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KHL Could Block Players From Participating In Olympics If Russia Is Banned

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The KHL may consider blocking its players from participating in the upcoming Olympics if the Russian Federation is banned from participating as a result of the doping scandal from the 2014 Games, Sport-Express’ Igor Eronko reports (Twitter link).  The league has scheduled a lengthy break during the season (from January 24th through February 25th) to coincide with the event so even if they do stop their players from going, all of them will still be off for a month.

While that would clearly take Russia out of the equation, it would also wreak havoc on several other countries that are likely to draw from KHL teams as well.  For the Karjala Cup (which teams are using as a pre-Olympics camp) that gets underway next week, Canada has 16 KHL players on their roster while Finland has 13, Sweden has 11, and the Czech Republic has nine.  The United States, Switzerland, and Slovenia all have players in that league as well.

Although the possibility exists for athletes from countries that are barred from participating to play under a neutral flag, Russian players would not do so, Gennady Timchenko, chairman of the KHL Board of Directors and vice-president of Russia’s Olympic Committee, told R-Sport (link in Russian).  In an interview with Eronko (link in Russian), IIHF President Rene Fasel stated that if Russia was not allowed to participate, they would not be replaced by another country for the tournament.

A final decision has not been made by the International Olympic Committee regarding Russia’s eligibility just yet nor has the KHL officially decided that they would block all of its players from participating in response to a ban though league president Dmitry Chernyshenko told Eronko (Twitter link) that he is prepared to do so if it comes to it.  However, it appears that there is at least a chance that an already weaker Olympics in terms of availability of players could find itself drawing from even less of a talent pool.

Rasmus Dahlin To Play In Karjala Cup

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Team Sweden released their roster for the upcoming Karjala Cup today, and Craig Button of TSN provided us a snapshot of the list. Remember, this is the tournament where Hockey Canada will send their Olympic tune-up squad and will be a sneak peek of what to expect at Pyeongchang in 2018. If your eyes spot an odd birthday in the mix, you’re not crazy. Rasmus Dahlin, born March 13th, 2000 will be heading to the tournament for his country. The 17-year old defenseman is the front-runner to be the first-overall pick in next year’s NHL draft, and fans look like they might get an up close viewing of him against international talent over the next few months.

Rasmus DahlinIn addition to the Kajala Cup, Dahlin seems like a lock for Team Sweden at the World Junior U20 (though he would actually qualify for the U18 tournament) and could even work his way into a spot at the Olympics. While that still seems like a long-shot, even being in the conversation at this point is ridiculous. Dahlin is seven years the junior of the next youngest Swedish defenseman on the Kajala roster, and has just Linus Soderstrom—a 21-year old goaltender drafted by the New York Islanders—and Rasmus Asplund—a 19-year old forward drafted by the Buffalo Sabres—anywhere close to his age group.

Dahlin is playing for Frolunda in the SHL currently, recording six points in his first 14 games with the professional club. Even at 17, he doesn’t look out of place playing against men sometimes twice his age. A dynamic offensive player, who has looked better in his own end and adds some physicality at times, Dahlin is a franchise-changing player that should be considered among the best defensive prospects in several years. While there is a chance he falls out of favor and loses his #1 standing next June—this draft has several incredible prospects at the top—a good showing at international tournaments will only increase his profile.

Button also provides the roster for Team Finland, which has two standout names. Miro Heiskanen and Eeli Tolvanen will both suit up for their country, just a few months after being selected in the first round of the NHL draft. Heiskanen of course went third-overall to the Dallas Stars, while Tolvanen fell all the way to 30th thanks to a late denial of his Boston College application. He eventually went to the Nashville Predators, who are likely quite pleased with their selection at the back end of the round.

Tolvanen has 23 points in 24 games for Jokerit of the KHL, setting all kinds of rookie records in the process. The 18-year old winger has immense offensive potential, and already has experience with the North American game having spent two seasons in the USHL before being drafted. Heiskanen on the other hand is playing for HIFK of the Finnish Ligga (both Jokerit and HIFK are based out of Helsinki) and has recorded eight points in eight games while providing his normal error-less two-way game. Heiskanen and Tolvanen are among the early standouts from the 2017 draft class, despite not playing in North America this season. Both should have long careers ahead of them, and will start to prove it on the international stage at the upcoming tournament.

The Karjala Cup is hosted in Sweden and Finland from November 6th to 12th.

