Preliminary Swedish, Czech WJC Rosters Released
The World Junior Championship will be held in just a few weeks and countries from all over are starting to announce their selection camp rosters. Today, Sweden and the Czech Republic both released large contingents that will have to be cut down to 25 by the time they journey to Edmonton, Alberta for the tournament.
G Hugo Alnefelt (TBL)
G Calle Clang (PIT)
G Hannes Kollen (2021 draft eligible)
G Jesper Wallstedt (2021 draft eligible)
D Emil Andrae (PHI)
D Gustav Berglund (DET)
D Tobias Bjornfot (LAK)
D Alex Brannstam (2021 draft eligible)
D Philip Broberg (EDM)
D Simon Edvinsson (2021 draft eligible)
D Helge Grans (LAK)
D Ludvig Hedstrom (2021 draft eligible)
D Albert Johansson (DET)
D Viktor Persson (VAN)
D Victor Soderstrom (ARI)
D William Wallinder (DET)
F Isac Andersson (2021 draft eligible)
F Arvid Costmar (VAN)
F William Eklund (2021 draft eligible)
F Albin Grewe (DET)
F Noel Gunler (CAR)
F Emil Heineman (FLA)
F Karl Henriksson (NYR)
F Simon Holmstrom (NYI)
F Alexander Holtz (NJD)
F Daniel Ljungman (DAL)
F Theodor Niederbach (DET)
F Zion Nybeck (CAR)
F Oskar Olausson (2021 draft eligible)
F Lucas Raymond (DET)
F Simon Robertsson (2021 draft eligible)
F Elmer Soderblom (DET)
F Albin Sundsvik (ANA)
F Jonathan Wikstrom (2021 draft eligible)
G Lukas Parik (LAK)
G Jan Bednar (DET)
G Nick Malik (2021 draft eligible)
G Tomas Suchanek (2021 draft eligible)
G Simon Zajicek (undrafted)
D Karel Klikorka (undrafted)
D Martin Hugo Has (WSH)
D Michal Hradek (undrafted)
D Stanislav Svozil (2021 draft eligible)
D Adam Rutar (undrafted)
D David Jiricek (2022 draft eligible)
D Vladimir Kremlacek (2021 draft eligible)
D Ondrej Balaz (2021 draft eligible)
D Michael Krutil (CHI)
D Simon Kubicek (undrafted)
D Jan Mlcak (undrafted)
D Daniel Poizl (undrafted)
D Radek Kucerik (undrafted)
D Jiri Suhrada (undrafted)
F Adam Najman (undrafted)
F Jakub Rychlovsky (undrafted)
F Michal Gut (undrafted)
F Martin Beranek (undrafted)
F Jonas Peterek (undrafted)
F Adam Raska (SJS)
F Jakub Brabenec (2021 draft eligible)
F Sebastian Malat (undrafted)
F David Vitouch (undrafted)
F David Jindra (undrafted)
F Filip Koffer (undrafted)
F Martin Lang (undrafted)
F Pavel Novak (MIN)
F Filip Prikryl (undrafted)
F Jaromir Pytlik (NJD)
F Michal Teply (CHI)
F Matej Toman (undrafted)
F Jan Mysak (MTL)
F Ivan Ivan (undrafted)
F Martin Rysavy (2021 draft eligible)
F Radek Muzik (undrafted)
F Theodor Pistek (undrafted)
F Ondrej Psenicka (undrafted)
Edmonton Oilers Loan Philip Broberg To SHL
When the Edmonton Oilers strode to the podium and selected Philip Broberg eighth overall last year, they were bound to receive a lot of criticism. After all, top offensive talents (who happened to be from North America) like Trevor Zegras and Cole Caufield were still on the board, along with one of the best goaltending prospects in the world in Spencer Knight. But Edmonton had seen something in Broberg that made him their choice, a selection that had seemingly been locked in weeks before the draft. A year later and Broberg impressed the Oilers brass enough in camp to keep him throughout the return to play tournament, even getting him into their exhibition game against the Calgary Flames.
