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WHL Conference Awards, OHL Coaches Poll Highlight Top Prospects

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The Canadian Hockey League remains the largest source of young talent in the world, sending nearly countless players into various professional hockey leagues every year. The WHL, OHL and QMJHL are continually being picked over for the next great NHL player, and while some slip through the cracks the majority of the top performers are snapped up by organizations at the draft.

Today the WHL released their conference awards, highlighting the very best performers from this year. This list is littered with NHL prospects, including some who will make their debut as soon as next season. Each of the conference winners are eligible for the overall awards which will be given out at the beginning of May. The list is as follows:

Eastern Conference Player of the Year: Trey Fix-Wolansky, Edmonton Oil Kings (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Western Conference Player of the Year: Joachim Blichfeld, Portland Winterhawks (San Jose Sharks)

Eastern Conference Top Goaltender: Ian Scott, Prince Albert Raiders (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Western Conference Top Goaltender: Dustin Wolf, Everett Silvertips (2019 draft eligible)

Eastern Conference Top Defenseman: Josh Brook, Moose Jaw Warriors (Montreal Canadiens)
Western Conference Top Defenseman: Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs (New Jersey Devils)

Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year: Brayden Tracey, Moose Jaw Warriors (2019 draft eligible)
Western Conference Rookie of the Year: Lassi Thomson, Spokane Chiefs (2019 draft eligible)

Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player: Justin Almeida, Moose Jaw Warriors (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Western Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player: Cody Glass, Portland Winterhawks (Vegas Golden Knights)

WHL Top Scorer: Joachim Blichfeld, Portland Winterhawks (San Jose Sharks)
68 GP, 53 G, 61 A, 114 PTS

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Panthers, Islanders Expected To Be Active This Off-Season

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With the New York Islanders sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division and the Florida Panthers not yet out of postseason contention, eight points back of the final wild card slot with a game in hand, fans are not yet looking toward next season with plenty of meaningful games left this season. Yet, the two Eastern Conference teams are expected by many to be some of the most active players in the upcoming off-season. The Islanders could have more cap space entering the summer than just about any other team, while the Panthers have not won a playoff series since 1996 and are desperate to take a step forward. Both teams have needs and could look to fill them in explosive fashion this off-season.

Things have gone as well as they possibly could have this season for the Islanders. Despite losing John Tavares and entering the year with an unproven goalie tandem, the team is not only playoff-bound, but also the league leader in goals against average. Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss have been stellar in net, the team’s young defensemen have taken a major step forward under new head coach Barry Trotz, and the offense has picked up the seemingly insurmountable slack that Tavares left behind. Yet, much of their success could be undone by free agency, which would leave the team in need of making several big additions. Lehner is an impending free agent and the Isles must decide whether or not to commit to the young reclamation project or else seek a long-term replacement, with 33-year-old Greiss only signed for one more year. Yet, the net is not even the greatest of their concerns. Captain Anders Lee and fellow top forwards Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle are approaching free agency without new contracts. After losing Tavares last summer, it seems almost impossible that New York could also let Lee slip away. But can the same be said for Nelson and Eberle, who are also top-five scoring forwards for the Isles. The team may be in a position where they need to add considerable talent up front, as well as replenish depth.

Currently projected to have the fourth-most cap space of any team this summer, the Islanders could hypothetically re-sign Lehner and their trio of forwards without issue or else find free agents on the market. However, if spending power is not enough to bring in top free agents – like say Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky – GM Lou Lamoriello could explore the trade market. The Athletic’s Arthur Staple writes that the Islanders’ newfound depth on the blue line could help to facilitate a major trade. He believes that the team wants to move forward with a young core of Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, and Devon Toews on the blue line. He also mentions AHL All-Star Sebastian Aho as another key piece, while recent high draft picks Noah Dobson and Bode Wilde also deserve consideration. This youth movement has made top defenseman Nick Leddy expendable and Staple believes that he is a talent that could bring back an established top-six forward. The Islanders could also look to move veterans Johnny Boychuk and Thomas Hickey instead of or in addition to Leddy. That trade flexibility paired with ample cap space make the Isles a dangerous player on the trade market this summer, if not all of their problems can be fixed via free agency.

