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Tristan Broz, Cruz Lucius Leaving University Of Minnesota

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What is happening in Minneapolis? Fresh off of a Frozen Four appearance, the University of Minnesota is having a nightmare offseason – and the hits continue. Freshman Tristan Broz (PIT), and 2021 second-round pick, has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after just one year, while incoming freshman Cruz Lucius, a promising 2022 draft-eligible prospect, has de-committed and will play elsewhere next season.

Lucius follows older brother Chaz Lucius out of town; after previously committing to return to the Gophers next season, the 2021 first-rounder reversed course last week and signed his entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets. Chaz joined Ben Meyers (COL)and Blake McLaughlin (ANA) in leaving Minnesota for the pros, but NHL departures are to be expected for such a talented team. The real shock comes in the transfer market, as Broz makes it seven players to enter the portal since the end of the season. That list includes Jack Perbix (ANA), Ben Brinkman (DAL), and Grant Cruikshank, who had just transferred to Minnesota for this past season. Add in the younger Lucius’ de-commitment and the Gophers are bleeding talent.

Fortunately for the program, there is still plenty of talent to go around. Ryan Johnson (BUF) is expected to return for his senior year to lead a roster that (for now) is set to return Matthew Knies (TOR), Jackson LaCombe (ANA), Sammy Walker (TBL), Bryce Brodzinski (PHI), Rhett Pitlick (MTL), Aaron Huglen (BUF), Mike Koster (TOR), and Brock Faber (LAK). They also add an impressive recruiting class that includes Cal Thomas (ARI) and 2022 first round hopefuls Logan Cooley, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Ryan Chesley. 

The Gophers are also not the only programs falling victim to the transfer portal. The May 1st deadline to enter the portal and be eligible to play next season has now passed, but just beforehand two other NHL prospects hit the transfer market. Ryder Donovan (VGK) has decided to move on from Wisconsin, while John Fusco (TOR) has opted to leave Harvard.

Winnipeg Jets Sign Chaz Lucius To Entry-Level Contract

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In a surprising turn of events, the Winnipeg Jets have announced that vaunted prospect Chaz Lucius has signed his three-year entry-level contract with the club. The deal will start with the 2022-23 season and will carry a $925K base salary and $1.325MM AAV. The 2021 first-round pick will depart the University of Minnesota after just one year.

Lucius’ signing comes as a surprise for a plethora of reasons, but none greater than the fact that it was reported earlier this month that Lucius would remain at Minnesota for at least one more year. That decision seemed reasonable, as the 18-year-old played in just 24 games in his freshman year to the tune of only 19 points; not exactly numbers that begged for an early exit from the college ranks. Lucius is still a rather raw prospect, jumping directly from the U.S. National Team Development program to the NCAA and now to the pros in just two years time. It seems especially odd that the decision was made so long after the end of the collegiate season.

On top of developmental reasons, it also would have been more than fair for Lucius to want to stay at Minnesota for another year given what’s on the horizon in 2022-23. The Gophers were a Frozen Four finalist this season and plan to return much of their core. Then there is the incoming recruiting class, which could wind up being the best in the NCAA and includes one name in particular of interest: Cruz Lucius. Chaz’ younger brother, who is also a USNTDP product, will arrive at Minnesota next season, where he was expected to play alongside his sibling. Before then, he is expected to be a second- or third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Cruz is part of a group of elite U.S. prospects joining the Gophers, including presumptive top-five pick Logan Cooley and potential first-round selections Jimmy Snuggerud and Ryan Chesley, not to mention several other draft hopefuls.

Minnesota will be especially happy for their loaded incoming class now that they are losing one of their top building blocks in Lucius. The likely reason for the departure could be Lucius’ ongoing health concerns. Though he flashes elite ability when he is on the ice, Lucius has been notoriously injury-prone so far in his young career. He played only 24 games this season, missing much of the second half of the season and the Gophers’ entire NCAA Tournament run. In 2020-21, he only suited up for 25 games with the USNTDP. For Lucius to reach his potential, he needs to get into more games and the Jets likely feel that getting him in front of an NHL medical staff and training team is the best way to do that. Although there will likely be a steep adjustment to the pros at this point in his development, Winnipeg can at least ensure that he spends the year adding to his frame and improving his conditioning, easier to do without the distractions of college life.

Also worth noting is that Lucius did show immense improvement as his freshman season wore on. After recording just one goal and three points in his first eight NCAA games, the skilled forward was a point per game player over his next 16 games, including tallying eight goals. Even in limited action over the past two years, Lucius has proven that he has top-end talent and the Jets simply might not have wanted to wait for him to develop slowly at the college level when they can use affordable scorers on the NHL roster as soon as possible. Yet – health issues aside – it feels as though one more year at Minnesota likely would have done Lucius well. Perhaps the youngster will spend time with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks next year – his CHL rights holder is another avenue now that he has signed – but that would also run counter to the idea of the Jets keeping a closer eye on him. Whatever happens next, hopefully Winnipeg didn’t pull the trigger too soon trying to benefit the present at the cost of the future.