Jay McClement Signs With Swiss Club Olten

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It’s been a whirlwind month for consummate pro Jay McClement. The veteran center was very nearly the winner of the third-line center sweepstakes for the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Instead, the team released him to the surprise of many after an impressive effort in the team’s preseason finale. Now, less than thirty days later, McClement has finally found employment – with EHC Olten of the NLB.

The Swiss National League B, the relative minor league to much more well-known NLA, seems like an odd landing spot for a veteran of more than 900 NHL games. However, the team has confirmed the signing (link in Swiss) with much excitement. The contract is only for 2017-18, but holds a mutual option for next season. Could McClement exercise that option? He is 34, far from his prime, but just a few years ago played one of his best seasons – an 82-game, 21-point 2014-15 campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes. McClement seems to have some gas left in the tank, so an extended stay in the Swiss minors would be surprising. However, McClement could more or less be done with hockey and sees Olten as a “retirement job”.

Olten isn’t completely unknown. The NLB squad in a perennial contender and rosters to other NHL veterans, Americans Tim Stapleton and Ryan Vesce. Neither has skated in the league since 2010, but nevertheless bring an experience and style that McClement could work with.

If it doesn’t work out? There’s a chance that McClement could be a contender for a bottom-six role for Team Canada at the Olympics, which would take up a significant amount of his time over the course of this season. Then, when his contract expires, don’t be surprised if McClement declines his offer and tries again at one last chance in the NHL.

Poll: Will You Watch Olympic Hockey Without NHL Players?

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The NHL’s decision to remove NHL players from the Olympic equation has caused much frustration among hockey fans. The tournament had, over the last few iterations, become one of the most anticipated dates in the hockey universe. Fans from each region and country relished who was chosen for the roster, how their respective superstars would gel, sometimes even playing out of position.

Olympic men’s hockey has given us some of the most memorable moments of the last few decades, including Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” and both Dominik Hasek and T.J. Oshie’s opposite shootout performances. It’s even provided lesser-known hockey nations with some incredible memories, like Switzerland stunning Canada 2-0 on the back of Martin Gerber’s 49-save shutout, or Belarus toppling Sweden with a slapshot to Tommy Salo’s head.

Obviously though, there are also moments of hockey history formed in the tournaments played without NHL participation. The “Miracle on Ice” for one, when in 1980 a scrappy Team USA made up of college kids took home gold in the face of outrageous odds. Or when a young Peter Forsberg would pull off one of the most replicated breakaway moves of all-time to win gold, just before starting his NHL career.

There are arguments for both sides. Still, with the rosters of Canada and the United States filled more with failed or retired NHLers some of the fun is sure to be drained from the event. The question then is, will you even watch? Vote below, and leave your comments on why you will or will not tune in for the upcoming Games.

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

*As an addendum, there will still be best-on-best action in women’s hockey at the upcoming Olympics, where an old rivalry between Canada and the United States is sure to be as fierce as ever. Currently, the two sides are playing a series of tune-up games, which so far they’ve split with two separate blowouts. Women’s Olympic hockey is sure to be one of the most watched events by many fans in both countries and deservedly so.

Olympic Preview: Hockey Canada Announces Karjala Cup Roster

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The roster for the Karjala Cup has been announced for Team Canada, and it represents a sneak peek at who will likely suit up for the country at the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics. Canada has joined the tournament—held November 8th-12th in Finland—as a sort of tune-up for the Olympics, and their roster is littered with former NHL players.

Perhaps the most interesting name though is Dylan Sikura, the Chicago Blackhawks prospect who returned to the college ranks this season for his final year. Chicago was willing to sign him this spring after his junior year, but Sikura instead returned to try and win a national championship with Northeastern. A sixth-round pick, Sikura could become a free agent next summer, but is almost guaranteed to sign with the Blackhawks when his year ends. His addition could be big for Chicago down the stretch, as he represents another talented offensive threat.

The full roster can be found below

F Wojtek Wolski
F Mason Raymond
F Derek Roy
F Brandon Kozun
F Eric O’Dell
F Gilbert Brule
F Rene Bourque
F Matt Ellison
F Quinton Howden
F Dylan Sikura
F Andrew Ebbett
F Matt Frattin
F Christian Thomas
F Rob Klinkhammer

D Karl Stollery
D Zach Whitecloud
D Chay Genoway
D Chris Lee
D Maxim Noreau
D Simon Despres
D Jesse Blacker
D Geoff Kinrade
D Mat Robinson

G Ben Scrivens
G Justin Peters

USA Hockey Announces National Select Team

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As they prepare for the 2018 Winter Olympics without the benefit of NHL players, USA Hockey has announced their National Select team that will suit up in the Deutschland Cup from November 10-12. The team represents a good look at who will be considered for the Olympic team, minus several college-aged players that will stay with their NCAA teams for now. Jordan Greenway, Troy Terry and others will likely be on the roster in Pyeongchang, but will not suit up in Germany with this squad.

