Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

SHL

Anton Wedin Signs With Chicago Blackhawks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

May 23rd: It may have taken more than a week, but the Blackhawks have finally confirmed their signing of Wedin. The import forward has signed a one-year entry-level contract worth the maximum $925K. Wedin is believed to have chosen Chicago over the Arizona Coyotes and Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

May 12th: The Chicago Blackhawks will be adding some extra forward depth for next season after the team was informed that Swedish free agent Anton Wedin has chosen Chicago over two other teams and will sign a one-year entry-level contract, according to The Athletic’s Scott Powers (subscription required). Wedin’s agent, Michael Deutsch, commented on the signing:

Anton was faced with a very difficult decision. He had multiple offers, all of which were excellent opportunities. Ultimately, he felt that the Blackhawks were a good fit for his style of play and felt comfortable knowing that the coach already knew him from his time in Sweden.”

The 26-year-old left-shot winger had a breakout year in his first year in the Swedish Hockey League after spending most of his career in the Allsvenskan, posting 14 goals and 27 points for Timra IK. However, with his team heading back to the second-tier Allsvenskan next season, Wedin was ready to jump to North America. He chose the Blackhawks over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes, although he was received significant interest from across the league. One potential reason could be his familiarity with Blackhawks’ head coach Jeremy Colliton, who previously coached for a rival team in the Allsvenskan, Mora IK.

While the Blackhawks have improved their top-six, the team continues to add to their depth to put together the best team possible. General manager Stan Bowman has shown interest in adding talent from overseas, as the team has signed Artemi Panarin, Erik Gustafsson, David Kampf and Michal Kempny in recent years. The team had success a year ago as well when they signed German forward Dominik Kahun to a two-year entry-level contact, who proved to be a key depth piece after putting up 13 goals and 37 points. In Wedin, a 5-foot-11, 194-pound forward is known for his speed and all-around game, but he’ll have to fight for a roster space and may start the season in the AHL.

Snapshots: Draft Rankings, Bengtsson, Coaches

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NHL Entry Draft is a month away, and while there has been plenty of attention placed on top prospects Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, some of the other top names in the draft have flown by somewhat under the radar. Corey Pronman of The Athletic seeks to change that with his comprehensive draft rankings (subscription required) which give a full scouting report on 107 names eligible for this year’s draft.

While Hughes and Kakko each hold a tier of their own at the top of the draft, Pronman considers several others elite prospects making the top half of the first round quite exciting. Pronman may be the most bullish evaluator on American sniper Cole Caufield, who stands just 5’7″ but received an 80 grade (the maximum) for his shot. Pronman raves about Caufield’s scoring ability and has him ranked fifth in the entire draft.

  • If Pittsburgh Penguins fans were hoping that Swedish defenseman Lukas Bengtsson would make his way back to North America, they’ll have to wait another few years. The 25-year old signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, meaning he’ll join one of the top programs in Russia. Bengtsson signed as an international free agent in 2016 and played parts of two seasons with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before returning to Sweden last year. His 24 points in 42 games with Linkopings HC were good enough for 11th among all SHL defensemen this season.
  • The Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators are getting closer to filling their vacant head coaching positions according to John Shannon of Sportsnet, who tweets that both are hopeful to make their decision before the end of the month. The Senators were most recently linked to Patrick Roy, but have interviewed at least six other candidates.

Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson To Play In Sweden

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The Boston Bruins will not have young forward Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson in the lineup next season. GM Don Sweeney announced today that Forsbacka Karlsson intends on returning to Sweden and signing with the Vaxjo Lakers in the SHL for next season. He does however expect his young forward to return at some point in the future:

Jakob will continue his professional hockey career and development in the SHL and we support his decision to be closer to his family at this time in his life. Over the past few weeks, Jakob has also communicated that he fully intends to resume playing for the Bruins, but for right now he feels playing at home in Sweden is what is best for him.

Forsbacka Karlsson, 22, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer when his entry-level contract expires. He played 28 games for both the Boston Bruins and Providence Bruins this season, while also returning home for a short period to deal with a personal matter. In his AHL appearances he registered 16 points, while scoring just nine at the NHL level.

