Big Hype Prospects: Augustine, Solberg, Kapanen, Emery
The World Championship has kicked off, bringing back the energy and excitement of international hockey at the top level. This year’s tournament has offered a special platform to the underappreciated hockey countries – with Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and Latvia offering some of the best hockey of the kickoff weekend. There has also been a rare influx of young players earning big chances, with the tournament currently led in scoring by 18-year-old Connor Bedard and in save percentage by 23-year-old Lukas Dostal. The boost of younger talent has offered scouts an extra look at some of the top prospects in the world. We’ll follow suit, once again borrowing the Big Hype Prospects series from MLB Trade Rumors and breaking down some of the top performers from Worlds.
Four Big Hype Prospects
Trey Augustine, G, Michigan State (NCAA Big Ten, Detroit Red Wings)
35 GP – 23 Wins – 0.915 SV% – 2.96 GAA
Trey Augustine made history on Saturday, stepping in for Team USA starter Alex Lyon following an undisclosed injury. Augustine stepped in just 24 minutes into the game and held strong, saving 11 of the 12 shots he faced en route to USA’s 6-1 win over Team Germany. The performance earned Augustine the win, making him just the fifth U20 goaltender to record a win at Worlds since 2000. He joins a list of incredibly talented goaltenders, including Juuse Saros, Andrei Vasilevskiy, John Gibson, and Jacob Markstrom. But what’s more – Augustine is the first U20 goalie since 2000 to step into a World Championship role without playing in a pro league first, though Gibson only had one AHL under his belt. Instead, Augustine is backstopping one of the World Championship’s top teams directly out of college, just months after rivaling the Big Ten ‘Goalie of the Year’ Award. Augustine was nicknamed ‘The Closer’ during his years at the U.S. National Team Development Program and is living up to the high acclaim now, showing a fantastic amount of poise and skill even at the top level. While there’s still a long road ahead for Augustine – who is currently expected to return to Michigan State next season – the Red Wings have to be happy with the value they’ve gotten out of the 2023 second round.
Stian Solberg, LHD, Vålerenga (Norway, 2024 NHL Draft Eligible)
42 GP – 5 G – 10 A – 15 TP – 47 PIM – +2 +/-
Stian Solberg is quickly winning the hearts of hockey fans. He’s been asked to do it all this season – serving in a top role during club play with Vålerenga, as the #1-defenseman on Norway’s World Juniors team, and now as a top-four defender at the World Championship. Solberg has handled all of the challenge in stride, showing a fantastic ability to stay adaptable. Whether it’s a long reach while defending the rush, a big hit to spark energy, or nifty passing to create a chance in the offensive-end, Solberg seems capable of doing it all. The support of Norway’s men’s team has let Solberg embrace much more of his offensive skillset at Worlds and he’s taking full opportunity of the chance, showing an improved ability to carry the puck through the neutral zone and create chances from the blue-line. Solberg is continuing to look mature beyond his years, substantially boosting a case to go in the 2024 first-round that’s been steadily growing all season long.
Oliver Kapanen, C, KalPa (Liiga, Montreal Canadiens)
51 GP – 14 G – 20 A – 34 TP – 32 PIM – 0 +/-
Oliver Kapanen kicked off Worlds with a bang, recording a hat trick in Finland’s game against Team Great Britain. It’s perhaps lighter pickings than some of the other clubs Finland will face, but it was how Kapanen recorded his trick that made it so impressive. After years of trying to survive as a high-slot shooter, Kapanen potted all three goals on Saturday from the low-slot, using his strong frame and quick reactions to consistently win the battles for loose rebounds. The performance felt like the culmination of a development curve that Kapanen has been on all season long, learning how to become more confident in the gritty areas of the ice and make plays with little-to-no space. They’re next-level traits which will support Kapanen substantially as he continues to take on more-and-more of a role at the top level. Fans will need to wait out the rest of his World Championship performance before getting too excited, but he’s kicked off the tournament in exciting fashion, offering a shimmer of hope to Canadiens fans excited for their next Finnish centerman.
