Snapshots: Boucher, Thornton, Hamhuis, Lindholm, Cullen
The Vancouver Canucks placed center Reid Boucher on waivers with the hopes of sending him to Utica of the AHL, according to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie. The forward missed the final three games of the season when he broke his hand, but Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that he is healthy again and ready to join the Comets for the first-round series against the Toronto Marlies in the Calder Cup playoffs.
The 24-year-old Boucher struggled to make an impact with the Canucks this season as he had just three goals and five points in 20 games. However, he was quite successful when playing for the Comets, putting up 25 goals in just 45 games for the AHL squad. He is a restricted free agent this offseason.
- The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reports that San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said that center Joe Thornton has been ruled out in Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights later this week, although no date has been set yet by the NHL. The 38-year-old has been working his way back from a torn MCL injury in January. He has been practicing on his own, but obviously if he’s been ruled out already for Game 1, then it might be another week. Regardless, he could be back at some point in the series.
- SportsDay’s Mike Heika profiles defenseman Dan Hamhuis, who was a key shutdown defender alongside Greg Pateryn this season for about 50 games before the 35-year-old veteran began to wear down. The defensive-minded defenseman still tallied three goals, 24 points, 113 blocks and 82 hits during the season, but the scribe writes the veteran’s play was part of the reason for Dallas’ late-season struggles. Heika adds that it’s likely the team will move on from Hamhuis who will be a unrestricted free agent this summer. He is finishing up a two year, $7.5MM deal. The team is likely to go with a younger defense as they will want to give minutes to Julius Honka and last year’s third-overall pick Miro Heiskanen, who many believe will come over from Finland next season.
- With his team having lost the SHL finals, center Par Lindholm, one of Skelleftea top players, is expected to leave the team and come to the NHL, according to Expresssen (translation required). The 26-year-old put up 18 goals and 29 assists in 49 games this past season, and added another six goals and 11 points in 16 playoff games and played for Sweden in the 2018 Olympic Games. There is no word in the article where he might go, although there is plenty of interest from NHL teams.
- The Minnesota Wild’s Matt Cullen has not made any decisions about whether he intends to return next season, according to StarTribune’s Sarah MacLellan. “I don’t know,” the 41-year-old said after the Wild were eliminated Friday. “My only though here the last while was getting it back home for Game 6. So to be honest, I don’t have an answer right now.” Cullen, who has played 20 seasons so far in the NHL, waited until August last year before opting to leave Pittsburgh and join Minnesota, his hometown team. He played in 79 games, but saw his points total drop to one of his lowest totals ever with 22 points.
Barzal, Boeser, Keller Nominated For Calder Trophy
The NHL released the names of the 2018 Calder Trophy nominees as the New York Islanders’ Mathew Barzal, Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser and the Arizona Coyotes’ Clayton Keller were named as the league’s top rookies. The award will be voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association with the winners to be announced on June 20 in Las Vegas.
In a year in which there were a large amount of talented rookies, several good players didn’t get nominated, including the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Yanni Gourde, Boston Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy, New Jersey Devils’ Nico Hischier, Chicago Blackhawks’ Alex DeBrincat and Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor.
Barzal is the likely hands down winner after putting up a great rookie year with 22 goals and 83 points, centering the Islanders’ second line for most of the season. He was the only rookie to average more than a point per game (1.04) and had three five-point performances throughout the season. His emergence could lessen the blow if teammate John Tavares opts to leave via free agency as Barzal could easily take over as the team’s franchise player.
Boeser’s chances are slimmer after only playing in 62 games when he was lost for the season with a back injury. However, in that time, he put up 29 goals, 55 points and was named MVP of the 2018 All-Star Game. He should be a constant presence along with Bo Horvat with the young core of forwards that are coming in as the team’s rebuilding project begins to come to fruition.
Keller led all rookies in ice time (18:05) and put up 23 goals and 42 assists in his freshman campaign and also led the team in goals, assists and points. He provides the franchise with another core piece as the Coyotes begin to build their team back to contending status.
NBC Sports’ Sean Leahy was the first to report the news.
Vancouver’s Pettersson Joins Elite Company In SHL
Already expected to have Adam Gaudette and Jonathan Dahlen on their roster next season, the Vancouver Canucks might be able add another gem in 2017 first-rounder Elias Pettersson, who has dominated the SHL in his rookie season and put himself among elite company.
His team Vaxjo captured the Swedish League Championship today when it swept Skelleftea in four games and Pettersson dominated. Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that Pettersson, the Canucks’ fifth-overall pick a year ago, was named the playoff MVP and is expected to be named to the Swedish World Hockey tryout camp.
