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Charlie McAvoy Working On Amateur Contract With Boston

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Wednesday: Don Sweeney has made it official, McAvoy will sign an ATO and play this weekend for the Providence Bruins.

Tuesday: According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Boston Bruins and uber-prospect Charlie McAvoy are working towards signing an amateur tryout to have the Boston University defender playing in Providence by the weekend. While some Bruins’ fans want him to join their defense corps right away, signing an ATO doesn’t actually preclude him from then signing an entry-level contract at a later date.

Picked 14th overall last summer, McAvoy has had another phenomenal season for BU and the US World Junior Team. Logging big minutes for one of the best teams in the country, McAvoy registered 26 points in 38 games and was a defensive presence in his own end. A smooth decision maker, McAvoy shows exceptional talent when retrieving pucks in his own end, eluding forecheckers and exiting the zone with ease. While his offensive abilities have a lot of upside, it’s his defensive growth that has scouts and fans so excited.

At the World Juniors McAvoy showed off that growth, registering six points in seven tournament games and leading his team to the gold medal. An alternate captain, it was his second time straight medal after winning bronze in the 2015-16 event. If he does turn pro, he’ll challenge for a spot on the Bruins’ blue line next season. Right-handed, he looks like a natural partner for Torey Krug down the line.

Morning Notes: Poolman, McAvoy, Hextall

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The other day, we reported that Winnipeg Jets prospect Tucker Poolman had suffered an injury that would keep him from signing his entry-level deal this season and getting into the Winnipeg lineup. According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, that shoulder injury requires surgery and will keep him out four to six months, and he agrees that it may impact his decision to hit free agency this summer.

Poolman would become a free agent in August and able to sign with any NHL team, though McKenzie wonders if he’d choose to go back to school for another year and come out in 2018 with no restrictions on what kind of contract he could sign. Like Matt Read of the Philadelphia Flyers, who avoided an entry-level deal when he signed in 2011, Poolman could get a one-way deal worth much more than a standard ELC.

  • Charlie McAvoy is close to signing an amateur tryout with the Providence Bruins, but that doesn’t stop him from signing an entry-level deal this year if the Bruins feel they are desperate enough. As we discussed in the comments of the article yesterday, and confirmed by McKenzie in the video above, McAvoy would burn a year of his ELC if he should sign for this season despite being only 19. Because he turns 20 between September 16th and December 31st of this year, his contract wouldn’t slide even if he played fewer than 10 games. Like Colin White in Ottawa, this is still a possibility if the team feels as though they could help them win in the playoffs this season.
  • Ron Hextall will likely be the GM of Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships, provided Philadelphia doesn’t make the playoffs. The team is currently six points behind Boston for the final spot, but have several teams in between them. Expect former NHL goaltender Sean Burke to also be part of the management team after his involvement in Hockey Canada over the past several years.

Clayton Keller Signs ELC With Coyotes

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The Arizona Coyotes have locked up one of their best prospects, signing Boston University center Clayton Keller to a three-year entry-level contract. The news comes via TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

Because the Coyotes have less than 10 games remaining this season, Keller will not burn the first year of his contract. The three-year term will keep him under contract until the summer of 2020.

Keller was the Coyotes first pick, seventh overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. He scored 21 goals and 45 points in 31 games with the Terriers; he lead the gold medal-winning Americans in scoring at the World Juniors with 11 points in seven games. Earlier this season, Keller was named the best prospect outside the NHL by ESPN’s Corey Pronman (Insider link). Pronman describes Keller as such:

“An elite playmaker with great feet and hands, Keller makes some of the more unique plays you’ll see outside the NHL ranks. Although he is small and slight, his IQ and skating allow him to be OK defensively too.”

Fellow Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome ranked third on Pronman’s list. Strome was the Coyotes first pick, third overall, in 2015 and went head-to-head against Keller in the World Juniors Final.

No word yet if Keller will make his NHL debut on Monday night, when the Coyotes visit the St. Louis Blues. Keller is from Chesterfield, Missouri, which is in St. Louis County.

Josh Healey Signs With Calgary

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Highly-sought after Ohio State defenseman Josh Healey has signed with the Calgary Flames, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

Healey will report to the Stockton Heat on an Amateur Tryout (ATO), which means his two-year entry-level contract won’t kick in until next season. He played four seasons with Ohio State, scoring 60 points in 133 games. Twenty-five of those points came in 35 games this season.

The 22-year-old is not expected to be an offensive presence in the NHL; he’s a physical defender who has been said to “hit too hard for college.” That’s been clear this season, as he’s been suspended three times. However, Elliotte Friedman has previously pointed out that his suspensions didn’t scare any teams, because many of the hits wouldn’t have been penalized in pro hockey.

