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Snapshots: Bedard, Seattle, McCarthy

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Move over Alexis, a new Canadian prospect is here. Connor Bedard, the first player to be granted exceptional status in the WHL, suited up for HV71 in the Swedish under-20 league today. Bedard only turned 15 a few months ago and was picked by the Regina Pats first overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, but is getting his first taste of play this season overseas.

The incredibly shifty, talented forward from Vancouver is eligible for the 2023 NHL draft but is already wowing scouts all over the world. His development is obviously extremely important, but a move like this to play overseas only highlights how difficult this season could be for many other prospects that are waiting on their WHL and OHL schedules to begin. Not everyone is Bedard, receiving a prime opportunity to play with a strong European organization.

  • The Seattle Kraken have hired seven new people for their organization, including former NHL forward Gary Roberts, who will receive the title of sports science and performance consultant. The other names, which include Michael Booi, Nate Brookreson, Jeff Camelio, and Tim Ohashi all seem to be strong hires with long successful resumes of their own. Roberts though will get the headlines, thanks to his yearly offseason strength and conditioning work with players like Steven Stamkos and Connor McDavid. Roberts of course is a former teammate of Kraken GM Ron Francis in both Carolina and Toronto.
  • The Washington Capitals have hired Kevin McCarthy as an assistant coach, joining Peter Laviolette’s new staff. McCarthy will work with the team’s defensemen and has worked with Laviolette for years, in Nashville, Philadelphia and Carolina. He joins a staff that also includes Scott Arniel, Blaine Forsythe and Scott Murray.

Snapshots: QMJHL, Foley, Weegar

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The QMJHL has postponed all East and West division teams will have their games up until October 28 postponed. The league was forced to shut things down given the increased COVID-19 situations all across the province, but will reassess in two weeks.

The games in the Maritimes will continue, though the Moncton Wildcats have shut their program down indefinitely as they deal with the outbreak there. Many prospects from the QMJHL climbed draft boards after a few early 2020-21 viewings that took place before last week’s draft, but they’ll have to wait for things to calm down again before resuming play.

  • Speaking of resuming play, Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley was on Vegas Hockey Hotline today and let a few things slip about the potential 2020-21 season structure. Foley referenced a “Canadian division,” an idea that has been thrown around for some time, and noted that the league may be forced to go with a shortened season given the Olympics, a problem that the league was facing this year too until the Games were postponed.
  • Back to trade talks, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet gave some clarity on who could be interested in Florida Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, whose name has been in the rumor mill the last few weeks. According to Friedman, the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets are all “among those who have checked in.” He also mentions Travis Dermott, Andreas Johnsson (since traded to the New Jersey Devils), Tyson Jost and Jack Roslovic as potential names that were discussed with Florida.

Predators Loan Egor Afanasyev To CSKA Moscow

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One of the Nashville Predators’ top prospects is headed to one of the best teams in Europe. Egor Afanasyev, the Predators’ second-round pick in 2019, has been loaned to CSKA Moscow of the KHL, Nashville announced. The club did not specify whether the loan is for the entire 2020-21 season or merely until NHL training camp begins.

Afanasyev was born in Russia, but this will be his first time playing at a competitive level in his native country. Afanasyev moved to the United States earlier in his life and came up through the USHL before jumping to the OHL this past season. However, this move to the KHL – short or long term – could be a major benefit to Afanasyev’s development. The 6’4″, 200-lb. winger recorded 31 goals and 67 points in 62 games in his first OHL season and looked like he had already outgrown the junior ranks. Playing against older competition, and some of the best outside of North America, in the KHL will only help prepare Afanasyev to make the jump to Nashville sooner rather than later.

CSKA Moscow is not a bad place to start your pro career either. The 2019-20 regular season champs and 2018-19 Gagarin Cup champs are an elite squad. Afanasyev will be joining a roster that is flush with NHL experience and has made an effort to get younger. While he may not get significant ice time, Afansysev will be able to compete for opportunities and to learn from a number of player who know what it takes to break into the NHL.

Detroit Red Wings Complete Loans, Sign Free Agents

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The Detroit Red Wings have been checking several boxes on their offseason to-do list today. First, the team has officially assigned Joe Veleno to Malmo of the SHL and have changed Moritz Seider’s loan from Mannheim of the DEL to Rogle of the SHL. These changes are important, as they signify full-season loans of two of the team’s top prospects. Veleno and Seider are expected to spend the entire 2020-21 season overseas, though the SHL season does usually end in March.

