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Aidan McDonough Expected To Sign With Canucks After NCAA Season

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With his college career set to come to an end over the next few weeks, Canucks prospect Aidan McDonough would soon be facing a choice.  He could sign with the team that drafted him or wait a few months and hit unrestricted free agency in mid-August.  It appears he’ll be choosing the former as CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal reports (audio link) that McDonough will be signing with Vancouver once his college campaign comes to an end.  McDonough’s advisor Glen Giovanucci confirmed the report to Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston.

The 23-year-old was a seventh-round pick by the Canucks back in 2019 (195th overall) but has certainly outperformed his draft stock, quickly becoming a key producer at Northeastern.  McDonough reached the 20-goal mark and surpassed the point-per-game plateau for the second year in a row with his 20 goals and 18 assists in 33 games leading the Huskies in scoring.  Over his four-year college career, he’s averaging just over a point per game with 124 in 123 appearances.

At his age, McDonough is only eligible for a two-year, entry-level contract.  Dhaliwal notes that if McDonough’s season ends early enough, the first of those campaigns will be burned in 2022-23, allowing him to join Vancouver for the final few games this season to begin his pro career while setting him up to hit restricted free agency in 2024.

Tony Granato Fired As Wisconsin Badgers Head Coach

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The Wisconsin Badgers announced via a press release this afternoon that head coach Tony Granato has been relieved of his duties. After taking over as head coach of the Big 10 team during the 2016-17 season, Granato will finish his tenure as head coach with a cumulative 103-129-16 record. The 2021-22 season was by far the most successful of them all, as the team finished first in their division, ultimately losing to Bemidji State in the regional semifinals.

Aside from coaching, Granato is well known for being a part of the Los Angeles Kings during their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993. In the best statistical season of his career, the 5’10” forward scored a career-high 37 goals and 45 assists. Unfortunately, the next season, Granato’s career was permanently altered after receiving a hard hit to the head in a game against the Hartford Whalers. There was bleeding in his brain detected, and Granato went out for a time due to surgery as many wondered if he would ever play again. Defeating the odds, Granato returned to the NHL, playing for the San Jose Sharks to finish his career.

Before coaching at Wisconsin, Granato previously coached in the NHL. His most recent coaching position was as an assistant for the Detroit Red Wings from 2014-16. Before that Granato held the same role for the Pittsburgh Penguins between 2009-2014, helping the team win their first Stanley Cup since 1992. The only head coaching position he’s ever had in the NHL was with the Colorado Avalanche from 2002-2004; 2008-2009, finishing with a 104-78-17-16 record.

As with any upcoming offseason, there will be head coaching changes made in the NHL. Although he has not coached at that level since the 2008-09 season, Granato could be of interest to teams looking to make a change behind the bench. Since the news of his dismissal is recent, Granato has not yet commented on his future. Whether he continues in the NCAA, or if he moves back into professional hockey, Granato should be a popular name heading into the offseason.

Ducks Prospect Henry Thrun To Test Free Agency

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The Ducks will soon be losing a promising prospect as GM Pat Verbeek confirmed to Lisa Dillman of the Orange County Register that defenseman Henry Thrun will not sign with the team and instead intends to go to free agency this summer.

The 21-year-old was a fourth-round pick by Anaheim back in 2019 (101st overall) and has vastly outperformed his draft stock since then.  He’s averaging a point per game so far this season with Harvard and has 77 points in 90 games in his three years at the NCAA level, numbers that are well above average for a defender.

Anaheim has a very strong defensive pipeline with youngster Jamie Drysdale already in the NHL along with 2021 second-round pick Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, who went 10th overall last summer, Drew Helleson, acquired from Colorado in the Josh Manson trade last season, and Jackson LaCombe, who recently indicated that he will sign once his college season ends.  Accordingly, it appears Thrun feels his best path to try to earn a spot in the NHL will be somewhere else.

He’s not the first Harvard player that has gone this route or at least threatened to do so.  Jimmy Vesey and Alex Kerfoot ultimately tested the market while Adam Fox and John Marino were eventually traded and signed with their new team (although it took two trades for Fox to do so).  It’s possible that Verbeek, now knowing he won’t be able to sign Thrun, will look to trade his rights elsewhere in the hopes of at least salvaging some sort of return while the acquiring team would hope to convince Thrun to sign, allowing them to add a quality prospect for a below-market return.

No Decision Made On Cutter Gauthier’s Pro Future

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For teams out of the playoffs, there’s still some excitement to come down the stretch. As the NCAA schedule comes to a close, top prospects can turn pro and get their feet wet in the NHL before setting in for an offseason of training and development.

That is, if they decide to leave the college ranks.

