Coyotes, Sabres Swap Brandon Hickey For Hudson Fasching
It looks like another team will take a shot at signing prospect Brandon Hickey. The collegiate defenseman has been dealt for the second off-season in a row, this time from the Arizona Coyotes to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for minor league winger Hudson Fasching. Veteran forward and impending unrestricted free agent Mike Sislo will also head to Buffalo in the deal. Both teams have confirmed the trade and seem optimistic about re-signing their new prospects.
Hickey was originally acquired by the Coyotes last summer from the Calgary Flames as part of the Mike Smith trade. The Flames worried that they would not be able to sign the Alberta native, who they had drafted in the third round in 2014 but at the time had already played three seasons in the NCAA and was not yet looking to leave. A year later, the Boston University captain has graduated and apparently was not keen on signing in Arizona either/ He only has to wait until August to become a free agent, but the Sabres clearly hope to get him signed instead. A smart defensive blue liner with leadership qualities, Hickey would add experience and locker room presence to any pipeline and Buffalo could certainly use the blue line boost.
It’s likely that Buffalo was already given permission to have such contract talks with Hickey before this deal was made, otherwise it’s highly unlikely that they would have traded away a player like Fasching. Granted Fasching is an impending restricted free agent and, like Hickey, needs a new contract, the Sabres would have had more team control over Fasching than they do now with Hickey. Fasching also has pro experience, including 22 NHL games with the Sabres over the past three seasons. The 22-year-old American forward has not found the same offensive production in the pros that he exhibited with the University of Minnesota, but appeared to be back on track this season with a career-high 30 points in the AHL. Fasching brings a physical element that the Coyotes have often lacked and could be one of the top minor league options for the team moving forward.
As for Sislo, the 30-year-old forward put up good numbers in the AHL, but isn’t much of a threat to make a difference at the next level, whether he signs with the Sabres or another team. He may simply be a throw-in in this deal, given his impending free agency. This deal is primarily about two prospects getting a new opportunity to sign with a different team and filling specific, minor needs for each organization. It also continues a trend for each franchise: the BU-to-Buffalo pipeline for the Sabres and the Coyotes taking on high upside prospects that many others have written off.
Buffalo Sabres Sign Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen To Entry-Level Contract
One of the top goaltending prospects in the world has signed his first NHL contract, as the Buffalo Sabres announced Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has inked his three-year, entry-level contract.
Luukkonen, 19, was selected 54th-overall in last year’s draft and spent this season playing in the Finnish second league where he recorded a .909 save percentage. He also suited up in the World Junior Championship, but was unable to carry Finland to a medal performance. The big, mobile netminder is built like the prototypical goalie prospect and should have a long professional career ahead of him. Still, he’ll have to find some more consistency before really making an impact for the Sabres.
Where he plays next season is still unclear, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Luukkonen stay in Finland for at least one more season (if not several). The Sabres obviously want to get him into their system, but throwing a teenaged-goaltender into the fire of the AHL is rarely a good development strategy. With Linus Ullmark set to jump to the NHL level and Robin Lehner still part of the organization, there is no reason to rush their young prospect. Instead, they can let him mature into the goaltender they hope he can be, which by all accounts could be a legitimate NHL starter.
Avalanche Prepared To Pick Fourth If Senators Fold
The first fireworks of the upcoming NHL Draft may show up at pick #4. When the Ottawa Senators acquired Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche, part of the substantial package was a top-ten protected 2018 first-round pick. The terms of the deal afforded the Senators a choice between trading this year’s pick or next year’s pick to Colorado if the pick landed within the top ten spots. Finishing the season with the second-worst record in the league, Ottawa was obviously locked in to the top ten. Even after bad luck dropped them to fourth overall in the NHL Draft Lottery, GM Pierre Dorion confirmed that they would hold on to the pick this year and defer to the 2019 first-rounder.
