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David Gustafsson Signs With Winnipeg Jets

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The Winnipeg Jets have signed one of their top draft picks, inking David Gustafsson to a three-year entry-level contract. Gustafsson was picked in the second round last June, and played this season with HV71 in the SHL.

Still just 19 years old, Gustafsson has nevertheless impressed over his two seasons at the highest level in Sweden. His offensive ceiling has never been extremely high given his lack of real playmaking ability, but his game is already well suited to the North American professional ranks in a checking center role. Even at a young age, Gustafsson can be relied on in his own end and through the neutral zone in transition, despite relatively average skating ability.

He’s not going to be the next Mark Scheifele (probably, anyway), but there’s no reason to think that Gustafsson won’t be able to compete for the Jets down the road. His professional experience at such a young age is invaluable, and he will likely be able to step right into the Manitoba Moose lineup next season if that’s where Winnipeg wants him to take his next step.

Minor Notes: Pettersson, Glass, Porter

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Emil Pettersson is heading back to the SHL after a pair of seasons in the AHL. The 25-year old big brother of Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson signed with the Nashville Predators in 2017, but was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in February of this year. Even with the change of scenery he wasn’t able to make it to the NHL, instead playing 61 total games at the AHL level and recording 38 points. Pettersson is heading back to the Vaxjo Lakers, the same club he left in 2017.

The Coyotes can retain his rights temporarily with a qualifying offer, but given the two-year contract he signed in Sweden he will likely become an unrestricted free agent before considering a return to North America.

  • After a lone season in France playing for the Bordeaux Boxers, veteran NHL forward Tanner Glass has announced his retirement. The 35-year old has apparently been offered a position with his former team the New York Rangers, though the Bordeaux press release doesn’t make it clear what his title would be. Glass played 134 of his 527 career NHL games with the Rangers, racking up 472 hits and 181 penalty minutes.
  • Kevin Porter is staying put after signing a one-year extension with the Rochester Americans of the AHL. The minor league deal is for the 2019-20 season, and keeps the Americans’ captain in town. The 33-year old Porter has played 249 games in the NHL over his career, but is much more well known for his years in the minor leagues where he has been a consistent producer for several teams. He recorded 39 points in 58 games last season and is a former Hobey Baker winner that can help the young Buffalo prospects navigate their first taste of professional hockey.

New Jersey Devils Sign Jesper Boqvist

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As expected, the New Jersey Devils have inked another interesting prospect. Jesper Boqvist has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team after spending the last several seasons playing in the SHL for Brynas IF.

Boqvist, 20, was the 36th overall pick in 2017 and exploded this season for Brynas, recording 35 points in 51 games to lead all team forwards. Doing that at such a young age is impressive, but that’s nothing new for the talented forward. Boqvist has long been seen as a future NHL player, and was actually ranked tenth among international skaters for the 2017 draft by NHL Central Scouting. Solid play internationally and a World Junior silver medal in 2018 only helped to improve his pedigree, as did his brother Adam Boqvist’s top-10 selection in 2018.

The Devils are about to look incredibly loaded with young talent after they complete an important draft season. Not only do they hold the first-overall selection, but also five more picks in the top 80 including three in the second round. That kind of talent infusion to a club that already has Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Pavel Zacha, Miles Wood, and others competing in the NHL at such a young age will make for a healthy organization for years to come.

After such a successful season in Sweden, there’s also a chance that Boqvist impresses the Devils enough at camp to step right into an NHL role. If not, he will feature greatly in the AHL and try to take the next step in his development towards being a consistent offensive threat in North America.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Johan Sodergran

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The Los Angeles Kings have signed Johan Sodergran to a three-year entry-level contract. The 19-year old played last season in the SHL, suiting up for Linkopings HC. Sodergran is expected to attend the team’s development camp later this month.

Sodergran, 19, was a sixth-round pick of the Kings in 2018 but impressed mightily in his first development camp last year. The 6’3″ forward is an excellent skater and finished with 13 points in 42 games this season in the SHL, while also suiting up for Sweden at the World Juniors. He’s expected to return to Linkopings for the 2019-20 season, though an NHL contract was well deserved.

The Kings are attempting to rebuild their club with a new wave of talent, and players like Sodergran have an opportunity to really push it along quickly. While first-round picks like Gabe Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari are important, late-round selections can really turn a team’s fortunes around. If Sodergran can take another positive step this season it wouldn’t be surprising to see him join the Ontario Reign for a few games down the stretch, and jump right into the North American circuit in 2020-21.