Edmonton is extremely excited about Broberg’s development, which makes it come as no surprise that today he was loaned back to Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League. The 19-year-old defenseman played there this season, recording eight points in 45 games while also suiting up for Sweden at the World Juniors. An incredible skater, he also possesses the size and strength to compete with professionals.
The release does not indicate whether Broberg will return for an NHL training camp in November, but you can bet that if the Oilers feel it is the best thing for his development, he’ll be back in North America quickly. Should they decide he’s not ready yet for the NHL, his contract will slide forward again due to his young age. That would mean his three-year entry-level deal could extend through the 2023-24 season. Interestingly though, he does have a European Assignment Clause in his deal, which means he could potentially block an assignment to the AHL in 2020-21.
Philip Broberg Will Join Oilers In Bubble
The Edmonton Oilers have changed course after seeing one of their top prospects compete at training camp. GM Ken Holland told reporters today including Mark Spector of Sportsnet that the team will be taking Philip Broberg into the Phase 4 bubble with them instead of returning him to his Swedish club. The initial plan was for Broberg to only participate in Phase 3, before joining Skelleftea in the SHL for their own training camp.
Part of the reason for the switch is the fact that Mike Green opted out of the tournament, but it also has to do with how well Broberg has performed over the last few weeks. The 19-year old defenseman was selected eighth overall in 2019 and has an enticing mix of speed and size. Just coming to the bubble however does not mean he’ll get to play, as the Oilers will be taking ten defensemen.
The question now becomes whether Broberg has fought his way into the mix for a roster spot in 2020-21. The Oilers signed the young defenseman to his entry-level contract a year ago, meaning even if the team is eliminated quickly in these playoffs they could loan him to the SHL until training camps open for the 2020-21 NHL season. Getting him playing time right now is obviously important, but the Oilers also have a Stanley Cup on their mind right now and need to take the best players available to them.
Importantly, Broberg is one of the players who could see the first year of his entry-level deal burned if he plays ten games in this postseason. If he plays in fewer than that, his contract would slide forward a year (and not even necessarily kick in for 2020-21).
Pacific Notes: Broberg, Soderberg, Richardson, Flames
One player making a strong case to make their team out of training camp and get an invite into the tournament bubble is Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg. The 19-year-old was brought in from Sweden during training camp for the “experience,” but hasn’t looked out of place, which includes several highlight reel end-to-end runs that resulted in goals during Saturday’s team scrimmage.
The Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins writes that while his defense remains a significant question mark, don’t be surprised if the Oilers do put him on their post-season roster. In fact, he expects that Broberg will be on it due to his impressive skating and improved offensive skills despite scoring just one goal and eight points in 45 games in the SHL. However, he was not put into any offensive situations in his rookie campaign with Skelleftea.
Whether he will crack the actual rotation could be a different matter as the left-hander is behind Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse and Kris Russell as well as potentially Caleb Jones, who is now healthy. Regardless, it’s quite a step up for Broberg, who was expected to be returned to the SHL for next season, but even that could change for next season.
- Looking into the offseason for the upcoming 2020-21 season, AZ Coyotes insider Craig Morgan writes that the Arizona Coyotes will have some significant cap issues with $80MM tied up with just 17 players. With the salary cap exected to flatten at $81.5MM, the team will have just $1.51MM to spend to fill six spots in their lineup. While that will require general manager John Chayka to move out several players, the scribe adds that it likely will end the tenures of unrestricted free agents Carl Soderberg and Brad Richardson, both who would be too expensive to keep regardless of what moves the team makes. The 34-year-old Soderberg did show some promise with 17 goals last season. However, the 35-year-old Richardson only tallied six goals last year after a 19-goal season in 2018-19.
- Fan 960’s Pat Steinberg reports that Calgary Flames center Derek Ryan skated on his own Sunday. The 33-year-old hasn’t participated since Monday, the first day of practice, although due to the NHL new rule on injury update policy, there is no word on what has kept him off the ice until today. Steinberg adds that both Buddy Robinson and Dillon Dube were on the ice for the Flames’ second group. Both players were considered “unfit to play” since the beginning of camp.
