West Notes: Vilardi, Pietrangelo, Ceci, Strome
The Jets will welcome a key forward back to their lineup on Saturday against Ottawa as Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun relays that Gabriel Vilardi has been cleared to return. The 24-year-old has missed the last 15 games due to an enlarged spleen that was diagnosed while treating another injury. A key part of the return in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade over the summer, Vilardi has been quite impactful when healthy this season, tallying 16 goals and 14 assists in just 38 games. With Winnipeg losing their last five games, his return will certainly be a welcome one as they look to get back on track and hold onto the third spot in the Central with Nashville closing in quickly.
More from the Western Conference:
- The Golden Knights revealed (Twitter link) that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has joined up with the team on their road trip. The 34-year-old has missed the last six games due to illness, a big blow to their back end. Pietrangelo has 32 points and 155 blocks in 62 appearances so far this season while logging a little over 24 minutes per night to lead Vegas in that department. His eventual return – which could be as soon as Saturday – would be a significant addition as the Golden Knights continue to battle for seeding in the Pacific Division.
- Oilers defenseman Cody Ceci is listed as a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against Anaheim due to illness, relays Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 30-year-old has played an important role for Edmonton this season, logging just under 20 minutes a night while chipping in with 21 points in 71 games. If he can’t play, Troy Stecher will likely return to the lineup.
- The league announced that Ducks forward Ryan Strome was fined the maximum of $5K for a cross-check on Seattle’s Tye Kartye during yesterday’s game. The incident occurred early in the third period with both players receiving penalties on the play, Strome for the cross-check and Kartye for roughing.
2024 College Free Agency Preview: Centers
With the college regular season over and the Frozen Four tournament upon us, activity on the college free agent front will pick up in the near future. At this time of year, college free agents are rarely coming in as impact prospects with high NHL ceilings but it’s an opportunity for teams to add some depth pieces that are further along in their development compared to players coming out of major junior.
Here is an overview of some of the centers that could be drawing NHL interest in the near future; we’ll cover the wingers in a separate column this weekend. Note that not all of these players will sign entry-level contracts as some will ultimately elect to return to college for another season (or more) while quite a few others not on this list will sign NHL or AHL deals in the coming weeks. Our look at the goaltenders can be found here while the defensemen are here.
Lynden Breen, Maine
An active checker, Breen profiles best toward the bottom of the lineup. However, his size (5’9) will work against him a bit on the open market, as does the fact he’s only reached the double-digit goal mark once in his four years with the Black Bears. Even so, he’s the type of player who should receive several AHL contract offers at a minimum while some might be inclined to up it to an NHL deal.
Karsen Dorwart, Michigan State
Dorwart is the type of player whose effectiveness could be a bit better in the pros than in college. A strong forechecker, he could benefit from the greater structure. Dorwart also showed that he can kill penalties this season while taking a small jump in his offensive numbers, giving him a reasonable floor to work with which should appeal to some teams looking for bottom-six depth.
Christian Fitzgerald, Wisconsin
The decision to transfer after his freshman year to follow head coach Mike Hastings to the Badgers worked out well. While Fitzgerald’s offensive numbers actually went down, there has been a sharp improvement in his all-around game. A strong skater with a profile that fits in a bottom six group, Fitzgerald could sign now or opt to return for another year (or even two) at Wisconsin. If he does that and takes some strides forward offensively, he could be one of the top options in a future free agent class.
Luke Grainger, Western Michigan
While he might fit better on the wing in the pros, the 24-year-old has done well down the middle the last couple of seasons. He sits 15th in Division I scoring with his playmaking game taking a step forward. That said, he likely profiles as a bottom-six energy player professionally as someone who rarely takes a shift off, giving the type of consistent efforts that will endear him to coaches.
Luke Haymes, Dartmouth
Haymes is one of the younger free agents that should attract NHL interest this year as he doesn’t turn 21 until late July. His sophomore season was a breakout one as he more than doubled his point total, notching 18 goals and 18 assists in just 31 games. It wouldn’t be surprising if he stayed in college but as potentially one of the better offensive players in this class, there’s a case to make for him to turn pro now.
T.J. Hughes, Michigan
Hughes is one of the top all-around middlemen in this year’s free agent class. He’s also not too far removed from averaging over a goal and an assist per game in his final AJHL season so the skill level is certainly there. The 22-year-old plays with an edge which makes him a fit at the bottom of a lineup as well. With that type of versatility, there will be several NHL offers coming his way if he turns pro.
