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Sven Baertschi Signs In Switzerland

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It’s time to go home for Sven Baertschi, after being limited to the minor leagues once again. The 29-year-old winger has signed a three-year deal with SC Bern of the Swiss National League, taking him back to Europe after more than a decade in North America.

Selected 13th overall in 2011, Baertschi was, at the time, the second highest drafted player ever from Switzerland (only behind Nino Niederreiter, picked fifth the year previous). There were high hopes for the skilled winger, who had burst onto the CHL scene with an incredible rookie season with the Portland Winterhawks. His following season was so good that when the Calgary Flames faced injuries partway through the 2011-12 season, he was an emergency recall all the way from junior. In a five-game showcase less than a year after he was drafted, he scored three goals and it appeared as though the Flames had a potential superstar talent on their hands.

Unfortunately, that success didn’t continue. Baertschi wouldn’t break that three-goal mark in any of the next three seasons in the NHL, as he bounced up and down from the minor leagues. A move eventually took him to Vancouver, where he experienced some modest success with the Canucks, but still nothing compared to that initial excitement.

This season, on a one-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, Baertschi had 28 points in 44 games for their AHL affiliate, and suited up just once at the NHL level. A three-year deal overseas likely seals the end of his NHL career, meaning he’ll finish with 138 points in 292 regular season games.

Snapshots: Eichel, Forsberg, First Overall Pick

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When the Vegas Golden Knights ended up missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, many seemed to quickly point to Jack Eichel’s somewhat lackluster 25 points in 34 games this season as part of the problem. Now, as in keeping with the story behind Vegas’ season, team president George McPhee revealed Eichel played the final six weeks of the regular season with a broken thumb after suffering the injury on March 17.

With sniper Max Pacioretty limited to 39 games and captain Mark Stone limited to 37, the Golden Knights were ravaged by injuries on an unprecedented level this season (although this year’s Canadiens also belong in that conversation). The team had just seven skaters hit the 70-game mark, and, to make matters worse, starter Robin Lehner was also limited to just 44 starts as he battled through injury this season as well. If a fully healthy Eichel (after a healthy offseason as well) returns to the Vegas lineup come October, there’s a strong chance the team will pick up where they left off at the end of 2020-21.

Montreal Canadiens Win 2022 NHL Draft Lottery

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Beginning this season, the full effect of the changes to the draft lottery rules announced last year are in place. Starting this year, teams can only move up a maximum of 10 spots if they’re selected, meaning teams originally set at picks 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 cannot move up all the way to the first overall pick. A win for one of these teams in the first draft lottery secures the pick for the team that finished last.

The team with the best odds coming in will win the draft lottery for the second straight year, though. The Montreal Canadiens will pick first overall in their own building, the first time such an occurrence has happened since 1985 when the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Wendel Clark at Maple Leaf Gardens. The New Jersey Devils moved up from fifth overall to second overall, bumping down the Arizona Coyotes, Seattle Kraken, and Philadelphia Flyers down one spot each.

The order for the top 16 picks of the 2022 NHL Draft is as follows:

  1. Montreal Canadiens
  2. New Jersey Devils
  3. Arizona Coyotes
  4. Seattle Kraken
  5. Philadelphia Flyers
  6. Columbus Blue Jackets (via Chicago Blackhawks)
  7. Ottawa Senators
  8. Detroit Red Wings
  9. Buffalo Sabres
  10. Anaheim Ducks
  11. San Jose Sharks
  12. Columbus Blue Jackets
  13. New York Islanders
  14. Winnipeg Jets
  15. Vancouver Canucks
  16. Buffalo Sabres (via Vegas Golden Knights)

While Shane Wright is still the consensus no. 1 overall selection across public draft boards (and NHL Central Scouting), there’s been recent noise about players like Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley potentially challenging him for first overall. That’s an upset unlikely to happen, though, as Wright had a terrific second half of the 2021-22 campaign, finishing with 32 goals, 62 assists, and 94 points in 63 games with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. He also has 10 points in eight playoff games at the time of writing. While teams will draft him for his elite playmaking ability, he’s got an underrated shot when he chooses to use it as well. Standout Slovak defenseman Simon Nemec, Czech defenseman David Jiricek, Canadian forward Matthew Savoie, and Finnish forward Joakim Kemell are also names to watch for near the top of the draft board.

Charlie McAvoy Reportedly Clears COVID Protocol, Available For Game 5

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In a surprise twist, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports that Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is at PNC Arena in Raleigh, likely meaning he’s cleared NHL COVID protocol and could play in tonight’s Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Kaplan did not go so far as to say that McAvoy would play, however, he will take warmups.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman adds that he understands McAvoy can play if he’s five days out from the onset of virus symptoms, assuming a negative test and medical clearance. Assuming that McAvoy’s symptom onset was last Thursday, he could be cleared to play. However, that assumes McAvoy would’ve first felt symptoms the day prior to Game 3, which he played.

