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Carter Verhaeghe Out Week-To-Week With Injury

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In an unfortunate development coming out of the Florida Panthers organization, the team announced that forward Carter Verhaeghe is considered week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. With only two weeks remaining on the regular season for the Panthers, Verhaeghe may wait until Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Having only seven games remaining, Florida will certainly miss Verhaeghe’s services as they look to lock up the top spot in the Atlantic Division, and potentially even the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, given that the team has already locked up a playoff spot, Verhaeghe should be much more valuable to them come postseason play.

Almost immediately upon his arrival to the Panthers organization, Verhaeghe has become one of the most consistent offensive threats on the roster with the same being true this season. Likely playing his last regular season game up to this point, Verhaeghe will finish with 33 goals and 71 points in total.

An integral part of Florida’s run in the Stanley Cup Final last year as evidenced by his four game-winning goals, Verhaeghe has been a top contributor for the Panthers over the last three. Since the start of the 2020-21 Stanley Cup playoffs, Verhaeghe has registered 37 postseason contests in Florida, scoring 15 goals and 32 points overall.

However serious the injury, the Panthers will be hoping that Verhaeghe’s two-week rest will alleviate all issues so that he is ready to go for Game 1. In the meantime, thanks to the organization’s moves at this year’s trade deadline, the depth on the roster should be able to carry the team the rest of the way.

Blue Jackets Recall David Jiricek, Send Down Jake Christiansen

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For the fifth time this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled top prospect David Jiricek; this time by way of an emergency loan. In a corresponding roster move earlier in the day, the team has loaned defenseman Jake Christiansen to their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.

It will be the second time in the last few weeks that Columbus has recalled Jiricek on an emergency loan, with the last coming on March 22nd. Infamously, Jiricek was called up too late for the Blue Jackets away game against the Colorado Avalanche on the 22nd, causing him to miss that game. The next day, Columbus returned Jiricek too late to the Monsters, causing him to miss an entire weekend’s worth of games for no apparent reason.

Nevertheless, Jiricek was still able to suit up in 36 games for the Blue Jackets earlier in the year, scoring one goal and nine points overall. At the AHL level, Jiricek has registered 27 games for Cleveland, scoring seven goals and 17 points.

In his lengthy stretch in Columbus this year, the team used him mostly as a bottom-pairing option, as he averaged under 15 minutes of ice time per night. Even though his production in the NHL has not been up to par compared to his AHL production, there is still every reason to believe that Jiricek has the makings of a legit top-pairing defenseman with enough opportunity.

Christiansen, on the other hand, has been far more productive for the Monsters this season in an established role. In 54 games, Christiansen has scored a solid 13 goals from the blue while also tallying 27 assists, as well.

Newfoundland Growlers Cease Operations

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Before the end of the season, the ECHL Board of Governors announced today that the league has terminated the membership of the Newfoundland Growlers. The league announced that the action would be effective immediately, and that it was due to Newfoundland’s failure to fulfill its obligations under the ECHL bylaws.

For the players, the league announced that any player currently on an ECHL contract will become unrestricted free agents, but no other team on the league may sign more than two former members of the Growlers roster. Furthermore, if there are any players are on AHL/NHL contracts, they will report to that team or have their 2023-24 season concluded.

The downfall of the Growlers began less than a week ago, as reports suggested that Deacon Sports and Entertainment, the majority owner of Newfoundland and the Trois-Rivières Lions, is nearing bankruptcy and owed close to $1MM. The ECHL reportedly gave the ownership group a deadline of April 2nd to sell the two franchises, with only the Lions being saved.

Founded in 2018 as the ECHL affiliate for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, the Growlers experienced a great deal of success in the organizations short lifespan. Winning the Kelly Cup in their inaugural season, Newfoundland made it to two straight Eastern Conference Finals in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 season’s, losing to the Florida Everblades in each appearance.

It will mark the fourth time since 2005 that Newfoundland has seen a semi-professional organization either fold or relocate, as the city of St. John’s has fielded three separate AHL clubs over the last two decades. Now, without the Growlers, Newfoundland is back to square one in generating a sustained organization in the Province.

