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Snapshots: Johnson, Winnik, NCAA Transfers

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After Adam Johnson’s sudden and unexpected departure from the SHL’s Malmo Redhawks, the forward has landed back in North America. Johnson has signed a contract with the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the remainder of the year, the team announced. This isn’t quite the NHL contract that was expected when Johnson returned home from Sweden, but is still a good opportunity for the 26-year-old to show off for the L.A. Kings and other NHL teams before the off-season. Johnson played in 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins over the past two years, recording four points, and has put up good numbers in the AHL previously. The University of Minnesota-Duluth product is hoping that another strong showing in the minors will prove that he is worthy of another NHL deal.

  • Veteran forward Daniel Winnik will not be returning home, though. Winnik, 36, will continue his playing career for at least another season by signing a one-year extension with Geneve-Servette of the Swiss National League. The contract also includes an additional option year, if the experienced pro actually has two years left in him. Winnik played in nearly 800 career NHL games before departing for Switzerland in 2018, suiting up for eight different teams along the way. He has found more consistency in the second stage of his career, having already played three seasons with Geneve-Servette and now gaining one or two more to come. Winnik has excelled overseas even in his late thirties, playing at a near point-per-game pace.
  • There will be a number of familiar faces in new places across the NCAA next season. It has already been an unprecedented off-season for notable transfers, even with the Frozen Four still yet to be played. More than a dozen players have already switched schools, including some NHL prospects. Two of the more recent names to make a change include Vegas Golden Knights’ forward prospect Brandon Kruse and Winnipeg Jets’ goalie prospect Jared Moe. Kruse, 22, has already played four full seasons at Bowling Green, but will take advantage of his fifth year of eligibility due to COVID to become a graduate transfer to Boston College, the program confirmed. The 2018 fifth-round pick has been one of the Falcons’ best forwards and is a nice pickup for the Eagles, who are still believed to be in the running for several other noteworthy transfers as well. Moe, 21, is moving on from Minnesota after sitting behind Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect Jack LaFontaine this season (and LaFontaine has committed to another year with the Gophers as well). Moe has reported on his own that he will flip to Big Ten rival Wisconsin next season, where the starting job is at least open to competition. Moe may not be the only Winnipeg keeper to transfer this off-season too; UMass Lowell goaltender Logan Neaton is also in the NCAA Transfer Portal after he too was used sparingly this season.

College Notes: Galajda, Pelton-Byce, Becker

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When the Ivy League announced that they would not allow winter sports competition this year, college hockey lost out on one its best goaltenders and Matthew Galajda lost out on his fourth and final season at Cornell University. As Ivy League schools do not permit graduate student-athletes, the senior netminder knew he would have to depart Cornell to continue his NCAA career. This worked out to the benefit of Notre Dame University though, who announced today that Galajda has decided to join the Fighting Irish next season. While a year away from the game has quieted the buzz around Galajda’s game, there is no arguing that he has been one of the NCAA’s very best goaltenders in recent years. In three seasons at Cornell, Galadja was consistently outstanding. The 23-year-old has a stunning .930 save percentage and 1.60 GAA in his NCAA career to go along with a 60-15-9 record. With those numbers, Galajda will likely take on a workhorse role for Notre Dame and should be an upgrade to the departing Dylan St. Cyr. If the 2019-20 Mike Richter Award finalist can return to that same level of play after a year off and facing a more difficult Big Ten schedule, he will have plenty of NHL suitors this time next year.

  • Ty Pelton-Byce of the University of Wisconsin was expected to be one of the top college free agents available to NHL teams this spring, but the Winnipeg Jets have been able to secure the talented forward on a minor league deal. The Jets’ affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, have announced that Pelton-Byce has signed an AHL contract for the 2021-22 season and will join the club on an amateur tryout agreement for the remainder of the year. The 23-year-old forward, who split his college career between the Badgers and the Harvard Crimson, is coming off a career year in which he recorded 31 points in 24 games. He helped to lead Wisconsin to the Big Ten regular season title and to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this year. With good size and a well-developed game, Pelton-Byce should adjust well to the pro game and could be pushing for an NHL deal in no time.
  • It was expected that Boston Bruins prospect Jack Becker would return to school for a somewhat unprecedented fifth season of college hockey and now the move is official. Craig Morgan of AZ Coyotes Insider reports that Becker has committed as a graduate transfer to Arizona State University. The Sun Devils add an experienced two-way forward who captained the University of Michigan this season and has 124 NCAA games under his belt. Whether Becker will try to turn pro – and whether the Bruins will still want him – after a fifth college season remains to be seen. The 2015 draft pick will turn 25 years old before the 2022-23 season begins.