Dryden McKay Signs With Toronto Marlies

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The interesting saga of Dryden McKay is heading to Toronto, as the free agent goaltender has signed a two-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies. Of note, McKay is currently serving a six-month sanction for breaking anti-doping rules by unknowingly ingesting a banned substance. He will be eligible to practice with a team in August and play in early October, meaning his professional career will not be significantly affected.

McKay, 24, is the reigning Hobey Baker winner after another outstanding college season, where he posted a .931 save percentage in 43 games for Minnesota State-Mankato. He led the group all the way to the national championship game (eventually losing to the University of Denver) and went 38-5 overall. Those kinds of numbers are nothing new for McKay, who posted a .932 save percentage and 113-20-4 record over 140 career appearances at the NCAA level, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker in each of the previous two seasons.

It’s easy to see why he would choose Toronto. The Maple Leafs have had goaltending issues all season long after free agent signing Petr Mrazek never really got off the ground, and are facing the potential loss of Jack Campbell to unrestricted free agency in the summer. The team is currently using 25-year-old Erik Kallgren as the backup, who is signed through next season on a two-way deal, and also have the oft-injured Joseph Woll in the organization along with Mrazek. That doesn’t represent a ton of depth at the position, meaning McKay will have a clear path to playing time in the AHL if he shows his performance from college can carry over to the next level.

That’s by no means a certainty, though the Maple Leafs also have a strong development and support system to help him along the way. The organization has done exactly that for fellow college free agent Keith Petruzzelli, who decided to sign a similar minor league deal with Toronto last summer and has progressed nicely through the system. It appears as though the Maple Leafs are trying their hardest to add depth at the position in any way they can, including even trying to bring over KHL netminder Harri Sateri at the trade deadline; Sateri was eventually lost on waivers to the Arizona Coyotes.

This contract means he is not call-up eligible and will still need to sign an entry-level deal in order to play in the NHL.

Snapshots: Byron, Team Canada, Perbix

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Paul Byron can’t catch a break. The veteran forward has been limited to just 26 games this season due to injury. While many of these absences came while Byron was recovering from hip surgery, he has continued to be in and out of the lineup ever since he returned. The Montreal Canadiens announced that he was returning to the lineup on Tuesday night – but the return was short-lived. Less than two periods into the game, the Habs revealed that Byron has left the game and would not return due to a lower-body injury. Its unclear if this is another new injury or a reoccurrence of his hip issue. Either way, with just five games remaining in a lost season, it might be time for Montreal to simply shut Byron down for the year. Byron has one year remaining on his contract and will be back with the Canadiens in 2022-23 if he isn’t traded or bought out.

  • The Canadian entry into the upcoming IIHF World Championship may look very familiar to the fans of a Canadian NHL team. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun writes that Senators head coach D.J. Smith, who will be an assistant for Team Canada, has recruited several of his star players to join the tournament. If healthy, Drake Batherson, Connor Brown, and Thomas Chabot will suit up for Canada. Health is a question though; Chabot is currently on the injured reserve with a fractured hand and Batherson and Brown have both missed time due to injury this season and may not rush to play extra games if those issues flare up.
  • Another notable name has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Defenseman Jack Perbix, an Anaheim Ducks fourth-round pick in 2018, is leaving the University of Minnesota. Most would have expected that if Perbix was leaving the Gophers, it would be for the NHL. Older brother Nick Perbix, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, signed his entry level contract last month after four years at St. Cloud State University. Rather than follow suit, Jack will instead stay in college for his senior year but will don a different jersey and have a different name on his degree.

Dryden McKay Accepts Six-Month Sanction For Anti-Doping Rule Violation

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In a very unexpected turn of events, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has announced that undrafted free agent goaltender and recent Hobey Baker winner Dryden McKay has accepted a six-month period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation. McKay tested positive for Ostarine, a non-specified substance in the class of anabolic agents that is prohibited.

Normally, it could have resulted in a ban of up to four years, but as the press release indicates, McKay was found to have ingested it from a supplement that did not list Ostarine on the label. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet spoke with McKay’s representative Paul Greene, who explained:

The only reason we got the reduction is because we figured out where it came from, and his degree of fault was very low. He’d been very careful about looking at the label.

Friedman goes on to explain that though there was immediate NHL interest in the free agent goaltender as soon as his college season ended, word had started to spread that “something was up.” He reports that McKay will be able to resume practicing with a team on August 25 and play on October 11. There is still interest, though notes McKay will have to start in the AHL and “work his way up.”

