AHL, OHL Targeting February Start Dates
The NHL said as recently as last week that they are still targeting a January start for the 2020-21 season, but other leagues may not be so optimistic. Jeff Marek of Sportsnet reports that at the OHL GM meeting today, a plan was presented that would have their regular season start on February 4. Training camp for the junior league would start on January 23, with a 40-game schedule expected. The AHL meanwhile had their own meeting, this time with the league’s board of governors, which included a new target start date of February 5.
While the idea of hockey returning in February is exciting, it also means nearly a year between meaningful games for many prospects. Leagues shut down in early March this year, and though some teams have found landing spots for their players overseas, many have been limited to training in small groups or individually.
The AHL had originally given a target date of December 4, but “due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis” that has been moved back two full months. The minor league is much more reliant on ticket sales than the NHL is, while also not being quite as well set up for regional bubbles. With so much uncertainty over the public health situation, individual state, provincial and federal guidelines, and an NHL season that isn’t set in stone yet, even this AHL target is completely temporary. It can—and very well might—be changed again down the line.
For now though, the leagues will hope to get things started in just over three months’ time.
Mac Hollowell Loaned To TUTO
The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent another one of their prospects overseas, this time loaning Mac Hollowell to TUTO of the Finnish second league. Hollowell split last season between the Toronto Marlies and Newfoundland Growlers in his first year of professional hockey.
Selected in the fourth round two years ago, Hollowell is another Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds connection for the Maple Leafs—the organization that GM Kyle Dubas and head coach Sheldon Keefe both came from. The undersized defenseman is already 22 as he was an over-aged prospect when the Maple Leafs picked him, but certainly brings a lot of talent to the table.
In 2018-19 when Hollowell went back to the Greyhounds, he led all OHL defensemen in scoring with 24 goals and 77 points. While he was older than much of his competition, it still demonstrated the easy puck-moving capabilities that Toronto hopes to coax out at the professional level. Things didn’t go quite as smoothly in the AHL, but Hollowell did still record 12 points in 34 games for the Toronto Marlies.
A longshot to ever become an impact player at the NHL level (or perhaps even reach it at all), Hollowell nevertheless signed his entry-level contract in 2019 and is heading into the second season of the three-year deal. He’ll get his blades on the ice in Finland for the time being but is expected to be back in North America for training camp.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev Loaned To KHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs have loaned another one of their prospects overseas, this time sending Semyon Der-Arguchintsev to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL. Der-Arguchintsev signed his entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs back in 2018 but has been playing in the CHL, meaning it still has three years remaining on it.
Now 20, Der-Arguchintsev’s professional career is about to start. The undersized forward was drafted 76th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2018 and recorded 75 points in 55 games this season for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. Notably, he has routinely been a linemate of Toronto’s top forward prospect, Nick Robertson, who led the league with 55 goals this season. A pure playmaker, Der-Arguchintsev racked up and 63 assists, good for third in the league behind only top draft picks Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti.
Born in Russia, Der-Arguchintsev has been playing in Canada since he was 14 and has never been included in the Russian national junior teams. Now he’ll be heading back to his native country to take the next step in his professional career. The Maple Leafs did not specify whether the young forward will return for NHL training camp in the coming months, or spend the entire season in the KHL.