The Edmonton-native attended the Flames’ development camp last summer, after spending the previous two summer camps in Edmonton with the Oilers.

Luke Kunin Turns Pro; Signs ATO With Iowa Wild

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One of the biggest names in college hockey is set to join the professional ranks, as Luke Kunin has signed an entry-level deal with the Minnesota Wild. He’ll start on an amateur tryout for the remainder of this season, with his entry-level deal kicking in next fall. This had been expected for some time, but Wild fans can finally uncross their fingers and let out a sigh of relief. The University of Wisconsin center will be an interesting option for the NHL team as soon as next year. Luke Kunin

Selected fifteenth overall last summer, Kunin returned to Wisconsin for his sophomore season and improved in basically every way. Scoring 38 points in 35 games to lead his team, he improved his defensive game and took fewer penalties while being more physical. He was given the captaincy of the Badgers, the first sophomore to wear the “C” in over four decades, and also wore the same letter for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. He is a born leader on and off the ice, and may one day wear something on a Minnesota Wild sweater.

Given the Wild’s fairly deep forward group, Kunin may have to wait a year in the AHL before making his mark on the big stage. That shouldn’t slow him down though, as he’s heading for the NHL one day to be sure. With Iowa in a very tight race for the final playoff spot in the Central Division, Kunin will get a taste of the tight-checking hockey he’ll have to face down the line. It will be a good learning experience for him as he jumps right into the fire.

Kunin represents one of a handful of top Minnesota prospects that will start to replace the aging core of Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise and Jason Pominville over the next few years. Jordan Greenway, Kirill Kaprizov and Alex Tuch all look like they’ll be impact players in the NHL one day, as the Wild continue to show off their drafting skills. While they battle with the Chicago Blackhawks for the crown of the best in the West, there are more good days ahead for the Minnesota franchise and their fans.

Atlantic Notes: Soshnikov, Melnyk, White

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Maple Leafs fans will see Eric Fehr in action for the first time tonight when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets according to Kristen Shilton of TSN. The veteran forward will draw into the lineup for his first game since being acquired at the deadline from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Frank Corrado. He will be taking the place of Nikita Soshnikov, the young winger who was involved in multiple incidents in Monday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

Soshnikov first got under the skin of Bruins’ players and fans alike when he sent Patrice Bergeron into the boards head first with a crosscheck across the back, earning him just a two minute penalty (which Bergeron would match when he got up and went after the Leafs’ winger). Later in the game he took a hard hit from Zdeno Chara that seemed to rattle him, as he was seen rubbing his neck and skating unsteadily for the rest of the game. It was that unsteady nature that caused him to fall when Dominic Moore would collide with him in the dying minutes, giving the Maple Leafs a powerplay that ended up winning the game. There is no word on what the extent of the injury is for Soshnikov, but a concussion would not be out of the question.

Snapshots: USA Hockey, Vecchione, DeMelo

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After several members of the US Women’s National Team extended a message to USA Hockey about their boycotting the upcoming World Championships, the national program released its own statement on the subject. Understanding the frustration of the women who are reportedly given just $6000 each for their Olympic training and participation, USA Hockey stated that they have long supported their female athletes.

The support USA Hockey is implementing in order to prepare the Women’s National Team for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games includes a six-month training camp, additional support stipends and incentives for medals that could result in each player receiving nearly $85,000 in cash over the Olympic training and performance period. The sum is in addition to a housing allowance, travel allowances, meal expenses, medical and disability insurance and the infrastructure that includes elite-level support staff to train and prepare the players.

The statement goes on to explain that the organization was “disappointed” in the player’s demands and will continue to keep dialogue open in hopes they’ll play in April. The players shot back at the release, with captain Meghan Duggan telling Bob McKenzie of TSN it was “incredibly dishonest and misleading”. As McKenzie notes, the two sides seem ready for a battle over their compensation leading up to next year’s Olympics.

  • After the Pittsburgh Penguins added Zach Aston-Reese yesterday, the Philadelphia Flyers are hoping for some help from the college ranks of their own. Sam Carchidi of The Inquirer opines that the team may have interest in both Spencer Foo and Mike Vecchione of Union College. The team is familiar with the school from the years Shayne Gostisbehere spent there, including one season with Vecchione in 2013-14. The pair of undrafted forwards are among the highest scoring in the NCAA, with 59 and 62 points respectively. If the Flyers want to keep pace with what has been a busy Metropolitan Division—the Capitals also inked a couple of forwards earlier this month—they would do well with Vecchione. The 24-year old senior is considered by some even better than Aston-Reese, and ready to step into the NHL right away. Anyone will have to wait for Union’s season to be over though, as they’re still alive in the ECAC playoffs.
  • Kevin Kurz of CSN reports that David Schlemko rejoined his teammates in practice today for the first time in nearly two weeks. The defenseman is getting close to a return, but Dylan DeMelo has used the opportunity to show that he’s ready for an NHL role. DeMelo tells Kurz that getting back into the lineup is “definitely a lot better playing than sitting out for seven weeks. I’m just happy to be back in the lineup and [helping] the team win.” DeMelo had surgery to repair a broken wrist in January and only returned to the lineup on March 5th.