In a rebuilding year for the Red Wings, getting Veleno and Seider playing right away should be considered a benefit for their development. There is no clear schedule for the AHL at this point, and given that the NHL is targeting a January start date that should be considered the very earliest a minor league season could be held. The two first-round picks will instead get to play immediately and will have a full season in one of the best leagues in the world.

The team has also reached agreements with two of their restricted free agents, signing Adam Erne and Taro Hirose to one-year contracts. Both players were not included in yesterday’s qualifying offers, and now we know why. Erne and Hirose will both be back in the organization for at least one more year.

Hirose, 24, was signed out of Michigan State University in 2019 and made an impact down the stretch for the Red Wings, scoring seven points in 10 games. That level of production wasn’t carried into this year, but the entire Red Wings team was brutal and Hirose still did register plenty of offense at the minor league level. With an improved club and higher level of play, perhaps Hirose can still become an impact player for the team.

Erne on the other hand will likely never provide much offense at the NHL level, but can still serve a role as a depth option for the Red Wings this season. In 170 career games he has just 32 points, most coming with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018-19. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman knows Erne well from their time together with the Lightning and obviously feels he can still play a role in the organization.

2020 NHL Entry Draft Results

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It’s been more than three months since the 2020 NHL Entry Draft was originally be scheduled to be held, but the day has finally arrived. Rather than a Friday night and Saturday event held in front of a capacity crowd at an NHL venue, it is instead a Tuesday and Wednesday affair and an entirely virtual format. However, the results will be the same. A new generation of future NHLers will hear their names called, beginning with 31 top prospects tonight and another 186 hopefuls tomorrow. Below are the picks for the ongoing and completed rounds, with updated selections:

Round One

  1. New York Rangers – F Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski (QMJHL)
  2. Los Angeles Kings – F Quinton Byfield, Sudbury (OHL)
  3. Ottawa Senators (from SJS) – F Tim Stutzle, Manheim (DEL)
  4. Detroit Red Wings – F Lucas Raymond, Frolunda (SHL)
  5. Ottawa Senators – D Jake Sanderson, USNTDP (USHL)
  6. Anaheim Ducks – D Jamie Drysdale, Erie (OHL)
  7. New Jersey Devils – F Alexander Holtz, Djurgardens (SHL)
  8. Buffalo Sabres – F Jack Quinn, Ottawa (OHL)
  9. Minnesota Wild – F Marco Rossi, Ottawa (OHL)
  10. Winnipeg Jets – F Cole Perfetti, Saginaw (OHL)
  11. Nashville Predators – G Yaroslav Askarov, St. Petersburg (KHL)
  12. Florida Panthers – F Anton Lundell, HIFK (Liiga)
  13. Carolina Hurricanes (from TOR) – F Seth Jarvis, Portland (WHL)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Dylan Holloway, Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA)
  15. Toronto Maple Leafs (from PIT) – F Rodion Amirov, Ufa (KHL)
  16. Montreal Canadiens – D Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert (WHL)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – F Lukas Reichel, Berlin (DEL)
  18. New Jersey Devils (from ARI) – F Dawson Mercer, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
  19. New York Rangers (from CGY) – D Braden Schneider, Brandon (WHL)
  20. New Jersey Devils (from VAN via TBL) – D Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ufa (KHL)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Yegor Chinakhov, Omsk (KHL)
  22. Washington Capitals (from CAR via NYR, CGY) – F Hendrix Lapierre, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
  23. Philadelphia Flyers – F Tyson Foerster, Barrie (OHL)
  24. Calgary Flames (from WSH) – F Connor Zary, Kamloops (WHL)
  25. Colorado Avalanche – D Justin Barron, Halifax (QMJHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – F Jake Neighbours, Edmonton (WHL)
  27. Anaheim Ducks (from BOS) – F Jacob Perreault, Sarnia (OHL)
  28. Ottawa Senators (from NYI) – F Ridly Greig, Brandon (WHL)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights – F Brendan Brisson, Chicago (USHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – F Mavrik Bourque, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
  31. San Jose Sharks (from TBL) – F Ozzy Wiesblatt, Prince Albert (WHL)

