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Utah Injury Notes: Marino, O’Brien

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Utah Hockey Club defender John Marino will miss tonight’s game against the Kraken due to an illness, per Brogan Houston of Desert News Sports. Houston adds that there is an illness circulating through the locker room, so it will be interesting to monitor if additional players are impacted to the point of missed time. Just yesterday head coach Andre Tourigny noted Marino would be day-to-day with an upper body injury after taking a puck to the head in Saturday’s contest against the Jets, also per Houston.

In 34 games on the year, Marino has recorded one goal and 14 points. It’s been a tough first season with the franchise for Marino, as he sustained an injury in training camp that eventually resulted in surgery in October. Marino didn’t appear in a game until January.

Utah acquired Marino, 27, from the Devils during the 2024 draft in exchange for a second-round pick. Marino burst onto the scene as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who then signed him to a six-year, $26.4MM contract in 2021. The Penguins then dealt the defender to the New Jersey Devils, where he established himself as an anchor on their back end, and Marino has slowly taken on that responsibility for Utah during the second half of this season. Although he’s missed more than half of the team’s games this season, his current average of 21:10 of ice time per night represents the highest average of his six-year career. While the club is all but assured to miss the playoffs this season, Marino will be a key piece for Utah moving forward.

Tourigny also provided an updated on injured forward Liam O’Brien, noting “there’s a chance” he returns before the end of the season, per Belle Fraser of the Salt Lake Tribune. The enforcer sustained a lower-body during a March 13 contest against Seattle, and the team announced his recovery time would be four-plus weeks, putting his return in question.

On the season, O’Brien has two points and 50 penalty minutes in 27 games. After recording a career-high 14 points and league-leading 153 PIMs in 75 games for the Coyotes last season, Utah signed O’Brien to a three-year, $3MM extension in June.

Jets’ Prospect Chaz Lucius Announces Retirement

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In an unfortunate announcement from Newport Sports Management Inc., Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Chaz Lucius is retiring from hockey due to medical concerns.

The announcement shared a statement from Chaz, where he openly shared his recent Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome diagnosis. In the statement, Chaz wrote,

“It is with great disappointment that I am announcing my retirement from playing professional hockey. Recently, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which is a hereditary disorder that affects the connective tissue that stabilizes and supports the joints and organs throughout the body. As I struggled with incurring and recovering from various joint injuries over the past several years, I had thought I was just unlucky. With this diagnosis of EDS, I now realize that my body impacted by EDS could not handle the physical nature of playing hockey. Given this condition, my injury history, and the physical nature of hockey, I have been medically advised not to continue to play.“

In response, the Jets put out an immediate press release saying,

“After much discussion and consultation with Chaz, his representatives, and medical professionals, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club fully supports his difficult decision to retire. Chaz’s condition and struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) put him at risk of injury if he continues to play at the professional level, so we understand his choice. We wish Chaz all the best in his efforts to be an advocate for those dealing with EDS and hope for a bright future in front of him.“

Winnipeg selected Lucius with the 18th overall selection of the 2021 NHL Draft after an impressive few years with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTD). During his draft season, Lucius scored 13 goals and 18 points in 12 games playing for the USHL’s USNTD program and another 13 goals and 20 points in 13 games with the U.S. National U18 team.

He spent one year with the heralded University of Minnesota, scoring nine goals and 19 points in 24 contests with a +5 rating. Unfortunately, the Golden Gophers were eliminated in the Regional Finals of the National Tournament to in-state rival, Minnesota State University.

That was the end of Lucius’s time as a top prospect with Winnipeg. As he alluded to in his statement, Lucius has suffered a string of injuries over the last several years that have limited him to only 54 contests with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose since the 2022-23 season. Still, when healthy, Lucius was an effective secondary scorer, managing seven goals and 27 points.

There should understandably be some grace for Lucius when it comes to his inability to stay healthy during that stretch. Had he remained healthy throughout his professional career, the generic wear-and-tear that comes with professional ice hockey could have led to some long-standing physical issues when it comes to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Although it’s not the path he likely envisioned for himself, we at PHR send our congratulations to Lucius for being one of the rare few able to play even one game of professional hockey in North America and wish him the best for his next chapter.

Metro Notes: Hamilton, Hurricanes, Penguins

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Heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, the New Jersey Devils will be without their top forward and defenseman. However, it may not be long before the latter returns. Earlier today, Peter Baugh of The Athletic relayed a note from the Devils’ head coach, Sheldon Keefe, indicating Dougie Hamilton could return for Round One.

