Seattle Kraken Sign Logan Morrison
The Seattle Kraken have signed forward Logan Morrison from the Ottawa 67’s. Morrison will be paid $950K in the NHL, and $82.5K in the AHL over the course of three years, as the contract begins at the start of the 2023-24 season.
For the majority of his career in the OHL, Morrison primarily played for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Last season, he set career highs in goals and points, scoring 34 goals and 100 points over the course of the OHL season. Aside from the regular season, Morrison provided a lot of offense on the Bulldogs’ run to the Memorial Cup Finals, scoring 17 goals and 22 assists in 19 playoff games.
This season, Morrison has been up to much of the same, scoring 40 goals and 54 assists split between Hamilton and Ottawa. The move to Ottawa came from a January trade, where Morrison was moved from Hamilton for six future draft picks.
In the playoffs this season, Ottawa has already moved on to the second round, beating the Oshawa Generals in five games. In those five games, Morrison scored seven goals and also added in three assists. Up next, the 67’s will take on the Peterborough Petes, and the first-place team will be a team to watch as the OHL playoffs continue.
East Notes: Samoskevich, Kulikov, Maple Leafs
Another star player from the University of Michigan will be joining the AHL, as Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports that Mackie Samoskevich will be joining the Charlotte Checkers on an amateur tryout agreement for the rest of the season. Samoskevich was drafted 24th overall by the Florida Panthers in the Michigan-loaded 2021 NHL Draft.
Featuring such players as Matthew Beniers, Owen Power, Kent Johnson, and Luke Hughes, among others, Samoskevich was a part of one of the most star-studded NCAA teams of all time. In the 2021 NHL Draft, four of the top five picks were products of the University of Michigan, and Samoskevich would make five total players drafted in the first round altogether.
Helping the team to two straight Frozen Four appearances, Samoskevich’s freshman season included 40 games played, tallying 10 goals and 19 assists. This season, showing steady progression, Samoskevich played in 39 games, scoring a total of 20 goals and 23 assists.
In joining the Checkers, Samoskevich will continue his run in the postseason, as the team has already clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. If the season ended today, the team would play the St.Louis Blues AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds in a best-of-three opening round.
Other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- Before tonight’s important game against the Chicago Blackhawks, a trade deadline acquisition of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dmitry Kulikov, is expected to be in the lineup. After 14 games on the long-term injured reserve, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports that after dealing with a suspected foot injury, Kulikov will be returning to the Penguins. Kulikov has only managed four games in Pittsburgh since being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks, and now currently on the outside looking in for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins could certainly use all the help they can get to win their final two games.
- In the last 48 hours, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had one of the most interesting goaltending carousels of all season. After recently signing both Jett Alexander and Nick Chenard for one game each to be backup goaltender, Chris Johnston of TSN reported that two new unknown goalies were seen at Toronto’s practice this morning. Later on, Jeff Marek of Sportsnet mentioned that one of the mystery goaltenders may be Windsor Spitfires product Matt Onuska. Fortunately for the Maple Leafs, the dust has completely settled, as Jonas Siegel from The Athletic reports that Toronto has been able to emergency recall goaltender Joseph Woll, and he is on the active roster for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Blackhawks Extend Jarred Tinordi
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the Chicago Blackhawks have signed Jarred Tinordi to an extension for the 2023-24 season. The deal will only be a 1-year extension, and Tinordi will make $1.25MM next year.
In his first season in Chicago, Tinordi has provided a bit of value to the rebuilding Blackhawks. Throughout this season, Tinordi has played in a total of 44 games, scoring eight points in total, and also throwing 139 hits, a career-high in that category.
Since the 2015-16 season, Tinordi has played for six different organizations, and only seeing playing time in the NHL for five of those. Tinordi has come a long way since being drafted 22nd overall in the 2010 NHL Draft but has seemed to have found a place in Chicago for the time being.
After eight seasons in the NHL, this will actually be the first time in his career that Tinordi will be making over $1MM in a season. It is widely expected that the Blackhawks will once again be rebuilding next year, and Tinordi will at the very least provide a stabilizing presence for them on the back end.
David Krejci Shut Down For Regular Season
Boston Bruins star center, David Krejci, will not be in the lineup for Boston’s final two games of the regular season. Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now reports that Krejci will be out with a lower-body injury.
In missing the final two games of the season, this will be the sixth game Krejci has missed in a row and the 12th that he has missed all season. Krejci did skate this morning, and Boston head coach Jim Montgomery said, “Today was his best day. That has us optimistic about where he’s going to be for Game 1 [of the playoffs]”.
In his return to Boston this season, Krejci has shown the Bruins what they were missing last year, scoring 16 goals and 40 assists in 70 games played for the President’s Trophy winners. Last year, after a 15-year stretch in Boston, Krejci famously left for Czechia, joining HC Olomouc for the 2021-22 season.
