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Prospect Notes: Bjorkqvist, King, Samuelsson

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The first professional season for Kasper Bjorkqvist will not be what he or many Penguins fans had hoped. The former Providence College captain entered the year with high expectations after back-to-back strong seasons of NCAA play and looked like the exact type of intelligent and hard-working two-way forward that Pittsburgh could use. It was not a major surprise that he did not break camp with the NHL club, but there remained speculation that he would not have to spend much time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before earning his first career recall. Unfortunately, as it turns out he will have to wait until next year at the earliest for that promotion. Just six games into his AHL season, Bjorkqvist suffered a knee injury and was sidelined. WBS beat writer Jason Iacona now reports that Bjorkqvist has undergone surgery on his knee and the expected timeline for recovery is six months. As Iacona states, this essentially ends his season. The earliest conceivable return for Bjorkqvist would be during the Calder Cup playoffs, should the AHL Penguins qualify, and that’s only if the Pittsburgh brass decide it is worth it to get him back on the ice this season. Most likely, the talented Finnish winger will be shut down until next season in hopes that he can resume play at full strength and compete for an NHL role again next year.

  • If trade value at the junior level is any indication of NHL Entry Draft stock, Ben King is a 2020 draft prospect on the rise. The 17-year-old forward was dealt by the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos to the Red Deer Rebels this week for a rather hefty return of two players – including recent first-rounder Cohner Seleski – the rights to a third player, and a third-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. Such packages are usually reserved for veteran junior players who can be immediate difference-makers for a contender, but head coach and GM Brent Sutter clearly sees something that he likes in King and opted for the long-term play. A first-round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, King recorded 26 points in 48 games for Swift Current in his first season with the team in 2018-19 and had eight points through his first 16 games this year. King, who usually lines up at center, has a sturdy frame and plays a patient, play-making style. He still has room to grow, both physically and in his skill development, but early expectations have been that is already in consideration for selection in the third or fourth round of the coming draft. And with this vote of confidence from the well-respected Sutter, that may just be the floor of where one might expect King to go in June.
  • A new name in Canadian juniors is Adam Samuelsson. The son of Ulf and brother of Philip and Henrik, Samuelsson comes from a strong hockey background and was once considered a future NHL prospect. However, things started going downhill when he surprisingly went undrafted out of the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2018. Then, he struggled at Boston College early last season and ended up on the bench for much of the first half of the season before leaving school to join the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers. It isn’t uncommon for college players experiencing production issues or a poor fit to return to juniors before transferring to another NCAA team, but Samuelsson instead returned to Sioux City this season in a confusing move, especially considering his improved play after leaving BC. It appears now that this was simply a precursor to his true intentions. The hulking defenseman has signed on with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, who had drafted him back in 2016. The team’s press release indicates that they have been pushing to sign Samuelsson for years and the blue liner finally decided to give up on the collegiate path and head to Ontario. It remains to be seen if Samuelsson can re-assert himself as an NHL prospect, but with two years of junior eligibility, there is plenty of time to show that he is a pro-quality player like his dad and brothers.

Snapshots: Gregory, Johansen, Canada-Russia

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Legendary NHL executive Jim Gregory passed away today at the age of 83. The former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager joined the league offices in 1979, coming to shape both the Central Scouting Service and the overall hockey operations department. Not only was he instrumental in building the NHL into what it is today, but Gregory was revered by almost everyone who knew him as one of the most gentlemanly people associated with the sport, and in general.

A beloved figure in the hockey community, Gregory was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. Everyone at PHR gives their best to his wife and family.

  • The Washington Capitals don’t have much opportunity for young players thanks to a cap situation that limits movement, and Lucas Johansen knows it. The 2016 first-round pick is stuck in a rotation in the AHL and spoke to J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington, explaining that he hopes to find a way to the NHL with the Capitals but knows that chance may come somewhere else. The 21-year old will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season and to this point hasn’t had a sniff of NHL action.
  • The Canada-Russia series begins next week, and each of the three CHL leagues have named their captains for the short showcase. Los Angeles Kings’ prospect Aidan Dudas will lead Team OHL, New Jersey Devils prospect Ty Smith dons the “C” for Team WHL, and top 2020 draft prospect Alexis Lafreniere captains the QMJHL contingent. Dudas may not have the sort of name recognition of the other two after falling to the fourth round of the 2018 draft, but the Owen Sound Attack forward is off to a great start and has routinely represented Canada through his junior career.

