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Zach Fucale

Goalie Notes: Bernier, Korpisalo, Fucale

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The New Jersey Devils have placed Jonathan Bernier on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, meaning Akira Schmid is on his way up to the big leagues. Bernier last played on December 3 against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing six goals on 32 shots. Overall this season he hasn’t been very busy, appearing in just ten games and posting a .902 save percentage.

Schmid meanwhile has been outstanding for the Utica Comets, posting a .944 and 8-0-2 record in ten games. The 21-year-old netminder is in his first year of professional hockey after spending the last few seasons in the USHL, but looks like the transition will be no problem for his 6’5″ frame. Should Schmid get a chance to play, it would be his NHL debut.

  • Speaking of goaltenders making debuts, Daniil Tarasov has been sent back to the AHL after playing in his first three NHL games. The young netminder was up while Joonas Korpisalo dealt with a non-COVID illness, which he has now recovered from. Korpisalo was activated from injured reserve and will resume his duties alongside Elvis Merzlikins in the Columbus Blue Jackets net. That is of course unless the team makes a trade at some point, one that looks even more likely now that Tarasov has shown he can handle things at the NHL level. The 22-year-old posted a .936 save percentage in his three appearances.
  • Zach Fucale made his own NHL debut earlier this season with the Washington Capitals, posting a 21-save shutout after a long minor league career. He’s back up with the Capitals again, recalled as a precaution with a back-to-back coming up. The team has been dealing with COVID protocols and injuries all season, so having a third goaltender with the group gives them a little insurance in case the worst happens.

Washington Capitals Sign Zach Fucale To Two-Year Extension

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The Washington Capitals have strengthened their goaltending depth for the next couple of years, as the team announced the signing of Zach Fucale to a two-year, two-way deal. The deal is worth $1.5MM with an AAV of $750K. Fucale will receive $150K in the AHL during his first year and $160K in the second.

Once considered a superstar goaltending prospect, Fucale has struggled significantly since going pro. The 25-year-old has spent much of his playing time in the ECHL and has struggled to get an NHL contract until recently when the Capitals signed him to a one-year deal in August. Fucale was still expected to spend the season in the ECHL with a loaded system that was supposed to include Ilya Samsonov, Henrik Lundqvist, Vitek Vanecek and Pheonix Copley, leaving Fucale as the extra netminder.

Instead, Fucale has spent most of his time in the AHL and has fared well in six games with the Hershey Bears, boasting a 1.93 GAA and a .942 save percentage, potentially suggesting that Fucale might finally be figuring things out in net. Fucale would have been a Group 6 free agent, but will now hopefully find some stability after several years of moving around. He is a likely candidate to share the Hershey net with Copley next season as well before Copley becomes a free agent himself in 2022.

Zach Fucale Loaned To ECHL

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When the Washington Capitals signed Zach Fucale to a one-year, two-way contract this summer it made for quite the crowded crease in Hershey, the team’s AHL affiliate. With Henrik Lundqvist taking the other spot in the NHL, Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek were penciled into the third and fourth-string spots. Fucale seemed likely to be headed back to the ECHL and today that’s exactly what happened. The Capitals have loaned Fucale to the South Carolina Stingrays.

Fucale, who is still only 25 despite his draft seeming like decades ago, was selected 36th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2013. An elite prospect who dominated at the junior level, winning the Memorial Cup and a gold medal with Canada at the WJC, he was never quite able to replicate that success at the next level.

Still, Fucale is a decorated goaltender on the international stage, winning two Spengler Cups with Canada over the years. For a fifth-string option in Washington, he’s hard to top.

South Carolina starts their season tomorrow with a match against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to kick off the ECHL schedule.

Zach Fucale Signs With Washington Capitals

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The Washington Capitals have shored up their goaltending depth for next season, signing Zach Fucale to a one-year, two-way contract for 2020-21. The deal will see Fucale earn $700K in the NHL and $75K in the AHL.

There was a time when Fucale was one of the top goaltending prospects in the entire world. Selected 36th overall in 2013 (the top goaltender in that entire draft class), the Montreal Canadiens believed they had the next great French-Canadian goalie. Things haven’t gone quite that smoothly since however, as Fucale never did make it to the NHL in Montreal. In fact, the 25-year-old goaltender has spent more time in the ECHL than the AHL over his professional career.

That might be where he is heading in the Capitals organization too, though there will be an opportunity to move up if the team doesn’t bring Braden Holtby back. In any case, it’s unlikely that Fucale will play a role with the NHL team unless injury strikes.

Zach Fucale Released From AHL Contract, Signs In Germany

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The long and winding career of Zach Fucale will now take the goaltender overseas, as today the Syracuse Crunch released him from his AHL contract in order for him to sign with Munich in the DEL. Fucale had spent most of the season in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears, but will now head to Germany to follow a new opportunity.

