In two separate team announcements, the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators revealed that they have added some depth in net behind Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros in the wake of parting ways with Marek Mazanec. A familiar name is returning in Anders Lindback, a 2008 draft selection and Rinne’s backup from 2010 to 2012, who has since been an NHL journeyman and spent this past season in the Swedish Hockey League. Lindback signed a two-way deal worth the minimum $650K at the NHL level. Matt O’Connor, the former Boston University star who has spent the past few years in the Ottawa Senators organization, signed a similar deal. The 24-year-old will also play on a two-way contract worth $650K in the NHL and only slightly less than Lindback in the AHL.
Swedish Hockey League
Prospect Notes: Liljegren, Hischier, Makar
The Athletic’s Sunaya Sapurji reports that defenseman Timothy Liljegren, Toronto’s 17th overall pick, will continue to play in the Swedish league and not join the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs, who selected him 12th in the CHL Import Draft. His North American agent, Peter Wallen, said that Liljegren’s camp felt that time with Niagara wouldn’t be the “perfect spot” to develop his talent. Wallen doubles down, saying that his client will “never play for Niagara.” Stating that the Leafs are “100 percent” in Liljegren’s plan to stay in Sweden, Wallen adds:
“He’s not coming to play for Niagara. It’s not even a question. And even if it was a question we would still need Toronto to sign him and then for Rogle to release him for him to play for anyone else but the Maple Leafs.”
Should the 18-year-old defenseman sign with the Leafs, he would be able to play for the AHL affiliate Marlies midseason due to the fact that he played in the Swedish Hockey League and not the junior leagues. Playing junior hockey would have restricted him from seeing time in the AHL or NHL due to an agreement between the NHL and CHL regarding the “jump” to the pros. Sapurji points out that Liljegren expressed his desire to stay in Sweden–regardless of where he was taken–prior to the draft.
- First overall pick Nico Hischier was featured in a New York Times article yesterday, chronicling his journey to the NHL. The Times’ Dave Caldwell reports that the Swiss native saw his stock skyrocket after a strong world juniors performance while quietly sneaking up the ranks throughout the season. His strong play continued in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. Described as being “very grounded,” by New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero, Hischier could very well take the NHL by storm as quietly–and quickly–as he did in juniors and on the world stage.
- Some had Cale Makar as a possibility to go first overall, but he ended up going fourth to the Colorado Avalanche, which could be considered a steal down the road. Next on the list for the 18-year-old defenseman is time at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he will continue to hone his skills for a shot at the NHL. Makar calls it a “reality check” when speaking with NHL.com’s Rick Sadowski, and adds that it doesn’t matter what happened before in terms of his career. Saying that he wants to “round out” his game, Makar is confident that he is an eventual NHL product and that belief is shared by the Colorado brass. Alan Hepple, the Director of Amateur Scouting for Colorado, goes as far to say that Makar is the “generational player” teams seek in a defenseman.
All photographs courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Ottawa Senators Sign Christian Jaros To ELC
The Ottawa Senators have brought in another intriguing defensive prospect, inking Christian Jaros to a three-year entry-level contract. The financials of the deal are still unknown. Jaros has played the last three seasons in the Swedish Hockey League, where he recorded 13 points in 36 games this year.
Just 21, Jaros was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft and has had two solid development years in the SHL. The 6’3″ 214-lbs defender has both the size and skating ability to compete at the next level. One of his biggest assets, open ice hitting, is something Ottawa Senators fans should be excited about as he can close a gap incredibly quickly and accelerates through the offensive player. His hits are already on highlight reels all over the internet, and many Canadian fans may remember him from the World Juniors when he caught Max Domi in the middle of the ice.
The Senators, who have a blue-chip defensive prospect in Thomas Chabot coming up next season, will have to decide whether to bring Jaros over to North America right away or allow him another development year in Sweden. The Slovakian defender might have an NHL future in the next few years, as his offensive game is also not to be overlooked. Armed with a big shot—that he sometimes has trouble getting off—he could develop into a solid all-around defender with the ability to compliment a more offensive player.
