Category Archives: Hockey News

Hurricanes camp invitee Wilkins scores slick shootout goal

Josh Wilkins is doing his best to make an impression on the Carolina Hurricanes brass.

The 19-year-old was invited to the club's development camp and Saturday showed wizardry, scoring a cheeky goal in the shootout.

Wilkins is a Raleigh native who spent last season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.

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Hurricanes sign 1st-round picks Bean, Gauthier to entry-level deals

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed 2016 first-round draft picks Jake Bean and Julien Gauthier to three-year, entry-level contracts.

The deals will pay Bean - selected 13th overall - and Gauthier - selected 21st - $832,500 each at the NHL level or $70,000 at the AHL level through their first three seasons as pros.

Bean, an 18-year-old defenseman, recorded 29 goals and 103 points in 119 games for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen over the last two campaigns.

"It was great having Jake here for our development camp this week, and getting to know him better as a person and player," said general manager Ron Francis. "He has a bright future in our organization and we are looking forward to seeing him again at the rookie tournament and during training camp."

Gauthier, also 18, scored 41 goals in 56 games for the QMJHL's Val d'Or Foreurs in 2015-16.

"For an 18-year-old, Julien already has the body of a professional hockey player," Francis said. "He had a great week in Raleigh for development camp, and will play an important role in the Hurricanes' future."

They both also received signing bonuses of $277,500.

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Bernier had no idea trade was coming, happy to land with Ducks

Jonathan Bernier is looking forward to taking flight with the Anaheim Ducks.

Traded Friday by the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2017 conditional draft pick, the 28-year-old goalie did not expect to be on the move, but appears quite pleased about his destination.

"I had no idea there was a trade coming up or that I was going to get moved," Bernier said on a conference call with reporters. "(Toronto general manager) Lou (Lamoriello) called me this morning and gave me the news.

"For me, I'm definitely very happy to come to the Ducks. It seems like a really great organization. They have a great team has well. I think it's going to be a great fit for me and obviously a new chapter."

Related: Expectations, pressure and Mandela: Bernier's time in Toronto comes to a close

Bernier spent three seasons in Toronto after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings, posting a record of 59-68-17 with a .917 save percentage. He joined the Maple Leafs during a down time in the team's history, and leaves with generally positive memories and a renewed hope for his hockey future after being relegated to the AHL for a spell this past season.

"Playing in Toronto, I had a real good experience," Bernier said. "I had a lot of fun. But when you go through a rebuild it's never easy. I'm going to a team that's a Stanley Cup contender, and you're feeling better coming into camp and knowing you have a great team in front of you."

That "great team" will be coached by Randy Carlyle, under whom Bernier played for a season and a half in Toronto.

"Knowing (Carlyle), he's very detailed on how well he wants to play defensively. So I think it's a great fit," Bernier said of the reunion. "I had to gain his confidence when I got traded to Toronto, but we always got along well. He's a very detailed coach, and he demands a lot. That's what you want from your coach."

Bernier, who's expected to begin the season as John Gibson's backup, has one year left on his contract and will carry a $4.15-million cap hit in 2016-17 heading into unrestricted free agency next summer.

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Devils keeping close eye on Elias’ rehab from knee surgery

A decision on Patrik Elias' tenure with the New Jersey Devils likely won't come until closer to training camp.

The veteran forward is back in the Czech Republic recovering from knee surgery, and while Devils general manager Ray Shero says he's been in contact with Allan Walsh - Elias' agent - it is yet to be determined whether the unrestricted free agent will return to the team.

"Once he starts getting the green light to start ramping up his training off ice, we'll see where that takes him and certainly when he gets back on ice, if it's going to be later in the summer, we'll see where that goes," Shero told Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "And his body will tell him or his knee will tell him how he feels, and we'll be in constant communication with Patrik."

Earlier this offseason, Walsh stated Elias "desperately" wants to play one more season.

Elias was drafted 51st overall by the Devils in 1994 and sits 43 games behind Ken Daneyko for the team's games-played record.

