San Jose Sharks To Sign Santeri Hatakka
The San Jose Sharks have come to terms with one of their recent draft picks. According to CapFriendly, the Sharks are set to sign 2019 sixth-round selection Santeri Hatakka to an entry-level deal that will begin next season. It is believed to be a three-year ELC with an $850K AAV for the young defenseman.
Hatakka, 20, spent this season as a full-time player at the top pro level in his native Finland, playing for the Liiga’s Ilves. In fact, Hatakka is signed through the 2022-23 season with an option for an additional year, but the Sharks wanted to lock down the promising blue liner regardless of how long he plans to spend developing overseas. Hatakka held his own in the Liiga this season, recording seven points and an even rating in 44 games while receiving regular play time for a playoff team. Hatakka also played well against his peers at the World Junior Championship, recording two points in seven games for Team Finland en route to a bronze medal.
The Jokerit product is a well-rounded defender who some felt would be selected higher than he was in his draft year. While the Sharks have some impressive young names on the left side of the blue line already – Mario Ferraro, Nikolai Knyzhov, Brinson Pasichnuk in the pros alone – and long-term commitments to veterans Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Radim Simek, the team clearly sees upside in Hatakka and want to bring him into the organization and see what he can do. It may not be next year or even the year after, despite what the contract may imply, but one day Hatakka will be a factor in the San Jose depth chart.
Snapshots: NWHL, Kekalainen, Boqvist
The NWHL has officially announced a salary cap increase to $300,000 for each team, doubling the cap that it had previously used. Commissioner Tyler Tumminia released the following statement on the increase:
The NWHL is committed to its vision of providing opportunities for elite women’s hockey players to earn a living playing the game they love. This increased investment by ownership, especially following a challenging and shortened season, is a significant step forward and exemplifies the strength of our league and our developing business model as we continue to advance professional women’s hockey and inspire the next generation of female athletes.
The league is coming off a successful conclusion to its shortened 2020-21 campaign, which dealt with continual delays and cancellations that threatened to keep the Isobel Cup off the ice. In late March, the playoffs were broadcast on NBCSN for the first time, with hundreds of thousands watching the Boston Pride take home the championship. Just a few days ago, it was announced that the 2021 NWHL Draft will be held virtually on June 29, broadcast live on Twitch, the league’s streaming partner.
- Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has a tall order of building his NHL team back to relevance, but some of his time will also be spent representing his country. The veteran executive has been named assistant general manager of Team Finland for next year’s Winter Olympics, helping former NHL forward and Finland GM Jere Lehtinen in the selection of players. Of course, there are a few names on the Columbus roster currently that could be considered for the team, most notably sniper Patrik Laine. The 23-year-old Laine has had the worst season of his career so far this year, scoring just 12 goals and 21 points in 42 games, 18 of which came with the Blue Jackets after an early-season trade. Newcomer Mikko Lehtonen could be in the running after dominating in the KHL, and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo could make it depending on what happens with aging netminders like Pekka Rinne and Tuukka Rask.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have not yet announced a recovery timeline, but don’t expect to see Adam Boqvist back on the ice this season. Head coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters including those at The Athletic that the young defenseman suffered a broken wrist in last night’s game. It is unclear yet how long he’ll be out, but Colliton explained this morning that he does not believe Boqvist will need surgery.
Sabres Sign Oskari Laaksonen To Three-Year, Entry-Level Deal
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of defenseman Oskari Laaksonen to a three-year contract, per the team. Laaksonen joins Buffalo on an entry-level contract after the team made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft.
Since being drafted 89th overall by the Sabres, Laaksonen, 20, has spent the past three seasons with Ilves of the Finnish Elite League. Laaksonen recorded 12 points for the Ilves over 46 games this past season. He also won a gold medal with Team Finland at the 2019 World Junior Championship while skating alongside another Sabres’ youngster, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Laaksonen’s stock jumped shortly after the draft, and the young puck-mover has continued to impress during his time in his native Finland. He had signed a two-year deal with the Ilves, putting doubt into whether he’d be ready to make the jump to the NHL. But evidently, he’s ready.
