Snapshots: Edmonton, Sedlak, Blackhawks
The Edmonton Oilers will not be bringing back Trent Yawney or Manny Viveiros as assistant coaches next season, according to Jason Gregor of TSN. It’s not a totally unexpected move given the changes in leadership behind the bench and in the front office for the Oilers, but now means that head coach Dave Tippett will get to put together his own staff. The early speculation is that Yawney could re-join Todd McLellan‘s staff, this time in Los Angeles. Assistant Glen Gulutzan will remain and run the Oilers’ powerplay next season.
While both Yawney and Vivieros can hardly be blamed entirely for what happened last season in Edmonton, it makes sense to wipe the slate (mostly) clean and start anew. Edmonton must get it right this time with GM Ken Holland and Tippett on board, or risk wasting more prime seasons of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
- Lukas Sedlak has signed in the KHL, inking a two-year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk. The Columbus Blue Jackets forward was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, but according to team reporter Brian Hedger, was looking for a bigger opportunity and more money. Sedlak played just 47 games for the Blue Jackets last season in a depth role, and made $850K in the second year of a two-season contract signed back in 2017.
- The Chicago Blackhawks are on the clock third in June’s draft, and are taking a close look at the prospects taking part in this week’s scouting combine. Mark Lazerus spoke with Blackhawks scouting director Mark Kelley, who told him that the team has narrowed their list to six potential players to pick with the third-overall selection, though he wouldn’t specify. Lazerus has heard though that Bowen Byram, Alex Turcotte, Cole Caufield and Trevor Zegras are among them.
Full List Of 2019 Expiring Draft Rights
When drafting a player out of North America or more European countries, 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 they become unrestricted free agents (or choose to re-enter the draft, depending on specific circumstances). 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 4:00pm CT tomorrow, CapFriendly has provided a full list of players who will see those rights expire:
Anaheim Ducks
Kyle Olson (122nd overall, 2017)
Arizona Coyotes
Noel Hoefenmayer (108th overall, 2017)
Boston Bruins
Cedric Pare (173rd overall, 2017)
Daniel Bukac (204th overall, 2017)
Calgary Flames
Zach Fischer (140th overall, 2017)
D’Artagnan Joly (171st overall, 2017)
Carolina Hurricanes
Brendan De Jong (166th overall, 2017)
Chicago Blackhawks
Radovan Bondra (151st overall, 2015)
John Dahlstrom (211th overall, 2015)
Colorado Avalanche
Gustav Olhaver (191st overall, 2015)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Veeti Vaini (141st overall, 2015)
Dallas Stars
Liam Hawel (101st overall, 2017)
Brett Davis (163rd overall, 2017)
Markus Ruusu (163rd overall, 2015)
Detroit Red Wings
Lane Zablocki (79th overall, 2017)
Zachary Gallant (83rd overall, 2017)
Cole Fraser (131st overall, 2017)
Reilly Webb (164th overall, 2017)
Brady Gilmour (193rd overall, 2017)
Minnesota Wild
Ales Stezka (111th overall, 2015)
Jacob Golden (147th overall, 2017)
Montreal Canadiens
Scott Walford (68th overall, 2017)
Jarret Tyszka (149th overall, 2017)
Nashville Predators
Karel Vejmelka (145th overall, 2015)
Pavel Koltygin (176th overall, 2017)
Jacob Paquette (216th overall, 2017)
New Jersey Devils
Jocktain Chainey (191st overall, 2017)
New York Islanders
Petter Hansson (202nd overall, 2015)
New York Rangers
Daniel Bernhardt (119th overall, 2015)
Dominik Lakatos (157th overall, 2017)
Ottawa Senators
Filip Ahl (109th overall, 2015)
Jordan Hollett (183rd overall, 2017)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Zachary Lauzon (51st overall, 2017)*
St. Louis Blues
David Noel (130th overall, 2017)
Trenton Bourque (175th overall, 2017)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ryan McGregor (172nd overall, 2017)
Vancouver Canucks
Kristoffer Gunnarsson (135th overall, 2017)
Matthew Brassard (188th overall, 2017)
Vegas Golden Knights
Maxim Zhukov (96th overall, 2017)
*Lauzon is obviously the highest pick in the group, but the chances of him earning a contract seem slim at this point. The 20-year old defenseman missed the entire 2018-19 season and most of 2017-18 with concussion issues.
