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Minor Transactions: 08/07/20

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While all eyes today have been and will continue to be on the six elimination games on the postseason schedule and the impending departure of Florida GM Dale Tallon and flurry of European loans have dominated all other headlines, there have been a few small moves worth noting. Here are some minor transactions from the day:

  • After a long career in North America, journeyman Carter Camper is finally headed overseas. Leksands IF of the SHL has announced a two-year deal with Camper, who brings over 550 AHL games of experience to Sweden. Camper, an NCAA standout at Miami University, was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Bruins in 2011 and spent three seasons with Boston, followed by one-year stops with Ottawa, Washington, and New Jersey. He last played on an NHL contract in 2016-17 but has continued to be an elite AHL producer on minor league deals with several clubs. However, as the 32-year-old continues to score at a high level without getting another shot at the NHL, it is no surprise that he has finally chased a pay day to Europe.
  • The AHL’s Providence Bruins poached a physical defenseman from the Charlotte Checkers last off-season in Josiah Didier and he ended up leading the team in games played and plus/minus. As a result, they will try again, as insider Mark Divver reports that the team has signed Derek Sheppard to a one-year deal. While Sheppard is not the caliber of player as Didier, he is a daunting physical presence, recording 67 PIM in just 26 games with Charlotte this year. Sheppard will likely not be an everyday player for Providence, but can be a injection of aggression when the team needs it.
  • Brendan van Riemsdyk deviated from the path of his older brothers when he didn’t jump right from the University of New Hampshire to the pros but instead transferred to Northeastern University last year. Unfortunately, his time with the Huskies did not help him earn an NHL contract like his brothers either. Fortunately, he has at least found a place to play next season. The ECHL’s Reading Royals have announced a one-year deal with van Riemsdyk. The Royals are the ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, who of course own James van Riemsdyk, which could increase Brendan’s chance of graduating to the AHL sooner rather than later. This signing also means that if impending free agent Trevor van Riemsdyk signs in Philly, all three brothers would belong to the same organization.

L.A. Kings Loan Tobias Bjornfot To SHL’s Djurgardens

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Yet another NHL prospect has been loaned overseas to begin the 2020-21 season and this time it is a relatively big name in Los Angeles Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot. Bjornfot, 19, was a first-round pick in 2019 and jumped immediately to the pro ranks for L.A., spending the whole season in North America. However, he will at least begin next year back home in Sweden. The Kings have announced that Bjornfot has been loaned to Djurgardens IF of the SHL to begin the season. He is expected to rejoin L.A. at some point during the season.

Bjornfot was selected No. 22 overall last year and made the unlikely jump directly to the NHL. He played in three games with the Kings and 44 more with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, where he recorded 19 points and a +13 rating. Bjornfot did not look out of place and will likely be given every chance to break camp with the Kings next year, especially if he excels in the SHL.

Bjornfot should feel right at home with Djurgardens, as he developed in their system for three years before he was drafted and departed to North America. He even played in seven SHL games in 2018-19. Djurgardens is routinely a contender in the SHL, but their roster looks uncharacteristically thin for next season. As a result, Bjornfot should be given every opportunity to play a major role and spend the time that he otherwise would have spent waiting for the NHL season to start instead preparing himself for what he hopes is an impact rookie season.

Philadelphia Flyers Loan Linus Sandin To SHL

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Linus Sandin won’t be starting his North American career as soon as he expected. The Swedish forward has been loaned back to the SHL’s HV71 today by the Philadelphia Flyers, just a few months after signing his entry-level contract.

Sandin, 24, inked that one-year entry-level deal in April following an excellent season with HV71, where he scored 36 points in 51 games. The undrafted forward was set to compete for a role in the NHL for the 2020-21 season, but will have to wait a little longer for that opportunity. As with any of these loans, the Flyers retain the right to recall Sandin at any point and will likely do so in time for NHL training camps in November.

