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Minor Transactions: 08/17/18

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The hockey machine continues to chug along this offseason, with veteran players finding homes overseas and junior stars swapping sweaters. We’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.

  • Matt Frattin has re-signed with Barys Astana in the KHL, returning to the league after playing in Switzerland at the very end of last season. Frattin, a former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect scored 29 points in 42 games during his first taste of KHL action last year and should find success again going forward. In 135 NHL games, Frattin recorded just 35 points but always showed flashes of a high offensive ceiling. Now 30 years old, his NHL career is likely behind him.
  • Former NHL defenseman Karl Stollery is heading to Jokerit of the KHL, leaving Dinamo Riga after a successful 2017-18 campaign. Stollery logged huge minutes for the club and also participated for Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics. After a great four year career at Merrimack College, Stollery tried to grind his way through the North American minor leagues and only managed to suit up for 23 NHL contests.
  • The Hershey Bears have signed Logan Pyett and Adam Morrison to AHL contracts, giving the team some more experience for this season as they look to bounce back. Pyett is a former Detroit Red Wings prospect who has played in the KHL the last few seasons, while Morrison was originally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in round three of the 2009 draft. The 27-year old goaltender has spent most of his professional career in the ECHL, but regularly posts solid numbers and should give the Bears some depth at the position.
  • The Oshawa Generals have traded four draft picks to acquire Giovanni Vallati from the Kitchener Rangers, bringing in the Winnipeg Jets prospect to give them another puck-moving defenseman for this season. Vallati has a ton of talent though still is learning how to use those skills to lock down the defensive zone and play a more consistent game. Two second and two third round picks was the cost to acquire the 18-year old, meaning the Generals will hope to get immediate dividends from Vallati.

Eastern Notes: Carlo, Tkachuk, Dobson, Chaput

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The Boston Bruins dealt with numerous injuries over the course of the 2017-18 season, but that didn’t stop the team from getting into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. One injury that truly crippled the team was the loss of defenseman Brandon Carlo right at the end of the season with a broken fibula. While the team is solid on defense, the presence of the 6-foot-5 blueliner has been critical to their team.

Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont writes that Carlo injury is fully healed as x-rays were clean and the 21-year-old has already been skating for more than a month. Not an offensive defenseman, Carlo has had trouble adjusting to the NHL physical game, having spent his rookie campaign next to Zdeno Chara and then being teamed up as the defensive presence to offensive sparkplug Torey Krug. However, Carlo said he’s added close to 10 pounds of muscle to his frame this offseason and is ready to take the bulk of another full campaign in Boston.

“I think last year was good for me in an aspect,” Carlo said, “to learn so much about myself and my game. Coming into this third year, I have really high expectations for myself. I expect to be back on track with helping out in every aspect that I can. I think overall I have to come in with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder and have a little more confidence in myself and my overall game.”

  • While there are many people who feel that winger Brady Tkachuk, who announced his intention of going pro Saturday, might be better served playing with the OHL London Knights or the AHL’s Belleville Senators next year to continue his development, Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun writes that Tkachuk actually has as good a shot of anyone on the roster to make the NHL squad out of training camp. The team isn’t deep at the left wing position, which includes players such as Ryan Dzingel, Mikkel Boedker, Max McCormick, Magnus Paajarvi, Tom Pyatt and Zack Smith. Not exactly top of the line. Considering that Smith is likely to move to center next year and Pyatt could move to the right side, if needed, there is plenty of space for Tkachuk if he impresses in training camp.
  • Historically, players picked at No. 12 in the NHL Draft usually don’t end up with their NHL time right away in their first season, but that could be a possibility when it comes to New York Islanders 2018 first-round pick Noah Dobson. The 18-year-old prospect showed off his skills with a dominant performance at the World Junior Showcase for Canada by posting five goals in three games. The Athletic’s Arthur Staple (subscription required) writes another impressive showing at training camp in front of coach Barry Trotz could force the team’s hand to keep him, considering the team’s lack of depth on defense.
  • While the Montreal Canadiens didn’t make too many waves this offseason, the team did sign several smaller names, including Michael Peca, Xavier Ouellet, Kenny Agostino and Michael Chaput. The 26-year-old Chaput is an interesting case as he’s played 135 NHL games already in his career, but with the exception of a 68-games season back in 2016-17, the center has spent most of his career in the AHL. Now, with many openings potentially available in Montreal, Chaput feels he’s got a great shot a full-time role with Montreal this year, according to NHL.com’s Matt Cudzinowski. “My mindset is to try and make this team. I want to play for the Canadiens. That’s my main goal. That’s what I’m working towards,” said Chaput.

