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Snapshots: Krebs, Pekarcik, Ducks

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It’s been nearly three years since the Buffalo Sabres acquired Peyton Krebs as the centerpiece prospect in a deal that sent franchise icon Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. Unfortunately, as things would play out, Krebs has yet to become the player that Buffalo has needed him to be and he remains the only player on the team without a contract for the 2024-25 NHL season.

In an article from Michael Augello of The Hockey News, he asserts that Krebs may have lost a spot in Lindy Ruff’s lineup entirely after the Sabres acquired Ryan McLeod, Beck Malenstyn, and Sam Lafferty over the offseason. After a poor offensive showing last year, it is difficult to ascertain where exactly Krebs fits into the lineup. He spent much of last year on Buffalo’s fourth line with Eric Robinson and Zemgus Girgensons where he became akin to an irritating player who lacked offensive punch.

There hasn’t been much word surrounding negotiations between Krebs and the Sabres brass, but the silence from both sides is becoming noticeable. Krebs shouldn’t expect to earn more than his qualifying offer of $874K on a new deal with Buffalo so the lack of a contract may indicate a move is in the making. Augello opines that the Sabres could look to move Krebs in a deal to acquire Joel Farabee from the Philadelphia Flyers but his supposed value in that hypothetical feels off-base. If Buffalo does move on from Krebs before the start of next year, it will be to a team looking to round out their bottom six for a much milder return.

Other snapshots:

  • St. Louis Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik was a part of a deal in the QMJHL earlier today as the Moncton Wildcats acquired him from the Acadie–Bathurst Titan in exchange for a third-round pick in 2026. Pekarcik has yet to play a game in the QMJHL as he spent last year with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL after being selected 76th overall by the Blues organization in the 2023 NHL Draft. In his first season after being drafted, Pekarcik suited up in 43 games for the Saints and scored nine goals and 49 points.
  • In a write-up regarding the Anaheim Ducks, David Satriano of the NHL relays that the Ducks will lean more heavily on their young stars next season. Anaheim has not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2017-18 season and has not finished higher than sixth in their division in the same amount of time. The team should open up more minutes for the likes of Leo Carlsson, Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger so the Ducks can firmly transition into the future. Although Anaheim is not expected to compete for playoffs next season, they hope to play meaningful games well into March and April while being led by their young players.

USA Hockey, Hockey Canada Announce Hlinka Gretzky Cup Rosters

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USA Hockey and Hockey Canada have both announced their rosters for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, officially revealing all eight rosters for the upcoming tournament, which is set to begin on August 5th in Edmonton. The event will also feature Czechia, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Team Canada, per Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, is led by star-studded prospects Matthew Schaefer, Cole Reschny, Liam Kilfoil, Caleb Desnoyers, and Gavin McKenna. The group of future top draft names is flanked by a strong supporting cast, including stalwart starting goaltender Jack Ivankovic. They seem poised to push for yet another gold medal, after winning gold in each of the last two tournaments.

Meanwhile, Team USA will put their faith in premier forwards Jesse Orlowsky, Cooper Simpson, Nicolas Sykora, and Ben Kevan – though the team is backed by a defense and goaltending group fighting more to show their worth on the top stage. Both the defense and goaltenders face a competition for minutes – with Blake Fiddler and Carter Casey seemingly best positioned to lead the respective positions. Team USA doesn’t carry the same breakaway talent of Team Canada, though they do have the gift of a flexible lineup, which could prove very advantageous in the U18 tourney.