In fact, the Panthers could wind up being an ideal trade partner for the Islanders. Florida leads the NHL this season with five 20-goal scorers and has an offensive game and potent power play that few in the league can rival. However, their defense and their goaltending both leave a lot to be desired. The Panthers don’t have the cap space that the Islanders do, but The Athletic’s George Richards believes that the team plans to make trades to free up cap space in order to hit the free agent market with more bargaining power. Florida is another team that has been linked to the Panarin/Bobrovksy package, while they are also a team that could greatly benefit from adding Erik Karlsson. Richards writes that the team will be “aggressive” in pursuing top free agents, but that doesn’t mean they will succeed in drawing targets to a non-traditional hockey market.

As such, Florida could also wind up making noise on the trade market and a name like Leddy would be the caliber of player they would like to add. Mike Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov have enjoyed strong seasons with the Panthers this year, but both have just one season remaining and could be on the trade block this summer. There were also rumors that Jonathan Huberdeau was a player that GM Dale Tallon listened to offers for at the trade deadline again and he could do so again for the team’s highest-paid forward. These are names that will move the needle for other NHL clubs. Veteran goaltenders Roberto Luongo and James Reimer? Not so much. However, the team needs to improve on its poor goaltending and to do so would need to move one (or both) of the tandem costing them a combined $7.933MM. This may involve Florida moving picks or prospects as well. There are many layers to the trade possibilities for the Panthers this off-season, making them a fascinating team to watch.

With weeks remaining in the regular season and the unknown of the postseason yet to come, the status quo could change for either one of these teams. As things stand though, there are major question marks for both squads that at this point don’t look like they can be answered until after the playoffs have ended. As soon as that happens, the Islanders and Panthers will become must-watch teams in how they approach the NHL Draft, the start of free agency, and the summer trade market. Both clubs could look drastically different in 2019-20 by way of an active off-season.

Bode Wilde Agrees To Terms On Entry-Level Contract

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The New York Islanders have inked another top prospect, this time agreeing to terms with defenseman Bode Wilde on a three-year entry-level contract. Wilde is currently playing for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL, where he will remain for the rest of the season.

Wilde was part of the exceptional 2018 draft class by the Islanders, the third of four picks in the top-43. Selected 41st overall despite being ranked 17th among North American skaters by Central Scouting and considered a first-round lock by many, he had plenty to prove this season. That season was supposed to be at the University of Michigan, but Wilde decided to forego the collegiate route and instead sign in the CHL to continue his development. That decision has also allowed him to get under contract with the Islanders quicker, and avoid any potential signing issues down the road.

The 6’4″ defenseman is an incredible skater and can move the puck well, but like all young players is prone to make mistakes in coverage. That hasn’t forced any struggles at the OHL level, given Wilde has 22 points in 21 games, but will need to be ironed out before he can make the jump to the professional level. Luckily, the 18-year old has plenty of time to refine his defensive game and will likely get another chance to do so for USA Hockey at the upcoming World Junior Championship. Wilde was born in Montreal, but competes for the United States in international competition.

Bode Wilde Signs With Saginaw Spirit

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After deciding earlier this summer to not attend the University of Michigan, Bode Wilde has officially signed with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL for the upcoming season. Selected 41st overall by the New York Islanders, the big American defenseman will try to traverse the CHL ranks instead of heading the collegiate route for the next step in his hockey career.

Wilde may have been recruited by former US National Development Team teammate Blade Jenkins, who also was drafted by the Islanders in June and spent last year with the Spirit. Jenkins will be back in Saginaw this season and with Wilde should give them a big boost this year. Last year the Spirit were able to sneak into the playoffs despite a losing record, one that should improve dramatically this season.