Snapshots: Rathgeb, Novak, Korencik

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

After Yannick Rathgeb cleared waivers and had his contract terminated by the New York Islanders last week, it was only a matter of time before he we was back in Europe. Unsurprisingly, Rathgeb has opted to return home to his native Switzerland, signing in the NLA. EHC Biel-Bienne has announced a three-year contract with the 23-year-old defenseman, who they hope can get back to his dominant ways. Prior to joining the Islanders last season, Rathgeb had spent the three years prior with the NLA’s HC Fribourg-Gotteron, where he amassed 89 points over 133 games. While he was unable to perform at that same level in North America – nine points in 32 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers – there’s no reason to think Rathgeb won’t again be a dynamic defender in the NLA. The smooth-skating blue liner joins a Biel-Bienne team that is a perennial contender and includes former NHLers like Jonas Hiller, Damien Brunner, and Anssi Salmela. 

  • Tommy Novak would undoubtedly rather be under contract with the Nashville Predators, but he’s content to sign a prove-it deal with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals instead. The Admirals announced today that the University of Minnesota product had signed a one-year contract to remain with the team after wrapping up his season in Milwaukee on a tryout deal. Novak was a third-round pick of the Predators back in 2015 and spent the last four seasons as a starter for the Gophers. However, while Novak has flashed the skill and smarts to excel at the pro level, he was inconsistent in college and needs time to round out his game in the minors. Committing to the Predators’ affiliate is a good way to stay under the umbrella of the organization and work toward a potential entry-level contract down the road.
  • The University of Massachusetts – Lowell landed a nice commitment today in Slovakian standout Marek Korencik. Hockey Portal reports that Korencik will make the jump from the Sweden to the NCAA next season, joining the River Hawks. The 19-year-old defenseman had a breakout season, recording 20 points for Lulea HF in the junior-level SuperElit while also contributing three points in five games for Team Slovakia at the World Juniors. His efforts even earned Korencik an appearance with Lulea’s SHL team and he likely would have seen more action at the top pro level next year had he stayed in Sweden. However, the move to the college game is likely a better developmental move for the 6’3″, 200-lb. rearguard and the commitment to North American hockey could endear him to scouts in his final go-round in the NHL Draft. Even if Korencik is again passed over, he still represents a great addition for Lowell, who will look to get back to the NCAA Tournament next season behind some improved defensive play.

L.A. Kings To Loan Jacob Moverare To Sweden

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Los Angeles Kings defensive prospect Jacob Moverare is on the move, again. A fourth-round pick in 2016, the Swedish prospect signed his entry-level contract almost immediately after being selected. After the deal slid for two seasons while Moverare was paying for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads, the Kings felt Moverare still was not prepared for North American hockey last season. Rather than send him to AHL Ontario, the team instead loaned the young defender to the Swedish Hockey League’s Frolunda HC in the first year of his contract.  Apparently, they still feel the same way. Swedish newspaper Goteborgs Posten reports that Frolunda has already received word that Moverare will re-join the team next season.

While it is not out of the ordinary to see a loan of this kind for a young foreign player, it is rare to see it done twice. Moverare will have burned two years off of his entry-level contract before ever playing in a professional game in North America, seemingly just because of L.A.’s depth in minor league defensemen. While a top-four NHL defender is one of the Kings’ most glaring needs this off-season, they do have considerable depth in fringe NHL talent. Sean Walker, Paul LaDue, and Kurtis MacDermid are all signed through next season while Matt Roy and Daniel Brickley are restricted free agents. All five of those young defensemen suited up for the Kings this season, but barring major roster changes, only two or three will win spots in L.A. to begin next season. Then there is an influx of talent from the college and junior ranks, as Mikey Anderson, Markus Phillips, and Sean Durzi will also be in play in Ontario. There simply isn’t room for Moverare to play meaningful minutes in the AHL next season, but when will there be?

Another loaned season should not be seen as an indictment of Moverare’s play. A highly productive player at the junior level, Moverare showed in the SHL last season that his pro game is likely to skew more toward the defensive strengths in his game rather than offensive. However, he could still be a very solid stay-at-home option. Moverare is a right-shot defenseman who plays a strong, competitive game and is known for his hockey IQ. At 6’3″ and 200 lbs., Moverare can hold his own defensively, but also skates well and compensates for some lacking skill with great vision and positioning. Just a victim of the numbers game for L.A., the Gotenborgs report indicates that the Kings simply feel that Moverare’s development would be better served remaining in Sweden, but another year abroad doesn’t mean that he won’t play for the Kings one day.

Arizona Coyotes To Terminate Contract Of Jens Looke

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Saturday: Looke has cleared waivers, paving the way for his deal to officially be terminated, Morgan reports.