Combine Notes: Marner, Dubas, Johnson, Turcotte
Toronto Maple Leafs fans may be nervous about the prospect of a Mitch Marner offer sheet, especially after some recent comments, but GM Kyle Dubas isn’t. Dubas tells NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger that he has used the ongoing NHL Scouting combine as an opportunity to meet with Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, in hopes of getting a new deal done with their star forward as soon as possible:
We’re not letting any time slip away. Any chance we’ve had to have time with Darren, we’re taking it. We’re trying to move it along. That’s really the key. I don’t see any need to delay it. We would like to come to agreements the very first minute we can. Unfortunately with the way things are it’s not overly realistic to think we can do that. Just keep working. I think I said before — we have to go back to check the tape — everyone knows how we feel about Mitch. I’m not afraid to say that Mitch holds a special place in the cosmos of our group… The reality is, Mitch is a great player. We’ve been very clear how we feel about him as a player and a person. He’s been a great Maple Leaf. He should be a Maple Leaf his whole career. I think Mitch and Darren have both stated that at times. We’re going to keep working with Darren to move this along and progress it ahead and come to an agreement which will make Mitch feel like he’s compensated at the level he’s deserved and us with a way to navigate our way ahead. I think if we’re all willing to work towards it we’ll get there. That’s what we have the time for here.
Dubas continues that he would be surprised if Marner were to entertain the idea of an offer sheet and has never been led to believe that it has been discussed as an option by Marner’s camp. Dubas knows that Marner, as well as Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, could be popular targets for the elusive offer sheet, but is prepared to deal with that scenario if it arises:
I think you have to study what the probability may be. You can’t ignore it. You can’t just say that because something hasn’t happened, it won’t happen. You have to be realistic. You have to look around and identify which teams have the capital, which teams have the cap space, and which teams have the combination of both… That’s the way we’ve gone about it. As a management group, our focus has been on finding contract resolutions with Mitch and Johnsson and Kapanen.
By all accounts, Dubas is farther along in talks with all three of Marner, Johnsson, and Kapanen than he was with William Nylander at this time last year. Nylander of course held out well into the start of this past season, but that doesn’t appear to be the likely outcome for any Toronto RFA’s this year. And while the threat of offer sheets exist, that too doesn’t seem to be a probable ending. The question thus becomes, if new contracts can be signed with Marner, Johnsson, and Kapanen, where does it leave the Maple Leafs in salary cap terms and who will have to move this summer to make the team cap compliant?
- While NHL executives and agents alike obviously use the NHL Scouting Combine as an opportunity to talk to one another, the focus of course is on the draft class. One prospect in particular has been busier than just about anyone at the combine. NBC Sports Chicago’s Slavko Bekovic reports that American defenseman Ryan Johnson is the only player in attendance thought to have met with all 31 NHL teams. Johnson is not your typical popular top-of-the-first prospect, though. Instead, he has been ranked as high as No. 18 and as low as No. 55 by reputable scouting sources and many teams are likely still trying to gauge whether or not he is a first-round caliber player. To his credit, Johnson will at least likely go ahead of many highly-regarded U.S. National Team Development Program defenders after he himself did not make the team. The stalwart defenseman for the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede is a solid, mobile defenseman and a strong locker room presence, but the question is whether he is a top-31 player in this draft. Every team in the league will apparently get the chance to answer that question.
- Bekovic also reports that Illinois native Alex Turcotte, a top-ten prospect, has met with his hometown Chicago Blackhawks this week. While the Blackhawks have met with several other intriguing prospects who they could select at No. 3, including Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Kirby Dach, and Peyton Krebs, it’s hard to ignore the fit that Turcotte would have with the organization. The USNTDP standout told Bekovic that he grew up a big Blackhawks fan and has always dreamed of playing for the team. He also models his game after Jonathan Toews and relishes in the frequent comparisons between the two. GM Stan Bowman is not going to let sentiment dictate a crucial pick for his franchise, but Turcotte’s talent alone may make him the third-best player in this class, with the local ties just an added bonus.
Golden Knights Sign Jonas Rondbjerg To Entry-Level Contract
The Vegas Golden Knights have inked a member of their inaugural draft class to his first NHL contract. Forward Jonas Rondbjerg, selected by the Knights in the third round in 2017, has agreed to terms on his entry-level contract, the team announced. While the team confirmed that it is a three-year term, as required by the CBA, no financial terms have been disclosed.