In his return to New England, Krejci has filled a vital role, aiding the Bruins on their quest to break the all-time single-season win record, something they did against the Philadelphia Flyers last Sunday. Outside of the regular season, Krejci’s playoff performances in his career have become legends in Boston.
During their Stanley Cup championship run in the 2011 playoffs, Krejci played in 25 games, scoring 12 goals and 11 assists, leading the playoffs in scoring. Two years later, the Bruins again returned to the Stanley Cup Final, and once again Krejci led the way for all players. In 22 games, Krejci scored nine goals and 17 assists, unfortunately failing to the Chicago Blackhawks for the sport’s greatest trophy.
In Krejci’s absence, the Bruins have received exceptional play at the center position from both Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha. However, when it comes to the playoffs, Krejci has historically been one of the very best, and Boston is optimistic that he will join the team for their effort.
Capitals Notes: Laviolette, Oshie, Sheary, Smith
Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic is reporting that the Washington Capitals are preparing for a potentially big offseason in which a lot of personnel decisions will need to be made. The Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season and while much of their 2018 Stanley Cup championship roster has moved on, some very important pieces remain.
El-Bashir reports that there is no update on the status of head coach Peter Laviolette. The veteran coach is a free agent at the end of this season and would still be in demand should he or the Capitals elect to part ways and start fresh next season. It is believed that Laviolette still has the support of many of the veterans in the Washington dressing room, but the recent stretch of games would give anyone pause as the Capitals have seemed indifferent at times. Laviolette is in his third season as the Capitals head coach and is the eighth winningest coach in NHL history. The 58-year-old has led three different organizations to the Stanley Cup final in his career, including a Stanley Cup victory in 2005-06 with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, in Washington he hasn’t been able to get the Capitals back over the hump and out of the first round.
In other Washington notes:
- T.J. Oshie was shut down earlier this week with the same back injury that has caused him problems all season. Oshie missed a total of 22 games this year after dressing in just 44 games last season. El-Bashir writes in The Athletic that he is being told that Oshie shouldn’t require surgery on his ailing back and that he should be able to recover with rest and rehab. For his part the 36-year-old Oshie has seen his offensive production slide the last two seasons. He’s failed to reach 40 points two years in a row now after missing that number just once in the previous 12 seasons. Oshie can still score, evidenced by his 19 goals this season in 58 games, but Washington will be counting on him to stay healthy going forward, especially with two years left on his contract.
- El-Bashir also writes in The Athletic that he expects the Capitals to move on from Conor Sheary and Craig Smith. Sheary is in his third season with Washington and has been a good depth scoring option with 37 points in 80 games. His scoring is down from last year, but the 30-year-old two-time cup winner should find an NHL job for next season as a depth forward with speed who can chip in on offence.
- Craig Smith will also be looking for a new job this summer. The former Nashville Predator has seen his numbers fall off a cliff this season as he bounced between the Boston Bruins and Washington. The 2009 fourth round pick had topped 30 points in five straight seasons as a dependable third liner but hasn’t been able to duplicate that success this season. He is in the final year of a three-year contract he originally signed with Boston and will likely be forced to take a one-year deal around league minimum to secure an NHL job in 2023-24.
Montreal Canadiens Recall Two Players From AHL
The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have recalled forward Joël Teasdale and defenseman Frédéric Allard from the Laval Rocket of the AHL. Kent Hughes and Martin St-Louis told both players after their game last night for Laval. The Canadiens will be back in action on Wednesday night as they try to play spoiler against the New York Islanders.
Teasdale has finally found his footing in the AHL after years of setbacks due to injuries. He has provided the Rocket with secondary scoring in a season that they have needed it due to the litany of recalls they’ve had to endure thanks to Montreal’s injury situation this season. Teasdale has 23 goals and 38 points in 57 games in his third year with the Rocket. The 24-year-old doesn’t play the prettiest brand of hockey but has put up numbers in the AHL by getting to the net and winning puck battles. His hard work has been rewarded as he will dress in his first career NHL game.
Frédéric Allard was a third-round pick of the Nashville Predators back in 2016 but has yet to establish himself as an everyday NHLer. He was acquired by the Canadiens from the Los Angeles Kings back in early March and has played one game for Montreal thus far. In 40 AHL games this season, the 25-year-old Allard has just two goals and five assists. His offensive numbers in the AHL this season have really fallen off from his previous five years in the league. Allard had established himself as a solid two-way defenseman capable of chipping in 20+ points but has failed to come close to replicating that offensive success this year.