Carter King, Denver
After being more of a role player in his first two seasons, King moved up the depth chart last season and again this year, becoming an all-around threat. One of the more dynamic players shorthanded in the NCAA, the 23-year-old only has five penalties in his career despite playing with plenty of pace and energy in his game. King’s ceiling isn’t the highest which may dissuade some teams but has the type of profile that gives him a shot at some success in the pros.
Jaxon Nelson, Minnesota
It was a bit of a surprise to see Nelson not turn pro after his senior year last season but he opted to go back for his bonus year. He didn’t hurt his stock but might not have necessarily helped it much either. Standing 6’4, the soon-to-be 24-year-old has the frame to have success in the pros but there will be questions as to how much offensive upside he can ultimately provide.
Jacob Quillan, Quinnipiac
After a breakout sophomore year capped by scoring the National Championship-winning goal, Quillan surprisingly opted to return for his junior year, rebuffing NHL interest in the process. The 22-year-old is in the midst of a better season offensively but he profiles more as a lower-end forward in the pros. However, he’s also one of the more likely ones to have NHL success so the interest will be there again shortly unless he decides to go back for his senior season.
Gabriel Seger, Cornell
Seger’s transfer to Cornell last year was a wise decision as he got to play higher in the lineup. This season, he has been even better, leading the Big Red in scoring. One of the biggest players on this list standing 6’4, he’s a pro-ready frame and at 24, he could be ready to jump into an NHL lineup right away. He’ll be capped to a one-year offer which could be burned for the stretch run of the season.
Sam Stevens, Boston University
It’s pretty simple when it comes to Stevens – he’s a quality complementary piece whose defensive acumen gives him a chance to play a fourth-line role in the NHL. Even playing on a dominant Terriers team in his fifth year, the 23-year-old’s offensive game was quite limited. That might limit him to an AHL deal off the hop but he should land a deal somewhere.
Penguins Recall Ryan Shea, Assign Jonathan Gruden To AHL
Following the news that defenseman Ryan Graves has a concussion, the Penguins have made a pair of roster moves. Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review relays that defenseman Ryan Shea is now on Pittsburgh’s roster while forward Jonathan Gruden has been returned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Shea is in his first season with the Penguins after signing with them as a Group Six unrestricted free agent last July. The decision was a wise one as he broke camp with the big club and spent more than two months on the NHL roster before being waived in mid-December.
Since then, the 27-year-old has been recalled now six times as he’s a trusted option to turn to when injuries arise. Shea has played in 22 games with Pittsburgh so far this season, his first taste of NHL action. He’s still looking for his first point but is averaging a respectable 12:28 per game on the third pairing when he is in the lineup. He has been a bit more productive in the minors, collecting two goals and four assists in 22 AHL contests.
As for Gruden, he has been shuffled back and forth quite frequently this season with seven different recalls under his belt. It hasn’t translated to a ton of action, however, as he has played in just 13 NHL contests this season, notching a single goal while averaging 8:40 per game. The 23-year-old has also played in 46 AHL games, posting 13 goals and 11 assists.
While Pittsburgh likely would have preferred to keep Gruden on the roster, his assignment was salary cap-related as they didn’t have enough cap space to have him and Shea up with them.
Kaiden Guhle Receives One-Game Suspension
The ruling is in for Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle. After slashing Flyers winger Travis Konecny from the bench during their game yesterday, the Department of Player Safety announced (video link) that Guhle has received a one-game suspension.
The 22-year-old slashed Konecny in retaliation for a hit he threw on winger Juraj Slafkovsky seconds earlier in the dying seconds of the second period. However, any contact with a player on the ice from the bench is prohibited. In the ruling video, it’s noted that any contact that typically occurs from the bench can be handled with a penalty on the play or a fine. However, Guhle’s actions rose above that, resulting in the one-game ban.
It’s the first supplementary discipline of any kind for Guhle who will forfeit just under $4.5K in salary based on his $863.3K AAV. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. He will now miss their game against Carolina on Saturday which should allow Johnathan Kovacevic to return to the lineup. Guhle will be eligible to return for Montreal’s contest versus Florida on Tuesday.
