Michael Misa Selected First Overall In OHL Draft
The next exceptional status player is on his way, as Michael Misa was announced as the first-overall pick in the upcoming OHL draft. The Saginaw Spirit, who won the lottery to select first, confirmed that Misa would be their selection, despite the draft not actually being held until Friday evening.
Misa, 15, is the sixth player to be granted exceptional status by the OHL and eighth overall. He joins John Tavares, Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, and Shane Wright as those who have been selected first in the OHL draft following that status. Sean Day, the other exceptional status player for that league, went fourth to the Mississauga Steelheads in 2013.
While many will point to Day–who only made his NHL debut this season after being selected in the third round by the New York Rangers in 2016–as proof that the exceptional status moniker doesn’t necessarily guarantee future success, three of the other players given it in the OHL ended up going first overall in their respective NHL drafts, and Wright is expected to continue that trend this year. Misa will now carry that pressure as the “next one” after a brilliant performance at the OHL Cup, where he tallied 20 points in just seven games, winning the tournament MVP and tying the all-time record.
Not eligible for selection into the NHL until 2025, the young Oakville native will still have to prove it at the OHL level before anyone puts him at the top of a draft board. Ending up in Saginaw means he won’t have to deal with his older brother Luke Misa as much, as he plays for the Mississauga Steelheads in the league’s other conference.
He’ll also have the pressure of turning Saginaw into a contender. The Spirit went 24-43-1 this season and have never won an OHL championship in their history, going only as far as the third round in 2019 when they were led by the likes of Cole Perfetti and Owen Tippett.
AHL Shuffle: 04/28/22
We’re just a few days away from the end of the regular season but there are still quite a few games to get on the books. Today has nine matches, including an important match between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. In fact, it could be a potential first-round preview should the Predators end up with the second wild card spot. Currently one point behind the Stars, Nashville is also without starting goaltender Juuse Saros.
As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling right here.
Atlantic Division
- The Laval Rocket will get Cayden Primeau back in time for tonight’s game, as the goaltender was sent down by the Montreal Canadiens. With the Canadiens off until tomorrow, Primeau could be called back up, depending on the health of the other goaltenders.
- Nicholas Robertson has been returned to the minor leagues, with the Toronto Marlies trying to clinch a playoff spot this evening. The 20-year-old forward played just over 12 minutes on Tuesday, but is still looking for his second NHL goal.
- The Buffalo Sabres recalled netminder Aaron Dell from the Rochester Americans again today as they deal with injuries in the crease. As starter Craig Anderson remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, the Sabres have swapped Dell and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out for one another multiple times now over the past week.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
Pacific Division
- The Seattle Kraken have sent Cale Fleury and Joey Daccord back to the AHL, two players that will be able to help the Charlotte Checkers on their Calder Cup chase. The Checkers were one of the AHL’s best teams with a 42-24-6 record this season but still don’t know who they will face in the first round. Because they were on the AHL roster at the trade deadline, both players are eligible to suit up in the postseason.
- The Edmonton Oilers have recalled Philip Broberg, giving them another defenseman to help finish out the season. With Darnell Nurse out for the moment, the team needs some bodies to play the last two games, games that are essentially meaningless as they already hold the tiebreaker over the third-place Los Angeles Kings.
- The Arizona Coyotes sent forward Jan Jenik back to the Tucson Roadrunners today to end the season. Jenik had three points in 13 games with the Coyotes this season.
This page is updated throughout the day
Anton Bengtsson Drawing NHL Interest
After nearly a decade playing in the SHL, Anton Bengtsson may be ready to test the North American waters. The veteran forward is drawing NHL interest, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, who notes that it would be for a bottom-six role.
Bengtsson, 28, is coming off easily the best season of his career, scoring 20 goals and 39 points in 49 games for Rogle BK. He’d previously reached career highs of just 13 and 19 respectively, meaning this year sticks out as a huge outlier. Still, with ten seasons of experience in one of the most structured and successful leagues in the world, it makes sense for an NHL team to at least give him an opportunity to prove what he can do in North America.
While Andrei Kuzmenko seems to be the talk of the town among European free agents–Friedman notes that interviews with teams will begin after the U18 tournament that is currently underway in Germany–Bengtsson represents part of the next level of talent that teams can pick through to try and add depth to their organization.
We’ve seen countless players like him come and struggle in the NHL but also some that find immediate success. Perhaps in the right spot Bengtsson will fall into the latter category and can provide some strong two-way play in a limited role.