Fucale, 24, was originally selected 36th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, but despite his promising junior career things haven’t gone to plan at the professional level. After his entry-level contract with the Canadiens ended in 2018 with him in the ECHL, the organization decided not to issue him a qualifying offer. The Vegas Golden Knights gave him another chance with a one-year two-way deal in 2018-19, but he once again spent more time in the low minors and actually struggled during his time with the Fort Wayne Komets.

Another non-qualified summer awaited him, and now after posting a .928 save percentage in 24 appearances with the Solar Bears he’ll head overseas. Fucale has been a staple for Team Canada in international competitions for some time, winning a World Junior gold medal in 2015 and two Spengler Cups over the last few years. If the NHL fails to go to the Olympics again in 2022, you can bet he’ll be on Canada’s radar as a potential option in net.

Canada Announces 2019 Spengler Cup Roster

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Dec 23: Canada has added Mathew Maione and Blair Riley to the club, two more players with plenty of international experience.

Dec 19: While most fans of international hockey are paying attention to the upcoming World Junior Championship, there is actually another high-level tournament that starts at the same time. The Spengler Cup, where several club teams from around the world gather to compete is held every year just after Christmas. Canada also submits a team in the tournament, and this year’s edition has quite a few names that should be familiar to NHL fans.

The full roster:

G Brendan Burke
G Zach Fucale
G Matt Tomkins

D Paul Postma
D Ian Mitchell
D Alex Grant
D Patrick Wiercioch
D Andrew MacDonald
D Maxim Noreau

F Adam Tambellini
F Kris Versteeg
F Dustin Jeffrey
F Eric Fehr
F Justin Danforth
F Scottie Upshall
F Cory Emmerton
F Daniel Winnik
F Kevin Clark
F Ben Maxwell
F David Desharnais
F Josh Jooris
F Chris DiDomenico

Mitchell immediately stands out in the group, given that unlike many of the other former NHLers, he hasn’t even had his chance at the highest level so far. The Chicago Blackhawks draft pick is still just 20 years old and in his junior year at the University of Denver.

Obviously the Spengler Cup doesn’t come with a whole lot of name recognition, but some of these players could be considered at the next Olympics should the NHL decide not to attend in 2022.

The tournament kicks off on December 26th in Davos, Switzerland.

Notable AHL Signings: 7/1 & 7/2

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It’s not uncommon to see many players coming off NHL contracts, including those who have found success in the AHL, opt to sign minor league contracts early in July. As the new league year begins, many unrestricted free agents find that the market for their services at the top level does not develop. Rather than hold out hope for a two-way NHL contract further into the off-season, many are content to accept AHL contracts, which don’t rule out the possibility of signing in the NHL but provide some certainty about the coming season. Through the first two days of free agency, more than a few familiar names have settled for minor league pacts:

  • Tyler Sikura has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, remaining in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Sikura has been a key contributor for Rockford the past two years, even earning a one-year contract with Chicago this past season, but did not make an NHL appearance. He was likely content to stay with organization anyway, as he can continue to play with younger brother Dylan Sikura.
  • After playing a key shutdown role for the Charlotte Checkers en route to a Calder Cup championship, defenseman Josiah Didier has signed a one-year deal with the Providence Bruins. Providence has several top prospects on their blue line, but are lacking depth and Didier should again play an important role for his team next season.
  • The San Antonio Rampage have signed former Detroit Red Wings prospect and second-round pick Zach Nastisiuk to an AHL contract, as well as fellow forwards Cameron Darcy and J.J. Piccinich. The trio will have to fight for ice time in the minors, as the St. Louis Blues have signed quite a few depth players already over these past two days.
  • The Lehigh Valley Phantoms went big game hunting among AHL veterans yesterday, signing five-time AHL All-Star Cal O’Reilly to a two-year deal and bringing back their own All-Star, Greg Carey. O’Reilly, 32, has been on an NHL contract in each of the past five seasons, but had to settle for a step down this year despite another strong campaign. The center was a point-per-game scorer for the Iowa Wild, notching 67 points in 67 games to finish in the top ten in the AHL in scoring. It was his sixth AHL season with 60+ points. Carey, 29, saw his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers expire, but remains in the organization, where he has recorded three straight 50+ points seasons. The Phantoms also signed another Iowa forward, Gerry Fitzgerald, and defenseman Eric Knodel to one-year contracts.
  • A trio of familiar names have joined the Hartford Wolfpack: goalie Thomas McCollum, forward Harry Zolnierczyk, and defenseman Vincent LoVerde. All three players are coming off of NHL contracts but will have to work their way back into relevance at the top level. McCollum and Zolnierczyk both have played in the NHL, albeit not in several years, and LoVerde is a two-time AHL All-Star and Calder Cup champ. It’s quite a haul for Hartford.
  • Sam Vigneault left Clarkson University early to join the Columbus Blue Jackets, but his play in the minors tailed off over the past two years and his entry-level contract expired without an NHL experience. However, he’s content to stay in the organization, as Vigneault has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
  • Former top goalie prospect Zach Fucale has had a tough go of it in the pros. A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, Fucale has been relegated to the ECHL for much of the past three seasons. He managed to find an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch, but considering the depth in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing three goalies yesterday, Fucale is likely headed back to the ECHL.
  • Cole Schneider has been a force in the AHL for years, recently wrapping up his sixth straight season of 50+ points. However, the 28-year-old has been unable to translate that offense to the NHL. Although he still had enough value to warrant a trade to the Nashville Predators this season, Schneider never made an appearance for the team. That hasn’t stopped him from sticking with the organization though. The Milwaukee Admirals have brought back the talented forward on a one-year deal.