For the Islanders, having Wilde go to the CHL and renounce his NCAA eligibility can only mean positive things for their ability to sign him. While the argument can be made that spending a few seasons at a top program like Michigan would be better for his development, there is now very little risk that they will lose him to free agency. Wilde will also likely be given a bigger role in Saginaw than he could have received with the Wolverines, given Quinn Hughes’ return to the college for this season.

An extremely smooth-skating defenseman for his size, Wilde should find success in the CHL and translate that to a promising professional career in the coming years. Though he slipped out of the first round and was not invited to the recent Summer Showcase, there are plenty of reasons to believe he can turn things around to become the top-end two-way defenseman many have projected him as.

Snapshots: Sharks, Trottier, Vitale

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Are the San Jose Sharks done for the summer? In a mailbag for The Athletic, Kevin Kurz addresses the concerns of some fans that the team has not done enough this off-season after missing out on John Tavares. Kurz states that GM Doug Wilson still has the full faith and support of ownership – as he should seeing that the Sharks have the highest average finish in the league during his tenure – and reiterates that Wilson always says that the roster isn’t complete until the trade deadline. Given that San Jose hit a home run with the Evander Kane trade this past spring and fueled their Stanley Cup run in 2016 by adding James Reimer, Nick Spaling, and Roman Polak, that mantra has been proven true. However, is waiting until March going to cut it this season? Kurz points out that between Tavares, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Max Pacioretty, it seems that the Sharks wanted to do more this summer. Pacioretty is still one of several potential trade targets prior to the beginning of the season, but it seems more likely that the Sharks will go into the season as is and let their play in the first few months of the season dictate whether a big move is necessary or not. However, a slow start or a major injury could cause Wilson to reinvigorate his search for scoring depth.

  • The New York Islanders have had a far worse summer than the Sharks and maybe any team in the league, but one of the franchise legends is still confident in the direction of the team. Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier sat down with NHL.com’s Dave McCarthy recently and spoke about the “bright future” of Mathew Barzal and the Islanders, despite the departure of John Tavares. “For him to… have the kind rookie season he had, he’s not disappointing anyone… I see wonderful things for Mathew in the future and for the Islanders”, Trottier stated. Between a legitimate rising star in Barzal and an impressive pipeline featuring the likes of Kieffer Bellows, Oliver Wahlstrom, Noah Dobson, Bode Wilde, and Robin Salo, Trottier is right that the future is bright, but the Isles will likely have to endure a few brutal years before they reach that point. Yet, Trottier also spoke to the credibility that new GM Lou Lamoriello and new coach Barry Trotz bring to the team and feels that with their leadership and the talent on the roster, the team can still succeed if others step up. This first season without Tavares will be telling as to how the team will fare in the coming years.
  •  One recently retired NHLer is getting back into the game. The Blues have hired St. Louis native Joe Vitale as their new radio analyst for next season, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Vitale announced his hiring live on the Blues’ radio affiliate, KMOX, saying:

    “This is my city… I always wanted to be a Blue. I’m so passionate about this team, since I was born from the very get-go with my dad bringing me to games as a kid.”

    Vitale played six seasons in the NHL, mostly with the Pittsburgh Penguins but wrapping up his career with the Arizona Coyotes after head injuries forced him into premature retirement. Now, he’s feeling positive about getting back into the game with his hometown team. Vitale was a high-energy player, a checking line regular and face-off specialist during his career, and will likely bring that same energy to the Blues broadcast.

 

East Notes: Simmonds, Wilde, Noel

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The Flyers are hopeful that they can sign Wayne Simmonds but GM Ron Hextall indicated at a press conference today that they have no issue with talks for the winger leaking over into next season (quote via the Flyers’ team website):

“If we get something done before training camp or going into the year, I don’t have the answer for that… Simmer’s got the character that something like that is not going to affect him. It’s not going to affect our team. I can certainly live with it. I’m sure he can too.”

Simmonds is entering the final year of what has become a very team-friendly deal with a cap hit of $3.975MM.  The 29-year-old has scored at least 24 goals in each of the last five years and is one of the better pure power forwards in the league.  As a result, he’ll undoubtedly garner plenty of interest from elsewhere if the Flyers can’t lock him up on a new deal.

