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Prospect Notes: Gawdin, Plant, Rising Stars

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The Calgary Flames have inked another young CHL player to an entry-level deal, signing Glenn Gawdin to a three-year contract. Gawdin was originally a fourth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2015 but never signed, becoming a free agent. He’s currently playing as a 20-year old in the WHL for the Swift Current Broncos.

Though Gawdin has been an effective player throughout his junior career, this season has been spectacular as he plays against younger competition. With 40 points in 18 games, he ranks third in the WHL in scoring and only trails two of his own teammates. He’ll be heading to the AHL next year in all likelihood, but with experience at center ice could be on a fast track to Calgary.

Blues’ Beau Bennett Reassigned To AHL

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When Beau Bennett signed with the St. Louis Blues as a free agent this summer, he saw it as a fresh start in a career that has been marred by injury and missed opportunity. After an impressive rookie campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012-13, following his surprise early departure from the University of Denver, Bennett looked lay he may be a long-term option for the Eastern Conference dynasty. Yet, in three more seasons with Pittsburgh, Bennett would never play a full-time role for the team nor top his 14-point total from his first campaign. A move to New Jersey last season in exchange for a third-round pick – showing that the league still believed in the 25-year-old’s ability and potential – was supposed to be a new start for Bennett. However, even in a career-high 65 games, Bennett only managed 19 points and was not qualified for the Devils.

Cue the Blues, who signed Bennett right away when free agency opened on July 1st. While the contract was only for the league minimum of $650K, it looked like the young winger still had a shot at a depth role in St. Louis. Those dreams were deterred early on, as Bennett was loaned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves before even the end of September. Yet, Bennett was recalled to the NHL squad three weeks ago and since had been given six games to prove he could stick in St. Louis. In those six contests, Bennett failed to record a point and took only six shots. He may have seen only 11 minutes or so of ice time per game, but Bennett was still invisible in that sample size.

Unsurprisingly, the once-promising forward is now back in the AHL, according to the Wolves. Bennett had three points in five games for AHL Chicago prior to his call-up, so he may have found a fit with the minor league team. However, when he’ll get his next chance with the Blues and just how many chances he has left in the NHL have now become legitimate questions.

Poll: Which Team Needs Help At Forward The Most?

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In last night’s Insider Trading on TSN, the panel—comprised of Pierre LeBrun, Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger—spoke about the increased demand for top forwards around the league. According to them, the supply isn’t quite there for all these teams to go out and acquire someone impactful, so it’ll have to come down to the highest bidders.

The list of ten teams that McKenzie gave that are in the market for a forward include some surprises like Tampa Bay—who LeBrun clarified are currently looking for a winger to play with Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn—and obvious choices like Anaheim and Montreal.

Columbus put together a trade offer for Matt Duchene, and as LeBrun stated on TSN radio yesterday they’re still in the hunt for an upgrade down the middle. There’s no clear option at center as impressive as Duchene (or Kyle Turris, who was included in the same trade), but players are sure to shake loose as the season progresses.

So, who on this list needs the forward help the most this year? While deciding your vote, make sure to not just take in the offensive struggles but the proximity to Stanley Cup contention for each club. Which team will be the most willing to spend at the deadline, and go after the big fish to put them over the edge?

We’ve included all the teams on McKenzie’s list, but if you feel strongly that another should join the pursuit of another forward make sure to leave your comments below.

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

Berglund, Bouwmeester Will Travel With Team On Upcoming Roadtrip

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  • The St. Louis Blues got some good news as Tom Timmermann of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that center Patrik Berglund and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester practiced with the team today and are expected to travel with the team on their upcoming three-game road trip. While coach Mike Yeo said that neither is expected to play on the road trip, both are close to returning to the lineup. Berglund was not projected to return until December after undergoing shoulder surgery and could be ahead of his timetable. Bouwmeester only practiced today for the first time since fracturing his ankle earlier this season.

Metropolitan Notes: Santini, Ho-Sang, Hunwick, Niskanen, Vesey

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The New Jersey Devils got back into the win column Saturday after failing to win their previous four games. Despite that fact, New Jersey remains in first place with a 10-4-2 record in a tough Metropolitan Division. Yet, the team’s 2-1 victory Saturday against the Florida Panthers was a defensive effort in which many players praised the play of unheralded defenseman Steven Santini, according to The Record’s Andrew Gross.

The physical 22-year-old defenseman only played in 38 games a year ago, but is a mainstay on the team’s defense this year. The former second-round pick from 2013, showed off his physicality against Florida with big hits, most notably a hit in which he dumped the Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov into his team’s own bench in the second period. Santini got plenty of ice time with 23:42, was credited with four hits and was smart enough to avoid a penalty when challenged by Panthers’ enforcer Micheal Haley in the third period.