Among the names are several that will be immediately recognized by NHL fans, with Ryan Malone, Brian Gionta and Mark Stuart among the most notable. Each player is barely removed from the NHL, with Malone having made a comeback in Minnesota camp after a few years away (he signed an AHL contract with the Iowa Wild to maintain Olympic eligibility) and Stuart and Gionta both playing full seasons in 2016-17. Impressively, 21 of the 29 players have NHL experience making this squad better than some have expected to ice.

Below is the full roster:

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Overseas Notes: Da Costa, Streit, Steen

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Yet another NHL veteran who was trying to hold out for a new contract in North America is now close to settling for European employment. The Swiss Hockey News reports that Stephane Da Costa is nearing an agreement with Geneve-Servette of the Swiss NLA. Da Costa, 28, was a superstar at Merrimack College from 2009 to 2011 and looked to be the next great story in the NHL after signing with the Ottawa Senators – an undrafted player coming from a non-traditional hockey country of France. While Da Costa proved to be a lethal producer in the AHL, he could never quite stick in Ottawa and left the NHL in 2012. Da Costa spent the past three years with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, putting up solid numbers, but it has been his international play on the part of France that has really turned heads. Beginning with a stellar 10-point performance at the World Championships last spring, Da Costa had reportedly been drawing interest from NHL teams and fully planned on playing with the world’s best this season. Yet, with the new season underway, those offers never came and it seems Da Costa is now ready to move on. While Geneve-Servette is off to a tough start in the NLA – second-to-last currently – they are not without considerable talent up front, including NHL veterans Nathan Gerbe, Nick Spaling, and Cody Almond, as well as San Jose Sharks prospect Noah Rod. Da Costa could help kick start a team that typically performs near the top of the NLA and made it to the final of the 2017 Swiss Cup tournament.

  • Da Costa hasn’t yet signed with Geneve-Servette, but by the time he does he may no longer be the biggest name in terms of recent additions. With Mark Streit being placed on waivers by the Montreal Canadiens yesterday (with a very good chance of clearing today), it seems more likely that the veteran defenseman will ask for his release than be assigned to the AHL but the Canadiens. Given that the soon-to-be-40-year-old could have simply rode off into the sunset after winning the Stanley Cup last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it is clear that he wants to keep playing. That opportunity will likely come in his native country of Switzerland, where Streit has suited up for the NLA’s HC Davos, ZSC Lions, and SC Bern over his career. A return home to much fanfare and a chance to play in the Olympics seems like much more fitting end for Streit than playing in the minors
  • A seemingly minor move in the KHL could be of some interest to Boston Bruins fans. In a round-up of their minor transaction over the past few days, the league revealed that the rights to forward Oskar Steen, Boston’s sixth-round pick in 2016, had been acquired by SKA St. Petersburg. While Steen has been playing for Farjestad of the SHL for three years now, an opportunity to play for SKA may be tough for the young Swede forward to pass up. Farjestad is no slouch, but SKA has been wildly successful in recent years, winning two of the past three KHL titles and again tearing up the league with a 17-point lead over the next-best team. SKA graduated players like Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeni Dadonov to the NHL this off-season, but still carry top prospects like Nikita Gusev and Igor Shestyorkin and talented veterans like Ilya Kovalchuk, Viktor Tikhonov, Sergei Plotnikov, and even long-time defenseman Maxim Chudinov, former property of the Bruins. Joining that mix could be a good career-move for the under-utilized Steen, could give SKA a further boost, and could help round out yet another promising prospect to add to the Bruins’ ranks.

James Wisniewski Signs in Germany

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Globetrotter James Wisniewski is back at it. The former high-scoring NHL defenseman split the 2016-17 season with clubs around the planet, beginning with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL, a brief stop with Swiss club Lugano for the Spengler Cup, and wrapping up the campaign back home in the U.S. with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. With his pleas for NHL employment seemingly unanswered, Wisniewski is off to a new destination to begin what could be another whirlwind season.