College Notes: LaFontaine, Weatherby, Kapcheck, Wise

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Goaltender Jack LaFontaine has decided that he’s not ready to turn pro yet after all.  Instead, his college team in Minnesota announced that the netminder will return for his fifth and final NCAA season.  The 23-year-old had stellar numbers with the Golden Gophers this season, posting a 1.79 GAA with a .934 SV% in 29 games which has him as a finalist for Goaltender of the Year while he was among the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award though he didn’t make the cut for the final three.  LaFontaine started his college career with two seasons in Michigan before transferring to Minnesota, a move that has proven to be a wise one so far.  He’ll now try to win an NCAA title next season before beginning his pro career with Carolina.

More news from the college ranks:

  • Sharks prospect Jasper Weatherby has notified the team that he will remain at North Dakota for his senior year, notes Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. The 23-year-old was a fourth-round pick of San Jose back in 2018 and had a strong junior season with 14 goals, most of which came in the second half.  That was enough for the Sharks to offer him a chance to turn pro but Weatherby stated that he wants to take one more shot at winning a college title.
  • The Maple Leafs have added some defensive depth from the college ranks as the AHL Marlies announced the signing of Brennan Kapcheck to a two-year deal that begins next season; he will also play the rest of this year on an amateur tryout agreement. The 24-year-old recently wrapped up his NCAA career with American International College, posting an impressive 18 assists in just 19 games for the Yellow Jackets this season.
  • Blackhawks prospect Jake Wise has decided to leave Boston University and transfer to Ohio State, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 21-year-old center was a third-round pick of Chicago back in 2018 but had just three goals in 50 games over three years with the Terriers.  Wise will still have two years of NCAA eligibility remaining.

2021 Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists Announced

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The college hockey season may have looked a little different this year, but award voting went on anyway. Today, the Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists were announced. The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2014, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but are still NHL regulars after winning from 2016-18.

2019’s winner was University of Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and is now dominating the league with the Colorado Avalanche. Last year the award was given to Scott Perunovich, but his NHL debut has been postponed thanks to a major shoulder injury.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller, and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

Earlier this year, more than 50 players from the NCAA ranks were nominated for the award, and ten finalists were announced last month. Those ten players have been narrowed to just three, your Hat Trick finalists:

Cole Caufield – University of Wisconsin (Montreal Canadiens)

Already signed to his entry-level contract with the Canadiens, Caufield is the overwhelming favorite to win the award. The 15th overall pick in 2019, he led the nation in goals (30) and points (51) and routinely showed he was on a different level skill-wise. The diminutive winger also took home the gold medal with Team USA at the World Juniors and has simply dominated at every level throughout his hockey career. His tenure at Wisconsin is over no matter what happens with the Hobey Baker, as he’ll start his pro career in the coming days.

Shane Pinto – University of North Dakota (Ottawa Senators)

Caufield wasn’t the only impressive forward in the country though and Pinto’s place in the final three is well deserved after another strong season. The 20-year-old center scored 32 points in 28 games for UND while routinely being asked to check the opponent’s best. Though he had more offensive players on his team, there might have been no one as valuable given how many important situations Pinto was deployed in. An elite faceoff man, dogged back checker, and strong offensive facilitator, his game should translate quickly to the pro level.

Dryden McKay – Minnesota State University-Mankato (undrafted)

Not to be forgotten is McKay, the small undrafted goaltender who just keeps stopping the puck. From the moment he stepped foot on the ice for the Mavericks he has been among the best in the country, posting a .934 save percentage in 96 games. His record of 75-14-4 speaks for how strong the team around him has been during that stretch as well, but there’s no reason to doubt McKay’s contributions. For the second straight season he posted 10 shutouts, this time in just 25 games. Though his size may keep him from being an NHL starter in the long run, his college career has been almost completely unblemished to this point.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Florida Panthers Sign Matt Kiersted

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The Florida Panthers have inked one of the top undrafted college free agents, signing Matt Kiersted to a two-year entry-level contract. Kiersted has spent the last four years at the University of North Dakota, becoming one of the most effective two-way defensemen in the country. Panthers GM Bill Zito released this statement on his newest player:

Matt is an exciting defenseman who plays the game with great speed and vision. His steady progression and development from an undrafted player to one of the NCAA’s top defensemen is a display of his resiliency and motivation to succeed. We are pleased to have agreed to a contract with Matt and look forward to his future with our organization.

Still just 22, Kiersted is joining the Panthers organization after recording 22 points in 29 games as a senior for UND. He wore an “A” as an alternate captain and was named to the NCHC First All-Star Team at the end of the year. Corey Pronman of The Athletic ranked Kiersted as the best undrafted free agent available from the college ranks, noting his very high hockey IQ and projecting him as a third-pairing defenseman in the NHL.