The 24-year-old goaltender had an incredible college career at Minnesota State-Mankato, culminating in a national championship appearance this season. Through 140 NCAA appearances, he posted a 113-20-4 record and a .932 save percentage, earning a shutout in 26 different games. In a lengthy statement released on Twitter addressing his situation, McKay indicated that he is looking forward to starting his professional career in the fall.  He does not currently have a contract for the 2022-23 season.

Carter Savoie Signs AHL ATO

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After just two years at the college level, Carter Savoie has decided to turn pro. The Edmonton Oilers prospect has signed an amateur tryout with the Bakersfield Condors for the rest of the 2021-22 season, allowing him to play AHL games down the stretch. Had he signed an entry-level deal with the Oilers for this season, he would not have been eligible to be assigned to the minor leagues. Instead, his ELC will likely follow for 2022-23.

Savoie, 20, is fresh off a national championship with the University of Denver, where he quickly turned himself from a fourth-round afterthought to a legitimate NHL prospect. At times considered just “the older brother” of Matthew Savoie, a top prospect for the 2022 draft, Carter quickly showed he should also be considered a future NHL option. In 39 games for DU this season, he scored 23 goals and 45 points, earning a Hobey Baker nomination and now a chance to hit the professional ranks.

It’s not like offensive success is anything new for the young forward. In his final year in the AJHL, a junior league that allowed him to maintain his NCAA eligibility, Savoie racked up 53 goals and 99 points in just 54 games for the Sherwood Park Crusaders. Even as a freshman at Denver he scored 13 times in 24 games, showing off his uncanny ability to arrive in the right spot at the right time in order to finish plays.

For an organization that has had so much trouble developing mid-round picks over the last decade-plus, Savoie looks like something of an anomaly in the Oilers’ system. He’ll now face his biggest test to date, transitioning to the AHL level where his size–he stands just 5’9″–still could be an obstacle.

Minor Transactions: 04/17/22

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NHL roster movement has slowed considerably with the trade deadline passed and the postseason just around the corner, but notable transactions continue in other leagues around the globe. While those moves often fly under the radar, especially at this time of year, here are some familiar names and worthwhile prospects to keep track of:

  • Tobias Rieder is staying in Sweden. The 29-year-old journeyman forward left the NHL for the first time in his pro career this season, signing on with the SHL’s Vaxjo Lakers. After a successful season, recording 22 points in 36 games, it seems Rieder is willing to bypass any potential NHL interest this summer in exchange for some career stability. Vaxjo has announced a new two-year extension with Rieder, keeping the two-way forward through the 2023-24 season. Assuming he plays out the contract with the Lakers, it would mark the first time in his pro career that Rieder plays exclusively with one team for three consecutive seasons. Rieder began his NHL career in 2014-15 with the Arizona Coyotes, but split his rookie season with the AHL’s Portland Pirates. Then, after two more seasons with the ’Yotes, he was traded midway through the 2017-18 campaign to the Los Angeles King and proceeded to play with a different team in each of the following three seasons: Edmonton, Calgary, and Buffalo. While Rieder has proved himself to be a serviceable depth forward in the NHL, the German forward is understandably content with playing a top-six role in Europe instead, especially if it means sticking with the same team.
  • Joey LaLeggia seems to be in the same boat as Rieder, albeit without the established NHL resume. LaLeggia, 29, is a former University of Denver standout and Edmonton Oilers prospect who played five seasons in the AHL before departing for Sweden in 2020-21. This year, LaLeggia stayed in the SHL but moved to Timra IK, a move that yielded strong results. LaLeggia recorded 38 points in 52 games, a top-three scorer on the team and the club’s all-time leader in single-season points from a defenseman. Playing a key role alongside another name familiar to NHL fans in Ty Rattie, LaLeggia has found an ideal fit in Timra. As a result, the team has announced a one-year extension with the capable blue liner, which could very well lead to a long-term deal if he continues to produce. LaLeggia may have had a case to try again in North America, but seems happy with his role in the SHL.
  • Twin brothers Ty and Dylan Jackson have left Northeastern and are headed across the country to Arizona State University. Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald reports that the pair will join the Sun Devils, where they should step into major scoring roles for the next two or three years. Though undrafted, the duo have been effective players for the Huskies and their entry onto the NCAA Transfer Portal was a surprise. High-scoring forwards for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, the Jackson brothers arrived at Northeastern last year and made an immediate impact, both finishing as top-six scoring forwards. Dylan finished with more points than Ty as freshmen, but was limited to just eight games and three points this season. Ty was back in the top-six as a sophomore, recording 20 points in 28 games and leading all forwards with a +19 rating. There has been no word as to why the twins decided to move on from the Huskies, but will welcomed by a less talented Arizona State team looking to make their mark on college hockey as an independent. Depending on how their time at ASU goes, the Jackson brothers should have pro ambitions and may perhaps even draw NHL interest.

