Timo Meier Will Not Play In Game One
New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier will not play in game one against the Carolina Hurricanes. The news was tweeted out by NHL.com writer Tom Gulitti just moments ago. Meier did not dress for the warm-up and will be replaced in the lineup by one of Jesper Boqvist or Curtis Lazar.
Meier famously took a high hit from New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba in game seven of their first round series. He stayed down after the hit and needed medical attention from the Devils staff before he was able to skate off the ice under his own power. Meier later returned for the end of the game and had a cordial exchange with Trouba in the handshake line.
Meier was acquired by the Devils at the NHL trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks and took some time to adjust to the new team and system. He produced a respectable 14 points in 21 games with New Jersey to finish out the regular season but failed to produce a single point in the seven-game series with the Rangers.
The Devils haven’t made much information available on Meier’s condition and had original deemed him to be a game time decision earlier today. With Meier now scratched for game one it will be interesting to see what more is revealed prior to game two on Friday.
Nashville Predators Extend Affiliation Agreement With Milwaukee Admirals
The Nashville Predators announced this afternoon that they have extended their affiliation agreement with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals through the 2024-25 season. President of Hockey Operations David Poile spoke with the media today after the club had extended their pact with the only AHL affiliate they have ever known. The Admirals have been Nashville’s affiliate since the Predators inaugural season in 1998-99
Milwaukee has been competitive through most of their run with Nashville and have made the playoffs in five of the past six seasons. They’ve reached the Calder Cup final twice during the affiliation and even won the league title in 2004. While the club has been able to cultivate a winning culture, they’ve also been able to develop an incredible number of players for the Predators. Over 200 players have dressed in games for both the Admirals and Predators including 15 players just last year.
On top of developing on ice talent, Milwaukee has produced a lot of behind the bench talent as well. The Admirals have seen eight of their head coaches or assistant coaches move onto NHL jobs after their time in Milwaukee.
The Admirals might have an infusion of young talent in the upcoming couple of years as the Predators have 13 draft picks in the upcoming NHL entry draft including seven picks in the first three rounds. Nashville also holds three second round picks in 2024 and could be on the verge of re-tooling after making a flurry of trades at this year’s trade deadline including the lopsided deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins where they shipped off Mikael Granlund for a second round pick.
Golden Knights Notes: Stone, Theodore, McNabb
The Vegas Golden Knights appear to finally be getting healthy at exactly the right time as they begin their second round best of seven series against the Edmonton Oilers. Vegas announced today that forward Mark Stone would be in the lineup tonight after leaving practice yesterday in discomfort. Vegas fans held their collective breath for Stone, especially considering the Golden Knights captain had only returned to the Vegas lineup in game one of their first round series against the Winnipeg Jets.
Stone showed no ill effects of his injury as he was dominant against the Jets putting up three goals and eight points in just five games. He appeared to have returned to form in that series which was a pleasant surprise given the injuries he has dealt with over the past couple of seasons. Stone missed almost half of the regular season this year playing just 43 games. Despite missing 39 games Stone was still able to post 17 goals and 21 assists this season.
In other Vegas Golden Knights news:
- It appears defenseman Shea Theodore will be returning to the Vegas lineup. TSN is reporting that head coach Butch Cassidy said Theodore would be in the lineup for game one against the Oilers. The Langley native was sidelined with in illness for game five of the Golden Knights series against Winnipeg but appears to have gotten over whatever was ailing him. Theodore was strong in four games of the first round series as he posted three assists and six shots on goal.
- Brayden McNabb also appears to be drawing back into the Vegas lineup. McNabb also did not dress in the Golden Knights series clinching game five victory against Winnipeg as he was sidelined with an upper body injury. TSN is reporting that Cassidy included McNabb as one of the players who would be back in the lineup tonight for Vegas. McNabb was pointless in the first four games of the playoffs and missed just the one game. He dressed in all 82 regular season games this year putting up a single goal while adding 16 assists.
East Injury Notes: Meier, Kane, Drury
The New Jersey Devils are entering Game 1 on the road tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes with the status of their main trade deadline acquisition uncertain. Winger Timo Meier is a game-time decision after taking a hard hit from New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba in the team’s Game 7 win on Monday, per head coach Lindy Ruff.
