Latest On Shane Wright
Just five games into his professional career, it seems as though Shane Wright‘s world has been turned upside down. The former exceptional-status OHL star was drafted fourth-overall by the Seattle Kraken at this past summer’s NHL draft, and from the moment he was drafted (and perhaps even before that as well) there had been the expectation that Wright would step immediately into an NHL lineup.
So far, Wright has been a healthy scratch for the majority of the Kraken’s contests, and when he does play he averages just under seven minutes of ice time per game. Wright has taken just a single shot on net in the games he’s played, and there seems to be significant confusion as to what the Kraken’s development plan exactly is with their top prospect.
On tonight’s Insider Trading program, TSN’s Darren Dreger shed some light on what the Kraken are planning to do with Wright this year. Per Dreger, it is “very likely” that Seattle will retain Wright rather than send him back to his OHL team, the Kingston Frontenacs. Due to the transfer agreement between the NHL and CHL, Wright must either be in the NHL or the OHL, and cannot be reassigned to the team’s AHL affiliate the way other prospects can be.
That being said, though, Dreger notes that per the NHL-CHL agreement Wright would be permitted a one-time AHL reassignment if he is a healthy scratch for five-straight games.
That assignment would last a maximum of fourteen days, though, so it still wouldn’t be a long-term solution. What it would do is allow Wright to at least get some game action under his belt, and he may even be able to play a top-of-the-lineup role if that’s what coach Dan Bylsma would have in mind.
The Firebirds are 4-2 to start their first-ever season and have four players who are so far scoring at above a point-per-game rate. Perhaps the Kraken believe that a short stay in an environment more friendly to Wright’s offensive development could spark him to be more assertive upon his return to the NHL lineup.
Dreger reports that the short-term AHL route is “something the Kraken are considering,” and adds that Seattle is also considering loaning Wright to Team Canada so that he could take on a starring role in the World Junior Championships.
Those games begin in December, though, so in the more immediate term, the Kraken will need to settle on what exactly they plan on doing with Wright, because his current situation is far from ideal for his growth.
The Kraken are looking to have a more competitive season than they had last year, and coach Dave Hakstol could very well be on the hot seat after their disappointing first campaign.
On one hand, if he believes leaving Wright (who, to be fair, has not looked great in his limited NHL action) out of his nightly lineup gives him the best chance to win games, one can certainly respect that decision.
But on the other hand, Wright is one of the Kraken organization’s most important assets. He is a potential long-term solution down the middle, a possible future top-six center to pair with Matty Beniers for the next decade or longer.
His development into that sort of player would be a major step forward for the Kraken, meaning hindering Wright’s growth in order to win in the short term is something that could cost Seattle dearly in the future.
Pictures courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Big Hype Prospects: Lysell, Hutson, Thomas, Robidas, 2023 Draft
Welcome to PHR’s Big Hype Prospects series. Like the MLB Trade Rumors series of the same name, we’ll be taking a regular look at the performances of top prospects from across the hockey world. We’ll look at drafted prospects who are rising, others who are struggling, and prospects for the upcoming draft who are notable.
Four Big Hype Prospects
Fabian Lysell, RW, Boston Bruins (Providence, AHL)
7 GP 2G 7A 9pts
The consequence of the Bruins organization’s relentless pursuit of their second Stanley Cup victory since 2011 is that the team has been left with precious few prospects who can be confidently projected as future impact players, meaning players who fill top-six roles in a forward corps or a top-four role on defense. Winning is always the first priority, so there are few Bruins fans who would reasonably complain about the level of success the team has experienced in the past decade, but that still leaves the franchise in an unclear long-term position.
Lysell, the team’s first-round pick in 2021, has performed so well early this season that he seems to be cementing himself as far and away the Bruins’ most talented prospect. After a 2021-22 campaign in the WHL that was strong, (but maybe not the above-and-beyond dominant type of season that someone such as Dallas Stars prospect Logan Stankoven had) most believed that the AHL would serve as the first true test of Lysell’s young career. Playing against men at an elite professional level can be extremely challenging for many prospects, and quite a few struggle to translate their junior scoring numbers to the pro game, where generating offense can require a different approach.
Lysell has not struggled whatsoever. Playing next to a creative offensive dynamo in Georgii Merkulov and a capable veteran AHL scorer in Vinni Lettieri, Lysell has burst out the gates with nine points in his first seven games. He has shown an advanced ability to deceive defenders and utilize his blazing speed in order to create time and space with the puck. He looks in line to have a big year in Providence, and if he keeps this up it’ll be difficult to imagine him skating anywhere else but on one of the Bruins’ scoring lines next season.