Like fellow NHL veteran defenseman Mark Stuart, Wisniewski too has signed on in Germany for his next hockey adventure. However, the major – and surprising – difference between the two deals is that Stuart has joined German powerhouse Adler Manheim, while Wisniewski has agreed to terms with the Kassel Huskies of the DEL2, the second tier of German professional hockey. The team issued an excited press release announcing their big acquisition (link in German), as Wisnieksi is a caliber of player the likes of which has never been seen in Kassel, a small city in the center of the country. Wisniewski will be the first NHL veteran to ever suit up for the Huskies and one of only a small group to ever play in the league at all.

The strange fit for the talented Wisniewksi is made more sensible in the context of what promises to be another season of multiple stops. It has already been mentioned that Wisniewski is a likely candidate to put on the Team USA sweater at the 2018 Olympics and, following that international showcase, could easily return home to the states with many of his AHL-contracted teammates and may even perform well enough to draw interest as a stretch run addition in the NHL. Wisniewski continues to find unique ways to extend his playing career and, while he hasn’t played in an NHL game since he was injured in the Carolina Hurricanes’ season opener in 2015, his undeniable ability and dedication to the game will keep him relevant in the world of hockey. Until Wisniewski calls it quits (unlikely), it’s difficult to rule out a potential return to the NHL down the road. Only now, he’ll have the designation of being the first to work his way through the German minor leagues en route to his comeback.

Brian Gionta To Practice With Rochester, Prepare For Olympics

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Veteran forward Brian Gionta wasn’t able to secure an NHL deal this summer, but he won’t be hanging up his skates just yet. According to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News, the 38-year old Gionta will practice with the Rochester Americans for an “extended period of time in preparation for international play.” Gionta is a good bet to make Team USA in the upcoming Olympics, perhaps even as captain of the squad.

Though he won’t be suiting up in the NHL this year, Gionta is still an excellent hockey player. Last year, on a Buffalo team struck by several injuries, Gionta recorded a solid 35 points and played in all 82 games. His defensive work ethic has always been one of the strongest parts of his game, and he can be relied upon in almost any situation. While he might not be the most exciting player on the Olympic squad—that could go to one of the younger college-aged players—he’ll provide plenty of professional and international experience.

Gionta took part in the 2006 Olympics, and has represented the United States in five other major international tournaments. In the 42 international contests he’s suited up for, he’s registered 31 points. The former captain of the Sabres, Gionta will bring plenty of leadership should he make the club. One should remember that he hasn’t officially been named yet.

Snapshots: Gelinas, Harper, Iginla

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The Montreal Candiens have yet to cut defenseman Eric Gelinas, in camp on a PTO, but according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, an NHL contract is not on the table. Lavoie reports that instead Gelinas has been offered an AHL contract to play with the Habs’ new affiliate, the Laval Rocket. Lavoie is of the opinion that Gelinas will accept the contract and that it could be good for his career. After clearing waivers three separate times last season with the Colorado Avalanche, the league’s worst team, it’s clear that taking a step back and getting a fresh start is not a bad idea for Gelinas. Playing a leadership role in an AHL locker room for a whole season could teach Gelinas consistency and responsibility and a chance at making the Canadian Olympic team would give the 26-year-old the experience of playing an important role in meaningful games.

  • Shane Harper tried the PTO route like Gelinas, but rather than settle for an AHL deal, Harper has decided to take his talents overseas. For the Valencia, California native, who was in camp with the Los Angeles Kings, that means choosing to live in a foreign country rather than a half hour from his home town had he signed with the Kings affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Harper has signed with the KHL’s Lada Togliatti, according to a national news source (link in Russian), where he could easily be the best player on a club that has failed to make the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Harper scored three points in his 14-game “rookie season” with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17 and added 22 more points in 58 AHL games. The article indicates that the KHL was Harper’s first choice once his NHL hopes were dashed this past week.
  • One player who has no plans to choose the AHL or KHL any time soon is future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla. In his “31 Thoughts” article this week, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reveled that the 40-year-old power forward has even denied having any interest in playing for Team Canada in the upcoming Olympics, as his sole focus is on finding a fit in the NHL. Despite a couple good seasons with the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche, the fact of the matter is that Iginla’s production has been steadily declining since he left the Calgary Flames back in 2013. Last season, Iginla only managed a career-worst 27 points, and that is including a strong showing with the Los Angeles Kings to close out the season. There is always the possibility that someone will come calling for the services – especially the leadership and experience –  that Iginla brings and remaining dedicated to playing one last season will only help his chances of being signed. However, with the regular season about to  begin, the hard truth is that we may have seen the last of Iginla in the NHL, even if he can’t yet accept that.

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