Filip Hållander Signs Long-Term Deal In Sweden
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Filip Hållander has signed a five-year contract with the SHL’s Timrå IK, the Swedish club announced Friday morning.
This is a striking and likely unexpected move for the Penguins organization. While it’s common to see players older in age opt to return to Europe after not developing into higher-end NHLers, Hållander is still just 22 years old and was a candidate to make the Penguins out of training camp next season.
Pittsburgh can still retain Hållander’s NHL rights by issuing him a qualifying offer this summer, as he’s a pending restricted free agent. At the conclusion of his new SHL contract in 2028, he would then have to sign with Pittsburgh if he wanted to return to the NHL.
Nevertheless, it’s a tough blow for an organization already low on talented prospects. Hållander was one of the organization’s best, especially at center, and took huge steps forward this season with 33 points in 44 games for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Drafted 58th overall in 2018, Hållander was traded away and re-acquired in two separate transactions with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It does mark a homecoming for the Swedish forward, who was developed in Timrå’s system all the way from U16 play to his professional debut. During his draft year (2017-18), he played an important role in earning Timrå promotion from the second-tier Allsvenskan, notching 20 points in 40 games.
When Timrå failed to avoid relegation back to the Allsvenskan the next season, however, Pittsburgh loaned him to a different SHL club, Luleå HF, for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons before Hållander arrived in North America.
Minnesota Wild Recall Nine Players
The Iowa Wild were eliminated from Calder Cup contention a few days ago, but it isn’t summer vacation for all their players yet. Nine members of Iowa’s roster are on their way to join the Minnesota Wild as a set of “Black Aces,” players who will practice with the club and serve as injury insurance in the playoffs.
Adam Beckman, Steven Fogarty, Nic Petan, Marco Rossi, Nick Swaney, Samuel Walker, Daemon Hunt, Dakota Mermis, and Zane McIntyre have all been recalled.
Of course, after dropping game five on Tuesday the Wild are on the brink of elimination themselves. They’ll take on the Dallas Stars in a do-or-die matchup tomorrow night, trying to force a game seven in the first-round series.
All but Hunt have appeared in the NHL previously. The 20-year-old defenseman is in his first professional season after being selected 65th overall in 2020, and posted 11 points in 59 regular season games for Iowa.
The others are a mix of minor league veterans and top prospects. Rossi falls into the latter category, though his time in the NHL this year didn’t go well. The 2020 ninth-overall pick registered just a single assist (and no goals) in 19 games with Minnesota. While his development has been interrupted by health issues, Rossi’s inability to grab a roster spot was one of the season’s low points for the Wild.
There is at least a possibility that someone from this group does enter the lineup. According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman are both not practicing today, though their status for tomorrow’s game is unclear.
Maxim Barbashev, Ryder Korczak Join Hartford Wolf Pack
As junior seasons end, top prospects will get a short opportunity to get their feet wet professionally before the offseason begins. Today, the Hartford Wolf Pack announced an amateur tryout agreement for Maxim Barbashev, that will keep him with the team through the Calder Cup Playoffs.
He’ll be joined by Ryder Korczak, who has been assigned back to the Wolf Pack from the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Barbashev, selected 161st overall by the New York Rangers in 2022, has played the last three seasons with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. This season he posted 32 goals and 65 points in 67 games, but could not overcome the Halifax Mooseheads in the second round.
Not yet signed to an entry-level contract with the Rangers, this will be his first opportunity at the pro level. The 19-year-old forward is the younger brother of Vegas Golden Knights deadline acquisition Ivan Barbashev.
Korczak, meanwhile, is returning to a Hartford team that he played five games for earlier this season. After going scoreless in that short stint, the 2021 third-round pick returned to Moose Jaw and dominated, racking up 69 points in 48 regular season games.
He has already signed his ELC with the Rangers, and will likely spend all of next season in Hartford.
