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Prospect Notes: Askarov, Hogberg, McPhee

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If anyone needed a reminder of just how good Yaroslav Askarov is, he provided it today. The top 2020 draft-eligible goaltender posted his first KHL shutout when he blanked Spartak by stopping all 33 shots he faced (including a penalty shot). Askarov only turned 18 a few months ago but is already turning heads at the highest level in Russia, raising expectations even further as he heads into the draft next month.

A consensus first-round pick, the young goaltender is signed through the 2021-22 season with SKA St. Petersburg but is a potential franchise starter for a team willing to take the chance on him in a few weeks. How high he climbs that board is unclear, though Spencer Knight’s selection at #13 last year may show that teams are now a little less hesitant to spend big on goaltending at the draft.

  • The Philadelphia Flyers have loaned Linus Hogberg to HC Vita Hasten of the Swedish second league, keeping him overseas once again. Drafted in 2016, Hogberg’s rights would have expired had he not signed an entry-level contract with the Flyers before June 1 of this year. He ended up inking his two-year deal on May 30, but will be staying in Sweden for the time being. The 22-year-old defenseman has played four full seasons in the SHL, scoring 14 points in 50 games in 2019-20.
  • Just a few days ago Graham McPhee signed a one-year AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors, but now he’s suiting up for Vienna in the Austrian pro league. The son of Vegas Golden Knights executive George McPhee, the 22-year-old forward actually became an unrestricted free agent when the Edmonton Oilers decided not to sign him to an entry-level deal last month. After four years at Boston College, the fifth-round pick will have to work his way up the professional hockey ladder, starting in Europe for now.

Snapshots: Galchenyuk, Shinkaruk, Costantini

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While it should not come as much of a surprise, seeing as he was viewed as a throw-in rental in the trade that brought him to Minnesota rather than a core, long-term piece of the return, Alex Galchenyuk is not expected to return to the Wild next season. GM Bill Guerin told the media this evening, including the Star Tribune’s Sarah McClellan, that the impending free agent forward is unlikely to return to Minnesota this off-season. Galchenyuk was acquired by the Wild from the Pittsburgh Penguins in February – his third trade in two years – alongside prospect defenseman Calen Addison and a first-round pick in exchange for veteran forward Jason Zucker. Although Galchenyuk, a 26-year-old with two 50+ point seasons on his resume, was far from a useless addition for the Wild, it was Addison and the first-rounder that were the real prizes for the club. Given Galchenyuk’s expiring contract and the downward trajectory of his career, few expected Galchenyuk to stick long-term in Minnesota. Galchenyuk seemingly peaked early in his career, setting career highs in goals and points in 2015-16 and points per game in 2016-17, at the ages of 21 and 22 respectively, with the Montreal Canadiens. In each year since,  his final season in Montreal and stops with the Arizona Coyotes and Penguins, his per-game scoring has dropped off, reaching a career-low this year. Although his seven points in 14 games with the Wild was better than his overall rate for the year, it wasn’t enough to convince the club that he was worthy of an extension. Galchenyuk will hit the open market as an intriguing player, one of the younger UFA’s and certainly the most accomplished for his age, but also stuck in a downward spiral for the past few seasons. He needs a fresh start and would benefit from some long-term security, if he can find it. If Galchenyk can return to 50-point form, he could be one of the best bargains available this off-season.

  • One young player who won’t be returning to the NHL altogether next season is Hunter Shinkaruk. Another former Canadien, although best remembered as a long-time prospect of the Calgary Flames, Shinkaruk has opted to re-sign with the KHL’s Kunlun Red Star for another year, the league announced. After he was not qualified by Montreal last summer, Shinkaruk did not find another NHL home and eventually signed with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. However, he left the team mid-season to join Kunlun. He recorded nine points in 19 games, which was among the team leaders in per-game production. Playing on a Red Star roster that is loaded with NHL and AHL veterans, Shinkaruk can play a greater role than he would likely find in North America, while continuing to play a familiar style with peers from whom he can learn. While Shinkaruk, 25, can no longer qualify as an NHL prospect, he has a better chance than most to find his way back to the league one day given his age and ability.
  • One legitimate NHL prospect who is headed to a new home is forward Matteo Costantini. A 2020 NHL Draft prospect gearing up to hear his name called in a few weeks, Costantini has also revealed where he will be headed in 2021-22 and beyond. Costantini, who is committed to the BCHL’s Penticton Vees for the coming season, will then take his talents to the University of North Dakota, the Vees announced Tuesday. Constantini, who hails from Ontario but has been playing with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres for the past few years, has appeared on a number of draft boards this year. Most notably, Constantini was given a third-round draft grade by TSN’s Craig Button, who has him ranked No. 77 in his final draft board. The goal-scoring center will be a nice addition for North Dakota, a top NCAA program with several current and future NHL prospects on their roster right now and committed for next year.