Snapshots: Bedard, Seattle, McCarthy
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
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
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
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
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
- New York Rangers – F Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski (QMJHL)
- Los Angeles Kings – F Quinton Byfield, Sudbury (OHL)
- Ottawa Senators (from SJS) – F Tim Stutzle, Manheim (DEL)
- Detroit Red Wings – F Lucas Raymond, Frolunda (SHL)
- Ottawa Senators – D Jake Sanderson, USNTDP (USHL)
- Anaheim Ducks – D Jamie Drysdale, Erie (OHL)
- New Jersey Devils – F Alexander Holtz, Djurgardens (SHL)
- Buffalo Sabres – F Jack Quinn, Ottawa (OHL)
- Minnesota Wild – F Marco Rossi, Ottawa (OHL)
- Winnipeg Jets – F Cole Perfetti, Saginaw (OHL)
- Nashville Predators – G Yaroslav Askarov, St. Petersburg (KHL)
- Florida Panthers – F Anton Lundell, HIFK (Liiga)
- Carolina Hurricanes (from TOR) – F Seth Jarvis, Portland (WHL)
- Edmonton Oilers – F Dylan Holloway, Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from PIT) – F Rodion Amirov, Ufa (KHL)
- Montreal Canadiens – D Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert (WHL)
- Chicago Blackhawks – F Lukas Reichel, Berlin (DEL)
- New Jersey Devils (from ARI) – F Dawson Mercer, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
- New York Rangers (from CGY) – D Braden Schneider, Brandon (WHL)
- New Jersey Devils (from VAN via TBL) – D Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ufa (KHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets – F Yegor Chinakhov, Omsk (KHL)
- Washington Capitals (from CAR via NYR, CGY) – F Hendrix Lapierre, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
- Philadelphia Flyers – F Tyson Foerster, Barrie (OHL)
- Calgary Flames (from WSH) – F Connor Zary, Kamloops (WHL)
- Colorado Avalanche – D Justin Barron, Halifax (QMJHL)
- St. Louis Blues – F Jake Neighbours, Edmonton (WHL)
- Anaheim Ducks (from BOS) – F Jacob Perreault, Sarnia (OHL)
- Ottawa Senators (from NYI) – F Ridly Greig, Brandon (WHL)
- Vegas Golden Knights – F Brendan Brisson, Chicago (USHL)
- Dallas Stars – F Mavrik Bourque, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
- 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
- Detroit Red Wings – D Donovan Sebrango, Kitchener (OHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from OTT) – D Topi Niemela, Karpat (Liiga)
- Minnesota Wild (from SJS via DET) – D Daemon Hunt, Moose Jaw (WHL)
- Los Angeles Kings – F Kasper Simontaival, Tappara (Liiga)
- Anaheim Ducks – D Ian Moore, St. Mark’s (USHS)
- Vegas Golden Knights (from NJD) – D Lukas Cormier, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
- Carolina Hurricanes (from BUF) – D Alexander Nikishin, Spartak Moscow (KHL)
- Detroit Red Wings (from MIN) – D Eemil Viro, TPS (Liiga)
- Ottawa Senators (from WIN) – G Leevi Merilainen, Karpat (U20 Liiga)
- Calgary Flames (from NYR) – D Jeremie Poirier, Saint John (QMJHL)
- Nashville Predators (from PHI) – D Luke Prokop, Calgary (WHL)
- Florida Panthers – F Ty Smilanic, USNTDP (USHL)
- Colorado Avalanche (from TOR) – F Jean-Luc Foudy, Windsor (OHL)
- San Jose Sharks (from EDM) – F Daniil Gushchin, Muskegon (USHL)
- Pittsburgh Penguins – G Calle Clang, Rogle (SuperElit)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (from MTL) – D Samuel Knazko, TPS (U20 Liiga)
- Chicago Blackhawks – F Landon Slaggert, USNTDP (USHL)
- Calgary Flames (from ARI via COL, WSH) – D Jake Boltmann, Edina (USHS)
- Chicago Blackhawks (from CGY) – D Wyatt Kaiser, Andover (USHS)
- Vancouver Canucks – D Joni Jurmo, JYP (Liiga)
- Los Angeles Kings (from CLB via OTT, TOR) – F Alex Laferriere, Des Moines (USHL)
- New Jersey Devils (from CAR) – G Nico Daws, Guelph (OHL)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI via SJS) – F Maxim Groshev, Nizhnekamsk (KHL)
- St. Louis Blues (from WAS via MTL) – F Dylan Peterson, USNTDP (USHL)
- Florida Panthers (from COL) – F Justin Sourdif, Vancouver (WHL)
- St. Louis Blues – D Leo Loof, Farjestad (SuperElit)
- Boston Bruins – F Trevor Kuntar, Youngstown (USHL)
- New York Islanders – F Alexander Ljungkrantz, Brynas (SHL)
- Vegas Golden Knights – F Jackson Hallum, St. Thomas (USHS)
