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Snapshots: Matthews, Fast, Glendening, Team Canada

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Auston Matthews admitted to reporters today that he had experienced “regular concussion symptoms” while he was held out of the lineup recently, confirming the suspected injury. Matthews collided with teammate Morgan Rielly late in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this month, but actually returned to finish the match. He’s been out since with an “upper-body injury” but was back on the ice with teammates for today’s Toronto Maple Leafs practice.

Matthews’ return will be a welcome sight for Toronto, as the team has scored just 14 goals in the six games without him. Eight of those came in the matinee against the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this week, while the team has gone 2-4 and almost completely lost their lead on the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division. A decision still hasn’t been made on whether the young superstar will play tomorrow night in New York.

  • Speaking of the Rangers, the team announced today that Jesper Fast has a quadriceps strain and will be out of the lineup for two to three weeks. Boo Nieves is expected to take Fast’s spot in the lineup against the Maple Leafs, though the injury will once again test their forward depth. The Rangers are right in the middle of a dogfight in the Metropolitan Division, with all eight teams separated by just eight points. Fast was off to a good start this season with 16 points in 30 games and well on his way to setting a career-high in scoring.
  • Luke Glendening in Detroit will be out at least four weeks according to head coach Jeff Blashill, which could open the door for Tyler Bertuzzi to stay a little longer with the NHL club. Detroit is falling out of contention in the Atlantic with a recent slide, and could use any spark they can get from a young player entering the lineup.
  • The Canadian Women’s Olympic team was announced today, with 23 players on their way to Pyeongchang in February. Among them is Meghan Agosta, who won her first of three Olympic gold medals in 2006 and is a legendary player on the international stage. Agosta is also an officer with the Vancouver Police Department, a balancing act that was recently profiled by Mike Brophy of CBC Sports. The Canadian women will be one of the favorites again this year, as they look for their fourth-straight gold medal.

Hockey Canada Names Spengler Cup Roster

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The Canadian Olympic team is coming into view, with the announcement today of the roster for the Spengler Cup, the last tune-up of the year. The Spengler will begin on Christmas Day, December 25th in Switzerland. The roster is as follows:

F David McIntyre
F Mason Raymond
F Curtis Hamilton
F Jay McClement
F P.A. Parenteau
F Nick Spaling
F Jake Evans
F Andrew Ebbett
F Christian Thomas
F Matt D’Agostini
F Dylan Sikura

D Brandon Hickey
D Jeff Schultz
D Cody Goloubef
D Maxim Noreau
D Jeremy Davies
D Victor Bartley

G Kevin Poulin
G Barry Brust

Of note is the appearance of Sikura (CHI), Hickey (CGY), Evans (MTL) and Davies (NJD), all collegiate players that have been drafted by NHL teams—though Hickey’s draft rights have since been traded from Calgary to the Arizona Coyotes as part of the Mike Smith deal. Sikura especially is an interesting prospect, after dominating as a junior last season for Northeastern. He technically could become an unrestricted free agent in the 2018 summer after graduation, but is expected to turn pro and sign with the Blackhawks when his season is over.

There are also some familiar minor league names on the list, including Thomas, Schultz and Goloubef, who have been playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, San Diego Gulls and Stockton Heat respectively this season on AHL deals. Players with AHL-only contracts will be allowed to compete in the Olympics.

While it’s far from an exciting group, the Canadian team is going for a three-peat at the Spengler, having won the tournament the previous two years. Perhaps some chemistry can be developed among a group that has now been mostly playing together for some time. They’ll need it when they go up against the expected powerhouse that is the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” team in Pyeongchang.

Team Canada’s First Cuts Include Cody Glass

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TSN’s Bob McKenzie tweets that Vegas Golden Knights center Cody Glass has been cut from Canada’s World Junior team, along with Detroit Red Wings prospect Dennis Cholowski and Vancouver’s Kole Lind. Glass’ departure is somewhat of a surprise, if social media reactions are any indication. While they weren’t the only cuts today, they were two that certainly caught a lot of analysts off guard.

TSN projected Glass to be on the final roster back in August so the move is worthy of a double take. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler tweets that Glass and Lind are second and third respectively in scoring for the WHL. Though the talent is hardly lacking for Canada, cutting two prominent scorers will get some attention. In addition to the aforementioned players, forward Jonathan Ang, and defenseman Logan Stanley were both cut loose.

To recap:

Canada Cuts:

F Cody Glass (Vegas Golden Knights)
F Kole Lind (Vancouver Canucks)
F Jonathan Ang (Florida Panthers)
D Dennis Cholowski (Detroit Red Wings)
D Logan Stanley (Winnipeg Jets)
G Samuel Harvey (2018 Draft Eligible)

 

Snapshots: Three Stars, Team Canada, Junior Snubs

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The NHL released its three stars of the week today, with Brayden Schenn leading the group. Schenn has found brilliant success since being traded to St. Louis, already with 37 points in 31 games. Always possessing elite talent, some believed Schenn would never become the dominant presence he was projected to be when the Los Angeles Kings took him fifth-overall. He’s already been traded twice in his career, but looks ready to obliterate his previous career-high of 59 points and become an integral part of any St. Louis success.

