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Archives for May 2022

Anaheim Ducks Fire Joel Bouchard

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7:45 PM: The team has confirmed the departures of Bouchard, Talbot, and Jacob while also announcing that assistant coach Geoff Ward has left the team for personal reasons.  Ward just completed his first season with Anaheim after spending the previous three years in Calgary as both an assistant coach and later their head coach.

5:08 PM: While the new Anaheim Ducks front office has chosen to stick with the head coach of their NHL team, the same cannot be said of the coach of their AHL affiliate. According to RDS’s Eric Leblanc and TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, the Ducks have parted ways with San Diego Gulls head coach Joel Bouchard, as well as his assistants Max Talbot and Daniel Jacob.

The Gulls were not a great team this year. They did make the playoffs, but they bowed out in the first round, losing in two games to the Ontario Reign, and only managed a 28-33-7 record. So, looking at it from a wins and losses perspective, this move is not a surprising one. But looking at the overall picture of Joel Bouchard’s coaching career makes this move a bit more unexpected. Bouchard just last season was viewed as a name on the rise, and we even speculated that he may have joined the Ducks organization with the idea that he could see a promotion to being the Ducks head coach, if Eakins had been fired mid-season. But that possibility never materialized, as Eakins’ Ducks played well enough for him to retain his post, and Bouchard’s Gulls tenure never quite got off the ground.

Fortunately for Bouchard, though, the sterling resume that made him a promising coaching prospect just a year ago remains largely intact. He is still the coach that became one of the top bench bosses in the QMJHL, and his combined 160-80-32 record with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada is proof of that. So while his tenure running the Gulls was not nearly as impressive, this news is unlikely to be a massive setback for a coach undoubtedly chasing one of the highly-coveted 32 NHL head coaching jobs.

Oilers Sign Carter Savoie

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After signing him to an AHL tryout deal last month to allow him to finish off the year with AHL Bakersfield, it was only a matter of time before the Oilers worked out an entry-level contract with prospect winger Carter Savoie.  As CapFriendly reports (Twitter link), that has now happened as the team has agreed to a three-year deal that begins this season.  The pact carries a $925K AAV and does not contain any signing bonuses.

The 20-year-old was a fourth-round pick of Edmonton back in 2020 (100th overall) and it’s safe to say that he has outperformed that selection since then.  Savoie was quite productive in his sophomore season with the University of Denver, finishing second on the Pioneers in scoring with 23 goals and 22 assists in just 39 games.  After they won a national title, he decided to forego his remaining college eligibility and turned pro, getting into two games during the regular season but has yet to suit up in the playoffs.

Savoie has worked his way into being one of Edmonton’s more promising prospects over the last couple of years and while the Oilers will need some low-cost players to round out their roster next season, it’s unlikely that he will be able to make the jump right away on a full-time basis although the decision to start the deal this season makes him eligible to play in the playoffs now.  Savoie has played in just a total of 65 games combined over the last two years so he’ll almost certainly need some time to adjust to the rigors of a full professional campaign.  But if he continues to build on his performance this season, he’ll be worth waiting for.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Aleksandr Kisakov

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While Sabres fans were not met with good news last night, failing to move up in the NHL’s draft lottery, they do get a positive headline today. The team announced that prospect forward Aleksandr Kisakov, the 53rd overall pick last year, has chosen to cross the Atlantic and sign a three-year entry-level deal with the team. This news is made especially significant given the new relationship (or lack thereof) between the NHL and KHL, as many observers believe that signing players from the KHL could be made more difficult as a result of that development. That proved to be no issue with Kisakov, though, and he joins a Sabres organization that is overflowing with optimism after an uplifting past few months.

Kisakov, 19, is a speedy winger whose creative, pacey style of play saw him selected in the second round of the 2021 draft. Playing for Dynamo Moscow in Russia’s junior league, Kisakov posted 56 points in 51 games, leading his team. Kisakov’s success at the junior level paved the way for him to make his KHL debut, and although he went scoreless in four games for Dynamo Moscow at the KHL level, his mere presence on the ice there is reflective of his fast rise as a prospect. Kisakov went from only 18 MHL points in 2019-20 to 73 in his draft year, so the Sabres have to be optimistic that he will be able to maintain that breakneck developmental pace on North American ice.

The Sabres’ prospect pool is among the league’s best, and adding Kisakov directly into their system means their embarrassment of riches just got a little bit deeper. The team already boasts AHL Rookie of the Year Jack Quinn and has other top prospects such as John Peterka waiting in the wings. With Kisakov now in the mix, the next step for the Sabres will be bringing over fellow Russian prospect Prokhor Poltapov, who was selected 33rd overall at the 2021 draft.

Alexei Melnichuk Signs In KHL

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After being traded earlier this season and finding himself in the ECHL, it seemed likely that Alexei Melnichuk’s time in North America was coming to an end. That was made official today, as HC Sochi in the KHL announced that the young goaltender has signed a contract with them that runs through April 30, 2024.

