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Decisions Coming From Dante Fabbro, Shane Bowers

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The talent on the Boston University roster this season didn’t quite match up with the regular season results this year and the Terriers needed to win the Hockey East Conference Tournament to keep their season alive with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. They faced the same scenario last season and were able to get in, but lightning didn’t strike twice. The Northeastern Huskies knocked off BU in the Hockey East semifinals tonight and now decisions await several of the teams stars.

The most notable decision will come from 2016 first-round pick Dante Fabbro. The 16th overall pick by the Nashville Predators that year, Fabbro was a superstar for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL and has only continued to progress at BU into a high-end two-way defenseman. Fabbro set a career high with 33 points in 37 games this season and was named a first-team all-conference selection for his efforts. Fabbro may not have much more growing to do at the college level, but does have another year of NCAA eligibility remaining. If he chooses to turn pro and surrender that final year, he would undoubtedly be a welcomed addition in Nashville. However, he does have some incentive to wait one more year. The Predators have one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL, armed with an elite top-four and seven veteran defenders already signed through next season. Fabbro could end up buried in the minors or at the very least outside top-four consideration for several years if he signs with the team that drafted him. If he instead opts to return to BU for his senior year, he could then wait until August 2020 and become an unrestricted free agent. The wait is now on to see what Fabbro decides to do. Ironically, teammate Patrick Harper finds himself in the same situation with the Predators. The talented forward had a down year after back-to-back point-per-game campaigns to begin his collegiate career. He may be looking to move on from the college game, but Nashville’s 2016 fifth-round pick could benefit from another year with the Terriers and also opens himself up to the possibility of free agency if he returns for a fourth NCAA season.

The clock may also be ticking for Fabbro’s teammate and fellow first-round pick Shane Bowers. A 2017 selection, Bowers actually has two years of eligibility remaining, but rumors surfaced earlier this season that Bowers was considering moving on from the NCAA ranks. In fact, there was some doubt that Bowers would return to BU after the World Juniors earlier this year, with some speculating he could sign with the Colorado Avalanche instead. Originally a pick of the Ottawa Senators, Bowers was one of the pieces moved to the Avs in the Matt Duchene trade and now finds himself with the opportunity to join a good team with a need for secondary scoring. Bowers certainly has room to improve before turning pro, but the former USHL standout would still likely step into an immediate role in Colorado. Bowers could potentially even join the Avalanche right away this season to help the team in their playoff push. Such a chance doesn’t come around very often and could persuade Bowers to cut his tenure in Boston short.

Elsewhere on the roster, starting goaltender Jake Oettinger, another 2017 first-round pick, may consider a move to the pros as well. The Dallas Stars top goalie prospect had another up-and-down year, but has undeniable talent and could choose to leave the college level behind him. However, after watching another talented, young Dallas keeper, Colton Point, see limited action and ample struggles in both the AHL and ECHL in his first pro season in the Stars’ system, Oettinger may not be in any rush. Most of the Terriers’ other NHL prospects have years of eligibility remaining and seem unlikely to jump ship, including Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Philadelphia Flyers first-rounder Joel Farabee, another Nashville Predators prospect in David Farrance, and intriguing Chicago Blackhawks defensive prospect Chad Krys. 

Two players without any choice in the matter are Bobo Carpenter and Max Willman. Carpenter, who struggled with injuries this season, nevertheless will be a priority free agent now that BU’s season is over. The undrafted forward has NHL lineage, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic. At just 22, Carpenter brings four years of NCAA experience and consistent scoring numbers to whichever team is lucky to land him. There may not be the same press to sign Willman. A rare five-year college player, Willman is a 2014 selection of the Buffalo Sabres but may not be tendered by the team. In four years at Brown University and a graduate year at Boston University, Willman managed just 51 points in 134 games with just one breakout year as a junior at Brown. Buffalo may like how the 24-year-old’s mature game could translate to the pros, but his upside may not be worthy of an entry-level contract. Should Willman become a free agent, the Cape Cod native will have plenty of AHL teams close to home who could be willing to give him a chance.

Change is coming to Boston University one way or another, but just how much change will depend on how many of their top players decide to turn pro versus return for another year. Either the Terriers or the NHL will end up with a good amount of talent added to the mix next season.