Obviously, if McAvoy can play, it would be a huge boost for the Bruins. They already have all the momentum in the series after winning twice at home to tie the best-of-seven First Round matchup at two games apiece. McAvoy had two assists in Games 1-3 while averaging over 25 minutes per game.

With a re-inforced defense and the strong play of Jeremy Swayman, it seems like the Bruins could end up snatching victory from the jaws of defeat after a pair of blowouts in Games 1 and 2.

Frans Nielsen To Retire After World Championships

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Via a news release from his DEL team, Eisbaren Berlin, long-time NHL center Frans Nielsen will retire from professional hockey after representing his native Denmark at the upcoming 2022 IIHF World Championships. Nielsen played the 2021-22 campaign overseas in Germany after the Detroit Red Wings bought out the final year of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Nielsen retires as the all-time leader among Danish NHLers in games played (925), goals (167), assists (306), and points (473). However, Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is poised to break the goals mark next season, as he sits three back with 164. Nielsen’s, Lars Eller’s, Jannik Hansen’s, and Mikkel Boedker’s emergence in the late 2000s and early 2010s ushered in the most successful era in Danish hockey history, at least as it relates to the NHL. They paved the way for players such as Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand to take the leap and become the next faces of Denmark hockey.

Earlier this year, Nielsen was a flag bearer and alternate captain for Denmark as the men’s hockey team made its first Olympic appearance in history. Nielsen registered two goals and an assist in five games.

Drafted 87th overall in 2002 by the New York Islanders out of a stellar season in the Swedish top junior league, he developed into a skilled two-way forward and playmaker at his peak with the Islanders. One of the most underrated all-around players in the game during his prime, Nielsen broke into the NHL full-time in 2008-09 as a 24-year-old. He would spend 10 seasons total and 606 games in an Islanders uniform before departing for the Red Wings in free agency during the 2016 offseason.

Nielsen wouldn’t repeat his 20-goal, 50-point per year success in Detroit, but still managed 124 points across 319 games in Detroit.

Avalanche, Predators Send Several Players To AHL

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Now that they have been eliminated from the playoffs, the 2021-22 season is over for most of the Nashville Predators. Not so for at least three, as Cody Glass, Connor Ingram, and Mathieu Olivier have all been reassigned to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals to join their Calder Cup run.

Ingram, 25, ended up starting the Predators final three games, despite having just three NHL appearances heading into the playoffs. The young netminder held his own, recording a .913 save percentage and coming oh-so-close to stealing a win from the Colorado Avalanche in game two. Ingram made 49 stops in that overtime loss, easily the highest of his short NHL career to this point. Signed to a one-way contract for next season, he is a candidate to serve as the team’s full-time backup after the strong performance.

Glass, 23, came up at the end of the season and played in two of the four playoff games for Nashville, averaging fewer than ten minutes of ice time and failing to record a point. It was a difficult year for the top prospect, who was forced down to the minor leagues for most of the year after a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights. Instead of complaining though, Glass became a star for the Admirals, scoring 62 points in 66 games to lead the club. With a restricted free agency negotiation upcoming, a good showing in the AHL playoffs would certainly help.

Olivier, 25, played in three of the four playoff games for the Predators, also recording zero points but racking up 12 penalty minutes. The undrafted forward doesn’t do much scoring but can bring a level of physicality to the Admirals series. In 46 games for them this year, he had 11 points and 76 penalty minutes.

Meanwhile, the Avalanche have sent their own reinforcements down as they await the results of the other series. Justus Annunen and Hunter Miska have both been returned to the Colorado Eagles, who start a series against the Ontario Reign tomorrow night. Neither goaltender was ever really expected to play for Colorado, though Darcy Kuemper’s eye injury certainly made it a possibility.

Snapshots: Benn, PHF, Team USA

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The Department of Player Safety has handed out another fine for Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn, his second of the series. This time it is a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for tripping Calgary Flames forward Trevor Lewis.

With no points and two fines, the series isn’t quite going how Benn had hoped, and he’ll now have to be even more cognizant of any supplementary discipline. The league will be keeping a close eye on his play as the games continue, and any further events might result in a suspension for the 32-year-old forward.

