AHL Signings: Marchin, Sawchenko, Boston College
The last time that the Providence Bruins signed a standout player from a nearby university it worked out pretty well for the organization. Providence inked former Quinnipiac University defenseman Connor Clifton to an AHL deal in the 2017 after the Arizona Coyotes opted not to sign their draft selection. Clifton later earned an entry-level contract with strong play in his first pro season and is currently up with the Boston Bruins, having played in 15 games with the team this year while also leading all Providence defensemen in scoring. The P-Bruins have made a similar signing and all parties involved hope it ends up as well as Clifton’s did. The Providence Journal’s Mark Divver reports that Brown University captain Tommy Marchin has signed an AHL contract for next season with the team in the same city as his alma mater. It appears that he will suit up on an amateur tryout offer for the remainder of this season. Marchin, Brown’s Hobey Baker candidate this season, enjoyed a strong collegiate career outside of a sophomore slump, twice cracking 25 points in a season. At 6’3″, 216 lbs., Marchin is a power winger with good offensive instincts who should be able to contribute immediately for the P-Bruins. Perhaps he too will earn his way to Boston as well someday.
- Many were surprised when highly-touted WHL goaltender Zach Sawchenko went undrafted year after year from 2015-2017 despite starting nearly every game for the Moose Jaw Warriors and leading a Canadian World Junior entry during that time and routinely displaying great athleticism. Sawchenko finally opted to go to college and has played the past two seasons for the University of Alberta, putting up stellar numbers. While not the usual route, that decision has led Sawchenko to finally reaching his dream of playing pro hockey. The San Jose Barracuda have signed the 21-year-old keeper to a two-year AHL deal, his university team has announced. Sawchenko could be in line for immediate play time next season, as current tandem Antoine Bibeau and Josef Korenar have evenly split starts this year, but neither has stood out. The situation is open for Sawchenko to assert himself as a starting option with consistent play. And with struggles in net for the San Jose Sharks as well, this is an ideal opportunity for Sawchenko to show he can be an NHL option one day.
- Boston College seniors are a hot ticket item right now, as Joseph Woll and Casey Fitzgerald have signed NHL contracts this week and now two veteran leaders have inked AHL deals. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have added both forward Chris Brown and defenseman Michael Kim to their roster for the remainder of the season, the team announced, bringing in a pair of respected and experienced Eagles. Brown is the more interesting addition, as he was a draft pick not of Pittsburgh but of Buffalo back in 2014 and is technically Sabres property until August. Yet, logic would dictate that if Brown and Buffalo were considering an entry-level deal, he would be joining the AHL’s Rochester Americans. His move to the WBS Penguins would indicate that Brown will be a free agent later this summer. The 23-year-old center is a capable two-way forward who has a limited offensive ceiling but could still be a role player at the pro level. As for Kim, the 23-year-old Toronto native has been consistently productive from the blue line over the past few years and plays a solid possession game. Although he went undrafted, Kim is well-regarded and should land an AHL contract at the very least heading into next season.
Hockey Canada Names World Championship Management
We already know that New York Rangers assistant GM Chris Drury will be leading USA Hockey’s preparation for the upcoming World Championships, but now Hockey Canada has announced their own management group. Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill will join two recently fired men, Ron Hextall and Ron Francis as the management team tasked with putting together the roster for the tournament, which begins in May.
It won’t be the first time the name Botterill is seen at the World Championships, as sister Jennifer Botterill medaled eight times at the women’s tournament during her outstanding playing career. The Sabres GM will try to bring another gold back to Canada after the team failed to even win a medal last season. He’ll have a huge number of stars to pick from, as some of the best Canadian players look like they’ll be out of the NHL playoffs this season.
That all starts with Connor McDavid, who captained the team last year and has participated twice already in his young career. Teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is also a candidate to return, and other names like Drew Doughty, Jonathan Toews and Claude Giroux will also likely be asked to attend.
Maple Leafs Notes: Babcock, Gardiner, Sandin
The Toronto Maple Leafs have gone through perhaps their worst stretch of the season recently, allowing 28 goals in their last six games highlighted by a 6-2 loss to the last place Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. That has many fans worried about their upcoming playoff appearance that will likely be against the Boston Bruins, a team that has knocked them out two of the last three times they’ve made it to the postseason. Like with any team that struggles, questions about the future of the head coach have started to bubble up, and James Mirtle of The Athletic tried to answer them in his latest mailbag (subscription required).
Mirtle admits that there is something of a “disconnect” between Mike Babcock and GM Kyle Dubas, but wouldn’t go so far as to say that there is any real fire under the head coach’s seat. In fact, he believes that Babcock’s pedigree will keep him in Toronto through 2019-20 regardless of what happens this postseason. It is important to remember that Babcock still has four years remaining on his current contract, one that pays him an average of $6.25MM per season.