Minor Transactions: 03/22/19

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Another week down in the NHL and a quiet night to finish things off. Just two games are on the schedule this evening, though they certainly mean a lot to the teams taking part. The Minnesota Wild will try to topple the Washington Capitals in a game that could be crucial in the Western Conference wild card race. Minnesota trails the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes by just one point, but have gone 3-4-3 in their last ten and need to find a way to get things back on track. Meanwhile the San Jose Sharks will try to stop their four-game losing streak when they take on the Anaheim Ducks. San Jose has slipped out of the race for first place in the Pacific Division, and need a win tonight to have any chance at catching the Calgary Flames.

  • The Ottawa Senators have sent both Vitaly Abramov and Filip Chlapik back to the minor leagues, as Jean-Gabriel Pageau has completed his suspension and Chris Tierney is expected back. Abramov made his NHL debut last night and played just under 14 minutes, but was a -3 on the night and didn’t record a shot on goal. He’ll continue to polish his game in the minor leagues and wait for another chance.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have recalled goaltender Eric Comrie under emergency conditions, as Laurent Brossoit left last night’s game with an injury. Comrie has been great once again for the Manitoba Moose, posting a 23-16-2 record and .916 save percentage this season. The 23-year old looks ready to take the next step, and will need to take advantage of any opportunity he gets in the Winnipeg net.
  • Paul Carey has been sent back to the minor leagues by the Boston Bruins, a common occurrence for him recently. The veteran forward has been bounced up and down several times this month, and only played in two games with the team. He’ll continue to serve as an insurance policy for them whenever someone is dealing with a minor injury or illness.
  • Nick DeSimone and Dylan Gambrell have been recalled by the San Jose Sharks, an interesting move given that DeSimone has never suited up in the NHL. The 24-year old defenseman has been outstanding this season in the minor leagues though, recording 39 points in 55 games.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled veteran winger Matt Puempel from the AHL. Puempel has had a stellar season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, second on the team in goals, assists, and points despite playing alongside several experienced AHL scorers. Yet, Puempel has not played for Detroit at all this season in year one of a two-year contract signed this past off-season. If he finally sees action on this call-up, he will try to show that he can make an impact at the NHL level and is deserving of a longer look in camp next fall.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau Handed One-Game Suspension

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The decision has come down from the NHL Department of Player Safety and Ottawa Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be suspended for his team’s next game. Pageau was assessed a minor penalty for boarding late in the second period of Wednesday night’s game at the Vancouver Canucks for a check on defenseman Ashton Sautner. However, the league felt that the altercation deserved further examination and held a hearing with Pageau this morning. The result is a one-game ban that will leave Pageau sidelined when the Senators travel to play the Calgary Flames tonight.

Player Safety opined that the hit in question was clearly made from behind and was a premeditated move by Pageau (video):

Sautner goes into the corner to collect the loose puck. As he tries to corral the puck while moving up the wall, Pageau is in pursuit from behind… Pageau delivers a hard hit into his back, driving him into the boards with force. This is boarding. It is important to note that from the moment Sautner collects the puck until contact is made, Pageau sees nothing but Sautner’s numbers. This is not a case in which a sudden move by Sautner just prior to contact turns a legal hit into an illegal one. Pageau has sufficient time to adjust his course and deliver a legal hit, minimize the force of the hit, or avoid the hit entirely. Instead he delivers this hit directly through Sautner’s back, driving him forcefully into the boards.

Pageau perhaps avoided further punishment due to the fact that he has no history of supplemental discipline, either by suspension or fine, as well as the fact that Sautner was able to return to the game in the third period. Nevertheless, his absence leaves Ottawa even more short-handed that usual. After trading away several core forwards ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, Pageau was left as one of the de facto leaders of the Senators offense. Without him in the lineup, their minimal odds against the Flames are even worse. On top of that, it’s yet another missed game for Pageau, who was sidelined for the first half of the season with an off-season Achilles injury. His suspended game will be his 43rd absence in a season to forget.

Ottawa Senators Recall Top Prospects

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The Ottawa Senators may lose Jean-Gabriel Pageau to suspension depending on how things go during his hearing with the Department of Player Safety, so they needed some reinforcements from the minor leagues. They’ve decided to recall several prospects, including Filip Chlapik, Erik Brannstrom and Vitaly Abramov. If Abramov gets into the lineup it would be his NHL debut.

