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Snapshots: Sergachev, Frk, Bauer

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The red-hot Montreal Canadiens have assigned rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. The ninth overall pick of the 2016 draft started the season with the Canadiens, going pointless in 3 games. The Canadiens are 8-0-1 so far this season.

Sergachev is expected to play a big role for the Spitfires, where he scored 57 points in 67 games last season. He was one of the top-ranked defensemen for last summer’s draft, alongside Olli Juolevi and Jakob Chychrun.

As a result of him not reaching nine games played, his contract will slide to next year. There are now 20 slide-eligible rookies in the NHL.

  • The Carolina Hurricanes have placed Martin Frk on waivers. Frk went pointless and -3 in 2 games played with the Hurricanes, his first two NHL games. Carolina claimed Frk on waivers earlier this month from the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings will get first waiver priority to claim their 2012 second rounder, then the remaining order is the reverse standings order from the end of the 2015-16 season. The waiver priority will change to this season’s standings on November 1st.
  • Some high profile NHLers may be without endorsement deals as soon as today. Players like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Alex Ovechkin all make between $300K and $500K per season for using Bauer equipment. However, Bauer’s parent company, Performance Sports Group (PSG), has filed for bankruptcy protection. TSN’s Rick Westhead quoted a source as saying a bankruptcy judge can “cancel those endorsement contracts and list the players as creditors.” PSG is expected to have more than $400MM in debt by the end of the year. There are also shareholders preparing to file a lawsuit for inflated sales figures and growth prospects. PSG bough Bauer from Nike in 2008, and also purchased equipment makers Cascade and Easton in recent years.

Columbus Sends Sonny Milano, John Ramage To AHL

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After placing John Ramage on waivers yesterday, the Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned both him and Sonny Milano to Cleveland of the AHL. Ramage cleared today, after not getting into a single game with the team this season.

Milano was Columbus’ first round selection (fourteenth overall) in 2014, and since has been an effective scoring threat in both the OHL and AHL. He broke into the NHL last season for three games, notching a single assist. After starting the year with the Monsters, he was called up a week ago but didn’t get into a game with the big club.

Ramage, a former fourth-round pick of the Flames wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer after the 2014-15 season and thus became a free agent. He signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jackets tht summer, only to be extended this past March for two more years. The 25-year old is the son of former NHLer and #1 overall pick Rob Ramage, who played over 1000 games in the NHL and collected 564 points.

The Dylan Strome Situation

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Dylan Strome is one of five rookies who made the 2016-17 Arizona Coyotes roster, joining D Jakob Chychrun, F Christian Dvorak, F Laurent Dauphin and F Lawson Crouse. Strome, the third overall pick in 2015, is expected to one day fill the longstanding vacancy the Coyotes have had for an elite, #1 center. But after being announced as a scratch for tonight’s season-opener, questions are already being raised as to whether Strome is or even will be that guy, as Craig Morgan of Today’s Slapshot writes.

Of course it’s just one game in what likely promises to be a long career for Strome, but it has to be somewhat disconcerting a highly-regarded rookie is already sitting in the press box this early on. To his credit, Strome is looking at the bright side of the situation:

“It’s obviously a little disappointing but you’ve got to look at the positives. I’m here in the NHL, living my dream at 19. Not a lot of people get this opportunity so I’m just going to wait for my chance and just run with it when I get it.”

For his part, head coach Dave Tippett “promised” Strome would get an opportunity and as Morgan notes, the coach even implied the 19-year-old rookie could rotate in and out with Dvorak in a platoon scenario. It seems odd that the Coyotes would subject two of their top prospects to this type of arrangement considering they have other options. Dvorak could have been sent to Tucson of the AHL to gain more professional experience. Strome is eligible to be returned to Erie of the OHL for a final season of junior but according to Morgan the Coyotes would prefer to introduce the youngster to their system and have him work with their staff to further his development. After netting 240 points in his last 124 OHL games, it would seem apparent that another year of junior wouldn’t do Strome much good.

This situation probably will qualify as nothing more than a blip on the radar in the career of Strome. But it has to register as somewhat surprising that he will have to wait a little longer before making his NHL debut.