Elsewhere out East:

  • Islanders prospect Bode Wilde expects to play in the OHL next season, he noted to Brian Compton of NHL.com. The 2018 second-rounder (41st overall) spent last season with the US National Team Development Program which allowed him to maintain his college eligibility but the prospect of a longer schedule has pushed the defenseman to the major junior ranks instead of Michigan where he was originally expected to go.  Saginaw holds his junior rights but Wilde mentions that he’s not sure where he will actually play next season but expects to know where he’ll suit up soon.
  • Panthers prospect Serron Noel has been added to Canada’s entry for the upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase, Hockey Canada announced. The winger was Florida’s second-round pick (34th overall) last month and will be taking the place of Penguins fifth-round center Justin Almeida, who is unable to play due to injury.

2018 Draft Results By Team

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The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is now complete. Check out how each team did with accruing talent and filling needs with each of their selections this weekend:

Anaheim Ducks

1-23.  F Isac Lundestrom, Lulea (SHL)
2-54. F Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
3-79. F Blake McLaughlin, Chicago Steel (USHL)
3-84. G Lukas Dostal, HC Kometa Brno (Czech Republic-Jr.)
4-116. F Jack Perbix, Elk River HS (USHS)
5-147. G Roman Durny, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6-178. D Hunter Drew, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

Arizona Coyotes

1-5. F Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2-55. D Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
3-65. F Jan Jenik, HC Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic-2)
3-73. D Ty Emberson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-114. G Ivan Prosvetov, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
5-142. D Mitchell Callahan, Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL)
5-145. D Dennis Busby, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
6-158. G David Tendeck, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
7-189. F Liam Kirk, Sheffield Steelers (England)

Boston Bruins

2-57. D Axel Andersson, Djurgardens IF (SuperElit)
3-77.  F Jakub Lauko, Pirati Chomutov (Czech Republic)
4-119. F Curtis Hall, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
6-181.  D Dustyn McFaul, Pickering Panthers (OJHL)
7-212. F Pavel Shen, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)

Buffalo Sabres

1-1. D Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda HC (SHL)
2-32. D Mattias Samuelsson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-94. F Matej Pekar, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
4-117. D Linus Lindstrand Kronholm, Malmo Redhawks (SuperElit)
5-125. D Miska Kuukonen, Ilves (Jr.-Liiga)
7-187. D William Worge Kreu, Linkoping (SuperElit)

Calgary Flames

3-105. F Martin Pospisil, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
3-108. F Demetrios Koumontzis, Edina HS (USHS)
4-122. F Milos Roman, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
6-167. F Mathias Emilio Pettersen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
7-198. F Dmitri Zavgorodny, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

Carolina Hurricanes

1-2. F Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (OHL)
2-42. F Jack Drury, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL)
4-96. F Luke Henman, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
4-104. F Lenni Killinen, Espoo Blues (Jr.-Liiga)
6-166. D Jesper Sellgren, MODO (Allsveskan)
7-197. G Jake Kucharski, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

Chicago Blackhawks

1-8. D Adam Boqvist, Brynas IF Gavle (SHL)
1-27. D Nicolas Beaudin, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3-69. F Jake Wise, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
3-74. F Niklas Nordgren, HIFK Helsinki (Jr.-Liiga)
4-120. F Philipp Kurashev, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5-139. F Mikael Hakkarainen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
6-162. G Alexis Gravel, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
7-193. F Josiah Slavin, Lincoln Stars (USHL)

Colorado Avalanche

1-16. F Martin Kaut, Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic)
3-64. G Justus Annunen, Karpat (Jr.-Liiga)
3-78. F Sampo Ranta, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4-109. F Tyler Weiss, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
5-140. F Brandon Saigeon, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
5-146. D Danila Zhuravlyov, Irbis Kazan (MHL)
6-171. F Nikolai Kovalenko, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)
7-202. G Shamil Shmakov, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL)Read more

Bode Wilde Will Not Attend Michigan In 2018-19

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A top prospect expected to go in the first round of the NHL draft has decided to change his plans for the future, as Bode Wilde will no longer attend the University of Michigan in the fall. That’s according to Bob McKenzie of TSN, who reports that Wilde will instead decide where to play after he finds out who drafts him on Friday. Wilde’s rights are owned in the CHL by the Saginaw Spirit, who just last week convinced Cole Perfetti to give up his commitment to Michigan and sign in the OHL.