Snapshots: Chiarelli, Devils, Broberg, Laaksonen
The recent parting of ways between the Arizona Coyotes and former President and CEO Ahron Cohen leaves a big opening in Arizona for an executive. That could be a chance for former Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli to get back into an executive role.
Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins writes that it wouldn’t be surprising if Chiarelli was a finalist for that role in Arizona. It is believed that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is not happy with Arizona’s alleged tampering of NHL draft prospects and could have enough influence over new owner Alex Merulo to suggest a reliable candidate to take that open role with the Coyotes. While his success in Edmonton as their general manager wasn’t overly successful, Chiarelli might be a better fit in a president’s role and has a good working relationship with Bettman.
- In his most recent mailbag, The Athletic’s Corey Masisak (subscription required) writes that with a number of prospects closing in on bigger roles in the New Jersey Devils’ lineup, the team may look to unload a player or two during the offseason. The team has a lot of AHL-ready players who might get a chance to break into their lineup, including Jesper Boqvist, Janne Kuokkanen, Joey Anderson, Nicholas Merkley, Nolan Foote and the potential of a 2020 lottery pick being ready to go, that could cause a logjam if the team holds on to all their veteran players. While not all of them are expected to make the Devils’ squad, the scribe writes that it would make sense to move a player with the two most likely trade candidates to be Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha. Both would be valuable to other teams as versatile quality depth players. Of course, much will also depend on future contract negotiations between Kyle Palmieri and Nikita Gusev, who both will be unrestricted free agents in 2021.
- TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports that the Edmonton Oilers are considering putting 2019 first-round pick Philip Broberg on their 30-man roster if/when the playoffs begin. Each team will need a group of black aces with the AHL season having been cancelled. Rather than having the 6-foot-3 blueliner sitting at home, it might be a learning experience if he was to join the team during their playoff push. It’s unlikely he would see any action, but the 18-year-old did spend his first full season playing against adults in the SHL this season. He is expected to continue honing his skills in the SHL for one more year before the Oilers bring him over.
- NHL.com’s Jourdon LaBarber writes that Buffalo Sabres assistant general manager Randy Sexton is considering the possibility of bringing Finnish prospect Oskari Laaksonen to North America as soon as next season. The 2018 third-round pick was considered a steal shortly after the draft due to his impressive skating and passing skills. The 20-year-old has become a leading defenseman on Liiga’s Ilves Tampere squad and could prove to be a key addition for the Sabres. Of course, the question comes down to whether Buffalo could bring the blueliner over as he hasn’t signed an entry-level deal with the Sabres yet and he signed a two-year extension with Ilves Tampere back in 2018 and has only played out one of those years so far. No word on whether there was an out-clause in the contract.
Edmonton Oilers Linked To Theodor Lennstrom
Veteran Swedish defenseman Theodor Lennstrom has informed Frolunda HC that he will not honor the final year of his contract and will not play in the SHL next season. The question now is where exactly he will play. Swedish source Kvalls Posten seems confident that the answer is the NHL, as they report that Lennstrom is choosing between a number of offers, but seems most likely to land with the Edmonton Oilers.
Lennstrom, 25, was undrafted out of Sweden and has never played anywhere else but his native country, but finally seems ready to take the next step in his career and sign an entry-level contract in the NHL. Lennstrom is an offensive defenseman, excelling in the skating and possession aspects of the game. His defensive game is likely not quite ready for the NHL though and he may need to start in the AHL upon arriving to North America or else play in a sheltered, power play-dependent role at first.
If he is to succeed at the top level, Edmonton seems like a strong choice. Kvalls Posten notes that team has two fellow Swedish defensemen in Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson, as well as a former teammate of Lennstrom’s in Joakim Nygard. On the other hand, the Oilers do have a decent amount of depth on the blue line and that position battle would become even more crowded if another Swede defender, top prospect Philip Broberg, also decided to jump to North America this off-season. There remain a number of other teams interested in Lennstrom as well, specifically the New Jersey Devils as a top suitor for his services, so his decision is far from made.