- If Babcock wants to find any success this postseason he’ll have to hope his ailing defense can come together soon, and he received some good news on that front today. Jake Gardiner was on the ice to skate before practice, the first time he’s done any extensive work since his injury nearly a month ago. Gardiner has dealt with back problems all year, but could potentially be back in time to suit up in the playoffs. Fellow injured defenseman Travis Dermott was also on the ice prior to practice, but then joined his teammates while wearing a non-contract sweater. Dermott is expected to be back before Gardiner, though the team is running out of regular season games to get them back up to speed.
- One thing that was considered when Gardiner and Dermott went down was whether or not to call up top prospect Rasmus Sandin. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet noted on the radio today that the team believed that he isn’t quite ready to compete at the NHL level despite his strong showing in the minor leagues. Sandin, who turned 19 just a few weeks ago, was Toronto’s first-round pick last June and has 24 points in 37 games in the AHL. The quick-thinking defenseman has improved his stock tremendously and could potentially be a candidate for NHL time next season.
Free Agent Profile: Justin Brazeau
While many observers are caught up in the college free agent market right now, the prize among undrafted free agents hails from the junior ranks. Justin Brazeau, a 21-year-old winger from the OHL’s North Bay Battalion, is ready to be an impact pro player as soon as his season ends, which could be sooner rather than later.
The OHL regular season has ended and the playoffs are set to get underway, beginning on Thursday. Brazeau suited up in all 68 games for the Battalion this season, recording 61 goals and 113 points. The massive output by the North Bay captain was good enough for the league lead in goals and second in scoring behind only top Dallas Stars prospect Jason Robertson. Yet, it wasn’t enough to place the Battalion among the top teams in the league. North Bay finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and face a daunting match-up with Robertson and the Niagara Ice Dogs in the first round.
If Brazeau and the Battalion do indeed make an early exit – a sweep would end the series by the middle of next week – Brazeau could sign his entry-level contract by the end of the month. Of course, as a junior player he could sign an ELC at any time, but at this point Brazeau seems willing to wait until his final year of juniors is officially over. He has likely had conversations with many teams already, but seems poised to look at all options for the next step in his career.
Brazeau should be able to choose freely any team in the NHL he likes for his first contract. The overage forward is more than just numbers; while many before him have dominated the junior level offensively only to flame out at the pro level, those players tend to be smaller in stature and able to skate around their opposition at the junior level. Brazeau is a different type of player entirely. At 6’6″ and 225 lbs., Brazeau is a bona fide power forward. He has great skill and offensive instincts, but can hold his own defensively with great size and strength. In fact, maybe the only weakness that could prevent him from continuing to be a contributor in the NHL is his skating. If he can improve upon his ability to get back and forth, Brazeau can be dangerous in both ends.
Potential Suitors
The short answer is that all 31 teams have likely checked in on Brazeau. A junior player of both this size and production are few and far in between and all of the NHL is on alert that Brazeau could be a special player. At the cost of an entry-level contract, it would be silly for any team not to take a chance on the big scoring forward.
However, there are some leaders in the pursuit. Of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs are always a top contender. An Ontario native, Brazeau could have the opportunity to play on a top team close to home, while the Leafs are desperate for affordable help as they face an impending cap crunch and could afford to add some more size up front as well. Similarly, Brazeau could choose to play relatively nearby in Ottawa, as the Senators need all the help they can get and Brazeau could immediately take on a major role.
Brazeau also has some history with a pair of NHL teams. The undrafted product did spend time at development camp with both the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets over the past few years and may have maintained relationships with those clubs. Both the Sharks and the Blue Jackets are talented teams on which Brazeau could find immediate success.
However, San Jose and Columbus, as well as Toronto, are deep up front. Brazeau wants to play as soon as possible and may not get that chance this season with one of those three teams. The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins are two top contenders who do have flexibility in the top-nine and could be willing to give Brazeau a shot right away. The New York Rangers aren’t at the same competitive level as those teams, but are shockingly thin at right wing and Brazeau could hypothetically play
Projected Contract
Brazeau is going to sign an entry-level contract, so there is a limit on both base salary and potential bonuses, both of which he will likely max out. It will also be a three-year term, per the CBA. The key to signing the power forward will instead be who is willing or even able to burn the first year of the contract this season. Brazeau has shown that he has the size, skill, and competitive nature to play in the NHL and will want to prove that right away. The potential future star will also want to get another year closer to making real money. If a team can promise Brazeau play time this year, it will go a long way in locking him up. If such a landing spot doesn’t exist, he could opt for a team with which he can play the greatest role next season.