Prospect Notes: Bukac, Rasmussen, Conger

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Boston Bruins defensive prospect Daniel Bukac is on the move, but remaining at the Canadian major junior level. Bukac, a seventh-round pick in 2017, has played the last two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. However, Brandon released the Czech native after the end of the season to open up another roster spot and selection in the CHL Import Draft. Bukac himself became eligible for selection again and was drafted by the OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs in the second round. The team announced today that they have received a commitment from the hulking 19-year-old blue liner. The Bruins have to be happy with their prospect’s continued commitment to North American hockey, as Bukac reportedly had pro offers elsewhere in Europe but chose to remain in the major junior development track. Bukac is known mostly for his size and checking ability, but also his intelligence on and off the ice; he picked up English quickly after coming overseas and picks up offensive schemes even quicker with great positioning and awareness. Bukac will never be much of an offensive contributor – at any level – but could grow into a reliable stay-at-home defender and depth option for Boston down the road.

  • One player whose development path has gone quite differently than he and many scouts may have predicted is goaltender Dayton Rasmussen. Considered by many as a lock to be drafted in 2017, Rasmussen nevertheless went undrafted despite very strong numbers and two championship campaigns in the USHL, an impressive NHL Draft combine workout, as well as a commitment to an elite college program at the University of Denver. Rasmussen moved past it and joined the Pioneers this past season, hoping his performance would earn him a selection in his second time through the draft. Instead, Rasmussen struggled as a freshman, playing in just four games and posting an disappointing .882 save percentage and 3.28 GAA. Less surprising this time, Rasmussen again went undrafted in June. Now, Rasmussen is looking to reverse his fortunes and has decided to return to the USHL. The Lincoln Stars announced today that they have acquired the keeper’s rights from the Chicago Steel for a pair of draft picks and that he will be joining the team for the coming season. There is no word yet on Rasmussen’s long-term plans with just one year of draft eligibility remaining and the possibility of a return to the college ranks in the future still open. However, the athletic goaltender simply needs to focus on improving his play this season if he hopes to keep his pro ambitions alive.
  • Another college player making a change – albeit staying in the NCAA – is former Providence College forward Bailey Conger. The 21-year-old forward put up impressive numbers at both the prep school level with Cushing Academy and junior level with the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks before arriving in Providence, but wasn’t able to translate that same production to the college game. Part of that was certainly availability, as the freshman missed more than a dozen games due to injury and received only modest play time for a contending Friars program. Conger managed to record five points in 24 games, but seems to have the ability to do much more. Perhaps looking for a better opportunity to shine, Conger decided to transfer schools this summer and Colorado College announced that they have received a commitment from the scoring winger. Conger was reportedly considering Boston University as well among other schools, but will have a greater chance of receiving a transfer waiver to play right away if he is outside of Hockey East and away from his former team. The undrafted forward still has three years of NCAA eligibility remaining and could certainly still develop into an NHL prospect.

Mark Hunter Returns To London Knights

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After serving as an Assistant General Manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the past few seasons, Mark Hunter split from the team following Lou Lamoriello’s departure earlier this summer. Kyle Dubas was named the new GM of the Maple Leafs, leaving little room for Hunter to progress with the organization. Though there had been plenty of speculation that Hunter would find a role elsewhere in the NHL, he instead has returned to the OHL where he will once again take on the title of General Manager with the London Knights. Hunter owns the Knights with his brother and former Washington Capitals head coach Dale Hunter, who works as head coach of the junior club. Rob Simpson, who was named GM in 2016, will remain with the organization as Associate General Manager.