Golden Knights Re-Sign Lagace, Sign Fucale And Carr

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The Vegas Golden Knights are keeping the goalie pipeline well-stocked and continue to add competition at forward. As beat writer David Schoen details, winger Daniel Carr and goaltender Zach Fucale join Paul Stastny, Nick Holden, and Curtis McKenzie as newcomers to Vegas. Keeper Maxime Lagace has also re-signed with the team on a one-year, two-way deal worth $650K. Carr signed a one-year, one-way deal worth $750K, while terms for Fucale have not yet been disclosed.

Carr and Fucale are coming over from the Montreal Canadiens organization, and should help to fill out the roster for the Chicago Wolves. Vegas won’t have the luxury of the St. Louis Blues sending their prospects to the Wolves any longer, meaning Vegas needed to add some players to the roster. Fucale gives them another goaltending option, though the 23-year old still hasn’t been able to find much consistency since turning pro. Last season he posted just an .890 save percentage for Laval. Carr on the other hand made a mark for the Canadiens, scoring 16 points in 38 games. That production may give him a chance at the Vegas roster, though it’s obviously not a guarantee.

Lagace made his NHL debut for the Golden Knights this year, filling in while the team was dealing with multiple injuries. In 17 games he posted just an .867 save percentage, but did enough to keep the team afloat through the early part of the season. They’ve rewarded him with another year, though it would be need to be another dire situation to see him in the NHL.

Minor Transactions: 03/07/18

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The winning streak continued for the Nashville Predators yesterday, who now have come out on top in nine straight games. The Predators, buyers once again at the trade deadline, now sit just one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the best record in the NHL and look ready to make an impact in the playoffs once again. As they and other teams prepare their lineup on a quiet night in the NHL, we’ll keep track of all the minor transactions around the league.

  • The Buffalo Sabres announced Daniel O’Regan’s recall earlier this morning, bringing up the prospect acquired in the Evander Kane trade. O’Regan has played 19 games in the NHL for the Sharks this season, but won’t get to make his Sabres debut just yet. He stayed out late after practice and will likely be a healthy scratch tonight.
  • Montreal has sent Zach Fucale back to the minor leagues for the time being, likely indicating that Antti Niemi should be ready to return tomorrow night. Fucale is still waiting for his first chance in the NHL, but has struggled in his limited time with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The 22-year old is still a legitimate goaltending prospect, but he’s clearly not ready to make an impact at the highest level.

Canadiens Trying To Trade Zach Fucale

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Back in the 2013 draft, Canadiens goalie prospect Zach Fucale was the first netminder to go off the board at 36th overall.  He was coming off of a stellar season at the junior level, winning 45 of his 53 decisions while his Halifax Mooseheads made it to the Memorial Cup.

However, that has yet to materialize into much in the way of success at the professional level and as a result, Montreal has been trying to trade the 22-year-old in recent weeks, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

After spending 2016-17 primarily at the ECHL level, Fucale landed a backup role in the AHL to start this season but was recently demoted back to the ECHL.  In seven games with Laval of the AHL, he has posted a 3.54 GAA and a .879 SV%, numbers that are well below the league average.

Although they’ve yet to find a fit trade-wise, it’s hard to imagine the Canadiens would be placing too high of an asking price on Fucale.  He has dropped to fifth on the active depth chart (one that excludes the injured Al Montoya) and based on his struggles, a qualifying offer come June doesn’t seem to be likely at this point.  Considering the success he had in junior, it will be interesting to see if another team takes a chance on him with the hopes a change of scenery will kick-start his development.

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