Melnichuk, 23, signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2020, just a few months after the COVID-19 shutdown, and looked like he could potentially provide some NHL value in the future. After all, he was coming off a very strong KHL debut, with a .930 save percentage in 16 appearances during the 2019-20 campaign. They did get three NHL appearances out of him, but they certainly weren’t of the valuable variety.

In his 131 minutes of action during the 2020-21 season, Melnichuk allowed 11 goals on 81 shots, good for an .864 save percentage and 5.05 goals-against average. Certainly not the debut he was hoping for, and when two stints in the minor leagues didn’t go much better, it was a trade this year that brought him to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization.

It’s in that trade that there is some intrigue. Because he is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, the Lightning will actually retain his exclusive NHL rights should they at least extend him a qualifying offer. That doesn’t mean much for now, with the contract already signed back home, but those rights will not have expired by the time this new KHL contract is over. At that point, when he is a 25-year-old with more professional experience under his belt, the Lightning would potentially have the chance to bring him back over, should the relationship still be intact.

Given the upside that he’s shown in 32 KHL appearances, that’s at least worth it for the Lightning, who only gave up minor league forward Antoine Morand–a non-tender candidate himself this offseason–in the deal.

Darnell Nurse Suspended One Game

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As expected, the Edmonton Oilers will be without star defenseman Darnell Nurse when they try to stay alive tomorrow night. The Department of Player Safety has announced a one-game suspension following last night’s head-butting incident, ruling Nurse out for game six. As the accompanying video explains:

It is important to note that this is not an accidental collision that occurs when two players are moving at speed and heads collide when attempting to throw a legal body check. This is an unacceptable head-butt delivered with the top of the helmet, delivered with the top of the helmet directly to an opponent’s face, with force. 

The DoPS also handed out a $5,000 fine to his Oilers’ teammate Zack Kassian, for the cross-check he delivered on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi last night.

For Nurse, it is a brutal decision that will leave his team shorthanded in the most important game of the season. The incident occurred late in the second period with the Kings on the powerplay, and was not penalized by the on-ice officials. As the league notes, there is no significant history of this behavior from the Oilers defenseman (at least in terms of supplementary discipline) as he has just one previous suspension–a three-game ban for serving as the aggressor in a 2016 fight.

There was also no injury on the play for Phillip Danault, who would go on to score in the third period and finish the game. Those factors will at least keep Nurse available for a game seven, should the series reach that.

It was actually Kassian’s cross-check that put the Oilers on the penalty kill in the first place, as he delivered a hard shot to the back of Durzi after the Kings’ defenseman was hit by Evander Kane. As Kane and Blake Lizotte engaged and received matching roughing penalties, Kassian cross-checked Durzi and took his own two-minute minor. Luckily, at least for the Oilers, it will only cost Kassian some money and not a chance to play in game six when they will need all hands on deck to avoid a disappointing series result.

In a related move, Edmonton recalled Philip Broberg from Bakersfield of the AHL. He played in 23 games with the Oilers during the regular season and could be an option to take Nurse’s place in the lineup.

Snapshots: San Jose, Kuzmenko, Bellamy

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The San Jose Barracuda will be hosting the AHL All-Star festivities in 2024 after their new Tech CU Arena is opened next season. It’s interim San Jose Sharks general manager Joe Will who released a statement about the event today, as he is still also the GM of the Barracuda at the moment:

Hosting the AHL All-Star Classic is an incredible opportunity to shine light on the City of San Jose, our facilities and our organization. None of this could have been possible without the vision and support of our owner Hasso Plattner who saw the immense value in moving the Barracuda to San Jose seven years ago.

Though the Barracuda were not very good this season, they have a strong history of success since arriving in San Jose in 2015. The team has made the playoffs in five of the six times they were held, and twice made it to the third round. With the All-Star game now on the horizon, you can bet there will be an investment into some of the more well-known names in the coming years to make sure they have a strong contingent at the event.

  • Another reporter has indicated that the Vancouver Canucks are on the short list for Russian free agent Andrei Kuzmenko, as Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV tweets that the team is a finalist in the sweepstakes. A decision is still not expected for another few weeks, according to Kuzmenko’s agent Dan Milstein. The 26-year-old had 20 goals and 53 points in 45 games this season and has also been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and Vegas Golden Knights, among others.
  • The PHF continues to make news this month, after announcing record contracts and big additions to the league leaders. Once again it’s the latter, as eight-time World Champion Kacey Bellamy has been named Scout and Player Relations Liaison for the upstart league. Bellamy, 35, was a huge part of the U.S. national team for more than a decade and won gold at the 2018 Olympics. Notably, she was also part of the PWHPA for the last two years, meaning another important figure has crossed the line.