Metropolitan Notes: Marchenko, Morehouse, Panarin, Copp
It is only a matter of time now before prospect Kirill Marchenko officially signs with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marchenko, 21, has finished his KHL season, as SKA St. Petersburg fell in the conference finals of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, and he isn’t wasting any time making his next move. While his contract does not officially end until April 30, like many of his SKA teammates Marchenko is already negotiating his next deal. Russian source Sport Express reports that Marchenko will soon sign his two-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets. The 2018 second round pick is coming off a 20-point KHL season, finish fifth for St. Petersburg in scoring – a notable feat for a player of his age in a league with many accomplished veterans. A big, rangy winger with a goal scorer’s mentality, Marchenko figures to be yet another young impact player next season for a Columbus team that will have Yegor Chinakhov, Cole Sillinger, and Kent Johnson up front as well.
- After 16 years on the job and contributing to three Stanley Cup titles, Pittsburgh Penguins CEO David Morehouse has stepped down, the team announced. The Penguins’ release states that Morehouse made the decision himself, though the move comes not long after the team was sold to the Fenway Sports Group which may have played a role. Morehouse, a Pittsburgh native, joined the team in 2007 to spearhead the arena construction project that became Consol Energy Center and now PPG Paints Arena. Not only did Morehouse oversee the construction of the arena, but played a key role in filling the seats as well. Morehouse played a role in a number of strategic initiative and capital projects that have taken advantage of the Penguins’ lengthy stretch of consistent success to help build one of the NHL’s most valuable franchises.
- Artemi Panarin and Andrew Copp both left Tuesday night’s game between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes due to injury, but head coach Gerard Gallant was adamant that these were precautionary measures. He told NHL.com’s Dan Rosen that both would have returned if it was a playoff game. There is reason to be skeptical of these comments though. First, last night’s game was virtually a playoff game; the Rangers faced the Hurricanes in a must-win for New York if they hoped to take the division crown from Carolina. Even more interesting though was the Rangers’ lineup for tonight’s game. New York understandably kept a number of starters in the press box for the contest with Tuesday’s loss cementing their playoff position. However, rather than listed as a health scratch like the rest, Panarin and Copp were listed as injured. Rosen reports that Panarin is out with an upper-body issue and Copp with a lower-body issue. In case this ends up being a strategic move by the Rangers to downplay these injuries ahead of a seven-game series, the health of Panarin and Copp bears watching.
Winnipeg Jets Sign Chaz Lucius To Entry-Level Contract
In a surprising turn of events, the Winnipeg Jets have announced that vaunted prospect Chaz Lucius has signed his three-year entry-level contract with the club. The deal will start with the 2022-23 season and will carry a $925K base salary and $1.325MM AAV. The 2021 first-round pick will depart the University of Minnesota after just one year.
Lucius’ signing comes as a surprise for a plethora of reasons, but none greater than the fact that it was reported earlier this month that Lucius would remain at Minnesota for at least one more year. That decision seemed reasonable, as the 18-year-old played in just 24 games in his freshman year to the tune of only 19 points; not exactly numbers that begged for an early exit from the college ranks. Lucius is still a rather raw prospect, jumping directly from the U.S. National Team Development program to the NCAA and now to the pros in just two years time. It seems especially odd that the decision was made so long after the end of the collegiate season.
On top of developmental reasons, it also would have been more than fair for Lucius to want to stay at Minnesota for another year given what’s on the horizon in 2022-23. The Gophers were a Frozen Four finalist this season and plan to return much of their core. Then there is the incoming recruiting class, which could wind up being the best in the NCAA and includes one name in particular of interest: Cruz Lucius. Chaz’ younger brother, who is also a USNTDP product, will arrive at Minnesota next season, where he was expected to play alongside his sibling. Before then, he is expected to be a second- or third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Cruz is part of a group of elite U.S. prospects joining the Gophers, including presumptive top-five pick Logan Cooley and potential first-round selections Jimmy Snuggerud and Ryan Chesley, not to mention several other draft hopefuls.