Edmonton Oilers Tell Philip Broberg To Remain In Sweden Next Year
The Edmonton Oilers have informed prospect Philip Broberg that they would prefer him to remain in Sweden for another year, rather than have him come to North America and play in the AHL, according to Postmedia’s Jim Matheson. Broberg, the team’s eighth-overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, did play a full season with the SHL last season as an 18-year-old, but did not show the offense the Oilers were hoping for in his first pro season.
The Oilers were quite enamored by Broberg’s 6-foot-3, 203-pound frame as well as his fast and impressive skating, when they shocked a few by taking him with the eighth-overall pick, but general manager Ken Holland has preached speed when drafting and signing players since he took over last year. Broberg is an example of that. He has averaged 14 minutes a game in his first season in the SHL, but has received little to no power play minutes. He finished his season with one goal and eight points in 45 games for Skelleftea. The hope is that soon-to-be 19-year-old will accrue more minutes in the SHL and have a chance to develop his offensive skills. He did score one goal at the World Juniors in December, but also was asked to take a lesser role and focus on defense for Sweden.
The Oilers have several defensive prospects, so the team likely could hold on for another year without Broberg in the immediate system. The team is likely going to give every chance first to their No. 1 prospect, Evan Bouchard, who has fared quite well in Bakersfield of the AHL this past year, and likely will be given a shot at winning an job with the Oilers next season. The team also has Dmitri Samorukov, who played a secondary role with Bakersfield this year and might now get a chance to take on a bigger role next season.
Trade Deadline Primer: Edmonton Oilers
With the trade deadline now less than a month away, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Edmonton Oilers.
After two disastrous seasons, there was little hope that the Oilers might be able to compete for a playoff spot, especially considering the fact that new general manager Ken Holland didn’t make major changes to the team. They added James Neal and brought in a few overseas players in hopes of filling in the holes in their middle six, but instead, the Oilers have risen to the challenge under new head coach Dave Tippetts, holding the top spot in the division at several points in the season and still remain near the top of a competitive Pacific Division.
Record
26-18-5, tied (with three other teams) for second in the Pacific Division
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$5.851MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly
Upcoming Draft Picks
2020: EDM 1st, EDM 2nd, EDM 3rd*, EDM 4th, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, EDM 7th
2021: EDM 1st, EDM 2nd, EDM 3rd, EDM 4th, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, PIT 6th, EDM 7th
*- Calgary will receive Edmonton’s third-round pick as part of the Neal/Lucic swap if Neal scores 21 or more goals and Lucic has at least ten goals less than him at the end of the season. Neal is currently at 19 so he will likely get to 21 while Lucic is at four goals.
Trade Chips
With a number of young defensemen already in Edmonton and several others not far off, the Oilers would love to unload a defenseman, preferably someone who has a big contract such as Adam Larsson or Kris Russell. Whether they can convince anyone to take either of those is a whole different question. The team does have a few other third-pairing options it could move, including William Lagesson and Keegan Lowe, but the team has made it clear that top prospects Evan Bouchard and Philip Broberg are off the table in trade talks. Perhaps a team could pry away Dmitri Samorukov.
While the team many NHL options, Holland still has a full complement of draft picks, minus the team’s third-rounder, which is likely to change hands to Calgary. The team’s first-round pick could easily be in play for the right piece.
Five Players To Watch For: F Sam Gagner, D William Lagesson, D Adam Larsson, D Kris Russell, D William Lagesson, D Dmitri Samorukov
Team Needs
1) Scoring Help: The team still has holes in its top-nine. While the Oilers seem to have recently found some success on their second line with Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto, Edmonton still has holes on its first line and third line and could, without a doubt, use one more significant scoring piece at the trade deadline. While there was plenty of talk about acquiring Taylor Hall back in December, that was quite unrealistic considering their cap situation. However, there are a number of options that could interest them, including a third-line center on the market — Ottawa’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau. He would fill a significant need on the third line or, if needed, could step into a top-six role on the wing. Another option would be adding Los Angeles’ Tyler Toffoli, whose name has been thrown around trade rumors quite a bit the last month or two. Toffoli might be a cheaper option, who could fill a top-nine role for the team and prove to be a better player than Alex Chiasson or Joakim Nygard.
