NHL Announces Coaches For 2023 All-Star Game
The fan vote for the final player selections is still ongoing, but the NHL has finalized who will be behind the bench at the 2023 All-Star Game in Florida next month. Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour will be leading the Metropolitan, Boston Bruins bench boss Jim Montgomery leads the Atlantic, Peter DeBoer of the Dallas Stars will be running the Central, and Bruce Cassidy of the Vegas Golden Knights will be steering the Pacific.
The Hurricanes, Bruins, Stars, and Golden Knights currently lead their respective divisions, though it’s a close race in three of them. Only the Bruins have a substantial lead, with their 32-4-4 record pacing the entire NHL.
Interestingly enough, three of the four coaches named were involved in something of an employment carousel this offseason. Cassidy was fired by Boston and eventually took the job in Vegas after they dismissed DeBoer. DeBoer took a job in Dallas, one that had only been filled by Rick Bowness after Montgomery’s dismissal in 2020. Montgomery in turn took over in Boston, which gave him another chance as an NHL head coach.
Brind’Amour is the tenured professor of the bunch, taking over as head coach of the Hurricanes in 2018. He won the Jack Adams in 2021, and has an overall record of 199-95-35, plus four playoff series wins. It’s been an impressive transition from player to assistant to head coach for Brind’Amour, who basically never stopped working for the Hurricanes after arriving in 2000. He is reprising his role as head coach of the Metro, after being their last season.
The selections show just how quickly the NHL coaching wheel turns, with Cassidy and DeBoer both appearing at this game with their previous teams. DeBoer has actually gone with three in a row, appearing as the head coach of the Pacific in 2017 with the Sharks as well.
The final player selections will be announced on January 19, and the skills competition kicks off February 3.
Jake Leschyshyn Placed On Waivers
A few minutes ahead of the official announcement from the league, the Vegas Golden Knights tweeted that Jake Leschyshyn has been placed on waivers. He will be sent to the Henderson Silver Knights should he clear tomorrow – along with Brayden Pachal, who was assigned today.
It’s difficult to play regularly in the NHL and be completely held off the scoresheet but that’s exactly what Leschyshyn has done this year. The 23-year-old forward has exactly zero points in 22 games.
That performance will likely get him through waivers, but it should be mentioned that Leschyshyn was once one of the Golden Knights’ top prospects. Selected 62nd overall in 2017, there were high hopes after a nice finish to his WHL career. Last year he played 41 games with Vegas and scored six points, while adding 27 in 34 minor league games.
Given his relative youth, there may be teams interested in giving him a fresh start somewhere else. To do so, they would have to take on a three-year, one-way deal, though. The Golden Knights gave Leschyshyn that deal – which carries an average annual value of $766,667 – in August, locking him up at a league-minimum price.
If there is any hesitation, some clubs will balk at that kind of financial security, even though there might be a shred of upside remaining in the young forward. More likely, he’ll clear and head back to the minor leagues to await his next recall.
Vegas Golden Knights Activate Jonathan Marchessault, Alec Martinez
The Vegas Golden Knights have activated two key players off of injured reserve: Jonathan Marchessault and Alec Martinez. These activations come after it was reported earlier today that both players were nearing returns.
Marchessault, 32, has missed six straight games with a lower-body injury. When healthy, he’s among the best forwards Vegas has to offer. He’s been with the team since the franchise first took the ice, and has been among their most productive players.
This season has been no different, as Marchessault has 27 points in 35 games. Marchessault is under contract for this season and next at a $5MM AAV, meaning he is inching toward the end of the six-year extension he signed in 2018.
Marchessault’s return to the lineup could allow Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy to re-unite the “misfits” line, putting the talented Canadian forward back with William Karlsson and Reilly Smith. Recently, Karlsson has been skating with Paul Cotter and Phil Kessel, while Smith has played with Jack Eichel and Nicolas Roy on the team’s top line.
Martinez, 35, is a crucially important defenseman for the Golden Knights, and his return could help lessen the load shouldered by younger blueliners such as Brayden Pachal.
Martinez averages the third-most ice time on the penalty kill for Vegas and should help stabilize a defensive corps that has suffered some significant injuries. He has this season and next left on his $5.25MM AAV, and has scored five points in 37 games this year.