Minnesota will be especially happy for their loaded incoming class now that they are losing one of their top building blocks in Lucius. The likely reason for the departure could be Lucius’ ongoing health concerns. Though he flashes elite ability when he is on the ice, Lucius has been notoriously injury-prone so far in his young career. He played only 24 games this season, missing much of the second half of the season and the Gophers’ entire NCAA Tournament run. In 2020-21, he only suited up for 25 games with the USNTDP. For Lucius to reach his potential, he needs to get into more games and the Jets likely feel that getting him in front of an NHL medical staff and training team is the best way to do that. Although there will likely be a steep adjustment to the pros at this point in his development, Winnipeg can at least ensure that he spends the year adding to his frame and improving his conditioning, easier to do without the distractions of college life.
Also worth noting is that Lucius did show immense improvement as his freshman season wore on. After recording just one goal and three points in his first eight NCAA games, the skilled forward was a point per game player over his next 16 games, including tallying eight goals. Even in limited action over the past two years, Lucius has proven that he has top-end talent and the Jets simply might not have wanted to wait for him to develop slowly at the college level when they can use affordable scorers on the NHL roster as soon as possible. Yet – health issues aside – it feels as though one more year at Minnesota likely would have done Lucius well. Perhaps the youngster will spend time with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks next year – his CHL rights holder is another avenue now that he has signed – but that would also run counter to the idea of the Jets keeping a closer eye on him. Whatever happens next, hopefully Winnipeg didn’t pull the trigger too soon trying to benefit the present at the cost of the future.
Snapshots: Player Poll, OHL Awards, Price
The NHLPA released the results of their annual Player Poll, which takes the temperature of players around the league on a variety of topics. More than 42 percent of the league, for instance, would pick Connor McDavid if they had to win one game and needed to choose a single skater. McDavid lags well behind Sidney Crosby in terms of the “most complete player” according to the players, as nearly 30 percent of them voted for the Pittsburgh Penguins captain in that category.
While some of those answers may not surprise, the poll also includes things like which NHL arena has the best ice, which player has the best “hockey hair,” and which non-NHL athlete they would like to trade places with. It’s a fun exercise that certainly can cause some heated debate among fans.
- Meanwhile, the OHL released the results of their own polling, this time for the league’s award finalists. Wyatt Johnston and Brandon Coe are the finalists for the Red Tilson Trophy, given to the Most Outstanding Player. Johnston, a first-round pick by the Dallas Stars in 2021, scored 124 points in 68 games for the Windsor Spitfires, while Coe, a fourth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks, had 101 in 62. Cam Allen and David Goyette are the Rookie of the Year finalists, though the former won’t even be eligible for the NHL draft until 2023. Goyette, 18, was ranked 35th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
- After it came to light yesterday that Carey Price would consult with his surgeon about his knee, many eyebrows raised around the hockey world. The veteran goaltender only just made his return to the ice recently, playing in four games for the Montreal Canadiens. While he’s only listed as day-to-day, Price’s visit should raise some concern, according to Eric Engels of Sportsnet, who questions the future of the netminder in the NHL should he be facing another long rehab. Price is signed through the 2025-26 season and carries a cap hit of $10.5MM.
Los Angeles Kings Activate Mikey Anderson From LTIR
The Los Angeles Kings are getting a reinforcement just in time for the playoffs. The team has activated Mikey Anderson from long-term injured reserve, making him available for tonight’s game against the Seattle Kraken.
Anderson, 22, has become a staple in the Kings lineup over the last calendar year and was averaging more than 20 minutes a night before he was hurt in early March. Last appearing in a game on March 7, he collided with Brad Marchand and ended up needing help off the ice. Placed on LTIR soon after, he’s played just 55 games this season.
Since entering the league, he had quickly established himself as a legitimate shutdown defenseman, pairing with Drew Doughty for the vast majority of his minutes in the NHL. While he had just seven points before going down, his responsible nature and penalty-killing ability was a huge loss to the Kings, who suddenly found themselves down several key defensemen through the middle part of the season.
Now with Doughty done for the season following surgery, it will be interesting to see Anderson line up with a new partner. In his career to this point he has spent more than 1,400 minutes beside the Kings’ star defenseman; the next closest is Tobias Bjornfot, with 245 minutes together.
Russian, Belarusian Players Ineligible For CHL Import Draft
Last year, 16 Russian and 11 Belarusian prospects were selected in the CHL Import Draft. This year, there will be none. According to several reports including Darren Dreger of TSN, Jeff Marek of Sportsnet, and Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, the CHL is set to announce that players from Russia and Belarus will be declared ineligible for this year’s draft. The change will not affect players already on protected lists, like those selected last year.
