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Archives for April 2023

Los Angeles Kings Recall Six Players

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The Los Angeles Kings have made several transactions as they prepare for Saturday’s do-or-die game six against the Edmonton Oilers. The club has announced the recall of Lias Andersson, Samuel Helenius, Andre Lee, Jacob Moverare, Jordan Spence, and Francesco Pinelli.

The group will likely serve as “Black Aces,” players who practice with the club and experience playoff preparations but don’t actually enter the lineup.

Pinelli, 20, is perhaps the most interesting addition, given he’s coming directly from the OHL. The 2021 second-round pick spent the year with the Kitchener Rangers, scoring 41 goals and 90 points in just 60 regular season games.

His playoff performance, though strong offensively, left something to be desired. Pinelli was given a three-game suspension for a blindside hit in the first round, leading to his absence in the first two games against the London Knights, longtime rivals that ended up winning both. Kitchener couldn’t recover (despite Pinelli’s first-star performance in game three) and was eliminated last week.

Several of the other names have already made appearances for the Kings this season, though the massive 6’6″ Helenius is still waiting for his NHL debut.

Los Angeles will try to stay alive at home and force a game seven on Monday.

Joe Pavelski Practices; Will Travel With Club

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The Dallas Stars have a chance to close out their first-round series tomorrow night against the Minnesota Wild, and could have some added firepower in the lineup.

Joe Pavelski participated in practice today and will travel with the team. Head coach Pete DeBoer told Saad Yousuf of The Athletic that the team would “see tomorrow morning” if he’s a full-go.

Pavelski hasn’t played since taking a hard hit from Matt Dumba in game one, though the team has done rather well in his absence. Even without one of their most dangerous offensive players, Dallas has outscored Minnesota 17-13 in the series. Still, there’s little doubt they would have the veteran leader in the lineup if they could.

Set to turn 39 this summer, Pavelski is still playing at an incredibly high level. With 28 goals and 77 points in the regular season, he trailed only Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn for the team lead. His continued excellence is a big reason why the Stars were seen by many as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender when the playoffs began. His return should help them as they try to hold off any Minnesota comeback over the next few nights.

Washington Capitals Sign Hardy Häman Aktell

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Another European free agent will test the North American waters in 2023-24, as Hardy Häman Aktell has signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals.

Häman Aktell, 24, was originally a fourth-round draft choice of the Nashville Predators in 2016, but never signed and became a free agent several years ago. A late bloomer, he entered the SHL in 2020 and has played for Vaxjo HC ever since.

This year, the 6’3″ defenseman took a huge step forward offensively, recording 36 points in 51 games. He also helped the club win another SHL Championship—his second in three seasons—by adding three goals and seven points in 18 playoff games.

There was some buzz about Häman Aktell coming into the 2016 draft, as a potential steal thanks to his exciting blend of size and skill. He couldn’t put it together in time for the Predators to sign him, but perhaps he’ll be a story of perseverance and dedication.

The Capitals, looking to find value wherever they can, have nothing to lose by offering an entry-level deal. He’ll be an interesting case to watch in training camp, where it should be apparent quickly if he’ll be able to handle himself at the NHL level.

Vasily Ponomarev Will Travel With Hurricanes

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The Carolina Hurricanes could not seal the deal on home ice in game five and will have to travel to face the New York Islanders tomorrow night. Unfortunately, one player won’t be making the trip.

Jack Drury will not travel with the Hurricanes after suffering an injury in game four. Instead, team reporter Walt Ruff tweets that Vasily Ponomarev will be traveling as the extra forward.

Ponomarev, 21, was a second-round pick of the Hurricanes in 2020 and has yet to make his NHL debut. In his first full season of AHL action, he put up 24 goals and 46 points in 64 games for the Chicago Wolves.

While he isn’t expected to enter the lineup, just being the next man up shows how much the Hurricanes’ depth has been tested. Teuvo Teravainan, Andrei Svechnikov, Max Pacioretty, and Ondrej Kase would likely be in the lineup if healthy, but the group must find a way to win without them.

Ruff adds that Frederik Andersen is a possibility for tomorrow’s game, after missing the first several with injury. The veteran netminder hasn’t played since April 13.

Minnesota Wild Recall Nine Players

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The Iowa Wild were eliminated from Calder Cup contention a few days ago, but it isn’t summer vacation for all their players yet. Nine members of Iowa’s roster are on their way to join the Minnesota Wild as a set of “Black Aces,” players who will practice with the club and serve as injury insurance in the playoffs.