- New York Rangers (from DAL) – F Oliver Tarnstrom, AIK (Allsvenskan)
- Tampa Bay Lightning – D Jack Thompson, Sudbury (OHL)
Round Four
- Philadelphia Flyers (from DET via TBL) – F Zayde Wisdom, Kingston (OHL)
- Florida Panthers (from OTT) – D Michael Benning, Sherwood Park (AJHL)
- Calgary Flames (from SJS via MTL, BUF) – G Daniil Chechelev, Chekhov (MHL)
- Detroit Red Wings (from LAK) – F Sam Stange, Sioux City (USHL)
- San Jose Sharks (from ANA via MTL) – F Brandon Coe, North Bay (OHL)
- New Jersey Devils – F Jaromir Pytlik, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
- Edmonton Oilers (from BUF via SJS) – F Carter Savoie, Sherwood Park (AJHL)
- Nashville Predators (from MIN) – D Adam Wilsby, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan)
- Montreal Canadiens (from WIN) – F Jack Smith, St. Cloud (USHS)
- New York Rangers – G Dylan Garand, Kamloops (WHL)
- Anaheim Ducks (from NSH via PHI) – D Thimo Nickl, Drummondville (QMJHL)
- Florida Panthers – D Zach Uens, Merrimack College (NCAA)
- Toronto Maple Leafs – G Artur Akhtyamov, Kazan (MHL)
- Detroit Red Wings (from EDM) – G Jan Bednar, Karlovy Vary (Czech)
- Pittsburgh Penguins – F Lukas Svejkovsky, Medicine Hat (WHL)
- Montreal Canadiens – F Blake Biondi, Hermantown (USHS)
- Chicago Blackhawks – D Michael Krutil, Praha (Czech)
- Arizona Coyotes – D Mitchell Miller, Tri-City (USHL)
- Los Angeles Kings (from CGY) – G Juho Markkanen, SaiPa (U20 Liiga)
- Vancouver Canucks – F Jackson Kunz, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
- Columbus Blue Jackets – F Mikael Pyyhtia, TPS (U20 Liiga)
- Carolina Hurricanes – F Zion Nybeck, HV71 (SHL)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI) – D Eamon Powell, USNTDP (USHL)
- Washington Capitals – F Bogdan Trineyev, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
- Colorado Avalanche – F Colby Ambrosio, Tri-City (USHL)
- St. Louis Blues – F Tanner Dickinson, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
- New Jersey Devils (from BOS) – D Ethan Edwards, Spruce Grove (AJHL)
- New York Islanders – F Alex Jefferies, Gunnery (USHS)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from NYR) – D William Villeneuve, Saint John (QMJHL)
- Dallas Stars – F Antonio Stranges, London Knights (OHL)
- Montreal Canadiens (from TBL) – F Sean Farrell, Chicago (USHL)
Round Five
- Vegas Golden Knights (from DET) – G Jesper Vikman, AIK (SuperElit)
- Edmonton Oilers (from OTT via SJS) – F Tyler Tullio, Oshawa (OHL)
- New York Rangers (from SJS) – F Evan Vierling, Barrie(OHL)
- Los Angeles Kings – F Martin Chromiak, Kingston (OHL)
- Anaheim Ducks – F Artyom Galimov, Kazan (KHL)
- New Jersey Devils – F Artem Shlaine, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
- Buffalo Sabres –F Matteo Costantini, Buffalo (OJHL)
- Detroit Red Wings (from MIN) – D Alex Cotton, Lethbridge (WHL)
- Winnipeg Jets – D Anton Johannesson, HV71 (SuperElit)
- New York Rangers – F Brett Berard, USNTDP (USHL)
- Philadelphia Flyers (from NSH) – F Elliot Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL)
- Montreal Canadiens (from FLA) – G Jakub Dobes, Omaha (USHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs – F Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Novosibirsk (KHL)
- Edmonton Oilers – F Maxim Berezkin, Yaroslavl (KHL)
- Colorado Avalanche (from PIT) – F Ryder Rolston, Waterloo (USHL)
- Los Angeles Kings (from MTL via CAR) – D Ben Meehan, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
- Chicago Blackhawks – D Isaak Phillips, Sudbury (OHL)
- Arizona Coyotes – F Carson Bantle, Madison (USHL)
- Calgary Flames – F Ryan Francis, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
- Vancouver Canucks – D Jacob Truscott, USNTDP (USHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets – D Ole Bjorgvik-Holm, Mississauga (OHL)
- Minnesota Wild (from CAR via STL) –F Pavel Novak, Kelowna (WHL)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI) – F Jaydon Dureau, Portland (WHL)
- Washington Capitals – F Bear Hughes, Spokane (WHL)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (from COL) – F Raivis Ansons, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
- St. Louis Blues – D Matthew Kessel, Univ. of Massachusetts (NCAA)
- Boston Bruins – D Mason Langenbrunner, Eden Prairie (USHS)
- New York Islanders – F William Dufour, Drummondville (QMJHL)
- Florida Panthers (from VGK via TOR) – D Kasper Puutio, Everett (WHL)
