Prospect Notes: O’Brien, Berni, Patera
Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Jay O’Brien will fulfill his commitment to Boston University, following a year in the BCHL as he sat out due to transfer rules. O’Brien struggled mightily in his first year of NCAA hockey with Providence College in 2018-19, scoring just five points in 25 games, but will try again after showing exactly why he was a first-round pick in 2018.
The 20-year old forward tied for fourth in BCHL scoring with 66 points in just 46 games, earning himself a first team All-Star selection in the process. While there is still a long way to go for O’Brien before he provides any kind of value for the Flyers, getting back into college hockey (whenever it happens) is a good step.
- Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Tim Berni will be playing in Switzerland for the next few months, after being loaned to the ZSC Lions for the time being. Berni will be allowed to return to North America for NHL training camp in November, though it is extremely unlikely at this point that he would make the Blue Jackets roster. The 20-year old was a sixth-round pick in 2018 but has played the last two full seasons in the NLA, recording 11 points in 45 games this year.
- Jiri Patera, who only signed his entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights a little over a month ago, will begin the year in the Czech Republic with Motor Ceske Budejovice. The goaltending prospect put up a .921 save percentage for the Brandon Wheat Kings this season and will try to continue his development this season against professionals.
Pacific Notes: Coyotes, Patera, Pacioretty
Back in February, word came out that the Coyotes were believed to be guilty of at least 20 workout violations of draft-eligible prospects with the NHL beginning a full investigation. Six months have since passed and there still hasn’t been a punishment handed down by the league. However, that could soon change. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports (Twitter link) that there is some progress in that investigation and that if necessary, the ruling could come down by Monday’s second lottery phase. With Arizona moving on though, their first-round pick won’t be a part of that lottery. Having said that, if it was possible that a ruling could be ready if needed by Monday, it suggests that a final decision should be rendered sooner rather than later.
Elsewhere around the Pacific Division:
- Golden Knights prospect Jiri Patera has been skating with Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic and the Extraliga team indicated on their website that they are hoping to secure a loan agreement with Vegas to allow the goaltender to start the 2020-21 season with them. The 21-year-old recently wrapped up his junior career with Brandon of the WHL and posted a strong .921 SV% in 41 games. Considering that Vegas already has three other goaltenders that will likely be heading for the minors next season, simply allowing Patera to play overseas for all of next year is a scenario that might be worth considering as well.
- Still with Vegas, winger Max Pacioretty is getting close to being cleared to play. He is not yet in the bubble due to a minor injury but head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters, including David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, that Pacioretty is now really close to suiting up. Pacioretty won’t have to quarantine upon arrival in Edmonton if he comes in on a chartered flight so assuming that happens, he’ll be available to play right away. He’ll be a big addition to their attack as he led the Golden Knights in scoring this season with 32 goals and 34 assists in 71 games.