Round Two

32. Detroit Red Wings – D William Wallinder, MODO (Allsvenskan)
33. Ottawa Senators – F Roby Jarventie, Ilves (Liiga)
34. Buffalo Sabres (from SJS) – F J.J. Peterka, Munchen (DEL)
35. Los Angeles Kings – D Helge Grans, Malmo (SHL)
36. Anaheim Ducks – F Sam Colangelo, Chicago (USHL)
37. Minnesota Wild (from NJD via NSH) – F Marat Khusnutdinov, St. Petersburg (KHL)
38. San Jose Sharks (from BUF) – F Thomas Bordeleau, USNTDP (USHL)
39. Minnesota Wild – D Ryan O’Rourke, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
40. Winnipeg Jets – F Daniel Torgersson, Frolunda (SHL)
41. Carolina Hurricanes (from NYR) – F Noel Gunler, Lulea (SHL)
42. Nashville Predators – F Luke Evangelista, London (OHL)
43. Florida Panthers – F Emil Heineman, Leksands (SHL)
44. Ottawa Senators (from TOR) – D Tyler Kleven, USNTDP (USHL)
45. Los Angeles Kings (from EDM via DET) – D Brock Faber, USNTDP (USHL)
46. Chicago Blackhawks (from PIT) – G Drew Commesso, USNTDP (USHL)
47. Montreal Canadiens – F Luke Tuch, USNTDP (USHL)
48. Montreal Canadiens (from CHI) – F Jan Mysak, Hamilton (OHL)
49. Arizona Coyotes – Forfeited
50. Calgary Flames – D Yan Kuznetsov, Univ. of Connecticut (NCAA)
51. Detroit Red Wings (from VAN via LAK) – F Theodor Niederbach, Frolunda (SuperElit)
52. Pittsburgh Penguins (from CLB via OTT) – G Joel Blomqvist, Karpat (Liiga)
53. Carolina Hurricanes – F Vasili Ponomaryov, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
54. Philadelphia Flyers – D Emil Andrae, HV71 (SHL)
55. Detroit Red Wings (from WAS) – F Cross Hanas, Portland (WHL)
56. San Jose Sharks (from COL) – F Tristen Robins, Saskatoon (WHL)
57. Tampa Bay Lightning (from STL via MTL) – F Jack Finley, Spokane (WHL)
58. Boston Bruins – D Mason Lohrei, Green Bay (USHL)
59. Toronto Maple Leafs (from NYI via OTT) – F Roni Hirvonen, Assat (Liiga)
60. New York Rangers (from VGK via LAK) – F Will Cuylle, Windsor (OHL)
61. Ottawa Senators (from DAL) – F Egor Sokolov, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
62. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Gage Goncalves, Everett (WHL)

Round Three

  1. Detroit Red Wings – D Donovan Sebrango, Kitchener (OHL)
  2. Toronto Maple Leafs (from OTT) – D Topi Niemela, Karpat (Liiga)
  3. Minnesota Wild (from SJS via DET) – D Daemon Hunt, Moose Jaw (WHL)
  4. Los Angeles Kings – F Kasper Simontaival, Tappara (Liiga)
  5. Anaheim Ducks – D Ian Moore, St. Mark’s (USHS)
  6. Vegas Golden Knights (from NJD) – D Lukas Cormier, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
  7. Carolina Hurricanes (from BUF) – D Alexander Nikishin, Spartak Moscow (KHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings (from MIN) – D Eemil Viro, TPS (Liiga)
  9. Ottawa Senators (from WIN) – G Leevi Merilainen, Karpat (U20 Liiga)
  10. Calgary Flames (from NYR) – D Jeremie Poirier, Saint John (QMJHL)
  11. Nashville Predators (from PHI) – D Luke Prokop, Calgary (WHL)
  12. Florida Panthers – F Ty Smilanic, USNTDP (USHL)
  13. Colorado Avalanche (from TOR) – F Jean-Luc Foudy, Windsor (OHL)
  14. San Jose Sharks (from EDM) – F Daniil Gushchin, Muskegon (USHL)
  15. Pittsburgh Penguins – G Calle Clang, Rogle (SuperElit)
  16. Columbus Blue Jackets (from MTL) – D Samuel Knazko, TPS (U20 Liiga)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – F Landon Slaggert, USNTDP (USHL)
  18. Calgary Flames (from ARI via COL, WSH) – D Jake Boltmann, Edina (USHS)
  19. Chicago Blackhawks (from CGY) – D Wyatt Kaiser, Andover (USHS)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – D Joni Jurmo, JYP (Liiga)
  21. Los Angeles Kings (from CLB via OTT, TOR) – F Alex Laferriere, Des Moines (USHL)
  22. New Jersey Devils (from CAR) – G Nico Daws, Guelph (OHL)
  23. Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI via SJS) – F Maxim Groshev, Nizhnekamsk (KHL)
  24. St. Louis Blues (from WAS via MTL) – F Dylan Peterson, USNTDP (USHL)
  25. Florida Panthers (from COL) – F Justin Sourdif, Vancouver (WHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – D Leo Loof, Farjestad (SuperElit)
  27. Boston Bruins – F Trevor Kuntar, Youngstown (USHL)
  28. New York Islanders – F Alexander Ljungkrantz, Brynas (SHL)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights – F Jackson Hallum, St. Thomas (USHS)
  30. New York Rangers (from DAL) – F Oliver Tarnstrom, AIK (Allsvenskan)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – D Jack Thompson, Sudbury (OHL)

