Pacific Notes: Ferland, Roussel, Hayton
The Vancouver Canucks have sent Micheal Ferland to the AHL on a long-term injury conditioning loan, allowing him to get some game action under his belt before returning to the NHL lineup. The 27-year old forward has been out since early December and has just 14 games played with the Canucks this season.
After signing a four-year, $14MM deal with the Canucks in the offseason, Ferland was expected to give the team another potential top-six option and physical force up front. That hasn’t been the case yet, but if he can get healthy and back to playing well before the postseason the team will be even more formidable in a seven game playoff series.
- One of those other physical presences, Antoine Roussel, has been fined $5,000 for slashing Nashville Predators defenseman Yannick Weber in last night’s game. The amount may seem trivial, but it is the maximum allowable under the CBA and will be considered in future supplementary discipline.
- The Arizona Coyotes also have a player on conditioning loan in the minor leagues, and Craig Morgan of The Athletic is reporting that Barrett Hayton will be allowed to stay there a little longer. The young forward is actually too young to play regularly in the AHL, but a request to extend his conditioning stint by two games has been approved by the league. Hayton is coming back from a shoulder injury he suffered during the World Juniors.
Barrett Hayton Sent To AHL On Conditioning Loan
After scoring a goal in the World Junior gold medal game with an injured shoulder, Barrett Hayton returned to the Arizona Coyotes in early January. Labeled back then as week-to-week as he recovered, the young forward will now head to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners for a conditioning stint. That move indicates that Hayton is close to returning, though how the Coyotes will use him is still unclear.
Interestingly, Hayton is actually too young to stay with Tucson beyond the conditioning loan. Still just 19, once healthy he has to stay with the Coyotes or be returned to his junior team. Returning to junior doesn’t make much sense at this point after the first year of his entry-level contract was already burned, but the top prospect was also not playing regularly for Arizona before leaving for the international tournament in the first place.
In 14 games this season with Arizona, Hayton has one goal and four points. He tripled that total in seven games at the WJC, as he captained Team Canada to gold. The fifth-overall pick from 2018, Hayton can do a little bit of everything on the ice and projects to be a star option down the middle for the Coyotes in the future. This short stint with the Roadrunners may prove to be his only time in the minor leagues.
Snapshots: Kapanen, Dumba, Puistola
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kasperi Kapanen owned up to the reasoning behind his benching on Saturday night when he met with the media this morning. Kapanen had been a healthy scratch, but head coach Sheldon Keefe declined to provide any details as to why in his post-game media availability. It turns out that Kapanen had specifically asked for the opportunity to speak about the issue. Kapanen told a number of reporters, including Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, that he had overslept on Friday and was late to a team meeting and practice. This was not the first incidence of this, as Kapanen had previously had problems being punctual in the AHL, also under Keefe. He stressed this morning that these were honest mistakes and he does not want his coaches and teammates to think that he does not care about being the best player that he can be. It seems that Kapanen and Keefe are ready to move past this but these locker room issues won’t help to quell the trade rumors surrounding the young winger.
- In an entertaining article that was mostly educated guesses, Pierre LeBrun did manage to drop a few rumor nuggets in his recent trade deadline piece for The Athletic. One such report was that the Carolina Hurricanes – known to be seeking defense – had inquired about the Minnesota Wild’s Mathew Dumba. Not only does this say that the Hurricanes are at least looking into options beyond rentals, with Dumba signed for three more years at $6MM, but it implies that the Wild are at least listening to offers on the young defenseman. New GM Bill Guerin has stated that the team is open for business, but moving Dumba would be a major move for the franchise. The team would have to recoup some highly valueable pieces to warrant trading away one of their few young difference-makers.
- Hurricanes prospect Patrik Puistola is on the move in the Finnish Liiga yet again. Puistola, 19, has struggled while playing for the team that owns his rights, Tappara, with just two points in 24 games. However, in an earlier loan this season to Jukurit, the swift winger posted five points in just seven games. Tappaara will try to loan him out again now, announcing that he has been sent to Kookoo. If Puistola performs with Kookoo as he did with Jukurit or at the World Juniors, where he posted eight points in seven games, then the team will be very happy about this temporary arrangement. Meanwhile, as Puistola’s attachment to Tappara continues to diminih, the odds are improving that he will make the jump to North America next season.