Rondbjerg, 20, was the sixth player selected by Vegas two years ago and their first ever European forward. A native of Denmark, Rondbjerg has quickly established himself as one his country’s top young players. A two-time participant at the World Junior Championship, Rondbjerg led Denmark in scoring in 2018 and 2019, managing to impress despite the team’s lack of talent and success. He has also enjoyed an early start to his pro career, having played the past two seasons with the Vaxjo Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League. Although Rondbjerg’s offensive totals are not eye-catching – he has 17 points in 80 games over two seasons – he has nevertheless played a critical energy role for Vaxjo, displaying a strong two-way game, especially for such a young player. Rondbjerg’s work ethic and tenacity are the hallmarks of his game and pair nicely with his high hockey IQ. He may not be the biggest, fastest, or strongest player on the ice, but he is always involved in the play and making smart decisions. His willingness to play a checking role is not to say he doesn’t also have ample skill as well.
Rondbjerg is still likely a few years away from being a regular at the NHL level, but he will certainly work hard in training camp and in the AHL to try to prove he is ready for an opportunity. With a mature game and pro attitude, he may not be far off if his game translates to North America. A young player who is comfortable in a bottom-six role, can play either wing, and can flash offensively is a nice depth piece, making Rondbjerg a valuable addition for Vegas.
This may not be the final entry-level deal for the Golden Knights before the end of the month. Russian goaltender Maxim Zhukov, the next player selected after Rondbjerg in 2017, remains unsigned and his draft rights expire on June 1st. If Vegas wishes to sign Zhukov, who admittedly had a tumultuous season between the OHL and USHL but has good size and a positive track record prior to this year, they must do so in the next 24 hours.
Snapshots: Kessel, Malmquist, Vladar
It’s been confirmed by many sources now that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel himself nixed the proposed deal that would have sent him to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Jason Zucker, among other pieces. What was unclear is exactly why. Kessel is a native of nearby Wisconsin and played his college hockey for the University of Minnesota. It would seem that the Wild would have been a nice fit for the veteran scorer. However, as noted by the Athletic’s Michael Russo, Kessel’s reasoning for turning down the destination is quite simple: he doesn’t think the team is a contender. In fact, after talking to those close to Kessel, Russo phrases it as Kessel didn’t think the team was even “close to contending”. GM Paul Fenton certainly left a mark in his first season at the helm, trading away established veterans Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, and Nino Niederreiter and on paper the team does look to be in more of a rebuild than a title window. Fenton reportedly called Kessel to try to change his mind, but to no avail. Kessel will be 32 next season and has already showed signs of slowing down, so the star winger apparently has his sights set on competing for more Stanley Cups before his playing days are over. That could make the prospect of dealing him that much harder for Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, further limiting Kessel’s trade options to contenders on his eight-team trade list that have both the means and interest in acquiring him. Meanwhile, Fenton and the Wild have to hope that other prominent players, free agents or trade targets, don’t share in Kessel’s pessimistic outlook on the team’s chances or they may have a hard time improving this off-season.
- Kessel’s home of Madison, Wisconsin is set to see another promising player make his way into town in a couple of years. Liam Malmquist, a standout high school forward from Edina, Minnesota, has announced his commitment to play his college hockey for the University of Wisconsin. However, Malmquist will not join the Badgers until 2020-21 and will play next season for the BCHL’s Penticton Vees, the team announced today. Malmquist, 18, is an undersized scoring forward, whose lack of stature and relatively weak competition level likely kept him off the radar of NHL team’s in his first time through the draft last year. However, after recording 52 points in 24 games this year, he’s entered the conversation as a possible late-round overage waiver this June. Malmquist’s older brother, Dylan Malmquist, remains unsigned but just wrapped up a strong collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame. Even if Malmquist is not drafted, he can stay in the pro picture if he is able to replicate or top his brother’s numbers while at Wisconsin. He should be surrounded by plenty of talent too, as Malmquist joins a talented Badgers team that will add top 2019 prospects Alex Turcotte, Cole Caufield, Ryder Donovan, and Owen Lindmark, as well as intriguing 2020 name Dylan Holloway next season and another top 2020 prospect in Tanner Latsch the year after.