Round Four

  1. Philadelphia Flyers (from DET via TBL) – F Zayde Wisdom, Kingston (OHL)
  2. Florida Panthers (from OTT) – D Michael Benning, Sherwood Park (AJHL)
  3. Calgary Flames (from SJS via MTL, BUF) – G Daniil Chechelev, Chekhov (MHL)
  4. Detroit Red Wings (from LAK) – F Sam Stange, Sioux City (USHL)
  5. San Jose Sharks (from ANA via MTL) – F Brandon Coe, North Bay (OHL)
  6. New Jersey Devils – F Jaromir Pytlik, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
  7. Edmonton Oilers (from BUF via SJS) – F Carter Savoie,  Sherwood Park (AJHL)
  8. Nashville Predators (from MIN) – D Adam Wilsby, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan)
  9. Montreal Canadiens (from WIN) – F Jack Smith, St. Cloud (USHS)
  10. New York Rangers – G Dylan Garand, Kamloops (WHL)
  11. Anaheim Ducks (from NSH via PHI) – D Thimo Nickl, Drummondville (QMJHL)
  12. Florida Panthers – D Zach Uens, Merrimack College (NCAA)
  13. Toronto Maple Leafs – G Artur Akhtyamov, Kazan (MHL)
  14. Detroit Red Wings (from EDM) – G Jan Bednar, Karlovy Vary (Czech)
  15. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Lukas Svejkovsky, Medicine Hat (WHL)
  16. Montreal Canadiens – F Blake Biondi, Hermantown (USHS)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – D Michael Krutil, Praha (Czech)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – D Mitchell Miller, Tri-City (USHL)
  19. Los Angeles Kings (from CGY) – G Juho Markkanen, SaiPa (U20 Liiga)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – F Jackson Kunz, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Mikael Pyyhtia, TPS (U20 Liiga)
  22. Carolina Hurricanes – F Zion Nybeck, HV71 (SHL)
  23. Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI) – D Eamon Powell, USNTDP (USHL)
  24. Washington Capitals – F Bogdan Trineyev, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
  25. Colorado Avalanche – F Colby Ambrosio, Tri-City (USHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – F Tanner Dickinson, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
  27. New Jersey Devils (from BOS) – D Ethan Edwards, Spruce Grove (AJHL)
  28. New York Islanders – F Alex Jefferies, Gunnery (USHS)
  29. Toronto Maple Leafs (from NYR) – D William Villeneuve, Saint John (QMJHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – F Antonio Stranges, London Knights (OHL)
  31. Montreal Canadiens (from TBL) – F Sean Farrell, Chicago (USHL)