Brannstrom already made his debut to much fanfare earlier this month, but was immediately sent back down to continue the Belleville Senators’ pursuit of a playoff spot. The young defenseman was the key piece of the Mark Stone trade, and will likely be playing a full-time role on the team next season. Chlapik meanwhile has played 24 games for the Senators over the last two seasons, and has five points in those games. The 21-year old forward has been one of Belleville’s most consistent players all season and should also be vying for a spot in the NHL next year.

It’s Abramov’s recall that raises the most eyebrows though, as the 20-year old forward hasn’t shown a ton of polish since entering the professional ranks this season. The former QMJHL star has outstanding puck skills, but didn’t get the chance to use them fully with the Cleveland Monsters. As part of the return for Matt Duchene, Abramov represents another lottery ticket that the Senators are hoping hits the jackpot over the next few years. He has four points in nine games since joining Belleville, but might get a chance to show what he can do at the NHL level down the stretch.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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The Department of Player Safety has some work to do today, as they have announced a hearing for Ottawa Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Pageau was involved in an incident last night when he hit Ashton Sautner of Vancouver Canucks from behind. He was given a minor boarding penalty on the play, and Sautner returned to the game.

Pageau, 26, already missed most of this season after suffering an Achilles injury in training camp and now may be forced to sit out another few games. The check was clearly from behind as Sautner tried to collect the puck along the boards, and Pageau took several strides to drive through his opponent. The Senators forward has not faced suspension previously in his career however, and since there was no major injury on the play he should avoid a long punishment.

Still, this is just the latest incident in what has been a nightmare season for the Senators. The team has seen their very best players shipped out of town, and now head into a summer that might bring even more change. Pageau, Mikkel Boedker, Dylan DeMelo, Craig Anderson and Mark Borowiecki are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the 2019-20 season, and without extensions will probably be next on the chopping block.

Thomas Chabot Could Return Saturday

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  • The Senators could soon have their top defenseman back. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports that Thomas Chabot could return to the lineup on Saturday in Edmonton despite being listed as out week-to-week last Monday.  The sophomore has been one of the few bright spots in Ottawa this season and is the highest-scoring player on their roster with 49 points in 62 games.  He’s likely to receive an invite to participate at the upcoming World Championships assuming his broken toe doesn’t present any additional issues upon his return.

Free Agent Profile: Justin Brazeau

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While many observers are caught up in the college free agent market right now, the prize among undrafted free agents hails from the junior ranks. Justin Brazeau, a 21-year-old winger from the OHL’s North Bay Battalion, is ready to be an impact pro player as soon as his season ends, which could be sooner rather than later.

The OHL regular season has ended and the playoffs are set to get underway, beginning on Thursday. Brazeau suited up in all 68 games for the Battalion this season, recording 61 goals and 113 points. The massive output by the North Bay captain was good enough for the league lead in goals and second in scoring behind only top Dallas Stars prospect Jason Robertson. Yet, it wasn’t enough to place the Battalion among the top teams in the league. North Bay finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and face a daunting match-up with Robertson and the Niagara Ice Dogs in the first round.

If Brazeau and the Battalion do indeed make an early exit – a sweep would end the series by the middle of next week – Brazeau could sign his entry-level contract by the end of the month. Of course, as a junior player he could sign an ELC at any time, but at this point Brazeau seems willing to wait until his final year of juniors is officially over. He has likely had conversations with many teams already, but seems poised to look at all options for the next step in his career.

Brazeau should be able to choose freely any team in the NHL he likes for his first contract. The overage forward is more than just numbers; while many before him have dominated the junior level offensively only to flame out at the pro level, those players tend to be smaller in stature and able to skate around their opposition at the junior level. Brazeau is a different type of player entirely. At 6’6″ and 225 lbs., Brazeau is a bona fide power forward. He has great skill and offensive instincts, but can hold his own defensively with great size and strength. In fact, maybe the only weakness that could prevent him from continuing to be a contributor in the NHL is his skating. If he can improve upon his ability to get back and forth, Brazeau can be dangerous in both ends.