Eric ‘EJ’ Emery, LHD, U.S. U18 (NTDP, 2024 NHL Draft Eligible)
61 GP – 0 G – 16 A – 16 TP – 30 PIM – +5 +/-
Eric ‘EJ’ Emery isn’t currently representing his country at the World Championship, but he is still finding ways to make himself popular on social media, posting a video jumping over Scott Norton, the President of his agency (Twitter link). The video shows off just how athletic the 6’3″, 185-lbs frame of Emery is – as well as the impressive vertical he’s been working towards since last summer. Emery had a bit of an underwhelming year on the scoresheet but there are few scouts who aren’t excited about the stout defensive potential he offers. Emery is a smooth, lanky defender who uses a long reach and strong physical presence to close off opponents with ease. He’s also fantastic on the puck, corralling open pucks and finding teammates quickly, without losing any momentum in plays. Emery showed off just how well he can go from shutting down play on defense to inspiring offense at the World U18 Championship, where he recorded six assists in seven games as Team USA chased a Silver Medal finish. Emery is considered to be on the fringe of this year’s first round, though continued feats of athleticism, and what seems to be a high potential for added offense in the future, makes him one of the most exciting risers through the year’s second half.
Panthers’ Jack Devine Returning To University Of Denver
The Panthers will have to wait until next year to see right wing prospect Jack Devine turn pro. The University of Denver announced Wednesday that the 20-year-old is returning for his senior season in 2024-25.
Devine slipped to the late seventh round in 2022, where Florida happily picked him up with the 221st overall pick. A few public scouts expected him to go closer to the midway point of the draft after a solid freshman season at Denver, but the October-born forward garnered less interest than expected.
Not only has he outpaced his actual billing over the last two years, but he’s likely worked his way up to first- or second-round status in an early redraft. Devine’s collegiate resume was made more impressive this year with a second NCAA championship, but his individual stat sheet in his junior year was quite impressive, too. He was easily the Pioneers’ best player, leading them in scoring with 27 goals and 56 points in 44 games with a +29 rating. That showing earned him a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award for the top player in collegiate hockey, as well as First All-American honors for the NCAA’s West Region.
The Illinois native will now likely join the Panthers on an entry-level contract as soon as his senior season ends, assuming he intends to sign with Florida and not test free agency. The Cats will likely burn the first year of his ELC in 2024-25, allowing him to make his NHL debut down the stretch of the regular season or in the playoffs. Devine was ranked fifth in the Panthers’ prospect system by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler in February.
College Notes: Gallagher, Powell, Whitelaw
After a busy few weeks on the college transactions front, things have slowed down in recent days. However, there still has been a bit of news surrounding some NHL-drafted prospects which are noted here.
- Bruins blueline prospect Ty Gallagher has transferred to Colorado College, reports Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). Boston selected the 21-year-old in the seventh round in 2021, taking him 217th overall out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. Gallagher has spent the last three seasons at Boston University but saw his role and numbers drop this season, going from 21 points in 40 games in his sophomore year to just five assists in 37 contests this year. He’ll hope that the move will give him a bigger role and thus a better chance at landing an entry-level deal.
- Lightning prospect Eamon Powell announced on his Instagram page that he has elected to return for his fifth and final season at Boston College next season. The 21-year-old was a fourth-round pick by Tampa Bay back in 2020 (116th overall) and after a slow first couple of years, he took a good step forward offensively last season, notching 22 points in 36 games. This season, Powell took an even bigger leap forward, averaging nearly a point per game with 38 in 40 contests which led some to believe he’d turn pro. Instead, the defenseman will stick around for another year. Tampa Bay will now retain Powell’s rights through next year instead of having to sign him by August 15th.
- Blue Jackets prospect William Whitelaw recently announced (Twitter link) that he has transferred to the University of Michigan for next season. The 19-year-old was a third-round pick last year, going 66th overall after a near-point-per-game season in the USHL. However, offensive success was a little harder to come by this season at Wisconsin, as he was limited to 10 goals and seven assists in 37 games. Those numbers aren’t bad for a first-year player but he opted for a change of scenery. Whitelaw is the fourth NHL-drafted prospect to transfer out of Wisconsin in recent weeks, joining Pittsburgh’s Cruz Lucius, Detroit’s Brady Cleveland, and Minnesota’s Charlie Stramel.
College Transfer Roundup: Leddy, Benoit, Emerson, Croteau, Muszelik
While college signings have slowed down in recent days, that doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been college activity, as several NHL prospects continue to find new homes for next season. Here’s a rundown of some recent moves on that front.
- Devils prospect Charlie Leddy has transferred to Quinnipiac, notes Cameron Levasseur of The Quinnipiac Chronicle (Twitter link). The 20-year-old blueliner was a fourth-round pick by New Jersey two years ago (126th overall) and spent his first two NCAA campaigns at Boston College. This past season, he had eight assists in 39 games.
- Wild blueline prospect Nate Benoit has also transferred to Quinnipiac, reports Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. The 2021 sixth-round pick was limited to just 19 appearances at North Dakota this season, collecting a single assist which was not the freshman year he was certainly hoping for.
