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Rob Klinkhammer

Snapshots: Laxdal, Clune, Klinkhammer

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The OHL’s Oshawa Generals today named Derek Laxdal the 35th head coach in team history via a press release. Laxdal, 56, had spent the last eight seasons in the Dallas Stars organization. Before he was promoted midseason to the Stars’ NHL bench as an assistant coach in 2019-20, Laxdal was the head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars from 2014-15 to 2019.

The news means that Dallas will indeed undergo a complete overhaul of their core coaching staff from last season. The organization replaced a pair of other assistants this offseason, hiring Alain Nasreddine and Steve Spott to replace Todd Nelson and John Stevens. For Laxdal, the news marks a return to the CHL after eight years, last serving there as the head coach of the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings from 2010 to 2014. His resume includes an ECHL Kelly Cup win in 2007 and ECHL Coach of the Year award in 2010 as the head coach of the Idaho Steelheads, a pair of WHL championships with the Oil Kings in 2012 and 2014, and a Memorial Cup championship in 2014.

  • The AHL’s Toronto Marlies announced via Twitter today that captain and former NHLer Rich Clune has announced his retirement from professional hockey after 16 seasons, moving to a player development role with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Clune hadn’t played in the NHL since 2015-16 saw him play 19 games with the Maple Leafs, but since then, he’d been an alternate captain or captain for the Marlies, providing an important leadership voice and mentoring the Leafs’ prospects. Clune joins Toronto’s player development department headed by Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser.
  • Former NHLer Rob Klinkhammer is returning to the Chicago Blackhawks organization as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, per a team release. The news marks Klinkhammer’s retirement after he spent the last six seasons playing in the KHL. Klinkhammer, an undrafted free agent, played for Rockford from 2008-09 through 2011-12 and made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in the 2010-11 season.

Minor Transactions: 08/27/21

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The NHL offseason grinds toward September training camps, as other leagues around the world continue to fill out their rosters. As always, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.

  • The San Jose Barracuda have re-signed Evan Weinger to a one-year AHL contract, bringing the forward back for his fourth season with the team. The 24-year-old was an undrafted free agent signing out of the WHL and had eight points in 28 games for the Barracuda last season.
  • The Texas Stars have signed Spenser Young to a one-year AHL contract, giving him a chance to make the leap to professional hockey. The 24-year-old defenseman played four seasons with Providence College, but actually didn’t suit up anywhere in 2020-21. The last time he was on the ice during the 2019-20 season his offense had dried up completely, as Young recorded just three points in 32 games.
  • Rob Klinkhammer, who has been a staple in the KHL for years now, has signed a one-year deal with Dynamo Moscow for this season. Klinkhammer captained Dinamo Minsk in 2020-21, scoring 26 points in 31 games. The 35-year-old has had quite the hockey career, playing nearly 200 games in the NHL, scoring a Gagarin Cup-winning goal, and suiting up for Canada at the 2018 Olympics.
  • The Athletic’s Darren Hynes reports that the Stockton Heat have signed a goalie duo to two-way AHL contracts. Andrew Shortridge and Matt Greenfield will be joining the organization for 2021-22. Shortridge, a 26-year-old Alaska native, actually spent last year in the Heat organization, mostly at the ECHL level. He still put up a .952 save percentage in three appearances with Stockton, though, and could be a legitimate option at that level. Greenfield spent the entirety of last year with Kansas City in the ECHL, posting an 11-9-4 record and .916 save percentage.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Jack Skille Expected To Sign In KHL

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Running out of time to find an NHL contract before the puck drops on the 2017-18 season, another veteran has taken the quiet off-season as a sign to move on. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that free agent forward Jack Skille is expected to sign with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL in the coming days. The 30-year-old’s decision to continue his career overseas comes a decade after making his NHL debut in 2007.

Skille was selected #7 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005 and made the jump to the NHL two years later after a short stint with the University of Wisconsin. Although Skille has never lived up to his draft slot, the two-way winger has nevertheless found an NHL contract in each of the last ten seasons. After three seasons in Chicago, spent mostly with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, Skille was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2011 and there developed into a bona fide NHLer. Skille has only played in 22 AHL games since his trade to Florida, instead spending parts of three seasons with the Panthers, two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and most recently a year apiece with the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks. Through 368 NHL games, Skille registered 84 points, including a career-high eight goals with the Avs just two years ago, but made his name not by his offense, but by his grit and toughness, his ability to win battles along the boards, and his quickness and tendency to always be in position to make a defensive play. Skille’s impressive ability to find an NHL gig as a reliable depth player is over for now, but may not be over for good, depending on his play in Europe.

With Minsk, Skille steps into a position where he will be relied on more for offense than any other time in his pro career and could also fill a leadership role. He also won’t be alone in Belarus though; he joins a squad with several NHL veterans such as Rob Klinkhammer, Quinton Howden, Justin Fontaine, Marc-Andre Gragnani, and new starting goalie Jhonas Enroth. The team is set to make some moves this season and Skille adds yet another talented contributor to the mix. If Minsk makes a leap up the standings in 2017-18 with Skille leading the charge in all three zones, there is little doubt that he will again draw interest from NHL teams next summer and beyond as a dependable and versatile depth option.

Minor Transactions: 6/16/16

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Here is where we’ll keep track of today’s minor transactions.

  • Craig Cunningham, who would have been a Group VI free agent July 1st, has re-signed on a one year, two-way deal with Arizona, according to General Fanager.  Cunningham will earn $600,000 at the NHL level and $200,000 in the AHL while the pact contains a $250,000 guarantee.  He has 3 goals and 5 assists in 63 career NHL games between Boston and Arizona.
  • Rob Klinkhammer, a pending UFA with Edmonton, has signed a contract with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, according to the team (link in Russian). Klinkhammer has 193 NHL games under his belt and suited up in 14 games with the Oilers last season, collecting a goal and 6 penalty minutes.
  • The Hurricanes announced the re-signing of Derek Ryan to a one year, two-way contract. The 29 year old center made his NHL debut in 2015-16, picking up 2 goals in 6 games.  He also was the leading scorer for Carolina’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte.  Ryan will earn $600,000 at the NHL and $300,000 at the AHL level with a total guarantee of $350,000.
  • The Bruins announced the signing of prospect forward Peter Cehlarik to a three year, entry-level contract. Cehlarik was Boston’s third round pick (90th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.  He will carry a cap hit before performance bonuses of $742,500 according to Cap Friendly.
  • Jared Cowen went unclaimed at today’s 11AM CST waiver deadline according to the Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle. The Maple Leafs are now free to proceed with buying out the final year of his contract.
  • Florida has re-signed forward Connor Brickley to a one year, two-way deal according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.  Brickley played in 23 games with the Panthers last year, scoring once while adding 4 assists.  They also inked G Sam Brittain to a one year, two-way pact, reports the Sun Sentinel’s Harvey Fialkov.
  • Anaheim has reportedly re-signed forward Joseph Cramarossa to a one year, two-way deal according to Cap Friendly. Cramarossa had 11 goals and 6 assists for the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in San Diego last season.

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