St. Louis Blues Sign Nathan Todd
After an impressive performance in the Calder Cup playoffs, Nathan Todd is back with the St. Louis Blues organization on a one-year, two-way contract. Despite being 26, he did not qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency as his 2021-22 contract was the first of his NHL career, and thus was an RFA this summer.
When teams talk about how the ECHL offers a chance for long-term player development, helping those who slip through the cracks work on their game at the professional level, it’s players like Todd who are the positive examples.
When his draft year came around in 2014, he hadn’t even played in the OHL yet, playing junior with the Brockville Braves of the CCHL to that point instead. After two good years with the Ottawa 67’s he made the jump to pro hockey and eventually found his way to the Brampton Beast, where he became a difference-maker at center.
Now established as a full-time AHLer, he had 11 points in 18 games for the Thunderbirds in their long playoff run and will return as a key part of the group next season. A contract like this means he could potentially even get an NHL call-up, which would be quite the impressive climb for the 26-year-old.
Detroit Red Wings Sign Robert Hagg
The Detroit Red Wings have added a little more defensive depth, signing Robert Hagg to a one-year, one-way contract. Hagg will earn $800K in the 2022-23 season.
Hagg, 27, was swapped twice in the last year, first as part of the Buffalo Sabres’ return from the Philadelphia Flyers for Rasmus Ristolainen, and then to the Florida Panthers at the deadline for a sixth-round pick. He’ll see his salary cut in half after carrying a $1.6MM cap hit the last two seasons, and joins an organization where it is not immediately clear how much playing time is available.
The Red Wings have already added Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, Mark Pysyk, and Steven Kampfer this offseason, and have several prospects pushing for NHL playing time. No matter how it shakes out, Hagg offers 300 games of NHL experience, an intimidating physical presence, and a propensity for blocking shots. That kind of versatility could be of use on the bottom pair, though it’s hard to imagine him playing big minutes on the upstart Red Wings, who appear ready to start challenging for a postseason position once again.
In his 300-game career, Hagg has racked up nearly 900 hits and 500 blocked shots, while contributing just 56 points. He won’t contribute much offensively, but he and Chiarot could form quite the intimidating shorthanded pair, making life miserable for players in front of the net.
Ottawa Senators Sign Jayce Hawryluk
3:00 PM: The Senators have officially announced the signing. Senators GM Pierre Dorion gave the following short statement on Hawryluk:
Jayce is someone with whom the organization has familiarity. He has a strong work ethic, is tenacious and is someone who will fit in seamlessly with our group. Given his near 100 games of NHL experience, his addition provides a nice depth element to our roster.
11:02 AM After spending last season in Sweden, Jayce Hawryluk is coming home. The Ottawa Senators have signed the free agent forward to a one-year, two-way contract according to PuckPedia. The deal will pay him $750K in the NHL and $170K in the minor leagues.
Hawryluk, 26, will be familiar to Senators fans not only for the 11 games he played for the franchise in 2019-20 but also for his fight with Erik Brannstrom during the end of the 2020-21 season. It was a surprising sight for both players, and now they’ll get some time to discuss it at training camp.
In 39 games for Skelleftea AIK this season, Hawryluk managed eight goals and 19 points, probably not quite what he imagined from his international sojourn. He’ll now come back to play in North America where he has been quite effective in the minor leagues. The last time he spent more than a few matches in the AHL, Hawryluk scored 32 points in 31 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds.
There’s no guarantee that the AHL is where he’s headed though, as the Senators do need a couple of players for the bottom six. Even once they sign restricted free agents Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph, they’ll have just nine forwards on one-way contracts. There are plenty of young options in the system, but a player like Hawryluk could have an inside track for a fourth-line spot given his experience.
Even if he doesn’t make the team out of camp, it’s likely that you’ll see him in the lineup at some point this year. For the league minimum, he’s a nice depth piece to add to the organization.
Seattle Kraken Sign Michal Kempny
July 25: Seattle has officially announced the contract, adding Kempny to the organization.
July 24: The Seattle Kraken have added another player, signing defenseman Michal Kempny to a one-year, one-way $750K deal, according to CapFriendly.
Kempny, 31, won the Stanley Cup in 2018 with the Washington Capitals, playing a decently-sized role on their veteran defense. Since that point, Kempny has struggled in larger roles and fallen down the depth chart in Washington, to the point where he split time between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, in 2021-22.