The full rosters are:

Team USA

F – Alexander Donovan (Shattuck, USHS); Travis Hayes (Soo, OHL); Chase Jette (B.K. Selects, AAA); Sam Kappell (Madison, USHL); Ben Kevan (Des Moines, USHL); Matthew Lansing (Waterloo, USHL); Mason Moe (Eden Prairie High, USHS); Teddy Mutryn (St. Sebastian’s, USHS); Jesse Orlowsky (Waterloo, USHL); Cooper Simpson (Tri-City, USHL); Sam Spehar (Sioux Falls Power, AAA); Kade Stengrim (Brainerd High, USHS); Nicolas Sykora (Omaha, USHL)

D – Tommy Bleyl (Dubuque, USHL); Edison Engle (Des Moines, USHL); Blake Fiddler (Edmonton, WHL); Matt Grimes (Sioux Falls, USHL); Cullen McCrate (Dubuque, USHL); Carter Murphy (Youngstown, USHL); Jacob Rombach (Lincoln, USHL)

G – Ryan Cameron (Long Island, AAA); Carter Casey (Grand Rapids, USHS); Charles Menard (Culver Academy, USHS)

Team Canada

F – Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat, WHL); Jake O’Brien (Brantford, OHL); Brady Martin (Sault St. Marie, OHL); Émile Guité (Chicoutimi, QMJHL); Tyler Hopkins (Kingston, OHL); Cole Reschny (Victoria, WHL); Ethan Czata (Niagara, OHL); Benjamin Kindel (Calgary, WHL); Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver, WHL); Liam Kilfoil (Halifax, QMJHL); Luca Romano (Kitchener, OHL); Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton, QMJHL); Braden Cootes (Seattle, WHL)

D – Jackson Smith (Tri-City, WHL); Peyton Kettles (Swift Current, WHL); Matthew Schaefer (Erie, OHL); Reese Hamilton (Calgary, WHL); Quinn Beauchesne (Guelph, OHL); Alex Huang (Chicoutimi, QMJHL); Cameron Reid (Kitchener, OHL)

G – Jack Ivankovic (Brampton, OHL); Lucas Beckman (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)

Lightning Acquire Lukas Svejkovsky From Penguins

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The Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins have swapped depth forwards, with Pittsburgh receiving Bennett MacArthur and Tampa receiving Lukas Svejovsky (Twitter link).

MacArthur, 23, spent the season in the ECHL, totaling 32 points through 55 games. It was his second year in the league, after playing through his first pro season to the tune of 28 points in 53 games last year. Tampa signed MacArthur as an undrafted free agent in 2022, following the end of his season with the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan. MacArthur only played in parts of three seasons in the QMJHL, though he always found his way to strong scoring, recording 42 goals and 77 points in 54 games during his final year in the league. He’ll spend the final year of his entry-level contract pushing for a consistent role in the AHL, before setting his sights on the Penguins roster.

Meanwhile, Svejovsky, 22, was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, after a strong year in the WHL. He went on to play two more seasons in the WHL, potting 76 points in 57 games in his final year. Svejovsky totaled a stout 162 points in his 196 career WHL games – seeming like a potentially lucrative prospect for Pittsburgh when he signed his entry-level contract in 2022. But Svejovsky had a slow start in pros, with just 15 points in 47 AHL games last year followed by four points in 19 games this year. Those low totals contributed to Svejovsky’s move to the ECHL partway through this year. He was able to rediscover his spark in the third-tier pro league, scoring 37 points in 30 games. That should be enough to earn him a move back to the AHL, though he’ll have to keep up his scoring if he wants to push any higher.

Prospect Notes: Celebrini, Letourneau, MacKinnon, Gordin

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While it has been widely expected that Macklin Celebrini will turn pro and play in the NHL in 2024-25, the center told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale earlier this week that he hasn’t decided his plans for next season just yet.  Celebrini is the presumptive top pick in the draft later this month and most of the time, number one selections make the jump right away.  However, it’s possible that Celebrini could opt for a second season at Boston College and then turn pro with San Jose (assuming they pick him as expected) for the stretch run, a route that Owen Power did after being the top selection back in 2021.