Round Five

  1. Vegas Golden Knights (from DET) – G Jesper Vikman, AIK (SuperElit)
  2. Edmonton Oilers (from OTT via SJS) – F Tyler Tullio, Oshawa (OHL)
  3. New York Rangers (from SJS) – F Evan Vierling, Barrie(OHL)
  4. Los Angeles Kings – F Martin Chromiak, Kingston (OHL)
  5. Anaheim Ducks – F Artyom Galimov, Kazan (KHL)
  6. New Jersey Devils – F Artem Shlaine, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
  7. Buffalo Sabres –F Matteo Costantini, Buffalo (OJHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings (from MIN) – D Alex Cotton, Lethbridge (WHL)
  9. Winnipeg Jets – D Anton Johannesson, HV71 (SuperElit)
  10. New York Rangers – F Brett Berard, USNTDP (USHL)
  11. Philadelphia Flyers (from NSH) – F Elliot Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL)
  12. Montreal Canadiens (from FLA) – G Jakub Dobes, Omaha (USHL)
  13. Toronto Maple Leafs – F Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Novosibirsk (KHL)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Maxim Berezkin, Yaroslavl (KHL)
  15. Colorado Avalanche (from PIT) – F Ryder Rolston, Waterloo (USHL)
  16. Los Angeles Kings (from MTL via CAR) – D Ben Meehan, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – D Isaak Phillips, Sudbury (OHL)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – F Carson Bantle, Madison (USHL)
  19. Calgary Flames – F Ryan Francis, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – D Jacob Truscott, USNTDP (USHL)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – D Ole Bjorgvik-Holm, Mississauga (OHL)
  22. Minnesota Wild (from CAR via STL) –F Pavel Novak, Kelowna (WHL)
  23. Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI) – F Jaydon Dureau, Portland (WHL)
  24. Washington Capitals – F Bear Hughes, Spokane (WHL)
  25. Pittsburgh Penguins (from COL) – F Raivis Ansons, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – D Matthew Kessel, Univ. of Massachusetts (NCAA)
  27. Boston Bruins – D Mason Langenbrunner, Eden Prairie (USHS)
  28. New York Islanders – F William Dufour, Drummondville (QMJHL)
  29. Florida Panthers (from VGK via TOR) – D Kasper Puutio, Everett (WHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – F Daniel Ljungman, Linkoping (SHL)
  31. Ottawa Senators (from TBL) – F Eric Engstrand, Malmo (SHL)

Round Six

  1. Detroit Red Wings – D Kyle Aucoin, Tri-City (USHL)
  2. Tampa Bay Lightning (from OTT) – F Nick Capone, Tri-City (USHL)
  3. Ottawa Senators (from SJS) – F Philippe Daoust, Moncton (QMJHL)
  4. Carolina Hurricanes (from LAK) – F Lucas Mercuri, Salisbury (USHS)
  5. Anaheim Ducks – F Albin Sundsvik, Skelleftea (SHL)
  6. New Jersey Devils – F Benjamin Baumgartner, Davos (NLA)
  7. Dallas Stars (from BUF via CAR, FLA) – F Yevgeni Oksentyuk, Flint (OHL)
  8. St. Louis Blues (from MIN) – G Will Cranley, Ottawa (OHL)
  9. Winnipeg Jets – D Tyrel Bauer, Seattle (WHL)
  10. New York Rangers – F Matt Rempe, Seattle (WHL)
  11. Nashville Predators – D Luke Reid, Chicago (USHL)
  12. Colorado Avalanche (from FLA) – F Nils Aman, Leksands (SHL)
  13. Toronto Maple Leafs – F Veeti Miettinen, Espoo (U20 Liiga)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Filip Engaras, Univ. of New Hampshire (NCAA)
  15. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Chase Yoder, USNTDP (USHL)
  16. Montreal Canadiens – F Alexander Gordin, St. Petersberg (KHL)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – F Chad Yetman, Erie (OHL)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – F Filip Barklund, Orebro (SuperElit)
  19. Calgary Flames – F Rory Kerins, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – F Dmitry Zlodeyev, Moscow (MHL)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – D Samuel Johannesson, Rogle (SHL)
  22. Toronto Maple Leafs (from CAR) – D Axel Rindell, Kukurit (Liiga)
  23. Philadelphia Flyers – F Connor McClennon, Winnipeg (WHL)
  24. Washington Capitals – G Garin Bjorklund, Medicine Hat (WHL)
  25. Toronto Maple Leafs (from COL) – F Joe Miller, Blake (USHS)
  26. Ottawa Senators (from STL) – F Cole Reinhardt, Brandon (WHL)
  27. Boston Bruins – F Riley Duran, Lawrence Academy (USHS)
  28. New York Islanders – D Matias Rajaniemi, Pelicans (Liiga)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights –D Noah Ellis, Des Moines (USHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – G Remi Poirier, Gatineau (QMJHL)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – G Amir Miftakhov, Kazan (KHL)