However, that was back in April and things change. It seems more likely than ever that Erik Karlsson and/or Mike Hoffman will be traded away from Ottawa this off-season and that doesn’t bode well for a Duchene extension either. There also continue to be frustrations over the management of owner Eugene Melnyk and the fiscal future of the organization. Ottawa seems far from a free agent destination right now and no closer to turning around one of the worst records in the NHL. The initial Stanley Cup odds for next season reflect this, as the Senators at 100/1 odds are alone in last place. It’s understandable for public relations purposes that the Sens keep this year’s #4, both to add an exciting new prospect and to all but confirm to fans that the outlook for next season is better this season. It may not be the smart move though.
There is a trio of top prospects in the draft this year: defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina. After that, there is no consensus on the next-best player. In fact, the fourth overall pick more or less marks the beginning of a lesser tier of prospects; not exactly a power position in 2018. Next year, the Senators are almost certainly going to miss the playoffs and will be a lottery team with a chance to land in the top three with a lucky draw. According to odds makers, they are also the favorite to finish 31st, which would give them the best odds at the first overall pick – highly-touted franchise center Jack Hughes – and would mean that they could fall no farther than fourth again. There is risk in giving up a pick as high as #4 this year, but there is also substantial risk in not giving it away, blowing up the roster, and simply hoping for a better finish next year. The pain that the organization and the fans would feel about losing #1 after another brutal season would be far worse than giving up a non-consensus top player at #4 this year. The mounting pressure of that very real possibility could force the Senators to give in and surrender the 2018 pick.
The Avalanche know this and are remaining vigilant. The Denver Post’s Mike Chambers caught up with Colorado Director of Scouting Alan Hepple, who says the team knows what direction they would go in if they wind up with #4 this year after all. Per Chambers, the Senators can wait all the way until they are on the clock to make the pick to instead complete the trade this year. Hepple doesn’t think that will be the case, but the Avs are prepared in case it is. They certainly wouldn’t mind the spot, as the team nabbed defensive phenom Cale Makar in that same draft slot last year and would be happy to make a repeat performance. With their own pick at #16, Hepple says that the team will simply take the best player available, regardless of position, but at #4 they have identified a more pressing organizational need, as they did with the UMass puck-mover Makar last year.
If the first three picks go as expected and Ottawa isn’t thrilled by the next-best name on their draft board, they could crumble under the pressure of the potential repercussions: losing a higher pick next year. It could pay off or it could be a mistake in hindsight; there is no way to tell with a lot riding on the decision. However, if they do, Colorado is ready to jump in. It’s not the most likely outcome, but it remains a possibility, and an intriguing one, as draft day approaches.
Chicago Prospect Ivan Nalimov Asks For Trade
It’s not often that a player not under contract requests a trade, but Ivan Nalimov is going for it. The Chicago Blackhawks’ 2014 sixth-round pick has asked for his rights to be dealt to another NHL team, reports The Athletic’s Scott Powers. As one of the KHL’s best young goaltenders, Nalimov feels that he has earned a shot at the NHL next season, but agent Shumi Babaev feels that the opportunity won’t come in Chicago. Nalimov has already terminated his KHL contract for next season and is solely focused on the NHL, but doesn’t want to waste the prime of his career buried in the minors behind the Blackhawks’ many goalies. As a result, the young netminder would like to be moved to a team where he might have a greater chance at play time.
Nalimov, 23, is coming off of a season that was impressive for many reasons. Right away, it is easy to tell that this was a career campaign for the homegrown Russian goaltender and former KHL first-round pick. The big keeper finally put it all together in 2017-18 and posted a .938 SV% and 2.13 GAA in 23 appearances. His save percentage was among the best in the league, fourth among all goalies with 20+ appearances, and his goals against average was in the top 15 of that same group. However, a closer inspection makes those numbers even more impressive, as Nalimov was traded mid-season. Serving behind Igor Bobkov with Admiral Vladisvostok, Nalimov proved himself to be the best backup in the KHL this season with a .942 SV% and 1.98 GAA in 17 games. With his value escalating, he was moved to Salavat Yulaev Ufa to back up Ben Scrivens and hardly missed a beat in six more games there. His numbers fell off slightly, but his performance trumped the team’s existing backup and helped Ufa in their playoff pursuit, earning Nalimov some postseason appearances of his own. Nalimov not only performed at a high level this year, but did so with two teams and was unshaken by the adjustment. It’s understandable why he feels now would be the perfect time to make the ultimate adjustment and try his hand at the NHL.