Meier hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations yet, especially with no points in the team’s series victory over New York. He did have nine goals in 21 games for New Jersey down the stretch, however, and has shown to be a valuable offensive weapon in playoffs past with San Jose. If he’s unable to play, one of Curtis Lazar or Jesper Boqvist will draw into the New Jersey lineup.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:
- Now-pending UFA winger Patrick Kane told reporters at the Rangers’ end-of-season availability today that he was never 100 percent healthy after the trade to New York, but praised the team’s training staff for trying to get him there. Kane did not rule out off-season surgery for the lower-body injury that plagued him the entire 2022-23 season. Kane recorded one goal in seven playoff games for the Rangers and posted a career-low 57 points in the regular season (in a full season).
- Carolina Hurricanes winger Jack Drury is expected to return from an upper-body injury tonight when they host New Jersey to start their second-round series. Drury, 23, has slotted into Carolina’s top six with injuries to multiple key wingers. He’ll look to register his first point of the playoffs tonight, expected to flank Jordan Staal and Martin Necas on the team’s second line.
Mark Borowiecki Announces Retirement
Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki has officially announced his retirement from the NHL after playing 12 seasons in the league. The 33-year-old, known for his physical play and strong leadership, made the announcement on Wednesday via Instagram.
Borowiecki was a fan favorite wherever he played, but most notably with the Ottawa Senators, where he spent the majority of his career. He was drafted by the Senators in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Draft, and would establish himself as a hard-nosed defender who wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves. Over the course of his career, he recorded 848 penalty minutes in 458 regular-season games, leading the league in that department twice. He wraps up his NHL career with 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points.
In his retirement statement, Borowiecki thanked his family, friends, and former teammates for their support throughout his career. He also expressed his gratitude to the Senators organization, saying, “I am so appreciative of everyone who has helped me along the way. Especially the [Senators], where my career began, and the [Predators] where my career ended.”
Borowiecki’s retirement comes after he sustained a season-ending injury just four games into the 2022-23 campaign. He was stretchered off the ice in an October game against the Philadelphia Flyers after a hit from Morgan Frost resulted in Borowiecki’s head making contact with the glass before falling to the ice.
Borowiecki was known not just for his on-ice contributions but also for his off-ice work. Near the end of his career especially, Borowiecki was an outspoken advocate for mental health among hockey players, notably among concussion victims. Borowiecki also gained positive notoriety for performing a citizens’ arrest in late 2019 while on the road in Vancouver, stopping a car break-in, doubling down on the “Borocop” nickname.
Jeff Halpern Linked To Washington Capitals Coaching Vacancy
The Washington Capitals will have a new head coach next season after opting not to renew the contract of Peter Laviolette, as announced last month. Today, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports the Capitals plan to interview former player and current Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Jeff Halpern as part of their search process for Laviolette’s replacement.
After retiring as a player in 2014, Halpern amassed eight seasons of coaching experience, all with the Lightning organization. He’s been behind the Lightning bench as an assistant since 2018, meaning he was involved in both of Tampa’s back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. Before that, he spent three seasons with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, Tampa’s affiliate, as a development and assistant coach.
Washington moved on from Laviolette after missing the playoffs for just the second time since 2008. In his years as an assistant, Halpern has not missed the playoffs. He helped guide a Crunch team to the Calder Cup Finals in 2017, a year after missing the playoffs altogether, a team that featured a breakout playoff performance from then-prospect Yanni Gourde.
As a player, Halpern played nearly 1,000 NHL games across 14 seasons, accruing 373 points. The center served as Washington’s captain in 2005-06, Alex Ovechkin‘s rookie season.
San Jose Sharks Sign Valtteri Pulli
May 3: While “soon” may be a relative term, Pulli still ended up in a San Jose uniform. The Sharks made the contract official today, announcing a two-year contract for the Finn. PuckPedia reports Pulli’s deal carries a cap hit of $950,000.
March 19: Last month, it was reported that free agent defenseman Valtteri Pulli was receiving interest from several teams. Now that his season in Finland has ended, discussions on an NHL deal can pick up. Sasha Huttunen of Ilta Sanomat reports that the Sharks are one of the teams interested in the blueliner, going as far as to suggest that a contract already could be done. Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek indicated (video link) the same, noting that the deal should be made official soon.
The 22-year-old just wrapped up his first full campaign at Finland’s top level, picking up a respectable 17 points in 53 games while logging nearly 18 minutes a night of playing time. It’s also worth noting that Pulli stands 6’6 which was sure to intrigue some scouts, especially since he has shown that he can hold his own in the SM-liiga.