Round Seven

  1. Detroit Red Wings – Kienan Draper, St. Andrew’s (CAHS)
  2. Chicago Blackhawks (from OTT via MTL) – D Louis Crevier, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
  3. Toronto Maple Leafs (from SJS) – D John Fusco, Dexter (USHS)
  4. Los Angeles Kings – F Aatu Jamsen, Pelicans (U20 Liiga)
  5. Vancouver Canucks (from ANA) – D Viktor Persson, Brynas (SuperElit)
  6. Arizona Coyotes (from NJD) – F Elliot Ekefjard, Bjorkloven (Allsvenskan)
  7. Buffalo Sabres – D Albert Lyckasen, Linkoping (SuperElit)
  8. St. Louis Blues (from MIN) – D Noah Beck, Fargo (USHL)
  9. Toronto Maple Leafs (from WIN) – F Wyatt Schingoethe, Waterloo (USHL)
  10. San Jose Sharks (from NYR) – F Alex Young, Canmore (AJHL)
  11. New York Rangers (from NSH) – G Hugo Ollas, Linkoping (SuperElit)
  12. Florida Panthers – F Elliot Ekmark, Linkoping (SuperElit)
  13. Carolina Hurricanes (from TOR) – F Alexander Pashin, Ufa (KHL)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Jeremias Lindewall, MODO (SuperElit)
  15. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) – F Adam Raska, Rimouski (QMJHL)
  16. Nashville Predators (from MTL via PHI) – F Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Chicago (USHL) 
  17. Detroit Red Wings (from CHI via STL) – F Chase Bradley, Omaha (USHL)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – F Ben McCartney, Brandon (WHL)
  19. Calgary Flames – D Ilya Solovyov, Saginaw (OHL)
  20. San Jose Sharks (from VAN via NYR) – F Linus Oberg, Orebro (SHL)
  21. Anaheim Ducks (from CLB) – F Ethan Bowen, Chilliwack (BCHL)
  22. Carolina Hurricanes – D Ronan Seeley, Everett (WHL)
  23. Nashville Predators (from PHI) – F Chase McLane, Tri-City (USHL)
  24. San Jose Sharks (from WAS) – F Timofey Spitserov, Culver Academy (USHS)
  25. Washington Capitals (from COL via PIT) – F Oskar Magnusson, Malmo (SHL)
  26. Florida Panthers (from STL via TOR) – G Devon Levi, Carleton Place (CCHL)
  27. Toronto Maple Leafs (from BOS) – F Ryan Tverberg, Toronto (OJHL)
  28. New York Islanders – G Henrik Tikkanen, HIFK (U20 Liiga)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights – F Maxim Marushev, Kazan (KHL)
  30. Buffalo Sabres (from DAL) – F Jakub Konecny, Praha (U20 Czech)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Declan McDonnell, Kitchener (OHL)

Goalie Notes: Sharks, Ustimenko, Bachman

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The San Jose Sharks have been linked strongly to Devan Dubnyk in recent days, meaning Pierre LeBrun’s latest report for The Athletic should come as little surprise. LeBrun writes that the Sharks are on the lookout for a “1B” to install behind Martin Jones, with Dubnyk, Braden Holtby and James Reimer all candidates.

Short-term is the key part of the Sharks search, leaving Holtby as an interesting inclusion. The former Washington Capitals starter is about to hit free agency after his worst season in the NHL and perhaps could be looking at a shorter deal to rebuild his value. Still, signing to serve as the backup, even if it is in a tandem role, may not be the best way to accomplish that.

  • Sometimes when a team has a young goaltender starring in the NHL, it’s easy to forget about their other prospects. That’s the case in Philadelphia where Carter Hart steals all the headlines, but the pipeline is filled with other interesting names. One of those, Kirill Ustimenko, is headed overseas for the time being, loaned to HC Gomel of the Belarusian Extraliga. That’s Ustimenko’s hometown team, where he can continue to develop his game before eventually returning to North America. The 21-year-old was a third-round pick in 2017 and posted a .919 save percentage in 31 starts at the ECHL level in 2019-20.
  • Former NHL goaltender Richard Bachman’s playing days are over, as the Iowa Wild of the AHL has announced his hiring as goaltending coach. Bachman, who suited up in the AHL and SHL just this season, played in 49 NHL games over a long professional career.