The 31-year-old native of Czechia is an undrafted player who once looked like a potential middle-of-the-lineup NHL defenseman. Nowadays, though, he’s more of a depth player, and he’ll likely battle with Cale Fleury and Gustav Olofsson for the seventh defenseman slot in Kraken training camp. In Washington this year, Kempny skated in 15 games and notched two points, playing just under 16 minutes of ice time per game and just over a minute on the penalty kill. In the AHL, Kempny was able to handle a larger role and acted as the Bears’ number-one defenseman in the games he played. In Hershey, Kempny led the Bears in time-on-ice per game and saw significant minutes on their penalty kill.
In Seattle, Kempny will either win a training-camp battle and make the opening night roster, or the Kraken will hope he clears waivers and is able to be sent to their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. If the latter scenario comes about, Kempny will likely play as a top-pairing defenseman in the AHL and be one of the team’s first call-ups if injuries hit their blueline. At a $750k cap hit, Kempny is a wise signing for a Kraken team looking to improve upon a dismal first season.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Trevor Carrick
One of the most consistent defensemen in the AHL has found his way to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning have signed Trevor Carrick to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2022-23 season. CapFriendly reports the deal is worth $750K in the NHL, $250K in the AHL and includes a $350K minor league guarantee.
Carrick, 28, has spent the last two seasons with the San Diego Gulls, racking up 42 points in 100 games. A Calder Cup champion with the Charlotte Checkers in 2019, the veteran minor league defenseman is a mix of skill and physicality that can help any organization.
In nearly 500 regular season AHL contests, he has scored 61 goals and 246 points, while racking up 514 penalty minutes. That includes 26 fighting majors, as the 6’2″ defenseman is not one to shy away from dropping his gloves when needed.
For Tampa Bay, Carrick likely represents nothing more than minor league depth, given he has just seven NHL games in his career, though the team has shown a willingness to give defensemen that have been otherwise overlooked a bit of ice time. Perhaps he’ll get into a handful of games this season but more likely he’s headed to the Syracuse Crunch, where he can add some veteran presence to the group.
Buddy Robinson Signs With Chicago Blackhawks
July 25: A week later, the Blackhawks officially announced the contract for Robinson.
July 18: If you’re a minor league veteran looking for a chance to play at the NHL level, there might be no better place than the Chicago Blackhawks. It makes sense then why Buddy Robinson has, according to PuckPedia, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the club for the 2022-23 season. The deal will carry an NHL salary of $750K and an AHL salary of $475K.
Robinson, 30, actually played more this season with the Anaheim Ducks than the rest of his career combined, suiting up 32 times and scoring six points. The 6’6″ forward has been a consistent offensive presence in the minor leagues for years, but rarely had the opportunity to show what he could do at the highest level. In 490 games in the AHL, playing for the Binghamton Senators, San Jose Barracuda, Manitoba Moose, Stockton Heat, and San Diego Gulls, Robinson has scored 120 goals and 259 points, while also racking up 461 penalty minutes.
The Blackhawks have made it very clear through their offseason moves that while they aren’t likely to be competitive at the NHL level, the Rockford IceHogs should be a force to be reckoned with in the AHL. Robinson should only add to that minor league strength–unless of course, he lands himself an NHL job in training camp.
That’s certainly possible, given the way things are shaking out in Chicago. There are lots of players competing for spots, but few real difference-makers or proven commodities. Especially after the trade deadline, when several pieces are expected to be moved, there will likely be playing time available for players like Robinson.
Washington Capitals Hire Scott Allen
The Washington Capitals have hired Scott Allen as an assistant coach to replace Scott Arniel, after the latter moved to the Winnipeg Jets this offseason.
Allen, 56, has plenty of experience with the organization, having served as an assistant and then head coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate. He’ll now move up the chain to join Peter Laviolette‘s NHL squad, joining assistants Kevin McCarthy and Blaine Forsythe.
This isn’t his first time at this level. The veteran coach has been on the bench with the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, and Arizona Coyotes in the past, and has a long history in the ECHL and AHL.
In his new role, he will be responsible for coaching the forwards in Washington and running the penalty kill, two things that haven’t really been a problem for the team recently. The Capitals ranked 12th in the league last season on the penalty kill and scored the tenth most goals in the league.