Vande Sompel Signs Entry-Level Contract

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The New York Islanders have signed Mitchell Vande Sompel to his entry-level contract, according to the team’s Twitter account.

Vande Sompel was the 82nd overall selection in the 2015 draft. The undersized left-handed defenseman was recently returned to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, where he’s served as an assistant captain for the last two years. He’s starting his fourth season in the OHL, and has 124 points in 159 games. He was a key member of the 2015 Memorial Cup championship for the Generals.

He’s a versatile offensive defenseman, who once played left wing in the OHL playoffs to cover for injuries. Elite Prospects reports he has the potential to grow into a Dan Boyle-type offensive defenseman, though he needs to get stronger and develop defensively in order to become an NHLer.

Four Rookies Make Coyotes Final Roster

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Bob McKenzie tweeted earlier that Dylan Strome, Lawson Crouse and Jakob Chychrun have all made the Coyotes final 23-man roster. They will be joined by 21-year-old center Laurent Dauphin, who appears poised to fill the fourth-line pivot job for the Coyotes.

Strome was drafted by the Coyotes third overall in 2015 and will likely fill a top-six center slot for Arizona. He’s combined to score 240 points the last two seasons with the Erie Otters of the OHL, serving as the team’s captain in 2015-16.

Crouse was acquired by Arizona from Florida in the offseason as incentive for the club to assume the balance of Dave Bolland’s contract. If he stays with the Coyotes for at least 10 games this season, the 2018 conditional draft choice the Coyotes are set to send to Florida will become a second. If he doesn’t burn a year of his ELC, the pick will be a third-rounder.

Chychrun was chosen 16th overall in 2016 with the pick acquired from Detroit in exchange for taking on the final year of Pavel Datsyuk’s deal. The 18-year-old will likely take the spot of Kevin Connauton, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. It’s possible Chychrun’s stay in Arizona will come to an end once Connauton is healthy enough to return.

GM John Chayka made a lot of moves in the summer to help mold his roster into one capable of challenging for a playoff spot. At least to start, it looks like the Coyotes will be counting on a handful of rookies to make significant contributions to that pursuit.

Final Training Camp Cuts: 10/11/2016

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As teams work to get their rosters finalized before today’s 4pm deadline, the final cuts from camps have started to come down.

Buffalo Sabres (via team release)

Alexander Nylander (to Rochester, AHL)
Nick Baptiste (to Rochester, AHL)
Dan Catenacci (to Rochester, AHL)
Brendan Guhle (to Prince Albert, WHL)

Calgary Flames (via team release)

Linden Vey (to Stockton, AHL)
Daniel Pribyl (to Stockton, AHL)
Brett Pollock (to Adirondack, ECHL)

Carolina Hurricanes (via Chip Alexander):

Warren Foegele (to Kingston, OHL)

Chicago Blackhawks (via team release)

Brandon Mashinter (to Rockford, AHL)
Mark McNeill (to Rockford, AHL)

Colorado Avalanche (via team release):

Trent Vogelhuber (to San Antonio, AHL)
Mike Sislo (to San Antonio, AHL)

New Jersey Devils (via team release)

Scott Wedgewood (to Albany, AHL)

New York Islanders (via Arthur Staple)

Adam Pelech (to Bridgeport, AHL)
Ryan Pulock (to Bridgeport, AHL)

Minnesota Wild (via Michael Russo)

Christoph Bertschy (to Iowa, AHL)

San Jose Sharks (via Mike Halford)

Mirco Mueller (to San Jose, AHL)
Nikolay Goldobin (to San Jose, AHL)
Ryan Carpenter (to San Jose, AHL)
Barclay Goodrow (to San Jose, AHL)
Dan Kelly (to San Jose, AHL)
Kevin Lablanc (to San Jose, AHL)

St. Louis Blues (via team release):

Jordan Binnington (to Chicago, AHL)

Vancouver Canucks (via Bob McKenzie)
Tuomo Ruutu (released from PTO)
Emerson Etem (waived for purpose of assignment to Utica, AHL) – per team release

Leafs Notes: Marner, Laich, Brooks

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The Maple Leafs will be an interesting team to watch this season as they continue their youth movement and strive to be anything other than the worst team in the league. Among the rookies set to make their mark this season (and there are many) is Mitch Marner, the much talked about prospect from the London Knights. While it’s been expected for weeks that Marner would stay with the Leafs, GM Lou Lamoriello came out today in Kevin McGran’s article with a decisive stance:

He’s made the team. What we’ve seen of him, offensively and defensively, he’s done very well. We’re not thinking of anything other than how he can help us right now and his commitment to get better.

