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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.

Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Jacob Quillan To ELC

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed free-agent college forward Jacob Quillan to a two-year entry-level contract. A native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Quillan spent the last three seasons at Quinnipiac University where he posted 38 goals and 55 assists in 116 career NCAA games.

The 22-year-old also won a national championship last year with the Bobcats, scoring the overtime winner to secure the men’s NCAA title. He also took home the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player award.

Elliotte Friedman is reporting that there was a lot of competition for Quillan’s services and it’s easy to see why after the season that he had. This year he assumed the role of top-line center with Quinnipiac, and he registered 17 goals and 29 assists in 39 games.

The Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) drafted Quillan in the 2018 entry draft, but he opted for the college route, although before beginning his NCAA career, Quillan played one season with the Penticton Vees in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). In that one season, he posted 13 goals and 14 assists in 20 games and also scored an overtime winner to help his team win the Okanagan Cup.

The contract begins next season and will carry an average annual value of $875K at the NHL level.  Quillan will spend the remainder of this season with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies. He will play out the year on an amateur tryout to be eligible for the AHL playoffs.

Central Notes: Toffoli, Walker, Stramel, Blackwell, Zaitsev

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Mike McIntyre of The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that Winnipeg Jets forward Tyler Toffoli won’t dress tonight when the Jets take on the Los Angeles Kings. Toffoli missed practice this morning and was dealing with an illness according to Jets head coach Rick Bowness. Another game-time decision, Cole Perfetti will dress and could slide in alongside Sean Monahan and Kyle Connor. Since joining the Jets at the trade deadline, the 31-year-old Toffoli has posted four goals and two assists in 11 games. Perfetti on the other hand has 15 goals and 17 assists in 66 games this season.

In other Central Division notes:

  • Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sean Walker is in the lineup tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets after he was deemed questionable on Saturday. The 29-year-old played just 11:15 two nights ago against the Nashville Predators because of an upper-body injury but doesn’t appear to be feeling any ill effects tonight. Walker was also a trade deadline acquisition and has three goals and one assist in ten games since joining the Avalanche.
  • Joe Smith and Michael Russo of The Athletic are reporting that Minnesota Wild prospect Charlie Stramel is considering entering the transfer portal now that his season is over with the University of Wisconsin. The 2023 first-round pick has struggled with the Badgers and posted just three goals and five assists in 34 games this season. A league source has said that Stramel likely isn’t thrilled with his development, and it sure seems plausible given that he saw very little time on specialty teams and was relegated to fourth-line duty for much of the season.
  • Scott Powers of The Athletic is reporting that Chicago Blackhawks Colin Blackwell and Nikita Zaitsev are back at practice today. The 31-year-old Blackwell has missed the last five games as he’s been dealing with an upper-body injury. The center has eight goals and four assists in 39 games this year. Zaitsev will also be a game-time decision tomorrow and he too has been dealing with an upper-body injury. The veteran defenseman has just two goals and five assists in 36 games this season and hasn’t played since March 28th against the Ottawa Senators.

Atlantic Notes: Dvorak, Walman, Greenway

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TSN is reporting that the Montreal Canadiens have upgraded the status of center Christian Dvorak to day-to-day, meaning that the 28-year-old could play before the end of the season. The Canadiens announced on January 4th that the Palos, Illinois native would miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, but he was a full participant in the Canadiens’ practice today and wore a regular jersey.

Dvorak was originally acquired by Montreal back in September of 2021 from the Arizona Coyotes. The trade hasn’t worked out as the Canadiens had hoped after sending a 2022 first-round draft pick and a 2024 2nd round draft pick to Arizona in the exchange. Dvorak has battled inconsistency and injury during his tenure in Montreal, particularly this season where he has missed nearly four months of action and has just three goals and four assists in 25 games.

In other Atlantic Division notes:

  • Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman will draw back into the lineup after being sidelined with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old missed the last six games with the ailment and will draw in against the Tampa Bay Lightning in place of veteran Olli Maatta. Walman has dressed in 61 games this season and has averaged nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game, registering 12 goals and nine assists to go along with 150 blocked shots and 106 shots on goal.
  • Buffalo Sabres forward Jordan Greenway is reportedly being evaluated for an upper-body injury according to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News. Lysowski adds that the Sabres are hopeful that Greenway will be day-to-day with the ailment and can get back into game action soon. The Sabres sit seven points back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with seven games remaining and are all but mathematically eliminated at this point in the season. In his first full season with the Sabres Greenway has contributed nine goals and 15 assists in 62 games to go along with 131 hits.

Ryan Hartman Suspended Three Games

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The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that they’ve handed out a three-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct to Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman. The ban is the second suspension handed out to Hartman this season and the fourth of his NHL career. He has also been fined seven times.

The incident happened in overtime during a Minnesota loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. On the play, Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault scored into an empty net (meaning Minnesota received no points despite losing in overtime) and Hartman was seen screaming from the bench and throwing his stick in the direction of the officials. The video shows that Hartman nearly hit teammate Matt Boldy with the stick. For his actions in the game, Hartman was assessed a ten-minute misconduct for abusive language and the three-game suspension that was handed out today.

Hartman said that he didn’t intend to hurt anyone when he tossed his stick, and the league considered this when handing out their discipline as well as also factoring in Hartman’s lengthy record when it comes to supplemental discipline.

Hartman’s absence will certainly hurt the Wild’s very slim chances at a playoff spot, the 29-year-old has 19 goals and 23 assists in 68 games this season. Minnesota’s season is hanging on by a thread as they currently sit seven points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a 35-28-10 record.

Sharks Recall Jack Studnicka

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The San Jose Sharks have recalled forward Jack Studnicka from their AHL affiliate the San Jose Barracuda. The 25-year-old was demoted to the AHL back on January 5th after playing nine games for the Sharks in which he was held scoreless and went -6.

Since going to the AHL, Studnicka hasn’t been able to re-capture the offensive touch he displayed two years ago when he was a member of the Providence Bruins. The Windsor, Ontario native has dressed in 27 games for the Barracuda and has just six goals and eight assists.

Studnicka was acquired by the Sharks from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Nick Cicek and a 2024 sixth-round draft pick. The December 2023 trade allowed Studnicka to go from a team that was stacked at forward to a rebuilding team desperate for forward depth. Studnicka’s move to the Sharks was far from seamless and eventually led to him being demoted to work on his game.

A former second-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL entry draft Studnicka quickly ascended to the NHL and appeared in two games during the 2019-2020 season. He would spend the bulk of the next two seasons in the AHL and remained close to a point-a-game player before dressing in 48 NHL games during the 2022-23 season.

Since that time, Studnicka has lost his offensive game and hasn’t appeared fully comfortable during his recent demotion. Despite the struggles, the Sharks have opted to recall him which could signal that they are ready to give him another look at the NHL level.

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