Originally, Hamilton had been ruled out for the regular season in mid-March, with a projected return date of Round Two of the postseason. A week ago, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Hamilton was recovering faster than expected, with the likelihood of a Round One return increasing exponentially now that he’s returned to skating.

There’s no question the Devils could use him. Hamilton scored nine goals and 40 points in 63 games for New Jersey this season, with 15 coming on the team’s powerplay. The Devils have slowed down since Hamilton and forward Jack Hughes exited the lineup, while their projected Round One opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes, have managed a 9-4-0 record since the trade deadline, meaning New Jersey will need every advantage available.

Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:

  • Speaking of Carolina, the Hurricanes are expected to welcome forwards Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov back to the lineup for tonight’s contest against the Buffalo Sabres. Staal and Svechnikov had missed a handful of games for Carolina over the past week. Unfortunately, in the report from Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer, the Hurricanes are expected to be without center Jesperi Kotkaniemi for the next week. Still, Alexander did reiterate a sentiment from head coach Rod Brind’Amour indicating it’s not a serious ailment for Kotkaniemi.
  • Earlier today, Seth Rorabaugh of The Tribune Review contextualized Matthew Nieto’s emergency recall last night. Rorabaugh reports that forward Philip Tomasino has been diagnosed with a concussion, and forward Blake Lizotte is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Unfortunately, the concussion will likely result in the end of Tomasino’s 2024-25 season. Still, he’s had a promising run with the Penguins since being acquired from the Predators earlier in the year, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 48 contests with the new organization.

Vancouver Canucks Reassign Jonathan Lekkerimaki

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Earlier today, the Vancouver Canucks announced they’ve reassigned forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki to their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. Now that the Calder Cup playoffs are around the corner, Lekkerimaki may finish the year with Abbotsford.

Lekkerimaki has been rostered with the Canucks since the trade deadline. Before then, he had been a frequent call-up in November and January, scoring two goals and one assist in his first 11 contests. Unfortunately, he hasn’t broken out in any meaningful way with more consistency in the NHL, scoring one goal and two assists in 13 games between March 5th and April 5th.

To say the least, it’s been a difficult transition for a prospect Vancouver was understandably high on entering the 2024-25 campaign. The Canucks drafted Lekkerimaki with the 15th overall selection of the 2022 NHL Draft, and brought him to North America toward the end of last season.

Still, he’s performed up to par at the AHL level. Throughout the year, Lekkerimaki has scored 19 goals and 28 points in 32 games for AHL Abbotsford, which is good for 16th in points-per-game average among AHL rookies.

The transition to the NHL can be intimidating, and it’s clearly impacted Lekkerimaki’s performance this year. Hopefully, for Vancouver’s sake, Lekkerimaki will feel comfortable down the stretch with AHL Abbotsford and regain the confidence he’ll need to succeed at the NHL level.

San Jose Sharks Reassign Collin Graf

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According to a team announcement, the San Jose Sharks have reassigned forward Collin Graf to their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. Graf is not expected to play in the NHL again this season.

Graf had a quality longer-term stay with the Sharks this season. He scored five goals and 11 points in 33 games with a -4 rating, a nine-point improvement from his 2023-24 output in 26 additional games. He saw notable improvement in his possession and defensive metrics, but that’s understandable given his increased usage.

The Lincoln, MA native didn’t excel in any one area of his game this season. Still, he appeared to find some chemistry alongside center Alexander Wennberg this season. Graf spent much of his time in the NHL alongside Wennberg, with Tyler Toffoli or William Eklund operating on the opposite wing. Those line combinations were above average, producing a 62.2% xGoals% and a 52.5% xGoals%, respectively.

Still, although he played well, it can’t be overlooked that Graf didn’t offer much in point totals alongside some of the Sharks’ best offensive weapons. The obvious counterargument is that despite having some prominent forwards, San Jose’s offense is one of the worst in the league, so any of Graf’s output, or lack thereof, should be taken with a grain of salt.

If he becomes the player he is in the AHL, the Sharks will have a quality secondary scorer in their midst. Graf has scored eight goals and 32 points in 35 games for AHL San Jose this season, which is good for seventh on the team in scoring. Now that the Barracuda appear headed for a First Round appearance in the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs, Graf will assist their efforts the rest of the way.

Montreal Canadiens Sign Ivan Demidov To Entry-Level Contract

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2:33 p.m.: The news is official. Montreal announced they’ve signed Demidov to a three-year entry-level contract from 2024-25 to 2026-27. He’ll burn the first year of that contract during the remaining games of the regular season.

