After re-signing two depth players, Tomas Nosek and Brandon Pirri, as well as adding Patrick Brown, the cap-strapped Golden Knights continue to make minor additions where they can on the fringes of the roster. The team has announced that, in addition to Brown, three other new players are set to join the organization in forward Tyrell Goulbourne and defensemen Brett Lernout and Jaycob Megna. The trio each signed two-way deals worth $700K, with Goulbourne signing on for two years and the blue liners each at just one.
Patrick Brown
Golden Knights Sign Patrick Brown
The Vegas Golden Knights are adding some depth up front, inking Patrick Brown to a two-year contract, per TSN’s Darren Dreger. The deal holds a minimum $700K NHL salary in both seasons, but is a two-way deal in year one and a one-way deal in year two. Brown is set to join recently acquired Nicolas Roy as members of the defending champion Charlotte Checkers of the AHL now pushing for play time in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old Brown will be able to replace a lot of the lost talent that the Calder Cup finalist Chicago Wolves lost. Coincidentally, it was Brown’s team that helped Carolina to winning the Calder Cup title, defeating Chicago in the finals. However, the Wolves will be without several key players including AHL MVP Daniel Carr as well as Tomas Hyka and Brooks Macek, who are both expected to return to Europe.
Brown posted a career-high 19 goals for the Charlotte Checkers and while he didn’t get into a regular season game this year for the Hurricanes, he did find himself on the playoff roster, playing in all eight games, although he didn’t tally a point. However, he provided some physical needs to help some of the injured Carolina players.
Minor Transactions: 05/14/19
The middle of May doesn’t always bring with it a number of small transactions, but today happens to be a different story. Here are some minor moves from around the league:
- The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Patrick Brown once again, the latest transaction in a playoff-long shuffle between the AHL and NHL. Brown is up under emergency conditions meaning he will have to be sent back down if all of the Hurricanes are healthy enough to play in tonight’s game. He’ll start his own playoff series later this week when the Charlotte Checkers take on the Toronto Marlies in the AHL Eastern Conference Final.
- The Rockford IceHogs have signed Liam Coughlin and Jack Ramsey to one-year AHL contracts, meaning they will stay with the Chicago Blackhawks organization for at least another year. The pair of draft picks both would have seen their exclusive negotiating rights expire later this summer after four year careers in the NCAA.
- The Binghamton Devils have done the same, signing Ludvig Larsson to an AHL deal for 2019-20. Larsson played three years at Merrimack College before suiting up this season for Pennsylvania State University. Undrafted, he then spent seven games with the AHL Devils at the end of the year, enough to convince him to return to the organization for another season.
- 37-year old former NHL defenseman Anton Volchenkov has re-signed with his KHL club for one more year, giving him another chance to continue a long and successful playing career. Originally selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2000 entry draft, Volchenkov played nearly 800 games in the NHL before returning to Russia, including 86 playoff contests.
Snapshots: Guelph, Karlsson, Hurricanes
The Guelph Storm are your 2019 OHL champions, defeating the Ottawa 67’s in six games after falling behind in the series 0-2. The Storm came back in three different playoff rounds to punch their ticket to the Memorial Cup, where they’ll take on the QMJHL winner Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, host team (and QMJHL runner-up) Halifax Mooseheads and either the Prince Albert Raiders or Vancouver Giants out of the WHL.
Guelph had a huge number of future NHL players on the team, but perhaps none more impressive than Nick Suzuki who took home MVP honors. The 19-year old forward recorded an incredible 42 points in 24 playoff games, while also finishing a +22. Suzuki was the main piece acquired by the Montreal Canadiens in last summer’s Max Pacioretty trade and will try to take another step in his development path next season when he starts his professional career.
- Erik Karlsson is “not at 100%” according to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, who noted yesterday that the San Jose Sharks defenseman may find his earning potential limited by his injury history as he heads towards unrestricted free agency this summer. While Kypreos explained that the Sharks do have interest in re-signing their star, he imagines that there may not even be a team willing to give Karlsson a seven-year contract given the injury risk he poses. The 28-year old has dealt with a groin injury for much of this season and previously had major surgery on his ankle. Karlsson has 13 points in 15 games this postseason, but has yet to score a goal.
- Perhaps the Carolina Hurricanes needed to find a way to get Patrick Brown and Jake Bean into the lineup today, but both were technically reassigned to the AHL before the game. The Hurricanes were picked apart by the Boston Bruins in Game Two, and will need to find a way to stop the bleeding as the series transitions back to Raleigh. Brown and Bean had been up on emergency recalls, meaning they have to go back down if the rest of the roster is healthy enough to play. The Charlotte Checkers don’t start their third-round series until Friday, meaning the Brown-Bean shuffle will probably continue all week.
Metropolitan Notes: Ladd, Walker, Hurricanes
Islanders winger Andrew Ladd is hopeful to be ready for training camp as he works his way back from ACL surgery on his left knee, notes Newsday’s Andrew Gross. He underwent the procedure in late March with the recovery time typically hovering around the six-month mark. However, given that Ladd also missed more than half of 2018-19 with a right knee issue, it wouldn’t be shocking if they err on the side of caution and ease him back in a little slower. The 33-year-old has not lived up to the seven-year, $38.5MM deal that he signed back in 2016 and because of the injury, New York will not have the option to buy him out next month.