He’s extremely mature and I’ve been extremely impressed by him. He’ll be given every opportunity.

Lamoriello said that Marner shouldn’t worry about his junior status, or the idea that he may go back after nine games like other top prospects. He’s here to stay, and he’s already impressed his head coach with things other than his offense.

I think he’s been really good. He’s good defensively, way better than I expected. He’s got to learn to work hard in practice. He’ll do that. I haven’t seen him get hit. Why is that? Why does he have the puck all the time? Why when (Marner) gets it, there’s always tons of room? When anyone else gets it, there’s no room. To me it looks like he’s driving the line.

Marner is set to start on a line with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk, and is expected to see time on the Leafs powerplay.

  • Also from McGran is the note that veteran Brooks Laich, acquired by the Leafs last year in the Daniel Winnik trade, has not been sent to the AHL despite clearing waivers. With the Leafs still having one cut to make before the deadline at 4:00pm tomorrow, Laich seems the odd man out. McGran does note though that a last-minute injury could open up a spot for him. When “Loophole-Lou” Lamoriello says “We do have a couple of lingering injuries” it often means, ’we’ll find a way to keep everyone’. Don’t be surprised if Josh Leivo, who has been nursing a couple of injuries during camp, is who sits down for a couple of days to start the season.
  • Kristin Shilton has some prospect news, as she reports that Adam Brooks, the Leafs’ fourth-round pick from this past draft is headed back to the Regina Pats for the upcoming season. Brooks was the WHL’s leading scorer last season, and actually could have headed to the AHL for this year since he’s already turned 20-years old.  Instead, he’ll go back as an over-ager to try and win another scoring title as he continues his development.

‘Yotes Notes: Rieder, Dvorak, Smith

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One of the more interesting training camps this fall has been that of the Arizona Coyotes, with their glut of young players trying to make it, and ongoing speculation about Tobias Rieder’s situation.  On Monday, the German forward inked a new deal with the team, ending his holdout. Today, as Sarah McLellan reports, he has still yet to travel to Coyotes camp due to a visa issue.  While head coach Dave Tippett hopes that he’ll join the team tomorrow, there is no guarantee either way.

Rieder signed a two-year, $4.45MM deal, a deserved raise after scoring 14 goals and 37 points last season. An excellent checker, Rieder provides a two-way game with enough secondary scoring to make him a very valuable player for any team, especially one that will have so many young faces up front this season.

  • Also from McLellan, Tippett tells her that Christian Dvorak and Jamie McGinn will both miss tonight’s game with minor injuries. They’re both hoping to practice tomorrow, but won’t know until the morning. Dvorak is expected to make the leap from the OHL straight to the NHL club this season after posting 121 points in 59 games last season for the London Knights. He added 35 more in 18 playoff games and would have had a shot for the player of the year award, had it not gone to his linemate (and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect), Mitch Marner.
  • McLellan also penned a piece about Mike Smith, mentioning that he worked hard this summer to build up his strength and change his mental approach to games. The goaltender will have to be sharp this season if Arizona has any dreams of the playoffs, as the 34-year old is still their best option between the pipes. The former Vezina trophy finalist got into just 32 games last season, but is feeling healthy this camp. He’ll start for the Coyotes tonight against the Sharks in their final preseason game.

New Jersey Devils Sign Michael McLeod To ELC

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According to a team release, the New Jersey Devils have signed first-round pick Michael McLeod to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Devils took the center 12th overall in this year’s entry draft.