Hurricanes Sign Scott Morrow To Entry-Level Contract

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed top prospect Scott Morrow to a three-year, entry-level contract (Twitter link). The deal is set to begin immediately, with Morrow able to earn an $807.5K cap hit at the NHL level this season. He also has the potential to earn upwards of $277.5K in signing bonuses across the course of the deal. Morrow was set to become a free agent in August, if the Hurricanes didn’t sign him, after being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Morrow has emerged as a top collegiate defenseman over the last three seasons, spending each season with the University of Massachusetts. Playing on the blue-line, Morrow has managed 94 points in 109 games. He earned a Hobey Baker Award nomination this season and a Hockey East All-Rookie Team nod in 2022. Morrow is at his best with the puck on his stick, capable of embarrassing opponents with flashy puckmoves and great finesse-skating. He rotates around the offensive zone seamlessly, showing a great understanding of how to find and exploit openings in the defense. Skeptics have called his off-puck play into question since his draft year – and while his collegiate play hasn’t fully put those worries to rest, Morrow has proven his high-tempo offense is effective enough to mitigate any other concerns. His all-out offense matches up well with how Carolina has utilized players like Brent Burns and Brady Skjei. Morrow could get a chance to test that match soon, with his first pro deal set to start immediately and placing Morrow on Carolina’s NHL roster.

Rangers, Kalle Väisänen Agree To Entry-Level Contract

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The New York Rangers have signed 2021 fourth-round draft pick Kalle Väisänen to a three-year, entry-level contract (Twitter link). Väisänen moves to the Rangers after spending the last three seasons in the Liiga, Finland’s top league, playing for TPS’ top club after growing through their youth program. He becomes the second Rangers prospect to sign his first NHL deal on Tuesday, alongside defenseman Victor Mancini.

In signing Väisänen, New York is adding yet another big-frame to an increasingly growing roster. The Finnish winger stands at 6-foot-5, 200-pounds and knows how to use it, showing a strong skating ability for his size and not shying away from physical play. He’s proven effective in the gritty areas of the ice, capable of winning battles in the low slot or corners. But Väisänen has yet to find his scoring groove at the top level, with just 24 points across 137 Liiga games. He’s proven a bit more effective when facing his peers, scoring 50 points in 45 games in Finland’s U20 league. He also managed four points in 12 World Junior Championship games, across two tournaments with Finland.

While Väisänen can certainly play physically, he’s not much of a bruiser, with his most penalized season coming in 2018-19 when a 16-year-old Väisänen managed 38 penalty minutes in 17 U16 games. That’s far from the track record of his new peers – including Matt Rempe, who already has 54 penalty minutes through his first 13 NHL games. But the Rangers have shown they know how to develop big-frames into heavy-hitting pros through players like Rempe, Adam Edstrom, and Brandon Scanlin. They’ll begin another project with Väisänen now set to join North American pros next season.

College Hockey Notes: Salminen, Graf, Sergeyev

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New Jersey Devils forward prospect Samu Salminen is set to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now (Web link). Salminen has spent the last two seasons at the University of Connecticut, joining the school after six years in Jokerit’s youth program. Salminen has scored 17 points in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, playing in 27 games last year and 35 this year. He’s managed the scoring while serving in UConn’s middle six, averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time this season.

The Devils drafted Salminen in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, after a strong year with Jokerit’s U20 club. He’s praised as a smooth-moving playmaker, with the ability to fill his role in the middle lane of the ice, making an impact from slot to slot. And while he’s continued to show strong puck skills at UConn, Salminen could improve how he works into dangerous areas of the ice. He’ll look to build those skills as he adjusts to a new offense.

Salminen was originally committed to the University of Denver, swapping his commitment just a couple of months before his debut with UConn after reportedly facing challenges with Denver’s admissions. No schools have been linked to Salminen now that he’s returned to the open market, but it’s hard not to think previous connections could drive a move out West.