Yet, Chicago is an unlikely location for that to happen. As Powers writes, the Blackhawks have three NHL-caliber goalies already under contract for next season in starter Corey Crawford and backups Anton Forsberg and J-F Berube, not to mention another pair of prospects signed to pro deals who already seem permanently relegated to the minors next season. In speaking with both Nalimov’s agent and Chicago GM Stan Bowman, Powers states that the ‘Hawks really like Nalimov, but perhaps didn’t anticipate that he would develop this quickly or wish to come overseas this soon. They also might have underestimated his ceiling, as Chicago did spend a third-round pick on German standout Wouter Peeters just two years ago. Regardless, the Blackhawks do not have to listen to Nalimov’s request and they can retain his rights perpetually, but this could sour the young goalie on coming to North America altogether. If the decision is between potentially losing Nalimov forever due to a broken relationship or trading him away for at least some type of return, Bowman and company are likely to shop the prospect this summer.
Boston Bruins Sign Urho Vaakanainen To Entry-Level Contract
The Boston Bruins have inked one of their top prospects, signing 2017 first-round pick Urho Vaakanainen to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal will carry a $925K NHL cap hit, plus any performance bonuses that he might achieve.
Vaakanainen, 19, was the 18th-overall selection a year ago and spent the season playing in Finland’s highest league. An extremely talented skater, he uses that ability to easily attack oncoming opponents and shut down rushes well before they even get started. While his offensive game is still raw, he does show a good first pass and can be an effective zone-exit option with the puck on his stick. He registered 11 points in 43 games this season, but there is some potential for even more production there if given a bigger opportunity.
Should Vaakanainen come to North America this season, he’ll likely be ticketed for the Providence Bruins at first where he could adapt to the AHL game before eventually making the jump to the NHL. While that jump to Boston isn’t guaranteed at this point, his first year of development since being drafted went well and there certainly looks like there could be a future for him beside star rookie Charlie McAvoy. Even if Vaakanainen doesn’t turn into a top-pairing option, the Bruins will have several other openings on the blue line over the next three years as they move on to the next wave of defensemen.
Chicago Blackhawks Sign Henri Jokiharju To Entry-Level Contract
The Chicago Blackhawks have inked one of their top prospects, signing Henri Jokiharju to his three-year entry-level contract. Jokiharju played this season in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, while also suiting up for Finland at the World Junior Championship.
Jokiharju, 18, exploded for Portland this season, recording 71 points in 63 games and generally being one of the best defensemen in the league. Named a second-team WHL All-Star, Jokiharju would likely be in the mix for Defenseman of the Year should he return to Portland next season. That isn’t guaranteed though, as some believe he could make an impact with the Blackhawks, or perhaps return to Finland to continue his development at a higher level.
Regardless of where he plays next season, the Blackhawks are extremely excited about his early development. Selected 29th-overall in 2017, he is quickly showing he may have been a steal that late in the round. If he plays in junior or Europe next season, his contract will slide and not come into effect until 2019-20. He could even play up to nine games with the Blackhawks without burning a year.
Red Wings And Canadiens To Clash At The Draft
Before the 2018-19 season even begins, there will be some conflict between divisional foes. The Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings are both coming off disappointing seasons and are looking to reinforce their franchises with their own high draft slots as well as acquired picks. Both teams are hoping to cash in on several picks in the first and second rounds to find multiple players that will grow to become regular NHLers. However, they may have to battle each other to do so.