Other prospect news from around the hockey world:

  • The departure of Will Smith to San Jose has had a domino effect for draft prospect Dean Letourneau. The Score’s John Matisz relays (Twitter link) that with Smith turning pro, Letourneau has opted to play at Boston College next season instead of starting in 2025-26.  Letourneau, a potential late first-round pick, had a dominant showing at the Canadian high school level, recording 61 goals and 66 assists in just 56 games.
  • Predators prospect blueliner Dylan MacKinnon has been traded in the QMJHL. Moncton announced that they acquired the 19-year-old from Halifax in exchange for a trio of draft picks, one in each of the first three rounds.  MacKinnon was a third-round pick in 2023, going 83rd overall and is coming off a three-goal, 16-point campaign.  Nashville holds his rights until June 1, 2025 so MacKinnon will be hoping for a big year to secure a contract.
  • Canadiens prospect Alexander Gordin has been traded in Russia. Avtomobilist of the KHL announced that they acquired the winger as part of a three-way trade and signed him to a one-year deal.  Montreal drafted the 22-year-old back in the sixth round in 2020 but Gordin has spent limited time in the KHL since then.  This year, he played for Ryazan-VDV in the second-tier VHL, tallying 18 goals and 22 assists in 53 games.  The Canadiens hold Gordin’s rights indefinitely since no transfer agreement is in place with Russia.

NHL-Affiliated Prospects Playing In 2024 Memorial Cup

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The field for the 2024 Memorial Cup, the top club tournament in junior hockey, is set. The QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs, the OHL’s London Knights and the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors all swept their respective league championship series within the last two days to advance to the CHL championship tournament, joining the host Saginaw Spirit of the OHL.

This year marks the first Memorial Cup held in the United States since 1998, which was hosted by the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. The Spirit will attempt to become the first U.S.-based team to win since the Chiefs in 2008, and they have a strong chance. They’re stronger than a typical host team, finishing second in the league in the regular season with a 50-16-2 record and trailing London by just two points. They were eliminated by London in six games in the Western Conference Final.

The Knights lead the way with 10 NHL-affiliated prospects on their roster, including two first-round picks in Flyers defenseman Oliver Bonk and Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan. The latter was named the OHL playoffs MVP after leading the Knights in scoring with 10 goals, 24 assists and 34 points in just 18 games. He had 15 points in four games in their championship sweep over the Oshawa Generals.

If you’re looking for some non-Stanley Cup Playoff hockey to watch, check to see if your favorite NHL team has prospects suiting up in the tournament, which begins May 24:

Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL champion)

D Mikaël Diotte (Devils, free agent signing)
RW Ethan Gauthier (Lightning, 2023, 37th overall)
RW Alexis Gendron (Flyers, 2022, 220th overall)
D Vsevolod Komarov (Sabres, 2022, 134th overall)

NHL Utah 2022 first-round pick D Maveric Lamoureux is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in March.

London Knights (OHL champion)

C Denver Barkey (Flyers, 2023, 95th overall)
D Oliver Bonk (Flyers, 2023, 22nd overall)
C Easton Cowan (Maple Leafs, 2023, 28th overall)
D Jackson Edward (Bruins, 2022, 200th overall)
D Isaiah George (Islanders, 2022, 98th overall)
RW Kasper Halttunen (Sharks, 2023, 36th overall)
C Jacob Julien (Jets, 2023, 146th overall)
C Kaleb Lawrence (Kings, 2022, 215th overall)
C Max McCue (Blue Jackets, free agent signing)
C Landon Sim (Blues, 2022, 184th overall)

Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL champion)

RW Jagger Firkus (Kraken, 2022, 35th overall)
D Denton Mateychuk (Blue Jackets, 2022, 12th overall)
D Kalem Parker (Wild, 2023, 181st overall)
D Vojtech Port (Ducks, 2023, 161st overall)
LW Martin Rysavy (Blue Jackets, 2021, 197th overall)
C Matthew Savoie (Sabres, 2022, 9th overall)
C Brayden Yager (Penguins, 2023, 14th overall)

Saginaw Spirit (host)

C Owen Beck (Canadiens, 2022, 33rd overall)
LW Josh Bloom (Canucks, acquired from Sabres in 2023 trade for Riley Stillman)
D Rodwin Dionicio (Ducks, 2023, 129th overall)
D Jorian Donovan (Senators, 2022, 136th overall)
C Hunter Haight (Wild, 2022, 47th overall)
C Ethan Hay (Lightning, 2023, 211th overall)
G Nolan Lalonde (Blue Jackets, free agent signing)
C Matyas Sapovaliv (Golden Knights, 2022, 48th overall)
C Joseph Willis (Predators, 2023, 111th overall)

