Dustin Wolf Named CHL Goaltender Of The Year
What a run for Dustin Wolf. The Calgary Flames prospect has now added CHL Goaltender of the Year to his resume, following his previous selections as the top netminder from both the WHL and USA Hockey. Wolf also signed his entry-level contract with the Flames last month.
Wolf, 19, has done nothing but dominate at the junior hockey level, recording a .934 save percentage across three seasons and 127 appearances. His goals-against average during that time was a minuscule 1.85 and he posted an 88-31-6 record in the regular season.
One might expect a goaltender like that to be a top draft pick, especially given he won the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year award in his draft year. Wolf, however, fell all the way to the seventh round before the Flames used the 214th overall pick on him a year ago.
The reason is simple, Wolf stands just 6’0″ 165-lbs, much smaller than the goaltenders that have reached the peak of professional hockey in recent years. In comparison to mammoth netminders like Ben Bishop and Mikko Koskinen—both standing 6’7″—it’s easy to see why teams may hesitate on Wolf’s potential.
Still, the Flames are obviously willing to give him a shot to show what he can do at the professional level. That won’t happen until next year when he is eligible for the AHL, but with a contract in hand and a history of success he’ll be one of the more interesting goaltending prospects to follow.
Previous winners of the CHL award include current NHL goaltenders like Carter Hart (twice), Darcy Kuemper, Jake Allen and Carey Price.
Shane Wright Wins OHL, CHL Rookie Of The Year
June 5: Wright has also won the CHL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Kingston player to ever earn the award.
May 14: He won’t be eligible for the NHL draft until 2022, but that doesn’t mean hockey fans should overlook Shane Wright. The Kingston Frontenacs forward has just been named the OHL Rookie of the Year after an outstanding start to his CHL career. That start of course came a year earlier than most players, after Wright was given exceptional status to enter the OHL.
Not only did Wright score 39 goals and 66 points for the Frontenacs to lead the team in both categories, but he was also named an alternate captain just after Christmas. Having a letter sewn onto your jersey may not be notable for most top NHL prospects, but it happened to Wright when he was still just 15 years old, making him the youngest alternate in CHL history.
Following in the footsteps of other exceptional players like John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid, Wright is already dominating the competition in the CHL and looks like he will have a good shot at being selected first overall in 2022.
The list of winners for OHL Rookie of the Year is a who’s who of NHL talent. Andrei Svechnikov, Alex DeBrincat, Travis Konecny, McDavid, Ekblad, Taylor Hall, Patrick Kane and Tavares have all taken home the award over the last fifteen years.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Arthur Kaliyev, Jordan Spence
The Los Angeles Kings have inked a pair of top prospects, signing Arthur Kaliyev and Jordan Spence to three-year entry-level contracts. Both players are expected to return to the CHL next season.
Kaliyev, 18, was selected 33rd overall by the Kings last year after falling out of the first round. The young forward is one of the most lethal goal-scorers in all of junior hockey, lighting the lamp 126 times over his 192 regular season games for the Hamilton Bulldogs. After scoring 102 points in his draft year, the 6’2″ winger came back with an even better point rate in the shortened 2019-20, recording 98 in just 57 games.
While there is still work to do on several parts of his game, Kaliyev represents a potential top-six option for the Kings that could be lethal on an NHL powerplay. Should he fail to make the Los Angeles roster in 2020-21, he will not be eligible to play in the AHL and would have to return to Hamilton.
Spence meanwhile wasn’t drafted quite as high, picked 95th overall by the Kings last year, but is still making quite an impact. The 19-year old was named QMJHL defenseman of the year after recording 52 points in 60 games for the Moncton Wildcats. Actually born in Australia, Spence is quickly rising up prospect rankings despite being a mid-round pick and could legitimately challenge for an NHL roster spot in the next few years.
Like Kaliyev, Spence will not be eligible for AHL play next season and will likely return to help the Wildcats once again. Both contracts are eligible to slide forward if the players are sent back to junior.