The Athletic’s Craig Custance published an article this week about Detroit’s possible plans and potential targets for a trio of picks in the 30’s. His colleague Arpon Basu was quick to respond with his own article about Montreal’s potential marks with their two picks in the early second round. Basu also added that the two teams share similar organizational needs. Among them, both the Canadiens and Red Wings could use a top-flight center and defenseman in the pipeline.
With no suitable centers available when either team picks in the first round – the Habs at #3 and the Wings at #6 – what those teams do early on could dictate their priorities in the early second. Many expect that Montreal cannot pass up the elite forward talent that is winger Filip Zadina. The Canadiens (or Red Wings) could reach for center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, but it is unlikely. They could also take a defenseman, as there are plenty of supremely talented names available in this draft. After Rasmus Dahlin presumably goes first overall, most consider Quinn Hughes to be the next best name. Of course, Detroit is the heavy favorite to take the University of Michigan product if he’s still on the board. If Montreal chose to steal him, it would be the first conflict between these two teams.
Things heat up even more later on though. Detroit has a second first-rounder at #30, courtesy of the Tomas Tatar trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. While this is a prime position for the Wings to trade out of, they could also simply make the pick. It is here that the Red Wings could beat the Canadiens to one of the top available centers. Both Custance and Basu list Ty Dellandrea as a prime target in the late first and early second, and Basu also offers Isac Lundestrom and Jacob Olofsson as candidates if either is still available. Then, in the second, Detroit picks again at #33, the pick they received from the Ottawa Senators through the New York Rangers in the Brendan Smith deal. So while the Habs get the first shot at selecting ahead of the Wings early in the first round, Detroit then has the next three consecutive picks ahead of Montreal. Here, it would be easy to see the Red Wings double up on defensemen, aiming for a more physical specimen. Both Custance and Basu tab K’Andre Miller as a likely target, while Basu also lists Mattias Samuelsson and, if he’s still there, Jared McIsaac. Both writers are also intrigued by the boom-or-bust talent of defenseman Ryan Merkley, another swift puck-mover like Hughes. Don’t rule out Detroit looking his way as well. Finally, Montreal gets their next shot at #35 and Detroit picks right after at #36. Montreal may again have to pick up the scraps at #38, the selection they landed from the Chicago Blackhawks along with Phillip Danault in the very favorable Tomas Fleischmann/Dale Weise trade in 2016.
Montreal also has picks #56 and #62 later in the second round, leaving open a very real opportunity that they could change this whole dynamic by packaging multiple second-rounders – in a draft that many feel is homogeneous in the #20 to #60 range – to move back into the first round and ahead of Detroit at #30. It would then be the Canadiens who could take the best available center or defenseman and put the Red Wings in a tough spot.
It’s always a good time to see two Original Six teams battle on the ice, but the war for position brewing between Detroit and Montreal in the upcoming draft could be just as fun to watch.
Nando Eggenberger Eyeing Jump To North America Following Draft
Sometimes the younger players who look good early on don’t end up being the players who look the best come draft day. Often times, players can stall in their development and never take those next steps that scouts anticipate when evaluating their potential. Such is the case with Swiss winger Nando Eggenberger. The talented power forward was one of the first players of the 2018 draft class to get considerable attention years ago. Now, with the NHL Draft fast approaching, Eggenberger’s stock is at a new low. Perhaps hoping to incite optimism in interested teams, Eggenberger is reportedly considering a move to North America and would be a top target in the CHL Import Draft. His pro team in the Swiss NLA, HC Davos, revealed that the young forward has received interest from teams and is contemplating the jump.