- The Boston Bruins have already lost forward Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and defenseman Emil Johansson to Europe this off-season – even though the team’s off-season has yet to begin – and for the good of their minor league depth hope to avoid any other such losses. However, it is worth noting that AHL goaltender Dan Vladar was the subject of a recent trade in the KHL. Vladar’s rights were acquired by contender Lokomotiv Yaroslavl from HK Sochi in exchange for 22-year-old active KHL forward Alexander Polunin, a somewhat hefty price for just a player’s rights. There has been no word as to whether Vladar has talked about jumping overseas, prompting the trade, but it certainly shouldn’t be ruled out. Vladar, a 2015 third-round pick of the Bruins, is still only 21 but has yet to make an NHL appearance in three pro seasons. Vladar played as the Providence Bruins’ backup this season, making 31 appearances to starter Zane McIntyre‘s 47. Both goalies put up just pedestrian numbers and McIntyre, a pending unrestricted free agent, is not a lock to return. With NHL backup Jaroslav Halak also signed for just one more season, it could be that Vladar remains on the fast track to start for Providence next season and one day back up Tuukka Rask. One would think that position would keep the young net minder stateside. However, he now faces a challenge from other promising young goalies in the pipeline like Kyle Keyser and Jeremy Swayman and may no longer feel that he is guaranteed to ever see time with the Bruins. Such a mindset could see Vladar off to Russia this summer.
Kaapo Kakko Pulls Out Of Scouting Combine
Though he had previously been expected as part of the top group of prospects attending this week’s Scouting Combine in Buffalo, Kaapo Kakko will no longer be participating at all. No official reason was given for his absence, according to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com, but the top 2019 draft prospect recently won the gold medal at the IIHF World Championship and traveled back to Finland for the celebrations yesterday. Other players that were invited but will not attend include Semyon Chystyakov, Vladislav Firstov, Daniil Gutik, Daniil Misyul and Kirill Slepets.
Kakko’s absence will certainly be disappointing for the teams in attendance, but there is really nothing for him to prove at this point. His best chance at surpassing Jack Hughes for the first-overall selection was at the Worlds, and he did his best by posting six goals and seven points in ten games. Kakko did seem to fade in the back half of the tournament when the games became tougher, but still was noticeable when the puck ended up on his stick. The 6’2″ forward is already a dangerous player below the goal line, able to protect the puck against NHL defenders and create room for himself and teammates.
The other names that have turned down invitations are almost more interesting. Misyul, for instance, was ranked eighth among international skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting, but is still signed with his KHL team. The combine would have given teams a chance to speak with him in person to get a better read on whether or not he plans on coming over to North America down the road, something that will greatly affect his draft position.
Still, the combine will have 103 prospects taking part in the fitness testing this week. That includes Hughes, who still seems destined to be the next member of the New Jersey Devils, selected first overall this year.
Sheldon Keefe Signs Two-Year Extension With Toronto Marlies
The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have to worry about someone poaching their minor league head coach. Not yet anyway. Today the club announced that Toronto Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe has signed a two-year extension to stay in the AHL. GM Kyle Dubas explained the contract:
Over the last four seasons Sheldon has done a great job developing our individual prospects into Maple Leafs while also guiding the Marlies deep into the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the organization, including the Calder Cup in 2018. Ensuring that Sheldon remains tasked with guiding the development of our prospects was very important to our program and the reason we began the discussion to extend Sheldon months ago.
Keefe, 38, is a rising star in the coaching world that has found incredible success at the AHL level. In his four years coaching the Marlies, the team has advanced to the Conference Final three times and won a Calder Cup in 2018. That success has come even as the Maple Leafs continue to pull talent up every year, graduating players like William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott to full-time NHL status. The blend of winning and development is an important one for a minor league team, and one that Keefe has navigated well over the last few years.
That success is exactly why many called for him to be promoted to the NHL squad after another disappointing exit by the Maple Leafs this spring. Head coach Mike Babcock was criticized by fans and media alike for his player usage against the Boston Bruins in the first round, and some speculated that he might be on his way out when Dubas failed to give him a vote of confidence right away. That vote came a few days later, when Dubas confirmed that Babcock and he were on the same page going forward.
Still, with teams calling on Keefe to see if he would be interested in interviewing for an NHL job somewhere else, Dubas and the Maple Leafs had to find a way to keep him in the organization. His contract is expected to pay much more than his AHL contemporaries, and there does seem to be a path to the Toronto NHL head coaching position down the road if Babcock doesn’t find a way to advance past the first round.
Josh Norris Signs With Ottawa Senators
After just two years with the University of Michigan, Josh Norris has decided to turn pro. The Ottawa Senators today announced a three-year entry-level contract for Norris, who was acquired as part of the package for Erik Karlsson last summer. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a statement on his newest forward:
Josh is one of the organization’s top prospects, a fast, skilled, competitive center who we project to play an important role with our team in the future. In speaking with Josh and his family, we were all in agreement that it is in the best interests of his development to make the step to turn professional after two great seasons at Michigan. We are very happy to have Josh signed and look forward to having him here at development camp in June.