2) Goaltending Depth: Yes, the team has Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith, but the 37-year-old Smith hasn’t been that consistent this season and often sees his second-half numbers decline. The team has already used Smith quite a bit this year (26 appearances) and could use a more impactful player that can be used in tandem with Koskinen. Smith currently has a 2.96 GAA and a .901 save percentage, numbers that could be replaced if they wanted to go out and acquire an Alexandar Georgiev or swap Smith for a more consistent option.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Edmonton Oilers Interested In Chicago’s Brandon Saad
The Edmonton Oilers are not getting much offense from their other lines and desperately need help. Almost all of the team’s offense has come from their top line of Connor McDavid (22-41-63), Leon Draisaitl (22-39-61) and Zack Kassian (13-13-26). James Neal has chipped in 16 goals, but after that, the Oilers just don’t have the top-six players they need. However, the team is trying to rectify that by the trade deadline as Edmonton has shown interest in Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad, according to Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins.
The Oilers and Blackhawks might be a good match as Chicago is looking for defensive prospects, something that Edmonton is loaded with. The Oilers’ top two prospects are blueliners in Evan Bouchard and Philip Broberg, although neither are likely to be included in a trade for Saad. However, the team has a number of secondary prospects that could interest Chicago, including William Lagesson, Caleb Jones and Dmitri Samorukov to name a few. Saad might make a good fit as well for Edmonton as he would slot onto the team’s second line and could shift Neal back to the right side, where he has been more successful. The only problems for Edmonton is Saad’s salary, which is at $6MM for the next two years. While the Oilers might be able to make Saad’s salary work for this year, next year’s salary could prove more challenging for the team.
Chicago, meanwhile, has $72.5MM invested in just 15 players next season with several significant free agents, including goaltenders Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford as well as forward Dylan Strome and defenseman Erik Gustafsson. The team might be willing to unload Saad in a cost-cutting effort for next season. Saad is currently out for three weeks due to an ankle injury, but should have been back on the ice for a month by the time the trade deadline rolls around.
Edmonton hopes that prospects might be enough to persuade Chicago to trade Saad as Edmonton general manager Ken Holland has shown an unwillingness to move draft picks, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
“I’ve been told the Oilers internally feel that they have given up way too many draft picks,” Friedman said on 630 CHED radio in Edmonton on Friday. “And as you look back in (their) last five drafts, in four of them, (they’ve) had holes in how many players they could take. So, I think two picks for (Taylor) Hall, that was one of the reasons why (they) didn’t want to do it.”
Friedman also suggests that the Oilers have expressed interest in Tyler Toffoli of the Kings, but Los Angeles would be looking for picks, which could be a stumbling block for the Oilers.
