Minor Transactions: 11/26/17
After two full days of hockey, only six teams play on Sunday, but many teams may be looking to make moves to shape up their rosters after a busy few days after Thanksgiving. Keep track of all the moves made today:
- Brian Hedger of NHL.com tweets that goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and winger Markus Hannikainen were both recalled from the Cleveland Monsters as both players played in Saturday’s AHL matchup with the Texas Stars. Both players were assigned to Cleveland Saturday for the purpose of getting more playing time. Korpisalo allowed three goals on 23 shots in the loss to Texas, while Hannikainen got off two shots on goal, but didn’t pick up any points. Korpisalo played well, according to Hedger. The 23-year-old backup goaltender has only appeared in four games for Columbus, posting a disappointing 3.27 GAA. Hannikainen has seen partial playing time with the Blue Jackets this year. The 24-year-old has two goals and two assists in 12 games. The Columbus Blue Jackets also announced that goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks, who served as an emergency backup Saturday, will be returned to Cleveland.
- The Vancouver Canucks announced they have recalled Nikolay Goldobin from the Utica Comets today. With Vancouver’s Brandon Sutter banged up after Friday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, the team needed to add another player. Goldobin’s recall has been long awaited as the 22-year-old winger has been dominating in the AHL. He has seven goals and 12 assists in 18 games played, which is first on the team in points scored and second on the team in goals scored. The former 2014 first-rounder looks to have taken the next step at the minor league level and has been waiting for his chance to play in Vancouver this season. He has played in 23 NHL games in his career. Probably not coincidentally, Goldobin’s agent Igor Larianov stated earlier this week that his client has no interest in returning to Russia and intends to stay with the process, after recent defections from Vancouver players Anton Rodin and Nikita Tryamkin. Goldobin is not expected to play today against the New York Rangers, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon.
- The Ottawa Senators announced they have assigned winger Nick Paul and defenseman Thomas Chabot to the Belleville Senators today. Both were scratched for Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders. Paul was recalled on Nov. 16 and played in four games for the Senators, but failed to register a point. Chabot, the team’s 2015 first-round pick, was recalled from Belleville on Nov. 20 and played in two games for Ottawa, picking up an assist and a -2 plus/minus rating. He was a healthy scratch last night.
- Florida Panthers general manager Dave Tallon announced that forward Chase Balisy has been loaned to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds today. The 25-year-old wing has been up and down most of the season. He has played in eight games for Florida with no points, but has also managed to play in 13 games for the Thunderbirds and has four goals and five assists with the AHL club.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and general manager Steve Yzerman announced the team will assign center Cory Conacher to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. Conacher was recalled Friday when the team placed defenseman Jake Dotchin on injured reserve. The 27-year-old played in Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored a goal. The assignment might suggest that Dotchin might be ready to return on Tuesday as he is eligible to come off IR at that time.
Riley Sutter Climbing Draft Boards
2017 may not be over just yet, but it’s no secret that executives and scouts across the NHL are already eyeing the 2018 draft class. Among the early contenders to be worthy of a first round pick is a familiar name: Sutter. The latest in the long line of family royalty is 18-year-old Riley Sutter, a right wing for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and very likely a top pick this June.
Riley Sutter is the son of Ron Sutter, who likely has him beat in terms of draft position. Ron was the fourth overall pick in 1982 by the Philadelphia Flyers, whom he played with for nine seasons to begin his 1000+ game NHL career. Ron’s twin brother, Riley’s uncle, Rich Sutter was famously selected six slot behind his brother in 1982, tenth overall by the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Riley’s other uncles include Brian Sutter, the long-time captain of the St. Louis Blues drafted in the second round in 1976, Duane Sutter, the 17th overall pick in 1979, Brent Sutter, the 17th overall pick a year later and arguably the best of the Sutter brothers with over 800 points in his 17-year career (and a former NHL coach to boot), and, of course, the most relevant of the Sutters right now, recently relieved Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter, who also played 400+ NHL games. Then there’s the next generation of Sutters, Riley’s cousins, highlighted by Vancouver Canucks center and 2007 11th overall pick Brandon Sutter, Brent’s son. Cousins Shaun Sutter, Brett Sutter, Brody Sutter, and Lukas Sutter were all additionally drafted into the NHL, but have not come close to the success of their fathers and uncles or even Brandon. Riley hopes to end the streak of underwhelming Sutter’s once he is drafted this June.
So what does the youngest Sutter bring to the table? The 6’2″, 201-lb. forward has a power forward frame and began to find his scoring touch last season with 39 points, including 20 goals, in 67 games for the Silvertips. Early in 2017-18, that pace has picked up. Sutter has 13 points, again the majority of which are goals, in his first 16 games. A physical game at his age is attractive enough, but the scoring touch and quick skating he has displayed, as well as the undeniable intangibles of being from hockey royalty, have boosted Sutter up draft boards. In the latest rankings from International Scouting Services, Sutter is up all the way to 16th, helped out by his early results (as well as a severe lack of right wings at the top of the class). If he can keep his scoring up, Riley very well could be the latest Sutter to be a first round pick and may even be able to push to become the second highest-drafted family member, behind his own father, if he can crack the top ten in June.