Atlantic Notes: Marner, Rielly, Greenway
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic reports that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner is expected back at practice next Tuesday. Marner has not been in the lineup for the Maple Leafs since their March 7th contest against the Boston Bruins, suffering a high ankle sprain for the last three weeks.
Suppose Marner can attend practice earlier next week as a full participant. In that case, he should be able to return to the lineup in the team’s ever-important matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, or against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Given that the standings in the Atlantic Division continue to narrow, the Maple Leafs could certainly use the injection of Marner back into the lineup. Producing well over a point-per-game average for the sixth straight season, Marner has scored 25 goals and 76 points in 62 games for Toronto this season, sitting third on the team in scoring.
Other Atlantic notes:
- Sticking with the Maple Leafs, defenseman Morgan Rielly is not expected back for the team’s game this Saturday, but is progressing well from his injury according to David Alter of The Hockey News. Carrying a key role on the team similar to Marner, Rielly has been the most productive defenseman in Toronto for quite some time. This season, Rielly has already scored seven goals and 51 points in 65 games, which would make for the third-best season of his career if the season ended today.
- Moving southeast to Buffalo, forward Jordan Greenway is expected back for the Buffalo Sabres tonight per a report from Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio. In now his first full season with the Sabres organization, Greenway has been a key secondary scorer for Buffalo, scoring nine goals and 24 points while averaging 17:12 a game.
Seattle Kraken Recall Cale Fleury, Reassign Gustav Olofsson
In a minor tweak to their blue line, the Seattle Kraken have made a change at the bottom of their defensive core. The organization announced they have recalled defenseman Cale Fleury on an emergency basis, and have reassigned Gustav Olofsson to their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
For the second year in a row, Olofsson has spent much of the season at the AHL level, receiving his first call-up of the year on March 26th. Managing three games for the Kraken last year, Olofsson has only suited up in one for Seattle this season, registering zero points in 14:57 of ice time.
At the AHL level, Olofsson has not been much of an offensive threat either, only scoring 14 points in 61 games for the Firebirds since joining the Kraken organization. Fleury, on the other hand, has been much more productive at Coachella Valley, scoring six goals and 32 points over 60 games this year alone.
Nevertheless, Fleury has not played for the Kraken yet this season after tallying one assist in 12 games for the team last year. Now, the former 87th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft will have the opportunity to play bottom-pairing minutes for Seattle moving forward.
Predators Sign Ryan Ufko To Entry-Level Contract
After being eliminated by Denver University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Nashville Predators quickly signed one of their prospects from the University of Massachusetts. The organization announced they have signed defenseman Ryan Ufko to a three-year, entry-level contract that will begin at the start of next season.
Ufko was originally the 115th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, coming out of the popular Chicago Steel program in the USHL. Nevertheless, Ufko decided to continue his playing experience in the NCAA, joining the University of Massachusetts the following season.
Over a three-year collegiate career, Ufko scored a total of 23 goals and 81 points in 106 games, showing off legitimate two-way potential as a defenseman. Not only did his on-ice play improve over the last three years, but his leadership qualities developed nicely as well, leading to his captaincy during the 2023-24 season.
It is more than likely that Ufko will spend the next year and a half at least with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, but the intangibles are there for him to become a common presence in Nashville’s defensive core. Ufko has shown a keen ability to predict the play before it happens during his time in the NCAA, allowing the Predators organization to work on other teachable areas of his game.
Metropolitan Notes: Guhle, Graves, Fast
Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday for slashing Flyers winger Travis Konecny in Thursday night’s win. The 22-year-old sophomore slashed Konecny’s wrist from the bench in retaliation for a hit he’d just laid on Montreal winger Juraj Slafkovsky but did not draw a penalty on the play (video via RDS). Given the minimal severity of the incident, it likely won’t be a long absence for Guhle. Still, retaliatory plays plus being involved in on-ice action from the bench is normally a recipe for supplemental discipline. The 2020 first-round pick has neither been fined nor suspended over his two-year, 112-game NHL career. After missing nearly half his rookie season due to injuries, Guhle is back on track this season with six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 68 games while logging over 21 minutes per outing. Johnathan Kovacevic remains on the roster as an extra defenseman and will draw into the lineup if Guhle misses time.