- Dallas Stars – F Daniel Ljungman, Linkoping (SHL)
- Ottawa Senators (from TBL) – F Eric Engstrand, Malmo (SHL)
Round Six
- Detroit Red Wings – D Kyle Aucoin, Tri-City (USHL)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (from OTT) – F Nick Capone, Tri-City (USHL)
- Ottawa Senators (from SJS) – F Philippe Daoust, Moncton (QMJHL)
- Carolina Hurricanes (from LAK) – F Lucas Mercuri, Salisbury (USHS)
- Anaheim Ducks – F Albin Sundsvik, Skelleftea (SHL)
- New Jersey Devils – F Benjamin Baumgartner, Davos (NLA)
- Dallas Stars (from BUF via CAR, FLA) – F Yevgeni Oksentyuk, Flint (OHL)
- St. Louis Blues (from MIN) – G Will Cranley, Ottawa (OHL)
- Winnipeg Jets – D Tyrel Bauer, Seattle (WHL)
- New York Rangers – F Matt Rempe, Seattle (WHL)
- Nashville Predators – D Luke Reid, Chicago (USHL)
- Colorado Avalanche (from FLA) – F Nils Aman, Leksands (SHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs – F Veeti Miettinen, Espoo (U20 Liiga)
- Edmonton Oilers – F Filip Engaras, Univ. of New Hampshire (NCAA)
- Pittsburgh Penguins – F Chase Yoder, USNTDP (USHL)
- Montreal Canadiens – F Alexander Gordin, St. Petersberg (KHL)
- Chicago Blackhawks – F Chad Yetman, Erie (OHL)
- Arizona Coyotes – F Filip Barklund, Orebro (SuperElit)
- Calgary Flames – F Rory Kerins, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
- Vancouver Canucks – F Dmitry Zlodeyev, Moscow (MHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets – D Samuel Johannesson, Rogle (SHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from CAR) – D Axel Rindell, Kukurit (Liiga)
- Philadelphia Flyers – F Connor McClennon, Winnipeg (WHL)
- Washington Capitals – G Garin Bjorklund, Medicine Hat (WHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from COL) – F Joe Miller, Blake (USHS)
- Ottawa Senators (from STL) – F Cole Reinhardt, Brandon (WHL)
- Boston Bruins – F Riley Duran, Lawrence Academy (USHS)
- New York Islanders – D Matias Rajaniemi, Pelicans (Liiga)
- Vegas Golden Knights –D Noah Ellis, Des Moines (USHL)
- Dallas Stars – G Remi Poirier, Gatineau (QMJHL)
- Tampa Bay Lightning – G Amir Miftakhov, Kazan (KHL)
Round Seven
- Detroit Red Wings – Kienan Draper, St. Andrew’s (CAHS)
- Chicago Blackhawks (from OTT via MTL) – D Louis Crevier, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from SJS) – D John Fusco, Dexter (USHS)
- Los Angeles Kings – F Aatu Jamsen, Pelicans (U20 Liiga)
- Vancouver Canucks (from ANA) – D Viktor Persson, Brynas (SuperElit)
- Arizona Coyotes (from NJD) – F Elliot Ekefjard, Bjorkloven (Allsvenskan)
- Buffalo Sabres – D Albert Lyckasen, Linkoping (SuperElit)
- St. Louis Blues (from MIN) – D Noah Beck, Fargo (USHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from WIN) – F Wyatt Schingoethe, Waterloo (USHL)
- San Jose Sharks (from NYR) – F Alex Young, Canmore (AJHL)
- New York Rangers (from NSH) – G Hugo Ollas, Linkoping (SuperElit)
- Florida Panthers – F Elliot Ekmark, Linkoping (SuperElit)
- Carolina Hurricanes (from TOR) – F Alexander Pashin, Ufa (KHL)
- Edmonton Oilers – F Jeremias Lindewall, MODO (SuperElit)
- San Jose Sharks (from PIT) – F Adam Raska, Rimouski (QMJHL)
- Nashville Predators (from MTL via PHI) – F Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Chicago (USHL)
- Detroit Red Wings (from CHI via STL) – F Chase Bradley, Omaha (USHL)
- Arizona Coyotes – F Ben McCartney, Brandon (WHL)
- Calgary Flames – D Ilya Solovyov, Saginaw (OHL)
- San Jose Sharks (from VAN via NYR) – F Linus Oberg, Orebro (SHL)
- Anaheim Ducks (from CLB) – F Ethan Bowen, Chilliwack (BCHL)
- Carolina Hurricanes – D Ronan Seeley, Everett (WHL)
- Nashville Predators (from PHI) – F Chase McLane, Tri-City (USHL)
- San Jose Sharks (from WAS) – F Timofey Spitserov, Culver Academy (USHS)
- Washington Capitals (from COL via PIT) – F Oskar Magnusson, Malmo (SHL)
- Florida Panthers (from STL via TOR) – G Devon Levi, Carleton Place (CCHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from BOS) – F Ryan Tverberg, Toronto (OJHL)
- New York Islanders – G Henrik Tikkanen, HIFK (U20 Liiga)
- Vegas Golden Knights – F Maxim Marushev, Kazan (KHL)
- Buffalo Sabres (from DAL) – F Jakub Konecny, Praha (U20 Czech)
- Tampa Bay Lightning – F Declan McDonnell, Kitchener (OHL)
Goalie Notes: Sharks, Ustimenko, Bachman
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
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.