1:21 p.m.: The Montreal Canadiens won’t have to wait long for their top prospect to join the NHL ranks. According to his now-former team, the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg, Ivan Demidov will join the Canadiens for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

In the announcement, SKA said:

“Thank you, Ivan. 

SKA and Ivan Demidov have taken a joint decision which will see the forward join the Montreal Canadiens this season. His KHL rights will remain with SKA. He will return to Saint Petersburg if he doesn’t gain a foothold in the NHL.”

Montreal selected Demidov as the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has drawn significant comparisons to Philadelphia Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov, as both players possess an exceptional blend of speed and offensive talent. On draft day, concerns arose regarding Michkov’s contractual commitments in the KHL, and similar worries existed about Demidov’s obligations with SKA.

However, these concerns are now a thing of the past for the Canadiens. Demidov has just completed his first full season in the KHL, during which he scored 19 goals and tallied 49 points in 65 games, achieving a +14 rating. This season marked the highest scoring for a KHL player under 20, with the closest competitor being Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect Nikita Artamonov, who recorded 22 goals and 39 points in 63 games.

Depending on the timing of his arrival, Demidov will have access to meaningful hockey with Montreal. Before their important matchup tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, the Canadiens own the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a six-point gap on Detroit.

With the Canadiens unlikely to separate their top forward unit, Demidov is expected to join the second line alongside Alexander Newhook and Patrik Laine. Demidov could create a dangerous duo next to Laine, who’s recorded 20 goals and 47 games this season, 15 of which came on the powerplay.

There may be some concerns regarding Demidov’s performance in the defensive zone. Similarly to Michkov, who owns a well below-average 85.2% on-ice save percentage at even strength this season, Demidov doesn’t focus much on his defensive game, which could hurt Montreal in the playoffs.

The Canadiens don’t have a particularly challenging defensive unit to play against, either. The team has given up the 12th most shots in the league this year, and a 23rd-ranked save percentage blocking those shots. Montreal is entering a territory where they could overwhelm teams with offensive pressure, but defensive prowess is typically customary in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Regardless, the Canadiens will be enthusiastic about the recent development. Montreal has drafted well after embarking on their rebuild after finishing as runner-up in the Stanley Cup Final in 2021 and will soon begin reaping the rewards of their moves.

Kraken Sign Nathan Villeneuve To Entry-Level Contract

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The Seattle Kraken are formally bringing one of their higher-round selections from the 2024 NHL Draft to the organization. According to a team announcement, the Kraken have signed Nathan Villeneuve to a three-year entry-level contract.

Seattle selected Villeneuve with the 63rd overall pick of last summer’s draft. He had just concluded his sophomore campaign with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, scoring 23 goals and 27 assists in 50 games with a +10 rating.

This year has been a bit more of a mixed bag. He did improve his offensive output, scoring 34 goals and 70 points in 57 games, but he took far more penalties than at any point in his playing career. He finished the 2024-25 campaign with 120 PIMs, the third-highest of any player in the OHL.

Still, that primarily came from Villeneuve’s physicality and high pace of play. He’s an aggressive forechecker and was known as a pest by opponents during his major junior career. He’ll want to clean up many of those penalties should he have a future in the NHL, but he’s starting with an impressively high motor.

Villeneuve will likely finish the 2024-25 campaign playing on an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Firebirds have already clinched a position in the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs and will look to qualify for the Calder Cup Final for a third consecutive year.

Flyers’ Olle Lycksell Clears Waivers, Assigned To AHL

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Apr. 8th: Philadelphia announced that Lycksell has successfully cleared waivers. The team also shared that they have reassigned Lycksell to their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Apr. 7th: The Flyers placed winger Olle Lycksell on waivers today, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The move is presumably to get him some playing time with AHL Lehigh Valley down the stretch. As a pending Group VI unrestricted free agent, there’s no risk of a claim since he’d be ineligible to dress for his new team for its final few regular season games.

Lycksell was a healthy scratch against the Canadiens on Saturday, the first time he’d been one since being brought back up to the NHL following the trade deadline. While historically a productive player in the minors and top-level European leagues, he hasn’t carried that offensive momentum to the NHL. He has five assists and a minus-three rating in 19 showings for the Flyers this year. All of that offense came in his 13 post-deadline appearances.

Selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2017 draft, the 25-year-old Swede has produced above a point per game for the second consecutive year in the minors. He’s recorded 17-24–41 in 40 games with Lehigh Valley, and his 1.03 points per game since the beginning of last season rank eighth in the AHL among players with at least 50 games played. He has 50-75–125 in 131 appearances for the Phantoms since arriving in North America in 2022.