Friday: The Arizona Coyotes have terminated Jens Looke’s contract according to Craig Morgan of The Athletic. Looke actually had one year left on his entry-level deal, but had recently signed with Timra IK in the SHL. In order to do that, the Coyotes have agreed to terminate the deal and placed him on unconditional waivers.

Looke, 22, was actually a third-round pick of the Coyotes back in 2015 but hasn’t shown enough over the last two seasons to be part of Arizona’s plans going forward. The talented playmaking winger couldn’t find a fit with the Tucson Roadrunners, recording just 32 points over 120 games in the AHL the past two seasons. He’ll return to Sweden to continue his development, and may actually end up being a name we hear down the road in regards to a potential return.

With the termination the Coyotes will lose the rights to Looke, making him an unrestricted free agent. His departure will open up a contract slot for them, but is a disappointing end after investing the 83rd pick in him just a few years ago.

Emil Bemstrom Signs Entry-Level Contract

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed another one of their top prospects, this time inking Emil Bemstrom to a three-year entry-level contract. Bemstrom played this season in the SHL, but is expected to compete for a job in North America next season.

It’s easy to look at the impact that Alexandre Texier made in the NHL down the stretch and assume that the 19-year old forward is the Blue Jackets best prospect. After all, Texier did walk right into a role with Columbus and record three points in eight playoff games despite having played just seven games in the minor leagues previously. There’s no doubt that the young French forward will make an impact next season for the team, but all year many believed another player was actually heading for a big role in 2019-20 on the Blue Jackets.

That player is Bemstrom, who despite being just a fourth-round pick in 2017 may well find himself on the NHL roster to start next season. The 19-year old forward led the entire SHL in goals this season with 23 and finished with 45 points in 66 games overall. That led to him being winning the SHL Rookie of the Year along with the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year in part because of his six-point performance at the World Juniors.

In fact, the presence of Bemstrom, Texier and Liam Foudy—the Blue Jackets’ first-round pick from 2018 who recorded 36 goals for the London Knights this season—may well have made it possible for GM Jarmo Kekalainen to spend some future assets to acquire Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel at the trade deadline. The front office executive told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic that the young players will get an opportunity next season:

The Texiers, the Bemstroms … those guys are going to get a great opportunity to play a key role in our forward group next year. … to not only play but play a big role and be a goal scorer on this level that he was in (the SHL).

With Duchene, Dzingel and Artemi Panarin all still scheduled to become unrestricted free agents the Blue Jackets will need some more firepower up front if they are to compete in the Metropolitan Division. Getting Bemstrom under contract was the first step in giving him the chance to provide that offense.

Johan Larsson Linked To SHL

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

10:35am: Don’t count Larsson out of the Sabres plans just yet, as his agent Craig Oster confirmed to Lancy Lysowski of The Buffalo News there is no truth to the report out of Sweden. Larsson still needs a contract to continue with Buffalo, but Oster told Joe Yerdon of The Athletic that his client is “looking forward to continuing his NHL career next season.”

9:45am: It might be the end of the NHL road for Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson, as according to Magnus Wahlman of Radiosporten in Sweden the 26-year old is heading back to Brynas for next season. Larsson played for Brynas before making the jump to North America in 2012, and is scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer.

Even if Larsson didn’t return to the SHL, there is a chance that the Sabres would decide not to qualify him anyway. The defensive center posted just 14 points in 73 games this season and has 79 in his entire 331-game NHL career. With a 2018-19 cap hit of $1.475MM and arbitration rights this offseason, the Sabres could decide to move on and open up some more minutes for their young forward group.

In that way, his return to Sweden could be the best decision for both sides. Larsson never has been able to produce much offense at the NHL level, but previously dominated at the SHL and AHL levels. Selected in the second round nine years ago by the Minnesota Wild, he was part of the return for Jason Pominville in 2013. A key piece, he had scored 37 points in 62 games as a rookie for the Houston Aeros and made his NHL debut at the age of 20.

The Sabres aren’t exactly in a cap crunch, but freeing up another ~$2MM could have an impact this summer for the team. They are still trying to re-sign top goal scorer Jeff Skinner, and should have enough room to get involved in some of the bigger free agents if they so choose.