The call-ups are an interesting move by the Canadiens, they could have called up Rafael Harvey-Pinard who has already scored 20 points in 34 games this season in the NHL, but they elected to call up players who play supporting roles in Laval. The Rocket also play tomorrow night against the Toronto Marlies in AHL action and are pushing towards the playoffs. Removing Harvey-Pinard from the lineup would have been a significant blow to the Rocket’s chances of knocking off the best team in the AHL’s North Division.
Skyler Brind’Amour Not Expected To Sign With Oilers
In August, many NCAA players will see their exclusive draft rights expire, allowing them unrestricted free agents to sign with any organization. The decision has already been made for one of those players, Skyler Brind’Amour.
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports that Brind’Amour, fresh off a national championship with Quinnipiac, will not sign with the Edmonton Oilers. Jason Gregor of TSN adds that Brind’Amour informed the Oilers that there would be a better opportunity elsewhere as he tries to transition to professional hockey.
If he doesn’t change his mind and is still unsigned through August 15, Brind’Amour—son of Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour—will be an unrestricted free agent. As a sixth-round pick in 2017, the Oilers will not receive draft compensation.
They could, however, work out a trade with his preferred destination, though that club could simply wait until August if they have confidence in him signing at that point. The 23-year-old forward was a key part of the Bobcats’ first-ever NCAA title, and scored 32 points in 41 games this season.
A workhorse that seems to always be attacking the puck carrier, Brind’Amour’s potential at the NHL level likely tops out as a bottom-six energy player. Even that projection will be tested next year as he transitions, starting his professional career at the age of 24.
Philadelphia Flyers Recall Adam Ginning
The Philadelphia Flyers have nothing much to play for in the last few days of the season, so another prospect will get his first chance in the NHL. Adam Ginning has been recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the first time in his career.
Ginning, 23, has played the stable stay-at-home role for years now, both in Sweden and now in the minor leagues. The 6’3″ defenseman entered professional hockey as a teenager, and played an incredibly simple, physical game in his own end. That pleased coaches and kept him rising draft boards, despite only scoring 29 points in a 216-game SHL career.
This year, in the AHL, he’s done much of the same. Acting as the defensive balance to Ronnie Attard‘s offensive game, Ginning has been outstanding, adding 19 points and 61 penalty minutes. His +25 rating easily leads the club, and while that is partly due to the talent around him, Ginning’s defensive play has warranted attention.
He’ll get it, in the form of an NHL call-up and potential debut. For a head coach like John Tortorella, who values effort over everything, Ginning’s game should fit in well. Whether he can keep up with the NHL speed and skill, however, remains to be seen.
Given the changes expected in Philadelphia this offseason, there could be a lot more playing time coming for young talents like Ginning. A showcase over the last few days of the season could go a long way to securing him some time on the roster in 2023-24.
Ottawa Senators Recall Max Guenette
The average seventh-round pick doesn’t even earn a contract, let alone sniff the NHL. That’s why the performance this season from Max Guenette has been so impressive. The young defenseman has been rewarded for his play with a recall to the Ottawa Senators and a potential NHL debut in the next few days.
Guenette, 21, was the 187th overall pick in 2019, and less than two years into his professional career, is already up with the big club. The right-shot defenseman scored 38 points in 69 games in the AHL, leading all Belleville Senators defensemen.
Ottawa has reassigned Jacob Bernard-Docker to make room on the NHL roster, a move that suggests Guenette will make his debut at some point. When he does, it will mean the entire 2019 Senators draft class will have played at least once in the league.
Lassi Thomson, Shane Pinto, Mads Sogaard—the team’s first three picks that year—all look like significant building blocks. Viktor Lodin and Mark Kastelic, the next two, are organizational depth. The future for Guenette is a little more unclear after his strong performance this season. He’ll get a chance to show he’s more than just a seventh-rounder.
Simon Edvinsson Returned To AHL
After playing nine games with the Detroit Red Wings, Simon Edvinsson returns to the minor leagues. By sending him down now, the team will avoid burning the first year of his entry-level contract. In his place, the team has recalled Danny O’Regan under emergency conditions.
Edvinsson, 20, is in his first year of North American hockey, spending most of the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. In 51 AHL contests, the 2021 sixth-overall pick recorded 27 points, and generally showed off the top-pairing potential many have tabbed him with.
In nine games with Detroit, the young defender managed to score two goals but was caught behind the speed of the NHL at times, resulting in six minor penalties. He has plenty of time to adjust to that transition as he prepares to battle for a full-time spot next fall.
The Red Wings’ season has not gone according to plan, as they find themselves seventh in the Atlantic Division, well out of a playoff spot. It appeared at times like they were turning a corner on the rebuild, but ended up selling some key pieces at the deadline.
Now, after giving Edvinsson and other young players like Marco Kasper a taste of the NHL, they’ll try to position themselves as a playoff contender for 2023-24.