Back in his home country, the 5’11” forward put up 42-53–95 in 221 career Swedish Hockey League games with Linköping HC, Färjestad BK, and Växjö Lakers HC. He could be headed back to one of those clubs this summer, with the Flyers set to lose team control over his signing rights. He’s certainly shown enough at the AHL level to get a lucrative two-way deal from another NHL club, but he may prefer to return home for more stability and a guaranteed role.

Since Lycksell was on the Phantoms’ roster on trade deadline day, he’s eligible to suit up for Lehigh Valley in the Calder Cup Playoffs, to which they’ve clinched their berth already. He remains their leading scorer despite his extended stints on the NHL roster this year.

Canadiens Sign Tyler Thorpe To Three-Year Contract

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1:00 p.m.: According to PuckPedia, Thorpe’s entry-level contract breaks down as follows:

  • Year 1: $775K salary, $97.5K signing bonus, $102.5K unspecified games played bonus
  • Year 2: $775K salary, $97.5K signing bonus, $102.5K unspecified games played bonus
  • Year 3: $775K salary, $85K signing bonus

9:47 a.m.: The Montreal Canadiens have signed 2024 fifth-round pick Tyler Thorpe to a three-year, entry-level contract. Thorpe has also signed an AHL professional try-out agreement with the Laval Rocket for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Laval has five regular season games, and likely a hardy playoff run, remaining in their year.

Thorpe has spent the last three seasons with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, where he’s grown from a menial bottom-six power-forward to a top-six scorer. He managed 27 goals and 52 points in 68 games this season, good for third on the team in goals and fifth in scoring among forwards. The performance was a slight downtick in point-per-game scoring from Thorpe’s 23 goals and 44 points in 51 games last season. It was on the heels of that performance that Montreal chose to draft Thorpe in the midrounds – no doubt allured by his six-foot-five, 215-pound frame.

Thorpe does it all in his hefty frame – capable of filling a strong role in front of the net, beating opponents with a heavy shot, or throwing his body around in the corners. He’s grown substantially in his ability to move around in his big frame, a direct contributor to his growth from just six points as a rookie to 44 last year, and then to 52 this season. Thorpe’s finding new ways to make an impact in all three zones, and should enter the pro flight with a projectable style thanks to his size advantage. He’ll find comfort in his abilities to control the netfront, but Montreal will surely watch for his hard shot to reach a pro level.

With this move, Thorpe becomes the third 2024 fifth-round pick to sign their entry-level deals, behind Utah’s Owen Allard and Edmonton’s Connor Clattenburg.

Calgary Flames Recall Zayne Parekh

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One of the game’s top defensive prospects will debut tomorrow night against the Anaheim Ducks. The Calgary Flames announced they’ve recalled defenseman Zayne Parekh from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, and he’ll join the club immediately.

The Flames selected Parekh with the ninth overall selection of the 2024 NHL Draft, and there’s reason to believe he should have been selected higher. In his draft season, Parekh scored 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games with a +39 rating, easily winning the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s best defenseman and being named the CHL Defenseman of the Year.

He followed that performance up with an even better year. Parekh scored 33 goals and 107 points in 61 games for the Spirit this season with a +42 rating, finishing fifth in the league in scoring. Not only did Parekh lead all OHL defensemen in scoring, but there was a 16-point gap between him and Sam Dickinson, who finished in second. Furthermore, the only other defenseman in OHL history to record back-to-back 30-goal campaigns came in the 1965-66 season, when an 18-year-old Bobby Orr tallied 38 goals for the Oshawa Generals.

Despite seeing his postseason end at the hands of the Erie Otters, Parekh still has a chance to play meaningful hockey down the stretch with Calgary. The Flames are four points behind the Minnesota Wild for the final wild-card position in the Western Conference with five games remaining and a game in hand.

Calgary ranks 21st in the league with 129 points contributed by defensemen. That number should improve marginally over the five remaining regular season contests if Parekh contributes even fractionally to his performance in the OHL.

Still, his position in the lineup could be up in the air. The Flames already have two top-four right-handed defensemen in MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson, with the former having played on the left side several times. Calgary can allow Parekh a quality opportunity over the next two weeks alongside Weegar or a more defensive-minded option like Kevin Bahl or Joel Hanley. Should Parekh play as advertised, the Flames may enter the off-season one blueliner away from having an elite defensive unit.

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