Adam Beckman, Steven Fogarty, Nic Petan, Marco Rossi, Nick Swaney, Samuel Walker, Daemon Hunt, Dakota Mermis, and Zane McIntyre have all been recalled.

Of course, after dropping game five on Tuesday the Wild are on the brink of elimination themselves. They’ll take on the Dallas Stars in a do-or-die matchup tomorrow night, trying to force a game seven in the first-round series.

All but Hunt have appeared in the NHL previously. The 20-year-old defenseman is in his first professional season after being selected 65th overall in 2020, and posted 11 points in 59 regular season games for Iowa.

The others are a mix of minor league veterans and top prospects. Rossi falls into the latter category, though his time in the NHL this year didn’t go well. The 2020 ninth-overall pick registered just a single assist (and no goals) in 19 games with Minnesota. While his development has been interrupted by health issues, Rossi’s inability to grab a roster spot was one of the season’s low points for the Wild.

There is at least a possibility that someone from this group does enter the lineup. According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman are both not practicing today, though their status for tomorrow’s game is unclear.

2023 Offer Sheet Compensation

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In 2019, the offer sheet made its comeback after six years away, with Sebastian Aho signing a five-year, $42.3MM contract with the Montreal Canadiens. That was quickly matched by the Carolina Hurricanes, only to see them take some retribution and nab Jesperi Kotkaniemi two years later.

As we wait for the next offer sheet target, compensation thresholds have been set.

Offer sheet compensation is based on the league’s average salary, and as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports, this year’s thresholds have increased a little more than two percent. Below is the full breakdown, with the contract’s average annual value placing it in one of seven tiers:

$1,415,740 or less No compensation
$1,415,741 to $2,145,061 Third-round pick
$2,145,062 to $4,290,125 Second-round pick
$4,290,126 to $6,435,186 First and third-round picks
$6,435,187 to $8,580,250 First, second and third-round picks
$8,580,251 to $10,725,314 Two firsts, a second and third-round picks
Over $10,725,314 Four first-round picks

It is important to note that any team trying to sign a player to an applicable offer sheet must use their own draft picks for compensation, not ones that have been acquired.

That rules several teams out already from signing high-profile RFAs unless they were to work to reacquire their picks before submitting the contract. An offer sheet’s average annual value is also calculated slightly differently than a standard contract; if the contract is of a length greater than five years, the total salary is still divided by five to determine the AAV.

That would mean a seven-year contract worth $8MM per season would carry an AAV of $11.2MM for the purposes of offer sheet compensation.

Some restricted free agents, like Ottawa’s Shane Pinto, have not accumulated enough time in the NHL to be eligible for an offer sheet. For more information about the details of offer sheets, check out CapFriendly’s FAQ.

Maxim Barbashev, Ryder Korczak Join Hartford Wolf Pack

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As junior seasons end, top prospects will get a short opportunity to get their feet wet professionally before the offseason begins. Today, the Hartford Wolf Pack announced an amateur tryout agreement for Maxim Barbashev, that will keep him with the team through the Calder Cup Playoffs.

He’ll be joined by Ryder Korczak, who has been assigned back to the Wolf Pack from the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Barbashev, selected 161st overall by the New York Rangers in 2022, has played the last three seasons with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. This season he posted 32 goals and 65 points in 67 games, but could not overcome the Halifax Mooseheads in the second round.

Not yet signed to an entry-level contract with the Rangers, this will be his first opportunity at the pro level. The 19-year-old forward is the younger brother of Vegas Golden Knights deadline acquisition Ivan Barbashev.

Korczak, meanwhile, is returning to a Hartford team that he played five games for earlier this season. After going scoreless in that short stint, the 2021 third-round pick returned to Moose Jaw and dominated, racking up 69 points in 48 regular season games.

He has already signed his ELC with the Rangers, and will likely spend all of next season in Hartford.

The 20-year-old center also has ties to the Vegas organization—his brother Kaedan Korczak was a second-round pick by the Golden Knights in 2019 and played ten games this season.

East Notes: Flyers, Schmidt, Phillips

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The Philadelphia Flyers are searching for a president of hockey operations to join the organization and Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic laid out the criteria the team is looking for to fill the role. O’Connor mentions that the team will be looking for a president of hockey operations to lead their management team while Daniel Briere, a relative youngster in the front office, will be the team’s general manager. With that in mind, the criteria the organization are using to fill the vacant position are experience, strong communication skills and a smart hockey mind. That last one should go without saying, but the team always wants someone who can communicate better with season ticket holders and fans, as well as someone with experience to help Briere along as he learns his new role as well.

