AHL Notes: Calder Cup Champions, Poturalski, Christoffer
The Calder Cup Playoffs came to an end last night with a fitting finish to a dominant season for the Charlotte Checkers. The Checkers are your AHL champs this season, as the Carolina Hurricanes’ affiliate took home the title for the first time since moving to Charlotte in 2010, and did so behind a historic effort. Charlotte finished the regular season with an impeccable 51-17-7-1 record, one of the best in league history, accumulating 110 points, eight more than the next-best team in the league. They then stormed through the postseason, losing just four games in four rounds, including a second-round sweep of the perennial powerhouse Hershey Bears and a quick five-game win in the Final over the Chicago Wolves. The Wolves kept it interesting at the end, but the Checkers escaped with a 4-3 win last night to seal the series. Leading the way for Mike Vellucci‘s high-flying squad this season were forwards Andrew Poturalski, Morgan Geekie, and Tomas Jurco – the AHL’s top three scorers in the playoffs – as well as Martin Necas, Aleksi Saarela, and Nicolas Roy. On the blue line, Jake Bean and Trevor Carrick had dominant campaigns. In net, Alex Nedeljkovic had the lion’s share of starts, regular season and postseason, and may have proved himself ready for a shot at the NHL, while Dustin Tokarski was stellar in the backup role throughout.
- Poturalski, in particular, deserves specific accolades and the recognition has already come from the league. Poturalski was named the recipient of the Jack Butterfield Award as the AHL’s postseason MVP. The 25-year-old forward out of the University of New Hampshire recorded 23 points in 18 games, five more than the next in line, which included a dozen goals. It capped off an incredible season in which Poturalski led the Checkers with 70 points on the year, again way ahead of the pack with 16 more points than Saarela in second, and finished fifth in league scoring. Were it not for Daniel Carr, whose 71 points came in just 52 games with the Chicago Wolves, Charlotte’s success and the weight that Poturalski carried to get them there would have made him a likely candidate for regular season MVP as well. Yet, he may get rewarded this off-season nonetheless. Poturalski is a Group 6 unrestricted free agent and set to hit the open market. He saw only two games of NHL action over three seasons in the Hurricanes’ organization and is likely ready to pursue other opportunities elsewhere. There is no doubt that Poturalski, one of the youngest names on the market, will get considerable attention this summer after the season he had.
- Former Edmonton Oilers prospect Braden Christoffer is headed elsewhere next season as well. The 24-year-old forward once looked like a hidden gem after going undrafted but finishing his junior career off strong in the WHL in 2014-15. The Oilers signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in hopes of big things, but when that contract expired last summer, Christoffer had just 28 AHL points to show for three years of effort. He hung around the organization this season on an AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors, but failed to improve. As a result, he’s looking to rejuvenate his pro career by moving overseas to a league without much star power. Stjernen of Norway’s Get Ligaen announced that they have inked the young forward to a contract and were excited about the addition. Stjernen’s lone North American player from last season, Peter Lindblad, was their leading scorer, so it makes sense that they would be happy about another import joining the team. A fresh start seems to be exactly what Christoffer needs as well.
Pacific Notes: Golden Knights, Oilers, Canucks
After two years of heavy turnover and maneuvering to get their franchise off to a hot start, it looks like the Vegas Golden Knights will be taking a back seat when free agency opens on July 1. While most people weren’t expecting Vegas to be active this offseason, with their cap room already used up, Ken Boehlke of SinBin.vegas writes that President of Hockey Operations George McPhee admitted the team will be inactive:
Well we’re in pretty good shape with our core group. We have basically everyone signed up and we are close on some other things. So I don’t imagine we’re going to be out looking at free agents this summer. We like the team the way it is and we like the young guys that we have coming along.
What McPhee meant when he said the team was close on some other things could be very interesting, although it could range anywhere from a potential long-term deal with restricted free agent William Karlsson, to potential deals for fellow RFA’s Nikita Gusev, Tomas Nosek, Jimmy Schuldt or veteran UFA Deryk Engelland, or even a trade to free up cap space to sign any of them.
- The Athletic’s Jonathan Willis (subscription required) looks at the potential compatibility between the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets, wondering if the two teams might be a perfect match for solving each of their problems. The scribe suggests the Jets could use Edmonton to help unload some of their less-significant contracts, such as Mathieu Perreault or Dmitry Kulikov, or if the Jets are more motivated, they could consider sending winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who is coming off a disappointing season, to Edmonton for a package that could include a defenseman such as Darnell Nurse or Andrej Sekera and some of Edmonton’s youth that could help bolster the team’s depth.