Hunter was the GM of the Knights for 14 seasons before heading to Toronto, and helped build the OHL franchise into a powerhouse. The junior hockey team is among the most popular and successful organizations in the CHL, and continually graduate NHL caliber players. Just in the last five drafts, the team has produced first-round picks Evan Bouchard, Liam Foudy, Robert Thomas, Olli Juolevi, Matthew Tkachuk, Max Jones and Mitch Marner along with near countless other later round picks. The team also attended four Memorial Cups in the span of five seasons between 2011-2016.

This is a good year for Hunter to be returning, as the Knights are loaded with talent once again and should contend for the OHL Championship. Though Bouchard could potentially be kept by the Edmonton Oilers after being selected 10th overall, the team should still have an impressive blue line headlined by Swedish phenom Adam Boqvist and returning Detroit Red Wings prospect Alec Regula. They also convinced Matvei Guskov to come over from Russia, which could give them another first-round selection next June. You can be sure Hunter will push to acquire even more talent should the team look like potential Memorial Cup champions, especially after leaving the NHL to return home.

Minor Transactions: 08/08/18

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The NHL transaction wire has been quiet for a few days now, but there are still moves being made in other leagues around the world. We’ll keep an eye on any interesting happenings right here.

  • There was a trade in the KHL that included a former NHL forward, as Sergey Kalinin was sent from SKA St. Petersburgh to CSKA Moscow in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko. Kalinin suited up for 121 games for the New Jersey Devils during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, but returned to Russia last year. The 27-year old forward had just 19 points in his short NHL career, and couldn’t find much consistency even at the minor league level for the Toronto Marlies. He did set a career-high with 31 points for SKA last season, but was apparently deemed expendable to get the younger Kuzmenko.
  • The Rockford IceHogs have signed Terry Broadhurst and Neil Manning to one-year AHL contracts, bringing both in to help fill out the roster. Broadhurst is returning to the place where he started his professional career, and will try to continue to produce offensively like he did for the Cleveland Monsters last season. Manning is an even more interesting addition, coming over from two years spent playing in Italy as part of the AlpsHL, a league made up of teams from several countries.
  • Danial Singer, who was included in yesterday’s OHL trade between the Niagara Ice Dogs and Erie Otters, will miss eight games at the beginning of the season for a drug suspension. The Otters, who acquired Singer as part of a package for Minnesota Wild prospect Ivan Lodnia, were aware of the incoming suspension before the trade according to Victor Fernandes of the Erie Times-News.

Minor Transactions: 08/07/18

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While the NHL takes its annual August rest, other leagues around the world are still working. The KHL preseason is underway, and junior leagues have already started shifting players around for their upcoming season. We’ll keep track of several interesting moves right here:

  • Former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jesse Blacker has signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana in the KHL, moving over after playing with Kunlun Red Star last season. Blacker was once a second-round selection of the Maple Leafs, and made his one career NHL appearance for the Ducks in 2014-15. An incredible skater, Blacker could never find enough consistency in his own end to make an impact in the NHL, and instead left the minor league grind a few seasons ago. The 27-year old could potentially return to the AHL one day, but will remain in the KHL for at least one more year.
  • Minnesota Wild prospect Ivan Lodnia has been traded from the Erie Otters to the Niagara Ice Dogs in the OHL, and could find more opportunity to show off his offensive skills with the new club. The third-round pick was recently cut from the US roster at the Summer Showcase, but is still a possibility for the World Junior team if they lose players over the next few months.
  • Charlie Sampair has signed an AHL contract with the San Antonio Rampage after his huge ECHL season in 2017-18. After recording just 14 points in 102 games at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and just 13 in his first season in the ECHL, Sampair scored 32 goals and 61 points last season for the Tulsa Oilers. That will earn him a chance at the next level, where he’ll be pushed even more to produce offense for the Rampage. The Rampage also signed Jared Thomas to an AHL deal, reuniting the former UMD forward with Sampair at the next level.
  • Former Minnesota Wild prospect Dylan Labbe failed to impress at the pro level in the five years since he was a fourth-round selection in 2013 and now the 23-year-old defenseman has been left with no option but to sign an ECHL contract. Labbe, a former standout with the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes, earned brief looks in the AHL in each of his first two post-draft years before being returned to juniors and then played full-time with the AHL’s Iowa Wild in his first pro season. However, disappointing returns led to Labbe spending the past season and a half in the ECHL. Now, with his entry-level contract expired, he is headed back to the “AA” level on a one-year contract with the Wichita Thunder, the league reported.