New York Rangers Loan Lias Andersson To SHL
The New York Rangers announced they have loaned suspended forward Lias Andersson to HV71 of the SHL. While the team had been looking for a potential trade partner for their disgruntled forward since he walked out on his AHL team on Dec. 21, the team has decided that allowing him to play overseas for now is the best case for his continued development and could drum up some interest before the trade deadline.
Despite being drafted seventh-overall back in 2017, Andersson hasn’t lived up to his billing, having scored just six points in 42 games with the Rangers in 2018-19 and got even less playing time this year. In 17 games with New York, Andersson played mostly on the fourth line, averaging just 9:33 per night, and tallied just one assist in that time. He was eventually assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack where he scored four goals and five points in 13 games, but was also seeing a decline in his playing time, which wasn’t going to help him return to the Rangers squad. Unhappy with his playing time and frustrated that he still wasn’t with the Rangers, Andersson choose to walk away from the team and demanded a trade, where the team responded by suspending him. He returned to his home country of Sweden not long after that.
Since then, Andersson has been in direct contact with Rangers team president John Davidson for the past few weeks and was rumored to be working out with a low-level team in Sweden. The 21-year-old should be quite familiar with HV71 as he played with the team for two years before he was drafted, scoring nine goals and 19 points as a 17-year-old in 2016-17.
With little trade value at the moment, the Rangers have to hope that Andersson can continue his development in the SHL and improve that value, although it would seem unlikely that all that can happen before the trade deadline. Being a seventh-overall pick, New York would expect a solid return for a 21-year-old player and aren’t likely to give the youngster away for less than that. If Andersson can become one of the team’s top players and put up some numbers over there, he could improve his stock and either opt to return to the team or give the team a better chance to trade him.
Los Angeles Kings Make Several Roster Moves
The Los Angeles Kings have activated Trevor Lewis from injured reserve, meaning he, Dustin Brown and Derek Forbort are all expected to make their returns tonight. Because of the roster crunch, Martin Frk has been sent to the minor leagues. He’ll be joined there by Tobias Bjornfot and Rasmus Kupari who have both been recalled from their World Junior loans. Kupari was forced from the tournament due to injury, but there is no update on his condition yet.
Getting Lewis and Forbort back in the lineup may not change the Kings’ fortune this season, but both are potential trade deadline assets for the club. They only become assets if they’re healthy and playing though, meaning their return will help build up some value over the next several weeks.
Bjornfot meanwhile is coming back after a disappointing bronze medal finish at the World Juniors. He was part of an elite defensive group playing mostly alongside Edmonton Oilers prospect Philip Broberg, and will come back to continue his development in the minor leagues.
WJC Notes: Groulx, Thomson, Ford
Team Canada has finalized its roster for the upcoming U-20 World Junior Championship, hosted this year by the Czech Republic. The team has made one last cut, and TSN’s Mark Masters reports that it is Anaheim Ducks prospect Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Groulx, a 2018 second-round pick, has been having yet another strong season in the QMJHL and doing so on a poor Halifax Mooseheads team. The two-way pivot is likely a victim of a roster chock full of centers, with many already slated to line up on the wing. With “Bo” heading home, Masters has also shared Team Canada’s practice lines with their roster finalized, which is likely the way that they will line up to begin the tournament.
- Team Finland, looking to defend their championship performance from last year, has announced their leadership group for the WJC. Ottawa Senators 2019 first-round pick Lassi Thomson has been named captain, leading the team as their top defenseman. Thomson brings an array of experience to the squad, having played professionally in Finland this year, recording ten points in 23 games on loan with Ilves of the Liiga, as well as the junior level with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets last season. Given the Senators’ issues on the blue line, Thomson is a strong candidate to join the NHL ranks next season and his WJC performance could be telling of where he stands versus other elite prospects. Los Angeles Kings forward prospect Rasmus Kupari and Vancouver Canucks defensive prospect Toni Utunen will sere as alternates.