The deal comes on the heels of the Sabres learning that they’d lost defenseman Lawrence Pilut to the KHL. Pilut, 24, looked like a potential building block for the Sabres, who instead now transition the future of their defence to Laaksonen. Included in the press release announcing the signing was a comment from Sabres’ GM Jason Botterill, who said, “The work Oskari has put in to improve his game has paid off during his last two seasons. His success on the international stage and what he’s done as a 19- and 20-year-old playing in a professional league is impressive.”
The Sabres finished the year in sixth place of the Atlantic Division, on the outside looking in for the upcoming 24-team playoff. Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2010-2011 season, the second of back-to-back losses in the quarterfinals to the Flyers and Bruins, respectively.
Prospect Notes: WJC Injuries, Groulx, Mysak
The World Junior Championship began today and it took just 53 seconds for the first notable injury to occur. Czech Republic forward Jakub Lauko (BOS) was sandwiched between two Russian checks within the first minute of this morning’s game (video). Lauko’s right knee buckled from knee-to-knee contact on the first hit and as he he fell there was knee-to-knee contact on the second hit, not to mention shoulder-to-chest and head-to-ice. Lauko struggled off the ice and did not return. He was later seen watching the game with his right knee taped and using crutches. After the game, head coach Vaclav Varada indicated that it was an MCL injury for Lauko and that the early expectation is that he will miss the rest of the tournament. The host Czechs escaped with the win against the Russians, but will struggle without Lauko, one of the top forwards on a shallow unit up front. Lauko has eight points in 18 games with the Providence Bruins in his first pro season.
Team Finland also suffered a blow in the first game of their title defense and it wasn’t just the loss to rival Sweden. Rasmus Kupari (LAK) suffered a left knee injury in the third period on an awkward check that sent him airborne (video). Kupari was helped off the ice and did not return. Early indications is that it is a serious injury. Kupari had eight points in 27 games with the AHL’s Onatio Reign prior to the injury but now one has to wonder if his first season in North America is now over, ended by the overseas tournament. Fortunately for Kings fans, the team still leads all NHL teams in WJC participants, even with Kupari’s absence.
- Benoit-Olivier Groulx (ANA), the final cut from Team Canada’s WJC roster, will be on a new team when QMJHL action resumes. The Moncton Wildcats have announced that they have acquired the former Halifax Mooseheads captain in exchange for a 2021 first-round pick and second-round picks in 2020 and 2022. Groulx, a second-round selection of the Anaheim Ducks in 2018, had 41 points in 28 games with Halifax prior to the trade and will look to keep that momentum going with his new team. The skilled, two-way center is a major addition for Moncton, who currently hold the third-best record in the league and have their eyes on a Memorial Cup berth this season.
- 2020 NHL Draft prospect Jan Mysak made a splash in his WJC debut, named the player of the game for the Czech Republic versus Russia. The young winger is a dynamic offensive talent who has flown somewhat under the radar due to his participation in the Czech pro league instead of a more recognizable locale. However, many expect that by the end of the tournament he will have assured any doubters that he is worthy of his first-round billing. Meanwhile, older brother Josef Mysak didn’t want to miss out on the headlines. Mysak, a defenseman in the NAHL, has committed to play college hockey at Niagara University. The elder Mysak becomes the first graduate of HC Litvinov, the program that both he and his brother grew up in, to play in the NCAA, while Jan could become the first to be drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft.
Anton Lundell Will Not Play In WJC
Those who wanted to get a closer look at one of the top European prospects available in the 2020 draft will be disappointed with the news that Anton Lundell will not play for Team Finland at the upcoming World Junior Championship. There was some hope that Lundell would be able to heal fast enough from his recent injury to join the team, but today saw the end of any chance he would be back to defend his gold medal.