McLeod, 18, was drafted out of the OHL where he played for the Mississauga Steelheads. He was assigned back to the team the other day, but will now be under a professional contract during the year. In 57 games, McLeod scored 61 points including 21 goals, and is seen as a future top-six center with some grit and physical play.

While McLeod is still at least a year away from sniffing the NHL, his maturity and leadership have long been talked about as one of his best attributes. He’ll wear the ’C’ for Mississauga this season, as he plays for his hometown team. If fellow top draftee Alex Nylander (Buffalo) heads back to Mississauga as well, they’ll form one of the top duos in the league once again. Nylander however could head straight to the AHL due to a rule quirk discussed earlier this summer.

2016-17 Season Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the start of the regular season less than a week away, we continue to look at each team’s offseason and preview the upcoming year. Today, we focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Last Season: 29-42-11 record (69 points), 8th in the Atlantic Division.

Remaining Cap Space: $2.03MM as per Cap Friendly (Roster Size of 23), expected to increase to by ~$14MM when Stephane Robidas, Nathan Horton, Joffrey Lupul are placed on LTIR.

Key Newcomers: W Matt Martin (UFA, NY Islanders), C Auston Matthews (draft, NLA), RW Mitch Marner (draft, OHL), D Roman Polak (UFA, San Jose), G Frederik Andersen (trade, Anaheim), G Jhonas Enroth (UFA, Los Angeles), D Nikita Zaitzev (UFA, KHL), W Kerby Rychel (trade, Columbus)

Key Departures: RW P.A. Parenteau (UFA, NY Islanders), RW Brad Boyes (UFA, unsigned), RW Michael Grabner (UFA, NY Rangers), C Shawn Matthias (UFA, Winnipeg), C Mark Arcobello (UFA, NLA), G Jonathan Bernier (trade, Anaheim)

[Related: Leafs Depth Chart from Roster Resource]

Players To Watch: C Mitch Marner – Obviously, one of the biggest storylines this year will be first-overall draft pick Auston Matthews and his ascension to the number-one center position on the Maple Leafs. Not to be forgotten however, is the other top-five draft pick that the Leafs have yet to unveil: Mitch Marner. Marner is coming off a season where he basically won every team and individual trophy possible, leading the OHL’s London Knights to the Memorial Cup and scoring 160 points in 75 total games (regular and post-season).

The diminutive forward played some center in junior, and was once expected to take that position on the Maple Leafs. Now that Matthews is in the fold though, the Leafs have been playing Marner on the wing to fully utilize his elite offensive skills. In fact, for the last two days at least, Marner has been skating beside Matthews on what would be one of the youngest lines in the NHL regardless of the third player.

D Nikita Zaitsev – One of the most underrated signings of the offseason may come in Leafland, as Nikita Zaitsev will make his NHL debut this year after a number of successful seasons in the KHL. The 24-year old has already completed seven seasons in the Russian professional league, starred internationally for Russia and even made his Toronto debut in the recent World Cup. His right-handed shot fits in nicely with a group sorely lacking them, and should immediately jump to the Leafs top two pairings (depending on if Morgan Rielly moves back to his natural left side or not).

Zaitsev is an all-around blueliner who can work in both ends of the rink, and contribute on both special teams. While he may not possess any one elite skill, he’s proven that he can compete at the highest level. Already turning heads at Maple Leafs camp, Zaitsev scored his first preseason goal against Montreal on Sunday night and, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, should already be considered part of the Leafs’ core.

Key Storyline:

While the Maple Leafs were clearly headed for the basement of the league last year (some would say on purpose), this year has a slightly different feeling in Toronto.  While they’re not expected to make the playoffs or contend for any trophies, the youth injection is exciting enough to hope for a much improved club. With head coach Mike Babcock in no danger of losing his seat, the team can take a slow approach to development and shelter their young prospects.

In truth, the Leafs brass are just hoping for a slightly improved season, but will hope for another high draft pick to continue the rebuild. If they were to select in the top-10 once again, they could add another top prospect to their stocked cupboard, and focus on the free agent market next summer. With cap room, a hugely experienced front office and youth at all positions, the team is poised to succeed in the near future; whether that means contention for the Stanley Cup remains to be seen.

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