Hlinka Gretzky Cup Rosters Released For U.S.A., Canada

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The Hlinka Gretzky Cup, formerly known as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, is about to get underway tomorrow in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. The premiere IIHF U-18 off-season tournament, the Hlinka is one of the first major showcases for draft-eligible talent in their draft year. Scouts and fans alike will be focused on the tournament over the next week, trying to get a look at some of the best in the next wave of NHL prospects. The rosters are set for each participating country, although the majority of players are far from household names at this point in the pre-draft process. However, the U.S. and Canada both promise to bring talented teams loaded with pro upside. Here are those rosters:

Canada

Forwards:

Graeme Clarke, Ottawa (OHL)
Dylan Cozens, Lethbridge (WHL)
Kirby Dach, Saskatoon (WHL)
Dylan Holloway, Okotoks (AJHL)
Peyton Krebs, Kootenay (WHL)
Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski (QMJHL)
Sasha Mutala, Tri-City (WHL)
Xavier Parent, Halifax (QMJHL)
Jakob Pelletier, Moncton (QMJHL)
Samuel Poulin, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
Jamieson Rees, Sarnia (OHL)
Ryan Suzuki, Barrie (OHL)
Josh Williams, Medicine Hat (WHL)

Defensemen:

Justin Barron, Halifax (QMJHL)
Bowen Byram, Vancouver (WHL)
Maxence Guenette, Val-d’Or (QMJHL)
Kaeden Korczak, Kelowna (WHL)
Matthew Robertson, Edmonton (WHL)
Braeden Schneider, Brandon (WHL)
Michael Vukojevic, Kitchener (OHL)

Goalies:

Taylor Gauthier, Prince George (WHL)
Nolan Maier, Saskatoon (WHL)

United States

Forwards:

Sam Colangelo, Lawrence Academy (NEPSAC)
John Farinacci, Dexter (NEPSAC)
Josh Groll, Anaheim (T1EHL)
Aaron Huglen, Roseau (HS-MN)
Jackson Jutting, Prior Lake (HS-MN)
Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton (OHL)
Michael Mancinelli, Madison (USHL)
Robert Mastrosimone, Chicago (USHL)
Josh Nodler, Fargo (USHL)
Tyler Paquette, Des Moines (USHL)
Nicholas Robertson, Peterborough (OHL)
Grant Silianoff, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
Luke Toporowski, Spokane (WHL)

Defensemen:

Dylan Davies, Chicago (HPHL)
Michael Feenstra, Dubuque (USHL)
Mike Koster, Tri-City (USHL)
Jackson LaCombe, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (HS-MN)
Mitchell Miller, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
Luke Reid, Penticton (BCHL)
Cade Webber, Rivers (NEPSAC)

Goalies:

Derek Mullahy, Dexter (NEPSAC)
Dustin Wolf, Everett (WHL)

Showcase Notes: Tkachuk, Hughes, Formenton

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The World Junior Summer Showcase wrapped up yesterday with a pair of rivalry games, as the USA and Canada did battle before Sweden and Finland took to the ice in Kamloops. The USA-Canada game ended as chippy as contests between the two countries often do, with the final few seconds not even being played. At the final draw, 89 penalty minutes were handed out between several players when a melee broke out in the Canadian zone. In the middle of it was none other than Brady Tkachuk, who is already following in his brother’s footsteps as a player capable of getting under his opponent’s skin. He was given a 10 minute misconduct and a match penalty for intent to injure, though it wasn’t clear exactly what he did.