Snapshots: Three Stars, Malkin, Sandin
The NHL has released their three stars for last week, and another New York Islanders goaltender has taken the top spot. After Robin Lehner was honored earlier this season, Thomas Greiss has now been given the top spot after stopping 116 of 121 shots to go 3-1 last week. The 33-year old Greiss is having the best season of his career under Barry Trotz’ disciplined system, and now has a .928 save percentage through 40 appearances.
While Connor McDavid appearing in the third spot won’t surprise many, Brendan Perlini‘s name in second certainly will. The former Arizona Coyotes forward struggled upon joining the Chicago Blackhawks this season, but has found the back of the net in three consecutive games and five of his last seven. That included a hat trick last week against his former club, and he now sits at 13 goals on the season.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without one of their top players after Evgeni Malkin was listed as “week-to-week” last night by head coach Mike Sullivan. Somewhat quietly, Malkin is having another outstanding season with 71 points through his first 66 games and is a huge part of the Pittsburgh attack. The team will have to rely on their other superstars for the time being and hope the big Russian center can get healthy in time for the playoffs.
- While the Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled to keep the puck out of their net since Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott suffered injuries (and perhaps even before that), they won’t rush top defensive prospect Rasmus Sandin to the NHL. Sandin has been on fire recently for the Toronto Marlies and now has 23 points through 36 games as a teenager, but head coach Mike Babcock reiterated the organization’s mantra to over-ripen prospects at the minor league level before bringing them up. Babcock pointed to Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson as examples of how the Maple Leafs development program has worked, and noted that there are still “good players” on the NHL roster. Sandin was the 29th overall pick last June and turned 19 earlier this month.
Bryan Rust Nearing A Return, Zach Aston-Reese Out Longer-Term
- The Penguins got some good news and bad news on the injury front. Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that winger Bryan Rust participated in full practice for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury late last month and that he has been upgraded to day-to-day. Rust was supposed to be out longer-term than this so his expected availability over the next few days is certainly a positive though he isn’t playing today. However, head coach Mike Sullivan stated that winger Zach Aston-Reese, who was listed as day-to-day, is now out for the longer term and that he is merely hopeful that the 24-year-old will be able to return this season.
Jake Lucchini Signs With Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins have dipped into the undrafted college free agent market once again, this time signing Jake Lucchini out of Michigan Tech University to a one-year entry-level contract. The deal will not kick in until 2019-20, but Lucchini will join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an amateur tryout for the remainder of this season.
Lucchini, 23, is a Hobey Baker nominee this season and has put up 26 points in 38 games as captain of Michigan Tech. He also previously captained the legendary Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL, where he recorded 83 points in 58 games during his final season. Lucchini took part in the Penguins development camp last summer, and will now join the organization as another no-risk lottery ticket.
Given the team’s success over the last several years and lack of high-end draft picks, the Penguins have continually added to their organization through college free agency. Conor Sheary, Zach Aston-Reese, Casey DeSmith, Chad Ruhwedel and Carter Rowney all come to mind as assets that the team acquired for nothing but a contract, and have played big parts on the team over the last few years. There’s no guarantee that Lucchini can make that kind of impact, but they’ll take a chance on him like they have so many others.
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Justin Almeida To Entry-Level Deal
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they have signed forward Justin Almeida to a three-year entry-level contract. The team’s fifth-round pick from 2018, who is currently playing with Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, will begin next season when he turns pro.
The Penguins have been busy in the last couple of days, signing 2017 fifth-rounder Jan Drozg to an entry-level deal and being immersed in trying to sign some college free agents, including forward Josh Wilkins. With the team having traded away their second, third, fourth and sixth-round picks in the 2019 draft, the team must bring in as much talent as possible for future years.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Almeida had a breakout season during the 2017-18 season when he scored 43 goals and 96 points in 72 games for Moose Jaw after an 11-goal, 28-point season in 2016-17. That season got him drafted in the fifth round. While he has just 28 goals this season, well shy of last season, the rest of his game has come around as Almeida has 69 assists, which leads the WHL. He currently has 96 points so far this season, which is fourth in the WHL.
Penguins Interested In Josh Wilkins
The Penguins have been active in college free agency in the past with players like Zach Aston-Reese, Thomas DiPauli, and Adam Johnson all signing in recent years. It appears that they have their eyes set on the NCAA market once again as Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted in a reader chat that they have interest in Providence center Josh Wilkins.
The 21-year-old is in his junior season with the Friars and has been a consistent producer in each of his three years. He recorded 31 points in each of his first two years and improved on that this season as he surpassed the point-per-game mark with 36 points (14-22-36) in just 34 contests. Pittsburgh has certainly had plenty of opportunities to view Wilkins as he’s a teammate of 2016 second round selection Kasper Bjorkqvist.