O’Connor continues to list a handful of potential candidates who include Ray Shero, Doug Wilson, Scott Mellanby and Dave Poulin. Shero surely has the experience required thanks to his resume as an assistant general manager, general manager and senior advisor roles dating back to 1993. He is also the son of Fred Shero who coached the Flyers to their two Stanley Cup wins. Wilson was the general manager of the San Jose Sharks for nearly two decades giving him plenty of experience in this type of role. Mellanby has been working in front offices since 2012 when he was a director of player personnel and later an assistant general manager for the Montreal Canadiens. He also played for the Flyers for the first five years of his playing career. Poulin’s experience involved both working as the Toronto Maple Leafs vice president of hockey operations for five seasons as well as extensive experience working games as an analyst, which checks off the communication and experience boxes.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned one of their prospects, per a team release. Roman Schmidt saw his OHL season end when the Kitchener Rangers were eliminated from the postseason by the London Knights, but his season is not over yet as Schmidt will join the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. The Lightning’s third round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft scored 28 points in 64 games and provided a big, physical, defensive presence for the Rangers using his 6-foot-5 inch and 216 pound body to win battles and protect his crease. The Crunch currently lead their Best-of-5 Division Semifinal series with the Rochester Americans 2-0.
  • Detroit Red Wings prospect Ethan Phillips has found a new college hockey team for the upcoming season. According to Mark Divver of NHL.com, Phillips will leave Boston University and transfer to Western Michigan for the 2023-24 campaign. The Red Wings fourth-round pick in 2019, Phillips scored four goals and 11 points in 29 games last season.

Edmonton Oilers Recall Trio Of Players

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Per a team release, the Edmonton Oilers have added some depth to their playoff roster. With their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Oilers are free to call up as many extras as they wish. They have chosen to recall defenseman Markus Niemelainen, defenseman Cam Dineen and forward Brad Malone to join the NHL club as depth options for the Oilers as they continue their playoff quest.

Niemelainen is a big, physical, defensive defenseman at 6-foot-6 who played 23 NHL games this season. He was a third-round pick of the Oilers in 2016 and has 43 career NHL games of experience. He played 30 AHL games with Bakersfield this season, scoring seven points while filling a shutdown defensive role for the team.

Dineen was a third-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016 NHL Draft and was acquired by the Oilers with Nick Bjugstad at the trade deadline. More of an offensive defenseman, the 24 year old scored six goals and 47 points in 69 AHL games this season, but did not appear in any NHL contests in 2022-23. He did suit up for 34 games with the Coyotes in 2021-22, chipping in seven points but showing some defensive deficiencies as well.

Malone is a 33-year-old veteran forward who has 217 games of NHL experience. He played ten games with the Oilers this season and had 21 points in 41 AHL games with the Condors. Malone is a big winger at 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds and plays a phsyical style that could come in handy on a fourth line if a few injuries occur down the line for the Oilers.

Chances are this trio of players make up the infamous “black aces” group for the Oilers as they skate and practice with the team during the postseason but are unlikely to play any games. You never know what can happen with injuries and illness in a long playoff run so teams keep a handful of extra players around just in case, and Niemelainen, Dineed and Malone are that insurance policy for the Oilers.

Injury Notes: Bergeron, Carrier, Lomberg

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Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron will make his 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 5, according to Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com. The 37-year-old veteran center missed the first four games of the series with an undisclosed injury that was suffered in the Bruins final game of the regular season. The Bruins have held their own without an important piece of their lineup, as they have a 3-1 lead in the series and will look to eliminate the Florida Panthers and be the first team to advance to the second round.

Bergeron scored 27 goals and 58 points in 78 regular season games and is among the best defensive forwards to ever play the game. The Bruins are without center David Krejci, so having Bergeron return fills a huge hole down the middle of the lineup. After winning 65 regular season games, the Bruins are hoping to go on a long playoff run. A healthy Bergeron would go a long way in helping them in their quest for a Stanley Cup this spring.

  • Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports William Carrier is fully healthy and once again a full participant at practice for the Vegas Golden Knights. Carrier has not played since March 3 due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old winger scored 16 goals and 25 points in 56 regular season games for the Golden Knights, giving them scoring from a depth position in their lineup. Carrier will be an option in Game 5 as Vegas looks to eliminate the Winnipeg Jets.
  • Ryan Lomberg will not play Game 5 for the Florida Panthers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Lomberg has played an effective forechecking style using his speed and toughness to win puck battles, though he has been held pointless in the series thus far. The 28 year old had 12 goals and 20 points for the Panthers while playing every regular season game so it is unusual to see him out of the lineup. No official update was given, but Lomberg was hit hard in the face with a cross check in Game 4.

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