The 20-year-old center also has ties to the Vegas organization—his brother Kaedan Korczak was a second-round pick by the Golden Knights in 2019 and played ten games this season.
Stars/Wild Notes: Wallstedt, Eriksson Ek, Pavelski
With the Iowa Wild’s quick elimination from the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs, The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports the Minnesota Wild are expected to call up their complement of Black Aces today to be around the team while their playoff run continues. While most won’t be called up after Iowa’s exit meetings, Russo said that top goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt has already been recalled and will serve as the third goalie behind the team’s tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury.
Wallstedt, 20, didn’t have the playoff performance he wanted in Iowa, recording a .897 save percentage in two overtime losses as Iowa lost their best-of-three series against the Rockford IceHogs. It doesn’t diminish what was a promising stretch run to the season for him, wrapping up his first pro season in North America with a .908 save percentage and a shutout in 38 games for Iowa. Selected 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Wallstedt remains one of the best goalie prospects in the league and should gain valuable experience from being around the Minnesota team for the rest of their postseason.
- After attempting to return from injury in Game 3 and skating just one shift, things aren’t looking up for the health of Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek. Head coach Dean Evason told reporters today Eriksson Ek hasn’t skated since his latest injury, as he’s still in the process of evaluation and “not close” to returning to the lineup. Eyes now turn to Sam Steel and Frédérick Gaudreau, who have both performed well so far in the series, to shoulder Eriksson Ek’s absence.
- On the flip side, Dallas Stars winger Joe Pavelski continues to progress in his recovery after a hit in Game 1 that caused him to enter concussion protocol. Pavelski skated with the team today for the first time since the injury, and head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters Pavelski’s progressed in his recovery each day. It remains unclear whether Pavelski will return this series.
Marco Kasper Likely Out For Season
The Detroit Red Wings received some disappointing news on Wednesday regarding one of their young prospects. According to head coach Derek Lalonde, forward Marco Kasper is unlikely to play for the remainder of the season due to a lower-body injury.
The news is a setback for Kasper, who was hoping to finish the season strong during his first NHL call-up. It also represents a missed opportunity for the Red Wings to evaluate one of their prospects at the NHL level, albeit for a short time.
Kasper, still just 18, was selected by the Red Wings as the eighth overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. The Austrian-born forward had been playing with Rögle BK of the SHL this season before coming to North America, where he tallied eight goals and 15 assists in 53 games of league play. Kasper played 14:59 in his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Sunday before leaving the game late.
Detroit is not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but as they’re able to finish the season with a maximum of 89 points, their playoff hopes are essentially zero. Kasper will now try to gain some stability and comfortability with the Red Wings during training camp in a handful of months, hoping to contend for a roster spot in 2023-24.
Philadelphia Flyers Recall Ronnie Attard
With the season winding down, the Philadelphia Flyers are giving another NHL look to one of their better defense prospects. The team recalled Ronnie Attard from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Monday, per a team tweet.
In his first full professional season, the 24-year-old Attard has taken on a big role in the minors and responded well. The 2019 third-round pick out of Western Michigan University has 30 points in 64 games with Lehigh Valley in 2022-23, leading the team’s defense, and his +9 rating is second among Phantoms defenders.
After signing his entry-level contract late last season, Attard played in 15 games down the stretch for the Flyers, recording two goals and two assists. His NHL appearances on this recall will be his first since then.
With Rasmus Ristolainen sidelined day-to-day with an upper-body injury, there’s increased opportunity for Attard to get into the lineup. He could play in a second-pairing role alongside Travis Sanheim, a spot currently held by seldom-used veteran Justin Braun, who has just two assists in 47 games this year.
Avalanche Sign Sam Malinski To Two-Year Pact
The Colorado Avalanche announced the signing of former Cornell University defenseman Sam Malinski to a two-year contract to begin next season, the team announced on Twitter.
Malinski, 24, recently completed his senior season, during which he served as captain, and recorded 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 34 games. He is set to join the Colorado Eagles for the remainder of this season on an amateur tryout, and will join the team for its AHL playoff run.