Providence is set to kick off the Hockey East playoffs as the number two seed next week and a win in their first round matchup against Boston College would go a long way towards getting them a berth in the regionals with an eye on qualifying for the Frozen Four tournament. The regionals don’t get underway until the end of the month so while Pittsburgh has interest in Wilkins, they may have to wait a little while yet before getting a chance to sign him.
Strength Of Schedule And The Eastern Conference Wild Card Race
The Tampa Bay Lightning had a chance to clinch a playoff spot last night on the first Thursday in March. While it didn’t go their way, the Bolts are undoubtedly going to be the top seed in the Eastern Conference and are well on their way to a President’s Trophy with a 15-point lead on the next-best team in the league. That next team up is the Boston Bruins, who are second only to Tampa in both the NHL and within their own Atlantic Division. Riding an 18-game point streak, the Bruins’ playoff position is also in little doubt. The Toronto Maple Leafs, currently holding a top-five record in the league, are on pace to finish third in their own division and without home ice in the first round of the playoffs. Boston and Toronto seem destined to meet in that opening round, with the winner likely getting Tampa Bay as their reward for moving on.
As frustrating as the current playoff format may be for the Leafs – as well as the Bruins and Lightning – at least the three teams know where they stand in the postseason structure with a month to go in the regular season. The same can’t be said for the rest of the Eastern Conference contenders. Just eight points separate the New York Islanders, the current Metropolitan Division leaders, from the Columbus Blue Jackets, presently in ninth in the East and on the outside of the playoff picture, in the standings. Between the two are three more Metropolitan teams, as well as the Atlantic’s Montreal Canadiens. With all six of these competitors struggling to pull away from the rest of the group, it could be that each team’s schedule down the stretch determines where they end up by the end of the regular season. Three divisional spots and two wild card spots are up for grabs; who has the luck of the schedule on their side?
According to the strength of schedule numbers released by the NHL this morning, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ opposing points percentage of .555 is the most favorable of the group. That’s not to say the Pens face an easy slate, though. Pittsburgh faces eight current playoff teams in their final 15 games, not including tomorrow night’s tilt against Columbus, but end the year with a nice stretch that includes a home-and-home against the lowly Red Wings and a final match-up against the Rangers. The experienced Penguins team is a safe bet to stay in the playoff picture, especially if they can get healthy on the back end.
The Montreal Canadiens have a similarly easy schedule, a .575 opposing points percentage, but with a dramatically different ending. Fighting for just one of two wild card spots, the Habs will face eight current playoff teams themselves, again not including a game against the Blue Jackets, but only three of those contests are within their next nine games. Montreal may get a nice boost over the next couple of weeks, but face a daunting final stretch; Columbus, Winnipeg, Tampa, Washington, and Toronto await them in their final five games. How they fare against those Cup contenders could determine whether they make or miss the postseason.
With just seven current playoff teams on the schedule from here on out, not including two run-ins with Columbus, the New York Islanders are in good shape with a .567 opposing points percentage. The team also avoids any road trips of longer than two games for the rest of the season. While a regular season finale against the Capitals could prove critical, the Islanders look as if they should be able to hold on to their playoff spot. The health of Robin Lehner could be a game-changer, though.
Things have not gone as expected since Jarmo Kekalainen and the Columbus Blue Jackets went all out at the trade deadline. The team sits outside of the playoff picture currently, two points back of the final wild card spot, and there is no guarantee that things will get better. The Jackets have a .581 opposing points percentage, including ten games against current playoff teams, and play just six of their final 15 games at home. Perhaps the one saving grace will be trips to Buffalo, the Rangers, and Ottawa in three of their last four games, but Columbus has their work cut out for them.
The Carolina Hurricanes have a similarly tough schedule, but benefit from having a game or two in hand on their playoff berth competition. In their final 16 games, the ‘Canes will face opposition with a .586 points percentage, ten of which are playoff teams. They also have three sets of back-to-back games remaining. However, with the cushion of extra games and dates with the Devils and Flyers to round out the year, the red-hot Hurricanes are on pace to erase their league-worst nine-year playoff drought.
Finally, there are the defending champs. The Washington Capitals not only have the most difficult remaining schedule in the East’s wild card race, but in the entire NHL. At a .599 opposing points percentage, the Caps are about to go through the ringer in their final 15 games. Ten playoff teams are on the docket for Washington, including three games against the powerhouse Lightning and five playoff teams among their final six competitors. Fortunately, the team does play more than half of their remaining match-ups at home, but there’s little else to find comfort in. If any team in this race is at risk of a dramatic fall from their current playoff position, it is the Capitals, especially if the extra work of last year’s Stanley Cup run starts to catch up to them down the stretch.