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Alexis Lafreniere Will Not Report To QMJHL, Will Not Play In Europe

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Alexis Lafreniere is confident he’ll be playing in New York next season. According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the consensus first-overall pick has decided that he will not report to training camp for the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL or go overseas to play in Europe for the next few months. Instead, he intends on training individually and preparing for the NHL season.

The 18-year old Lafreniere was always expected to go straight to the NHL after his draft, but the uncertainty of when that 2020-21 season actually will begin created some confusion at how he would handle things. McKenzie did note that if the NHL season doesn’t begin in December or January as expected, he will then review his options.

It is interesting to note that the IIHF is still hoping to hold the 2021 World Junior Championship, scheduled to begin on December 26th in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. If the NHL season still hasn’t begun by then, perhaps Lafreniere—who will still only be 19 and eligible—could represent Canada one last time at the tournament. He was named MVP of the event this year, scoring 10 points and leading Canada to a gold medal.

In any case, you won’t be seeing Lafreniere in Rimouski this fall as he ends his CHL career with two consecutive Player of the Year awards.

Minor Transactions: 07/09/20

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The NHL off-season may not be starting until October this year, but AHL free agency is alive and well. While the league has not yet shared their plans for the 2020-21 season, that hasn’t stopped teams from extending players, signing new ones, and even importing players from overseas. Here are some recent notable minor league deals:

  • Defenseman Keaton Middleton has signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Eagles, the team announced, but the Avalanche and GM Joe Sakic definitely had a hand in this signing. A former captain of the Saginaw Spirit and OHL All-Star, Middleton has the makings of a future NHLer. At 6’5” and 234 lbs., Middleton is a true shutdown defenseman who plays a strong defensive game. His size and strength earned him a fourth-round selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, but the club opted not to sign him. However, his past two seasons with the San Jose Barracuda has shown that he has pro chops. Middleton was a +18 and added 26 points in 102 AHL games. The 22-year-old now moves to Colorado where he can continue to refine his two-way game in hopes of landing an NHL contract next summer.
  • Nathanael Halbert is getting another go with the Laval Rocket. The former QMJHL defenseman who spent the past four years at McGill University played in five games at the end of the season with Laval and apparently did enough to impress the club into extending him for one year, according to a team release. The 24-year-old has never been known for his regular season production, but his playoff numbers at the college and junior level show that he has that valuable clutch gene. A native of Nottingham, England, Halbert hopes to be an unlikely hero for Laval this season and possibly beyond.
  • Making his way back to North America is journeyman forward Jesse Mychan. The 28-year-old winger has signed a one-year deal with the Iowa Wild, as reported by his agency. Mychan is no stranger to the AHL, having suited up for ten games over three separate stints and nearly 200 more games in the ECHL. However, he has spent time in Wales, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and most recently Denmark over the past few years. An experienced pro who has found great success in the ECHL in the past and starred for Denmark’s Esbjerg Energy for the past two year, Mychan hopes he is finally ready for an extended AHL stay in 2020-21.

Minnesota Wild Prospect Alex Khovanov Heading To KHL

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Minnesota Wild prospect Alex Khovanov was granted permission to spend next season in the KHL, per The Athletic’s Michael Russo. The 20-year-old center was rumored to be on his way to Ak Bars Kazan last month, but the Wild were said to still be discussing the best route for Khovanov’s development.

The Russian lefty was a third-round pick of the Wild in the 2018 draft. The 86th overall selection signed officially with Minnesota last March, but injuries have slowed his development. He was held out of the NHL Prospect Tournament last year after having a benign tumor surgically removed from his left leg.

Regardless, the ceiling is high for Khovanov. He potted 32 goals while finishing his junior career in QMJHL Moncton. He wrapped up the 2019-2020 campaign with an impressive 99 points in just 51 games.

With an uncertain start date for next year’s AHL season, the hope here is that a delayed NHL season in 2020-2021 will allow Khovanov to get a full season of reps while in Russia and still return sometime mid-year to join the AHL, if not the Wild.