Overseas Loans: Hajek, Tarasov, Almari

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Prospect loans continue all around the league as NHL teams try to find playing time for their young talent. A flurry of moves were announced today, including:

  • While Libor Hajek of the New York Rangers was supposed to be heading to HC Kometa Brno, he’ll now join HC Olomouc of the Czech professional league instead. In an interview with iSport, Hajek confirmed the change and explained that it’s closer to where he is currently living and training. Now 22, Hajek played in 28 games for the Rangers this season, recording five points. The 37th overall pick from 2016, he was part of the Ryan McDonagh trade in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
  • Daniil Tarasov, another member of the Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending pipeline, will take his talents to the KHL for this season, joining HC Salavat Yulaev for 2020-21. Tarasov, 21, played in Finland last season on loan from the Blue Jackets and put up an .899 save percentage in 41 matches. The 6’5″ Russian goaltender was a third-round pick in 2017 and is in the second year of his three-year entry-level contract with Columbus.
  • Along with Jesse Ylonen, whose name was brought up yesterday, Niclas Almari will also be loaned to the Lahti Pelicans in Finland. The 22-year-old defenseman was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and played 51 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. While Ylonen is only overseas until an NHL season begins, Almari will be staying with the Pelicans for the entire 2020-21 season according to the team.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Adam Cracknell

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The Edmonton Oilers have added some depth to the forward group, signing Adam Cracknell to a one-year two-way contract. The deal will be for 2020-21 and brings Cracknell back to North America after his stint in the KHL.

Now 35, Cracknell is the epitome of a hockey journeyman. Since being drafted in the ninth round of the 2004 draft by the Calgary Flames, he’s suited up for the: Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, Las Vegas Wranglers, Quad City Flames, Peoria Rivermen, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Wolves, Columbus Blue Jackets, Springfield Falcons, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Hartford Wolf Pack, Laval Rocket, Toronto Marlies, San Diego Gulls, Anaheim Ducks, and Kunlun Red Star. 210 of those appearances came at the NHL level, including a season in which he scored 10 goals for the Stars.

It’s unlikely that he’ll see much action for the Oilers next season, but he did record 24 points in the KHL last season and could be an injury replacement should they run into any trouble next season. More likely he’ll be playing for the Bakersfield Condors where his experience and leadership will come in handy. Though the contract details were not released, you can bet that Cracknell will earn the league minimum at the NHL level.

Yakov Trenin Linked To KHL

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The Nashville Predators may end up losing prospect Yakov Trenin if they aren’t willing to give him a one-way contract. The 23-year old’s agent posted a picture of Trenin with a SKA St. Petersburg jersey earlier today, and then followed up with Adam Vingan of The Athletic to explain that they would not accept a two-way deal. The agent, Shumi Babayev, told Vingan that the chances are not great of him returning to Nashville, though he hasn’t technically signed in the KHL just yet.

Trenin, a second-round pick from 2015, finally broke into the NHL this season after several years in the minor leagues. Russian-born but drafted out of the QMJHL, he ended up playing 21 games for the Predators in 2019-20 and scored six points. Trenin’s entry-level contract is set to expire and he obviously believes he deserves more than just the two-way deal many prospects have to accept with little NHL experience. With little leverage as an arbitration-ineligible restricted free agent, Trenin’s only real out would be heading to Russia. Even then, the Predators could retain his rights with a qualifying offer, one that would be a two-way contract worth just $787,500 at the NHL level.

Of course, this could be just a negotiating tactic if Trenin hopes to stay and compete for a roster spot next season on a Nashville team that will be looking for cheap options upfront. His waiver-exempt status will expire after this season, meaning even if he does sign a two-way deal he could very well end up at the NHL level all year. An interesting young player that dominated the AHL level this year, it seems unlikely that the Predators would risk him to waivers in order to send him down even if he’s not playing every night for them.

Minor Transactions: 09/03/20

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Minor, junior, and European leagues continue to prepare for the 2020-21 season with signings, trades, and loans. As always, we’ll keep track of the notable transactions right here:

  • The departing captain of Minnesota State University (Mankato) has signed his first professional contract, inking a deal with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL. Nick Rivera spent four years with the Mavericks, serving as captain the final two and scoring 60 points over 151 NCAA games.
  • Trevor Murphy, former NHL defenseman and long-time minor leaguer, has signed a new two-year contract with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. Murphy, 25, had 27 points in 60 games for Kunlun last season, his first overseas after bouncing around the AHL for the last several years.
  • Two prospects for the 2020 draft are heading overseas to play in the Swedish third league. Connor McLennon and Ridly Greig, who both spent the 2019-20 season in the WHL, will play for Karlskrona HK this season amid the uncertainty in Canadian junior hockey. While both are likely to be picked in the upcoming draft, Greig’s name will draw much more interest as he could climb into the first round. The 18-year old forward was ranked 14th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Alexander Alexeyev Loaned To Yulaev Ufa

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The Washington Capitals have decided to let Alexander Alexeyev play in the KHL for the next few months, loaning him to Yulaev Ufa to begin the 2020-21 season. Alexeyev is expected to return to North America for NHL training camp, though it is not clear yet when that will actually take place.