- Hurricanes youngster Michael Emerson has committed to Merrimack, reports Mike McMahon of College Hockey News (Twitter link). The winger was a sixth-round pick last year, going 190th overall. He started the season at North Dakota but left after six games, opting to go back to USHL Chicago, where he posted 20 points in 27 contests.
- Canadiens goalie prospect Emmett Croteau announced (Twitter link) that he has transferred to Dartmouth. A sixth-rounder two years ago, the 20-year-old had a very quiet first season in college, getting into just six games with Clarkson. There, he struggled, putting up a 3.53 GAA and a .835 SV%. Dartmouth lost their starter to the pros when Cooper Black signed with Florida, so Croteau may have an easier path to playing time next season.
- Panthers prospect Tyler Muszelik is on his way to UConn, reports Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. The netminder was a 2022 sixth-rounder, going 189th overall after spending time in the U.S. National Team Development Program. Muszelik spent the last two seasons at the University of New Hampshire but in a backup role. UConn’s tandem has both moved on (Ethan Haider to the pros and Arseni Sergeyev via the portal) so the 19-year-old should have a better path to playing time next season.
Penguins Sign Tristan Broz
After helping lead the University of Denver to the NCAA title, Pittsburgh prospect Tristan Broz has decided the time is right to turn pro. The Penguins announced that they’ve inked the forward to a three-year, entry-level contract that begins in 2024-25. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 21-year-old was a second-round pick by the Penguins back in 2021, going 58th overall after a strong season with USHL Fargo. He made the jump to the college ranks the following year but had a very quiet freshman season at the University of Minnesota, resulting in Broz entering the transfer portal after that campaign came to an end.
The decision to transfer worked out quite well as Broz had a strong first year in Denver, collecting 10 goals and 18 assists. He then improved on that again this past season, tallying 16 goals and 24 helpers in 34 games, finishing fourth on the Pioneers in scoring. He scored a pair of overtime winners in the tournament, landing a spot on the All-Tournament Team for his efforts.
While Pittsburgh’s season has ended with the Penguins not qualifying for the playoffs, Broz’s year hasn’t ended just yet. He has joined AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an amateur tryout agreement and will be eligible to suit up for them down the stretch. The Baby Pens sit third in the Atlantic Division on the penultimate day of the AHL’s regular season and have already clinched a playoff spot.
Seamus Casey Undecided On Turning Pro
This is the time of year when many college players will elect to forego the remainder of their college eligibility and sign their first professional contract. Plenty have done so already, some of which have already made their NHL debuts. One player who hasn’t made a decision at this time is Devils prospect Seamus Casey. Speaking with reporters today during his end-of-season press conference (video link), GM Tom Fitzgerald indicated that Casey hasn’t made a firm decision yet on his future but believes he might be inclined to sign with New Jersey:
If I was a betting man, I would say he’s probably leaning toward turning pro but with that being said, we talked to him right before the National Championship weekend, he wasn’t sure, there wasn’t any pressure from us. To me, if you forfeit the rest of your college career, you need to be more than two feet in the water. You have to jump right in and you have to really want this. Any hesitations, then it may not work. So we’re going to give him all the time he needs.
The 20-year-old was a second-round pick by the Devils back in 2022 (46th overall) and recently wrapped up his sophomore year at Michigan. It was certainly a strong one as Casey had seven goals and 38 assists in 40 games, good for third-most among NCAA blueliners behind draft-eligible Zeev Buium and Lane Hutson. Casey also took part in the World Juniors for the second straight year, collecting six assists in as many contests.
If Casey decides to stay in college, he’ll be remaining with a team that will be missing some key pieces as Frank Nazar, Gavin Brindley, and Dylan Duke have all elected to turn pro. That said, the core isn’t entirely gone as Rutger McGroarty is still there while undrafted forward T.J. Hughes – one of their top scorers this season – still has two years of eligibility remaining.
On the other hand, if Casey turns pro now, there might not be a spot for him on New Jersey’s roster to start next season. Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec are two players on their entry-level deals on the back end already while they’ll also be welcoming back Dougie Hamilton from injury. Accordingly, if the choice is between playing in the AHL or staying in college, Casey could determine it’s better to do the latter.
With the deadline for registering a contract that burns a year this season now having passed earlier today, there’s no rush for Casey to make a decision, especially since New Jersey’s AHL team is in tough to make the playoffs. Accordingly, it may take a while yet before the blueliner decides on his future.
Devils Prospect Samu Salminen Transfers To University Of Denver
On Saturday, the University of Denver won the Frozen Four, beating Boston College 2-0. Now, their reloading begins. Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald notes that Devils prospect Samu Salminen has officially transferred to Denver, a move first reported earlier this month by PHR’s Gabriel Foley (Twitter link).
