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Pacific Notes: Ferland, Boucher, Elvenes

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The notable recall of Sven Baertschi on Friday morning was made possible by the placement of fellow veteran forward Micheal Ferland on injured reserve. At the time, the team did not state why Ferland was sidelined, but have since updated the situation. Head coach Travis Green revealed that Ferland has been placed in the NHL’s concussion protocol. The team gave no timeline for his return to action, quite possibly because Ferland’s history of head injuries could be complicating his condition. The Province’s Patrick Johnson believes that Ferland suffered the concussion at the hands of Kyle Clifford, as the two fought in Wednesday night’s match-up between the Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. Toward the end of the fight, Clifford hit Ferland with several hard rights, and the Vancouver winger seems somewhat dazed and hesitant to retaliate. Now enduring the third documented concussion of his pro career, Ferland has opted not to change the style of his game despite the health risks, as Johnson writes that he told the Vancouver media he had “zero concerns” about his concussion history when he arrived as a free agent this off-season. Now, both the player and team just have to hope that this latest concussion didn’t inflict lasting damage that could keep him out long-term.

  • With Baertschi now back in Vancouver, the next man up for the Canucks in the event of another injury up front would very likely be Reid Boucher. Boucher has been named the AHL’s Player of the Month of October after recording ten goals and 13 points in eight games with the Utica Comets. Now in his fourth season with the Canucks organization, the 26-year-old forward saw his NHL games played drop from 38 in 2016-17 to 20 in 2017-18 to just one game last season. His minor league production held constant during that time too at or above a point-per-game pace. The difference so far this season though is the goal totals. While Boucher, once considered a top NHL prospect, has always had a nose for the net, ten goals and eight games is another level of scoring production. A forward with NHL experience enjoying a hot streak in the goal department is a nice asset for the Canucks, and Boucher has earned another shot at an NHL role if an opportunity arises in Vancouver.
  • The AHL’s Rookie of the Month comes from the rival Vegas Golden Knights. Swedish import Lucas Elvenes took home the honor with 15 points in his first ten games with the Chicago Wolves. The 2017 fifth-round pick continues to exceed expectations and, as The Athletic’s Jesse Granger writes, he is quickly becoming a prized prospect for Vegas. Elvenes, 20, was held scoreless in a dozen games in the top-level Swedish Hockey League in his draft year. The next year, he surprisingly jumped up to 16 points in 28 games and then last year took on a regular role in the SHL for Rogle BK. Now in North America, he has already surpassed his goal total from last year with four tallies to go along with eleven assists. Granger notes that there were signs of this sudden offensive development at Golden Knights training camp, but now it is on full display in the AHL. While he doubts Elvenes gets a shot at the NHL right away this season, Granger believes that Elvenes could be just what the Knights need in an otherwise barren pipeline of young prospect talent at forward.

Overseas Notes: Toronto Targets, Zubov, Ullstrom

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Free agency is never truly over. NHL executives keep an eye on impending free agents all year long and will take any opportunity to create a positive impression on a possible target. It’s no different when it comes to foreign talent, as recently demonstrated by Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas. KHL insider Igor Eronko reports that while scouting in Russia recently, Dubas met with two recognizable KHLers who are set to hit the open market next summer: Mikhail Grigorenko and Nikita Nesterov. Grigorenko, 25, was a first-round pick of Buffalo in 2012 who played over 200 games with the Sabres and Colorado Avalanche before returning home to Russia in 2017. The power forward was a top-ten scorer in the KHL last season and helped to lead CSKA Moscow to a Gagarin Cup title. He’s picked up right where he left off this season, recording 15 points through his first 16 games, and is likely to be highly sought-after by both KHL and NHL clubs this off-season. Nesterov, 26, is Grigorenko’s teammate for CSKA, coming over with him in 2017 after three NHL seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. Nesterov is a reliable defensive defenseman, which can often be hard to find in the KHL. He has played an important role for Moscow over the past two years, even if he doesn’t frequent the score sheet. Both Grigorenko and Nesterov are core pieces for CSKA and the team will not let them walk away easily. However, that didn’t stop Dubas from doing his due diligence on the duo in case they do become available. The Maple Leafs have been successful of late in prying talent from the KHL, including the likes of Par Lindholm, Igor Ozhiganov, and now Ilya Mikheyev. He appears to be readying himself for another run at Russia’s elite this summer.