If he does indeed come back mid-season, Khovanov will use up the first year of his Entry-Level Contract at that time. For the Wild, if he gets a full season of development time in the KHL, that’s well worth the cost of burning the first year of his ECL, even if he only gets a partial season stateside.

Snapshots: Tanev, Miele, Barbashev

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Chris Tanev expected that by this point in the summer, his free agent fate would have already been decided. However, with the league on pause and his Vancouver Canucks still set to take on an expanded playoff field before he becomes a UFA in November, Tanev is using the time to continue expressing just how much he would like to remain with the team. Speaking to NHL.com, Tanev stated that he would “love” to re-sign with Vancouver, the only team he has ever known. An unlikely NHLer who signed with the Canucks after his freshman year at RIT in 2009-10, the 30-year-old has grown into a solid pro defenseman who has been a pivotal presence for Vancouver when healthy and a locker room leader as well. This season, he took on the role of mentor as well and found instant chemistry with star rookie Quinn Hughes. Tanev states that part of his excitement to stay with the Canucks is to keep playing alongside Hughes, who has also expressed a similar sentiment about Tanev. While Tanev is not the only key free agent in need of a new contract from the cap-strapped Canucks, with Jacob Markstrom and Tyler Toffoli in line as well, his tie to the franchise’s new cornerstone defenseman certainly helps his case. Tanev also stands a chance of boosting his stock in the upcoming postseason. He and Alexander Edler are the only holdovers from Vancouver’s 2011 Stanley Cup Final run and could provide valuable experience that fuels another run for the team. Regardless of what happens, Tanev has made it clear that he does not want this to be his last season with the Canucks and it is up to the team to decide what happens next.

  • A Pacific Division peer who does not seem to be sticking around is Arizona Coyotes forward Andy Miele. The veteran returned from the KHL this season, signing a two-year deal with Arizona, but played exclusively with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. It appears that he plans to have the second year of his contract terminated, as Russian source Championat reports that he has signed a one-year deal to return to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Miele was one of the most productive players for Torpedo in 2018-19 and found the same success with Tucson this year, but it did not turn into any NHL opportunities and has prompted a return to the KHL.
  • Heading the other direction from Russia to North America is talented young forward Maxim Barbashev. The 16-year-old younger brother of the St. Louis Blues’ Ivan Barbashev, Barbashev has been highly touted out of Russia’s youth ranks, scoring at better than a point-per-game rate this year at the U-17 and U-18 levels combined. Now he will take his talents to Canadian juniors, joining the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats. Agent Dan Milstein announced that a deal was done between the Wildcats and their first-round pick in 2020 CHL Import Draft. Barbashev will follow in his brother’s footsteps, as Ivan starred for Moncton for three years himself, and hopes that he might even surpass his No. 33 overall NHL Draft slot in a couple of years.

Alexis Lafreniere Wins CHL Player Of The Year For Second Straight Season

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When your name is in the running for the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft, it doesn’t hurt to have a bullet point on your resume that only Sidney Crosby shares in hockey history. Forward Alexis Lafreniere of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic is projected to be the top pick in the 2020 draft almost unanimously. Any doubt that he may not take that title was likely put to rest on Wednesday when the CHL announced that Lafreniere had been named the 2019-20 CHL Player of the Year. As if that wasn’t enough of an accomplishment, this is actually the second straight campaign in which Lafreniere has received the award. He was named the CHL’s best player in 2018-19 as well. The only other player honored in consecutive seasons: Pittsburgh Penguins captain and one of the game’s all-time best, Sidney Crosby.

Lafreniere, 18, recorded an eye-popping 112 points in just 52 games this season with Rimouski. His 2.15 per-game scoring rate was the CHL’s best since another NHL mega star, Connor McDavid, was playing juniors. It also marks a sharp increase from Lafreniere’s 2018-19 production of 105 points in 61 games, which was still good enough to take home the CHL’s Player of the Year honors last season. Altogether, Lafreniere registered 72 goals and 217 points in 113 games across his two MVP campaigns and nearly 300 points total in his three junior seasons combined. As a result, there is approximately a 0% chance that he will ever play in the juniors again.

