New Jersey Devils Sign Joey Anderson To Entry-Level Deal
The New Jersey Devils announced they have signed Joey Anderson to a three-year entry-level contract. The NCAA champion from the University of Minnesota-Duluth is expected to have his contract start this year as he’s expected to join the Devils today and skate with them tomorrow.
Anderson, a 5-foot-11 forward, leaves after his sophomore year in which he had 11 goals in 36 games for the Bulldogs, who defeated Notre Dame in the championship game last week. He was named to the NCHC all-rookie team as a freshman after scoring 12 goals that year, taking his the to the NCAA Frozen Four finals. In total, Anderson has combined for 23 goals and 41 assists in two years. He also captained this year’s World Juniors team for Team USA, leading them to the bronze medal, scoring seven points in seven games.
Anderson was New Jersey’s third-round pick in 2016, the 73rd overall selection in the draft. Known for his heavy shot and quick release, Anderson has the skills to be a talented scorer in the league. Despite elite speed, his intelligence, high motor, hard-working demeanor and enthusiasm is key to what propelled Minnesota-Duluth to a national title.
Arizona Coyotes Sign Jordan Gross To Entry-Level Contract
The Arizona Coyotes have signed undrafted free agent defenseman Jordan Gross to a two-year entry-level contract. Gross just completed his fourth season with the University of Notre Dame. Coyotes GM John Chayka released a statement in the announcement:
Jordan was one of the top defensemen in the NCAA last year and we’re thrilled to add him to our organization. He’s a mobile, puck-moving, right shot defenseman who is very smart. He will join a great group of young players that we now have in Arizona.
Gross, 22, was recently named to the All-Tournament team in the Frozen Four after Notre Dame made it to the National Championship game. The mobile defenseman racked up 30 points for the third consecutive season, finishing his collegiate career with a whopping 121 points in 159 games.
For Arizona, adding talent in ways other than the draft is key to turning the system around. Though they took strides towards the playoffs in the second half, they still need to add dynamic talents that will help them in the coming years. There’s no guarantee that Gross will be able to defend well enough to contribute in the NHL, but he’s certainly talented enough to take a chance on.
Buffalo Sabres Sign Andrew Oglevie To Entry-Level Deal
The Buffalo Sabres have signed an NCAA free agent, inking Andrew Oglevie to an entry-level contract. Oglevie recently finished his junior year at Notre Dame, where he helped them to the title game in the NCAA tournament. Though the press release indicates that the contract is for three seasons, Oglevie’s age prevents him from signing anything longer than a two-year entry-level deal.
The 23-year old forward scored 39 points in 36 games this year for Notre Dame, his second consecutive point-per-game season in the NCAA. After playing with Anders Bjork last season, Oglevie was given even more offensive responsibility and still found plenty of success. That should bode well for his future, though an NHL career is still far from guaranteed.
In Buffalo, adding talented offensive players like Oglevie in ways other than the draft can only continue to help their organization. Though things haven’t gone well in recent years for the Sabres, the Rochester Americans are heading to the playoffs and GM Jason Botterill continues to add talent from any source he can. Oglevie could potentially join the Americans on an amateur tryout for the last few games, though the release does not indicate that he will.
Instead, he’ll be another name that should compete for a spot with the Sabres in training camp. There should be plenty of battles for the last few spots, as the team tries to find the right mix to help them climb out of the basement.
Boston Bruins Sign Karson Kuhlman To Entry-Level Contract
The Boston Bruins have convinced NCAA free agent Karson Kuhlman to join their organization, signing the forward to a two-year entry-level contract. The deal has an average annual value of $750K, and Kuhlman will immediately join the Providence Bruins on an amateur tryout.
Kuhlman is fresh off an National Championship with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he captained the squad and took home tournament MVP after scoring in the title game. The 22-year old forward finished his four-year college career with a 20-point season in 44 games.
For anyone who watched this season, they know exactly why Kuhlman earned a professional contract. It’s not because of any flashy offensive play, or elite skills in any one area, but a ridiculous work ethic and all-around versatility. Kuhlman double-shifted in the championship game, while hitting the ice on the powerplay and penalty kill. He ranks seventh in NCAA history with a 166 consecutive games played streak. His determined defensive effort was a big part of the win for UMD, and he’ll be asked to continue to bring that drive every game in the pro ranks.
Montreal Canadiens Sign Jake Evans To Entry-Level Contract
Now that Jake Evans‘ NCAA career is over, the 21-year old forward wasted no time signing his first professional contract. The Montreal Canadiens today announced the two-year entry-level contract for Evans, getting him into their organization before he was eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. Evans lost the National Championship with Notre Dame over the weekend, ending an exceptional four years in the NCAA.
Evans, who served as captain this season for the Fighting Irish, was a better than point-per-game player for the second consecutive season. Recording 46 points in 40 games, he also took home the Spengler Cup title with Canada and was named to the Big-10 First All-Star Team. The two-way center has been described as a natural leader who should fight for a job with the Canadiens right out of camp this fall.
That’s where the excitement lies for Montreal fans, as the team has been notoriously thin down the middle the last few seasons. Though Evans doesn’t project as a top tier offensive player at the next level, he should be able to provide some stability to a group that needs healthy youthful bodies, and chip in at even strength and on the powerplay. Whether he jumps right to the NHL in October depends on what the Canadiens do this summer, but he’ll surely be given every opportunity to contribute in 2018-19.
Penguins Sign Anthony Angello To Entry-Level Deal
It may have been a disappointing end to the season for Cornell, a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament upset in their first game, but for one player the year will end on a positive note. Anthony Angello, a junior forward for the Big Red, has signed an entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to a team release. The two-year deal will begin next season, but Angello will join the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an amateur tryout to close out the season.