The 40-year-old, who was limited to 16 games this past season due to injury, is the franchise leader in goals (408), assists (617) and total points (1,025).

After acquiring Taylor Hall and re-signing Kyle Palmieri, the Devils still have over $13 million in available cap space, and his stable presence would be invaluable for a club looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

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Gaudreau, Monahan, other notable RFAs still looking for new deals

While Mark Scheifele and Nathan MacKinnon were rewarded with long-term contract extensions Friday, several notable restricted free agents are still waiting to put pen to paper on new deals of their own.

Here's a look at some of the highest profile names on that list.

Player Age Position Team
Hampus Lindholm 21 D ANA
Rasmus Ristolainen 21 D BUF
Victor Rask 22 C CAR
Sean Monahan 21 C CGY
Johnny Gaudreau 22 LW CGY
Tyson Barrie* 24 D COL
Valeri Nichushkin 20 RW DAL
Petr Mrazek** 23 G DET
Matt Dumba 21 D MIN
Ryan Strome 22 C NYI
Chris Kreider* 24 LW NYR
J.T. Miller* 22 C NYR
Kevin Hayes* 23 RW NYR
Mike Hoffman* 26 LW OTT
Cody Ceci 22 D OTT
Brayden Schenn* 24 C PHI
Jaden Schwartz* 23 LW STL
Alex Killorn* 26 C TB
Nikita Kucherov 22 RW TB
Jacob Trouba 21 D WPG
Marcus Johansson* 25 LW WSH

* player filed for arbitration

** team filed for arbitration

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Avalanche’s MacKinnon: ‘I’ve never felt more motivated’

Nathan MacKinnon appears to have every intention of making good on a freshly signed seven-year, $44.1-million contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche.

Coming off a season in which MacKinnon was sidelined with a knee injury and the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the second straight year, the 20-year-old aims to take his game - and the team - to the next level.

"I think everybody on the team has a chip on their shoulder that we can be a little better," MacKinnon said Friday, according to Terry Frei of the Denver News. "I think we're really going to challenge ourselves and me personally, I've never felt more motivated than I have these last couple of months.

"I feel like I have a lot to prove in this league and I definitely can take my game to a whole other level. ... I think 82 games, coming every night, being a true professional. I think after three seasons, my mind is clear. I've had some great moments, I've had some down moments, and it's just kind of balancing that out. It's a roller coaster ride."

And don't think the long-term, big-money deal will go to MacKinnon's head.

"It was very weird signing (the contract)," he said. "I hesitated before I sent it back. … Just thinking where I’m from and that kind of money. It’s just crazy to me, but I’m very lucky and I know I’m very fortunate."

Drafted first overall in 2013, MacKinnon won the 2014 Calder Trophy on the strength of a 24-goal, 63-point rookie season. Over three campaigns with the Avalanche, he's averaging 22 goals and 58 points for every 82 games played.

MacKinnon's late-season knee injury didn't require surgery, and he's resumed his regular offseason training. The young forward is scheduled to suit up for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey in September.

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Latest on the Islanders and Blue Jackets – July 9, 2016

With the NHL free-agent frenzy now past, find out what’s next for the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets in your NHL rumor mill.  ISLANDERS    NEWSDAY:  Arthur Staple recently reported it appears New York Islanders GM Garth Snow is done free-agent shopping this summer. The club has around $5 million in salary-cap room […]

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2016

MacKinnon & Scheifele re-signed, Bernier dealt to Anaheim and more in this morning’s collection of NHL headlines.   THE DENVER POST:  The Colorado Avalanche re-signed center Nathan MacKinnon to a seven-year, $44.1 million contract. The average annual salary is $6.3 million. MacKinnon, 20, will earn $5 million in the first season (2016-17) of the deal. “In […]

Matthews, Marner catch break from camp to attend Blue Jays game

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and the next wave of Toronto Maple Leafs hopefuls caught a break from this week's development camp to attend a Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre on Friday night.

And does it look like a blast or what?

@bluejays

A photo posted by Mitch Marner (@marner_93) on

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