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Yohann Auvitu

Minor Transactions: 10/4/23

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With play overseas in several leagues already underway and AHL camps just getting going, there continue to be plenty of signings across the hockey world.  We run through some of the NHL-related ones here.

  • UFA center Nate Schnarr has signed a one-year deal with Pelicans in Finland, per a team release.  The 24-year-old started the season in Montreal’s system before being moved at the trade deadline to Los Angeles but was non-tendered this summer after putting up just nine points in 45 AHL contests.  He had attended training camp this year with Columbus but was cut late month.
  • Another player who was cut by the Blue Jackets in camp is also heading overseas, defenseman Nicolas Meloche. Salavat Yulaev of the KHL announced that they’ve inked the 26-year-old to a one-year deal.  Meloche played 50 NHL contests with San Jose in 2021-22 but cleared waivers early in camp last year with Calgary, resulting in him spending all of last season at the AHL level where he had 21 points in 64 games.
  • Former NHL blueliner Yohann Auvitu is on the move again as he has inked a one-year deal plus an option with Vitkovice in Czechia, per a club release. The 34-year-old saw time at the NHL level with both Edmonton and New Jersey but has moved around frequently since then, spending time in Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland.
  • Kings prospect Kaleb Lawrence is on the move in the OHL as Ottawa announced that they’ve acquired the 20-year-old forward from Owen Sound. Standing 6’7, Lawrence was a seventh-round pick in 2022 (215th overall) after a season in which he played just two games.  Last year, he was much healthier, putting up 37 points in 50 games with the Attack.  Los Angeles has until June 1, 2024, to sign Lawrence to an entry-level deal so there will be some extra pressure on him as he enters his overage year.
  • Anaheim’s AHL affiliate in San Diego announced the signing of Ben King to a one-year deal. The 21-year-old was a fourth-round pick by the Ducks in 2022 (107th overall) but has exhausted his WHL eligibility.  After putting up 105 points in 2021-22, King’s production dipped to just 35 points in 30 games last season with Red Deer.  Anaheim has until June 1, 2024, to ink him to an NHL contract.

Yohann Auvitu Signs In The KHL

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Oilers unrestricted free agent defenseman Yohann Auvitu has signed a two-year contract with HK Sochi, the KHL team announced (link in Russian).  This was an expected outcome after he stated back in May that he was intending to leave the NHL but at that time hadn’t decided which international league he’d be going to.

The 28-year-old had a limited role with Edmonton last season.  He was a frequent healthy scratch and even saw a bit of action on the wing.  Overall, he played in 33 games with the Oilers, collecting three goals and six assists while averaging 13:33 of ice time per night.  He then suited up with France at the World Championships where he played in four games.

Auvitu’s time in North America has wound up being quite brief as he only made his way over in time for the 2016-17 season when he joined the Devils on an entry-level contract.  Considering the limited role he had over two seasons, this is likely the end of his time in the NHL.

Yohann Auvitu Won’t Return To Oilers

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Defenseman Yohann Auvitu’s time with the Oilers has come to an end.  In an interview with Finland’s MTV (link in Finnish), he states that while he has not yet decided where he’ll play next season, he plans to leave the NHL and head back overseas.  He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July so they will not retain his rights.

The 28-year-old had a limited role with Edmonton in 2017-18.  He spent a lot of time as a healthy scratch and even saw a bit of action on the wing.  In the end, he played in 33 games with the Oilers, posting three goals and six assists while logging 13:33 of ice time per night.

Auvitu only came to the NHL in time for the 2016-17 season as he signed his entry-level deal as a 27-year-old with the Devils that year following a strong showing with HIFK in the SM-liiga and at the World Championships with France.  He split that year between New Jersey and their farm team before signing with Edmonton.

While he decides on his playing future, Auvitu is back with a familiar time for the time being as he is suiting up for France for the ninth time at the World Championships which got underway earlier today.

West Notes: Horvat, Auvitu, Stars

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The Canucks are hopeful to get a contract in place for Bo Horvat within the next week, GM Jim Benning told Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver (audio link).  He classified recent discussions as “going well” and that progress was made on a deal last week.

Horvat is one of the most prominent remaining restricted free agents after a season that saw him record 52 points (20-32-52) in 81 games to lead the team in scoring.  With the Sedin twins nearing the end of their careers, the 22-year-old is set to lead Vancouver’s forward group for years to come so it’s likely that a long-term deal is still being targeted.  There were suggestions late last week that a bridge deal was all but done but Canucks team president Trevor Linden denied that a short-term pact was in place.  Cap space shouldn’t be a factor as the team still has more than $5MM in room to work with per CapFriendly (an amount that will go up as their roster size shrinks closer to 23).