Prospect Notes: Calder Cup Final, Telegin, Phillips

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The finale of the AHL season gets underway tonight, as the Charlotte Checkers, affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, are set to host the Chicago Wolves, affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, in Game One of the Calder Cup Final. Neither squad is very familiar with being in this title series; the Wolves are making their first appearance as Vegas’ affiliate, given their parent club just wrapped up it’s second season in existence, while the Checkers have appeared twice in the final, most recently in 1991. The match-up that everyone will be watching for in the series is Cody Glass, the No. 6 overall pick in 2017 and the first draft selection in Vegas’ history, versus Martin Necas, the No. 12 pick in 2017 and Carolina’s top prospect. However, Necas has taken a back seat to several other Checkers forwards this postseason. After scoring 70 points in 72 games to finish fifth in league scoring in the regular season, Andrew Poturalski’s 18 points thus far also lead the postseason. It’s worth noting that Poturalski will be a Group 6 unrestricted free agent this summer and could be on the move in search of more NHL opportunity. Necas’ fellow AHL rookie, Morgan Geekie, has been right up there with Poturalski in playoff scoring, registering 15 points so far. Tomas Jurco and Aleksi Saarela have also played well for the Checkers, as has experienced defenseman Trevor Carrick. As for the Wolves, it has been goaltender Oscar Dansk leading the way, posting a .921 save percentage and 2.16 GAA through 14 starts. Up front, it’s been the veterans getting the job done, with Tomas Hyka, Curtis McKenzie, and Tye McGinn all among the AHL’s top ten in scoring this postseason. Rookie defenseman Zach Whitecloud has also been a revelation and continues to make a strong case for playing in Vegas next season. Everything considered, this should be a balanced, hard-fought series between two talented teams who are excited to be in the final. The schedule for the Calder Cup Final can be found here.

  • The Winnipeg Jets made a nice value addition this morning, signing Russian power forward Andrei Chibisov. As the team attacks their difficult salary cap situation this summer, affordable impact deals could be crucial and the team hopes Chibisov will pan out. Unfortunately, one of his fellow countrymen won’t be joining him in Winnipeg. Ivan Telegin, a draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers all the way back in 2010, has opted to re-sign with his KHL club, CSKA Moscow. The team announced a new three-year deal with Telegin that likely rules out any potential future in the NHL. There was some thought that Telegin would consider returning to North America, where he previously played three seasons in the OHL and one season in the AHL, following a career-best KHL campagin. Telegin recorded 22 points in 49 games this season, production levels he hadn’t reached since his junior days. A player of similar size and ability to Chibisov, Telegin would have been another bottom-six option for Winnipeg, but with a long-term extension in Russia and his draft rights set to expire, it seems the pairing was never meant to be.
  • According to Jess Myers of the Grand Forks Herald, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Clayton Phillips is on the move. Phillips, a third-round pick in 2017, just wrapped up his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota, but it appears it will be his last. Myers reports that Phillips is expected to transfer out of Minnesota and to a different NCAA institution. This likely means that he will have to sit out of college hockey next season due to NCAA transfer rules. In the meantime, Phillips is expected to return to the USHL’s Muskegeon Lumberjacks. The 19-year-old defenseman initially joined the Gophers earlier than expected, jumping in midway through the 2017-18 season. Sources that Myers spoke with felt this was a mistake, as he was not yet mature enough for the college game. It showed, as he was held scoreless in eleven games and got into frequent penalty trouble. This past season, Phillips improved to the tune of ten points in 34 games, but struggled defensively and simply wasn’t playing to the level that he, the university, nor the Penguins likely expected. A year back in juniors could be good for Phillips development, as the mobile blue liner can regain confidence in his abilities. Myers then speculates that he could join Penn State University or Colorado College in 2020.

Combine Notes: Marner, Dubas, Johnson, Turcotte

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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

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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.