Wilde, 18, had previously been linked to Harvard as well, and played this season with the US Development Program. The smooth skating defenseman has everything you’d want from a prospect except perhaps an elite playmaking ability. His biggest strength is skating the puck out of trouble, and he has the size and frame to grow into a physical presence on the back end. Interestingly he was recently kept off the roster for Team USA at the upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase, which could hurt his draft stock on Friday night. This decision to avoid the NCAA could improve it again, though teams rarely avoid taking college players that high due to any risk involved with them staying all four years. The prospect of a first-round pick waiting four years to become an unrestricted free agent is possible, but very unlikely given the expectation of playing time.

If Wilde does join the OHL, he’ll be a huge addition to a Saginaw team that looks ready to really turn things around. The team finished with a 29-30-9 record last season, but should expect a sizable step in production from Blade Jenkins and a potential return by overage Keaton Middleton, who failed to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Wilde would give them another elite defenseman that can change a game by himself, something that an NHL team will snap up somewhere in the middle of round one in just a few days.

2018 NHL Scouting Combine Player List

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The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is fast approaching on June 22nd, and the league has released the list of 104 players invited to this year’s scouting combine. The group includes top prospects like Rasmus Dahlin, Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina, along with many others who are just hoping to hear their name called at some point in a few weeks.

Starting today, teams are able to meet this week with potential draft picks for 1-on-1 interviews to better determine the kind of person they are. Though obviously these discussions likely won’t change the first-overall selection, they could bring a player further onto a team’s radar for later in the draft. It’s a chance to impress with your dedication and drive, before getting the opportunity to show them your physical attributes next weekend. The fitness testing will commence on Saturday, with potential top pick Rasmus Dahlin getting involved early (currently scheduled for 8:30am CT).

Below is a full list of the attending players, but for more detailed information check out Scott Wheeler of the Athletic’s Twitter image.

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Snapshots: Prospects, Olympics, Savard

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The NHL’s Central Scouting has released their midterm rankings for North American and International skaters, with Andrei Svechnikov and Rasmus Dahlin leading the way respectively. Dahlin is about as locked in as a prospect can be for the first-overall selection, but several others will be battling for the number two spot. Svechnikov, Filip Zadina, Adam Boqvist and Brady Tkachuk are all top options who could be in the top three selections, and should b considered blue chip pieces for whoever ends up with them.

Interestingly, players like Ryan Merkley (#21 among North American skaters) and Bode Wilde (#22) find themselves relatively far down the list despite their previous top-10 projections. Whether that has more to do with their own play slipping this season or the influx of talent throughout the draft class is unclear, but it should excite even teams in the playoff picture with the prospect of adding an impact player on defense.

  • Many of the Olympic rosters have now been released, with young players like Dahlin, Miro Heiskanen and Eeli Tolvanen dominating the headlines for Sweden and Finland. Rosters for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and host Korea are available on the IIHF website. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that the Olympic Athletes from Russia squad will release their roster on Thursday, which should be one of the powerhouses of the tournament.
  • Marc Savard has officially announced his retirement, exactly seven years after his last game in the NHL. The exquisite playmaker was forced from the game due to concussion problems, but was still technically under contract through last season. His career ended in 2011 with the Bruins after 807 games, in which he registered 706 points including seasons of 97 and 96. According to Chris Lomon of the NHLPA, Savard is looking to move up the coaching ranks after spending some time behind the bench of his sons’ triple-A teams.

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