Lane Hutson, LHD, Montreal Canadiens (Boston University, NCAA)
7 GP 3G 5A 8pts
Despite a draft year where he was arguably the best, most dynamic defenseman in the U.S. National Team Development Program, Hutson fell all the way to the back of the 2022 draft’s second round, where he was snagged by the Montreal Canadiens.
Why? Because there aren’t many defensemen in the NHL who stand under five-foot-ten, and Hutson is measured between five-feet-eight and five-feet-nine inches tall. Hutson’s diminutive stature and lack of elite separation skating ability pushed him down NHL draft boards, and some believed that Hutson would not be able to remain an impact defenseman at a more challenging and physically demanding level of hockey.
So far, Hutson has aced that test. With eight points in seven games, Hutson has led the Terriers to an 11th-place ranking in the most recent ranking poll. He has been the same dynamic, pace-pushing offensive generator out of the back end that he was at the USNTDP, and his effort level on defense has not waned. He was recently named the Hockey East Defender of the Month, and could make teams who passed on him sweat if he continues to excel in his first collegiate campaign.
Akil Thomas, C, Los Angeles Kings (Ontario, AHL)
7GP 4G 2A 6pts
As mentioned in Lysell’s section, there are some prospects who score exceedingly well at the junior level and then have trouble translating those numbers into production as a professional. For the past two seasons, former OHL star Akil Thomas looked like one of those players.
In his rookie AHL campaign, Thomas showed some promise, scoring 26 points in 40 games, but there were still some issues in his game that needed to be worked out. Thomas underwent double shoulder surgery and struggled immensely upon his return. He scored just 13 points in 40 games, and as a 22-year-old his prospect stock seemed to have declined sharply since his days as an elite junior player.
This season, Thomas seems to be repairing his standing in a Kings prospect pool that looks highly competitive. Playing on a line with fellow 2018 draftees Aidan Dudas and Tyler Madden, Thomas will be a player to watch this season to see if he has sorted out how to be an impact offensive player as a professional. While the Kings have many other prospects vying for NHL call-ups, don’t be surprised if Thomas finds a way to make his NHL debut this season if he can keep up this level of scoring.
Justin Robidas, C/RW, Carolina Hurricanes (Val d’Or, QMJHL)
12 GP 9G 13A 22pts
Similar to Hutson, Robidas is a prospect whose physical shortcomings cost him in the draft process. After a point-per-game season in the QMJHL, Robidas was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, 147th overall. Robidas’ speed, motor, and overall work ethic have been his best traits, but his five-foot-eight height is something that gives many evaluators pause when considering his pro projection. Since his draft day, though, Robidas has far outperformed his fifth-round billing.
He was named the captain of the Foreurs last season and impressed with a 30-goal, 82-point campaign. So far this year, Robidas has picked up where he left off. Robidas has scored nine goals and 22 points in just 12 contests, and he looks likely to finish among the top scorers in the QMJHL.
Sure, Robidas’ offensive game can often lack a deceptive or manipulative element to it, meaning he might struggle to be an impact scorer as a professional. Still, Robidas’ development into a junior league star gives more confidence to his projection as a potential bottom-six forward who endears himself to coaches and fans alike with his work ethic, leadership, and tantalizing speed.
A Look to the Top of the 2023 Draft
Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard has attracted most of the attention when it comes to next year’s NHL draft, and for good reason. Bedard is arguably the most talented draft prospect since Connor McDavid was an Erie Otter, and Bedard’s play has lived up to the hype so far this season. But the attention paid to Bedard shouldn’t distract from the fact that the top end of this draft looks stacked in terms of raw talent.
Take Adam Fantilli, a forward now playing for the Michigan Wolverines. Before this season, Fantilli was in the conversation as the second, third, or fourth-best prospect in the draft according to most outlets.
Now, Fantilli has begun the year scoring at a historic pace and has firmly seized the mantle of “best prospect not named Bedard” in this year’s class. On a Wolverines team loaded with top prospects, Fantilli has scored 18 points in just eight games. He’s been scoring at a pace reminiscent of Jack Eichel‘s 71-point draft year, and could end up like Eichel as a number-one caliber talent who goes number-two behind a once-in-a-generation star.