Lundell, 18, actually assisted on the golden goal last year that Kaapo Kakko scored to secure the tournament win for Finland and was expected to be one of the best forwards on the ice this time around. The 6’1″ forward has 12 points in 20 games playing for HIFK at the highest level in Finland this season and is in consideration as a top-five selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Like many Finnish stars of recent years, Lundell has excellent puck protection skills and can shoot the puck from several different positions. Mike Morreale of NHL.com included the talented forward as his eighth-best prospect in a ranking from early October, and a strong performance at the World Juniors could have helped that stock even more. Unfortunately that won’t happen, though obviously a return to health is more important for his long-term future.
Finland lost 4-2 to Team Canada in the final pre-tournament game earlier today, and will kick things off against rival Sweden on December 26th.
WJC Notes: Groulx, Thomson, Ford
Team Canada has finalized its roster for the upcoming U-20 World Junior Championship, hosted this year by the Czech Republic. The team has made one last cut, and TSN’s Mark Masters reports that it is Anaheim Ducks prospect Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Groulx, a 2018 second-round pick, has been having yet another strong season in the QMJHL and doing so on a poor Halifax Mooseheads team. The two-way pivot is likely a victim of a roster chock full of centers, with many already slated to line up on the wing. With “Bo” heading home, Masters has also shared Team Canada’s practice lines with their roster finalized, which is likely the way that they will line up to begin the tournament.
- Team Finland, looking to defend their championship performance from last year, has announced their leadership group for the WJC. Ottawa Senators 2019 first-round pick Lassi Thomson has been named captain, leading the team as their top defenseman. Thomson brings an array of experience to the squad, having played professionally in Finland this year, recording ten points in 23 games on loan with Ilves of the Liiga, as well as the junior level with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets last season. Given the Senators’ issues on the blue line, Thomson is a strong candidate to join the NHL ranks next season and his WJC performance could be telling of where he stands versus other elite prospects. Los Angeles Kings forward prospect Rasmus Kupari and Vancouver Canucks defensive prospect Toni Utunen will sere as alternates.
- Even after making a trio of cuts on Wednesday, Team USA still has a few tough decisions to make. For now, a few surprises remain on the roster, hopeful that they will get a chance to shine on the international stage. Overage prospect Parker Ford headlines that group, looking to make a name for himself after getting passed over in the NHL Draft. The Providence College freshman forward was a good if unspectacular player in the USHL, but has gotten off to a strong start in his NCAA career with 14 points in 17 games. Ford would be an intriguing name to watch for the Americans if he does in fact make the final roster. Other potential surprise inclusions on the roster include New York Islanders seventh-round defenseman Christian Krygier of Michigan State, Boston Bruins fourth-round center Curtis Hall of Yale, and Notre Dame teammates Jacob Pivonka and Trevor Janicke, late picks of the Islanders and Anaheim Ducks respectively.
Veeti Miettinen Commits To St. Cloud State University
The St. Cloud State University Huskies have been the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for two years in a row and aren’t looking to slow down. Today they picked up another impressive commitment in Finnish forward Veeti Miettinen, according to The Rink Live. The 2020 NHL Draft-eligible prospect is expected to join the program ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Miettinen, 17, is considered an early-round candidate for next year’s draft. In their preliminary rankings, Future Considerations placed the talented Finn at No. 40, an early second-round score, but he could very well push for first-round consideration. At 5’9” and 159 lbs., Miettinen is far from a physical force, but hasn’t let his lack of stature stop him from being an offensive force. Last season, he recorded 61 points in 48 games for the Espoo Blues’ U-20 team competing in the junior Liiga. He then tacked on four points in five games at the U-18 World Junior Championships. Miettinen will be back with the Blues and the U-18 Finns again this season, but he could greatly improve his draft stock if he can also earn a look with the Liiga’s Blues and the U-20 Team Finland World Junior entry.