Malinski will turn 25 in July, making him ineligible to sign a three-year entry level contract. He joins an Avalanche organization that has a lack of defensive prospects, and will likely need to show out early with the Eagles to climb the organizational depth chart.
As an undrafted free agent out of the NCAA, Malinksi is further along in his development than players who join the pro ranks at a younger age, but being more experienced, he will be expected to try and carve out a meaningful role with the Eagles before being considered for an NHL call up in the coming years.
Calgary Flames Sign William Stromgren
The Calgary Flames have signed one of their better forward prospects, inking Swedish forward William Stromgren to his three-year entry-level contract on Wednesday. The contract will begin next season, making him a restricted free agent in 2026. He will report to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
Stromgren, selected 45th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, played in the SHL full-time for the first time this season. In 45 games with Brynäs IF, however, he recorded just eight points.
His production should be taken with a grain of salt, however. Brynäs finished near the bottom of the league and lost their relegation series, meaning they’ll be demoted to the second-tier Allsvenskan next season. With Stromgren already coming over to the city on an ATO, it appears that he’ll stay in North America next season rather than having Calgary loan him back to Sweden to help with Brynäs’ efforts to rejoin the SHL.
A big and fast winger, Stromgren also registered an assist in seven games at this past year’s World Junior Championship for Sweden. Set to turn 20 over the summer, Stromgren will look to find some more offensive opportunity in the minors.
Boston Bruins Sign Trevor Kuntar To Entry-Level Contract
The Boston Bruins have signed forward Trevor Kuntar to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced on Wednesday. The contract begins in the 2023-24 season and carries a cap hit of $867,500.
Kuntar, 21, was drafted by the Bruins in the third round (89th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He recently completed his junior season at Boston College, where he tallied 13 goals and 16 assists in 34 games.
Kuntar was a key contributor for Boston College this season, helping the Eagles reach the quarterfinals of the 2023 Hockey East men’s tournament as the eighth seed, forcing second-ranked Merrimack to double overtime before ultimately losing 1-0. He finished third on the team in scoring behind Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick Cutter Gauthier and Anaheim Ducks prospect Nikita Nesterenko, who’s already signed his entry-level contract and played NHL games after the conclusion of the Eagles’ season. Kuntar also won a Hockey East championship with Boston College during his freshman season in 2021.
The 6-foot, 196-pound forward is known for his scoring ability combined with his physical game, which makes him an effective net-front presence. He’s expected to add some needed depth to the Bruins’ weak prospect pool and could play NHL games before his contract expires in 2025, with Boston looking for cheap, young talent.
The team did not say whether Kuntar would sign an amateur tryout with Boston’s AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, and make his professional debut there before the end of the 2022-23 season.
Columbus Blue Jackets Loan Cole Sillinger To AHL
The Columbus Blue Jackets are playing for the draft lottery these days, but have found an opportunity for one of their young talents. Cole Sillinger has been loaned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL to compete in a Calder Cup chase. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen explains:
This is a great opportunity for Cole to join the Monsters as they continue to push for a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Taking on additional responsibilities and playing games with playoff implications, and hopefully games in the playoffs, is hugely important to the development of a young player like Cole.
Zach Werenski was in a similar position a few years ago and the experience helped him individually and from a team perspective as it resulted in a Calder Cup championship.
This appears to have been the team’s plan for some time. At the trade deadline, the team “papered” him to the minor leagues, sending him down and recalling him on the same day. That made him eligible for the AHL playoffs, despite never actually leaving the NHL club at that point.
In fact, Sillinger has never played in the AHL at all. The 19-year-old forward stepped directly into the NHL after being selected 12th overall in 2021, and has played for the Blue Jackets ever since. While his rookie season went exceptionally well, the young center has just three goals and 11 points in 64 games this year, showing the same sophomore slump many top prospects experience.