It’s hard to argue against the results that the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs have had with bringing in college talent in recent years. Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust, and Zach Aston-Reese have all been successful college free agents who signed in Pittsburgh, while Brian Dumoulin and Jake Guentzel, draft picks who chose the college route, have been even better. Angello, a 2014 fifth-round pick, will gladly take the career trajectory of any of those players as he transitions to the pro game.
A hulking 6’5″ center who anchored the Cornell squad, Angello was also among the team’s top scorers this season. Angello finished the year tied in points and goals with linemate Trevor Yates, a recent signing of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, due in no small part to his ability in front of the net. Angello’s checking game and two-way intelligence also contributed to an impressive +16 rating. The Penguins don’t have a forward with Angello’s size and skill set anywhere in the pipeline and have to be excited to bring in the big 22-year-old. The Big Red scorer could be donning Pittsburgh black and yellow sooner rather than later.
Josh Dickinson Signs Entry-Level Contract With Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have signed a college free agent, inking Josh Dickinson to a three-year entry-level contract that will begin in 2018-19. Dickinson will report to the San Antonio Rampage for the rest of this season on an amateur tryout.
The younger brother of Stars prospect Jason Dickinson, Josh is coming to professional hockey after a very different path. While his brother was selected in the first round in 2013 from the Guelph Storm, the younger Dickinson maintained his college eligibility playing in the OJHL and after going undrafted spent this season at Clarkson University. He found a ton of success in the NCAA, scoring 26 points as a freshman and immediately earning a contract in professional hockey.
Just the fact that Dickinson is leaving college after one year is surprising, but that he earned an entry-level contract right away means that the Avalanche saw something they really liked in the young forward. It’s not like his success has come out of nowhere, as Dickinson has been a leader at every level in his minor hockey career. He was even ranked 138th among North American skaters going into the 2016 draft, and will now try to make teams regret the day they decided to pass on him.
Snapshots: Sedins, Jets, Rempal, Pinho
Canucks GM Jim Benning plans to meet with pending unrestricted free agents Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin in the coming days to gauge their interest in returning for their 18th season with Vancouver, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports on TSN’s Insider Trading (video link). The twins have had good seasons, ranking second and third in team scoring despite seeing their ice time drop by more than three minutes per game.
While Benning may be hoping for a quick decision, that may not actually happen. Speaking with Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma Daniel noted that they plan to take their time with the decision and, perhaps most notably, see where the team is at and how it shapes up over the offseason. Even if they take a pay cut from their current $7MM contracts, it will still likely cost a considerable amount to keep both around and the Canucks will certainly want to know heading into free agency if they will have to allocate that money elsewhere.
Elsewhere around the league:
- The Jets appear to be closer to getting some good news on the injury front, something they haven’t had a lot of this year. Postmedia’s Ken Wiebe notes that defenseman Jacob Trouba (concussion) could be back this weekend while goaltender Steve Mason is expected to get into at least one game next week which should have him ready to go for the postseason as well.
- The Kings may not be done signing college players just yet. After they signed defenseman Daniel Brickley and forward Mikey Eyssimont earlier today, Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports that free agent winger Sheldon Rempal also visited with the team. The 21-year-old sophomore posted 23 goals and 23 assists in just 39 games with Clarkson and is garnering considerable interest around the league although he could return for another season at the NCAA level as well.
- The Capitals are in contract negotiations with the agent for college center Brian Pinho, reports Mark Divver of the Providence Journal (Twitter link). The 22-year-old recently wrapped up his college career with the Friars, posting 12 goals and 20 assists in his senior year. Pinho was Washington’s sixth-round pick (174th overall) back in 2013 and could test the free agent waters if he doesn’t sign a contract by mid-August.
Ottawa Senators Sign Andrew Sturtz To Two-Year Deal
The Ottawa Senators have signed NCAA free agent Andrew Sturtz to a two-year entry-level contract. Sturtz recently finished his junior season at Penn State, where he led the team in scoring with 40 points in 37 games.
Sturtz, 23, played his junior hockey in Carleton Place just outside of Ottawa and will now complete a homecoming of sorts after three years at Penn State. The undersized forward will actually graduate after just those three seasons, something Senators’ GM Pierre Dorion mentions in his press release to announce the signing:
Andrew is a player whom we identified as someone we were interested in for some time. He is a skilled, competitive player who can play both center and the wing. He’s not only talented, but the type of character player we are looking for. He’ll graduate from Penn State in only three years and we look forward to having him in camp next season.
The contract will begin in 2018-19, meaning that Sturtz won’t hit restricted free agency until the summer of 2020. Though he may have a long road to the NHL, this first step has been made possible by the continued effort around the league to give chances to smaller skilled players. Talent like Sturtz may have been overlooked in the draft even just a few years ago, but after finding success in college there is little risk in giving him an opportunity at the AHL level.
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Dane Birks To Entry-Level Contract
The signing spree continues, this time with the Pittsburgh Penguins inking Dane Birks to a two-year entry-level contract. Birks’ season finished when Michigan Tech was eliminated from the NCAA tournament, but now he’ll get to join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an amateur tryout for the rest of the year. His contract, which is the standard ELC for a player of his age, will begin in 2018-19.
Birks, 22, was selected in the sixth round way back in 2013, but actually lost an entire year of development after being declared ineligible as a freshman due to academic reasons. Though that development has been slow, he finally found some of the offensive touch that he was expected to bring, scoring 18 points this season for the Huskies, easily his college career-high.
He’s still a long way from the NHL, but capable two-way right-shot defensemen that bring some size and puck-moving ability are hard to come by. If he can take another few steps in the minor leagues, perhaps Pittsburgh has found another late round college gem to backfill their roster.