Other notes out of the NCAA:

  • The Boston Bruins are reportedly not in on prolific winger Collin Graf, says NHL.com’s Mark Divver (Twitter link). Graf is now on the open market after a strong collegiate career, managing 130 points across 112 collegiate games. The Bruins are always popular names in NCAA free agency – already signing Drew Bavaro, Ryan Bischel, Riley Duran, and Jaxon Nelson this Spring. But they’ll stray away from leading-scorer Graf, who is receiving plenty of interest from the rest of the league – with Divver adding that Graf has narrowed his list to six teams. He’s expected to sign in the coming days.
  • Top Calgary Flames goalie prospect Arsenii Sergeyev has entered the transfer portal and quickly decided on a new school – confirming a move from UConn to Pennsylvania State University through a social media post (Twitter link). Sergeyev will hope to step into Penn State’s starting role, after splitting starts in both of his seasons with UConn. He’s been fantastic in his underclassmen starts, managing 19 wins and a .913 save percentage in 35 appearances. It’s a continuation of Sergeyev’s strong USHL career, where he posted 30 wins and a .913 save percentage in 43 games. The Flames drafted Sergeyev in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft. His early return has been incredibly positive, though Calgary will hold their breath as he moves to a highly competitive Big Ten conference.

Lightning Recall Goalie Matt Tomkins On Emergency Loan

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled goaltender Matt Tomkins on an emergency loan (Twitter link). Tomkins will fill-in for Jonas Johansson, who missed the team’s Monday game with a lower-body injury. Tampa had to utilize an emergency back-up goalie in his absence, dressing former NA3HL goalie Kyle Konin. It was the second time that Konin has suited up for an NHL team, having served as an EBUG for the St. Louis Blues in 2021.

This is Tomkins’ first call-up of the season, after making the Lightning roster out of training camp. He played in just three games through the first two months of the season, while the Lightning awaited the return of an injured Andrei Vasilevskiy. The appearances were Tomkins’ first NHL games and he performed modestly, allowing 10 goals on 90 shots (.889 save percentage) en route to one win. Tampa placed Tomkins on waivers and assigned him to the AHL in late November. He’s since rediscovered his groove, recording 15 wins and a .904 save percentage in 29 games with the Syracuse Crunch. He’s served as the team’s starting goaltender, though closely paced by Hugo Alnefelt, who has a .902 save percentage in 27 games of his own.

Tomkins returned to North America ahead of this season, after spending the last two seasons in Sweden’s SHL. He played with both Frölunda HC and Färjestad BK, managing an impressive 39 wins and .910 save percentage in a combined 65 games. The Swedish performance was a strong show of strength for Tomkins, who had previously spent four seasons bouncing between the minor leagues in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Tampa has Tomkins under contract through the end of next season, on a league-minimum $775K salary. And while call-ups like this one certainly present opportunity, it’s likely that the 29-year-old netminder continues to serve as Tampa’s de facto injury fill-in.

Rangers Sign Victor Mancini To Entry-Level Contract

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The New York Rangers have announced that they’ve signed defenseman Victor Mancini to a two-year, entry-level contract (Web link). Mancini signs after his junior season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, having spent all three years of college with the Mavericks. New York originally drafted the 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenseman in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, his final season of draft eligibility.

Mancini is the son of Robert Mancini, who has served in roles across the hockey world – including a long career of NCAA coaching, three years as the general manager and head coach of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, multiple years in the Edmonton Oilers’ scout and development room, representing USA Hockey internationally, and serving as the head coach of South Africa and Romania’s World Championship team. Robert most recently served as the head coach of USA’s U17 team in 2021.

Maybe because of his father’s own journeyman career, Mancini has played across the hockey world. His youth hockey career ended with the Little Caesars program in Detroit, where he also played in a handful of games with the U.S. National Team Development Program. Rather than continue in U.S. junior hockey in the subsequent season, Mancini instead took his talents to Sweden, playing two seasons with Frölunda HC’s affiliate teams and even serving as captain of their U20 team in 2020-21. Mancini returned to America at the tail end of that season, playing in 33 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers, and moving to Nebraska in 2021-22.