Sharks Sign Dillon Hamaliuk To Entry-Level Contract

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While the San Jose Sharks were busy facing the Canadiens in Montreal on Thursday night, the front office was still hard at work as well. CapFriendly reports that the team has come to terms with prospect forward Dillon Hamaliuk on an entry-level contract. The team has signed the junior forward to a three-year deal that carries a $700K base salary in years one and two and a $750K salary in year three, with a $92.5K signing bonus in each season and performances bonuses totaling a $809K cap hit in all three years.

Hamaliuk, 18, was San Jose’s second round pick this past June in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft from the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. Hamaliuk was considered a reach in round two at the time, having not yet proved himself as an elite offensive talent. Hamaliuk has just one full junior season on his resume, a 2017-18 campaign in which he recorded only 39 points in 72 games. Last year, injuries limited Hamaliuk to just 31 games with Seattle, but he scored at a much higher clip to total 26 points on the year. The Sharks must have liked what they saw in that limited action, as they reached for the big winger at No. 55. So far this season, it looks like their move may have paid off. Hamaliuk, now with the Kelowna Rockets following an off-season trade, has five goals and ten points in only 12 games.

Even if Hamaliuk continues his torrid scoring pact this season in Kelowna, don’t expect him in the NHL right away next year, regardless of the entry-level deal. While he has the size and strength to compete at the pro level, Hamaliuk is still somewhat of a raw player, who relies heavily on his athleticism and aggressive style. The 6’3” left wing needs to continue to focus on improving his skating and skills before making the jump. His contract will now be waiting for him once he’s ready. With proper development, Hamaliuk could prove to have been a steal by the Sharks as he grows into a dangerous power forward.

Minor Transactions: 10/19/19

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Some of the NHL’s best teams early on were at it last night. The Avalanche maintained their unblemished loss column with a comeback win over the Panthers in overtime; the Penguins added their sixth win by handing the Stars their fourth straight regulation loss; the Oilers moved to 7-1 with a win over the Red Wings, and the six-win Ducks edged out the six-win Hurricanes. It’s a busy slate on Saturday with 22 teams taking the ice, including several more top contests, such as Colorado-Tampa Bay, Vegas-Pittsburgh, and of course Boston-Toronto. With so much action and many teams looking to keep their strong starts going, follow along with what could be a flurry of activity today:

  • After sending him to the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs to get his first taste of pro competition, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have recalled No. 3 overall pick Kirby Dach from his conditioning stint. Dach failed to record a point in three games with Rockford and it will be interesting to see where the Blackhawks go from here. The team can still give Dach nine games of NHL experience before burning the first year of his entry-level contract, so there is plenty of time before the team is forced into a tough decision. However, the early results of Dach’s pro career would seem to indicate that he is likely headed back to the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades this season.
  • The San Jose Sharks have shuffled their depth. After sending rookie forward Danil Yurtaykin back to the AHL Barracuda yesterday, CapFriendly reports that fellow rookie forward Lean Bergmann will follow him to the minors. In a combined ten games, Yurtaykin and Bergmann have recorded one lone point this season and the Sharks can’t afford that inefficient production in the midst of a poor start to the season. Noah Gregor has earned his first NHL recall in their place, having recorded three points in three games with the Barracuda after an 88-point WHL campaign last year. They hope Gregor, a fourth-round pick in 2016, can provide an offensive spark right away.
  • The Washington Capitals have reassigned rookie defenseman Martin Fehervary to the AHL’s Hershey Bears, the team announced. While Fehervary began the season in D.C. he had been demoted until recently, when he was recalled as a precaution while Jonas Siegenthaler dealt with injury concerns. Finally, with a healthy stable of their seven top defensemen, the Capitals have no room for Fehervary right now and would rather he play big minutes in Hershey. Fehervary, the team’s 2018 second-rounder, did not look out of place in the NHL level and will one day be there permanently, but he’s likely in for a full season in the minors this year barring more injuries to the Washington blue line.
  • Carolina Hurricanes prospect netminder Pyotr Kochetkov has been traded in the KHL. Kochetkov, 20, is coming off a dominant 2018-19 season that earned him a second-round selection in June as an overage player. The young Russian keeper was stellar at the World Junior Championship and in Russia’s second-tier VHL last year, as well as in his first two KHL appearances late in the campaign. However, taking on the primary backup role with powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg this season, Kotchetkov has struggled in six KHL games, posting a 2.66 GAA and .887 save percentage. He is still young to be facing this level of competition, especially in the offensively-inclined KHL, but SKA needed a more reliable backup as a top contender. As a result, the team pulled off a blockbuster trade with Vityaz Podolsk, sending Kochetkov as part of the package for the more established Alexander Samonov. Although he was the backup for Vityaz, Samonov has arguably been the best goalie in the KHL this year, nearly untouchable with a 0.88 GAA and .976 save percentage through seven appearances. He’ll provide more stability for SKA, while Podolsk is happy to be patient with one of the top goalie prospects in the league. Although a Hurricanes draft pick, if Kochetkov follows a typical Russian goalkeeper development path, he could remain with Vityaz for another three or four years.
  • With Joel Eriksson Ek injured, The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that Gabriel Dumont will get the call for the Minnesota Wild. While Dumont may be a new name for Wild fans, the ten-year pro had been around for a while before signing in Minnesota this summer. With five points in five games for AHL Iowa, Dumont hopes to bring some offense with his experience as he joins the parent club. Russo notes that this is already the 28th player to grace the roster this season for the struggling Wild.
  • After Daniel Carr cleared waivers on Wednesday, the Nashville Predators opted to keep him on the NHL roster while they dealt with an injury to Filip Forsberg. The team announced this morning that Carr has now been sent down to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. In his place, the Predators have recalled both long-time depth forward Miikka Salomaki and the untested Yakov Trenin. Trenin, a 2015 second-round pick, is in his third pro season but has played exclusively with Milwaukee – until now. With a team-leading five points in three games for the Admirals, Trenin has finally earned his call-up and will be an intriguing name to watch if he sees action in Nashville.
  • With Jordan Oesterle dealing with a head injury after taking a shot to the back of the head on Thursday, the Coyotes will recall blueliner Aaron Ness from AHL Tucson, reports Craig Morgan of The Athletic.  The 29-year-old is in his first season with Arizona after having a strong season with Hershey a year ago, one that saw him put up 55 points.  That should help get him into some game action at some point during his recall.
  • The Edmonton Oilers announced they have recalled center Sam Gagner from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL, while assigning forward Gaetan Haas to Bakersfield. The 30-year-old Gagner was acquired at the trade deadline last year from Vancouver, and played 25 games last season with the Oilers, but didn’t make the team out of training camp this year and has been playing with the Condors this season. He has two goals and two assists in four games there so far. Haas signed with Edmonton in July this summer out of the NLA, but the 27-year-old has just one assist in five games. The Edmonton Journals’ Jim Matheson reports that Haas isn’t thrilled about spending weeks in the AHL and the scribe believes that Haas has an out-clause to return to the Europe if he stays there. The team was hoping for some more offense from their bottom-six players. The hope Gagner might be able to provide some of that offense. Through eight games so far this season, the team has gotten no goals from Riley Sheahan, Jujhar Khaira, Patrick Russell, Josh Archibald, Markus Granlund, Tomas Jurco and Haas as the team has received all its offense from their top-six.

Prospect Notes: Canada-Russia, U17, Dach

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The CHL has announced the rosters for the 2019 Canada-Russia series, which pits the top junior players from both countries against each other in a showcase as preparation for the World Juniors. The WHL, OHL and QMJHL will each enter a team for the series that takes place next month.

Leading the way are some top 2020 draft names including Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Justin Barron and Jamie Drysdale among many others. The event has been going on for more than 15 years now and often gives an insight into who is trending towards making an impact at the U20 tournament later on in the year.