Morning Snapshots: Matthews, Team Canada, Capitals

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The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled star Auston Matthews ahead of Game Four’s third period last night. When asked about it postgame, head coach Sheldon Keefe said it was the team doctor’s that made the decision, pulling Matthews because of illness. Toronto went on to lose the game 3-1, a scorecard that also matches Boston’s lead on the series. Matthews has played through the illness for the last two games, taking maintenance days at Toronto’s practices in between to try and regain energy. No indication has been made about his availability for Game Five, though it could be dependent on how he’s feeling each day moving forward.

Matthews, like the rest of the Maple Leafs lineup, hasn’t had a particularly strong first round – managing one goal and three points in four games and adding one penalty. It’s a tremendous step down from a historic regular-season that saw Matthews become the first player to score 69 goals since Mario Lemieux, who pulled off the feat in just 70 games in 1996. Matthews wasn’t able to crack the illustrious 70-goal mark, but still managed unprecedented scoring in this day-and-age. Unfortunately, something about that scoring hasn’t translated to the playoffs, and Matthews now finds his Leafs on the brink of elimination. While his illness has clearly not improved much, it’s hard to imagine Matthews will sit out of a chance to save Toronto’s season.

Other notes from around the hockey world:

  • Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Roger McQueen will miss the remaining U18 World Championship with an injury suffered in the first period of  Canada’s latest game against Team Czechia, shares FloHockey’s Chris Peters (Twitter link). McQueen managed one point across three games this tournament, including his early exit against Czechia. Canada has added fellow 2025 prospect Caleb Desnoyers to the roster in McQueen’s absences. Desnoyers is one of the draft’s top names out of the eastern Canada and posted 20 goals and 56 points in 60 games as a QMJHL rookie this season. He also scored three goals and five points in eight games during the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Desnoyers will now get to run with the big dogs in U18s, and is expected to draw in right away, with Canadian forward Carson Wetsch receiving a one-game suspension for a hit-from-behind. Wetsch, a 2024 Draft prospect, has scored two goals in two tournament games.
  • The Washington Capitals saw three defensemen progress from injury at Sunday morning’s practice. Most notably, defenders Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen both returned to full contact, with Sandin even taking reps on the team’s power-play, shares The Hockey News (Twitter link). At least one of them is expected to return to the lineup ahead of Game Four, with Trevor van Riemsdyk ruled out with an upper-body injury, per Ben Raby of Capitals Radio (Twitter link). Lucas Johansen also skated as a healthy scratch, opening up room should both Sandin and Jensen be ready. Rookie defender Vincent Iorio also returned to the team’s practice in a no-contact jersey after suffering an upper-body injury in Game One. These moves should give Washington a new-look on defense, after they’ve allowed the New York Rangers to average 3.67 goals through Round One’s first three games.

Jakub Voráček Announces Retirement From Playing Career

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Long-time Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voráček has announced his retirement from playing in an exclusive March interview with Martina Jandová of Czechia’s Showtime Program. The 1,000-game veteran cited 12 concussions as the reason he can no longer play, describing four of the injuries as, “heavy”. This announcement brings an official end to Voracek’s career, something many speculated would happen after he accepted a job supporting Jaromir Jagr’s Kladno at the start of the season. Voráček said, “I started helping with the A team. [Jagr] called me in September to ask if I could help. So I decided to try it part-time. I enjoy it a lot. We’ll see what happens in the future, but I can’t go on the ice anymore.”

Voráček will retire as a member of the Arizona Coyotes despite never suiting up with the team. His rights were traded away from the Columbus Blue Jackets at last year’s Trade Deadline, with Columbus receiving Jon Gillies in return for the cap dump. Columbus drafted Voráček with the seventh-overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, taking him in a top 10 that also featured Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk, and Logan Couture. Voráček played one more season in the QMJHL – the league he was drafted out of – before debuting with the Blue Jackets in the 2008-09 season. His rookie year brought just nine goals, but still a solid 38 points, in 80 games.