Looking beyond Fantilli, there are some other prospects who are surging in the early part of this season. Swedish center Leo Carlsson has burst out the gates early on this year, scoring 11 points in 15 SHL games for Orebro. That scoring pace is at the moment higher than the legendary Henrik Sedin‘s 34-point draft campaign all the way back in 1998-99. Carlsson’s prospect profile would land him in the conversation for the number-one pick in most draft years, but this year he may not even be selected in the top three.
Unlike most years, finishing in the league’s last-place spot this season might be something fans of downtrodden franchises come to celebrate. Based on the league’s new lottery rules, a last-place finish would secure a club a top-three pick in the draft, meaning the team would be guaranteed, at the very least, Carlsson or Russian phenom Matvei Michkov. (assuming Bedard and Fantilli are selected first and second)
Getting that sort of guarantee, the chance to draft a player who could potentially be the face of their franchise for an extended period of time, might just be worth the pain of a nightmarish last-place season. Based on how each of those four players has started off their 2022-23 campaigns, it seems that even teams at the bottom of the standings will have something special to look forward to.
Ottawa Senators Activate Cam Talbot
It’s been a tough stretch for the Ottawa Senators, who now find themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings despite a positive goal differential. The team has lost three in a row and hasn’t gotten the goaltending they were hoping for so far.
Part of that is due to the absence of Cam Talbot, something that was rectified today as the Senators activated the veteran netminder from injured reserve. Talbot has been out since the beginning of October after arriving in Ottawa through an offseason trade with the Minnesota Wild.
While Anton Forsberg will still start tonight’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Talbot is going to dress and be the backup. He is expected to start on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 35-year-old Talbot has been a reliable option throughout his career, posting a .915 save percentage in nearly 400 regular season appearances. Last season with the Wild he went 32-12-4 with a .911 before essentially being replaced by deadline acquisition Marc-Andre Fleury.
Now with Ottawa, he should get a good chunk of the starts from here on out. If he can improve on the .909 that Forsberg has provided so far, the Senators look as though they can make some noise in a playoff chase.
One thing stopping them from doing that is the absence of defensive stalwart Artem Zub, who is still expected to miss another few games, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia.
Nashville Predators Recall Mark Jankowski
After Kiefer Sherwood cleared waivers, the Nashville Predators made an interesting roster swap. Mark Jankowski has been recalled from the AHL, with Sherwood going down in his place.
Jankowski, 28, was once a regular in the NHL, scoring 31 goals and 57 points over his first two seasons with the Calgary Flames. The first-round pick appeared to be a solid middle-six forward that could chip in offensively and use his 6’4″ frame to add some physicality.
It’s been several years since that was the case though, and Jankowski spent more time last season in the minor leagues than in the NHL. This year he settled for a one-year, two-way contract with the Predators that came with a huge minor league guarantee, suggesting that he would be spending most of his time with the Milwaukee Admirals.
Now, after scoring five goals and nine points in his first seven AHL games, Jankowski will join the big club as an extra forward. Whether he gets another chance to get his NHL career back on track remains to be seen but he couldn’t have done much more for Milwaukee to begin his year.
Kiefer Sherwood Clears Waivers
Nov 3: Sherwood has cleared, and can now be assigned to the minor leagues.
Nov 2: Not every NHL season will have two Kief(f)ers placed on waivers. After Kieffer Bellows was claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this year, Nashville Predators forward Kiefer Sherwood now finds himself on waivers, according to Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets.
Sherwood, 27, made the Predators roster rather unexpectedly out of training camp and has played in five games so far with the team. He has one goal (the first goal of the NHL season) and two points, but had found his way to the press box recently. After being re-inserted into the lineup yesterday and receiving just 9:18 of ice time, it appears as though he’s headed for the minor leagues.
Undrafted, Sherwood has 92 NHL games under his belt and was one of the AHL’s most dangerous players a year ago. He set new career highs with 36 goals and 75 points in 57 games for the Colorado Eagles, and appeared to be in the mix for full-time NHL minutes.
If someone claims him, that could still be possible, but given the face that he cleared twice last season, he’s probably headed to the minors.
Evgenii Dadonov Moved To Injured Reserve; Joel Edmundson Activated
The Montreal Canadiens have moved Evgenii Dadonov to injured reserve, clearing the way for the activation of Joel Edmundson. The veteran defenseman no longer appears on the injured reserve list on the NHL media site, but John Lu of TSN reports that he will be a game-time decision.