Instead, the presumptive top pick will simply sit and wait to see where his first pro destination will be. The NHL answer could arrive as early as later this month, as the NHL Draft Lottery is scheduled for Friday, June 26th. However, if the nearby Ottawa Senators or the historically bad Detroit Red Wings or one of the other non-playoff teams does not win the first to select first overall, Lafreniere will have to wait even longer. A second lottery later this summer would determine which playoff team eliminated in the knockout round of the NHL’s adapted playoff format would have the first pick. On top of that, there is still some concern that with a possible delayed start to the 2020-21 NHL season that Lafreniere’s pro career may actually begin in Europe. The young star has entertained the thought of getting his first pro season started on time, even if that isn’t with his NHL club. He would of course be expected to return to North America once the new season does begin.

Regardless of where Lafreniere ends up, any team that has him in their lineup will receive a major boost. Lafreniere has shown for several years now that he is a special prospect and his second straight CHL Player of the Year Award puts him in elite company. Is it too early to proclaim him the next Crosby? Of course. That won’t stop the winners of this year’s draft lottery from keeping their hopes up though.

Atlantic Notes: Fabbri, Agostino, Cajkovic

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While the Red Wings didn’t have much in the way of success this season, one player who was able to turn his career around after being traded there was Robby Fabbri.  After being a role player with St. Louis, he averaged more than 17 minutes a night with Detroit and picked up a respectable 31 points in 52 games along the way.  However, he told Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News that there hasn’t been any talk about a new contract yet although he’s hoping to stick around.  A restricted free agent, the 24-year-old will be owed a qualifying offer of $945K this offseason but he will also be eligible for salary arbitration.

Fabbri also indicated that he would like to change his position.  While he came up through the junior ranks as a center, he has spent the majority of his NHL time on the wing.  The Red Wings gave him a chance to spend a bit of time down the middle late in the year and it went over well; a long-term change back to that role would also certainly help his contract leverage down the road.

Elsewhere around the Atlantic Division:

  • While Kenny Agostino didn’t spend any time with the Maple Leafs this season, he will be on Toronto’s expanded roster for the play-in round and postseason, notes Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. He signed a two-year deal with them last summer after playing in 63 NHL games between Montreal and New Jersey but wound up spending all of 2019-20 with the AHL Marlies where he had 49 points in 53 games.  While the exact allowable roster size is still to be negotiated as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic noted (Twitter link) earlier today, the current proposal from the league would see teams being allowed to carry 28 skaters.
  • As the QMJHL draft continues today, Lightning prospect Maxim Cajkovic finds himself on the move. The Val-d’Or Foreurs announced that they’ve acquired the 19-year-old in exchange for four draft picks.  Cajkovic was a third-round pick of Tampa Bay last June (89th overall) after his rookie junior season.  Injuries limited him to just 36 games this season but he was productive in those, collecting 18 goals and 24 assists while adding a pair of helpers for Slovakia at the World Juniors.  Cajkovic has until June 1 of next year to sign his entry-level deal or go back into the draft.

2020 QMJHL First Round Draft Results

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While we don’t know when the 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be taking place, the Canadian junior leagues have been proceeding with their drafts.  The OHL and WHL have already done theirs and on Friday, the QMJHL began their 2020 draft (which featured a notable prospect on the move).  These players won’t be eligible for the NHL draft until 2022 but some of them will quickly become candidates for an early draft slot in that particular NHL draft class.  Here are the results from the first round.

