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Carolina Hurricanes Sign Eric Gelinas

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Two days after the Carolina Hurricanes lose a defenseman to Sweden, they import another. NHL.com’s Michael Smith reports that the Hurricanes have signed veteran defender Eric Gelinas to a one-year, two-way contract. Gelinas will make the minimum $750K at the NHL level and $100K at the AHL level, with $125K guaranteed. This move comes on the heels of Joakim Ryan officially signing with the SHL’s Malmo Redhawks on Friday.

Gelinas should be a name familiar to NHL fans. Although the 30-year-old last played in the league in 2016-17, he has nearly 200 NHL games to his credit with the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche. A 2009 second-round pick of the Devils with great size and strong production in the QMJHL, Gelinas was long expected to become a dynamic top-four defenseman at the highest level. He continued to produce in the AHL and had one tremendous season with New Jersey, but largely failed to translate his offense to the NHL and settled into a stay-at-home role and eventually his exit from the league. Gelinas spent the 2017-18 season playing in the AHL with the Laval Rocket before spending the past three years in Europe, mostly in the SHL. While his production improved overseas, it was not until this season with Rogle BK that it truly took off. Gelinas recorded 34 points in 46 games, leading all league defensemen in per-game scoring, and added another seven points in the postseason en route to a finals appearance.

The Hurricanes clearly hope that Gelinas’ season is not just another example of strong production at a weaker level but rather that something has finally clicked with the big defenseman’s all-around game. With Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, Jake Gardiner, and Joey Keane signed through at least next year, Jake Bean and Maxime Lajoie under team control as restricted free agents, and mutual interest in an extension with Dougie Hamilton, Carolina still has some of the best defensive depth in the NHL and by no means will have to rely on a breakout season from Gelinas. However, they rushed to sign him for a reason and may very well hand him a roster spot to begin the year in hopes that he can prove he belongs at the top level.

Joakim Ryan Signs With SHL’s Malmo Redhawks

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When rumors emerged in early May that Sweden’s Malmo Redhawks were interested in signing defenseman Joakim Ryan, it didn’t make much noise. After all, the Carolina Hurricanes were marching towards the postseason and Ryan was not going to sign before the end of the season, even if he wasn’t seeing regular ice time with the club. Well, the postseason came and went for the ’Canes and Ryan stayed firmly planted in the press box through two series. It was apparently enough to convince him that perhaps a break from the NHL was in order. Ryan’s camp returned to negotiations with Malmo and the result was today’s announcement that the blue liner has signed a one-year deal with the Redhawks.

This is not exactly the homecoming that some might be thinking. Sure, Ryan is of Swedish descent and holds Swedish citizenship. However, Ryan was born in New Jersey and spent more of his childhood in the United States than in Sweden, including all of his formative hockey years. Yet, what little time Ryan did spent overseas meant something to him. Ryan has stated on several occasions that he has an affinity for the Malmo area and would like to play there at some point in his career. This coming season, he will get that chance.

The real question now is just how long Ryan’s stay in Sweden will last. As part of an incredibly deep Carolina defense corps in 2020-21, it is no surprise that he was used sparingly, playing in four games apiece in the NHL and AHL. However, Ryan is just a few years removed from being an everyday starter for the San Jose Sharks, where he spent the first four years of his pro career. Even last season, spent with the Los Angeles Kings, Ryan only played in 35 games – about have of L.A.’s shortened schedule – but saw top-four minutes when he was on the ice. A player who is known for dependable performance in a pinch, Ryan has demonstrated his value as an NHL depth asset. He seemingly chased a dream with this Malmo signing, but a strong year in the SHL and the potential promise of more money and the chance to compete at the highest level once again could have back home in North America soon. At 27, Ryan still has plenty of gas in the tank.