  • While most only think of Sergei Zubov as a former NHL defenseman, and soon a Hockey Hall of Famer, he has continued his hockey career overseas as a coach. After hanging up his skates in 2010, Zubov joined the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg as an assistant coach in 2011. He spent five years as an assistant with St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow before being named head coach of HK Sochi ahead of the 2017-18 season. In two plus seasons, Zubov did not have as much success from the bench as he had on the ice in his playing career. Sochi qualified for the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, but in both years they finished with a negative goal differential, last season they finished below .500 in the regular season, and they were bounced easily in the first round to end both postseason efforts. With just five wins in their first 17 games to begin this season, Sochi has opted for a coaching change. The KHL announced that Sochi has fired Zubov, who will now be left to look elsewhere for coaching work. Perhaps when he is in Toronto for Induction Weekend in November there will be NHL executives with interest in speaking to him about a full-time return to North America. A world-class talent on defense, it’s hard to imagine Zubov staying unemployed for long if he wished to continue coaching.
  • Former New York Islander David Ullstrom is on his way out of the KHL. After spending last season with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners, under contract with the Arizona Coyotes, Ullstrom returned to Europe this season, signing with Dinamo Riga of the KHL. However, he has already parted ways with Riga after playing in just eleven games. EHC Biel-Bienne of the Swiss NLA has scooped up the free agent forward, announcing that they have signed Ullstrom to a one-year contract. Ullstrom, 30, spent three seasons with the Islanders organization from 2010 to 2013, recording 13 points in 49 NHL games. While his ability was always apparent, the Swedish power forward struggled with puck security and decision-making, leading to a lack of trust at the top level. He has gone on to find success in the KHL and SHL in recent years, but never to the extent expected of him when he was a prospect. Ullstrom performed well with Tuscon last year, recording 23 points in 29 games, and some questioned his decision to return to Europe. He was never recalled by Arizona, but had his foot in the door with the organization. An NHL return seems unlikely now, but a strong season could get him back into AHL or even two-way contract consideration. He likely hopes that his first foray into Swiss hockey will produce a career season and possibly a multi-year deal, as he has played for nine different teams in the seven years since he left the Islanders and has never once spent more than a season and a half in one spot.

Prospect Notes: Raymond, Dorofeyev, McGuire

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Just like fellow Swedish phenom and 2020 top prospect Alexander Holtz, Lucas Raymond has also signed an extension with his current SHL team. Raymond, considered a surefire top-five pick who could possibly even challenge to go No. 1 overall with a strong campaign, is clearly open to a developmental path that doesn’t require jumping straight to the pro level in North America. Raymond’s rookie contract with the SHL’s Frolunda HC was announced as a two-year pact, extending through 2020-21. He could conceivably return to Sweden next year for more seasoning before embracing his NHL future, if he so chooses. The NHL and SHL have a transfer agreement that allows Raymond to supercede his new deal with an NHL contract if he and the team lucky enough to draft him decide that it is the best course of action. If Raymond continues to progress this season, there could be little left for him in the SHL. He already played in ten games with the Indians last year and was one of the best players in the SuperElit top junior league. Raymond is a natural; a super-skilled two-way forward with excellent hockey IQ, he looks like the most well-rounded prospect in the 2020 draft class early on. A dynamic player in nearly every regard, Frolunda may be excited at the idea of Raymond coming back next season, but the odds are slim for the soon-to-be NHLer.