  • The roster also includes Kirby Dach, even though he is technically not back in the CHL at the moment. In fact, Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters including Scott Powers of The Athletic that giving Dach his NHL debut is “on the radar” after his AHL conditioning stint comes to an end. Dach can’t spend the whole season in the AHL due to his age, meaning the Blackhawks may eventually be forced to send him back to the CHL if they feel he’s not ready for the NHL full-time.
  • Hockey Canada has also announced the 66 players that will take part in the World U17 Hockey Challenge next month. Canada will have three different teams in the tournament that also includes teams from the United States, Russia, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. The group includes Shane Wright, the latest to be given exceptional status into the CHL. Still just 15 years old, Wright has nine points in nine games for the Kingston Frontenacs this season after dominating Toronto minor hockey—to the tune of 150 points in 72 games—last year. Eligible for the 2022 draft, he’s already being considered as a franchise-changing talent.

New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Matthew Robertson

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The New York Rangers will be signing another one of their top prospects, as the team announced they’ve agreed to terms with Matthew Robertson. The 18-year old defenseman will sign a three-year entry-level contract, though it actually won’t kick in right away. Robertson is playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, meaning his contract will slide at least one year.

Selected 49th overall in June, Robertson joins a wave of prospects set to turn the Rangers into contenders sooner or later. The 6’4″ defenseman put up 41 points in 68 total games with the Oil Kings last season and is was a strong force at both ends of the rink. Part of the Canadian team that won gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last year, he was actually ranked 26th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and expected by many to push for a selection in the first round. Even without that designation, the Rangers surely consider him a big part of their future and will show it by quickly signing him to an entry-level deal.

The next step for Robertson is to really dominate at the WHL level this year and next, while also lending his talents to Canada’s international contingent once again. Though he may find himself on the outside looking in for this year’s World Junior team as an 18-year old, you can bet he’ll be in contention for a spot after another year of development.

Ty Smith Returned To WHL

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The WHL had already received some impressive prospects back from NHL training camp recently when Bowen Byram and Dylan Cozens were cut last week, but now have another star on the way. New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith has been loaned back to the Spokane Chiefs where he will spend the entire 2019-20 season. Smith was among the final cuts for New Jersey with the NHL season right around the corner.

While Byram may get some more headlines after going fourth overall in this year’s draft, there’s no doubting Smith’s impact in the WHL. In fact, the Spokane captain took home the CHL and WHL Defenseman of the Year awards last season after recording 69 points in 57 games. Amazingly that wasn’t even Smith’s career high in junior, as he has dominated the league for several seasons with his elite skating and playmaking ability.

Not only is this huge news for the Chiefs, but also for Team Canada who will undoubtedly bring Smith back to the World Junior tournament once again. The young defenseman suited up previously and recorded three assists in five games, and could very well be the team’s top option as a 19-year old this time around. Selected 17th overall in 2018, Smith was already close to cracking the Devils lineup and should be considered a real contender for a full-time NHL role in 2020-21.

Training Camp Cuts: 10/01/19

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Even with the season starting tomorrow, teams still have some final cuts to make today. Rosters have to be cap compliant by the end of the day. though with so much talent on waivers there might still be some last-minute moves. We’ll keep track of those right here. Keep checking back throughout the day for updates.

Arizona Coyotes (per team release)

D Ilya Lyubushkin (to Tucson, AHL)

Buffalo Sabres (per team release)

F Remi Elie (to Rochester, AHL)
F Curtis Lazar (to Rochester, AHL)
F Scott Wilson (to Rochester, AHL)
D Casey Nelson (to Rochester, AHL)

Calgary Flames (per team release)

F Alan Quine (to Stockton, AHL)
F Zac Rinaldo (to Stockton, AHL)
F Dillon Dube (to Stockton, AHL)
D Andrew MacDonald (released from PTO)

Carolina Hurricanes (per team release)

F Clark Bishop (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Julien Gauthier (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Brian Gibbons (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Gustav Forsling (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Roland McKeown (to Charlotte, AHL)
G Anton Forsberg (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Max McCormick (placed on injured/non-roster)
D Trevor van Riemsdyk (placed on injured/non-roster)

Chicago Blackhawks (per team release)

G Collin Delia (to Rockford, AHL)
F Kirby Dach (placed on injured/non-roster)

Columbus Blue Jackets (per team release)