More from the West:

  • David Staples of the Edmonton Journal takes a closer look at Edmonton offseason acquisition Yohann Auvitu who is expected to push for a roster spot at camp, especially with Andrej Sekera still out for a few more months. Auvitu split last season between New Jersey and their AHL affiliate and while his defensive game wasn’t the greatest, his mobility and puck moving ability could fit in well with an Oilers team that is filled with skill and a lot of up-tempo players.
  • Although the Stars have added a more defensive-minded coach in Ken Hitchcock as well as Marc Methot in a trade with the Golden Knights, Puck Daddy’s Ryan Lambert opines that Dallas could still be a bit too thin defensively, at least when it comes to impact players. Depth at the back of the depth chart shouldn’t be an issue with players like Jamie Oleksiak and Greg Pateryn in the fold but another impact blueliner would certainly be helpful.  However, they’re capped out so they will hope that a youngster like Stephen Johns and Julius Honka can take on bigger roles while veteran Dan Hamhuis will be counted on to rebound from a quiet season.

Oilers Sign Defenseman Yohann Auvitu

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The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with former New Jersey Devils defenseman Yohann Auvitu. The team announced that it will be a one-year deal, but all other details are unknown as of now. The Frenchman made his North American debut in 2016-17, scoring four points in 25 games with New Jersey, and adding another 13 points in 29 games with AHL Albany.

Regardless of the value of the contract or the one-way/two-way nature, this could be a shrewd signing by GM Peter Chiarelli. The 27-year-old Auvituu had years of success as a two-way defenseman in his native France and in the Finnish Liiga before making the jump last year. A smooth skater with excellent puck possession ability and great hockey intelligence, Auvituu played competently for the Devils right off the bat.

However, the Oilers have quite a few defenseman under contract already and Auvitu has his work cut out for him to make the Opening Night roster. Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson, Kris Russell, and Darnell Nurse are locks to begin the year as starters, with Eric Gryba and Matt Benning likely to join them, and Andrej Sekera coming back from injury at some point early in the season to take back his top-four spot. Thus, Auvitu will have to battle with Mark Fayne, Ryan Stanton, and well-regarded prospect William Lagesson for the number seven spot to begin the season and then hope to hold on to it after Sekera’s return. However, worst case scenario, Auvitu will provide solid depth for the Oilers in the AHL and make several spot starts throughout the 2017-18 season.

Minor Transactions: 1/24/17

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Here is where we’ll keep track of today’s minor roster moves:

  • The Devils announced (Twitter link) that they have activated defenseman Yohann Auvitu off of injured reserve and assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Albany. He had missed the past seven games with a lower body injury.  The 27 year old rookie has spent the bulk of the season with New Jersey, picking up four points (2-2-4) in 25 games.  He also has seen time in seven AHL contests, recording a trio of assists.
  • The Senators announced via Twitter that they have recalled winger Casey Bailey from AHL Binghamton. He’s expected to serve as insurance up front in case Mike Hoffman (flu) is unable to play tonight against Washington.  Bailey has played in four games with Ottawa this season being held off the scoresheet and has ten goals and five assists in 33 games with Binghamton.
  • Washington announced the recall of center Chandler Stephenson from Hershey of the AHL. The 22 year old got into nine games with the Capitals last season but has yet to suit up with the big club in 2016-17.  He has played in 39 AHL games this year, recording 24 points (6-18-24), just four shy of his career high set last season.
  • With defenseman Brian Dumoulin set to return from injured reserve, the Penguins have assigned blueliner Cameron Gaunce to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, per a team release. Gaunce got into three games with Pittsburgh after being recalled last week, picking up a pair of assists while posting two goals and six assists with the Baby Pens this season.
  • The Ducks announced via Twitter that they have loaned center Nate Thompson to their AHL affiliate in San Diego on a long-term injury conditioning loan.  Loans of this nature typically last a maximum of three games or six days but teams can petition the league for an extra two games.  Thompson, who remains on LTIR, has missed the entire season so far after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon in an offseason workout.
  • Colorado announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled center Jim O’Brien from San Antonio of the AHL.  The team placed forward Rene Bourque on IR to make room for him on the roster.  O’Brien, a former first round pick of the Senators (29th overall) in 2007, has spent the entire season at the minor league level, collecting seven goals and ten assists in 26 games.  He last saw NHL action in 2015-16, getting into four games with New Jersey.

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