Marchessault And Martinez Nearing Returns
- There’s more help on the horizon when it comes to the Golden Knights. After getting center Jack Eichel and winger Paul Cotter back on Thursday, they could get winger Jonathan Marchessault back in the lineup tonight against Los Angeles, reports Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The 32-year-old has missed six straight games with a lower-body injury but still sits third on the team in goals with 14. Gotz adds that defenseman Alec Martinez also has a chance to return tonight although, with the team off until Thursday after this game, they could opt to give him a few more days of rest. The veteran has been out for four straight games after being injured in the Golden Knights’ first game after the holiday break. He has five assists in 37 contests this season.
Loan Roundup: 01/06/22
After Team Canada put gold medals around their neck last night to conclude the 2023 World Junior Championship, a variety of prospects under NHL contract were loaned back to their minor or junior teams today. We’ll keep a running list of those transactions right here.
All transactions are provided by CapFriendly.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets returned defenseman Stanislav Svozil to the WHL’s Regina Pats. Drafted 69th overall in 2021, Svozil had an incredible tournament with eight points in seven games for Czechia, winning a silver medal — the country’s first medal since 2005. Quickly looking like a draft steal, Svozil has 37 points in just 28 games, and he’ll return to playing with presumptive 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard.
- Also from Columbus, 2022 sixth-overall selection David Jiricek is returning to the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus’ AHL affiliate. Jiricek also helped dominate from the Czech blueline, recording seven points and a staggering +10 rating in seven games. He played his first two NHL games before the tournament and has an impressive 20 points in just 19 games with the Monsters.
- The Dallas Stars returned dynamic Canadian forward Logan Stankoven to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Stankoven, who has a decent shot at making the team out of training camp in 2023-24, had three goals and 11 points in seven games with the Canadians. He was a second-round pick of the Stars in 2021, another budding draft steal.
- Gritty forward Reid Schaefer, selected with the last pick of the first round in 2022 by the Edmonton Oilers, is returning to the WHL-leading Seattle Thunderbirds. Schaefer played at the bottom of the Canadian lineup and managed one assist in seven contests. He’s fourth on Seattle in goals with 15 in just 22 games.
- Nashville Predators right-shot defense prospect Jack Matier was loaned back to the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s. The 124th overall selection in 2021 is amidst a breakout season in Ottawa, recording 26 points and a +24 rating through 26 games. He had one assist at the World Juniors.
- The Vegas Golden Knights returned Czech forward Jakub Brabenec to the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix. Drafted 102nd overall in 2021, Brabenec was just dealt to the Phoenix today from the Charlottetown Islanders. His scoring had taken somewhat of a dip before the trade with 25 points in 28 games, but a strong World Juniors performance should instill some confidence.
- Vegas also sent forward Zach Dean to the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques. Taken 30th overall in 2021, Dean has 35 points in 27 games with Gatineau and recorded a goal and two assists for Canada at the tournament.
Jakub Brabenec Traded In QMJHL
- Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jakub Brabenec, fresh off of a strong World Juniors performance, has been traded to another QMJHL team. He was sent to the Sherbrooke Phoenix in exchange for a package including draft picks and Swiss forward Joel Marchon. Brabenec was a fourth-rounder of the Golden Knights in 2021 and has 25 points in 28 games this season.
Vegas Golden Knights To Activate Jack Eichel
Though the team has not formally announced anything just yet, it appears the Vegas Golden Knights have activated forward Jack Eichel off of IR, says Danny Webster of The Las Vegas Sun. A closer look at the team’s roster on their website shows Eichel is listed as healthy, forwards Jonas Rondbjerg and Byron Froese as well as defenseman Kaedan Korczak and Brayden Pachal are no longer listed on the roster.
Eichel had been out of the lineup for nearly a month, last playing December 9th against the Philadelphia Flyers before hitting IR. The team has done alright since then, going 6-4-1 in the process, but having their superstar back in the lineup should give the team the boost it needs not only with on-ice production, but with its overall confidence. Despite missing the time, Eichel’s 29 points place him third on the team, playing in just 27 games.
When finding out Eichel was injured, many held their breath after his neck issues the past few seasons. Though the injury wasn’t exactly good news, it being lower-body allowed many to breathe a sigh of relief. Now with Eichel back in the lineup, the team becomes a bit more complete, though injury issues still loom after the recent placement of defenseman Alec Martinez on IR.