F Marko Dano (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Andrew Peeke (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Liam Foudy (placed on injured/non-roster)

Colorado Avalanche (per team release)

F Jayson Megna (to Colorado, AHL)
D Kevin Connauton (to Colorado, AHL)
D Calle Rosen (to Colorado, AHL)
D Ian Cole (placed on injured/non-roster)

Detroit Red Wings (per team release)

D Jared McIsaac (to Halifax, QMJHL)
F Chase Pearson (placed on injured/non-roster)

Edmonton Oilers (per team release)

F Sam Gagner (to Bakersfield, AHL)

Minnesota Wild (per team release)

F J.T. Brown (to Iowa, AHL)

Montreal Canadiens (per team release)

F Ryan Poehling (to Laval, AHL)

Nashville Predators (per team release)

F Miikka Salomaki (to Milwaukee, AHL)
D Steven Santini (to Milwaukee, AHL)

New Jersey Devils (per team release)

D Matt Tennyson (to Binghamton, AHL)
D Ty Smith (to Spokane, WHL)

Pittsburgh Penguins (per team release)

D John Marino (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
G Casey DeSmith (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)

Vegas Golden Knights (per team release)

F Nicolas Roy (to Chicago, AHL)
D Nicolas Hague (to Chicago, AHL)

Washington Capitals (per team release)

F Liam O’Brien (to Hershey, AHL)
F Michael Sgarbossa (to Hershey, AHL)
D Christian Djoos (to Hershey, AHL)
D Michal Kempny (placed on injured/non-roster)

Winnipeg Jets (per team release)

D Sami Niku (to Manitoba, AHL)

Dallas Stars Sign Dawson Barteaux

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The Dallas Stars have signed one of their draft picks, even after sending him back to the CHL earlier this month. Dawson Barteaux has inked a three-year entry-level contract, but because he is still just 19 and already back in junior, it will slide forward and won’t kick in until the 2020-21 season.  Barteaux will spend this year with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL.

Selected in the sixth round in 2018, Barteaux put together another solid season for the Rebels in 2018-19 by recording 34 points in 67 games. The 6’1″ defenseman can skate very well and became an extremely important all-around option, earning him a contract that not many sixth-round picks get just a year after being selected. While an entry-level contract certainly doesn’t guarantee an NHL look, just earning a deal at all should be considered a win for the young defenseman.

The Stars currently sit with 49 of the available 50 contract slots used, but given that Barteaux’s will slide it won’t count towards that number for now. The team will still be able to add a player from waivers or sign restricted free agent Julius Honka without moving out another player.

Bowen Byram Sent To WHL

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The WHL has gotten a serious talent injection today, as not only was Dylan Cozens sent back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes earlier, but Bowen Byram is on his way too. The Colorado Avalanche have decided to return the fourth-overall pick to the Vancouver Giants for this season, where he’ll jump right into the fray as their home opener is tomorrow night.

Byram, 18, was the unquestioned best defenseman available in this year’s draft and was even challenging for a spot in the top-3 selections for a time thanks to his outstanding junior season. He recorded 71 points in 67 regular season games with the Giants, only to then lead the entire WHL in playoff scoring with 26 points. Named the CHL’s top draft prospect, he eventually fell to the Avalanche where they couldn’t pass on him even with their glut of young defensemen.

It’s hard to find a more exciting young defense prospect around the league (though Colorado has one of the few in Cale Makar), as Byram can seemingly do it all when the puck is on his stick. A dangerous player cutting through the neutral zone, he can also find the tiniest lane from his own end to fire stretch passes to streaking forwards. Though not an imposing physical player, Byram still limits zone entries with a strong stick and actively works along the boards to disrupt cycles. Those are what he’ll need to focus on even more to really excel at the NHL level, a development step that may actually have to wait until he hits professional hockey.

This is the dilemma for teams with such an exciting and dominant junior prospect. The CHL sometimes doesn’t pose the level of competition that they need to work on the weaknesses in their game, since their strengths can overcome almost all of their opponents. Working on those weaknesses will be Byram’s challenge this season given his obvious physical gifts, but he should be in the running for WHL Most Valuable Player and could very easily lead all defenders in points.

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