Like with any college free agent, there are warts in Kiersted’s game, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a valuable addition to the Panthers. Bringing in an NHL-ready defenseman for nothing more than an entry-level contract is always a win. Now it’s up to the young defenseman to prove he’s more than just that depth option and continue his development in an organization where everything is suddenly going right.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Odeen Tufto

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While the rest of the hockey world focuses on some high-profile college talent signing their entry-level contracts, the Tampa Bay Lightning have announced a more under-the-radar signing. Odeen Tufto has signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Lightning for the 2021-22 season and will report to the Syracuse Crunch on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season.

Tufto, 24, was one of the top undrafted college free agents after an incredible senior season that saw him score 47 points in just 29 games. That mark was good enough to make him a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, but it isn’t all that much different than his other three seasons for Quinnipiac University. The 5’7″ forward put up totals of 41, 42 and 38 points in his first three years, meaning he’ll leave college with 168 points in 139 appearances. His 39 assists led the nation this season and he served as captain for Quinnipiac.

While he doesn’t project the same as someone like Cole Caufield, the only NCAA player to score more points than him this season, Tufto is a sneaky depth pickup for an organization that has never been afraid of adding undersized forward talent. The Lightning have made stars out of players like Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde, neither of whom were drafted despite elite offensive numbers in junior. It’s a long shot, but perhaps the Tampa Bay development staff can coax a similar performance out of Tufto, who has scored a boatload of points at every stop so far.

Minnesota Wild Sign Matt Boldy To ELC

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The Minnesota Wild have reached an agreement on an entry-level contract with one of their top prospects. 2019 first-round pick Matt Boldy has decided to forego the rest of his NCAA eligibility and depart Boston College for the pros. The Wild have announced a three-year deal with Boldy that begins this season. Financial terms were not disclosed. He will report immediately to the AHL’s Iowa Wild to begin his pro career.

Boldy, 19, just completed a terrific sophomore season at BC, although he surely would have liked to see the Eagles reach the Frozen Four. He did plenty to help them all season long, though; Boldy led a deep BC team across the board with 11 goals, 20 assists, and 31 points in just 22 games. He had enjoyed a nice freshman campaign, but took a major leap forward this season, asserting himself as one of the best players in college hockey. In fact, Boldy finished fifth in points per game in the NCAA this season. Boldy’s skating has improved to match his impressive offensive instincts, hands, and shot, making him a well-rounded offensive weapon. The big forward, who exclusively played on the wing this year after struggling at times at center last season, is not only a dangerous scorer either. Boldy wins puck battles with his size and tenacity and seems to never be caught out of position.

It is not a reach to say that Boldy projects as an NHL top-six forward with both power play and penalty kill ability. The two-way forward is young, but has the size and the IQ of a much more experienced player. While he may head to Iowa at the outset, Boldy will be in Minnesota in no time. The Wild have a good thing going this season, but could desperately use a power play difference-maker. If he takes to the pro game quickly, Boldy’s net front presence and scoring ability could immediately make him invaluable to his team. Even if Boldy doesn’t really take on a major role in Minnesota until next season, he still joins Kirill Kaprizov, Kevin Fiala, Jordan Greenway, and Joel Eriksson Ek (and eventually Marco Rossi too) in a young, exciting forward core that could make the Wild competitive for years to come.

Snapshots: Expansion Draft, Novak, Pettersson

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The Seattle Kraken cannot yet make trades, but that won’t stop them from making a major impact on the upcoming NHL Trade Deadline. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Kraken GM Ron Francis has begun to receive calls from a number of teams seeking input on potential deadline deals. Any team adding a valuable player who is not just an impending UFA rental is also adding another piece to their Expansion equation. In many cases, top contenders acquiring these quality players will either not be able to protect them or their addition will displace another valued player already on the roster. As a result, they have been reaching out to Francis to see what it would cost to make a side deal to protect assets that would be exposed by a potential deadline trade. According to LeBrun, the league’s other GM’s have not been happy with Francis’ responses. It seems the going rate for a side deal with Seattle to protect a player that they would otherwise be selecting is a first-round pick and a prospect. This price is scaring teams away from making major deals at the deadline, quieting a market that already has a number of restrictions working against it.