Once at St. Cloud, Miettinen will be joining a program that just graduated stars like Ryan Poehling, Patrick Newell, and Jimmy Schuldt, but are far from empty when it comes to talent. Defenseman Nick Perbix (TBL) and forward Sam Hentges (MIN) are among the top young contributors who will still be around when Miettinen arrives next season, with many still sure to be added to the recruiting class. With that said, St. Cloud fans should be very excited about Miettinen, who has the potential to be the next Ryan Poehling in terms of game-changing talent up front.
Snapshots: Jets, Kings, Badgers
A lot has been made about the rumored discourse in the Winnipeg Jets’ locker room. The team suffered another early exit from the postseason this year and some reactions from players, coaches, and media members alike indicated that chemistry concerns may have played a role. This off-season hasn’t helped the narrative either, with mainstays Tyler Myers, Ben Chiarot, and Brandon Tanev all electing to walk away as free agents, while Jacob Trouba was traded and Marko Dano and Joe Morrow were not qualified. Andrew Copp was re-signed, but only after a salary arbitration award, and Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor remain unsigned. It’s not good look for a group of players who some feel don’t get along.
Well, star player Mark Scheifele wants to put a stop to these whispers. Speaking with NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger, the Jets’ No. 1 center said that he is confident in his team’s chemistry. “People can claim whatever, but I know we have a tight-knit team,” Scheifele said, “We have great guys in our room. And there’s no question in my mind about the character we have in our room, the unity that we have.” He summed up the ongoing drama by stating that “you know what’s going on in your room. Anything extra is a bunch of baloney.” Scheifele admitted that it was difficult to see the likes of Trouba, Myers, Chiarot, and Tanev leave and hopes that there are resolutions shortly with Laine and Connor, but did not hint that internal issues were the cause of any of their negotiations. Of course, Scheifele would never come out and say otherwise, but it should provide Winnipeg fans with a bit of comfort that he was willing to speak openly about the locker room and tried to shut down the rumors that personalities have or could continue to affect the team’s performance.
- The World Junior Summer Showcase is underway and fans of the Los Angeles Kings should pay close attention. NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman writes that the Kings lead the way with seven prospects participating in the tournament, headlined by recent No. 5 overall pick Alex Turcotte of Team USA. In fact, each of L.A.’s top four selections in June are in attendance; Turcotte is joined by fellow first-round pick Tobias Bjornfot, fellow American forward Arthur Kaliyev, and forward Samuel Fagemo, who joins Bjornfot on Team Sweden. Fourth-round pick Kim Nousiainen will also suit up for Team Finland. 2018 picks Akil Thomas and Aidan Dudas will both line up at forward for Team Canada. It’s an impressive collection of young talent for the Kings and one that should inspire hope for the future for a team that finished last in the Western Conference this past season with just 71 points. This group likely won’t be making an impact in the NHL in 2019-20, but L.A. is grooming a talented young core to take over down the road.
- As for next season, Turcotte definitely won’t be in L.A., as he’s committed to playing at the University of Wisconsin. The Badgers’ incoming recruiting class has been very highly regarded, as it features Turcotte and fellow U.S. National Team Development Program products Cole Caufield (MTL) and Owen Lindmark (FLA), as well as another 2019 draft selection in Ryder Donovan (VGK) and potential 2020 top-ten pick in Dylan Holloway. With so many talented freshmen incoming, the question has been how head coach Tony Granato would use his rejuvenated roster. That question has been partially answered for the arguably the team’s new two best forwards. Talking to The Athletic’s Corey Pronman at the Summer Showcase, Caufield stated that he and Turcotte will play on the same line for Wisconsin, at least to begin the year. The duo have some familiarity, although Caufield – the No. 15 pick this year – largely played on Jack Hughes‘ wing last season. However, they both possess immense offensive talent, while Turcotte has the two-way intelligence to compensate for Caufield’s lack of size and defensive focus if need be. Having played on the international stage already, the adjustment to the college level should not be too difficult and Turcotte and Caufield could put up huge numbers in their first (and likely only) collegiate season.