Luke Evangelista Assigned To AHL

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With the Milwaukee Admirals already up 2-0 over the Manitoba Moose, they will get another reinforcement for their Calder Cup run. The Nashville Predators announced today that Luke Evangelista has been assigned to the AHL club.

Evangelista, 20, led the OHL in goals this season with 55 and came fourth in overall points with 111. The London Knights captain truly looked as though he was a whole level above his competition at times, toying with them before threading a pass to a teammate or beating a goaltender with his wicked wrist shot. The Predators certainly would have been happy with his development since making him the 42nd overall pick in 2020, as he looks ready to take the next step and become a top contributor at the AHL level.

In fact, Evangelista is one of the players that actually already has substantial AHL experience. He played in 14 games for the Chicago Wolves last season when the OHL canceled their season due to COVID-19 and had four points. Had he reached the 20-game mark that would have made him eligible to stay there this year, it seems likely that he would have already taken that step. Instead, he was just one of the most dominant players in the OHL, captaining the program that is well-known as an NHL player factory.

Dallas Stars Recall 11 Players

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With the Texas Stars eliminated, the Dallas Stars have brought up their crew of “Black Aces,” players who will practice, take in the NHL atmosphere and stay ready for action, but usually not dress. This time, it’s 11 players coming up from the AHL:

Perhaps most interesting among them are Back and Karlstrom, a pair of third-round picks that are just dipping their toes into the North American professional waters. Both players came over from the SHL this season and made an impact for Texas, scoring 25 and 29 points respectively. Each one is a big, rangy forward with experience at center ice. Karlstrom ended up playing three games for Dallas this season, but is also more than two years older than Back, who only turned 22 a few months ago.

Meanwhile, Wyatt Johnston, a player that you might expect to be with this group if possible, continues his OHL playoff series this week. The 18-year-old forward had 124 points in 68 games this season for the Windsor Spitfires and has added another 17 in nine postseason appearances.

Darnell Nurse To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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The Edmonton Oilers are on the brink of elimination and they may now be without their best defenseman. Darnell Nurse will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today, after head-butting Los Angeles Kings forward Phillip Danault last night.

The incident in question happened on the penalty kill, as the Oilers tried to shoulder a barrage from the Kings, and Nurse was tangled with Danault in front of the net. As Mike Smith covered up a shot, Nurse extended up and through Danault, connecting helmet with chin. The play was not penalized by the on-ice officials, in what was a very physical contest.

If Nurse is suspended, which seems likely at this point, the Oilers will be heading to Los Angeles with some questions to answer on defense. The team is carrying seven defensemen at the moment with Kris Russell serving as the extra, and also have Philip Broberg that they could insert into the lineup with a recall. Either way, it will be a tough task for the team given Nurse’s importance.

Even while he deals with an injury, the 27-year-old is still averaging nearly 22 minutes a night and has two points in five games.

2022 Calder Trophy Finalists Announced

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The NHL has continued to release the finalists for their major regular season awards, this time giving us the top Calder Trophy candidates. This award is given to the top first-year player in the league and is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The finalists are Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings, Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks, and Michael Bunting of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Seider, 21, was an absolute workhorse for the Red Wings from the moment he hit the ice this season, playing as a true rookie by making his debut and playing in all 82 games. The sixth-overall pick from 2019 appears to be a future superstar, with the ability to create positive effects in basically every facet of the game. He’s big–6’4″ 203lbs–fast, skilled, and confident, immediately grabbing hold of the Detroit blue line as if it had belonged to him for years. With 50 points, he tied Cale Makar for the second-highest scoring rookie season from a defenseman since 1993 (Quinn Hughes is first with 53). Adding in 151 hits, 161 blocks, and nearly two minutes of short-handed time every night shows just how well-rounded the young defender is.

Zegras, 21, is arguably the most exciting and highlight-worthy young player in the game, routinely doing things that have rarely been seen before. While he did play in 24 games last season, he retained his rookie eligibility and showed what he could do over a full year, potting 23 goals and 61 points in 75 games. The Ducks forward is the centerpiece of the next wave in Anaheim and will likely only get better as he matures in the center ice position. There’s no doubt that Zegras can do it all offensively, and his appearance at the NHL All-Star festivities even without being selected to play in the game show just how high his star will rise.

Bunting, 26, is a much different story than the other two. There was no early stardom bestowed on the 2014 fourth-round pick, as he toiled away in the Arizona Coyotes minor league system. It was after a 21-game showing at the end of the 2020-21 season that he caught the eye of the Maple Leafs, who signed him as a Group VI unrestricted free agent and proceeded to put him on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Bunting’s agitating, in-your-face style fit perfectly with the two offensive juggernauts, and it resulted in 23 goals and 63 points for the Toronto rookie. Bunting led the rookie scoring race by two points over Zegras (in four more games) but also has more than five years on his first-year counterpart.

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