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Snapshots: Heiskanen, Bachman, Belov

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It has been quite a year for Miro Heiskanen, the third overall pick last year by the Dallas Stars. The young defenseman put up 23 points in 30 games in the Finnish Liiga, played well at the World Juniors and the Olympics, and most recently has starred in the World Championships. As reported by the Associated Press, the only logical next step is the NHL. “I want to play there as soon as possible, that’s my goal”, Heiskanen said about joining the league’s best in the NHL next season. Heiskanen knows that he could still get stronger and smarter, but his skill is very clearly pro-ready. Heiskanen is likely to step in and immediately play a key two-way role on the Dallas blue line. Expect the announcement sooner rather than later that arguably the best defensive prospect in hockey will be a full-time Star next season.

  • Former Stars goalie Richard Bachman has struggled to ever be more in the NHL than he was as Dallas’ primary backup in 2011-12. He has spent almost all of the past five years toiling in the AHL for the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. Heading into free agency, it seems Bachman has decided to move on from the NHL. Swedish news site Hockey Sverige reports that Bachman is expected to sign with Timra of the SHL. Instead of sitting behind Swedes – Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson – in the NHL, the 30-year-old Bachman is expected to be given the starter’s job initially with Timra as he begins a new chapter in his career.
  • Former NHL defenseman Anton Belov won’t be making the jump across the Atlantic this summer. The Russian rearguard has re-signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, the team he has played with since leaving the Edmonton Oilers in 2013-14, for three more years per a team release. This extension likely rules out a future return to the NHL for the 31-year-old, though he will remain a visible name on the international stage as a top defender for a perennial KHL contender and as a frequent member of Russian national teams.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Joel Persson, Will Assign To SHL For 2018-19

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In one of the more intriguing transactions in recent memory, the Edmonton Oilers have signed European free agent Joel Persson but announced that he will be loaned to Vaxjo of the SHL for the 2018-19 season. The contract is an entry-level deal for just one year, meaning the Oilers are essentially buying his exclusive rights for the 2019-20 season and beyond. Persson will become a restricted free agent after his one-year contract expires, at which point he can negotiate a new deal that isn’t limited by the entry-level system.

A move like this to circumvent the entry-level system isn’t normal, and could actually be grounds for looking closely at the rules in the next collective bargaining agreement. We’ve seen transaction trickery be squashed quickly in years past, and this fits into that category. From the Oilers perspective though, it is a savvy move to get a player that may not necessarily want to come to North America right away. GM Peter Chiarelli released a statement on his new prospect:

We are excited to have Joel join our organization. He has progressed rapidly in the last year and has shown a very good offensive side to his game which is compatible with some of our needs. The plan is for Joel to remain with his club team next year. We have the right of recall but want to see him develop his game thoroughly in what will be his second year in the Swedish Elite League

Persson, 24, is fresh off an SHL Championship with Vaxjo after exploding for 34 points as a rookie. That was good enough for second in the entire league among defensemen, only behind the recently signed Lawrence Pilut (Buffalo Sabres). If Persson can continue to show that he’s an elite puck-mover at the professional level in Sweden, Edmonton could sign him to a multi-year contract next summer to help the right side of their defense. That group was notoriously weak this season, and needs to add more skill and quickness to play the type of game that best suits Connor McDavid’s play.

With Persson staying in Sweden for this season though, the Oilers still have work to do on their defense. Just yesterday we released our Offseason Keys for the team, which noted that it will be difficult to land a big fish on the free agent market without moving out some salary. Either way, the team needs to do something to support their young superstar and vault themselves back into the playoff picture.

International Notes: Dyblenko, Granberg, Bengtsson

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After the New Jersey Devils placed Yaroslav Dyblenko on unconditional waivers earlier this month, the expectation was that he would return to the KHL. That expectation is now reality, as his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey tweets out a congratulations on signing with SKA St. Petersburg. If nothing else, his foray into the North American circuit for a year improved his stock in Russia, as Dyblenko will now play for one of the league’s powerhouses.

Dyblenko never worked out in New Jersey, and ended up playing 54 games for the AHL Binghamton Devils instead. The 24-year old defenseman will be an unrestricted free agent again after his deal with SKA runs out, meaning we could see him back in North America at some point. That likely will only happen if a team can guarantee him an NHL job, something he’ll need to earn playing with his new club.