Latest On Philip Holm’s NHL Market
Swedish defender Philip Holm is still garnering NHL interest, according to a new report from Henrik Sjoberg in Expressen. This time, it says that four or five teams have expressed interest but the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks are the front-runners. That flies in the face of the previous report that Holm had already chosen Toronto, though when the Maple Leafs announced the signings of both Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman, it seemed like the may have moved on from Holm.
Holm was Rosen’s partner for Vajxo this season in the Swedish Hockey League, and recently represented his country at the World Championships. Team Sweden would win gold, though Holm didn’t play in the final game against Canada. He did get into seven games in the tournament though, recording three points. For Vaxjo this season, he put up 21 points in 52 games which led all defenders on his team and put him ninth in the league from the back end. At 25, he could earn a one-year entry-level deal should he sign with an NHL club.
Chicago has been on the lookout for any cheap players who could contribute next season as they continue to fight salary cap issues. The team has already signed David Kampf and are still in the running for Jan Rutta. They were also linked to Victor Ejdsell before he signed in Nashville. The Canucks on the other hand are looking for any young talent that they can get as they try to rebuild for the first time in many years. While Holm isn’t a prospect anymore, he is still young enough to be part of a rebuild should he prove his worth on North American ice. Three very different options have presented themselves to Holm, who will now have to decide where the best place to showcase his talents will be.
Nick Sorensen Signs Two-Year Deal In Sweden
After playing one season in North America, Nick Sorensen is headed back to Europe. The 22-year old forward has signed a two-year contract with Linkoping HC of the Swedish Hockey League. No financials on the deal were released. Sorensen was set to become a restricted free agent for the first time in his career this summer, after completing his entry-level contract.
After playing much of his junior hockey in Canada with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, Sorensen was drafted 45th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2013. After finishing off his career in the CHL, he was loaned to Sweden to continue his development. After two up-and-down years in the SHL, he came to North America this season and found some success at the AHL level. Sorensen had a five-game stint with the NHL club early in the season, recording his first and only NHL point in his final game on October 20th. In 48 AHL contests, he recorded 22 points and contributed to the San Diego Gulls’ playoff run.
The Ducks will maintain his rights should he come back after the two-year contract is completed, and since he hadn’t made much of an impact at the NHL level perhaps this is actually a good move for his development. In 2015-16, Sorensen scored 23 p0ints in 37 games for Linkoping and was a key player in different situations.
Filip Sandberg Eyeing Jump To NHL
It’s already been a busy off-season for European players crossing the Atlantic to join the NHL ranks, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Add forward Filip Sandberg to the list of names expected to be skating in North America next season. The Swedish forward has not been identified as an NHL target by any of the more well-known media outlets on this continent, but Swedish news source Jönköpings Posten, “JP”, makes it sound like a forgone conclusion that Sandberg is headed overseas. (link and article in Swedish)
The JP article specifically names the Detroit Red Wings as a suitor for Sandberg’s services, but expect many teams to be bidding for the young Swede. At 22 years old, the versatile Sandberg can play all three forward positions and shows two-way ability often unseen in Europe. He also has a high level of hockey intelligence, positioning, and vision, making him an ideal play-maker, especially when lined up at center. While his size – 5’9″, 181-lbs. – could be seen as a hindrance to success at the NHL level, it hasn’t held him back so far. For a smaller player, Sandberg is tenacious along the boards and on the forecheck.
Assuming Sandberg signs in the NHL. its yet another big loss for his Swedish Hockey League club, HV71. They signed minor league MVP Victor Ejdsell to a contract earlier this off-season, only to watch him sign with the Nashville Predators as well and put his status with the team in doubt. Then, just yesterday, 21-year-old star stay-at-home defenseman Andreas Borgman announced he would be leaving the team and within hours was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The same quick turnaround could occur following the rumors surrounding Sandberg, as not only does he have great ability and just finished the best season of his career, but he is also fresh off the highest-scoring stretch of his career as well, tallying 14 points in 16 games for HV71 in the postseason. The team did re-sign Sandberg to a two-year extension back in February, but as the JP article states, those contracts mean little when NHL teams come calling. Sanberg seems likely to be joining Borgman in North America sooner rather than later.