  • A far more concerning extension is the one signed by Vegas Golden Knights prospect Pavel Dorofeyev this week. Dorofeyev, a third-round pick back in June, was entering the final year of his KHL contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. However, the league has announced that the two sides have agreed to a two-year extension, keeping Dorofeyev with the team through the 2021-22 season. Unlike with the SHL, there is no transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL and for all intents and purposes Dorofeyev is locked in with Magnitogorsk for the next three seasons. That could make it tough for Vegas to get a good read on the young forward prospect, not to mention it increases the risk that he may never make the jump to North America. Dorofeyev was a polarizing prospect in this draft class and “the Russian factor” was only on part of the differing opinions many had of him. A gifted puck-handler who plays with speed and vision, there is no questioning Dorofeyev’s skill. On that alone, some felt he was a first-round prospect. However, his lack of attentiveness to the defensive aspects of the game and some criticism of his motor and willingness to be aggressive dropped him from others’ draft boards completely. If the Golden Knights had hoped to avoid having Dorofeyev settle into the single-minded offensive style that many Russian forwards adopt, two extra years in the KHL won’t help.
  • While it remains to be seen whether he develops into a legitimate NHL prospect or not, many will nevertheless be interested in following the college career of Ryan McGuire. McGuire is the son of former NHL coach and scout Pierre McGuire, who many know now for his work as analyst for NBC Sports. The younger McGuire, 17, has played two years of prep school hockey for Belmont Hill outside of Boston and has also spent some time with the USHL’s Madison Capitols. However, he’ll soon be playing at Colgate University, after recently committing to the ECAC program. Colgate isn’t exactly an NHL prospect factory, but they did produce the likes of Andy McDonald and Chris Wagner, not to mention Pierre’s NBC colleague Mike Milbury. As he enters his first season of NHL Draft eligibility, McGuire hopes to be the next NHLer out of Colgate. The small, but smart and speedy center will have name value among NHL scouts, but could use a strong season with Belmont Hill and/or Madison to show he also has the tools to be future pro.

Training Camp Cuts: 09/26/19

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Like always, we’ll keep you aware of all the training camp cuts right here. Keep checking back to see the updated list:

Anaheim Ducks (per team release)

F Alex Broadhurst (to San Diego, AHL)
D Hunter Drew (to San Diego, AHL)
D Zack Hayes (to San Diego, AHL)
F Justin Kloos (to San Diego, AHL)
F Jack Kopacka (to San Diego, AHL)
D Patrick Sieloff (to San Diego, AHL)
D Chris Wideman (to San Diego, AHL)
G Anthony Stolarz (to San Diego, AHL)

Boston Bruins (per team release)

F Ryan Fitzgerald (to Providence, AHL)
F Joona Koppanen (to Providence, AHL)
F Zach Senyshyn (to Providence, AHL)
F Pavel Shen (to Providence, AHL)
F Oskar Steen (to Providence, AHL)
D Jeremy Lauzon (to Providence, AHL)
D Urho Vaakanainen (to Providence, AHL)
G Kyle Keyser (to Providence, AHL)
F Paul Carey (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
F Brendan Gaunce (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
D Alexander Petrovic (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)

Buffalo Sabres (per team release)

F Dylan Cozens (to Lethbridge, WHL)

Carolina Hurricanes (per team release)

F Morgan Geekie (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Janne Kuokkanen (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Steven Lorentz (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Eetu Luostarinen (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Stelio Mattheos (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Jake Bean (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Kyle Wood (to Charlotte, AHL)
G Alex Nedeljkovic (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Jesper Sellgren (to Lulea HF, SHL)
F Ryan Suzuki (to Barrie, OHL)

Colorado Avalanche (per team release)

D Bowen Byram (to Vancouver, WHL)
F Martin Kaut (to Colorado, AHL)
F Sheldon Dries (to Colorado, AHL)
F Logan O’Connor (to Colorado, AHL)
F Michael Joly (to Colorado, AHL)
G Hunter Miska (to Colorado, AHL)
D Jacob MacDonald (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
D Dan Renouf (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)

Edmonton Oilers (per team release)

F Kailer Yamamoto (to Bakersfield, AHL)

Florida Panthers (per team release)

F Anthony Greco (to Springfield, AHL)
D Ian McCoshen (to Springfield, AHL)
G Chris Driedger (to Springfield, AHL)

Montreal Canadiens (per team release)

F Matthew Peca (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
F Phil Varone (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
F Dale Weise (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
D Karl Alzner (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
D Xavier Ouellet (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)

New York Rangers (per team release)

F Daniel O’Regan (to Hartford, AHL)

Ottawa Senators (per team release)

F Parker Kelly (to Belleville, AHL)
G Marcus Hogberg (to Belleville, AHL)
F Nick Paul (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
F Jordan Szwarz (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)

Vegas Golden Knights (per Jesse Granger, The Athletic)