The 19-year-old led the SHL in scoring in both the regular season and playoffs, the first player under 20 to ever do that. In total, he had 75 points in 56 games (including the playoffs), which sits him comfortably in first place among all-time juniors in the SHL. Ironically, Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin, who had the record, is now second all-time when he totaled 61 points back in 1999-2000. Daniel Sedin now holds both third and fourth places.
He tallied 24 goals and 32 assists during the regular season, but added a staggering 10 goals and 9 assists in 13 playoff games. The hope is that Pettersson will join Vancouver next season.
Vancouver Canucks Sign Lukas Jasek To Three-Year Deal
The Vancouver Canucks have seen enough of Lukas Jasek to know that he’s a player they want in their organization, and today announced a three-year entry-level contract for the 20-year old forward. Jasek joined the Utica Comets in late March on an amateur tryout, and has seven points in his first six AHL games.
Despite being a sixth-round pick in 2015, there is a lot to be excited about in Jasek’s profile. He’s been on the radar of NHL scouts for quite some time, thanks to his obvious offensive talent and performance at tournaments like the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. He was ranked 23rd among European skaters in 2015, but fell to 174th-overall before the Canucks snapped him up. In the three years since, he’s dominated the Czech junior league, second league and now this season recorded an impressive 18 points in 48 games at the highest level the country offers.
One of the biggest knocks on Jasek was always his strength, as even though he would work hard for pucks and drive the net with a purpose, he was thin and could be knocked off the puck. The Canucks now list him at 6’1″ 184-lbs, which while not monstrous is definitely big enough to last in the North American game. He’s proven that in his short taste with Utica, where he’s looked dangerous every time the puck is on his stick.
There’s no guarantee that Jasek ever makes it up to the NHL, but the early returns have been quite good since he joined the organization. By getting him under contract the Canucks will hope to keep developing him in the minors and add another skilled prospect to their rapidly filling cupboard.
Despite Benchings, Ben Hutton Has Not Requested A Trade
- Despite the fact that Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton spent plenty of time as a healthy scratch this season and was publicly criticized by head coach Travis Green at times, he has not asked for a trade, his agent Andy Scott told Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma. The blueliner, who turns 25 on Friday, recorded just six assists in 61 games in 2017-18 after putting up a total of 44 points over the previous two years. With a cap hit (and salary) of $2.8MM next season that will also represent his qualifying offer in the summer of 2019, Hutton will need a bounce-back season to avoid potentially becoming a non-tender candidate.
Elias Pettersson Likely To Start On The Wing
Canucks prospect Elias Pettersson is likely to play on the wing to start next season if he makes the NHL roster, GM Jim Benning acknowledged to Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma. Pettersson, a natural center, spent most of this past season on the wing so it’s hard to foresee him switching back to the tougher position while trying to get used to playing at the NHL level. Accordingly, Kuzma speculates that Vancouver could be in the market this offseason for a veteran on a short-term deal that could act as a bridge for players like Pettersson and Adam Gaudette to allow them to ease into NHL duty.
Jonathan Dahlen Reassigned To Utica Comets
After another outstanding season in Sweden, Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen is on his way to the Utica Comets to help in their postseason run. Utica has three games remaining before the end of the regular season, but have already secured a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Dahlen, 20, was acquired last season from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexandre Burrows, and has done nothing but impress since. After scoring 44 points in 45 games last season for Timra in the Swedish second league, he matched that total in one fewer game this time around. That was good for second in the entire league, and his 14 playoff points led all Allsvenskan skaters.
Selected 42nd overall in 2016, Dahlen is a legitimate top-six forward prospect that could contribute to Vancouver’s offense sooner than later. His creativity with the puck and goal scoring ability makes him dangerous from anywhere in the offensive zone, and can find opportunities where others may not. Though somewhat undersized—unlike his father, long-time NHL player Ulf Dahlen who stood 6’2″—he gets quite a bit of power in his shot and can almost always find space to unload it.
The young forward might need a whole year (or more) in the AHL before really making an impact in Vancouver, but he’ll get a chance to turn some heads over the next few weeks. If he jumps right into the action with Utica—who have had trouble scoring goals at times this season, relying on Thatcher Demko to steal games for them—there is no reason to think he won’t be able to produce offense at good clip.
Morning Notes: Trotz, Stamkos, Boeser
The playoffs are important for every coach in the league as they try to secure their job and legacy in the league. None more than for Barry Trotz though, who could face unemployment if he can’t get the Washington Capitals past the second round, despite winning the Metropolitan Division for the third consecutive season.