Mancini, 21, is a rangy, right-shot defenseman with the powerful skating, hard passing, and vision needed to push his team up the ice. His long reach also keeps him effective on the defensive side of the puck, with Mancini doing well at keeping opponents to the outside. He served in a top role for Nebraska-Omaha this season, averaging nearly 21 minutes each game and serving on both special teams. He showed great prowess as a play-driver, though high-scoring has never been his groove – with Mancini managing just 23 points in 110 collegiate games. He’ll now move to the pro scene for the first time in his career, bolstering an already-deep Rangers defense room and returning the Mancini family back to the NHL level.

Panthers, Cooper Black Agree To Terms On Entry-Level Deal

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The Panthers have agreed to terms with undrafted free agent goaltender Cooper Black on a two-year, entry-level contract beginning next season, GM Bill Zito announced Tuesday. His ELC boasts the maximum allowable base salary ($855K) and signing bonus ($95K), carrying a cap hit of $950K, per PuckPedia. He’ll earn a minor-league salary of $80K.

Black, 22, is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign with Dartmouth College. In 30 appearances, he recorded a .910 SV%, 2.58 GAA and two shutouts with a 13-8-8 record after winning only five games in 30 showings last season. He guided the Big Green to a fourth-place finish in conference play, sweeping their ECAC quarterfinal series against Union before losing 6-3 to the eventual champion Cornell in the semifinal. That earned him a nomination for the Ken Dryden ECAC Goaltender of the Year award, his second significant collegiate honor. He was named to the ECAC’s All-Rookie Team last season after playing in all 30 games as a freshman.

The Michigan native is listed as 6’8″ and 240 lbs, which would make him the tallest goalie in NHL history if he ever cracks the majors. Zito did not confirm if Black will finish this season on a tryout with AHL Charlotte, as is the norm for future contracts signed with time remaining in the season.

Black becomes the fifth goaltender under team control for 2024-25, joining Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight, as well as minor-league options Evan Cormier (pending RFA) and Mack Guzda (10.2(c)). Guzda has missed most of this season with injuries but could be in line for the starting role with Charlotte if the Panthers feel Knight is ready for full-time NHL action again next season. Knight, a 2019 first-round pick, is in the first season of a three-year, $13.5MM extension that still costs Florida $3.35MM against the cap when buried in the minors. He’s rebounded well in the minors after a slow start, posting a .905 SV% in 42 games on the year.

The Panthers likely won’t have Black occupy anything larger than an AHL backup role next season, although logging increased playing time as a starter for ECHL Florida is also an option. He’ll be an RFA in 2026 when his ELC expires.

Bruins Sign Jaxon Nelson To Entry-Level Deal

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The Bruins have signed top college free agent center Jaxon Nelson to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2024-25 season, per a team announcement. He will finish this season on an ATO with AHL Providence.

Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal reported yesterday that Boston was in on Nelson. According to Jess Myers of The Rink Live, the Penguins and Red Wings were finalists for his services.

Nelson, 24, finished his five-year run at the University of Minnesota last weekend when Boston University bounced them in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament. As one of the team’s captains this season, Nelson broke out for a career-high 19 goals and 31 points in 39 games. Interest in him on the open market spiked over the last few weeks, as he closed out the season with a ridiculous 11 goals and two assists for 13 points in his final eight games. In 169 games with the Golden Gophers, the Minnesota native scored 42 goals and 47 assists for 89 points, with 69 PIMs and a +22 rating.

A bulky, physical center, Nelson is among the most NHL-ready players available on this year’s undrafted free-agent market. He’s a polished product after five years in school, and he has ideal size down the middle at 6’4″ and 220 lbs. Bruins GM Don Sweeney cited Nelson’s “leadership qualities as captain of a very successful collegiate program” as one of the more significant reasons they pursued him.

The Bruins will hope he can challenge for a roster spot next fall. They’ll have some turnover in their bottom six, with Danton Heinen, Pat Maroon, and James van Riemsdyk headed for unrestricted free agency. Nelson cracking the squad at his $870K cap hit would provide a cost-effective plug and allow Sweeney to pursue more impactful targets on the open market. He’ll be waivers exempt until he reaches 60 career NHL games or spends two seasons under contract. Upon the end of his deal in the summer of 2025, he’ll be an RFA.

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