New York Rangers Pick Kaapo Kakko At No. 2 Overall
The New York Rangers were in a win-win situation with the second overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, happy to take whoever the rival New Jersey Devils didn’t at No. 1. When the Devils, as expected, selected American center Jack Hughes, the Rangers were happy to swoop in an take Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko. Kakko did everything he could to push Hughes this season and few will argue that he isn’t the most pro-ready prospect in the draft class.
At 6’2″ and 190 lbs., Kakko already has NHL size but even more evident is his NHL ability. A strong player who can win puck battles and crash the net, Kakko can also just as easily stick handle around the opposition with finesse and vision. More importantly, his elite instincts allow him to nearly always know which approach to take. A goal-scoring threat at all times, Kakko will quickly become a dangerous presence at the NHL level.
Several of his soon-to-be competitors already got a glimpse of what he is capable of at the recent World Championships. Kakko notching six goals and an assist in ten games for Team Finland, showing that pro competition isn’t going to slow him down. In fact, he displayed that all year in the Finnish Liiga, recording 22 goals and 38 points in 45 games against older and more experienced players, and only improved as the year went on, as he showed with a point-per-game postseason performance. If that growth continues, Kakko will become the star of the Rangers’ impressive young core and could become one of the biggest names in hockey with major production in a massive market.
Finland Names Their Roster For The World Championships
The 2019 IIHF World Hockey Championships are set to get underway on Friday and participating countries are in the process of finalizing their rosters. Finland has announced their squad for the tourney which is as follows (NHL rights in parentheses):
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen (Chicago)
Jussi Olkinuora
Veini Vehvilainen (Columbus)
Defensemen:
Jani Hakanpaa (St. Louis)
Henri Jokiharju (Chicago)
Oliwer Kaski
Miika Koivisto
Mikko Lehtonen
Petteri Lindbohm (St. Louis)
Niko Mikkola (St. Louis)
Atte Ohtamaa
Forwards:
Marko Anttila
Arttu Ilomäki
Kaapo Kakko
Joel Kiviranta
Kristian Kuusela
Juho Lammikko (Florida)
Eetu Luostarinen (Carolina)
Sakari Manninen
Niko Ojamaki
Harri Pesonen
Toni Rajala
Jere Sallinen
Veli-Matti Savinainen
Juhani Tyrvainen
On paper, this is not a roster with a lot of firepower, especially compared to some of the high-end Finnish players in the NHL. That said, there are a few players of note that are worth keeping an eye on.
Kakko is the projected second overall pick in next month’s draft behind Jack Hughes who will also be participating. Given the lack of NHL-caliber talent around him, it’s likely that he’ll be given an important role which will be of great interest to scouts around the league. Lammikko played in 40 games with the Panthers this past season while Kuusela was tied for third in Finnish league scoring.
On the back end, Jokiharju surprised many by cracking Chicago’s roster to start the season and he played an important role early on before ultimately going to the minor leagues. He’s expected to push for a full-time spot with the Blackhawks for next season. Kaski had a very strong season offensively in the sm-Liiga which has him fielding interest from several NHL teams as a free agent and he could sign shortly after the tournament. Hakanpaa is technically still property of the Blues until July 1st when free agency opens but it’s believed that there are NHL teams interested in his services for next season as well.
In goal, Vehvilainen slots in as the likely starter. The Columbus draft pick led the sm-Liiga in GAA (1.58) and SV% (.933) in 38 games with Karpat in the regular season. He then improved on those results in the postseason. While he’s a little undersized for a goaltender relative to other NHL netminders, he’s nonetheless a quality prospect, something that the Blue Jackets have several of between the pipes.