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After 7 Year Wait, Lucas Johansen Has Made The Capitals Opening Night Roster

Posted on October 16, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Lucas Johansen was on the ice for practice when Spencer Carbery called him out in front of the rest of the team. And then, yelling and stick taps from his teammates took over as he got the news he’d been waiting seven years to hear: he made the Washington Capitals.

Johansen, who was originally taken in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, has been through ups and downs over the course of his tenure in D.C., from injuries to setbacks to camps where he almost broke through but didn’t do enough to remain up at the NHL level. This time, though, things are different, as he did everything right to impress the coaching staff and stick with the big club.

Jansen Harkins Trying to Quickly Make a Good Impression

Posted on October 16, 2023

PITTSBURGH, PA – Despite having less time than his new teammates to make an impression at Penguins training camp, Jansen Harkins is doing his best to quickly make a big impact.

The Penguins claimed Harkins off of waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Monday afternoon, as President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas felt he was someone who could contribute to Pittsburgh’s bottom-six forward group, and the 26-year-old winger feels excited for the opportunity.

“I tried not to do much thinking when I was on waivers or the day before. I just tried to relax and try not to get too ahead of myself,” Harkins said after practice on Tuesday, his first day with the team. “My goal is to play in the NHL, and I definitely think I’m a good enough player to be here.

“Just trying to come in here and prove what I can do. Obviously don’t know many guys and many coaches, so I think it will be a good test for me the next few days, just to show what I can do on the ice and chip in.”

NHL, MEET MIKEY EYSSIMONT: THE LIGHTNING’S LATEST GEM NOBODY WANTS TO FACE

Posted on October 16, 2023

TAMPA BAY, FL – Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois often surveys his pro scouting department and analytics staff separately when assembling his NHL trade deadline targets.

During the midway point of last season, BriseBois sought upgrades to his bottom six.

“We were trying to find good forecheckers that had low cap hits,” BriseBois told The Hockey News.

One name that both Tampa Bay’s eye-test evaluators and number crunchers coveted was Mikey Eyssimont. He checked off every box. A virtual unknown before becoming an NHL regular at 26 last season, Eyssimont is a speedy winger who excelled on the forecheck, played with an edge and had a knack for getting under the skin of his opponents.

Ryan Johansen exclusive: How the new second-line center feels about joining the Avalanche

Posted on October 16, 2023

DENVER, CO – Ryan Johansen was acquired by the Avalanche in June to shore up the center depth following Colorado’s early first-round exit from the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The veteran center, who had spent the past seven years in Nashville, was the first of a long list of additions the team made to its forward group.

After settling in for training camp and getting a preseason game under his belt, the 32-year-old sat down with me following a practice at Family Sports Center to discuss the move to Denver. Among other topics, he also touched on his relationship with Matt Duchene, his playoff experience in 2017, and the Cup-or-bust mentality the team has after failing to defend its championship last spring.

Confident Copper

Posted on October 16, 2023October 16, 2023

DETROIT, MI – A natural progression to the regular season is a luxury Andrew Copp did not enjoy last year, when offseason abdominal surgery forced him to miss his first training camp and preseason with the Detroit Red Wings.

But the 29-year-old forward is in a much different position entering the 2023-24 campaign and believes coming off a full, healthy offseason will pay huge dividends.

“It was nice to have a full summer of training,” Copp said on Sept. 29. “I did a lot of new stuff, things that helped me get to the point where I am now. It was nice to not have to worry about that side of things coming into the year. Just go out and play a little bit.”

Gustavsson makes 41 saves, Wild shut out Panthers in season opener

Posted on October 13, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Filip Gustavsson made 41 saves, and the Minnesota Wild opened their season with a 2-0 win against the Florida Panthers at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday.

“It’s not going to be like that every night, that’s for sure,” Gustavsson said. “It’s on the limit a few times. It’s very close that the puck goes by me. But sometimes you’re lucky, and you create your own luck.”

Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and an assist, and Brock Faber scored his first NHL goal in his third career game for Minnesota.

Jansen Harkins Forcing His Way in to Penguins Lineup

Posted on October 12, 2023

PITTSBURGH, PA – A late addition to the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp might find his name in the opening night roster.

When the Pittsburgh Penguins entered training camp, it was clear there was going to be a huge battle for multiple positions within the bottom-six forward group.

In the early days of camp, there were some obvious leaders like Drew O’Connor and Lars Eller; now, the Penguins have a late addition that has earned a real chance.

Jansen Harkins was claimed off of waivers from the Winnipeg Jets and after a couple of days or camp and a pair of preseason games, he looks like a perfect fit.

Analytics with Alison: Bellemare Deep Dive

Posted on October 10, 2023

SEATTLE, WA – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare knew quite a bit about the Seattle Kraken even before signing a one-year contract with the team this summer. The center played for Dave Hakstol when both were with the Flyers organization; he played with Andre Burakovsky in Colorado; and for 15 years, the Frenchman has lived a few houses down from friend and Kraken assistant captain Adam Larsson in Sweden.

But beyond the personal connections, there’s a bite to Bellemare’s game on the ice and the special ability to motivate and mentor off the ice that makes him a solid addition to the Seattle roster.

“I think (Bellemare) brings a lot,” Larsson said. “Even in the dressing room (he is) a veteran presence. He’s vocal and obviously he’s a proven steady center. I’m sure he will like the way we play here and how the team works together. I have only good things to say about him.”

Shane Wright still working hard as his Kraken camp nears its end

Posted on October 5, 2023

SEATTLE, WA – Kraken prospect Shane Wright was again one of the last players off the ice Wednesday morning before accompanying his travel group to British Columbia for the night’s penultimate preseason game.

Wright’s appearance in a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the B.C. town of Abbotsford will likely be his last this preseason as remaining players leave Thursday for Edmonton, Alberta, and Friday’s finale against the Oilers before the Oct. 10 regular-season opener. It has been a workmanlike training camp for last year’s No. 4 overall draft selection, evidenced not only by Wright staying late after practices but also his picking up on professional hockey nuances.

“I think, overall, I’m feeling more comfortable out there,” Wright, who assisted on a first period Andrew Poturalski goal, said before leaving for Wednesday’s game. “I’m more comfortable holding on to the puck a little bit more, making plays and understanding our systems just a little bit better. And understanding teammates and systems and all that.”