For many international players, coming to the CHL early is a way to acclimatize yourself to North American hockey and get in front of higher-level hockey operations executives. Slovakian-born Martin Chromiak, for instance, was the second overall pick in the 2019 Import Draft and has now become one of the most exciting prospects in the OHL, scoring 44 goals and 86 points this season for the Kingston Frontenacs. He even made it into a pair of AHL games last spring with the Los Angeles Kings, who managed to sign him without any trouble.
In 2018 it was Finnish-born Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who went third overall to the Sudbury Wolves after the Buffalo Sabres had already spent a second-round pick on him. He managed to win the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player before jumping directly into North American pro hockey.
The year before that, of course, was dominated by Russian players, including Andrei Svechnikov, who went first overall to the Barrie Colts. Because Svechnikov was already over in North America (he’d played 2016-17 in the USHL), the Carolina Hurricanes had no worry about making him the second overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He wasn’t under contract in the KHL and would immediately make the jump to the NHL level.
That is where this announcement could have an effect on NHL teams. With Russian and Belarusian players no longer able to come to the CHL (at least for the time being), they will pose a much bigger risk at the NHL Draft, given their uncertain futures. Many of them will have to find other places to showcase their talents, leading not only to clubs that will try to retain them, but also transfer rules that could send them back overseas even after signing entry-level contracts. For many, playing and developing in a league closer to where their professional futures lie is appealing.
The Import Draft will take place on July 1.
AHL Announces 2021-22 All-Rookie Team
With the AHL season coming to a close and the Calder Cup playoffs right around the corner, awards and accolades are starting to be handed out. Today, the league announced the 2021-22 All-Rookie Team, which is voted on by coaches, players, and media. Though not a guarantee of future NHL success, the AHL rookie team has a long history of star players including captains, Stanley Cup champions, and future Hall of Fame members.
The 2021-22 selections:
G Dustin Wolf, Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)
D Jack Rathbone, Abbotsford Canucks (Vancouver Canucks)
D Jordan Spence, Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)
F Jakob Pelletier, Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)
F J.J. Peterka, Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)
F Jack Quinn, Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)
While each of the winners is a player to keep an eye on, it’s once again Wolf that seems to stand out among the crowd. While the forwards are all high draft picks, and the defensemen fourth-round selections, Wolf has continued to impress since being the 214th overall pick in 2019. Selected with the fourth-last pick in the draft, the undersized netminder simply stops the puck better than almost all of his competitors.
This season, his first in the AHL, Wolf went 33-8-4 with a .924 save percentage, leading the entire league in wins. Given the fact that Calgary is also a true contender for the Stanley Cup, it’s incredibly impressive to have two players on the All-Rookie team this season.
In Buffalo, things are getting very exciting as a new wave of talent emerges to try and drag the organization back to the playoffs. Peterka and Quinn were both outstanding in their rookie years, with the latter actually scoring at a better rate than almost anyone else. Quinn’s 59 points in 44 games is a better per-game rate than any qualified player other than T.J. Tynan and Andrew Poturalski, the league’s best two forwards. With the other young talent already in Buffalo, things are looking up for the Sabres.
Juuse Saros Will Not Play Again In Regular Season
The Nashville Predators will not have star goaltender Juuse Saros for the last two games of the regular season, ruling him out today with a lower-body injury. Connor Ingram has been recalled to take his spot for the next few days, though it is not clear yet if Saros will be ready for the start of the postseason.
The 27-year-old, who has played in more games this season than any other netminder, left last night’s game against the Calgary Flames in the third period after sustaining what appeared to be an injury to his left leg. There was no update given (and likely none forthcoming) from head coach John Hynes after the game, but if he misses any extended length of time, the Predators would obviously be in trouble.
With 67 appearances, Saros has been incredibly important to a Predators team that is still jockeying for position in the Western Conference playoff race. Two games remain and they are currently tied with the Dallas Stars in the wild card chase, meaning they’ll play either the Colorado Avalanche or Calgary Flames in round one, depending on how the next two games go.
Given how much responsibility Saros has received, it’s hard to fathom the Predators competing without him. David Rittich, the normal backup, has posted an .883 save percentage in 16 appearances, only 11 of them starts. Ingram, the third-string option, has a .906 save percentage in two career NHL games. While improbable goaltending stories seem to happen every year, filling Saros’ pads would be an extremely difficult ask for either one.
Hopefully, at least for Nashville’s sake, the next week is enough rest to get him back into the net. The team will finish their regular season schedule on Friday.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images