One of the names to watch is Philadelphia Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier, picked fifth overall in the 2022 draft. The big, speedy forward played mostly wing during his junior days but has transitioned to the middle of the ice (with some bumps along the way) for Boston College, and is now leading the club in goals and points.

That’s despite a leave to suit up at the World Juniors, where he had ten points in seven games for Team USA. Gauthier is a shining star in the Flyers prospect pool, and it’s hard to not get excited thinking about his NHL debut this spring.

Not so fast, says Philadelphia assistant general manager Brent Flahr, who spoke with Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic. When asked if Gauthier could be a one-and-done player at BC, Flahr wouldn’t commit, explaining that while players often want to go that route, it isn’t always best for their development.

The decision won’t come until after the college season ends, and they have a full examination of where Gauthier’s game stands. There is still more than a month left in the Eagles’ schedule, plus the potential of a playoff run if they can get things moving in the right direction. Plenty of time, anyway, for Gauthier to impress the Flyers front office enough to earn an entry-level contract at the end of the year.

To be clear, there is no risk of losing Gauthier’s rights if he decides to go back to school. Philadelphia holds them until the summer of 2026, and there’s virtually no chance of the big forward waiting that long before turning pro.

Central Notes: Avalanche, Leddy, Commesso

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With Colorado not really going out and replacing Nazem Kadri who left in free agency last summer, there has been an expectation that the Avalanche would add an impact center at the trade deadline.  While there are several rentals that are expected to be available, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post posits that there could be a different direction they could go.  If they’re comfortable with Evan Rodrigues and J.T. Compher as their middle-six middlemen, they could look to upgrade on the wing instead.  Durando suggests Panthers winger Anthony Duclair as a plausible target; Florida will have cap issues once he and Patric Hornqvist are able to return so there could be an opportunity to buy low.  At a $3MM AAV both this season and next, Duclair could be an intriguing option for Colorado, especially since his speed would fit in well with their style of play.

Elsewhere in the Central:

  • The Blues could have defenseman Nick Leddy back in the lineup tonight against Tampa Bay, notes Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 31-year-old has missed the last four games due to an upper-body injury.  Leddy has 11 assists in 39 games so far this season and with Torey Krug out for a while, he’ll likely be called upon to play a bigger role offensively for St. Louis which is something he has been able to do with success in the past.
  • While he has another year of NCAA eligibility remaining, goalie Drew Commesso is likely to turn pro for next season, suggests Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times. The 20-year-old was the 46th pick in 2020 by the Blackhawks and has had a bit of an up-and-down third season with Boston University.  His GAA (2.58) and SV% (.910) are actually a little worse than last season although a pair of rough starts out of his 14 appearances skew that somewhat.  Commesso has also dealt with a hamstring injury which has limited his playing time thus far.

Brian Gionta Joins Niagara University

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The next stage of Brian Gionta’s hockey career is about to get underway, as Niagara University has announced him as their new director of player development. This move follows a few years of coaching in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program and could suggest a front office future for the former NHL forward.

Jason Lammers, the head coach of Niagara, released the following:

Brian’s commitment to developing players and helping them reach their full potential is his priority. Brian’s strong leadership skills and passion for the game are Uncommon and will bring a new level of development for our student-athletes both on and off the ice to the program.

Gionta, 43, retired in 2018 after captaining the U.S. at the Olympics, the second time he had suited up for his country at the Games. A veteran of over 1,000 NHL games, he served as captain for the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres, while racking up 291 goals and 595 points. His college career was outstanding, finishing as a Hobey Baker finalist three times while winning the NCAA championship in his senior year at Boston College. He won the Stanley Cup in 2003 with the New Jersey Devils, and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.

It potentially means nothing, but a move like this could indicate Gionta’s desire to climb the ladder in hockey development and operations. If he chooses, there will likely be many teams that would be willing to leverage his experience and knowledge. The third-round pick carved out an excellent career and was exceptionally well-respected during his time as a player.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

West Notes: McDonagh, Guenther, Gustavsson

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Amid their up-and-down season on and off the ice thus far, eight points out of a playoff spot coming into today, unable to extend Bo Horvat, and listing only Elias Pettersson as “untouchable,” it appears the Vancouver Canucks need to start setting their eyes on the future. Part of that future is likely with Pettersson, as well as Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko, and the recently-extended J.T. Miller, but will also come with their young prospects. One of those prospects, who has yet to sign with the team, is Northeastern University forward Aidan McDonagh.

The 23-year-old is finishing up his fourth season in the NCAA where he has 13 goals and 14 assists in just 20 games and is over a point-per-game during his four years. A 2019 seventh-round pick of the Canucks, Vancouver’s rights with McDonagh expire on August 15th. According to CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal, Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin was in Boston this weekend to meet with McDonagh. Per Dhaliwal, that meeting went very well, with Allvin laying out his plan for the player should he choose to sign. Despite the positive meeting, there is still no indication of how likely McDonagh is to sign with the team that drafted him.