The move could definitely serve to benefit Eggenberger. While still an intriguing prospect, he is no longer in the position that he once was. At one point, Eggenberger’s name was often found in the same sentence as 2017 first overall pick Nico Hischier as pundits evaluated the next wave of elite Swiss youth. Eggenberger is a true sniper and a strong skater and knows how to use his size both in front of the net and to win defensive battles. This time last year, Eggenberger had already played a full season of pro hockey at the highest level in Switzerland – and the NLA is considered one of the top European leagues – and while his low offensive production was foreseeable, pundits applauded his ability to skate and hold his own at that level as a kid not even old enough for the draft. “The Draft Analyst” Steve Kournianos even called Eggenberger a top ten player to watch. However, with the world indeed watching, Eggenberger did not get any better this season. He played in eight more games for Davos this year than last but registered the same amount of points and dropped from a +3 rating to a -12 on a very good team. Playing against competition his own age and ability at the World Juniors, many expected Eggenberger to lead the Swiss squad and show off his ability. Instead he went scoreless and posted a -9 rating in five games as the Swiss won just one game. He continues to play a one-dimensional game that lacks offensive forethought and creativity. A player with incredible tools that can’t put himself in a position to properly use them lacks career upside. As a result, Kournianos has Eggenberger ranked 78th in his final draft ranking and that is still an elevated opinion. Future Considerations ranks him at #88, while the Athletic’s Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler both declined to put him on their draft boards.
Hoping to at least go in the first half of the draft this month, publicizing a potential move to North America is smart for Eggenberger. In the CHL, he cannot be used as a hired gun for only specific purposes as a pro team like Davos was able to use him. Eggenberger will be forced to play a complete game as his ability would surely make him a top-six forward for nearly any team. This responsibility could do wonders for his development into a more thoughtful, well-rounded player. Adding that potential growth into the calculus of his draft value, teams may be looking to bump Eggenberger back up their draft boards. Even if he doesn’t make the jump, the timing of this rumor from his team suits his draft stock well. Eggenberger will be a player to keep an eye out for during the later rounds on June 23rd.
Free Agent Focus: Calgary Flames
Free agency is now a little less than a month away from opening up and there are quite a few prominent players set to hit the open market while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign. Here is a breakdown of Calgary’s free agent situation.
Key Restricted Free Agents: F Mark Jankowski – Heading into the 2017-18 season, there’s no question that fans were frustrated with waiting for Jankowski. He had just turned 23 and was more than five years from being drafted with just a single NHL game under his belt. Sure, he’d impressed in his first full season in the AHL but after waiting so long Flames fans wanted impact, and they wanted it now.
After starting in the minor leagues once again he was given a chance with the NHL club and didn’t look back, recording 17 goals and 25 points in 72 games. Those numbers were inflated some by the four-goal game he had at the very end of the season, but regardless Jankowski has found a full-time roll on the club going forward. The question is how much is that role worth, as the first-round pick heads into free agency for the first time. With less than a full season of games under his belt there isn’t a ton of leverage from his side, but they may not want to lock him into a long-term deal before really showing what he’s capable of. It seems like a one or two-year bridge deal is in order here, limiting the risk on both sides.
G Jon Gillies/David Rittich – The Flames have to make a decision on who their backup goaltender is going to be next season, and it might as well be one of Gillies or Rittich. Both were inconsistent when given the chance to help out at the NHL level, and have Tyler Parsons and other goaltending prospects chasing them down from behind. With Mike Smith set to come back as the starter, we’ll get a good indication of who will be behind him from the contracts that Gillies and Rittich receive. Both would become Group VI unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2019 if not given an NHL opportunity this year.
Other RFAs: F Nick Shore, F Garnet Hathaway, D Brett Kulak, F Hunter Shinkaruk, F Austin Carroll, F Morgan Klimchuk, F Hunter Smith, F Emile Poirier
Key Unrestricted Free Agents: F Kris Versteeg – The Flames lucked out when Versteeg decided to sign with them in the fall of 2016 despite being in training camp with the Edmonton Oilers, and were rewarded with a 37-point season. That earned the journeyman forward another contract for the most recent season worth $1.75MM, but he was unfortunately limited to just 24 games because of injury.