Snapshots: Stralman, Draft Rankings, Tourigny
The NHL has announced its return to play format and hopes to get players back on the ice in groups soon, but that doesn’t mean that the season is guaranteed to resume this summer. Some players are still worried about how safe it would be to gather teams in hub cities, including Anton Stralman who spoke with Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription required):
I think you should be concerned. There are so many ways to look at this thing. I know everybody wants hockey back, but safety has to come first. And it’s a little bit worrisome, I can’t deny that. Even though most players are young and healthy, I’m sure there are players like me that have underlying health issues. I don’t know how my body will react if I get this virus.
According to Smith, Stralman dealt with bronchiectasis in the past and only recently stopped taking medication for it. While he is the one speaking out about it, Stralman isn’t the only player who feels this way as James Mirtle of The Athletic points out on Twitter.
- For those who are looking forward to the draft instead, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic (subscription required) has published his final top-100 ranking of 2020 draft prospects. That includes Alexis Lafreniere at the top where he has been on every list so far, but also has some surprises a little further down the first round. Wheeler gives a detailed scouting report on each of the first 50 prospects and breaks them down into draft tiers.
- The CHL has named Andre Tourigny the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year for 2019-20 after leading the Ottawa 67’s to a 50-11-1 record. Tourigny was also an assistant with the gold medal-winning Team Canada at the World Juniors and has now put up consecutive 50-win seasons with Ottawa. Amazingly, despite winning coach of the year in the QMJHL, OHL and now CHL, Tourigny has still not been able to capture a league title.
New York Islanders Agree To Terms With Three Prospects
The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with Felix Bibeau, Cole Coskey and Blade Jenkins. CapFriendly reports that Jenkins has signed a three-year entry-level contract, while both Bibeau and Coskey have signed one-year AHL deals.
Bibeau, 21, is the oldest of the three but was only drafted in 2019. The sixth-round pick was passed over in his first two years of eligibility, but after an impressive season that saw him lift the Memorial Cup with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies the Islanders took a chance.
Coskey, 20, was a seventh-round pick by the Islanders last year but has landed a deal after putting up 80 points in 62 games for the Saginaw Spirit. The 6’0″ winger may have been overshadowed by teammate Cole Perfetti, but that doesn’t mean he can’t hold his own at the next level.
Jenkins, the youngest of the group at 19 was actually drafted in 2018 and could have become an unrestricted free agent next week. The Islanders needed to sign him before June 1 and after a mediocre season it was unclear if they would take the chance and use a contract slot. Jenkins recorded just 16 goals and 40 points in 47 games for the Spirit, not exactly dominating the league in his third OHL season.
All three players will join the organization but don’t seem likely candidates to challenge for a role in the NHL right away. More likely we’ll see them taking the ice in the AHL (or even ECHL) for the time being.
Snapshots: Blashill, Pilut, Canadiens
The Detroit Red Wings season has come to an end following the announcement of the return to play format, meaning they’ll go down as one of the worst teams in history (at least in terms of points percentage). The club finished 17-49-5 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, leading many to question the future of Jeff Blashill.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit GM, is not one of those questioning his head coach. On a conference call with reporters today including Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Yzerman explained that he has “no plans on making a coaching change at this time.” Blashill signed a two-year contract extension in 2019 that carries him through the 2020-21 season but now has a 153-194-52 record as head coach of the Red Wings.
- A report out of Russia has Buffalo Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut heading to the KHL next season, though it has not been confirmed at this point. Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News reports that the Sabres are inquiring with Pilut to see if he has indeed signed or agreed to terms with Traktor Chelyabinsk. Pilut is scheduled to become a restricted free agent later this summer, but with the Sabres already eliminated from play he could be looking for a new opportunity already. The 24-year old Pilut ended up playing just 46 games over two seasons for Buffalo, despite being excellent in the minor leagues and showing he could handle NHL duty. Should he decide to pursue a contract overseas, the Sabres could temporarily retain his rights by issuing him a qualifying offer.
- With just a few days left to sign them, Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin explained to reporters including Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports that they will not be issuing contract offers to a few prospects. Allan McShane, Cole Fonstad and Samuel Houde–all players that will see their draft rights expire on June 1st–will not receive contracts from the Canadiens.