Voráček was the focal piece of the 2011 blockbuster trade that sent a then 27-year-old Jeff Carter to Columbus for a 21-year-old Voráček and the draft picks used to select Sean Couturier and Nick Cousins. It was in Philadelphia that Voráček built his legacy, recording six separate 20-goal seasons and consistently rivaling 50 or 60 points. His career-year came in 2017-18, when he managed 20 goals and 85 points in just 82 games.

Columbus would re-acquire Voráček in 2021, sending Cam Atkinson to Philadelphia. Voráček would play in 90 more games with the Blue Jackets, scoring 68 points, before his career came to a close midway through the 2022-23 season. Voráček totaled 1,058 games in the NHL, netting 223 goals and 806 points. He remains the third-highest scoring Czech player in NHL history, behind just Jagr and Patrik Elias.

Blue Jackets Recall James Malatesta With Alex Nylander Out

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled top prospect James Malatesta under emergency conditions. He is expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday, with winger Alexander Nylander out with illness, per the Columbus Dispatch’s Brian Hedger (Twitter link). NHL.com’s Jeff Svoboda also reported that Nylander has been designated as day-to-day with an upper-body injury (Twitter link).

Malatesta, 20, is in his first professional season after a successful four years in the QMJHL, where he managed 187 points across 214 career games. He’s still working to find his scoring groove in the AHL, scoring just 12 goals and 21 points in 53 games this season. He’s also recorded 79 penalty minutes, more than he totaled in any of his juniors seasons.

The Blue Jackets selected Malatesta in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He’ll become the second player from that round to make their NHL debut, joining Montreal winger Joshua Roy. Malatesta took line rushes alongside AHL linemates Tyler Angle and Carson Meyer, set to get his first NHL look alongside familiar company. Angle was recalled on March 25th and is set to play in his first NHL game of the season, after playing in the first two games of his career last season. He has 15 points in 34 AHL games. Meyer has gathered a bit more experience, with seven NHL games this season and 34 career games.

Blues Recall Zach Dean

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The St. Louis Blues have recalled top prospect Zach Dean from the AHL. Dean is in his first professional season, scoring eight goals and 13 points in 47 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds. It’s been an up-and-down year for the rookie, who recently heated up after a 12-game scoring drought, managing nine points over his latest 12 games.

Dean was drafted 30th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2021 NHL Draft, with Vegas dealing him to St. Louis ahead of last year’s Trade Deadline in exchange for forward Ivan Barbashev. The deal has proven fruitful for both sides, with Barbashev scoring 20 goals and 53 points in his first 87 games with Vegas – and adding 18 points in 22 playoff games last season as the Golden Knights chased their first Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, the Blues have landed a former first-round prospect who is now poised to make his NHL debut.

Dean is a lightweight centerman with swift skating and a strong ability to make plays from the middle lane. Much of his first year as a pro has been spent getting used to the physicality along the boards and in the corners, with Dean improving at making plays through contact. His call-up coincides with fellow top QMJHL prospect Zachary Bolduc’s NHL debut, as well as the recalling of 23-year-old Matthew Kessel, making it clear that St. Louis wants to assess their young assets. Bolduc has since managed one goal in nine career appearances, adding 11 shots, one penalty, and a -1.

Devils Sign Mikael Diotte

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The Devils have added to their prospect pool, announcing that they’ve signed defenseman Mikael Diotte to a three-year, entry-level contract that begins next season.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 20-year-old went undrafted but has taken some steps forward this season to get on the NHL radar.  Diotte is in his fourth full QMJHL season, all spent with Drummondville where he has already set new career highs offensively with 10 goals and 27 assists through 50 games.  Over his career with the Voltigeurs, the 6’3 rearguard has 20 goals and 65 assists in 197 major junior contests.

Diotte will spend the remainder of the season with Drummondville but will not be eligible to return for next year due to his age.  Instead, he will begin his professional career, potentially with AHL Utica, a team that only has two other prospect blueliners under contract for the 2024-25 campaign as things currently stand.

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