- Allan Mitchell of the Athletic (subscription required) writes that the Oilers are in need of an inexpensive third-line center option, one that can kill penalties, suggesting the team look via the trade market to find that player. He writes that the Oilers should consider trying to pry Montreal Canadiens’ center Phillip Danault, as well as look at Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry, Ottawa’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Detroit’s Luke Glendening, or Dallas’ Radek Faksa. The scribe adds that the most likely candidate that Edmonton would be able to steal away could be Pageau.
- The Vancouver Sun’s Patrick Johnston writes that the Vancouver Canucks should seriously consider trying to convince Toronto Maple Leafs unrestricted free agent Jake Gardiner to sign with them this offseason. While there have been rumors that Toronto wants to unload other contracts in hopes of keeping Gardiner in the fold, Johnston writes that Gardiner would be the perfect puck-carrying defenseman that the team hasn’t had since Alexander Edler was in his prime. However, he wonders whether the U.S.-born blue liner might prefer to avoid playing in Canada after a taking a lot of heat from Toronto fans over the years.
Oilers Prospect Olivier Rodrigue Dealt To Moncton
- As is often the case at the QMJHL draft, several trades were made. One of those involved Oilers prospect Olivier Rodrigue, who is on the move to Moncton, per a team announcement on Twitter. In return, Drummondville receives a pair of second-rounders (one is conditional) plus a first-round pick in 2020. Rodrigue is already under contract to Edmonton and will likely be entering the final season of his junior career before turning pro in 2020-21.
No Serious Discussions Yet Regarding A New Contract For Alex Chiasson
Alex Chiasson is the most prominent unrestricted free agent that the Oilers have to re-sign but it doesn’t appear as if they’re in a big hurry to get a deal done. His agent Pat Morris told Postmedia’s Jim Matheson that they’ve spoken but that there haven’t been serious discussions just yet. The winger is coming off of a career season that saw him score 22 goals, more than he tallied in the previous two years combined. That will certainly have him in line for a raise after making the league minimum in 2018-19 but with his previous track record and Edmonton’s cap situation, finding the right price point could be tricky. Matheson suggests a deal similar to that of Zack Kassian’s (three years with a $1.95MM AAV) could make sense but is new GM Ken Holland going to be comfortable paying that to someone who has needed training camp PTOs to get contracts the last two seasons?
Edmonton Oilers Extend ECHL Affiliation
The Edmonton Oilers have extended their ECHL affiliation with the Wichita Thunder through the 2019-20 season, allowing them to keep their two-tiered development system under their new management team. Front office executive Bill Scott released a statement on the extension:
On behalf of Ken Holland and the Edmonton Oilers, we’re very excited to extend our affiliation agreement with the Wichita Thunder. We believe in new Head Coach Bruce Ramsay to develop our prospects in a positive, winning environment that will lead to success for the Thunder and Oilers. Wichita has been a terrific partner and we are pleased to continue our relationship together.
The Oilers have been affiliated with the Thunder since 2017-18, when they parted ways with the Norfolk Admirals. The Thunder made the playoffs in year one of that affiliation, but missed them this season after putting up a 29-31-12 record. In April, the team fired head coach Malcolm Cameron and subsequently hired former Grand Rapids Griffins assistant and Calder Cup champion Bruce Ramsay.
While the ECHL may not be the primary development league, it is still an important part of the Oilers organization as they look to maximize the potential of their prospects. Especially in net, where Stuart Skinner and Dylan Wells split this season, the Thunder will be responsible for getting raw or overlooked prospects off to a good start in their professional careers.
Overseas Notes: Puljujarvi, Jooris, Murphy
Even with interest from the KHL, Jesse Puljujarvi seems focused on playing in the NHL next season. Where he’ll do that though is still up in the air, as several reports have come out explaining that a trade may be the best outcome. Now the player himself admits that is a strong possibility, as Puljujarvi spoke to Finnish outlet Iltalehti and explained he may be wearing a different jersey next year. He also revealed that he’s back skating after the hip surgery that ended his 2018-19 season prematurely.