Jake Allen and Brian Elliott round out the stars of the week, both posting perfect records and incredible save percentages. Allen and Elliott were teammates just two seasons ago, when the Blues went to just their second Conference Finals in nearly 30 years. With zero Stanley Cup victories in their history, Allen and Schenn will look to change the franchise fortunes this year.

Victor Mete Sent To World Junior Selection Camp

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With Victor Mete not playing regularly for the Montreal Canadiens, the team has decided to allow him to attend Team Canada’s World Junior selection camp. Mete has played 27 games for the Canadiens this season, but has recently been a healthy scratch and hasn’t seen the ice time he had earlier in the year.

Though nothing is guaranteed just yet, it would be surprising to see the team not take Mete with them to Buffalo and the tournament. His versatility and experience in the NHL makes him a perfect compliment to an already healthy blue line group, and he should play a big role in the tournament. The Canadiens will have another decision afterwards, as Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports they still don’t know what they’ll do with Mete for the rest of the season.

They could bring him back to the NHL or send him to the junior ranks, where the young defender would rejoin the London Knights in their pursuit of a Memorial Cup. Mete has burned the first year of his entry-level contract already, but is no closer to unrestricted free agency. He’d need to remain on the active roster for an additional nine games for this season to count towards his UFA status, something that the Canadiens will have to factor into their decision post-tournament.

As for Tyson Jost, who was expected to be sent to Team Canada last week, Michael Traikos of Postmedia has bleaker news. Traikos reports that Jost, Samuel Girard and Nolan Patrick are all likely off the table for Canada, though there is always an outside shot until the roster is actually named.

Tyson Jost Could Join Canada’s World Junior Team

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Hockey Canada released a list of 32 players invited to the World Junior selection camp this month, as they prepare for the tournament in Buffalo. As we wrote when the list was released, it is possible for several other NHL players could be allowed to join the tournament as well should their clubs release them. Alexander Nylander, for instance, still doesn’t have an answer from the Buffalo Sabres on whether he’d be allowed to leave the Rochester Americans to play for Sweden.

Tyson JostTyson Jost of the Colorado Avalanche is that player for Canada, and as Adrian Dater of BSN Denver reports it’s likely that he’ll be allowed to leave the team to play in the tournament. Jost’s development has been handled very carefully this season, with him spending time in the AHL to receive more minutes and work on his two-way game.

How can he play in the AHL and still be eligible for the World Juniors you ask?

Jost played in the BCHL before being drafted and heading to the University of North Dakota, meaning he’s not held to the same restrictions as CHL players. Remember, those drafted out of the CHL cannot play in the AHL until they turn 20. Jost is just 19 still, and would be a huge help to the Canadian team.

The 10th-overall pick in 2016, Jost has top-line upside as an all-around center and was part of the 2017 Canadian team that took home the silver medal. Even though the team already has plenty of talent to pick from, getting another returnee—especially one that has captained Canada on the international stage in the past—would increase their chances even more.

Hockey Canada Names 25 Players To Pre-Olympic Tournament

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Hockey Canada has released another roster for a pre-Olympic tournament, this time the Channel One Cup in Moscow from December 13-17. This and the Spengler Cup—which is scheduled for December 26-31 in Switzerland—are the final two tournament looks for Team Canada before they send a roster to Pyeongchang.

We learned earlier today that Jarome Iginla wasn’t going to make it back from his hip injury in time to play in either tournament, making him a long shot for the Olympic squad. This group, which includes many of those who’ve already suited up international for Canada this year, will likely make up most of the eventual roster sent to South Korea. The 25-man team is as follows:

F Wojtek Wolski
F Matt Frattin
F Derek Roy
F Taylor Beck
F Ryan Garbutt
F Eric O’Dell
F Brandon Kozun
F Rene Bourque
F Linden Vey
F Gilbert Brule
F Matt Ellison
F P.A. Parenteau
F Max Talbot
F Teddy Purcell
F Rob Klinkhammer

D Karl Stollery
D Shawn Lalonde
D Chay Genoway
D Chris Lee
D Maxim Noreau
D Simon Despres
D Stefan Elliott
D Mat Robinson

G Ben Scrivens
G Barry Brust

Gabe Vilardi To Be Sent Back To Junior

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The Los Angeles Kings will soon send back 11th-overall pick Gabe Vilardi to his junior team the Windsor Spitfires according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. Vilardi has been rehabbing from a back injury all season so far but is expected to rejoin the OHL team within the next few weeks. Technically the Kings haven’t actually signed Vilardi to an entry-level contract yet, meaning he couldn’t stay in the NHL anyway. But with rehab from his injury coming to a conclusion the Spitfires (and likely Team Canada’s World Junior team) will welcome him back with open arms.

Vilardi was a prospect with one of the more widespread scouting reports going into the draft. While some saw him as a dominant puck-possession player who could eventually handle the center position, others critiqued his skating ability and high-end creativity. Los Angeles will hope it’s closer to the latter when it’s all said and done, and an international appearance would be a solid step in that direction.

Team Canada as always is loaded with talent up front, and Vilardi would have to quickly prove he’s healthy if he wants to make the tournament that starts next month. Last season saw Vilardi register 61 points in 49 games for the Spitfires and help the team to a Memorial Cup Championship on home ice.

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.

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

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