  • Petter Granberg is heading back to Sweden, signing a three-year deal with Skelleftea of the SHL. The former Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators defenseman was scheduled to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer after spending the entire year in the minor leagues. Granberg, selected in the fourth round back in 2010, looked like he was developing into a solid third pairing player at one point. That still might come, but we won’t be seeing him back in the NHL for the next few seasons.
  • Another Swedish defenseman is heading home, as Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Lukas Bengtsson has signed a three-year contract with Linkoping. Bengtsson was scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer, and still hadn’t cracked the NHL lineup. Signing as an undrafted free agent with Pittsburgh in 2016, the 24-year old undersized defenseman recorded 15 points in 37 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season, but didn’t look to be in the long-term plans at any point.

Joel Persson Linked To Edmonton Oilers

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The Edmonton Oilers may have found another skilled defenseman to add to the blue line, as Ryan Rishaug of TSN tweets that the team has “locked up” Joel Persson. Persson played this season for Vaxjo of the SHL, where he recorded 34 points in 51 games during his first year at the highest level in Sweden. He was a big part of getting that club to a SHL Championship, while also leading all defensemen in Champions League scoring.

Persson, 24, was quite a surprise for Vaxjo this season and continued to improve on a near-daily basis. The young defenseman will immediately inject some more puck-moving skill into the Edmonton system, though it’s not clear if he’ll make the NHL team out of camp. Even more importantly perhaps for the Oilers is that the 5’11” defender is right-handed, giving them another option behind Adam Larsson and Matt Benning. Though others including Kris Russell have played the right side, there was a distinct lack of depth throughout the organization.

At Persson’s age, a one-year entry-level contract would be necessary which would send him to restricted free agency in 2019. That’s very little risk for a player who has taken such huge strides this season, and could continue to get even better in a short period of time.

Buffalo Sabres Officially Sign Lawrence Pilut

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Though it has been expected for several weeks, the Buffalo Sabres finally announced that they have officially signed defenseman Lawrence Pilut to a two-year entry-level contract. Pilut has played the last several seasons with HV71 of the SHL, where he was named Defenseman of the Year in 2017-18.

Pilut, 22, immediately adds a good helping of skill into the Buffalo defense corps, something it has been sorely missing over the last few seasons. While there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to handle the grind of the North American game, he certainly proved himself a capable hockey playing during several years in Sweden. This season, he recorded 38 points in 52 games and was a dynamic puck-mover for HV71. That comes a year after taking home the SHL Championship, though he didn’t play quite as large of a role on that team.

With Josh Gorges and Justin Falk heading for unrestricted free agency, and rumors swirling about a potential return to the KHL for Victor Antipin, the Sabres depth on the left side of their defense has taken a big hit. Though Brendan Guhle is expected to push for a full-time position at camp, adding Pilut to the mix only strengthens the group overall. Even if he needs to start at the AHL level the team has already started the process of improving their back end, a crucial goal for GM Jason Botterill this summer.

Arizona Coyotes Sign David Ullstrom To One-Year Deal

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The Arizona Coyotes have signed European free agent David Ullstrom to a one-year, two-way contract. Ullstrom played this season with HV71 in the SHL, after a long stint bouncing around the KHL. The former New York Islanders forward hasn’t seen NHL action since 2012-13, but will get a chance to reinvent himself in North America next season. Coyotes GM John Chayka released a statement explaining the signing:

David is a big, strong center who is an excellent skater. He has previous NHL experience and will provide us with additional depth at the center position.

Ullstrom, 29, was first selected by the Islanders in the fourth round of the 2008 draft, and quickly made his way to the AHL. In his first season in North America he registered 41 points in 67 games and looked well on his way to making an impact at the NHL level. Unfortunately when he got there in 2011-12 that production dried up, recording just 13 points in 49 games as a part-time player across the next two seasons.

In 2013-14 he headed to the KHL, where he played for five teams across four seasons, eventually leaving for the SHL in 2017. The scoring touch seemed to return this season when he registered 30 points in 47 games, though his game had changed from the high-flying play of his youth. No longer was it just one-on-one rushes, and Ullstrom showed a willingness to pass more this time around. Perhaps that maturity to his game is what interested the Coyotes, who will hope he can prove to be a legitimate NHL player, if even in a sheltered role.

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Jonathan Davidsson To Three-Year Deal

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Another young European forward has signed his entry-level contract. The Columbus Blue Jackets have inked prospect Jonathan Davidsson to a three-year deal, after a solid season in the SHL. GM Jarmo Kekalainen praised the newest member of the Blue Jackets organization in a press release:

Jonathan is a fast, skilled player who put up good numbers in the Swedish Hockey League this season. He is a smart player and mature young man and we believe he has a very bright future with our organization.