1) Gatineau – D Tristan Luneau
2) Gatineau – LW Antonin Verreault
3) Saint John – C Leighton Carruthers
4) Gatineau – C Samuel Savoie
5) Quebec – D Evan Nause
6) Val-d’Or – G Vincent Fillion
7) Victoriaville – D Pier-Olivier Roy
8) Gatineau – D Noah Warren
9) Shawinigan – D Michael Mastrodomenico
10) Blainville-Boisbriand – C Jonathan Fauchon
11) Drummondville – C Luke Woodworth
12) Drummondville – D Maveric Lamoureux
13) Moncton – C Yoan Loshing
14) Halifax – C Marcus Vidicek
15) Saint John – D Nathan Drapeau
16) Acadie-Bathurst – D Lane Hinkley
17) Cape Breton – G Nicolas Ruccia
18) Halifax – RW Jordan Dumais
19) Victoriaville – LW Nathan Morin
20) Rouyn-Noranda – D Dyllan Gill

Luneau, the top pick, previously committed to play for Wisconsin.  However, he told Jean-Francois Plante of Le Droit (Twitter link) that he has already de-committed from the Badgers and signed his contract.  As soon as he plays a single game in the QMJHL, he forfeits his NCAA eligibility.  And if you’re wondering if a team ever had three of the top four picks before, that’s a first in league history and probably won’t happen again for quite some time.

The rest of the 2020 QMJHL draft will run on Saturday with rounds two through fourteen.

Pacific Notes: Pelletier, Tanev, Ducks

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The QMJHL draft is just underway and already there has been a notable trade agreed upon.  TVA Sports’ Mikael Lalancette (Twitter link) is among those to report that Flames prospect Jakob Pelletier has been dealt from Moncton to Val-d’Or.  RDS’ Stephane Leroux adds (Twitter link) that a pair of first-round picks are among the five picks and a prospect going the other way.

Pelletier was the 26th overall pick by Calgary last June following a breakout season.  He followed up his 89-point 2018-19 campaign with 82 points this season in eight fewer games.  The 19-year-old has already signed his entry-level deal which means he will be making the jump to the pros for 2021-22, making this a steep price to pay for what will be a one-year rental at the junior level.

More from the Pacific Division:

  • Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev is a pending unrestricted free agent that will be heading into a constricted open market due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, he told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre that he thinks a lot of players could sign a one-year contract this offseason in the hopes that the financial situation will improve from where it is now.  The 30-year-old has spent his entire 10-year NHL career in Vancouver and has stated his preference to stay several times although with more than $63MM in commitments already for next season to just 14 players, they may not be able to retain all of their veterans with a salary cap that will likely be at or near the $81.5MM it was at this season.  If he does stay, he may very well need to take a one-year deal.
  • Speaking on a conference call with reporters including Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register, Ducks GM Bob Murray indicated that he has had talks with all of their pending free agents. Goalie Ryan Miller and defenseman Michael Del Zotto highlight their list of unrestricted free agents while blueliner Jacob Larsson plus wingers Troy Terry and Sonny Milano are among the restricted free agents.  Of those, Terry is a section 10.2 player and is not eligible for an offer sheet or salary arbitration.

Cameron MacDonald Headed To QMJHL

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The 2020 NHL Entry Draft still doesn’t have a date, but some are already looking forward to next year and the crop of talent that will be eligible in 2021. One of those names, Cameron MacDonald, will be showcasing his skills in a different league than expected this season.

The 17-year old forward played the 2019-20 season in the USHL, given his commitment to Boston College for 2021. Those plans have changed dramatically today, as the Saint John Sea Dogs announced they have signed MacDonald and will have him in their lineup for the 2020-21 season. Given the NCAA eligibility rules, that means MacDonald won’t be able to head to BC either.

Already standing “nearly 6’2″ and 190-lbs” despite having turned 17 just last month, MacDonald is an exciting prospect for the Sea Dogs and hockey in general. He absolutely dominated the competition at the midget level (72 goals and 126 points in 52 games) and held his own in the USHL this season despite being much younger than the competition.

The QMJHL is hoping to start a full season at the beginning of October.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Arthur Kaliyev, Jordan Spence

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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.

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