The 21-year-old was a third-round pick by New Jersey back in 2021, going 68th overall. He had a strong showing in Jokerit’s junior program, averaging over a point per game in 2021-22 before making the jump to UConn for the 2022-23 campaign.
In his freshman year, Salminen recorded nine goals and eight assists in 27 games, solid production for a first-year player. However, he was only able to match that this season, notching seven goals and ten helpers in 35 contests, resulting in the decision to try his hand elsewhere.
That Salminen wound up with Denver shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. On top of the fact they’re now the reigning champions, he actually originally committed there in 2022 before reportedly running into difficulty with their admissions, resulting in the decision to join UConn instead. Two years later, Salminen now lands as his originally intended destination.
College Notes: Croteau, Doyle, Copponi, All-American Teams
Canadiens prospect Emmett Croteau has entered the transfer portal, relays Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. The 20-year-old was a sixth-round pick by Montreal in 2022, going 162nd overall. Croteau recently finished his freshman year at Clarkson but only suited up six times and struggled, posting a save percentage of just .835. With Clarkson adding Ethan Langenegger – a fifth-year transfer – via the portal, playing time for Croteau wasn’t going to be coming next season so he’ll try his luck at landing a better opportunity elsewhere.
Other news from the college ranks:
- Kings prospect Braden Doyle has entered the transfer portal, relays Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. It’s the second time he’ll be on the move as he went from Boston University to Northeastern in 2022. The 22-year-old blueliner was a sixth-round pick back in 2019 (157th overall) but was limited to just 13 games this season where he had just one goal.
- Oilers prospect Matt Copponi is transferring to Boston University, reports Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). The 20-year-old middleman had a strong showing this season at Merrimack, picking up 32 points in 30 games. Edmonton drafted Copponi last summer, selecting him 216th overall after Copponi’s sophomore campaign and now he’ll have a chance to play at one of the more prominent college hockey programs next season.
- On Friday, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced the All-American First and Second Teams, featuring 25 players in total (the Second Team East had six skaters and a goalie). Montreal’s Lane Hutson was the only player to land on a First Team for the second straight year while San Jose’s Collin Graf and Philadelphia’s Massimo Rizzo, who made Second Teams, landed on one of the teams for the second straight year.
Blues Sign Dylan Peterson
With Boston University being eliminated from the Frozen Four on Thursday, some of their players are electing to turn pro. The latest of these is Dylan Peterson as the Blues announced late Friday that they’ve signed the center to a two-year, entry-level deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 22-year-old was a third-round pick by St. Louis back in 2020, going 86th overall after spending the previous season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He had a very limited role in his first two years with the Terriers, collecting just 22 points in 45 games and then followed that up with 18 in 39 appearances in his junior year. At that point, it wasn’t a certainty that the Blues would be looking to sign Peterson.
However, he saved his best performance for last as Peterson upped his output to 20 points in 35 contests this season which certainly helped his case for getting a contract. A 6’4 middleman, Peterson will begin his professional career next season, likely starting with AHL Springfield, and will look to work his way up the depth chart from there.
Maple Leafs To Sign Cade Webber
Cade Webber’s college season came to an end on Thursday when Boston University was eliminated by Denver in the Frozen Four semi-finals. However, his 2023-24 campaign hasn’t come to an end just yet as Joe Smith of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the blueliner will be signing an entry-level deal with Toronto and joining the team for its upcoming road trip.
The 23-year-old was a fourth-round pick by Carolina back in 2019, going 99th overall. However, he informed the team earlier in the season that he was leaning toward not signing with them and would test free agency in mid-August. That resulted in them flipping him to the Maple Leafs back in March in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Webber is a throwback defensive defenseman; he scored just once in his four-year collegiate career and had just six assists this season. He led the NCAA in blocks with 137 this year, 35 ahead of second place and at 6’6, has the size and reach to be disruptive and effective in the defensive zone.
Since Webber was on Toronto’s reserve list at the trade deadline, he is eligible to play for them in the playoffs. However, with their defensive depth, it seems rather unlikely that he would. Instead, he’ll likely serve as a Black Ace and burn the first of what will be a two-year, entry-level deal in the process.
At the moment, Toronto has just $547K in cap space, per CapFriendly. While the terms of Webber’s deal aren’t known yet, it can’t be lower than $775K so they’ll have to make a roster move to free up the cap room to add him. The easiest path to do that would be to paper winger Nicholas Robertson back to AHL Toronto for the final few days of the regular season, then recall him for the postseason.