F Reid Duke (to Chicago, AHL)
D Dylan Coughlan (to Chicago, AHL)

Overseas Notes: Holtz, Riat, Ramo

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Alexander Holtz is expecting to be selected early in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. However, he may not be expecting to make the jump to the NHL right away. The 17-year-old forward, considered by many to be a guaranteed top-ten pick next June, is already playing at Sweden’s highest level, suiting up for Djurgardens IF of the SHL. The team was excited to announce that their young star could be in the fold for several more years as well. Holtz has signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with Djurgardens through the 2021-22 season. Of course, the NHL and SHL have a transfer agreement that would allow the future top prospect to move across the Atlantic when he is ready. However, the length of the deal was compounded further by comments from Djurgardens GM Joakim Eriksson, who says that Holtz’ plan is “to continue his talent development here for as long as possible.” Holtz’ development track can change greatly between now and 2022, depending on his performance at the top level this season and where and to whom he is drafted this spring. However, at the very least, the talented forward seems willing to take his time in his native Sweden if that is what he feels is best for his playing future. A skilled player who can line up at any forward position and can score from seemingly anywhere on the ice, it’s hard to imagine that whichever team ends up with Holtz won’t try to convince him otherwise and get him in an NHL lineup as soon as possible.

  • Swiss winger Damien Riat was cut from Washington Capitals training camp, but he is feeling no shortage of attention and appreciation in his career. The 22-year-old, a fourth-round pick of the Capitals in 2016, is entering the final season of his contract with the NLA’s EHC Biel-Bienne and already competitors are lining up to sign the young forward. Riat recorded 25 points in 48 games last season and was among the top young players in the league. Swiss Hockey News reports that SC Bern is just one of many NLA teams hoping to land him on the open market as he continues to develop into a top offensive talent. Of course, Riat is also still interested in the NHL. Washington has until June 30, 2020 to sign Riat to his entry-level contract, otherwise he could become a UFA by NHL standards, as well as NLA. It would not be a surprise to see other teams in North America pursue the young forward, especially if he has another strong season. It will be up to Washington to decide whether or not to extend Riat an ELC or instead let the bidding war commence from teams in Switzerland as well as possibly the NHL.
  • Swiss Hockey News also reports that veteran goaltender Karri Ramo is back to work in his native Switzerland. Ramo, 33, has over 100 NHL appearances to his credit and last played in the NHL as an equal part of a Calgary Flames tandem from 2013-2016. A free agent this summer, there was some thought that Ramo was interested in a return to the NHL, especially after a stellar season with Jokerit of the KHL in 2017-18 in which he proved he did not need consistent starts to maintain an elite level of play. However, the UFA goalie market was anything but active this off-season and Ramo could not even earn a PTO, nevertheless a contract with a shot at the backup role for an NHL team. Part of the reason is because he missed all of last season with a knee injury and it seems health concerns have scared off more than just NHL teams. Ramo is still without a club for this season, but Swiss Hockey News states that he is currently practicing with SC Rapperswil and is likely to sign with a team in the NLA, the Lakers or otherwise. Ramo has proven to be a reliable keeper during many stops in his journeyman international career, so hopefully a team steps forward ready to give him a shot to play.

Minor Transactions: 09/23/19

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Minor league training camps open this week and their NHL affiliates will be sending players down to compete for jobs in the AHL. With that in mind, there will likely be several more minor transactions coming across the wire. Like always, we’ll keep an eye on all the minor league, college and European moves right here:

  • All of the players from yesterday have cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.
  • The Manitoba Moose have agreed to terms with Griffen Outhouse on a one-year AHL contract. The 21-year old goaltender played last season for the Victoria Royals of the WHL where he posted a .913 save percentage in 46 appearances. Outhouse had actually committed to the University of Alberta for this season, but it seems now that he’ll be making the leap to professional hockey instead. The team has also brought in 11 other players on tryouts.
  • Shamil Shmakov will be playing for a different USHL team this season, after being acquired by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The Russian goaltender was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in 2018 and posted strong numbers again last season in the MHL. His first taste of North American hockey should give the Avalanche an idea of whether or not he will ever be worth signing, given they only invested a seventh-round pick.