  • The PHF, which recently made headlines with a massive contract for one of its rising stars, has grabbed the news again today by pulling an Olympian away from the PWHPA. Amanda Pelkey has signed a contract with the Metropolitan Riveters, just a few months after winning gold with Team USA. Pelky, 28, last played in the league in 2018-19 (then called the NWHL) and has two World Championship golds to go with her Olympic hardware.
  • Speaking of the World Championship, the U.S. announced their captains for the upcoming event, adding a “C” to Seth Jones’ sweater and an “A” to both Nate Schmidt and Austin Watson. The tournament kicks off in just a few days in Finland, where the U.S. will open things with a game against Latvia. Jones, 27, is returning to the event for the first time since 2015.

Mackenzie MacEachern Sent On AHL Conditioning Stint

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If the St. Louis Blues are able to get past the Minnesota Wild, it appears as though they might be getting another physical option to insert into the lineup at some point. Mackenzie MacEachern has been loaned to the Springfield Thunderbirds on a conditioning stint, after spending the last month on long-term injured reserve.

MacEachern, 28, has played just 14 games for the Blues this season, but could potentially be used as a bottom-six option if other injuries take place. For now, he’ll join a Springfield team that is headed into a playoff series with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tomorrow evening. Given he hasn’t played since suffering an injury in early April, it may take him a little while before he’s able to step into an NHL playoff game–if they decide to do that at all.

The Blues, known for their physical playoff run from a few seasons ago where they beat and battered opponents into submission, are tied 2-2 with the Minnesota Wild in their first-round series. The two teams are back at it again tonight, with games six and seven scheduled for Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Patrick Marleau Announces Retirement

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Thank you, hockey. That’s how Patrick Marleau titled his retirement post with the Players’ Tribune, announcing that he is finally stepping away from the game for good. The NHL’s all-time games played leader didn’t play this season, and will finally hang up the skates officially at the age of 42.

It was all too fitting that a kid from Aneroid, Saskatchewan would be the one to pass Gordie Howe’s record, as Marleau did last season. With 1,779, no one has appeared more in the regular season than the 1997 second-overall pick. The first pick that season? None other than long-time teammate Joe Thornton, who shared so many memories with the San Jose Sharks. Despite spending a few years with the Toronto Maple Leafs and a handful of games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s San Jose where Marleau will be irrevocably linked.

Though he won no individual awards and the Sharks never hoisted the Stanley Cup, Marleau’s career was far from disappointing. He twice pulled an Olympic gold medal over his head with Team Canada, a key part of both the 2010 and 2014 Games. Add two World Championship medals and nearly 200 playoff contests, and it’s easy to see why Marleau lasted just as long as he did.

Perhaps most impressive was his durability. In none of the 82-game seasons he played in did he suit up fewer than 74 times (which happened as a rookie) and for more than a decade at the end of his career, he was on the ice every night. Remember, this was still while suiting up in the playoffs nearly every year, as Marleau appeared in the postseason in 20 different campaigns.

The ultimate accumulator, Marleau will finish with 1,197 career regular season points, good enough for 50th all-time. While some may argue with his Hall of Fame credentials, he seems a good bet to eventually get in because of just how long he played at the highest level, and how consistent he was during those years.

2022 Vezina Finalists Announced

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Over the next week, the NHL will be releasing the finalists for all of the major regular season awards. After yesterday’s Norris announcement, next up is the Vezina Trophy, which is given to the best goaltender in the NHL and is voted on by the league’s general managers.

This year’s finalists are Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames, Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers, and Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators.

Markstrom, 32, is a finalist for the first time, following his best and most consistent season to date. Appearing in 63 games for the Pacific Division-winning Flames, the big netminder won 37 games, posted a .922 save percentage, and led the league with nine shutouts. The backbone for his team all season long, Markstrom was a huge part of the stingy Flames team that turned from a high-flying circus into a controlled, defensive team under head coach Darryl Sutter.

Shesterkin, 26, is the odds-on favorite to win the award, despite his recent struggles in the playoffs. The Rangers would have been absolutely lost without him this season, and he led the league in both save percentage and person goals-against average. That .935 mark was ten points higher than his nearest competitor and raised Shesterkin’s career number to something of legends. Among goaltenders with at least 100 NHL appearances (he has exactly that), his .928 career save percentage is well ahead of Dominik Hasek’s .922 for first place. It will obviously be hard to maintain that over a whole career, but the Russian netminder is off to a historic start.

Saros meanwhile shouldn’t be forgotten. The 27-year-old netminder appeared in 67 games for the Predators, more than any other goaltender in the league, despite being injured in the final week. Last year’s sixth-place finisher, he posted a strong .918 save percentage and dragged Nashville into a playoff spot. One of the smallest goaltenders in the league at 5’11”, Saros continues to show why the Predators were so excited about his development even when they still had Pekka Rinne in place as the starter. Since his rookie season in 2016-17, Saros hasn’t posted a save percentage under .914 and now has a career mark of .920 in 222 appearances, good for seventh on the all-time list.

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