Minor Transactions: 06/08/21

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Is this the calm before the storm? It’s been eerily quiet of late in terms of off-season moves, but with the entry draft order all but set following the lottery and soon just four teams left alive in the playoffs, not to mention the NHL Expansion Draft just six weeks away, the trade market seems primed to explode. While we wait, here are some of the notable minor moves being made:

  • Veteran net minder Viktor Fasth has announced his retirement. The 38-year-old Swede has been playing at home in the SHL for the past four years and was in the KHL before that ever since departing the NHL in 2015. The former Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers goalie burned bright, but burned up fast in North America. He was a breakout star in 2012-13 and continued his strong play into the next season despite a mid-year trade. Yet, his play fell off immensely in his first (and only) full season with Edmonton in 2014-15 and he left the league for good. Burnout hasn’t been a problem for Fasth since then. Even at his advanced age, he has continued to put up elite numbers in Europe, including a .934 save percentage and 1.79 GAA for the Vaxjo Lakers this season in 31 games, arguably the best season of his career. Fasth has decided to go out on top rather than try his luck heading into his forties next year.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins are happy with the play of first year pro Felix Robert in the minors this season and have signed him to a one-year AHL contract extension. Robert, a QMJHL scoring phenom in 2019-20, adjusted well to the pro level despite his small stature. He recorded 13 points in 27 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and added six points in ten ECHL games as well.
  • Former Arizona Coyotes prospect Erik Walli Waterholm will be staying in Sweden a while longer. Walli Waterholm opted not to sign with the ’Yotes earlier this month, letting his NHL Draft rights expire. The forward has not developed as expected since he was selected in 2017, but this was his best pro season in 2020-21 as he recorded 14 points in 44 games. Timra IK certainly believes he has room to improve as well, announcing that they have signed Walli Waterholm to a two-year extension. If he continues to grow, the 22-year-old could still one day be on an NHL radar.
  • With his third and final go-round in the NHL Draft around the corner, goaltender Samuel Hlavaj has taken the next step in his career and is hoping that maybe it will change his draft fortunes. Hlavaj is taking his talents to Slovakia, but isn’t just joining any team. Instead, he has signed with the league’s top club, HC Slovan Bratislava, where he will learn behind former NHL keeper Kristers Gudlevskis. The No. 5-ranked goalie in Europe according to NHL Central Scouting in his first draft year in 2019, Hlavaj was widely expected to be drafted, but wasn’t. He was however taken in the first round of the CHL Import Draft by the Sherbrooke Phoenix and was stellar in his first season with the club last year. Again, he was passed over in the draft. The third time is usually not the charm for most draft prospects, but perhaps Hlavaj’s status on a top European team behind a former NHL commodity will change some minds. A goalie with size and the stats to back him up, Hlavaj is just looking for a chance to show he has pro potential.

Kasimir Kaskisuo, Justin Kloos Sign In Sweden

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Two more veteran minor league players have decided to take their talents to Sweden, as Kasimir Kaskisuo and Justin Kloos have signed with Leksands IF of the SHL. Both players have signed two-year contracts through the 2022-23 season.

Kaskisuo, 27, went undrafted out of the Finnish junior level and only signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs after two years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs during the 2019-20 season, he was completely left out to dry by his teammates, who had seemingly given up on playing for their head coach. Mike Babcock was fired four days after Kaskisuo lost 6-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, not a great memory for the young goaltender. He got into a game this season for the Nashville Predators as well, stopping all three shots he faced in relief of Pekka Rinne, but those two appearances are the entirety of his NHL career thus far.

Two NHL games and a contract overseas is the same story for Kloos, who suited up once for the Minnesota Wild and once for the Anaheim Ducks before heading to the KHL last season. The 27-year-old was once a superstar in the Minnesota high school hockey scene, scoring 103 points in 31 games for Lakeville in 2011-12. That success continued at the University of Minnesota, where he captained the Golden Gophers and recorded 150 points in 155 games. Unfortunately, even with some legitimate minor league success, the 5’9″ forward failed to receive many opportunities at the NHL level and is likely going to finish his career with just those two games. In 48 KHL games last season he recorded 20 points.

Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Pontus Holmberg

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The SHL playoff MVP has an NHL deal. Pontus Holmberg has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The deal will kick in for next season, but Holmberg will be loaned back to Vaxjo in Sweden for 2021-22.

