Monday LNN: USA Repeats, Vatrano Re-Signs, Kaliyev on Waivers, and more!
Team USA won back-to-back gold medals in a thrilling OT game, Frank Vatrano re-signed in Anaheim on an odd deal, Arthur Kaliyev is on waivers, and more!
- For the first time ever at the World Junior Championships, Team USA has won back-to-back gold medals. USA came back from being down 3-1 and won 4-3 in a thrilling overtime game. Teddy Stiga was the overtime hero, taking down a feisty Finnish team that almost upset the favourites.
- Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press has more on the USA victory, and Julian McKenzie of The Athletic does as well.
- Czechia also won yesterday in the Bronze medal game, defeating Sweden 3-2 in a 14 round (!) shootout.
- Despite the disappointing (and somewhat predictable) loss for Team Canada, the decision-makers at Hockey Canada say they stand by their process. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic has that story.
- In a surprising move, the Anaheim Ducks re-signed one of the top trade targets, Frank Vatrano. Vatrano's deal involves deferred money, which "legally" allows the Ducks to have just a $4.57M cap hit for the next three seasons instead of $6M. Vatrano will be receiving $900k for 10 years beginning in 2035, which is an interesting loophole and not a bad pension for him. I'm sure this will be something the NHL and NHLPA will be talking about in the next CBA because these deferral deals go against the spirit of the rule with the salary cap.
- Arthur Kaliyev was placed on waivers by the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. He has only played in five AHL games this season (two points) and none in the NHL due to a fractured clavicle that he suffered before the season began. The 23-year-old has had modest success in the NHL, averaging 31 points per season in his three years with the Kings, but he hasn't been as impactful as one would hope. What makes him intriguing is that Steve Staios was the GM of the Hamilton Bulldogs when Kaliyev was there, plus the one tool he has is something the Senators could really use right now: a wicked shot. Kaliyev is only making $825k for this season, so there's essentially no risk to see what he can do on the right wing. We'll know very shortly today if he gets claimed.
- The Senators shared some injury updates on Sunday, with some mixed news. On the bad front, Linus Ullmark is still week-to-week with a back injury, so it looks like Leevi Meriläinen will get a chance to keep playing. Despite finishing the end of the game, Travis Hamonic will be out for 2-to-4 weeks. Nick Jensen wasn't practicing due to an illness, which has probably been going around because Stützle was playing through the flu as well. Lastly, for some good news, Michael Amadio and David Perron are skating and could be back in the near future. They need everyone they can get right now, especially on offense.
- The writers of The Athletic give a grade to all 32 NHL teams based on how they've played so far this season. What would you give the Senators?
- The Hershey Bears, the mecca for the AHL, set a world record by collecting 102,343 teddy bears (yes, you heard that right) for their teddy bear toss. Incredible!
- Ozzy Wiesblatt made his NHL debut for the Nashville Predators on Friday, and Adam Proteau of The Hockey News has a cool story about how his connection to the deaf community made him an excellent role model.
- The IIHF President, Luc Tardif, has made it well-known that he'd like to have Russia (and Belarus) back in the international hockey world. He says he "wants them back as soon as possible," although nothing will be forced, and they still need to wait for the end of the Russia/Ukraine war.