Puljujarvi, 21, was the Oilers’ top pick in 2016 going fourth overall after Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Unfortunately he hasn’t quite worked out like that impressive trio, and has just 37 points through 139 NHL games. Now as he heads into the offseason without a contract—his entry-level deal is set to expire and make him a restricted free agent—his future in the league is up in the air. Puljujarvi will not be waiver-exempt next season, meaning wherever he does land will have to at least give him a shot at the highest level. That likely makes a trade more difficult, as he hasn’t shown to this point an ability to produce at either end of the rink in the NHL.
- Despite a long playoff run with the Toronto Marlies, Josh Jooris won’t be re-signing in North America. The veteran forward has inked a three-year contract with Lausanne HC in Switzerland. Jooris, 28, scored 55 points in his 213-game NHL career including an impressive rookie season with the Calgary Flames, but will take his talents overseas. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent after his one-year, $650K contract with the Maple Leafs expired this summer.
- Not only did Kunlun Red Star confirm that Andrej Sustr will be heading to the KHL next season, but also that Anaheim Ducks prospect Trevor Murphy has signed a two-year deal. The 23-year old Murphy was acquired by the Ducks last December and played 37 games for the San Diego Gulls this season, registering 18 points. An undrafted defenseman, he made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes in 2017-18 and had three points in eight games. Set to be a restricted free agent this summer, the Ducks can retain his exclusive negotiating rights by issuing him a qualifying offer.
Latest On Jesse Puljujarvi
An early morning report that Jesse Puljujarvi was headed to the KHL has been shot down by his agent, with Markus Lehto speaking to several reporters including Mark Spector of Sportsnet and saying that the NHL is still the top priority. Puljujarvi will be a restricted free agent this summer and needs a new deal, but hasn’t exactly thrived in his first few seasons in the Edmonton Oilers organization. That’s exactly why trade speculation is now bubbling to the surface once again, with Lehto even telling Spector that “maybe it is best for [the] team too.” Darren Dreger of TSN has also heard trade chatter around Puljujarvi from his sources.
Puljujarvi, 21, only has 37 points in 139 NHL games since he was selected fourth overall in 2016, and hasn’t even spent much time in the minor leagues to continue his development. The big winger was actually expected to go third in the draft before Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen shocked the room with his selection of Pierre-Luc Dubois. In a timely piece, Scott Wheeler of the Athletic examined the 2016 draft today and put Puljujarvi 19th in his re-draft.
Still, the Oilers have an entirely new regime in town after GM Ken Holland and head coach Dave Tippett were brought in to change things. Perhaps those fresh eyes have new plans for the young forward, and can start to pull the best out of him at the NHL level. All of that will be dependent on a new contract however, one that will require a negotiation neither side expected when he was first selected. While Auston Matthews enjoys his massive deal and Patrik Laine and Matthew Tkachuk prepare to sign theirs, Puljujarvi will have to ink something that allows him to prove he is an NHL-caliber player before ever cashing in on the type of money high picks usually receive.
Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Brad Malone, Shane Starrett
The Edmonton Oilers have inked a pair of minor league free agents, signing Brad Malone and Shane Starrett to one-year extensions. Malone was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Starrett was headed for RFA status and was eligible for arbitration.
Malone, 30, has been part of the Edmonton organization for the past two seasons, spending the majority of his time in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors. He has been an integral part of the AHL squad, and showed his experience with 13 points in 10 playoff contests this year. Though he amazingly has exactly zero points in 23 NHL games for the Oilers, Malone will serve as inexpensive center depth for the club while almost certainly seeing regular action in the minors.
Starrett meanwhile is a 24-year old goaltending prospect that joined the Oilers in 2017 after finishing his sophomore season at the Air Force Academy. The 6’5″ 220-lbs netminder posted a .918 save percentage in 42 appearances for Bakersfield, recording a tidy 27-12-2 record during the regular season. Starrett’s re-signing is a testament to the Edmonton development team, as he is an ECHL alumni finding success at the higher level.
Still, it is not exactly clear where Starrett will land when the season rolls around. The Oilers also have the younger Stuart Skinner and Dylan Wells in the organization, who both spent considerable time in the ECHL this season and may need a bigger challenge. Both represent mid-round picks that the team needs to continue to develop, while there is also the oncoming Olivier Rodrigue who will finish his junior career after the upcoming season. Edmonton is looking for an NHL upgrade instead of just a backup to Mikko Koskinen, meaning there is likely no room in the NHL for Starrett at this point. At the very least, the team can be happy they’ve created some legitimate prospect depth at the goaltending position.