More from the Metropolitan:
- Despite not seeing much NHL action this season, Capitals winger Nathan Walker is open to re-signing with the team this offseason, reports NBC Sports Washington’s J.J. Regan. He got into just three games with Washington in 2018-19 but posted a career high in points per game with AHL Hershey. The Caps are likely going to be looking for several players at or near the league minimum salary for next season to round out their roster, something that Walker is certainly aware of. However, as he’s 25 with more than three years of pro experience and just 13 NHL games under his belt, he is eligible for Group VI free agency this summer.
- Jake Bean’s back and forth travels continue. The Hurricanes announced that they’ve once again recalled the blueliner on an emergency basis along with winger Patrick Brown. This is the fifth time that Bean has been recalled since the start of the playoffs but he has yet to get into a game. Meanwhile, Brown has been up with Carolina for most of the postseason and has suited up eight times thus far, his first NHL action since the 2016-17 campaign.
Training Camp Cuts: 9/30/18
It’s the last day of September and the start of the regular season is mere days away. Final cuts are looming and the decisions are going to get much tougher. While the drama really lies with the waiver wire over the next few days, keep track here of all the players otherwise sent down right here:
Buffalo Sabres (via team Twitter)
F Justin Bailey (to Rochester, AHL)
F Nicholas Baptiste (to Rochester, AHL)
Carolina Hurricanes (via CapFriendly)
F Patrick Brown (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Greg McKegg (to Charlotte, AHL)
Chicago Blackhawks (per CapFriendly)
G Collin Delia (to Rockford, AHL)
F Dylan Sikura (to Rockford, AHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets (per team release)
G Jean-Francois Berube (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Tommy Cross (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Zac Dalpe (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Dan DeSalvo (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Nathan Gerbe (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Miles Koules (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Mark Letestu (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Ryan MacInnis (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Michael Prapavessis (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Dillon Simpson (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Sam Vigneault (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Justin Wade (to Cleveland, AHL)
Dallas Stars (via Mark Stepneski of NHL.com)
F Erik Condra (to Texas, AHL)
F Michael Mersch (to Texas, AHL)
Detroit Red Wings (per team Twitter update)
F Jussi Jokinen (released from PTO, via MLive’s Ansar Khan)
F David Pope (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Vili Saarijarvi (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
G Harri Sateri (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Givani Smith (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Dominic Turgeon (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Filip Zadina (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (per team Twitter update)
D Jakub Jerabek (awaiting assignment)
Montreal Canadiens (per team release)
G Charlie Lindgren (to Montreal, AHL)
New York Rangers (per team Twitter update)
D Brandon Crawley (to Hartford, AHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (per team release)
D Mark Friedman (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
G Carter Hart (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Philippe Myers (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
Tampa Bay Lightning (per team release)
D Erik Cerna (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Mitchell Stephens (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Alexander Volkov (to Syracuse, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (per team Twitter update; Dhiren Mahiban)
D Andreas Borgman (to Toronto, AHL)
F Jeremy Bracco (to Toronto, AHL)
F Adam Brooks (to Toronto, AHL)
F Emerson Clark (to Toronto, AHL)
F Rich Clune (to Toronto, AHL)
F Pierre Engvall (to Toronto, AHL)
F Colin Greening (to Toronto, AHL)
F Carl Grundstrom (to Toronto, AHL)
D Timothy Liljegren (to Toronto, AHL)
F Mason Marchment (to Toronto, AHL)
F Trevor Moore (to Toronto, AHL)
D Calle Rosen (to Toronto, AHL)
F Dmytro Timashov (to Toronto, AHL)
D Sean Durzi (from Toronto, AHL to Owen Sound, OHL)
D Mac Hollowell (from Toronto, AHL to Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
Washington Capitals (via The Athletic’s Chris Kuk)
F Riley Barber (to Hershey, AHL)
F Liam O’Brien (to Hershey, AHL)
Fifteen Players Placed On Waivers
Another busy day on the waiver wire as 15 players were placed on waivers today, according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie (Twitter link). No players was claimed from yesterday’s group of 16 players, but with the regular season fast approaching, teams are continuing to make big decisions.
F Justin Bailey (Buffalo)
F Nicholas Baptiste (Buffalo)
F Riley Barber (Washington)
D Matt Bartkowski (Minnesota)
F Patrick Brown (Carolina)
F Erik Condra (Dallas)
G Andrew Hammond (Minnesota)
F Mike Liambas (Minnesota)
D Evan McEneny (Vancouver)
F Greg McKegg (Carolina)
F Michael Mersch (Dallas)
F Liam O’Brien (Washington)
F Kyle Rau (Minnesota)
F Matt Read (Minnesota)
F Anton Rodin (Anaheim) — placed on unconditional waivers (per Lavoie)
D Matt Tennyson (Buffalo)
There are a few interesting names, including the “Hamburglar,” who lost his bid to unseat goaltender Alex Stalock as the backup goaltender in Minnesota. Hammond hasn’t been a full-time backup since the 2015-16 season, but has shown flashes of brilliance when he’s hot, including getting into three playoff appearances for Colorado last year. One of those games, Game 5, Hammond stopped 44 of 45 shots in leading the Avalanche to a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. However, he wasn’t able to keep that success going as he yielded five goals the following game as Colorado was eliminated.