Jake Bean Wins AHL Defenseman Of The Year
After handing out the top goaltending honors yesterday, the AHL continued today by announcing the top defenseman. The Eddie Shore Award has been given to Jake Bean of the Charlotte Checkers after a vote from coaches, players and media members around the league.
Bean, 21, isn’t just another AHL defenseman. Drafted 13th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016 he is still one of the top defensive prospects in the game, even if it has taken him a few years to reach the NHL. 2019-20 served as his second full season in the AHL and after making the All-Rookie Team and winning a Calder Cup championship in his first, it was hard to believe he could take another step forward.
A step forward he did take however, scoring 48 points in 59 games with the Checkers and landing a spot on the league’s First All-Star Team. The defenseman of the year award is just a cherry on top of an outstanding season, one that should probably be Bean’s last in the AHL.
Still under his entry-level contract in 2020-21, Bean represents an inexpensive option for the Hurricanes if they decide to shed some salary from the back end. After acquiring Brady Skjei midseason it may be difficult to keep around others like Joel Edmundson and Trevor van Riemsdyk—who are both scheduled for unrestricted free agency—meaning there could be an additional opportunity in the NHL.
That’s not guaranteed however, as Carolina still has Skjei, Jaccob Slavin, Jake Gardiner, Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton penciled into full-time roles for the time being. Haydn Fleury is also still around, though he needs a new contract as an RFA. The Hurricanes may be the most difficult blueline in the league to crack for a young player, but at this point it’s hard to argue Bean could have done anything more to prove he is ready for the next level.
Kaapo Kahkonen Wins AHL Goalie Of The Year
The minor leagues were absolutely littered with high-end goaltending prospects this season, but only one could take home the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the league’s best netminder. That honor was given to Kaapo Kahkonen of the Iowa Wild today, after a vote from coaches, players, and media around the league.
Kahkonen, 23, was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild way back in 2014, but only came over to North America for the 2018-19 campaign. He was named to the AHL All-Star Game and led the league in shutouts during his first season, but took another huge step forward this year.
In 34 appearances, Kahkonen registered a .927 save percentage and led the league in wins (25) and shutouts (7). Iowa ended up with the best record in franchise history, partly because of his strong play in net.
Kahkonen also received his first opportunity in the NHL, playing in five games for Minnesota. The young goaltender posted a .913 save percentage in those games, a good indication that he’ll be able to handle the transition at some point in the future.
Full List Of 2020 Expiring Draft Rights
When drafting a player out of North America or any European country with a transfer agreement, a team acquires their exclusive negotiating rights for a set amount of time. Each year on June 1, a long list of players see those rights expire and become unrestricted free agents (or choose to re-enter the draft, depending on specific circumstances). This year, even though many other NHL deadlines have been shifted, CapFriendly reports that June 1 will still act as the threshold for expiring draft rights.