Norris, 20, unfortunately missed a good chunk of the 2018-19 season due to injury and played just 17 games for the Michigan Wolverines. He was still able to make a big impact however, recording 10 goals and 19 points in those games while also helping Team USA to a silver medal at the World Juniors. The 19th overall pick in 2017, Norris is considered a polished two-way center that should be able to contribute at the professional level right away. Whether that comes in the NHL or AHL this year will be determined in camp, but there’s little doubt that he will get to Ottawa eventually.
While many pointed to Rudolfs Balcers at the time of the trade as one of the biggest keys, given his proximity to the NHL—Balcers would score 14 points in 36 games as a rookie in 2018-19—Norris was a huge part of the deal. His development will always be tied to Karlsson’s departure, putting even more pressure on him moving forward. That kind of pressure hasn’t seemed to distract him so far in his young hockey career, as Norris has routinely been among the best players at every level of competition including internationally and in college.
Interestingly, there may be an opportunity in the NHL right away for a player of his talents. While there is obviously a case to be made for some more seasoning in the minor leagues, the Senators currently have just five forwards signed to one-way contracts for 2019-20 (not including the injured Marian Gaborik or Clarke MacArthur). That leaves a lot of room for competition among the team’s prospect pool, and Norris should have every chance to earn a spot on opening day.
Nashville Predators Ink New ECHL Affiliation
The Nashville Predators have entered into an affiliation agreement with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The partnership is only for the 2019-20 season, but will give the Predators another minor league affiliate to send their prospects for development purposes. Everblades GM Craig Brush released a statement on the agreement:
We are thrilled to have the Nashville Predators as our new NHL affiliate. Nashville’s President of Hockey Operations and General Manager David Poile has done a remarkable job developing an expansion franchise into one of the most prominent teams in the NHL. We are looking forward to becoming an integral part of the development of players for the Predators and Milwaukee Admirals.
The Everblades were previously the ECHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, given they shared at least partial ownership with the NHL franchise in the form of Peter Karmanos. The Predators meanwhile last had an ECHL affiliation in 2017 but ended the partnership with the Norfolk Admirals in mid-November. Before that, they had worked with the Cincinnati Cyclones for a decade.
Florida will represent a new opportunity for the Predators to send their raw or unpolished prospects, so that they can get large amounts of ice time without the pressure of the higher leagues. The ECHL is most notable for the goaltending alumni it has produced, which includes names like Jordan Binnington, James Reimer, Aaron Dell, Collin Delia and MacKenzie Blackwood. Former Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis even spent some time in the ECHL before making his NHL debut.
The Everblades finished second in the entire ECHL during this season with a 50-16-6 record but were unfortunately eliminated in the Kelly Cup semi-final by the Newfoundland Growlers.
Winnipeg Jets Sign Leon Gawanke To Entry-Level Contract
UPDATE: The Jets have confirmed the contract with Gawanke. It is a three-year entry-level deal worth $810K against the cap at the NHL level.
Following a breakout season with the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, defenseman Leon Gawanke has earned his first NHL contract. TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reports that the German blue liner has signed his entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets. While the term will be set to three years for the junior-age player, financial terms have not yet been disclosed.
Gawanke, 19, was a fifth-round pick of the Jets in 2017 after his first season in Cape Breton. The puck-moving defenseman had played exclusively in Germany beforehand, but did not look out of place as a QMJHL rookie, recording 32 points in 54 games. However, the 2017-18 season was somewhat problematic, as Gawanke’s offense stalled at 32 points despite playing a larger role and skating in eight more games. His defense also suffered as he was exposed against more difficult assignments. He appeared to be trending in the wrong direction and needed a strong campaign this year to reverse course. He provided just that, registering 57 points in 62 games and another seven points in the playoffs to tie for third on the team in scoring, both regular season and postseason. His defense also bounced back considerably – a difference of +34 between this season and last.
The Jets had until the June 1st deadline to sign Gawanke to his ELC, otherwise the young defenseman would have been eligible to re-enter the NHL Draft. Winnipeg has avoided that possibility and can look forward to the further development of the promising rearguard. However, a contract for Gawanke should not be confused for any immediate role with the Jets. Gawanke will almost certainly return to the Screaming Eagles next season and is likely a few years away at least from any NHL consideration.