Snapshots: Blues Injuries, Marleau, Berglund, Gretzky, Quartexx
After a forgettable performance in their first home Stanley Cup Finals game since 1970 on Saturday, the St. Louis Blues might get back a key player for Monday’s Game Four. Defenseman Vince Dunn was seen as a full participant in their optional practice on Sunday, according to NHL.com’s Lou Korac. While he’s still day-to-day, it’s extremely possible he may be ready to go on Monday.
The injury news may not be as promising for forward Robert Thomas, who has now missed two games with an undisclosed injury, although it is now believed it’s a wrist injury that the 19-year-old has suffered. Thomas practiced at Sunday’s optional skate, but NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti reports that he didn’t handle any pucks and was following Robby Fabbri in drills, suggesting he’s not ready to return to the lineup.
- With continued rumors surrounding Toronto Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau and his interest in moving to a west coast team, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Maple Leafs have already had discussions with the Arizona Coyotes, one of the three teams that Marleau is reportedly interested in playing for next season. LeBrun reports that Arizona didn’t show significant interest and he senses that the Coyotes would require a premium prospect sent along with Marleau if the team is willing to take Marleau’s contract off of Toronto’s hands.
- After walking away in December from millions of dollars, former Buffalo Sabres forward Patrik Berglund said on the Hockey Sense Podcast with Andy Strickland that he doesn’t regret leaving the Sabres and now that he’s had a chance to recuperate, intends to return to the ice next season. Berglund, who would have had three years remaining on the contract he signed back in 2017, choose not to report to the team in December and was suspended and then given his unconditional release and had his contract terminated. “I’m doing really well, back home in Sweden and just kind of hanging out right now, getting back to work through working out and doing all that and I’m looking forward to playing hockey next year somewhere, so it’s all good,” Berglund said. No word on whether he intends to return to the NHL or play overseas.
- The Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins writes that while there has been no official word, it looks like Edmonton Oilers former interim general manager Keith Gretzky is likely to stay within the organization and could fill a dual role. He is expected to return to his old role of assistant general manager with an emphasis on the amateur side, while also having a bigger role with Edmonton’s AHL franchise, the Bakersfield Condors, which was the same role that Craig MacTavish held before he left the organization.
- In agent news, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the player agency Quartexx is merging with Darren Ferris and DHG Sports Agency to form an even bigger agency. Among the players that DHG brings over to Quartexx are Toronto’s Mitch Marner, New Jersey’s Taylor Hall, and Detroit’s Andreas Athanasiou and Filip Zadina. Friedman adds that the merger shouldn’t have any effect on any negotiations.
Snapshots: Edmonton, Sedlak, Blackhawks
The Edmonton Oilers will not be bringing back Trent Yawney or Manny Viveiros as assistant coaches next season, according to Jason Gregor of TSN. It’s not a totally unexpected move given the changes in leadership behind the bench and in the front office for the Oilers, but now means that head coach Dave Tippett will get to put together his own staff. The early speculation is that Yawney could re-join Todd McLellan‘s staff, this time in Los Angeles. Assistant Glen Gulutzan will remain and run the Oilers’ powerplay next season.
While both Yawney and Vivieros can hardly be blamed entirely for what happened last season in Edmonton, it makes sense to wipe the slate (mostly) clean and start anew. Edmonton must get it right this time with GM Ken Holland and Tippett on board, or risk wasting more prime seasons of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
- Lukas Sedlak has signed in the KHL, inking a two-year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk. The Columbus Blue Jackets forward was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, but according to team reporter Brian Hedger, was looking for a bigger opportunity and more money. Sedlak played just 47 games for the Blue Jackets last season in a depth role, and made $850K in the second year of a two-season contract signed back in 2017.
- The Chicago Blackhawks are on the clock third in June’s draft, and are taking a close look at the prospects taking part in this week’s scouting combine. Mark Lazerus spoke with Blackhawks scouting director Mark Kelley, who told him that the team has narrowed their list to six potential players to pick with the third-overall selection, though he wouldn’t specify. Lazerus has heard though that Bowen Byram, Alex Turcotte, Cole Caufield and Trevor Zegras are among them.