AHL Notes: Milner, Whitney, Ollas Mattsson

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Goaltender Parker Milner provided the Washington Capitals with some depth in net this season, but the organization is content to move forward with him on an AHL contract instead of continuing his short-term NHL pact. Milner, 28, signed his first NHL contract back in February to close out the 2018-19, simply to serve as emergency depth as Washington pushed toward the playoffs. Milner has mostly played in the ECHL in his pro career after coming out of Boston College as a well-regarded prospect, but has settled in with the Capitals organization, splitting the past three seasons between the AHL’s Hershey Bears and and the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. The Bears announced today that they have re-signed Milner to a one-year contract, bringing him back for yet another year. Between potential future starter Ilya Samsonov and another promising young keeper in Vitek Vanecek, Milner is not guaranteed starts in Hershey again next season, but has shown that he is more than willing to spend time in the ECHL if asked.

  • The Bears have also signed forward Steven Whitney to a one-year extension. Whitney is a long-time teammate of Milner’s, as the 28-year-old also played at Boston College and has spent the past two years with South Carolina and Hershey, respectively. Whitney stands just 5’7″, but like brother and former NHLer Joe Whitney, he doesn’t let his size (or lack thereof) prevent him from being a difference maker. Despite heading toward the latter part of his career, Whitney had arguably his best pro season in the AHL last year and will continue to be a valued forward for Hershey.
  • As expected, Adam Ollas Mattsson is headed back home to Sweden. The SHL’s Malmo Redhawks have announced a two-year contract with the promising 22-year-old. Ollas Mattsson was a sixth-round pick by the Calgary Flames back in 2014 and, while it took some time, he broke out this year, skating in 65 games on an AHL contract with the Stockton Heat, recording 18 points and +22 rating. Yet, the depth on the blue line in Calgary made it unlikely that Ollas Mattson would be in the NHL ice time conversation any time soon. Rather than even wait to see if he was offered an NHL contract, Ollas Mattson is set to depart, as was reported earlier in the month. The former junior star in Sweden will switch teams, jumping from Djurgardens to Malmo, who are very excited to add the big defender.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Joakim Nygard

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Back in March, a report surfaced from Darren Dreger of TSN that several teams around the NHL were pursuing SHL forward Joakim Nygard. At the time, the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators were listed as two of the potential destinations for the speedy winger. Now that the SHL season is over, Nygard is free to sign with whoever he chooses and both of those teams are out of the running. The free agent has signed a one-year entry-level deal with the Edmonton Oilers instead.

Nygard, 26, put up another excellent season with Farjestads in the SHL, posting 21 goals and 35 points. In fact, those 21 goals were good enough for second in the entire league behind only Columbus Blue Jackets top prospect Emil Bemstrom’s 23. That kind of offensive production is nothing new for Nygard, who has posted at least 29 points—a solid total in the 52-game SHL season—in three consecutive years.

If there is one thing that stands out in Nygard’s game, it is his incredible skating ability. Easily one of, if not the, best skaters in the SHL, he has drawn countless comparisons to Washington Capitals forward Carl Hagelin. While Hagelin is also scheduled to become a UFA this summer and is available to the whole league, he’s also going to turn 31 this summer and will likely come at a relatively higher price tag. Nygard however may be able to jump right into an NHL lineup on a cheap contract and provide some forward depth next season.

While Calgary was involved the whole way with Nygard, there is an obvious fit with the Oilers. Edmonton has been trying desperately to increase their team speed in order to keep up with Connor McDavid, and have a distinct lack of scoring options on the wing. Perhaps a chance to play with a back-to-back (and potential three-peat) Ted Lindsay Award winner was enough to turn the scales in Edmonton’s favor.

Chicago Blackhawks Hire Tomas Mitell

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The Chicago Blackhawks aren’t afraid to go overseas to find talent, and that isn’t just limited to players any more. The team has hired Tomas Mitell as an assistant coach to serve under head coach Jeremy Colliton for next season. Mitell is coming off a season as the head coach of AIK Hockey in Sweden’s Allsvenskan (second league), setting franchise records with 109 points and 35 wins.

This isn’t the first time that Mitell will be working with Colliton however, as he previously served under him when the Blackhawks bench boss was working in Sweden. Colliton took a rather unusual path to the NHL, which included transitioning from player to head coach for Mora IK in Sweden after dealing with concussion issues. It is there where he hired Mitell first, working together for the 2016-17 season and earning the team a promotion to the SHL.

Mitell will join Sheldon Brookbank on Colliton’s staff after the former NHL defenseman was promoted earlier this year from the AHL. It’s not clear how the duties will be broken up, but it certainly will be one of the youngest coaching staffs in the league. Colliton, 34, will be flanked by two 38-year old assistants as he tries to right the ship in Chicago and take the Blackhawks back to the playoffs.

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