  • New York Islanders Joshua Ho-Sang made the most of his emergency recall Saturday when he scored a goal against the St. Louis Blues last night, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday. Ho-Sang, the team’s first-round pick in 2014, had played six games with the Islanders to start the season, but was sent down to work on improving his in-game mentality — knowing when to drive to the net and when to dump the puck. Ho-Sang had put up two goals and four assists in six games during that span with the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers, but with Anthony Beauvillier day-to-day, Ho-Sang got his chance to redeem himself. He can stay up on an emergency basis for 30 days or 10 games, but the team could always officially recall him as well.
  • Jonathan Bombulie of The Trib Live writes that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Hunwick, who has already missed 12 games due to a concussion diagnosed on Oct. 17, has hit a plateau in his recovery and will be held off the ice for a few more days. “He’s been having a tough time getting over that last hurdle, and so they want to take a little bit of a different approach to try to get him over that last hump,” coach Mike Sullivan said.
  • NBC Sports Tarik El-Bashir writes that Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen will travel on the team’s upcoming road trip to Nashville and Colorado, according to head coach Barry Trotz. Niskanen, who has been on LTIR since Oct. 14 due to an upper-body injury, will not suit up tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, but could be ready to suit up for one or both of the away games this week. The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan tweets that Niskanen has been cleared for contact, but is not “full go” and may or may not be ready for games this week. A key veteran defender, the team’s defense would get a big boost upon his return.
  • New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey went straight to the dentist after Saturday’s victory over the Edmonton Oilers, according to Newsday’s Steve Zipay. The 24-year-old wing took a Zack Kassian skate to the mouth in the second period. Two of Vesey’s teeth had to be removed from his lip. Despite the injury, Vesey returned for a shift in the third period and wore a protective plastic cage attached to the lower part of his helmet. He is day-to-day.

Matheson Deal In Florida Could Be A Comparable For Edmundson's Next Contract

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  • Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson is off to a strong start this season. He already has surpassed his goal total from the last two years combined while leading the league in blocked shots.  As a result, he’s setting himself up for a nice day as an RFA with arbitration rights this summer.  In a reader chat, Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests that the eight-year, $39MM deal that Florida gave Michael Matheson earlier this season could be a comparable contract that comes up in negotiations.  Anything even close to that would certainly represent a big raise over his $1.2MM salary this season that also represents his qualifying offer next summer.

Robby Fabbri Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery

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Although he tore his ACL nearly seven weeks ago, Blues forward Robby Fabbri only underwent surgery to fix the ligament on Tuesday, notes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The team revealed that there were no complications with the procedure and that there is no timetable to return.  A return this season is highly unlikely as these injuries can take between six-to-nine months to heal while the team will likely want to be cautious considering this is the second time in less than a year that he required this surgery after also tearing the same ACL back in February.

St. Louis Potentially Pursuing Danis Zaripov

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According to a report out of Russia from Vadim Kuznetsov, the St. Louis Blues have offered a contract to suspended KHL forward Danis Zaripov. The story quotes the 36-year old himself, who explains that nothing is imminent. Zaripov received a two-year suspension from the IIHF for doping, but was cleared to seek a contract in the NHL due to the fact that the substance is not prohibited in the league’s own doping policy. Zaripov had been tenuously linked to the Lightning and Penguins previously, and also apparently had two offers in hand at the beginning of September. It’s unclear if this mention of St. Louis means a new contract offer, or one that had previously been submitted.

Zaripov is a legendary KHL player, known as one of the best “clutch” performers the league has ever known. He’s taken home the Gagarin Cup as league champion four times, and has scored an incredible 114 points in 127 playoff contests. He’s also been part of five medal-winning World Championship teams, including taking home the Gold three times. In that tournament, he’s registered 49 points in 45 games.

Nearly 20 years ago, Zaripov also had a short stint in North American hockey. In 1998-99, a teenaged sniper came over to the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL and put up 23 goals in 62 games. He returned to Russia the next season, and has stayed there ever since.

There is quite a bit of risk in signing Zaripov, especially in light of what has happened with Vadim Shipachyov. Because Zaripov is over 35, if something didn’t work out and he was forced to “retire” in the same fashion, his cap hit would remain. For many teams taking that chance poses too much risk, even for a player who has been about as consistent as you find in the KHL. Zaripov is third all-time in KHL scoring, only behind Alexander Radulov and Sergei Mozyakin.

Patrik Berglund Resumes Skating

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  • Blues center Patrik Berglund has resumed skating with the team and is taking part in select drills, notes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He has yet to play this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in June but this is certainly a step in the right direction.  The original timeline for his return to the lineup was December and it appears he’s at least on track to be able to return sometime close to that.

Minor Transactions: 11/03/17

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Twelve games on the slate last night in the NHL, and we had some wild ones. The Blue Jackets show why they’re in the elite of the east, Los Angeles gives Toronto a wake-up call, and the Flyers stun one of the league’s best teams with a 2-0 shutout. Today, several moves should be expected as teams prepare for their next test. As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.

  • The St. Louis Blues have assigned Ville Husso to the San Antonio Rampage, after coming up on emergency loan. Carter Hutton had been away from the team awaiting the birth of his first child, and likely will be back for tomorrow’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Husso is one of the Blues’ top goaltending prospects, but he’ll have to return to the Rampage who aren’t yet under St. Louis control. The Blues don’t have a primary affiliate this season, but will begin a partnership with the Rampage next year.
  • Denis Malgin is on his way back to the AHL after suiting up in five games for the Florida Panthers. Malgin played just 11 minutes last night in the team’s loss and is still looking for his first point of the season. His assignment once again points to the idea that Owen Tippett might stay in Florida past the ten game threshold, as the team is now carrying just 13 forwards.
  • That’s not the only move Florida has made, as Chase Balisy is also headed for the AHL. Balisy made his NHL debut earlier this year, and got into three games for the Panthers before the reassignment. Florida is down to 12 forwards, which not only means good things for Tippett, but also likely means Jared McCann is indeed ready to return.
  • As expected, the Montreal Canadiens have recalled Charlie Lindgren from Laval to fill in for Carey Price this weekend. Price is out with a lower-body injury, and will relinquish the net to Al Montoya for Saturday’s matchup. Lindgren will likely back him up.
  • The Senators have announced the recall of defenseman Ben Harpur from Belleville of the AHL.  He’s likely insurance for Mark Borowiecki, who has missed the last two games due to illness.  Harpur has played in one game with Ottawa this season as well as three at the minor league level.

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