While this doesn’t always result in a flurry of signings in the last week of May, there are usually a few players who ink their deals at the last minute to stay in the organization that drafted them. With the deadline set for 4:00 pm CT next Monday, CapFriendly has provided a full list of players who will see those rights expire:
Arizona Coyotes
Dennis Busby (145th overall, 2018)
Patrick Kudla (158th overall, 2016)
Buffalo Sabres
Brett Murray (99th overall, 2016)
Philip Nyberg (129th overall, 2016)
Calgary Flames
Linus Lindstrom (96th overall, 2016)
Milos Roman (122nd overall, 2018)
Carolina Hurricanes
Luke Henman (96th overall, 2018)
Chicago Blackhawks
Wouter Peeters (83rd overall, 2016)
Mathias From (143rd overall, 2016)
Alexis Gravel (162nd overall, 2018)
Jake Ryczek (203rd overall, 2016)
Colorado Avalanche
Brandon Saigeon (140th overall, 2018)
Dallas Stars
Fredrik Karlstrom (90th overall, 2016)
Curtis Douglas (106th overall, 2018)
Jakob Stenqvist (176th overall, 2016)
Detroit Red Wings
Alfons Malmstrom (107th overall, 2016)
Mattias Elfstrom (197th overall, 2016)
Florida Panthers
Linus Nassen (89th overall, 2016)
Minnesota Wild
Shawn Boudrias (179th overall, 2018)
Montreal Canadiens
Allan McShane (97th overall, 2018)
Cole Fonstad (128th overall, 2018)
Samuel Houde (133rd overall, 2018)
Arvid Henrikson (187th overall, 2016)
Nashville Predators
Hardy Haman Aktell (108th overall, 2016)
Milan Kloucek (213th overall, 2018)
New Jersey Devils
Xavier Bernard (110th overall, 2018)
Mitch Hoelscher (172nd overall 2018)
New York Islanders
Blade Jenkins (134th overall, 2018)
New York Rangers
Nico Gross (101st overall, 2018)
Ottawa Senators
Markus Nurmi (163rd overall, 2016)
Philadelphia Flyers
Linus Hogberg (139th overall, 2016)
David Bernhardt (199th overall, 2016)
St. Louis Blues
Filip Helt (211th overall, 2016)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Riley Stotts (83rd overall, 2018)
Zachary Bouthillier (209th overall, 2018)
Vegas Golden Knights
Connor Corcoran (154th overall, 2018)
Xavier Bouchard (185th overall, 2018)
Jordan Kooy (208th overall, 2018)
Winnipeg Jets
Jacob Cederholm (97th overall, 2016)
Declan Chisholm (150th overall, 2018)
Giovanni Vallati (153rd overall, 2018)
Washington Capitals
Alex Kannok-Leipart (161st overall, 2018)
Eric Florchuk (217th overall, 2018)
Prospect Notes: Kaprizov, CHL Defensemen, Draft
The Minnesota Wild and their fans are still waiting to see Kirill Kaprizov hit the ice with the team five years after they drafted him. The 23-year old forward is widely regarded as one of the best players outside the NHL, but for years there was little indication he wanted to come to North America. Now that there is—Kaprizov has made it clear that he is ready to sign with the Wild—the current league pause is getting in the way.
Despite being on the reserve list of the Wild, Kaprizov (and other players like him in similar situations around the league) isn’t being allowed to sign with the team for the 2019-20 season because of the current pause. Minnesota GM Bill Guerin is still holding out hope that the league will change their mind, telling Dan Myers of NHL.com that both sides are just taking it “day-by-day” and not jumping into an agreement for 2020-21 until it is necessary. As Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) has explained several times, a delayed start to 2020-21 could pose a threat for the Wild should Kaprizov decide he doesn’t want to wait around for the season to begin, but it does seem like finally, both sides are on the same page.
- Each of the three leagues that make up the CHL have announced their Defenseman of the Year awards. Ty Smith repeats for the WHL, taking home the award for the second consecutive season and joining Kris Russell, Dion Phaneuf and Nolan Baumgartner as the only back-to-back winners. The New Jersey Devils prospect recorded 59 points in 46 games for the Spokane Chiefs and looks ready to make the jump to the NHL in short order. Noel Hoefenmayer doesn’t have quite the same name recognition as Smith, given that he was a fourth-round pick in 2017 and failed to sign with the Arizona Coyotes, but he was just as impressive this year in the OHL. Hoefenmayer recorded 82 points in 58 games for the Ottawa 67’s, an incredible total even if he was playing his over-age season. Hoefenmayer recently signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, his hometown minor league team. Jordan Spence takes home the award for the QMJHL, more exciting news for the Los Angeles Kings whose prospect pool is bursting at the seams with talent. As Scott Wheeler of The Athletic points out on Twitter, Spence now has a QMJHL Rookie of the Year and Defenseman of the Year award in his cabinet, but still isn’t even one of the very best prospects in the Kings’ system.
- Everyone is waiting to see when the draft will be for this season, but the push to have it take place in June before finishing the season has seemingly come to an end. In fact, Bob McKenzie of TSN asked some general manager around the league yesterday, who told him they have “no clue” on when it will be. McKenzie reports that the entire focus is on returning to play right now and that the decision on when to hold the draft “won’t be made anytime soon.”