Dadonov’s placement is interesting, as Eric Engels of Sportsnet suggested that the forward may end up on waivers today to clear room for Edmundson and referred to this transaction as “kicking the can down the road.”
The 33-year-old Dadonov has essentially played his way out of the mix in Montreal with zero points through eight games. He’s only taken ten shots on goal during that stretch and saw his minutes reduced to fewer than 12 before ending up in the press box as a healthy scratch.
It seems that his time in Montreal might be running out, though they’ll now have a little bit of flexibility to make a decision. With a $5MM cap hit it seems unlikely that there would be much of a trade market for Dadonov, even if he did score 20 goals last season. Notably, he’s actually making $6.5MM in salary this season in the final year of his contract.
Seattle Kraken Re-Assign Christopher Gibson
Nov 3: With Jones rejoining the team, Gibson has been sent back to the AHL.
Nov 1: According to the team’s public relations department, the Seattle Kraken have recalled goaltender Christopher Gibson from the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Gibson, who had been playing on an AHL contract with the Firebirds to start the season, signed with the Kraken late last week and subsequently cleared waivers.
Exactly why the team has opted to recall Gibson at this point is unclear, and it could mean more bad news on the injury front for a team already reeling from both Philipp Grubauer‘s and Chris Driedger‘s absences. It could also mean that the team is giving current starter Martin Jones the night off as he and his wife welcomed a child last week, with Joey Daccord already expected to start tonight in Calgary. In that case, Gibson is purely up for a day or two to serve as the backup before he can be immediately returned to Coachella Valley, given he cleared waivers less than 30 days ago.
Gibson, 29, has a less-than-stellar .706 save percentage in two appearances with Coachella Valley so far, also credited with one loss. The minor-league veteran has 16 NHL appearances under his belt, the majority of which came with the New York Islanders in the mid-to-late 2010s. He has an NHL career goals-against average of 3.33, a save percentage of .903 and a 4-5-3 record.
Jeremy Swayman Out Week-To-Week
The Boston Bruins will be in the hands of Linus Ullmark for the next little while, as Jeremy Swayman is out on a week-to-week basis and has returned to Boston for evaluation. Derek Forbort is also out week-to-week, though the team will have an official announcement on his status later today, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.
David Krejci and Craig Smith are day-to-day and could be available for Saturday’s game.
The Bruins recalled Keith Kinkaid yesterday, signaling that it would be a little while for Swayman to get back in the net. The 23-year-old was off to a shaky start to the year with ten goals allowed on just 82 shots but is a key part of the team’s goaltending tandem.
Ullmark meanwhile has been outstanding, posting a .932 save percentage through eight appearances, winning all seven of his starts. While the Bruins won’t want to overload the 29-year-old, as he has never started more than 41 games in a single season, he’s certainly more than capable of carrying the load for a little while.
Filip Bratt Released From AHL Contract
The Utica Comets have released Filip Bratt from his AHL contract, allowing him to return to Sweden if he so chooses. The young defenseman had played three games for their ECHL affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder.
Bratt, 20, is the younger brother of New Jersey Devils star Jesper Bratt and had agreed to a two-way minor league deal this fall. Undrafted, he had worked his way up to the Swedish second league the last two seasons and appeared to at least have a chance of sticking in North America.
Maybe he will try again in a few years, but a release at this point usually suggests a return to Europe. Given that he won’t turn 21 until May, there’s still plenty of development time left for the younger Bratt.
Remember, his brother was also something of a late bloomer, selected 162nd overall in his draft year and playing an extra year in the second tier before bursting onto the NHL scene in 2017.
KHL Contract Terminated For Chris Bigras
A long-time AHL defenseman may be on his way home. The KHL announced today that Barys Astana has terminated its deal with Chris Bigras after 23 games. Bigras is a free agent once again.
The 27-year-old was once a highly regarded prospect for the Colorado Avalanche, selected 32nd overall in 2013. He would make it to the NHL at the age of 20, but failed to stick around for long. In 46 career games, all with Colorado, he has four points.
In the AHL, Bigras has played 279 games and racked up 120 points. Amazingly, he hasn’t suited up for a single playoff game during that time – even despite winning a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves last season.
During those 23 games for Astana, he generated just a single assist and was a -8 rating, something that was even included in the termination announcement. His time there was certainly not very productive, and now he enters the free agent market again partway through the season.