Tkachuk now has to decide whether to return to Boston University or sign with the Ottawa Senators and turn pro, a decision that was supposed to be at least partially based on his performance at this tournament if reports are to believed. Tkachuk can obviously compete physically with any player his age, but was held to just two assists in the tournament while recording several minor penalties throughout the tournament. It is quite clear that he’ll have an NHL career before long, but could still use some refinement in the offensive zone.

  • One of the real stories in the tournament was supposed to be the play of potential 2019 first-overall pick Jack Hughes, but while the 17-year old was quite good his brother may have stolen the show. Quinn Hughes, selected seventh-overall by the Vancouver Canucks, was all over the ice for Team USA and showed off his wizardry with the puck in the offensive zone. The elder Hughes is headed back for another year at the University of Michigan, where he should be considered a real threat for the Hobey Baker if his scoring numbers take another step forward. For those who are still worried about his size and physicality, it should be noted that both Hughes brothers were involved in the final scrum and each received roughing penalties and game misconducts.
  • While Hughes will have to wait for his chance at the NHL, one of the players from the Canadian squad might be ready to take the next step. Alex Formenton scored a brilliant goal against the Swedes earlier in the tournament when he used his blazing speed to drive wide, and head coach Tim Hunter believes he’s obviously “NHL caliber.” Formenton played one game for the Ottawa Senators at the beginning of last season and suited up twice in the AHL at the end of the year. While the London Knights are a great development option for him if he goes back to junior, the Senators might feel as though he can make an impact at the highest level right away.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Signs In OHL

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If you’re a fan of the Buffalo Sabres and the OHL you’re in luck, as top goaltending prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has decided to play for the Sudbury Wolves this season instead of going back to Finland. Luukkonen was the third pick in the CHL import draft which was a strong indicator that he would come to North America right away. The Sabres signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in June, and were likely big supporters of coming over where they can see him more often.

Luukkonen, 19, was the Sabres second-round pick in 2017 and is among the top goaltending prospects in hockey. Standing 6’4″ already, at times it can seem as though Luukkonen fills up the entire net with his huge frame and yet still has quick movements and reflexes. His results have varied throughout his career in Finland, but there are few who doubt his potential to be a starting goaltender one day in the NHL. That’s a tough thing to live up to for any young netminder though since the game changes so much at each level, meaning this year will be a good test to see if he can dominate right away.

Sudbury struggled all over the ice last season and had poor performances in net, but should be improved this season in front of Luukkonen. If he can perform well this season, there could be a spot for him in the AHL as soon as 2019-20. The Sabres are promoting Linus Ullmark to the NHL this season and signed Carter Hutton for the next three years, but don’t have a ton of young depth at the position. Scott Wedgewood will be the likely starter in the AHL this season, but that could be just keeping the crease warm for Luukkonen’s arrival.

Liam Foudy Signs Entry-Level Contract With Columbus Blue Jackets

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed their 2018 first-round pick, announcing a three-year entry-level contract for Liam Foudy. Foudy is still expected to return to the London Knights for the 2018-19 season, which would allow his contract to slide forward one year.

Foudy, the 18th-overall selection this year, is an incredibly talented athlete that still has work to do to reach his full potential. Not expected to be drafted so high early in the year, Foudy kept climbing up draft boards and impressed at the NHL Scouting Combine where he won several events and performed well in nearly all the others. Though he had just 40 points for the Knights, he showed enough to make a believer out of Blue Jackets’ GM Jarmo Kekalainen, who is known to take big risks in the draft for players he thinks can be top-end NHL talents.

That’s the ceiling for Foudy, who will try to take the next step on a London team that should be a contender for the Memorial Cup this season. If he’s given more offensive responsibility, he could find another level of production and prove the Blue Jackets right. At the very least the team will continue to work with him and try to turn his outstanding athleticism into outstanding hockey performance.

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