Holmberg, 22, was a sixth-round pick by the Maple Leafs in 2018 after he had played just two games at the SHL level. Just a few years later he was raising the championship trophy over his head after posting 14 points in 14 postseason games with Vaxjo. Playoff MVP, league champion, and Swedish forward of the year, it’s been quite a ride for Holmberg this season.

The next step will be taking that playoff dominance and bringing it on a consistent basis in the regular season. Holmberg had just nine goals and 23 points in 45 games during the regular season, well behind other prospects on his team like Jack Drury. If he is ever going to make an impact for the Maple Leafs, he’ll need to bring that offensive presence night in and night out.

Still, for Toronto, signing whatever prospects you can is key at this point. The team went out early again in this year’s playoffs despite loading up at the deadline and now have just three selections (2nd, 5th, and 6th rounders) in the upcoming draft.

New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Nils Lundkvist

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The New York Rangers already have a group of impressive young defenders, but add one name to the list. Nils Lundkvist has agreed to terms on his three-year entry-level contract. The 2018 first-round pick recently finished his fourth season with Lulea HF of the SHL and is with Sweden at the World Championship.

Lundkvist, 20, put up 32 points in 52 games this season, including 14 goals to lead all SHL defensemen. That impressive offensive output, when added to improving defensive play and excellent puck-moving ability landed him the league’s Defenseman of the Year award. All the accolades in the world don’t make Lundkvist a sure-fire NHL talent, but the 28th overall pick from 2018 has done nothing to indicate that he won’t quickly adapt to the North American game and be a difference-maker for the Rangers.

He’ll join a group that already includes Adam Fox (23), Ryan Lindgren (23), K’Andre Miller (21), and Zachary Jones (20) that are all under contract for next season, not to mention other young talents like Libor Hajek and Tarmo Reunanen. Matthew Robertson and Braden Schneider, two other high picks are signed and in the organization, while 27-year-old Jacob Trouba is still signed for another five years. It’s pretty impressive stuff from the Rangers, who despite missing the playoffs this season still have a very bright future.

Not only is Lundkvist an exceptional offensive talent, but he’s also right-handed, giving the team a little more balance among that young group. New GM Chris Drury can now decide whether or not to bring him along in the NHL next season or play it more slowly, giving him a chance to get his feet wet in the minor leagues. Of course, there may be other drastic changes that the new front office implements, meaning that decision certainly doesn’t have to be made today.

Philadelphia Flyers Sign Samuel Ersson

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The Philadelphia Flyers have added some more goaltending depth to the organization, signing Samuel Ersson to a three-year, entry-level contract. The young netminder is coming off a strong year with Brynas in the SHL. Flyers assistant GM Brent Flahr released a short statement:

We’re excited to get Samuel under contract with the Flyers. He’s steadily progressed since his draft year and has had success in junior, the SHL and at the International level. We look forward to watching his continued development as he makes the transition to North America.

Ersson, 21, was the team’s fifth-round pick in 2018, 143rd overall. At that point, he had played just a single game at the SHL level but had dominated at the junior level in Sweden and put up strong performances internationally. The next season he would take his game to the Allsvenskan (second tier) and post a .933 save percentage in 36 appearances, winning Goaltender of the Year and MVP. After an up-and-down transition to the SHL in 2019-20, Ersson was back with a vengeance this season, posting a .911 in 46 regular season appearances and then a .949 in the relegation round.

There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to the 6’2″ netminder, even if Philadelphia already has their young star netminder in Carter Hart. Ersson’s development path has been downright perfect to this point and the next step is proving his talent on North American ice. He’ll likely get that chance next season, but even if there is a hiccup at first, he has proven he’ll continue to work in order to raise his performance.

Montreal Canadiens Sign Mattias Norlinder

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The Montreal Canadiens have signed Mattias Norlinder to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal kicks in for the 2021-22 season and will carry an average annual value of just under $860K.

Norlinder, 21, is coming off his first season at the SHL level, a year that saw him hold demonstrate his impressive potential playing a regular shift with Frolunda. Originally selected 64th overall in 2019, he scored 10 points in the regular season and then added five more in seven postseason games. The young defenseman isn’t big, but his incredibly quick decision-making and excellent skating ability makes him an exciting prospect for the Canadiens moving forward.

