time Kelly Cup champion Sam Jardine has decided to take his talents overseas, signing with the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL. Jardine split time between the Toronto Marlies and Newfoundland Growlers last season before ultimately ending up with the latter for an ECHL playoff run. A sixth-round pick from 2011, the 25-year old defenseman is a pretty good attraction for the Devils this season.