Snapshots: Orlov, Toropchenko, Athanasiou, LaCombe

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6:03 pm: Orlov will be in the lineup tonight for the Capitals.

4:36 pm: According to the Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir, Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov could return to the lineup tonight in Montreal against the Canadiens (Tweet Link). Capitals’ Head Coach Peter Laviolette told El-Bashir that he hopes Orlov will be in the lineup tonight, but did not appear certain on the issue. Orlov has missed two games with a lower-body injury, last playing on April 10th.

Getting the veteran Orlov back in the lineup will certainly be a boost for the Capitals as they look to finish their season strong, and potentially catch the Boston Bruins in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, or the Pittsburgh Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division, five points back of either, and with three games in hand on Pittsburgh. Orlov has long been a staple of Washington’s defense and locker room, and his presence could have a strong impact as the team plays important games from here on.

  • As the Capitals may get Orlov back, the Blues are going to be without forward Alexey Toropchenko, at least for today’s game against the Minnesota Wild, reports Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Toropchenko was injured Thursday when he took a puck in the leg in the Blues’ game against the Buffalo Sabres. Fortunately for St. Louis, Toropchenko appears only to be day-to-day, so he should be able to return soon for the Blues down the stretch of the season. Forward Dakota Joshua took Toropchenko’s place in the lineup against Minnesota Saturday.
  • The Los Angeles Kings announced that they have activated forward Andreas Athanasiou ahead of tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at home. Athanasiou’s return to the lineup is impactful for the Kings, as they deal with injuries while trying to hang on to playoff position in the Pacific Division. The forward has played in just 22 games this season, dealing with injuries, last playing March 10th, but he does own an impressive nine goals and five assists in that time.
  • The University of Minnesota announced that All-American defenseman Jackson LaCombe would be staying with the Gophers for next season, his fourth and final of NCAA eligibility. LaCombe was the Anaheim Ducks second round selection, 39th overall, in 2019, and would be eligible to become a free agent after this coming season if he chooses not to sign with Anaheim. While that is clearly of-note on LaCombe, it’s not yet apparent if that is of concern to Anaheim. LaCombe’s return could easily be a bit of unfinished business with Minnesota, much the same as it is for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies, who is also returning to the Gophers. Minnesota lost in the semifinals of the Frozen Four to Minnesota State, who was then defeated by the University of Denver in the final. In three years on Minnesota’s blueline, LaCombe has 10 goals and 54 assists in 103 games.

Stars Prospect Ben Brinkman Transfers To Notre Dame

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Dallas prospect Ben Brinkman has decided to take advantage of the fifth year of eligibility.  However, it won’t be where he spent his first four seasons.  In a move first reported by Jess Myers of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead (Twitter link), the blueliner is off to the University of Notre Dame after recently entering the transfer portal.

The 21-year-old was a sixth-round pick (173rd overall) back in 2019 after his freshman year at the University of Minnesota.  Brinkman had a minor role that season but the hope was that his role and ice time would increase over the years.  That didn’t exactly materialize as he had just two goals over his four seasons with the Golden Gophers and while he had a career high in points this season, it was still a pretty low number at eight.

Brinkman is certainly hoping that an opportunity with a new school will give him a better chance to showcase himself to Dallas or another professional team as he will need a big year to have a shot at landing an entry-level deal.

Julian Napravnik Signs In AHL

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The NCAA scoring race this season was won by Philadelphia Flyers prospect Bobby Brink, who outpaced Arizona Coyotes prospect Nathan Smith’s 50-point campaign with 56 of his own. Two undrafted free agents were tied for third at 49–Bobby Trivigno, who signed an entry-level contract with the New York Rangers, and Julian Napravnik, who has now found his own home for the 2022-23 season. Napravnik has signed an AHL contract with the Hershey Bears for next year, while also agreeing to an amateur tryout agreement for the rest of this season.

Napravnik, 24, is a German winger who came to North America in 2016 to join the USHL’s Des Moines Buccanneers, where he quickly found success. By 2018 he was joining Minnesota State-Mankato, and as a junior had developed enough to score at a better than a point-per-game pace. This season, his 49 points came in just 40 games, coming in just behind Smith for the team lead.

Given he will turn 25 next month, it’s not entirely surprising that Napravnik had to settle for an AHL deal, but he’s still a pretty substantial acquisition for the Bears. At the very worst, the team is adding a player that can help on the powerplay and add some offensive punch to the depth chart. At best, he could quickly become a strong contributor at the AHL level and be a name on NHL radars by next season.

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