NHL Draft Picks Participating In The World Junior Championship
The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship is underway from Ostrava and Trinec in the Czech Republic. The tournament began today and will run through the championship game on January 5th. Each of the NHL’s 31 teams has at least one representative at the WJC. Five teams have only one draft pick participating, while the Los Angeles Kings (9) and Arizona Coyotes (7) each have more than those teams combined. However, it only takes one player and one moment to make history at the WJC. Check out which future NHLers will have that chance this year:
Anaheim Ducks (2):
G Lukas Dostal, Czech Republic
F Trevor Zegras, USA
Arizona Coyotes (7):
F Barrett Hayton, Canada
F Jan Jenik, Czech Republic
F Matias Maccelli, Finland
D Aku Raty, Finland
D Victor Soderstrom, Sweden
F Valentin Nussbaumer, Switzerland
D Ty Emberson, USA
Boston Bruins (3):
F Jakub Lauko, Czech Republic
F John Beecher, USA
F Curtis Hall, USA
Buffalo Sabres (4):
F Dylan Cozens, Canada
F Matej Pekar, Czech Republic
G Erik Portillo, Sweden
D Mattias Samuelsson, USA
Calgary Flames (1):
G Dustin Wolf, USA
Carolina Hurricanes (5):
D Anttoni Honka, Finland
F Lenni Killinen, Finland
F Patrik Puistola, Finland
F Dominik Bokk, Germany
F Jack Drury, USA
Chicago Blackhawks (2):
F Antti Saarela, Finland
F Michal Teply, Czech Republic
Colorado Avalanche (4):
D Bowen Byram, Canada
G Justus Annunen, Finland
F Sampo Ranta, Finland
D Daniil Zhuravlyov, Russia
Columbus Blue Jackets (4):
F Liam Foudy, Canada
F Kirill Marchenko, Russia
F Dmitri Voronkov, Russia
D Tim Berni, Switzerland
Dallas Stars (3):
F Ty Dellandrea, Canada
F Oskar Back, Sweden
F Albin Eriksson, Sweden
Detroit Red Wings (5):
D Jared McIsaac, Canada
F Joseph Veleno, Canada
D Moritz Seider, Germany
F Jonatan Berggren, Sweden
F Jesper Eliasson, Sweden
Edmonton Oilers (4):
F Raphael Lavoie, Canada
G Olivier Rodrigue, Canada
F Matej Blumel, Czech Republic
D Philip Broberg, Sweden
Florida Panthers (3):
Justin Schutz, Germany
F Grigori Denisenko, Russia
G Spencer Knight, USA
Los Angeles Kings (9):
F Aidan Dudas, Canada
F Akil Thomas, Canada
F Lukas Parik, Czech Republic
F Rasmus Kupari, Finland
D Kim Nousiainen, Finland
D Tobias Bjornfot, Sweden
F Samuel Fagemo, Sweden
F Arthur Kaliyev, USA
F Alex Turcotte, USA
Minnesota Wild (1):
F Alexander Khovanov, Russia
Montreal Canadiens (4):
D Alexander Romanov, Russia
D Mattias Norlinder, Sweden
F Cole Caufield, USA
D Jordan Harris, USA
Nashville Predators (1):
D Spencer Stastney, USA
New Jersey Devils (5):
D Kevin Bahl, Canada
D Ty Smith, Canada
D Daniil Misyul, Russia
F Nikola Pasic, Sweden
G Akira Schmid, Switzerland
New York Islanders (2):
F Jacob Pivonka, USA
F Oliver Wahlstrom, USA
New York Rangers (5):
D Nico Gross, Switzerland
F Karl Henriksson, Sweden
D Nils Lundkvist, Sweden
D Zachary Jones, USA
D K’Andre Miller, USA
Ottawa Senators (3):
D Jacob Bernard-Docker, Canada
D Lassi Thomson, Finland
F Shane Pinto, USA
Philadelphia Flyers (4):
F Egor Zamula, Russia
D Adam Ginning, Sweden
F Bobby Brink, USA
D Cameron York, USA
Pittsburgh Penguins (1):
D Calen Addison, Canada
San Jose Sharks (1):
Santeri Hatakka, Finland
St. Louis Blues (2):
G Joel Hofer, Canada
F Nikita Alexandrov, Russia
Tampa Bay Lightning (3):
F Nolan Foote, Canada
F Maxim Cajkovic, Czech Republic
G Hugo Alnefelt, Sweden
Toronto Maple Leafs (3):
D Mikko Kokkonen, Finland
D Rasmus Sandin, Sweden
F Nicholas Robertson, USA
Vancouver Canucks (4):
F Karel Plasek, Czech Republic
D Toni Utunen, Finland
F Vasily Podkolzin, Russia
F Nils Hoglander, Sweden
Vegas Golden Knights (3):
F Pavel Dorofeyev, Russia
F Ivan Morozov, Russia
G Isaiah Saville, USA
Washington Capitals (2):
F Connor McMichael, Canada
D Martin Has, Czech Republic
Winnipeg Jets (2):
F David Gustafsson, Sweden
D Ville Heinola, Finland