You’re just as likely to see Norlinder leading a rush as defending one, but that doesn’t mean he forgets about his own end. As Canadiens director of player development Rob Ramage told Arpon Basu of The Athletic last year, Norlinder is “fun to watch.” That continuous push to get the puck back and drive it the other way with pace is an exciting ability in today’s NHL and one that Montreal doesn’t have enough of in its current NHL group. The 21-year-old likely won’t be stepping into the NHL right away, as he told Patrik Bexell of Habs Eyes On The Prize that the plan is that he spends next season in Frolunda, unless he makes the Canadiens out of training camp.

Jacob De La Rose Returning To Sweden

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It certainly hasn’t been the NHL career that many envisioned for Jacob de La Rose when the Montreal Canadiens selected him 34th overall in 2013. A big, physical center that had already played at a high level in Sweden as a teenager, de La Rose’s offensive game was supposed to mature and develop in North America. It never did, with his best offensive year coming in the AHL when he scored 31 points in 62 games for the St. John’s IceCaps. In his 242 NHL games, split between the Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, and St. Louis Blues, the 6’3″ forward registered just 38 points. Now, as restricted free agency approaches for the final time, de La Rose is going back home.

The 26-year-old has signed a three-year contract with Farjestad BK in the SHL, meaning that even if the Blues qualify him this summer, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent by the time this deal expires. It’s hard to even envision him returning to the NHL at this point, given how rarely he was given more than fourth-line minutes throughout his career. Through those 242 games he has averaged fewer than 12 minutes a night, and that is skewed heavily by his usage early on. Unless an offensive explosion happens in Sweden, this may be the last you hear of de La Rose on this side of the pond.

If that’s the case, it is just another poor outcome for a player selected high by the Canadiens in the mid-2010s. de La Rose followed first-round pick Michael McCarron in 2013, with Zach Fucale coming two picks later. In 2014 it was Nikita Scherbak and Brett Lernout with the first two picks, and in 2015 Noah Juulsen and Lukas Vejdemo were the team’s top two selections. Amazingly, it’s perhaps 2014 seventh-round pick Jake Evans that will make the biggest impact from those three classes (honorable mention to Artturi Lehkonen), after his strong performance as a two-way player this season.

Jacob De La Rose Drawing Interest In Sweden

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It’s getting difficult to ignore the noise coming out of Sweden as it pertains to St. Louis Blues forward Jacob De La Rose. When rumor first came out that his former SHL club Leksands IF was hoping to bring their homegrown product back overseas, it was largely dismissed. Now, the latest report indicates that a bidding war could be coming for De La Rose’s services, one that could convince him to leave the NHL behind.

Swedish news source Expressen reports that De La Rose has officially received a three-year contract offer from Farjestad BK, a perennial power house in Sweden. While Leksands finished higher that Farjestad in the regular season standings this year, both clubs exited in the quarterfinals. Farjestad has already gotten off to a hot start this off-season too, inking De La Rose’s fellow NHL forward Joakim Nygard to a long-term deal. If De La Rose believes that he can contend for an SHL title year in and year out, he may not be able to resist joining Farjestad. However, Leksands is not ready to lie down. Expressen adds that the club is prepared to offer a “significantly larger” contract in financial terms.

Is De La Rose ready to accept a deal from either Leksands or Farjestad though? Doing so could mean the end of his NHL career; at 26, if the bidding war results in both clubs offering increased term, De La Rose would have to be content with leaving North America behind. His usage in 2020-21 – just 13 games for the Blues – is certainly not what the veteran forward is looking for. However, De La Rose had played in at least 50 NHL games in each of the three prior seasons and has established himself as a useful bottom-six forward who occasionally flashes top-six talent. A restricted free agent this summer, De La Rose may be more inclined to leave for Sweden if the Blues retain his rights with a qualifying offer. Otherwise, he may give the NHL’s open market a long look before making a decision. Of course, if the bidding war in Sweden gets to a financial point where it doesn’t make sense to stay in North America, De La Rose could make his commitment sooner rather than later.

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