Snapshots: Lafreniere, Kerfoot, Sherwood

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In the latest edition of Insider Trading from TSN, Bob McKenzie was asked about the possibility of any exceptional status players applying for the CHL next year. Though there aren’t any 14-year-olds applying this year, McKenzie pointed out one player, Alex Lafreniere, that is a lock for first overall at the QMJHL draft and is one to keep an eye on throughout his junior career.

Lafreniere was born in late 2001, meaning he won’t be eligible for the NHL entry draft until 2020. While that is still a long way away, the 83 points in 36 games for the Saint-Eustache midget team was an incredible feat. His talent is obvious, now we’ll see how he takes playing against kids five years older than him.

  • The panel also included Darren Dreger, who relates that Alexander Kerfoot may wait out the New Jersey Devils and head to free agency. Though the Devils want to sign him when his season ends at Harvard, he’s just a few months away from becoming free to sign with whoever he wants; he’d become a UFA on August 15th. The former fifth-round pick has 40 points in 31 games this year.
  • Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch gives us a note on Kiefer Sherwood from Miami University (Ohio). The undrafted center will in all likelihood head back to college for his junior year despite interest from a handful of teams. Sherwood had 38 points in 34 games this season and just saw teammate Anthony Louis graduate to a deal with Chicago.

Decision Down To Buffalo Or Dallas For Gavin Bayreuther

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According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, one of the top college free agents has whittled his list down to two. Gavin Bayreuther of St. Lawrence University will decide between Buffalo and Dallas either tonight or tomorrow. The young Bayreuther was listed first by our own Brian La Rose in our look at the top free agent defensemen out of college this year.

After spending four seasons at St. Lawrence and putting solid numbers in each of them, the 22-year old will decide between two very different franchises. The Sabres are trying to end their rebuild and start competing, but have been waiting on their young talent to mesh together and start piling up wins. With another rough season, they’ll be looking for anyone to step up and join Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe on their blueline. Dallas on the other hand has crashed down to the bottom of the standings this year after being one of the NHL’s best last season. What was once a successful pipeline of talent on their back-end has dried up somewhat, and they need assets to build around going forward.

While there is no guarantee that Bayreuther would step into an NHL role right away, he will be 23 and fairly polished when he enters camp next fall. His offensive game is excellent, able to move the puck out of his own end and quarterback a powerplay. There will certainly be hiccups in his own end as he gets used to the professional pace however, a zone which he hasn’t always shown the most consistent play in. Positioning, physicality and footwork will all need some professional coaching, but he could easily develop into a NHL contributor soon enough.

After Daniel Brickley announced that he would be heading back to school for one more year, Bayreuther likely became a little more appetizing for teams looking to add from the college ranks. It will be interesting to see when the Vegas Golden Knights will enter the NCAA market, as they need to add talent in anyway they can. One would think they offer an enticing option to a young player looking for NHL playing time, though their expected struggles may scare some off.

The Best Deal Of The Offseason: Brad Marchand

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When you think back on any signing season, your mind immediately goes to the big deals handed out to free agents. This season saw over $600MM dollars handed out on the first day of free agency, and was followed by a lucrative summer for tons of players. Because of the lack of a superstar name—thanks Steven, you couldn’t just wait another couple of days?—second-tier all-stars were given incredibly lucrative contracts. Recently, our Zach Leach took a look back at July 1st and the mistakes teams made, handing out term and money to players who were perhaps already over the hill.

Brad MarchandBut this offseason’s best deal may not have come until much later in the summer. In fact it didn’t happen in the summer at all, but on September 26th just a few weeks before the Boston Bruins would start their season. The Bruins were getting ready for their preseason debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets—a game they would lose in a shootout—while two thirds of their top line was prepping for the World Cup of Hockey final in Toronto.

It was that morning of the 26th that Bob McKenzie of TSN would report that the Bruins had completed a contract extension with Brad Marchand that would see him stay in Boston for another eight years. He would be paid $6.125MM each season with several different clauses attached. Even though he was starring at the World Cup alongside Sidney Crosby—and would score the tournament winning goal just a few days later, shorthanded with 44 seconds left—many people thought the deal was a huge overpay. In fact, the replies to McKenzie’s tweet are mixed at best, with it being hard to understand the value Marchand brought to the Bruins.

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