Minor Transactions: 09/09/19

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Training camp is upon us, as rookie tournaments are underway and veterans are arriving back in town for informal workouts. In no time, teams will be back on the ice. Yet, many NHL clubs still have work to do, with prominent restricted and unrestricted free agents still without contracts. Minor league affiliates, European teams, and college programs are also still making moves to finalize their plans for the coming season. Keep track of those minor transactions right here:

  • P.K. Subban is one of the NHL’s brightest stars and Malcolm Subban continues to fight for recognition as an NHL backup. Little brother Jordan Subban has not had the same luck in his pro career. The 24-year-old defenseman played on an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies last season after the Vancouver Canucks declined to extend him a qualifying offer last season. After a so-so season in the minors, the NHL interest was again missing this summer and now Subban has opted to take his talents overseas. Dornbirner EC of the Austrian EBEL has announced a one-year deal with the young defender. Subban stands a good chance of being the best player on his new team, but even a dominant season in Austria won’t be enough to convince NHL teams that the 2013 fourth-round pick is any more than a famous last name. Subban is just beginning a long road back to relevance.
  • Tobias Lindberg is another former NHL prospect having a hard time in his professional development. A fellow 2013 fourth-rounder, the 24-year-old forward is most well known for having been traded five times since February 2016. Unlike Subban, he’s also seen NHL action, skating in six games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015-16. However, since then he has been relegated to an AHL role and has not been overly productive. Lindberg recorded just 16 points in 61 total games split between three teams last season. Looking to restore his value and find a consistent place to play, Lindberg was expected to skate with IK Oskarshamn of the SHL this upcoming season. However, things went from bad to worse for the struggling prospect today, as the team announced that his contract had been terminated. While the press release was meant to make it seem like an amicable breakup, the club stated that Lindberg did not show the potential that they had hoped for and he, in turn, did not feel he could get the ice time he needed in Oskarshamn. It’s unclear now where Lindberg goes from here in his pursuit of a fresh start.

Prospect Notes: Merkley, Karlberg, Chudinov

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When the OHL’s Peterborough Petes released their training camp roster last week, star defenseman Ryan Merkley was suspiciously absent. The San Jose Sharks 2018 first-round pick was only acquired by the Petes midway through last season and was expected to play a major role for the team this year. However, that won’t be the case. Merkley’s agent, J.P. Barry, relayed to Mike Davies of The Peterborough Examiner that he has been informed that Peterborough is working to trade Merkley and do not plan to begin the season with him on the roster. Petes GM Mike Oke confirmed as much, telling Davies that “We’ve decided we’re going to go in a different direction. Finding another opportunity for Ryan would probably be best for everybody… [W]e just felt it wasn’t the right fit.” Oke stated that no specific incident led to the team’s decision on Merkley, but this is hardly the first time that the young blue liner has worn out his welcome. A player that has continuously been followed by rumors of immature behavior and poor sportsmanship, Merkley was thought to have been initially traded to Peterborough from the Guelph Storm under similar circumstances. These personality concerns also likely played a factor in Merkely’s drop to No. 21 overall last year, as his offensive ability might have otherwise warranted a higher draft slot. Nevertheless, the Sharks remain committed to their prospect defender and Oke and Barry are certain that Merkley is still a valuable commodity in the OHL. In fact, the Petes expect to get a similar package back in a trade as what they gave up for him: a top young player and a package of high picks. Merkley is a talented player – he has recorded 193 points in 188 career OHL games – and will get a fair shake at Sharks training camp, but his defensive ability still needs work and he will almost certainly end up back in the OHL this season. The question is with who and whether his continued behavioral issues will follow him to his next stop as well.

  • Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Marcus Karlberg will also be playing somewhere different this season. The 19-year-old forward, a 2018 third-round pick, has been loaned to a new club for the 2019-20 season. AIK of Sweden’s second-tier pro league, the Allsvenskan, announced that they have acquired Karlberg’s services from Leksands IF for the coming season. Karlberg was a near point-per-game player for Leksands’ U-20 SuperElit team early last season before being promoted and recording 11 points in 44 games in the Allsvenskan. Karlberg had clearly outgrown the junior level, but with Leksands earning a promotion to the SHL, the team was likely wary of moving the young forward to Sweden’s top pro level. Karlberg’s growing ability is obvious – he is a fast, hard-working forward who doesn’t let his small frame limit him – but remaining in the Allsvenskan for another year is likely a better developmental move. AIK hope that he can break out and perhaps contribute to another promotion-worthy campaign.
  • While he can barely be considered a prospect anymore, Russian defenseman Maxim Chudinov is already back to impressing in the KHL. Likely one of the best players in the world never to try his hand at the NHL, Chudinov still remains Boston Bruins property as a 2010 seventh-round pick. The 29-year-old rearguard has been playing in the KHL since even before the Bruins took a flier on him and has become well-known for his top two-way play and even more so for his howitzer of a shot. Chudinov put his slapper on display in the KHL’s season opener yesterday, scoring from behind his own blue line. Amazingly, this is the third time in this calendar year alone that Chudinov has accomplished that unthinkable task. A multiple-time Gagarin Cup champion and KHL All-Star, it’s possible that Chudinov could finally decide he wants a new challenge in his career and the Bruins would surely welcome him with open arms, despite their depth on defense. However, with his 30th birthday arriving this season, it’s more likely that Chudinov will simply remain a “what could have been” for NHL fans.

Snapshots: PWHPA, Barbashev, Hoglander

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In May, some of the top women’s hockey players in the world announced the formation of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association in their ongoing fight for more resources and support for their sport. The same way that the NHLPA protects players’ rights and fights for larger pieces of the financial pie, the PWHPA was meant as a “a vehicle dedicated to promoting and supporting the creation of a single, viable women’s professional league in North America.”

Today, the PWHPA has announced that Jayna Hefford has been named operations consultant, essentially taking over leadership of the union. The legendary women’s hockey star has been at the forefront of the sport both on the ice and as a former commissioner of the CWHL before it’s dissolution recently. Hefford is one of the most decorated Canadian hockey players of all-time, taking home four Olympic and seven World Championship gold medals over her career. She was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

  • The St. Louis Blues still have some unfinished business this summer with unsigned restricted free agent Ivan Barbashev. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express passes on a report out of Russia that has Barbashev looking for a two-year, $4MM deal with the Blues, while the team has offered just a two-year, $2.6MM contract. A report recently had Barbashev looking at his overseas options, though no decision has been made at this point.
  • Nils Hoglander will spend another season in Sweden according to Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet, who reports that the Vancouver Canucks discussed a contract with the young prospect but won’t sign him this offseason. The 18-year old forward was selected with the 40th pick of the 2019 draft and can continue to develop in the SHL in 2019-20.

Snapshots: Rantanen, Grebeshkov, Sodergran

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Reporters including Michael Chambers of the Denver Post caught up with Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic today at his celebrity golf tournament, and asked him about the ongoing contract negotiations with Mikko Rantanen. There were recently reports that things had barely started between the two sides, but Sakic confirmed he had personally agreed with Rantanen that a long-term deal is the way to go.

With both sides on the same page regarding term, there is one less thing to worry about in negotiations. Obviously salary is now the biggest question and you have to wonder if Rantanen’s side (and maybe the Avalanche too) want to wait and see where some of the other high-priced restricted free agents come in. At the very least, the fact that Rantanen wants to sign long-term in Colorado is a positive sign and one that should excite Avalanche fans.

  • Former NHL defenseman Denis Grebeshkov will join his old coach behind the bench in the KHL this season. He has been hired as an assistant to Craig MacTavish, who was the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers when the Russian experienced the most NHL success. Originally selected 18th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2002, the left-handed defenseman played several seasons for Edmonton and recorded 39 points in 2008-09. MacTavish left the Oilers this offseason to pursue an opportunity coaching Yaroslavl in the KHL.
  • The Kings have confirmed to Jon Rosen that prospect Johan Sodergran will play in North America for the 2019-20 season, coming over from the SHL. Sodergran signed his entry-level contract in June after the Kings selected him in the sixth round in 2018 and comes with a fair amount of buzz after a successful season with Linkoping HC. Though he finished the year with just 13 points in 42 games, competing at all in that league at such a young age is an impressive feat. Sodergran also suited up for Sweden at the World Juniors last year and is expected to play for the Ontario Reign of the AHL despite not turning 20 until November.

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