Other updates from the Metropolitan Division:
- Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves sustained a concussion in last night’s win over the Blue Jackets, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters today (via Rob Rossi of The Athletic). It’s unclear what play Graves was injured on, but he last skated with just over a minute left in the first period and did not return for the second. Pittsburgh thus rotated through five defenders for most of last night’s 3-2 victory, which kept their slim (2.9%, per MoneyPuck) playoff hopes alive. The Penguins haven’t issued a recovery timeline for Graves, although, given the nature of concussions, it’s feasible that he could be done for the regular season with 10 games remaining. If so, it ends a disappointing first season in Pittsburgh for the 28-year-old, who won himself a rather rich six-year, $27MM contract with limited trade protection from Penguins GM Kyle Dubas in free agency last July. He’s slowly fallen out of favor with head coach Mike Sullivan throughout the season, averaging 18:23 per game, the lowest since his 26-game rookie showing in 2018-19 with the Avalanche. He logged three goals and 14 points in 70 games, finishing in the middle of the pack among Penguins skaters in most advanced metrics.
- Hurricanes winger Jesper Fast will likely return tomorrow against the Canadiens, head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. He’s missed Carolina’s last five games and hasn’t played since March 19 with an undisclosed injury. If he’s not quite ready to go, he’ll re-enter the lineup against the Bruins next Thursday, per Brind’Amour. The 32-year-old Swede has six goals and 18 points in 66 games for the Canes after signing a two-year, $4.8MM extension to remain in Raleigh last summer.
Kings Recall Jacob Moverare
March 29: Moverare is back on the NHL roster today, per a team announcement.
March 28: The Los Angeles Kings have re-assigned defenseman Jacob Moverare to the Ontario Reign of the AHL. The 25-year-old defenseman may end the month of March in the AHL, but it has been quite a ride over the last few weeks.
A native of Ostersund, Sweden, Moverare scored his first NHL goal three weeks ago in a game against the Ottawa Senators. The marker came just a day after he signed a two-year, one-way extension worth a total of $1.55MM. At one point he also found himself exposed to waivers this month and assigned to the AHL, but he went unclaimed, likely because of the additional two years attached to him at NHL money.
Moverare was drafted by the Kings in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL entry draft and has spent time on the NHL roster in each of the last three seasons. His offensive game has started to take shape this season in the AHL, but he hasn’t been able to translate that to the NHL game. In 40 career NHL games, Moverare has a goal and two assists, while at the AHL level, he’s registered 10 goals and 59 assists in 152 career games.
Although he doesn’t produce much scoring, Moverare remains a steady defensive presence and a good depth option for the Kings on their back end. However, he has struggled as of late and has seen a dramatic decrease in his playing time, particularly in the past two games in which he has played less than four minutes in each game.
Ducks Sign Nico Myatovic To Entry-Level Deal
The Ducks have signed left-wing prospect Nico Myatovic to a three-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2024-25 season, per a team announcement. Myatovic will finish out the 2023-24 season on a tryout with AHL San Diego. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Myatovic, 19, was the first pick in the second round of last year’s draft. The 6’3″ forward was projected as a rather well-rounded offensive talent, notching 30 goals and 30 assists for 60 points in 68 games with WHL Seattle in his draft year.
After capping off his season with a WHL championship, things soured drastically for Myatovic this season. His Seattle club as a whole largely collapsed, losing multiple players to the pros and their remaining stars missing significant time due to injuries, Myatovic included. He sustained an injury just four games into the season that kept him out through January, limiting him to 34 games on the year. Even when in the lineup, he wasn’t scoring at last year’s rate, lighting the lamp nine times. His overall production remained at the same pace, though, adding 21 assists for 30 points. He checks in as the #12 prospect in the organization in Scott Wheeler of The Athletic’s latest rankings, sitting among 11 other players in what he terms the third tier of Anaheim prospects.
Myatovic will be 20 by January 1, and since he’s already accumulated four years of service in major junior hockey, he’ll be permitted to play in San Diego full-time next season per the NHL/CHL transfer agreement. However, since he’ll still be 19 as of September 15, his contract can slide one season. If he plays less than 10 NHL games in 2024-25, the contract will defer to 2025-26 and expire in 2028 instead of 2027.
The Prince George, British Columbia native is the second member of Anaheim’s 2023 class to sign a contract, joining second-overall pick Leo Carlsson. He’ll be an RFA upon expiry.