The older brother of top Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Rasmus Sandin, Linus has played three full seasons in the SHL and has seen his point totals jump in each one. The 6’1″ forward easily led HV71 in goals with 19, good enough for third in the entire league. With a flat cap next season he could be a valuable depth piece for the Flyers, who still have some important free agents to sign and not a ton of space to do it.

Minor Transactions: 08/05/20

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With six NHL playoff games a day suddenly on the docket, summer days are now filled with hockey. Yet, the qualifying round and round robin games are not the only news-makers in the hockey world. Here are some minor moves from across several levels, including an NHL loan, a pair of AHL extensions, and some NCAA commitments:

  • With the delayed start to the season among North American leagues, there has been a rash of overseas loans among NHL prospects in recent weeks. Florida Panthers prospect Rodrigo Abols has now also joined that list. Abols, a late 2016 pick out of Latvia, is set to return to the SHL’s Orebro HK to begin next season, the team announced. Abols played in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds this season, but previously played with Orebro for the two seasons prior. He will return to Sweden on a short-term loan for now that expires in mid-November, allowing for the young forward to compete in training camp and in the AHL if the Panthers so desire, but it would also not be a surprise to see the project player stay in the SHL for the year.
  • The Ontario Reign, AHL affiliate of the L.A. Kings, have announced one-year extensions for forwards Blaine Byron and Jacob Doty. Byron, a former Pittsburgh Penguins prospect and a University of Maine standout, has been a force in the AHL through three pro seasons. Byron has recorded 72 points in 136 games, including a career-high 34 in 53 games this season. Acquired by Ontario from Springfield mid-season, Byron was one of the Reign’s best players down the stretch and could be in for a big 2020-21 season. Doty, a 27-year-old journeyman, made his return to the AHL this season but recorded just one point in 18 games for Ontario. However, he provides experience and work ethic for the young farm team.
  • Harvard University has made headlines lately for losing players, both current and committed, due to the Ivy League’s ban on fall sports this year. However, they got some good news today in the form of a commitment from twin brothers with a well-known last name. Marek and Daniel Hejduk, the sons of career Colorado Avalanche star and Stanley Cup champ Milan Hejduk, each announced on Twitter today that they have committed to play at Harvard. While the 16-year-olds are still at least two seasons away from joining the Crimson, Marek is already slated to join the U.S. National Team Development Program next year and Daniel could follow. The pair seem likely to have some NHL Draft prospects by the time they are ready to move to the NCAA.
  • As for another brother duo headed to the college ranks, 16-year-old defenseman Seamus Powell announced on Instagram that he will follow his brother Eamon Powell to Boston College. Eamon, a USNTDP graduate who is set to join the Eagles this coming season, is a 2020 NHL Draft prospect expected to be selected in the second or third round in November. Seamus, a comparable small, offensive defenseman, will join the USNTDP this coming season and will be draft eligible in 2022, when he is also expected to enroll at BC.

Jack Drury Leaving Harvard, Signs In Sweden

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Like Morgan Barron earlier today, who is leaving Cornell to sign with the New York Rangers and start his professional career, other NCAA players will have to find different ways to continue their hockey careers after several schools canceled the upcoming season. One of those players is Carolina Hurricanes draft pick Jack Drury—son of Ted Drury and nephew of Chris Drury—who is off to Sweden to play with the Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL for 2020-21.

The 20-year old Drury was the 42nd overall pick in 2018 and had an outstanding (albeit shortened) season this year for Harvard, scoring 39 points in 28 games. He also participated in the World Juniors for the second year in a row, representing the United States and scoring two points in five games. The young center has impressive offensive upside, plus the same responsible two-way play that his uncle was known for (Chris received Selke Trophy votes on five occasions).