The 23-year-old Bailey is another interesting player who has worked his way up level-by-level and was on the border of a regular spot. Bailey has had three stints in the NHL now and last year’s was one of the more successful ones has he tallied three goals and four points in 12 games. Baptiste is another 23-year-old in Buffalo, who got an even longer look with the Sabres, 33 games, but only managed four goals in that time.
Read is another player with tons of experience. The 32-year-old had played quite a bit in the NHL before struggling to get playing time in Philadelphia, while the 25-year-old Rau posted 23 goals in Iowa last season in the AHL.
Carolina Hurricanes Sign Patrick Brown To One-Year Contract
The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed one of their minor league veterans, inking Patrick Brown to a one-year two-way contract. The 26-year old Brown was scheduled to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer thanks to his lack of NHL experience. The contract will pay him $650K in the NHL.
Brown was first signed out of Boston College in 2014, and quickly ascended the ranks in the AHL. Named captain of the Charlotte Checkers last season, he has played 28 games in the NHL but found a home in the minor leagues. Carolina GM Don Waddell explained as much in a statement:
Patrick served as captain in Charlotte again last season and was the heart and soul of the team. He is a tremendous leader on and off the ice and is a reliable, hard-working player. We are excited to keep him in the organization again next season.
The two-way forward had 27 points in 68 games with the Checkers, but wasn’t able to get them past their second-round playoff opponent. The Checkers fell at the hands of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in five games, and will try to get back to the Calder Cup playoffs in 2018-19.
Minor Transactions: 2/17/18
As is always the case, Saturday is shaping up to be a busy day around the league with 22 teams in action. Accordingly, there should be several roster moves made which we’ll keep tabs on here.
- The Flames announced that they have recalled winger Morgan Klimchuk from AHL Stockton. The 2013 first-round pick has not yet seen any NHL action in his career (the only first-rounder from that draft in that situation) but sits tied for second on the Heat in goals this season with 13 in 44 games. To make room for Klimchuk on the roster, Calgary has transferred winger Marek Hrivik to injured reserve.
- The Hurricanes have returned forward Patrick Brown to Charlotte of the AHL, per a team release. He had been recalled on Tuesday but did not get into either of Carolina’s games since then. The 25-year-old has 20 points (6-14-20) in 44 contests with the Checkers this season. Lucas Wallmark will now get another shot at the next level, as the Hurricanes have recalled the rookie forward. Wallmark looked good in a short stint in Raleigh earlier this season and has continued his strong play in the AHL. With the ’Canes pushing for a playoff spot, Wallmark’s addition could be a nice boost for the team.
- Edmonton announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled goaltender Laurent Brossoit from Bakersfield (AHL) on an emergency basis. The move was necessary after Al Montoya left practice early on Friday after taking a shot up high. To make room for him on the roster, the Oilers sent defenseman Keegan Lowe back to Bakersfield.
- The Canucks have sent Reid Boucher back down to the Utica Comets, the team announced. Boucher has played in only eight NHL games this season, recording just two points. His days as a promising prospect appear to be over.
- New Jersey has recalled Blake Pietila from the AHL’s Binghamton Devils, beat writer Andrew Gross reports. Pietila will join the team tonight in Tampa as they face the Lightning. Whether or not he makes his 2017-18 debut remains to be seen though.
- The Avalanche have sent A.J. Greer back to the San Antonio Rampage, as the 2015 second-rounder continues to struggle to find a role at the NHL level. Greer has just four points in 22 big-league games.
Complete List Of Potential Group VI Unrestricted Free Agents
Back in November, we took a look at some of the potential Group VI free agents that could hit unrestricted free agency early this offseason. Of that group, Josh Leivo was extended and Stefan Noesen eclipsed the number of games played needed to stay with the New Jersey Devils organization. Now, CapFriendly has compiled a complete list of players still at risk of becoming free agents early, including how many games they need. To refresh your memory on how a player qualifies for Group VI free agency, they must meet three requirements:
- The player is 25 years or older (as of June 30th of the calendar year the contract is expiring).
- The player has completed 3 or more professional seasons – qualified by 11 or more professional games (for an 18/19 year old player), or 1 or more professional games (for a player aged 20 or older). This can include NHL, minor league, and European professional league seasons played while under an SPC.
- The player has played less than 80 NHL games, or 28 NHL games of 30 minutes or greater for a goaltender.
The entire list of players at risk can be found below, but make sure you check out CapFriendly for more detailed information on how they could avoid the designation this summer.
*Indicates that the player could still play in enough games this season to become ineligible for Group VI free agency