  • After scoring the golden-goal for Team Canada at this year’s World Juniors, Arizona Coyotes forward Dylan Guenther immediately rejoined his team, flying back to Arizona on Friday, less than 24 hours after the biggest goal of his life to-date. Given the whirlwind few days for Guenther and having been away form his NHL team for a few weeks, many would understand if the winger didn’t play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, that won’t be the case says PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan, who reports that Guenther will play at home Sunday. Guenther, 19, had been one of a few key difference-makers for Canada at this year’s tournament, and has been off to a nice start to his NHL career too, recording 11 points in 21 games prior to joining Team Canada.
  • Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who last played Wednesday and has been out with a non-COVID illness since, is expected to start this evening’s game at home against the St. Louis Blues, says The Athletic’s Joe Smith. Gustavsson’s illness had apparently been enough that he couldn’t simply back-up for Marc-Andre Fleury, but the team had to instead recall netminder Zane McIntyre on an emergency basis Friday morning. The Wild play at home this evening before a two game midweek road trip to New York City and Long Island.

Snapshots: Hague, Pastrnak, Jets

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When Vegas Golden Knights training camp opens tomorrow morning, defenseman Nicolas Hague won’t be there as he awaits a new contract. The Athletic’s Jesse Granger reports that he isn’t expected to be on the ice with his teammates Thursday morning at City National Arena, the team’s practice facility.

Hague is one of the few remaining restricted free agents in the NHL, alongside Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin and Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson as the marquee names. Granger expertly notes that Hague missing camp is more detrimental than in previous seasons, as new head coach Bruce Cassidy will be installing a completely foreign defensive system from what the Knights have been used to in past seasons. Hague, the 34th overall pick in 2017, had 14 points in 52 games last season.

  • Speaking today during preseason media availability, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney says it’s a priority for him to get pending free agent winger David Pastrnak signed as soon as possible. Pastrnak, while he’s expressed a strong desire to stay in Boston, hasn’t shared the same urgency in negotiations in previous reporting. Pastrnak, who’s notched 40 or more goals in his last two full seasons, will be in line for a substantial raise, and it may behoove Sweeney to get a deal done before his value rises even further.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have made three scouting hires, including the first woman scout in team history, Sydney Daniels. Daniels joins the team as an NCAA scout, having previously served as the assistant coach for the women’s team at Harvard. The team also brought on Jari Kekalainen, brother of Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, as a European scout, and former Toronto Maple Leafs scout Tony Martino as a USHL scout.

Taylor Heise Named 2022 Women’s World Championship MVP

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Despite losing 2-1 in the gold medal game to Canada today, a breakout member for Team USA has taken home the MVP award for the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Taylor Heise, a collegiate player from the University of Minnesota, won the award after leading the tournament in scoring with 18 points in seven games.

Heise is returning to Minnesota next season for her fifth and final year in the program. As an alternate captain last season, Heise exploded for 29 goals, 37 assists, and 66 points in just 39 games. Minnesota was the number 2 ranked program in the country at season’s end but lost in the NCAA quarterfinals to state rival Duluth.

Heise also won the Directorate Award for best forward at the tournament. USA goaltender Nicole Hensley and Czech defender Daniela Pejsova won their respective positional awards. Hensley finished the tournament with a 4-1-0 record, .930 save percentage, and 1.08 goals-against average in five games, while Pesjova finished with five goals, four assists, and nine points in six games en route to Czechia earning their first medal at the tournament.

University Of Denver Extends David Carle

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If you were wondering which college coach would make the jump to the NHL ranks next, it doesn’t look like it will be David Carle. The University of Denver head coach has signed an extension through the 2026-27 season after winning his second national championship (first as head coach) earlier this year.

There’s little doubt that he’ll eventually get there and no rush for the 32-year-old Carle, who already has a decade of coaching experience under his belt. His playing career was ended just before the 2008 draft when he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, taking any chance of an NHL future off the table. Despite that diagnosis, he was still picked 203rd overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who would acquire his brother Matt Carle just a few days later.

Instead of giving up on hockey, he became a student assistant coach at DU the following year, and after two years as an assistant with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, he was back as a full-time assistant in Denver in 2014. Given the head coaching role in 2018, he has led the program to a 86-43-13 recorder, ecently won Coach of the Year honors, and was the fourth-youngest head coach in history to take home the national championship.

With such an early start, there’s a good chance that if he wants to, Carle will be able to pursue an NHL coaching career at some point down the road. But that won’t be for a while yet, after agreeing to a long-term partnership with the school that gave him his first chance.

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