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Tracking 2017 Draftees: Hischier, Patrick, Tippett

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While it didn’t have the star power of the 2016 or 2015 versions, the 2017 Draft class has still made some noise this season. There are certainly a number of players who have stood out for their respective teams as we move past the middle of December. We’ll take a look at three of those players who have been with the big club this season.

#1 overall pick – Nico Hischier

Key to the turnaround in New Jersey was the luck of the draw–the Devils were fortunate to grab the #1 overall pick–sporting only an 8.5% chance of nabbing it. There were rumors they would go defense but general manager Ray Shero went with Hischier, who has rewarded their trust with five goals and 20 points. Though he’s gone his last five games without a point, the rookie has been a much needed boost for the Devils, who are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the crowded Metropolitan Division. Some have wondered if he’s beginning to hit the proverbial rookie wall. All would agree, however, that the Devils are a much better team with Hischier in the lineup.

#2 overall pick – Nolan Patrick

Patrick was projected a number one pick for the draft when projections came out back in 2016, but his stock dropped slightly as Hischier’s presence on the world stage captured attention. Further, Patrick’s hernia injury that sidelined him in juniors raised questions about his durability. The Flyers snagged him second, and within the first week, Patrick underwent surgery prior to the draft and it turned out to be more serious than anyone expected. He recovered, and started the season in Philadelphia before spending time on the IR at the beginning of November. With six points in 22 games, it’s too early to tell with Patrick. Health, as has been the concern from the start, will truly dictate if Patrick becomes the player the Flyers envisioned when taking him second overall.

#10 overall pick – Owen Tippett

The winger with a wicked shot played seven games with the Florida Panthers before they sent him back to the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL. In those seven games, Tippett recorded one goal. Sun-Sentinel writer Craig Davis reported back in November that while general manager Dale Tallon called it a “tough” decision to send him back to junior hockey, there simply wasn’t an opportunity for the youngster to get quality minutes at the NHL level. Since going back to Mississauga, Tippett is over a point-per-game, notching 16 points (6-10) in 15 games.

Prospect Updates: Kyrou, Cholowski

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The St. Louis Blues are already having a great year. Adding to those good feelings is the performance of 2016 second round pick Jordan Kyrou, who is already approaching his goal totals from last year in nearly half the games. Kyrou notched 94 points last season (30-64) and already has 58 (19-41) this season in just 30 games. Should he play a full slate of 66 games, he’s on pace for 112 points and looks to be trekking in a similar trajectory of Chicago Blackhawks’ winger Alex DeBrincat, who has been scoring as the Hawks had hoped at the NHL level. Kyrou has a slightly bigger frame, the 19-year-0ld has hardly been a secret to the Blues. The St. Louis Dispatch’s Jim Thomas wrote back in November that both Kyrou and fellow Blues prospect and current London Knights center Robert Thomas are “tearing up” the OHL. Kyrou is also one cut away from making the Team Canada roster, where it’s expected he’ll showcase his scoring flair on the world stage in a few weeks.

  • The Detroit Red Wings, on the other hand, need all the help they can get and defenseman Dennis Cholowski, a controversial pick after Detroit passed on grabbing Jakob Chychrun, has seen his stock rise quite a bit since going to the Prince George Cougars of the WHL from St. Cloud State last season. Through 28 games, the speedy d-man has been nearly a point-per-game player with 25 points (8-17). The Red Wings are desperate for a speedy, puck moving defenseman who can contribute at both ends of the ice and anchor the blue line. It was the intent for Cholowski, who certainly had an upside but was viewed as a project. The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James believes that Cholowski could be traded to a playoff bound WHL team, which would give him a better competitive opportunity before heading to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins by the end of their season. Though he was just cut by Team Canada (an expected move), the Red Wings brass are certainly crossing their fingers that their gamble to bet on a project instead of a sure-thing in Chychrun will pay off.

Minnesota Wild Sign Ivan Lodnia To ELC

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Ivan Lodnia has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild. Lodnia was the team’s third-round pick in the 2017 draft, and currently plays for the Erie Otters of the OHL.

Lodnia was an interesting draft case last season, as he was buried on a powerhouse Erie squad that featured Alex DeBrincat, Taylor Raddysh, and Dylan Strome up front. When the Otters acquired Anthony Cirelli and Warren Foegele mid-season, Lodnia was pushed even further down the depth chart and used in a sort of shutdown role.

He still recorded 56 points in 66 games, but was a complete no-show in the Otters playoff run scoring just two points through 22 games. As Erie won the OHL title and headed to the Memorial Cup, he again wasn’t featured even as the team was eliminated. This playoff disappearance caused Lodnia to drop all the way to the third round, something the Wild must be happy about.