Trotz is in a unique position, as detailed by Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post. Svrluga writes that assistant coaches Todd Reirden and Blaine Forsythe both have contracts beyond this season, despite Trotz being in his final year. Brian MacLellan was also just signed to a new multi-year extension, meaning the coach will likely take the heat should Washington fail once again.
- Steven Stamkos hasn’t played since the first of April, but that won’t stop him from getting into the lineup for Game 1 in the Tampa Bay Lightning-New Jersey Devils series. Stamkos has been confirmed healthy enough to go, giving the Lightning back another superstar just in time.
- Brock Boeser was one of the brightest lights in the entire NHL this season, starring for the Vancouver Canucks in his rookie year. That all came to an end when he suffered a broken bone in his back in early March, an injury that could have been much worse. “That injury could have ended my career, honestly” Boeser told Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet, while discussing the pain he went through in the hospital. The young forward is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of the 2018-19 season.
2018 NHL Draft Lottery Odds
The regular season is over and for the first time in NHL history there are 15 teams on the outside of the playoff picture. For those squads and their fans, it’s a long wait for anything positive to come, with the 2018 NHL Entry Draft more than ten weeks away, scheduled for June 18th, and the start of free agency another two weeks after that. However, the odds for this year’s NHL Draft Lottery are now set and teams can at least look forward to the ping pong balls being drawn at the end of the month, on Saturday, April 28th. With the teams in the running now set, here are the odds for the #1 overall pick in this years draft:
31st – Buffalo Sabres: 18.5%
30th – Ottawa Senators: 13.5%
29th – Arizona Coyotes: 11.5%
28th – Montreal Canadiens: 9.5%
27th – Detroit Red Wings: 8.5%
26th – Vancouver Canucks: 7.5%
25th – Chicago Blackhawks: 6.5%
24th – New York Rangers: 6.0%
23rd – Edmonton Oilers: 5.0%
22nd – New York Islanders: 3.5%
21st – Carolina Hurricanes: 3.0%
20th – New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames): 2.5%
19th – Dallas Stars: 2.0%
18th – Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues (top-ten option)): 1.5%
17th – Florida Panthers: 1.0%
If you are a fan of one of these teams, you can entertain yourself for the next few weeks with this Lottery Simulator from Tankathon.com.
West Notes: Blues, Flames, Canucks
The St. Louis Blues just narrowly missed out on making the playoffs this season, losing in regulation to the Colorado Avalanche in their regular season finale – the only result that could have eliminated them from the postseason picture. To add insult to injury, the Blues have also played the 2017-18 season without an AHL affiliate, leaving fans without the consolation prize of at least watching a team of St. Louis prospects make a playoff run. Nevertheless, the team has assigned goalie Ville Husso and defenseman Chris Butler to the San Antonio Rampage, the team with the majority of the Blues’ minor league prospects. Yet, the Rampage sit in last place in the extremely tight AHL Pacific Division with just three games remaining. Dejected Blues fans may have to follow Beau Bennett and Wade Megan with the Chicago Wolves or Jordan Binnington with the Providence Bruins if they want a horse in the race come AHL playoff time.
- Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving told the Canadian Press that his team has a “laundry list” of issues to sort out this off-season. After making the postseason last year and, as the article notes, adding Mike Smith and Travis Hamonic last summer, missing the playoffs this year can only be seen as a disappointment and Treliving is ready to make changes. At the top of that “laundry list” is deciding what to do with head coach Glen Gulutzan. Beyond that, one list item specifically mentioned by Treliving is figuring out how to fix the Flames’ tepid power play, which finished 29th in the league and only got worse as the season wore on. As Treliving puts it, “In a league where the margins are thin, it’s not surprising that the teams that are successful in (special teams) usually have successful years, so it was critical.”
- One team that will be far less active this off-season are the Vancouver Canucks. Jeff Paterson of TSN gets the feeling that this could be one of the quietest Canuck off-seasons in years. President Trevor Linden spoke with the media today and stated that “Obviously on a day like this, we’re disappointed by not achieving all of our goals. At the same time, we’re encouraged as an organization with where we are moving forward. I think this group has an identity with its young players. That’s exciting” Paterson read this statement as saying that after back-to-back busy summers, the team is disappointed in its performance, but with a young core and plenty of depth in talented prospects, this is a team moving in the right direction. For that reason, Paterson hypothesizes that it could be a “wait and see”-type summer, writing “Outside of the National Hockey League draft lottery and the draft itself, don’t be the least bit surprised if you don’t hear a peep from the Vancouver Canucks until training camp.”