Davidsson was selected in the sixth-round last year, his third year of draft eligibility. Originally ranked 64th among European skaters in 2015, he has continued to develop in the SHL and broke out this season with 31 points in 52 games, adding 8 more in 11 playoff contests. His best attribute is a patient playmaking approach, waiting just long enough for lanes to open up which would be otherwise missed.

His younger brother Marcus Davidsson was selected in the second round last year by the Buffalo Sabres, but is still a long way off from the NHL. Jonathan, now 21, could make it there first if the development he showed this season continues. If he comes over to North America in 2018-19, he’ll play for a Cleveland Monsters team that struggled this season and lacked dynamic young talent. Players like Sonny Milano and Oliver Bjorkstrand have graduated from the program, leaving room for someone like Davidsson to try and pick up the offensive slack.

Philadelphia Flyers Sign David Kase To Entry-Level Contract

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The Philadelphia Flyers have signed one of their 2015 draft picks, inking David Kase to a three-year entry-level contract. Kase spent this season playing in the SHL, but could come to North American in 2018-19. As part of the announcement, GM Ron Hextall included some thoughts on his new prospect.

He plays and competes. He’s just a dog out there, he hounds the puck. The skill level is there. He is a smart player. He stays on the right side of the puck… For where we got him in the draft and his upside, we’re very happy. He’s a great kid and he just loves to play the game.

Selected in the fifth round three years ago, Kase actually led his SHL club in scoring this season with 23 points in 44 games. Granted, that was on one of the worse teams in the league, but it still goes to show how much he’s grown over the last few seasons. Still undersized, the Flyers now list Kase at 5’11” 164-lbs, meaning he’ll have to continue to work extremely hard to make an impact at the next level. Though he plays a bigger game than his size indicates, the grind of an AHL schedule could pose a challenge.

If he does work out for the Flyers, he’d only add to a 2015 draft class that is looking like an outstanding haul for the team. First-round picks Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny are already big parts of the NHL team, while goaltender Felix Sandstrom is developing nicely in Sweden and Mikhail Vorobyov is contributing in the AHL. Kase will see if he can add to the skilled Lehigh Valley team next season, where he’ll likely end up.

Minnesota Wild Sign Eric Martinsson To One-Year Contract

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The Minnesota Wild, fresh off a prospect signing, have dipped their toes into the European free agent market. The team announced today a one-year, two-way contract for Eric Martinsson, a 25-year old defenseman out of the SHL.

Martinsson has played four full seasons for Vaxjo already, and recorded a career-high 17 points this season while playing a bigger role. The undrafted defenseman added his second SHL Championship to the mantle, and was a big reason why—he scored 11 points in 13 playoff games to lead all defensemen. His puck-moving ability and speed to join rushes allows him to take chances, something encouraged more and more in professional hockey these days.

Minnesota will be an extremely interesting team to watch this summer, as they figure out who will make up their defense corps in 2018-19. The team has a group of eight or nine players who could all find themselves in regular roles, and Martinsson is another name that could battle for playing time. Though he’ll likely start in the minor leagues, there’s no telling how quickly he could adjust to the North American game. He does have experience with it, going back to 2012-13 when he played a single season in the USHL and recorded 33 points in 59 games.

Snapshots: Draft Rankings, Pilut, Matthews

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TSN has released a special top-15 ranking prior to tomorrow’s draft lottery, and Rasmus Dahlin remains the unanimous choice for first overall. Beyond that, the trio of forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Filip Zadina and Brady Tkachuk fill out 2-4 while four other defenseman land in the top ten.

There will undoubtedly be plenty of debate in the coming months, but one thing seems certain. Whoever wins the draft lottery tomorrow night will have Dahlin in their lineup come October. That may seem premature, but scouts seem to agree that he’ll be an impact player from day one. Make sure to tune in between the first and second periods of the Vegas Golden Knights-San Jose Sharks tomorrow night.

  • John Vogl of the Buffalo News reports on rumors that Lawrence Pilut has signed with the Buffalo Sabres, adding that a deal can’t be officially announced until the defenseman finishes his stint with the Swedish national team. Pilut, 22, registered 38 points for HV71 in the SHL this season, leading all defensemen. Undersized but talented, he would add some skill to a defense corps in Buffalo that has had trouble moving the puck in recent years.
  • Though there had been some rumors about a potential rift between Mike Babcock and Auston Matthews, both parties denied any problems when asked today during their season-ending media availability. Both men are obviously disappointed by the results of Wednesday’s game 7 against the Boston Bruins, but made it clear that nothing had changed in their relationship.

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