It’s worth noting that Pulli has another year left on his contract with TPS. As a result, if Pulli doesn’t crack the NHL roster of whomever he signs with next season – the Sharks or otherwise – he will have to be loaned back to Finland for the 2023-24 campaign. He will still burn a year off his entry-level deal in that situation, one that will only be for two seasons due to his age.
San Jose Sharks Sign Georgi Romanov
May 3: The Sharks have made the signing official, confirming the two-year length. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
May 2: It appears the San Jose Sharks are making an early splash in the undrafted free-agent market. Per a report from Russian outlet Sport Express, the Sharks have signed goaltender Georgi Romanov to a two-year entry-level contract.
Romanov, 23, certainly has the size NHL teams desire. At 6-foot-5 and 207 pounds, there are few netminders who fill out the crease more than Romanov.
Developed in the Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg system, Romanov has been the starter for consecutive seasons for Gornyak-UGMK, Yekaterinburg’s affiliate in the Russian minors (VHL). While his save percentages have dipped slightly since, Romanov had marks of at least .930 in the VHL and juniors (MHL) between 2019 and 2021.
While the Sharks have both James Reimer and Aaron Dell as free agents this summer, they still boast solid organizational depth for goaltenders, at least among prospects. Romanov would become the fourth goalie under the age of 25 signed to an NHL contract by San Jose, with two other drafted prospects under the age of 21. It leaves 26-year-old Kaapo Kähkönen as the resident veteran in the San Jose crease, a position they’re expected to fill out more in free agency unless they opt for an untested youngster in the backup role to an inconsistent Kähkönen.
Assuming the report relayed by Sport Express from Romanov’s agent is true, he would become a restricted free agent in 2025.
Arizona Coyotes Sign Aku Räty To Entry-Level Contract
The Arizona Coyotes and forward prospect Aku Räty agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract today, the team announced. PuckPedia reports the structure of the deal is as follows:
2023-24: $775,000 base salary, $92,500 signing bonus, $57,500 games played bonus, $70,000 minors salary
2024-25: $832,500 base salary, $92,500 signing bonus, $70,000 minors salary
The deal carries a cap hit of $896,000.
Räty, the older brother of Vancouver Canucks prospect Aatu Räty, was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Coyotes. The 21-year-old winger has produced above his weight in terms of his draft position the past two years in Finland, though, and is one of the more underrated prospects in the Arizona system.
After multiple seasons with the Kärpät organization in Finland, a transfer to Ilves for 2022-23 made all the difference for Räty’s development. In 53 Liiga games, Räty set professional career highs with 18 goals, 24 assists, 42 points, and a +26 rating.
Räty was set to become an unrestricted free agent on June 1 if the Coyotes did not sign him. Arizona has four other prospects from the 2019 and 2021 draft classes that will become UFAs if they’re not signed within the next month, which PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan expects will head to market.
The Oulo-born winger has good size at 6 feet and 187 pounds, and the first thing you’ll notice upon viewing is his tenacious forecheck. Räty has one of the best work ethics among young players in the Liiga.
It makes him a bit of a unique prospect in the Coyotes system, and the team does have recent success in developing Finnish talents, especially from Ilves (see Matias Maccelli). It’s unclear whether Räty will report to North America next season, however, or stay in Finland on loan.
Arizona returned Maccelli to Ilves on loan for the first year of his entry-level contract, however, it was during the COVID-affected 2020-21 campaign.
Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko Heading To World Championship
New York Rangers forwards Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko will join Team Czechia and Team Finland, respectively, at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship, they told reporters today.
Coming off the heels of a disappointing first-round loss, the two Rangers youngsters now get a shot at redemption at the closest thing to a best-on-best tournament in men’s hockey today. The 2023 edition of the tournament, which will take place in Tampere and Helsinki in Finland, begins next week.
Neither Czechia nor Finland have announced their full rosters for the tournament. They’ll be competing in separate groups, with Finland among the assumed leaders in Group A alongside Sweden and the United States, while Czechia is at the higher end of Group B with Canada and Slovakia.
This will be Chytil’s fourth appearance with Czechia at the tournament. In 20 games combined in the 2018, 2019, and 2021 tournaments, he’s registered four goals and eight points. After a breakout season this year in which he broke the 20-goal and 40-point plateaus for the first time, expect a rejuvenated performance from him.
For Kakko, it’s his second appearance at the tournament after scoring six goals in 10 games with Finland in 2019, leading the team to a gold medal. Finland has reached the final game in three consecutive tournaments.