This season, he’s in a much more prominent role on the team and currently leads the squad in goals with 16, trailing only Raddysh and Kyle Maksimovich in scoring—both of whom are about a year and a half older than Lodnia. The 5’10” winger is a capable player at both ends of the rink, a trait that the Wild have been known for developing throughout the years. While he obviously still has a long way to go before cracking the NHL, signing his first contract is a step in the right direction.

Snapshots: Campbell, Wideman, McDavid

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The Los Angeles Kings acquired Torrey Mitchell earlier tonight in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, but it’s not the only move they’ve made recently. Late last night the team signed goaltender Jack Campbell to a two-year, $1.35MM extension. The deal is two-way for 2018-19, but becomes a one-way contract in 2019-20.

Campbell has rediscovered his game after leaving the Dallas Stars organization, who originally selected him 11th-overall in 2010. He ran with the starting job for the Ontario Reign of the AHL last season, posting a .914 save percentage and has improved on that early in this season. The 25-year old was once considered one of the top goaltending prospects in the league and will continue to try and fight his way towards the NHL. Though Jonathan Quick is signed long-term, the Kings will have an opening to back him up after Darcy Kuemper’s deal expires this summer.

  • Dennis Wideman has returned to hockey, this time as an assistant coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers, who are one of the most impressive teams in the league this season, are currently coached by former NHL defenseman (and Wideman teammate) Jay McKee. Wideman, a Kitchener native, was unable to secure a contract this summer after the Calgary Flames decided not to re-sign him. In 815 career NHL games, he had 387 points.
  • Connor McDavid has been playing through a serious illness according to Darren Dreger of TSN, who reports that the Edmonton Oilers captain has lost between five and ten pounds recently. Amazingly, McDavid has nine points in his last five games, the best stretch of the season so far for the reigning Hart Trophy winner. McDavid and the Oilers remain near the very bottom of the NHL standings, with just 18 points through 22 games.

Snapshots: OHL, Sedlak, Gudbranson, Gaborik

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The Ontario Hockey League has always been one of the premiere talent factories for the NHL, churning out elite prospects every season. Like every year, the talented folks over at OHL Prospects have put together a consensus ranking of the 2018 draft eligible players, with contributions from various scouting gurus like Mike Morreale (NHL.com), Scott Wheeler (The Athletic) and Dan Stewart (Future Considerations).

In this ranking of OHL prospects—like any other you’ll find—Andrei Svechnikov tops the list. He was first on all 22 contributing scouts’ lists, with several implying that he could jump right to the NHL already. Svechnikov had 14 points in 10 games for the Barrie Colts before injuring his hand, should return to the lineup at some point in mid-to-late December. He’s a near lock to go in the top three selections next June.

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated Lukas Sedlak from injured reserve, giving them some more depth at center. The Blue Jackets have used Nick Foligno in the middle for much of this season, but could move him back to the wing where he is much more experienced now that they have another healthy body. The team could still obviously use another center, but have several options with how to deploy their lineup.
  • Jason Brough of TSN has heard that the Florida Panthers have at least some interest still in Erik Gudbranson, even though we had previously heard otherwise. Brough also reports that “a few other teams” have interest in the Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman which would mesh with the report that the Toronto Maple Leafs have poked around. Gudbranson will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
  • Marian Gaborik is nearing a return for the Los Angeles Kings, and head coach John Stevens spoke with Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider on the progression of the 35-year old sniper. The Kings continue to lead the Pacific Division, and it will be interesting to see if Gaborik can find a role on the team after several years of sub-par performance.

Gabe Vilardi To Be Sent Back To Junior

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The Los Angeles Kings will soon send back 11th-overall pick Gabe Vilardi to his junior team the Windsor Spitfires according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. Vilardi has been rehabbing from a back injury all season so far but is expected to rejoin the OHL team within the next few weeks. Technically the Kings haven’t actually signed Vilardi to an entry-level contract yet, meaning he couldn’t stay in the NHL anyway. But with rehab from his injury coming to a conclusion the Spitfires (and likely Team Canada’s World Junior team) will welcome him back with open arms.

Vilardi was a prospect with one of the more widespread scouting reports going into the draft. While some saw him as a dominant puck-possession player who could eventually handle the center position, others critiqued his skating ability and high-end creativity. Los Angeles will hope it’s closer to the latter when it’s all said and done, and an international appearance would be a solid step in that direction.

Team Canada as always is loaded with talent up front, and Vilardi would have to quickly prove he’s healthy if he wants to make the tournament that starts next month. Last season saw Vilardi register 61 points in 49 games for the Spitfires and help the team to a Memorial Cup Championship on home ice.

Florida Panthers Sign Jonathan Ang To Entry-Level Deal

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Early this morning the Florida Panthers announced the signing of Jonathan Ang to an entry-level contract. The 19-year old Ang was selected 94th-overall in the 2016 draft and currently plays for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, where he’s off to a fine start. With 30 points in his first 22 games, Ang leads the Petes in scoring and has helped them to a 12-9-1 start.