- Even after making a trio of cuts on Wednesday, Team USA still has a few tough decisions to make. For now, a few surprises remain on the roster, hopeful that they will get a chance to shine on the international stage. Overage prospect Parker Ford headlines that group, looking to make a name for himself after getting passed over in the NHL Draft. The Providence College freshman forward was a good if unspectacular player in the USHL, but has gotten off to a strong start in his NCAA career with 14 points in 17 games. Ford would be an intriguing name to watch for the Americans if he does in fact make the final roster. Other potential surprise inclusions on the roster include New York Islanders seventh-round defenseman Christian Krygier of Michigan State, Boston Bruins fourth-round center Curtis Hall of Yale, and Notre Dame teammates Jacob Pivonka and Trevor Janicke, late picks of the Islanders and Anaheim Ducks respectively.
Oliver Wahlstrom Loaned To Team USA
USA Hockey will be getting their own professional reinforcement for the upcoming World Junior tournament, as Oliver Wahlstrom has been loaned from the New York Islanders. Wahlstrom has played in nine games with the Islanders but also has 20 AHL contests under his belt this season. GM Lou Lamoriello announced today that Noah Dobson will not be loaned to Team Canada.
Wahlstrom, 19, gets another chance to take home gold at the event after winning a silver medal last season with Team USA. The talented winger has been a top prospect in the country for years now, armed with an incredible shot and nose for the net. That ability hasn’t landed him a point at the NHL level so far, but just the experience of playing with the best in the world should help him when he’s matched up against junior competition.
Selection camp is underway in Plymouth for the squad, with Wahlstrom joining several other returning players from the silver medal squad.
Toronto Maple Leafs Loan Rasmus Sandin To Team Sweden
Despite some question as to his availability, the Toronto Maple Leafs have decided to loan young defenseman Rasmus Sandin to Team Sweden for the World Junior Championship after all. Sandin will return to the tournament after recording four points in five games for the Swedish entry last year.
After Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie suffered an injury on Saturday night, there were reports that Sandin may need to be called up to Toronto if the ailment proved serious. Sandin began the year with the Leafs, recording two points in six games, but the team opted to send him to the AHL Marlies where he could be guaranteed ice time and special teams responsibilities. Yet, he still remains one of the club’s top call-up options in case of injury. There has been no word on Barrie’s status yet, but clearly the team felt they could deal with any potential absence without Sandin’s assistance.
Sandin has played well in his second pro season, registering two goals and 12 points in 18 games with the Marlies. The 2018 first-round pick projects to be a top-four defenseman down the road, but for now the team does not need to rush him at the expense of proper development. Playing in hte WJC against similarly skilled young prospects will be another great opportunity for growth for Sandin. It will also give he and several teammates for Sweden a chance at redemption, after the team was stunned in the quarterfinals last season after entering the tournament as the favorites.
David Gustafsson Loaned To Sweden For WJC
The Winnipeg Jets have decided to allow David Gustafsson to play for his country at the upcoming World Junior tournament. Gustafsson has been loaned to Team Sweden after playing in 22 games with the Jets this season.
Just like several other countries, Sweden will get a player with NHL experience that should be able to dominate the junior competition. Gustafsson already played in this tournament last season and has lots of international experience. Even without huge offensive upside, he should be on the ice a ton for a Swedish squad that is known for their defensive acumen.
Arizona Coyotes Release Barrett Hayton For WJC
Team Canada received a huge boost when it was recently announced that Joe Veleno would be loaned from the Grand Rapids Griffins for the World Junior tournament, and now they’re getting an even more experienced name. Barrett Hayton of the Arizona Coyotes will be allowed to attend the event as well. Hayton has played in 14 games for the Coyotes this season, scoring four points.
Not only has Hayton already played a number of games in the NHL, but he was also part of the Canadian contingent at the U20 World Juniors last year and scored four points in five games. There’s a good chance that he opens this year as the team’s top center, though Veleno, Dylan Cozens and Ty Dellandrea are also great choices down the middle.
Selected fifth overall in 2018 despite scoring just 60 points in 63 games during his draft year, Hayton has developed into one of the top prospects in the league and a huge part of the Coyotes future. His opportunity with the NHL club this season has been limited, but he’ll get a chance to dominate his age group once again when the tournament kicks off later this month.