Now 20, Alexeyev was the Capitals first-round pick in 2018 following their Stanley Cup victory. Selected out of the WHL, he played another year with the Red Deer Rebels before joining the Hershey Bears of the AHL for the 2019-20 season. Standing 6’4″, the two-way defenseman put up 21 points in 58 games as a minor league rookie.

The Capitals don’t have a ton of high-end prospects thanks to more than a decade of success, but the ones they do are quite interesting. Alexeyev has progressed nicely since his pick in 2018 and could potentially compete for an NHL job at some point next season. Washington does have two defensemen on the roster who are scheduled for unrestricted free agency, but it hasn’t been an easy blueline to crack for young players in the past as the organization is focused on contending.

The Russian-born Alexeyev hasn’t played there since 2015-16 but was routinely included in international junior tournaments while he played in the CHL. This KHL opportunity will be his first and one that he’ll likely try to take advantage of to show the Capitals front office he deserves even more of a shot when he comes back over.

Vladislav Kamenev Signs In KHL

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Even while the Colorado Avalanche scratch and claw for their playoff lives, one of their young players has decided to leave the organization. Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reports that Vladislav Kamenev has signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.

Kamenev is not currently in the bubble with the Avalanche after failing to be placed on the expanded roster. Dater reports that a positive COVID-19 test was partly responsible for that decision.

Part of the huge Matt Duchene trade in 2017 that also brought Samuel Girard and Shane Bowers to Colorado, Kamenev has been cursed ever since arriving. He broke his wrist after just eight shifts in his first game as an Avalanche and has dealt with other injuries in the years since. Overall, the 24-year old has played just 66 games in the NHL, recording 13 points.

Selected 42nd overall by the Nashville Predators in 2014, Kamenev has shown an ability to be a two-way force down the middle at the minor league level. Now a pending restricted free agent, he’ll take his talents back to Russia to try and get his career back on track. The Avalanche will be able to retain his rights with a qualifying offer.

East Notes: Kravtsov, Svechnikov, McDonagh

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New York Rangers fans learned more than a week ago that prospect Vitali Kravtsov would be loaned to his former team, Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL this coming season. However, a small wrinkle developed since as Traktor announced the transaction this morning, revealing that Kravtsov was going to spend the entire season with their team.

That was contrary to general beliefs that the 20-year-old Russian would spend time in North America with a chance to win a roster spot with the Rangers in 2020-21. Up until now, most teams are loaning their prospects overseas with the ability to recall them for NHL training camps whenever that will be. That may not be the case here, although a recent report from USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano suggests that the Rangers can recall him at any time. However, the scribe adds that the team could very conceivably leave him in Russia for the entire KHL season, although the team will likely wait to see how he fares.

Kravtsov, who had a tumultuous first pro season in which he split time between the AHL, KHL, VHL and then back to the KHL, isn’t expected to automatically win a spot on the Rangers roster and with the AHL season being pushed back until December, it makes lots of sense to allow him to develop for a full season in the KHL to develop his skills. Whether New York will recall him for training camp in November or December isn’t clear, but it should be noted that unless Traktor makes the playoffs, he could be available to join the Rangers in late February or after his team is eliminated in the playoffs, which means he could be available to join the Rangers with plenty of season left in the NHL.

  • NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti reports that Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, who suffered what looked to be a severe ankle sprain during the team’s series against the Boston Bruins, said he’s feeling 100 percent and believes that he would be able to play now for the Hurricanes had the team managed to get past Boston in the first round. Svechnikov was a key component to the team’s success with four goals and seven points in six playoff games before being injured in Game 3. The Hurricanes lost consecutive one-goal games in Games 4 & 5, suggesting his play could have made the difference in the series.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh for Game 4 in a key game against the Boston Bruins, according to The Athletic’s Joe Smith. McDonagh, who has been out since suffering an undisclosed injury in Game 1, will be replaced once again with two defensemen as the team is expected to play Braydon Coburn and Luke Schenn as the team will go with seven defensemen for a second straight game.

 

Minor Transactions: 08/28/20

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Minor, junior and European leagues continue to prepare for the 2020-21 season with signings, trades and loans. As always, we’ll keep track of the notable transactions right here:

  • It’s been years since Rob Schremp was a notable NHL name, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the hockey world just yet. The Edmonton Oilers 2004 first-round pick has resurfaced with HK Mogo in Latvia, signing a one-year deal with the club. Schremp last played an NHL game during the 2010-11 season with the Atlanta Thrashers and has since spent time in the AHL, SHL, KHL, EBEL, NLA, DEL and Belarussian league, traveling the world playing hockey.
  • Andrew O’Brien, who was a fourth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2012 will be playing another year overseas, this time signing with Dinamo Riga of the KHL for the 2020-21 season. O’Brien played several years in the AHL before heading to Norway last year and dominating, scoring 45 points in 41 games. Perhaps more notable than his scoring totals though were O’Brien’s penalty minutes, which totaled 309 to more than double the second-place offender.
  • Griffen Outhouse, who spent part of last season with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, has decided to give up his professional career for now and return to school. Outhouse will join the University of New Brunswick on the Canadian college circuit, an eight-time national championship program. The 22-year old goaltender posted an .882 save percentage for the Moose in five appearances.

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