Ang is most well-known for one specific attribute: speed. The 6’0″ forward can absolutely fly up and down the ice and uses that speed to cause havoc in the offensive zone. He has experience at both center and wing, but still needs to work on the overall polish of his two-way game and use more than just speed when on the attack. Those things can usually be learned though, and Ang remains a legitimate NHL prospect despite his low draft ranking.

Peterborough looks like they have a chance to go deep in the OHL playoffs this season, Ang’s last in the junior ranks. He also will get a look for Canada’s World Junior Team after playing for them in the Summer Showcase. The Team Canada roster will be a tough nut to crack after several big names have been sent back to junior lately, but Ang has as good of a shot as anyone due to his age and success this season.

New Jersey Devils Send Michael McLeod Back To Junior

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While we’ve spoken before about the junior-aged players still around in the NHL, one name was often overlooked. Michael McLeod has technically been with the NHL team all season, though situated on injured reserve. There was some speculation that perhaps he would stick with the big club when he was healthy, but today the Devils squashed that idea. McLeod is on his way back to the OHL to play for (and captain) the Mississauga Steelheads for the remainder of the season.

Mississauga will welcome him with open arms after starting the year a disappointing 8-10-1. They recently received Owen Tippett back from the Florida Panthers as well, and should bounce back from their early season struggles. McLeod and Tippett combined for 71 goals and 148 points last season for the Steelheads, who have been relying more on McLeod’s little brother this year.

Ryan McLeod, the younger of the two, is eligible for the 2018 draft and looks like he’ll be a top-15 pick just like his brother. The pair hold incredible skating ability and creativity in the offensive zone, and have the ability to play the center position. While they may not have the elite scoring upside of some of their draft contemporaries, both are expected to make an impact as excellent two-way players pairing size and speed.

Snapshots: Coaches, Franson, Prospects

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The morning after Halloween and the mask is coming off for some teams around the league. While Alain Vigneault and the New York Rangers stayed alive by fighting off the Vegas Golden Knights last night, seats are getting hotter for some coaches around the league. Frank Seravalli of TSN lists 13 potential hires should a team want to go in a different direction, including several very interesting names.

Along with the usual NCAA suspects like Jim Montgomery and David Quinn, Seravalli lists several options that are currently associate coaches in the league. It would be surprising to see any of them stolen away to coach a different team in the league mid-season, but don’t forget their names come springtime.

  • Cody Franson has gone all the way from a professional tryout to the top pairing of the Chicago Blackhawks, as Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune reports that he practiced alongside Duncan Keith yesterday for the team. Franson’s summer was one of the most surprising in free agency, as the 30-year old defenseman was unable to find an NHL contract for some time. Even with a rumored handshake deal with the Blackhawks, who waited until Marian Hossa could be put on long-term injured reserve before signing Franson, he will still earn just $1MM this season. The right-handed defenseman has always been a fairly productive offensive player, and has two points through three games for the Blackhawks this season.
  • Jeff Marek of Sportsnet released his November prospect rankings, and there is no surprise at the top. Rasmus Dahlin continues to lead the pack in the race to be the number one pick, and his recent naming to Sweden’s Karjala Cup roster certainly won’t hurt. Marek is lower than many on Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm, who figures to have a broad range of rankings due to his size and defensive play. The OHL defenseman is only 5’11” 164-lbs, but has incredible offensive upside and can carry and distribute the puck as well as any prospect in the draft. With 15 points in 15 games, he has a real chance to lead all OHL defensemen in points this season (though he’ll have to quickly make up some ground on the current leader, Sean Durzi, who has been lined up at wing in the past).

Janne Kuokkanen Sent To Charlotte Checkers

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As we noted in our previous looks at rookies whose contracts were eligible to slide this year, the Carolina Hurricanes have the opportunity to send 19-year old Janne Kuokkanen to the AHL instead of returning him to the London Knights. Kuokkanen played last season for the Knights, but was actually drafted out of the Finnish Liiga and thus was eligible for AHL play. That’s exactly what they’ve done according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer, putting a halt on his game counter for this year.

Kuokkanen has played just four games for the Hurricanes this season, fewer than the 10 needed for the first year of his entry-level contract to kick in. Minor league games do not count towards this threshold. Though he’s shown an ability to perform at the NHL level, Kuokkanen was given limited opportunities in the Hurricanes’ lineup, often sitting in the press box while Josh Jooris entered the lineup.

While this ends this short chapter of his NHL career, it by no means guarantees Kuokkanen will be in the AHL long. An injury, or some inconsistent play from one of the veterans could easily lead to another callup. For now though, the teenager will have to find his way along the AHL landscape.

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