Heading to Sweden will give Drury a chance to continue playing and is going to be an interesting option for many prospects affected by the current hockey climate. It could potentially mean a flood of college-aged players signing professional contracts, or perhaps deciding to return to the CHL should that league get underway on schedule. For many, professional hockey in Sweden might be too difficult, the opportunities too few. But in Drury’s case, he was likely ready for a bigger challenge after having his way with the NCAA on so many nights this season.

For Carolina, they’ll retain his draft rights for now and do not need to sign him to an entry-level contract immediately. Seeing how he does against professionals may actually give them a better idea of his readiness when the 2021-22 season comes around.

Jesper Sellgren Loaned To SHL

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When the Carolina Hurricanes signed Jesper Sellgren to a three-year entry-level contract in 2019, they likely expected him to be an important contributor for the Charlotte Checkers. After all, the young defenseman had just debuted for the Checkers in the Calder Cup playoffs and would help them secure a league championship soon after.

Unfortunately, Sellgren hasn’t played a single game for the organization since that 2019 AHL playoff run. Last season he was loaned back to the SHL where he recorded 21 points in 47 games. That was likely a decision made to get him more playing time and opportunity since the Checkers already had names like Jake Bean eating up ice time in the minor leagues. Today, Sellgren has been loaned to the SHL once again, this time to Frolunda, for the 2020-21 season (with the release from Sweden indicating it will be for the entire season).

That means two of his three contracted years will already be gone before Sellgren gets back into the Carolina organization. The deal is scheduled to expire in 2022, at which point he will become a restricted free agent. The sixth-round pick from 2018 is quite an interesting prospect, but it’s hard to know exactly how his future in North America will play out without more experience on this side of the pond.

Winnipeg Jets Loan Arvid Holm To SHL

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The Winnipeg Jets will allow one of their prospects to return to Sweden for the 2020-21 season, loaning Arvid Holm to Farjestad BK of the SHL. Holm signed his entry-level contract last month but will spend at least the first year outside of the Jets organization.

Holm, 21, was a sixth-round pick in 2017 but has been quickly climbing the list of goaltending prospects around the NHL. The 6’4″ netminder posted a .914 save percentage this year in his first full season in the SHL, along with a 20-10-0 record and 2.27 goals-against average.

The Jets have their net locked up long-term with Connor Hellebuyck, so they can afford to slowly bring along their young goaltenders in the best development situations. With the 2020-21 AHL season still uncertain, sending Holm to Sweden is likely the best way to get him playing time and move him towards his potential ceiling.

Nils Hoglander Loaned To SHL

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After wowing the hockey world with his incredible skill, Nils Hoglander didn’t have to wait around long to sign his first NHL contract this spring. The Vancouver Canucks signed Hoglander to a three-year entry-level contract in April, with the intention of bringing him to training camp for the 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, that training camp will now be delayed, meaning Hoglander would be waiting around for months during his most important development period. To solve that problem, he has been loaned to Rogle in the SHL where he will compete until the NHL training camp opens in mid-November.

Hoglander, 19, was a second-round pick in 2019 by the Canucks, but quickly started to generate hype thanks to his highlight-reel lacrosse-style goals in both the World Juniors and Swedish league play. The 5’9″ forward has incredible skill with the puck and finished with 16 points in 41 games for Rogle last season. While that number doesn’t jump off the page, it’s important to remember he was just an 18-year old playing against professionals at the highest level in Sweden.

Whether he can bring the same sort of jaw-dropping talent to Vancouver isn’t clear, but getting him skating and training is obviously a priority. These types of loans will be common as teams try to keep their prospects on a strong development path. Obviously, Hoglander also doesn’t have an NHL roster spot locked up when the 2020-21 season comes back, meaning they’ll have to make another decision on where he will play. His entry-level deal includes a European Assignment Clause, meaning he could force his way back to Sweden if sent to (or left in) the minors at a certain point.