Even if Versteeg were willing to come back for a reduced price, it’s not clear if the Flames have room for him any longer. With the emergence of young players like Jankowski, Hathaway and Curtis Lazar, there might not be any reason to re-sign the 32-year old winger. Still, depending on what happens this summer they may bring him back as a veteran option to fill out their top-nine and give them a little more secondary scoring, provided he’s healthy enough to contribute.
F Matt Stajan – It’s amazing that Stajan is still just 34, despite seeming to have been in the league for two decades. The veteran pivot celebrated his 1,000th game in the NHL this season, but is clearly slowing down as he enters his mid-thirties. With just 12 points in 68 games, Stajan put up the worst offensive numbers of his career and saw the ice for fewer than 11 minutes a night. Though he’s still a positive veteran presence on a team that needs a bounce-back season, there likely isn’t much room on the roster going forward.
Whether Stajan gets another shot elsewhere in the NHL is still very much in doubt. Unfortunately he’s just slightly too young to qualify for a contract that includes performance bonuses, meaning he’ll likely be looking at offers near the league minimum. If that’s acceptable, perhaps he continues his career as a part-time fourth-line center for a contender. If it’s the end, he’ll have a long successful career to look back on even if he didn’t get to the playoffs very often.
Other UFAs: F Tanner Glass, F Chris Stewart, F Marek Hrivik, D Matt Bartkowski, F Luke Gazdic, D Tyler Wotherspoon, D Cody Goloubef, D Dalton Prout
Projected Cap Space: The Flames project to have around $17MM in cap space this summer, depending on where the upper limit lands, and without any premiere restricted free agents could go after some big fish on the free agent market. They do have to worry about extensions for Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk past this season, but still should have some room to play with if they want to add.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team let all of their unrestricted free agents go, as none of them figure to be long-term contributors to the Flames success. Even if they do sign some of the minor ones, the biggest impact this summer will likely come through trade or big ticket shopping. Calgary struggled this season and doesn’t have a pick in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft. Things have to change, and they have to change fast for them to see any success in the near future.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Tyler Weiss Commits To Nebraska-Omaha
Less than a month before he will hear his name called at the NHL Entry Draft and learns where he may play his pro hockey, Tyler Weiss has announced where he will play his college hockey. The U.S. National Development Team product will play for the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2018-19 and likely beyond.
Weiss is one of the more polarizing prospects in the upcoming draft. The Raleigh, North Carolina native is well-liked by all, but scouts differ on how they see his pro potential. For example, Corey Pronman of The Athletic saw Weiss play several times this season and has him ranked 66th in his final draft board, indicating that he could even be a second-round pick. On the other end of the spectrum, The Athletic colleague Scott Wheeler ranked Weiss 100th and The Draft Analyst’s Steve Kournianos ranked him 159th, suggesting that they instead see Weiss as a fourth- or fifth-round player. However, Kournianos had Weiss at 85th prior to this season and his production has been solid – 35 points in 58 games with the USNTDP – so it is the lanky forward’s lack of physical development likely driving down his value. Weiss stands 5’11”, but weighs less than 160 pounds. While he’s a strong skater and plays with good skill, with some scouts saying he has top-six NHL upside, his slight frame is apparent in his lack of any physical game or two-way ability and that is understandably a concern.
Yet, the college game is often the perfect track for smaller players who can both thrive in the fast, skilled level of play and concentrate on bulking up. At Omaha, Weiss will likely be looked upon immediately as one of the top players on the roster which should force him to focus on an all-around game and improving his on-ice presence. Whichever team selects Weiss this year should do so knowing that he is a long-term project, but also understanding the upside of his skill should his physical development catch up to his skating, hand, and brain.
Weiss is one of the great stories of the draft, fighting through his family’s financial struggles as a young kid and an untraditional hockey market to become a legitimate NHL prospect. The Athletic’s Sunaya Sapurji details Weiss’ background and more closely examines his draft status in this piece for further reading.