Detroit Red Wings Extend AHL Affiliation
The Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins are a perfect match, and they won’t be splitting up anytime soon. The teams announced a five-year extension of their affiliation agreement today, continuing through at least the 2026-27 season.
It’s already been two decades since the teams first partnered, nearly the entire history of the Griffins since arriving in the AHL. In fact, the success of the Griffins and their geographical proximity to Detroit has been emulated by many teams around the league, who have sought to bring their minor league programs closer to home.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman released a statement:
Grand Rapids continues to be a model franchise both on and off the ice and we’re excited to continue our partnership. The winning culture established by the Griffins is extremely beneficial for the development of our young players and the fans in Grand Rapids do a tremendous job creating an exciting atmosphere to support the growth of our players.
That winning culture has resulted in two Calder Cup championships in the last decade, as Grand Rapids took down the Syracuse Crunch in both 2013 and 2017 to hoist the trophy. Even as that success has waned in the last few years, the development program there has still been a huge boon for the Red Wings.
Perhaps there has been no better example of late than Moritz Seider, who spent the entire 2019-20 season with the Griffins after being selected sixth overall. Not only did he make an impact for Grand Rapids but you could see his incredible development as soon as he hit the ice the following season, stepping into the SHL and dominating at both ends of the ice. After winning rookie of the year in the NHL, Seider is set to become another top alumnus of the program.
Carolina Hurricanes Sign William Lagesson
The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with William Lagesson, who had hit the open market as a Group VI unrestricted free agent. The deal will be a one-year, two-way contract worth $750K in the NHL, $225K in the AHL, and includes a $275K minor league guarantee. General manager Don Waddell released a short statement on the deal:
Lagesson provides a strong, physical presence on the blue line. He has plenty of NHL and AHL games under his belt and adds to the experience of our defensive unit.
Now 26, Lagesson was a fourth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers back in 2014 and took a very interesting path to the NHL. After being picked out of the Swedish junior leagues, he played a year in the USHL and two in the NCAA before returning to the SHL in 2017-18. Two more seasons starting in the AHL and he was finally ready to make his debut with the Oilers, nearly six years after being picked.
Since then, he has played in 60 games at the NHL level, including three with the Montreal Canadiens after being part of the return for Brett Kulak earlier this year.
Now in Carolina, he’ll serve as useful depth and could even battle for a final roster spot depending on what happens with Ethan Bear, who has been in trade rumors for the past several weeks. While he likely won’t play in every game, Lagesson will probably get a chance to hit the ice at least a handful of times with the Hurricanes and show that he can handle himself at the highest level.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Isac Lundestrom
The Anaheim Ducks have avoided arbitration with restricted free agent Isac Lundestrom, reaching a two-year agreement worth a total of $3.6MM. Lundestrom was scheduled for the first arbitration hearing of the summer on Wednesday and would have had to file salary figures later today. That hearing will no longer be required.
While everyone was watching Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, and Jamie Drysdale in Anaheim this year, Lundestrom quietly had a strong season in his own right. He actually ranked fourth on the team in goals with 16 despite tough defensive deployment and showed he could be a real difference-maker on the penalty kill. His four short-handed tallies trailed only Alex Formenton and Trevor Moore (who both had five) for the league lead, and his other 12 goals all came at even-strength.
In more than 1,000 even-strength minutes, Lundestrom was on the ice for only 43 goals against despite starting just 135 of his nearly 1,500 shifts in the offensive zone. With Ryan Strome joining the team in free agency, it appears as though the 22-year-old will stay in that defensive role, for the time being, giving the Ducks a rather deep group down the middle.
At a $1.8MM cap hit, there is a real opportunity for some surplus value in this case too, especially if his knack for goal scoring continues. It also gives the team a chance to sign him to a longer deal down the road, as he’ll still be a restricted free agent at its expiry.
The Ducks don’t have many long-term commitments at this point, with only Strome, Cam Fowler, Frank Vatrano, and John Gibson signed to one-way contracts through 2024-25. With Zegras, Terry, and Drysdale now eligible for extensions, that could be changing soon. Getting Lundestrom locked in at a relatively low price will give the team a little more understanding of how much they have to work with next season.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet broke the news on Twitter.