Snapshots: Veleno, Kase, Dahlen, Blues

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Earlier this week, it was reported that Red Wings winger Filip Zadina was in talks to start next season with HC Ocelari Trinec of the Czech Extraliga.  It turns out he might not be the only Detroit youngster doing so as MLive’s Ansar Khan reports that center Joe Veleno is also a part of the discussions with Trinec.  The 20-year-old played his first professional season exclusively in the AHL but it’s worth noting that he was one of the youngest players in the league as he still had junior eligibility.  While Veleno got off to a slow start, he was able to rebound to put up a respectable 23 points (11-12-23) in 54 games before the pandemic hit while collecting six points (1-5-6) in as many games at the World Juniors.  A first-round pick (30th overall) in 2018, loaning Veleno over would allow him to get a couple of extra months of development before returning to North America when the 2020-21 season gets underway.

Elsewhere around the league:

  • Bruins winger Ondrej Kase was expected to add some depth to their attack when they acquired him from Anaheim. However, the pandemic limited him to just six games with his new team.  Now, he hasn’t been able to participate in practice due to being ‘unfit to participate’ and head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters, including NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty, that he’s unsure if Kase will even be able to travel to the East’s hub in Toronto.  A decision on that front is expected on Sunday.  If he can’t participate, one of Anders Bjork or Karson Kuhlman could slot into a regular spot in the lineup.
  • When Jonathan Dahlen decided to stay in Sweden for another year, it wasn’t viewed as a big surprise considering the year he had. However, as Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now notes, the Sharks were planning on bringing the 22-year-old over to contend for a spot with them for 2020-21.  Dahlen had 77 points in 51 games for Timra of the Swedish Allsvenskan, a second-tier league and while he had interest throughout the SHL which may have been better from a development perspective, he opted to re-sign at the lower level to try to help them earn a promotion to the SHL.  Their season ends early enough that it’s possible that Dahlen could wind up joining San Jose as a midseason addition.
  • There were no surprise cuts from the Blues’ roster. Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Twitter link) that defenseman Tyler Tucker and goalie Joel Hofer are the two that won’t be participating.  Tucker split the season between Barrie and Flint of the OHL but wasn’t eligible since his entry-level deal doesn’t start until 2020-21.  Hofer technically was eligible but he also is coming off a season strictly spent in junior with WHL Portland.  Louis is opting to carry three goalies on their roster which took Hofer out of the mix quickly.

Hurricanes Notes: Hamilton, Drury, Necas, Pesce

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Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton was expected to be a key addition to Carolina’s lineup for the postseason.  However, he has missed the last several practices and it seems that he’ll be out for a little while longer.  Sara Civian of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the injury is not a recurrence of his broken leg that shelved his season prematurely and that the estimated recovery period is weeks instead of months.  That would shelve him for their upcoming series against the Rangers at a minimum plus likely the first round if they make it that far.  His absence should allow Sami Vatanen, a trade deadline acquisition that has yet to make his debut with the team, to potentially debut on their top pairing.

More from Carolina:

  • Prospect Jack Drury is expected to leave Harvard and play in Vaxjo of the SHL next season, reports Johan Svensson of SportExpressen. The 20-year-old had a stellar season with Harvard and still has two years of college eligibility left.  However, with the pandemic expected to cancel sports there until January at the earliest, their season is in some jeopardy so if Drury wants a guaranteed chance at playing, turning pro is the only way to go.  While he could sign with Carolina, the start of the 2020-21 AHL season is going to be delayed as well so going to Sweden will ensure that he’ll be suiting up in September.  Svensson adds that several SHL teams were vying for Drury’s services.
  • Center Martin Necas did not participate in practice today, notes Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer. As is the new standard, there is no further information available than that.  The 21-year-old had been skating with the team earlier in the week.
  • While defenseman Brett Pesce will not be available for their series against New York, he was included on Carolina’s playoff-eligible roster, Alexander relays (Twitter link).  Pesce suffered a shoulder injury just before the trade deadline which helped prompt the Hurricanes to acquire both Vatanen and Brady Skjei at the trade deadline.

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