Potential Suitors

The short answer is that all 31 teams have likely checked in on Brazeau. A junior player of both this size and production are few and far in between and all of the NHL is on alert that Brazeau could be a special player. At the cost of an entry-level contract, it would be silly for any team not to take a chance on the big scoring forward.

However, there are some leaders in the pursuit. Of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs are always a top contender. An Ontario native, Brazeau could have the opportunity to play on a top team close to home, while the Leafs are desperate for affordable help as they face an impending cap crunch and could afford to add some more size up front as well. Similarly, Brazeau could choose to play relatively nearby in Ottawa, as the Senators need all the help they can get and Brazeau could immediately take on a major role.

Brazeau also has some history with a pair of NHL teams. The undrafted product did spend time at development camp with both the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets over the past few years and may have maintained relationships with those clubs. Both the Sharks and the Blue Jackets are talented teams on which Brazeau could find immediate success.

However, San Jose and Columbus, as well as Toronto, are deep up front. Brazeau wants to play as soon as possible and may not get that chance this season with one of those three teams. The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins are two top contenders who do have flexibility in the top-nine and could be willing to give Brazeau a shot right away. The New York Rangers aren’t at the same competitive level as those teams, but are shockingly thin at right wing and Brazeau could hypothetically play

Projected Contract

Brazeau is going to sign an entry-level contract, so there is a limit on both base salary and potential bonuses, both of which he will likely max out. It will also be a three-year term, per the CBA. The key to signing the power forward will instead be who is willing or even able to burn the first year of the contract this season. Brazeau has shown that he has the size, skill, and competitive nature to play in the NHL and will want to prove that right away. The potential future star will also want to get another year closer to making real money. If a team can promise Brazeau play time this year, it will go a long way in locking him up. If such a landing spot doesn’t exist, he could opt for a team with which he can play the greatest role next season.

Senators To Try To Sign Josh Norris

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The month of March is one where teams often look to lure players out of college with the hopes of adding them to their lineup down the stretch.  While the Senators can’t do that with the currently-injured Josh Norris, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (video link) that Ottawa is still likely to try to convince him to forego his final two years of college eligibility and sign in the coming weeks.

The Sens acquired Norris from San Jose as one of the key parts of the Erik Karlsson trade back in September.  He was off to a strong start with Michigan and fared well at the World Juniors with Team USA but suffered an injury in the tournament that ultimately ended his sophomore year prematurely.  All in all, he had 19 points (10-9-19) in just 17 games with the Wolverines this season.

Given the lost development time, there’s a case to be made that Ottawa may be better off leaving the 19th pick of the 2017 draft in school for another year but it appears they’d like to get him into their system sooner.  He won’t be able to accrue a season for expansion draft purposes so regardless of whether or not they sign him in the next few weeks or sometime over the summer, he will be exempt from requiring protection from Seattle.

Between Logan Brown, Colin White, and Norris, the Senators have fairly quickly built up a solid group of prospects down the middle.  If Ottawa has their way, they may all be suiting up with the big club as soon as next season.

Eastern Notes: Merzlikins, Giroux, Wood, Smith

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The Columbus Blue Jackets may be getting another big prospect into the organization sooner than later as The Athletic’s Tom Reed reports that goaltending prospect Elvis Merzlikins will likely soon sign an entry-level deal now that his Swiss League team has been eliminated. The 24-year-old prospect could find himself battling for Columbus’ starting goaltending job next season.

Expect that in the next few days, the Blue Jackets sign Merzlikins, who has been the starting goaltender for Lugano for the last six years, get his immigration papers in order and get him to Cleveland of the AHL to get into as much action as possible before the end of the season. The 24-year-old had an impressive season in the Swiss League with a .921 save percentage and a 2.44 GAA in 43 games this season. A third-round pick in 2014, Merzlikins has opted to stay overseas since drafted, but suggested last summer that he might come over this season. With Sergei Bobrovsky likely headed elsewhere in free agency this summer, the team could give Merzlikins a shot at the starting job.

  • Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux may miss his first game in more than three years as interim head coach Scott Gordon said that Giroux is ill and will be a game-time decision Sunday, according to Philly.com’s Sam Carchidi. The 31-year-old has played in 256 straight games, dating back to February of 2016. If he can’t play, Justin Bailey will replace Giroux who has 20 goals and 76 points this season for Philadelphia.
  • The New Jersey Devils are without forward Miles Wood once again Sunday as he will continue to sit out with a right ankle fracture despite making the West Coast trip with the team, according to Chris Ryan of NJ.com. Wood, who has been out since Feb. 25, remains day-to-day. The 23-year-old hasn’t been as effective for New Jersey after a breakout 19-goal season a year ago as he has eight goals and 21 points in 56 games this season.
  • Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos stated on Hockey Night in Canada late last night that Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach D.J. Smith could draw quite a bit of interest as a head coaching candidate this offseason. Smith was considered a top candidate for the New York Islanders job before Barry Trotz came available and took the position. Smith may get quite a bit of interest from the Ottawa Senators this summer. Ottawa considered Smith back in 2016, but Toronto rejected their request to interview him. They hired Guy Boucher instead.

Minor Transactions: 03/16/19

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The playoff picture received a shake-up last night. The Maple Leafs stormed back from down three to beat the Flyers, crushing Philadelphia’s postseason hopes in the process; the Blue Jackets blanked the Hurricanes to pull even in the wild card race; the Golden Knights held off the surging Stars, who had an opportunity to leapfrog the Blues in the Central race; and the Avalanche suffered an upset at the hands of the Ducks that may very well have wiped out their chances of a playoff run. We have entered the home stretch, as no team has more than a dozen games left on their regular season schedule. Each day’s slate of games will have more of an impact on the postseason placement than the next and today is no different, with match-ups like Blues-Penguins, Bruins-Blue Jackets, Flames-Jets, Capitals-Lightning, and Predators-Sharks that can cause four-point swings in playoff races. Even the smallest moves can be crucial the rest of the way, so keep up with all of those transactions here:

  • Cody Goloubef’s stint with the Ottawa Senators lasted just one game this time around, as the team has announced that the veteran defender has been reassigned to AHL Belleville. Goloubef has played in five NHL games with the Senators this season, which is five more than he had played with the Boston Bruins prior to a mid-season trade.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have made veteran defenseman Brian Lashoff an emergency recall, the team announced. The 28-year-old has not played in the NHL this season and in fact has just 17 games with Detroit to his credit since the end of the 2013-14 season, in which he started nearly every game for the team. Nevertheless, Lashoff – a leader for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins – earned a two-year extension this week and the Red Wings may be rewarding that commitment by giving the long-time defender another shot at the top level.
  • Jacob Middleton’s shot at filling a gap on the Sharks’ blue line was short-lived. CapFriendly reports that the rookie defenseman has been returned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. Fortunately, that just means he’s down the hall in the other locker room, so Middleton can easily be used as needed down the stretch. With Radim Simek done for the year and Erik Karlsson still sidelined, the Sharks are thin on the back end and Middleton has been a consistent defensive asset for the Barracuda this season.
  • The back-and-forth continues for Jordan Kyrou, who has been reassigned by the St. Louis Blues yet again in his fourth move in about 48 hours. This time, Kyrou’s roster spot has been lost to the return of David Perron. The Blues announced that Perron has been activated from the injured reserve and will re-join the lineup. The veteran winger has missed the past 24 games with an upper-body injury, but is finally ready to get back to work. St. Louis could use the help as their hot streak has faded some and the Dallas Stars are suddenly right on their heels.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers announced they have recalled Justin Bailey from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It his fourth recall in the last five weeks since Feb. 10. The team needs that extra forward with Mikhail Vorobyev injured Wednesday. Bailey has played seven games for the Flyers this season with no points.
  • Despite a recall Friday, the New Jersey Devils have chosen to re-assign forward Nick Lappin to the Binghamton Devils of the AHL, according to CapFriendly. Lappin did not play Friday. The 26-year-old forward has 16 goals and 27 points in 45 games with Binghamton.
  • The Boston Bruins have assigned forward Trent Frederic to the Providence Bruins of the AHL, according to Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont. Frederic was recalled Tuesday as an emergency call-up, but several player getting healthier, including the return of Jake Debrusk, the team can return him to Providence. The 21-year-old has appeared in 13 games for Boston, but has failed to register a point.

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