Category: The Future

New York Rangers Select Goalie Olof Lindblom 39th Overall in 2018 NHL Draft

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DALLAS, TX – With their first pick on Saturday, the Rangers selected goaltender Olof Lindbom in the second round (39th overall pick).

Lindbom, 17 (turns 18 on July 23), appeared in 20 games with Djurgardens’ junior (U20) team in SuperElit this past season, posting a 3.10 GAA and a .897 SV%. He was one of 11 goaltenders younger than 20 years old to appear in at least 20 games in SuperElit in 2017-18. Lindbom helped Djurgardens’ U18 team win a gold medal and was named the MVP of the Playoffs, as he posted a 1.20 GAA and a .955 SV% in five appearances.

The Stockholm, Sweden native has represented his country in several tournaments. Lindbom was named the Best Goaltender at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, as he posted a 1.66 GAA and a .949 SV% in six appearances while helping Sweden earn a bronze medal. In addition, he helped Sweden earn a bronze medal at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Stars prospect Damiani drafted in Fifth Round while Dad is using bathroom

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DALLAS, TX –  Riley Damiani’s father was waiting for some time to hear his son’s name called at the 2018 NHL Draft. 

However, nature called first.

With the 137th pick, the Dallas Stars selected Damiani, a forward from the Kitchener Rangers. But his dad, Rino, missed it. He was in the bathroom.

“He was telling me for the last 10 picks that he had to go to the washroom. And I kept telling him ‘No, you gotta stick around, you gotta stick around,'” Damiani said in a video produced for the Stars’ website. “And it just got to the point where he was like ‘nope, I gotta go.'”

Damiani even did his first interview as a member of the Stars organization before his father had a chance to return.

“When I came out of the bathroom I looked at the TV and I (did a double take) and I saw him on the floor,” said Rino Damiani in the video. “I go ‘That’s him!’ So I ran to the seat.”

Arizona Coyotes Acquire Robbie Russo from Detroit

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA –  Arizona Coyotes President of Hockey Operations & General Manager John Chayka announced today that the Coyotes have acquired defenseman Robbie Russo from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2019 conditional seventh round draft choice.

The 6-foot, 192-pound Russo registered 9-23-32 and 81 penalty minutes (PIM) in 75 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) in 2017-18. The 25-year-old native of Westmont, IL has recorded 21-82-103 and 160 PIM in 204 career games with the Griffins. He has also skated in 19 career games with the Detroit Red Wings.

Russo was originally drafted by the Islanders in the fourth round (95th overall) in the 2011 Entry Draft.

Rangers’ Damiani could be a steal at NHL draft

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KITCHENER, ON –  Riley Damiani is used to being overlooked.

Opponents and scouts have underestimated the Kitchener Rangers centre at every level of hockey.

“I feel like I’m one of those guys that flies under the radar,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been one of those guys my whole life.”

And because of it, the Mississauga native may be a steal at this year’s NHL draft, which runs next Friday and Saturday in Dallas.

Damiani is one of a handful of Rangers up for the draft.

Defenceman Giovanni Vallati leads the pack and is rated 57th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Team scoring leader Adam Mascherin is re-entering the mix after failing to reach a deal with the Florida Panthers, who drafted him in the second round two years back, while imports Rickard Hugg and Adam Liska are considered long shots.

Sparks, Rosen Lead Marlies to Calder Cup Championship

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TORONTO, ON – Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said his team went through “championship moments” during its long run through the American Hockey League post-season.

Responding after giving up a goal. Pinching in at the right time. Managing to shift momentum when needed.

The Marlies delivered again when it mattered most Thursday night, giving them a championship moment they’ll never forget.

Raising the Calder Cup.

Toronto defeated the Texas Stars 6-1 in the decisive seventh game of the AHL final to the delight of the towel-waving sellout crowd at Ricoh Coliseum.

Sparks Leads the Way of Marlies Who have Helped Their NHL Chances with Calder Run

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TORONTO, ON – For players longing to step into (or step back into) the NHL, to what extent can a successful American Hockey League playoff run really affect their chances? A handful of Toronto Marlies could well find that out in the coming months.

The Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) have won nine straight postseason contests in back-to-back series’ sweeps en route to a berth in the Calder Cup Final, which opens Saturday against the Texas Stars.

Regardless of how these playoffs end, certain Marlies – blueliner Travis Dermott and forward Andreas Johnsson, for example – are pretty clear on what’s next. Both Dermott and Johnsson rejoined their AHL club after lengthy call-up stints with the Leafs, and will be prime candidates to start in the NHL come fall.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old defensive prospect Timothy Liljegren has only one professional year under his belt, and is likely to need more seasoning before he graduates to the NHL. And then there are players languishing somewhere in between – some who have gotten a taste of life with the Leafs before and some who are still waiting on their NHL debuts.

Whether those opportunities come in Toronto or beyond, being on the bubble makes every AHL game (especially in the playoffs) a fresh audition. Five Marlies in that position have used this run to their advantage in that respect, and in turn could be putting themselves on the radar for a potential NHL gig next season.

Riley Damiani Among 5 Most Underrated NHL Draft Prospects

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DALLAS, TX – There is plenty of value available in this year’s NHL Draft.

Although it’s critical to hit on your early picks, it’s just as important to find the hidden gems. The player who scored the winning goal in last season’s Stanley Cup Final was the very last pick of the draft. He’s also turned in a solid career. If Patric Hornqvist can go last, every pick matters.

We’re going to start a series here at the Hockey Writers going from league to league and country to country. We’re not looking for the obvious names. We’re looking for those who have the chance to surprise us and eventually turn into good NHL players. We’ll start out with the OHL.

I have identified five players who aren’t getting the attention I think they deserve. These are players who should get drafted but probably will later than they should. I’ll also give my rationale. In this case, I have seen these five players live. These are notes I’ve collected on them and will share with you now.

Vince Pedrie Climbing the New York Rangers Ladder

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NEW YORK, NY – Vince Pedrie saw several close friends get the call that they were heading to New York during his first full season as a professional this past year with the Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League.

There were obvious feelings of happiness for his teammates, but there was also a different emotion for Pedrie.

“I was so pumped for Neal [Pionk] and John [Gilmour] to get up there and do so well,” Pedrie said. “You get your buddies up there and you want to get there even more. For one, you miss them and you want to see them again, and obviously it’s the National League and it’s pretty special. It just makes you want it that much more.”

Goalie Sparks pushing Toronto Marlies closer to Calder Cup final

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TORONTO, ON – When Toronto Marlies goalie Garret Sparks was a kid growing up in Illinois, his mom, Lisa, would help him prep for big games. Sparks would stand in front of the family pool table as his net. Lisa would hurl tennis balls at him, picking them out of a big bucket one by one.

“You gotta do what you gotta do at that age to get yourself in the zone,” Sparks says with a laugh. “And it worked.”

Sparks and the Marlies face their biggest game of the season so far when Toronto hosts the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the opener of their American Hockey League third-round playoff series on Saturday at Ricoh Coliseum.

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