Seattle Kraken To Host 2024 Winter Classic
A year from now, the NHL’s two newest franchises will go head-to-head outdoors. The 2024 Winter Classic will be between the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The game is set for January 1, 2024 and will represent the first regular season outdoor game for the Kraken and the second for the Golden Knights after they took on the Colorado Avalanche at Lake Tahoe in 2021.
The home of MLB’s Seattle Mariners will be the event’s backdrop, which will be the 16th Winter Classic since it debuted in 2008. It will be broadcast exclusively on TNT in the United States and Sportsnet/TVA Sports in Canada. The league announced a long-term partnership with Discover as the primary sponsor of the event, technically making the match the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic.
After a disappointing inaugural season, the Kraken have come roaring back from the depths of the standings to compete for the playoffs this year. The team is 19-12-4 and sit fourth in the Pacific Division, despite having played the fewest games in the league (tied) to this point. They trail the Golden Knights by ten points in the standings but have played four fewer games, and still maintain a positive goal differential despite some recent struggles.
Matty Beniers appears poised to become one of the league’s stars, with 25 points in 35 games during his rookie season. The 2021 second-overall pick will likely be joined at next year’s event by Shane Wright and potentially other young players for the league to market. The Kraken have already become one of the NHL’s best revenue-generating franchises and were a perfect option to host a marquee event in the near future.
The Golden Knights, meanwhile, have quickly become one of the best marketing tools the league has, with a starring role in several big events. After missing the postseason last year, Vegas once again looks like a contender this year and have household names like Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Mark Stone to lead the way next year.
Vegas Golden Knights Reportedly Place Alec Martinez On Injured Reserve
2:25 PM: As reported by The Las Vegas Sun’s Danny Webster, Martinez’s absence has been indeed been extended. The team has reportedly placed him on injured reserve, which could put Korczak in a position to push Brayden Pachal for some ice time as the team’s third-pairing right-shot defenseman.
2:20 PM: The Vegas Golden Knights have announced a series of roster moves, recalling forward Byron Froese and defenseman Kaedan Korczak from their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.
Additionally, the team has sent forward Sheldon Rempal back down to the AHL, just two days after calling him up.
These roster moves put Korczak and Froese in a position to make their season debuts in the NHL. Korczak, 21, was a second-round pick by Vegas at the 2019 draft. After spending a little over a year developing in the WHL, Korczak has stepped into the AHL and been a quality everyday piece of Henderson’s back end.
He got into an NHL game last year as the Golden Knights dealt with a rash of injuries, and is now back on an NHL roster with a chance to get some more game action. Veteran blueliner Alec Martinez didn’t play in yesterday’s game, so it’s possible that this recall is Vegas adding some reinforcements in case his absence gets extended.
In Froese, the Golden Knights have recalled a physical AHL veteran who has played well in Henderson. The 31-year-old has been a quality scorer at the AHL level for years and has even served as an AHL captain. He’ll be able to fill in a depth role in coach Bruce Cassidy’s lineup if he’s called upon.
To make room for these recalls, the team sent down Rempal, just after he made his NHL debut. The 27-year-old was an elite scorer in the AHL last year, scoring 69 points in just 55 games, and he’s been solid in Henderson this year as well.
He played just under 8 minutes in last night’s game, and without having registered a major positive impact he’ll head back down to the AHL.
Vegas Golden Knights Recall Sheldon Rempal
The Vegas Golden Knights recalled forward Sheldon Rempal from the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights on Friday, according to a team tweet.
Rempal, 27, is in his first season in the Vegas Golden Knights organization. The undrafted free agent out of Clarkson University began his professional career in 2018-19, signing with the Los Angeles Kings and making his NHL debut.
Since then, he’s spent time in the Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks organizations, getting into NHL games with each team. He’s suited up 11 times in the NHL across three seasons but is still looking to record his first NHL point.
He’s been a solid minor-league presence after a sophomore slump in 2019-20. He was among the AHL’s leaders in points per game last season when he tallied 33 goals and 36 assists for 69 points in just 55 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. It led to him signing a two-year contract with Vegas this past offseason, receiving a hefty minors salary of $450,000.
Rempal’s pace in Henderson is still respectable but not quite at last season’s level. He has seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 30 games, which still leads the team.
With four forwards (Jonathan Marchessault, Paul Cotter, Jack Eichel, Brett Howden) out due to injury, Vegas is beginning to reach deeper into their system for scoring depth. Expect Rempal to make his season debut on New Year’s Eve tomorrow while Pavel Dorofeyev sits as the 13th forward.