Bruins To Loan Emil Johansson To Sweden

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

May 13th: While the Bruins have yet to officially recognize the deal, there is no longer any doubt that Johansson will not be playing in North America next year and, as it turns out, not for a while after that either. HV71 have announced that they have signed Johansson to a three-year contract, bringing back the homegrown product. The team’s general manager, Johan Hult, spoke glowingly about Johansson in the press release, applauding his balanced game, skating ability, and “incredible hunger”. These traits are part of the reason why Johansson joined the Bruins so quickly after being a seventh-round pick and the team will be sorry to lose him as a young depth option, especially for up to three years or longer. It is possible that the Bruins have already agreed to waive and terminate Johannsson, valuing his roster spot against the 50-contract limit more than loaning and retaining his rights. Either way, the 23-year-old will become an afterthought for the Bruins.

May 10th: There is a logjam on defense in Boston, but it came in handy this season. Over the course of the regular season, the Bruins used 11 different defensemen as injuries ravaged the blue line all year long. The team’s defensive leader in games played, Brandon Carlo, still missed ten games, while players who began the season as AHL afterthoughts, such as Connor Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon, suited up for double-digit games. It was a group effort that helped the team stay afloat through adversity and certainly contributed to the Bruins currently being one of just four teams left alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is all to say that any defenseman under contract with Boston this season who didn’t see NHL action should be re-considering his place in the organizational depth chart moving forward.

That appears to be exactly what Emil Johansson has done. Johansson, 23, was a 2014 seventh-round pick of the Bruins who impressed at the top level in Sweden and was deemed ready for pro hockey in North America sooner than expected. This season, his second full year with the Bruins organization, Johansson led all defensemen for AHL Providence in games played this season with 65, while recording ten points. Yet, he did not earn a chance to escape the minor league level. His odds are no better next season; the Bruins currently have the same top seven defensemen signed to one-way contracts through next year and Johansson would additionally be no higher than fifth among call-up options behind Clifton, Lauzon, and recent first-round picks Urho Vaakanainen, and Jakub Zboril. Johansson’s entry-level contract, which still has one year remaining, contains a European Assignment Clause, which he is reportedly expected to use in light of this situation. Henrik Leman of Swedish hockey source Rakapuckar writes that Johansson and the Bruins have a mutual agreement that he will play for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League next season.

While Leman’s article translates to the word “release”, it is far more likely than Boston will instead loan the young defenseman to the SHL rather than terminate his contract. Especially when the team can retain Johansson’s NHL rights in perpetuity by merely making him a qualifying offer next summer, it would be a surprise to see them instead outright release him. As for next year, Leman reports that interest has been high around Johansson and he has agreed to sign with HV71 over the likes of Frolunda HC and the Vaxjo Lakers. Of course, Johansson came up through the HV71 ranks, so the decision is not much of a surprise. Johansson played two full SHL seasons with the team before making the jump to North America, recording 27 points in 99 total games, and it will likely be a seamless transition to return to their ranks. If he excels overseas, the Bruins will likely keep the door open to a return. Despite their considerable depth in talented young defensemen, Boston has to prepare for life after Zdeno Chara, Torey Krug, and Kevan Miller, all of whom could be gone after next season. Johansson could still wind up as a possible solution down the road.

Colorado Avalanche Sign Adam Werner

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Colorado Avalanche have signed goaltender Adam Werner to a two-year entry-level contract. The Swedish netminder played in the SHL this season, but won’t be completely unfamiliar with the Avalanche organization. Werner played four games for the San Antonio Rampage in 2018—then the Colorado AHL affiliate—on an amateur tryout contract before returning to Sweden.

Werner, 22, was originally selected by the Avalanche in the fifth round of the 2016 draft. The 6’5″ goaltender performed extremely well in his first full year in the SHL, posting a .926 save percentage through 26 starts for Farjestad. That was good enough for third in the entire league among goaltenders who made more than ten appearances, while his 2.02 goals against average ranked fourth.

That kind of production is exactly what the Avalanche hoped to see this season, as they obviously were interested in bringing Werner into the organization. The two-year deal doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be coming to North America right away, but there isn’t a ton of depth standing in his way if he does. Minor league goaltenders Joe Cannata and Pavel Francouz are both unrestricted free agents come July, while prospect Spencer Martin will become a restricted free agent once again. The team may also lose UFA Semyon Varlamov off the NHL roster if he chooses not to re-sign, leaving Philipp Grubauer as the only other goaltender in the organization with a contract for 2019-20 at the moment.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top