  • While a seventh-round pick may not mean much to the Ottawa Senators, especially given their immense pipeline of talent, it meant a lot to Bentley University. In 2018, the Senators’ final-round selection Jakov Novak became the first ever NHL Draft pick to attend Bentley, an Atlantic Hockey school who has never won their conference tournament nor qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The oft-forgotten Boston-area program was proud to add Novak, who has played up to expectations over the past three years. With 30 goals and 62 points in 87 games, including 17 points in 15 games this year, the power forward has been one of the best players in Atlantic Hockey – and other teams took notice. The junior winger is set to depart Bentley for greener pastures, leaving the program yet again absent of NHL talent. He’s not going far, though. Novak has announced that he will transfer to Northeastern University for next season. The Huskies exited the Hockey East Tournament early this year and did not qualify for the national stage, so they will be eager to add another talented forward with pro ability in hopes of taking a step forward next season. Novak hinted that 2021-22 could be the end of his NCAA career, but it only take one year for him to make a major impact at Northeastern. Vice versa, just one year playing alongside and against superior collegiate talent could be a major developmental leap for Novak that earns him a contract with Ottawa.
  • Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson was eligible to be activated from the Long-Term Injured Reserve for the first time today, but his stay is not yet over. Head coach Travis Green tells NHL.com that the team underestimated Pettersson’s upper-body injury and he is not close to a return. “Definitely was more serious than we thought originally,” Green stated on Tuesday. “We didn’t think it was going to be this long. It hasn’t gotten any better to a point where he can play yet and I still think he’s going to be out for a few more games at least.” After a slow start to the season, the Canucks have been playing much better of late. In fact, they have the second-best record in their past ten games of any team in the North Division. However, still more than 100 percentage points back of a playoff spot, Vancouver will need Pettersson healthy if they want to complete the comeback.

Chicago Blackhawks Officially Sign Mike Hardman

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Tuesday: The Chicago Blackhawks have announced the signing of Hardman to a two-year, entry-level deal which will run through the 2021-22 season, meaning they will burn the first year of the contract this season. The forward has been assigned to the taxi squad and will begin his career immediately. The contract carries at $913K cap hit.

His contract breaks down like this (via CapFriendly):

2020-21: $808K base salary + $93K signing bonus + $25K GP bonus*
2021-22: $833K base salary + $93K signing bonus

* Games played bonus is prorated for five games due to shortened season.

Monday: After a surprise early exit from the NCAA Tournament at the hands of the St. Cloud State Huskies, Boston College could see a number of their top players depart this off-season. The first name who appears to make be making his exit official is two-way forward Mike Hardman. ESPN’s John Buccigross reports that Hardman has decided to leave BC and turn pro and is close to terms on an entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. No details are yet available, but the contract is expected to signed tomorrow.

Hardman, 22, was considered one of the top collegiate free agents available, even after just two years at BC. The sophomore forward plays a complete, 200-foot game, using his size to win puck battles, forecheck and backcheck effectively, and create opportunities in front of the net. Hardman notched 10 goals and 19 points in 24 games, finishing in the top three in both categories for one of the best teams in college hockey.

In Hardman, the Blackhawks likely see a player who is ready for the pro game with little to no need adjustment period. With size, skill, and IQ, Hardman will be able to make an immediate impact. While he probably lacks top-six upside in the NHL, it never hurts to add a young, affordable bottom-six contributor. There is opportunity in the Chicago lineup for Hardman to earn an NHL role sooner rather than later.

Vegas Golden Knights Sign Peter DiLiberatore To ELC

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The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms with Quinnipiac University standout defenseman Peter Diliberatore on his entry-level contract. The 2018 sixth-round pick has been a rising star in the Vegas pipeline for years and has now turned pro following the Bobcats’ regional loss in the NCAA Tournament. The team announced that Diliberatore has signed a three-year ELC that is expected to begin this season and he will report immediately to the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. No financial terms have yet been disclosed.

Somewhat of an unheralded prospect, Diliberatore has made the most of his NCAA career. A prep school product with no junior hockey experience, Diliberatore was nevertheless able to make impact immediately as a freshman at Quinnipiac. The Nova Scotia native recorded 19 points in 38 games, while his +22 rating was among the best in college hockey. Diliberatore’s scoring pace has only improved in each season since, totaling 21 points in 34 games last year and 20 points in 29 games this year, all while remaining a plus player. A smooth-skating defender who handles the puck well and has great vision on the ice, Diliberatore impressed more than just Quinnipac fans over the past few years. He was included on the 2020 World Junior Development Camp roster for Team Canada as well – an impressive honor for a sixth-round pick, even though he was one of the final cuts.

The Golden Knights are surely happy with how their late-round flier has progressed since 2018 as well. The team actually tried to woo Diliberatore to the pro game last year, but he turned down the contract offer to return for his junior year with the Bobcats. Vegas clearly thinks highly of the puck-moving defender though and he could be put on the fast track for the NHL. With Alec Martinez headed for free agency after this season and Brayden McNabb and Nick Holden doing the same after next year, the Knights will likely allow their deep group of young pro defenders to compete for the jobs behind stalwarts Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore. Diliberatore has as good a chance as any of winning one of those regular spots over the next year or two.

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