Snapshots: Chayka, Ryan, Ceci

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There’s a new Chayka in the news. No, not John Chayka the former Arizona Coyotes executive that left his position earlier this summer, but Daniil Chayka, one of the top prospects for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 17-year-old Russian forward will be heading home to continue his development, signing with the CSKA organization for the 2020-21 season.

Chayka was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 OHL draft after playing a year in the GTHL and has spent the last two seasons with the Guelph Storm. He won gold at the most recent Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with Russia and had 34 points in 56 games for Guelph this season.

  • Speaking of heading home, Bobby Ryan recently spoke on the possibility of playing for the Philadelphia Flyers now that he is an unrestricted free agent. The Cherry Hill, New Jersey native told NBC Sports that he’d basically take any chance to play for the team he grew up cheering for, saying “if the Flyers were to make an offer or extend a camp invite, they’d move high on my list because of all the connections.” Ryan has already drawn interest from other teams after seeing the final year of his contract with the Ottawa Senators bought out last week.
  • Cody Ceci won’t be returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, at least not until he checks out the free agent market. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets that Ceci will become an unrestricted free agent on October 9 when the market opens, though does suggest that he could circle back to the Maple Leafs eventually.

Washington Capitals Loan Bobby Nardella To Djurgardens IF

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The Swedish Hockey League recently instituted a rule prohibiting any more short-term loans from the NHL, which is why over the last few weeks there have been so many prospects ending up in the Allsvenskan, the county’s second league. That’s why when the Washington Capitals loaned Bobby Nardella to Djurgardens IF today, it raised some eyebrows. The announcement states that Nardella has been loaned for the 2020-21 season, likely for the whole thing if the recent guidelines stay intact.

A move like this is even more interesting because Nardella is heading into the final season of his two-year entry-level contract, signed last spring after he finished an excellent career at Notre Dame. Nardella, 24, was an undrafted free agent signing and ended up playing in 41 games for the Hershey Bears this season, scoring 31 points.

The undersized defenseman has always been an outstanding offensive producer, totaling 103 points in 147 college games. In the structured SHL he’ll be tasked with doing more than offense, but his development will certainly continue.

The Capitals will retain his rights as a restricted free agent after the season and could potentially sign an extension at any point during the year.

Calgary Flames Loan Juuso Valimaki To Ilves

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While many players and prospects have been loaned overseas ahead of the unknown start date of the 2020-21 NHL season, few need the the head start as much as the Calgary Flames’ Juuso Valimaki. The promising young defenseman missed the entire 2019-20 season and postseason after suffering a torn ACL last fall. Yet, with five veteran defensemen about to hit the free agent market, the Flames are trusting that Valimaki can return to form and take on a top role on the blue line right away next season. After so much time away from the game, it will take more than just training camp to get Valimaki up to speed ahead of the new year.

Cue Tampereen Ilves of the Finnish Liiga. Calgary announced that they have loaned Valimaki to Ilves to get him game action before he returns to North America. Valimaki is familiar with the club, having played in their youth system, including a year with the U20 team in the top Finnish junior league, before making the jump to the WHL and eventually the NHL.

With Ilves, Valimaki will be able to get used to playing the major minutes that the Flames may expect of him this coming season. A relatively young team, Ilves has just a handful of players that are considerably older than 21-year-old Valimaki. They have also not received anyone on loan from the NHL prior to Valimaki outside of a trio of prospects – Lassi Thomson, Arrtu Ruotsalainen, and Lukas Dostal – who were on loan all of last season as well. Valimaki will have a chance to take on a key role for the team and should be ready to go once he is recalled by Calgary.

 

Alexei Toropchenko Assigned To HC Kunlun Red Star

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The St. Louis Blues have sent another one of their prospects overseas, loaning Alexei Toropchenko to HC Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. The young forward will be available to return when training camps open for the 2020-21 season.

Toropchenko, 21, is coming off his first season of professional hockey, playing 59 games for the San Antonio Rampage. The 6’3″ winger scored just nine points during those games but is still an interesting prospect to keep an eye on given his mix of size and skill. Toropchenko did record 30 goals in 86 games during his final season of junior hockey but hasn’t yet been able to bring that level of offense to the next level.

If you wanted to learn from someone with offensive skill, it’s hard to find a better place than Kunlun. The team is coached by former NHL star Alexei Kovalev, one of the most skilled forwards to ever play the game.

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