Hurricanes, Kings announce entry-level signings

The Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings each announced today they’ve signed draft picks to entry level deals.

The Hurricanes announced that Erik Karlsson — not to be confused with the Senators’ defenseman of the same name — has inked a three-year deal with the team. Ron Francis, in a Hurricanes release, said Karlsson adds to the team’s depth at forward, citing the winger’s speed as his best attribute.

Karlsson, a 19-year-old who has spent his entire junior and professional career with Frolunda, suited up for 51 games with Frolunda in 2013-14, tallying five goals and an assist. He also helped Sweden to a silver medal at the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Los Angeles, at work stocking the cupboards even during the Western Conference Final, signed Valentin Zykov to a three-year entry-level deal.

A second round pick in 2013, Zykov’s two-way deal will kick in next season, and will likely see him in Manchester as early as October.

In 53 games last season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL, the 6’0″, 200 lb. winger registered 23 goals and 40 assists, and another 7 goals and 22 points in 22 playoff games.

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AHL Today: Amerks win streak to five, Hoffman pots four

AHL Today is a roundup of the night that was, the day ahead, and anything you may have missed. Your quick look at what’s going on around the league.

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To Watch:

• TORONTO at OKLAHOMA CITY: These two teams don’t play very often — they’ve only faced off six times in the last five years — so there’s not a long history here. However, of note, Will Acton will be facing off against his former team for the first time since leaving the Marlies to head to the Barons this past summer. Oklahoma is coming into the game having lost back-to-back games in regulation, and are hoping to avoid a slide that would put them ever further back in the West. Already near the basement, the Barons are on the verge of losing their season if they can’t right the shit. A loss to the Marlies would not help their cause.

Last Night:

• ROCHESTER 4, CHICAGO 1: The Wolves struck just fifteen seconds into the game, but they wouldn’t pot another. After Adam Cracknell’s opening salvo, the Amerks held steadfast and came back in waves potting four unanswered. Goals for Rochester came from Kevin Porter, Brayden McNabb, Colton Gillies, Alex Hutchings. Johan Larsson contributed with a pair of helpers, and the Amerks have pushed their streak to five.
• SAN ANTONIO 4, TEXAS 2: There are dominating, three-period shot-barrage type wins, and then there are what you could call goalie wins. For San Antonio, you could call the victory over Texas a goalie win, as Michael Houser stopped 44 of 46 shots sent his way. Jed Ortmeyer had two tallies for the Rampage, including the game-winner which came in the first frame. In the loss, Stars goaltender Josh Robinson allowed four goals on just 18 shots.
• BINGHAMTON 6, WORCESTER 3: The Mike Hoffman show rolled into Worcester as the Binghamton forward potted his 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd goals of the year. A five point night for Hoffman — he added an assist, just for good measure — helped the Sens handily defeat Worcester. Forward Scott Fleming made his debut for the Sharks after getting the call to the ‘A’ from the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets.

(Moves, news, and notes after the jump.)

Jared Staal back with ‘Canes

The Carolina Hurricanes will continue to hoard the Staal brothers.

Jared Staal, who was a restricted free agent, has signed a one-year, two-way extension with the Hurricanes organization that will keep him bouncing between the ‘Canes and the Charlotte Checkers this coming season.

At 22, Staal has been the least successful of all the Staal brothers, but that’s hardly a standard he should be held to. While he has been unable to crack an NHL roster on a full-time basis, he has been effective in his role as a grinder in the minor leagues.

Working his way through the ECHL (Staal played 33 games with the Florida Everblades in 2010-11), Staal has made his way to a full-time AHL gig, and he’ll be great for the Hurricanes and Checkers in a swing role between the minors and the big league.

Canes bring back Jordan and Murphy, add Palushaj

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today they have come to terms on deals with defenceman Michal Jordan, goaltender Mike Murphy, and forward Aaron Palushaj.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 draft, Jordan comes back to the ‘Canes for another season after spending the last three years with the organization. In his three seasons, the 22-year-old has played in 197 AHL games and five with the big club.

A native of Czech Republic, Jordan came to the Charlotte Checkers in 2010 and suited up for 67 games that season. In his rookie campaign, the young blueliner had four goals and 18 assists, and had improved on those totals each season. Back with the Checkers in the 2011-12 campaign, Jordan was able to muster another four goals and added 18 assists in 76 games. He didn’t appear in the NHL until last year when, after the lockout came to an end, he appeared in five games with the Hurricanes. Over 54 games in the ‘A’ last year, Jordan set a career high with six goals, and added an assist in the only playoff game he suited up for.

Murphy, 24, is four years removed from winning his second straight OHL Goaltender of the Year award. During his tenure in the with the Belleville Bulls — spanning from 2005-06 to 2008-09 — Murphy dominated. In back-to-back seasons, Murphy lead the league in SV%, GAA, and was named a first-team all-star in 2008-09.

In the AHL, Murphy has backstopped the Checkers for 47 games, including 39 contests in 2010-11 where the keeper posted a regular season GAA  of 2.53 and .919 SV%. In 14 playoff games, Murphy continued his stellar play with a 2.57 GAA and .919 SV%. Those totals, the best of his career, came two years before he left the team for a stint in the KHL with Spartak Moscow. Used sparingly in Moscow, Murphy left the KHL and came back to Charlotte, and has now re-signed with the organization for 2013-14.

Palushaj, who most will recognize from his days with the Hamilton Bulldogs and Montreal Canadiens, played 25 games in the NHL last season with Colorado. Claimed by the Avalanche in February of the 2012-13 season, Palushaj recorded two goals and seven assists with the team before his contract expired this off-season. Not tendered a qualifying offer, Palushaj hit free agency and, in turn, signed on with the Hurricanes.

At 23, Palushaj has been tremendous at the AHL level, putting up 54 goals and 82 assists for 136 points over 190 career games in the league.

All three contracts are one-year, two-way deals.

 

Sanguinetti heads to the KHL

According to Atlant Mytishchi’s website, the KHL team has inked former Carolina Hurricane to a two-year deal.

Sanguinetti, a veteran of 277 AHL games, spent most of the season in the NHL at the end of the lockout. In his 37 games with the Hurricanes in 2012-13, Sanguinetti had two goals and four assists. In 36 games in the AHL, before the NHL season had begun, the defenceman had six goals and 15 assists with Carolina’s top affiliate in Charlotte.

Prior to landing in Charlotte, Sanguinetti played his minor league career with the Hartford Wolf Pack. A first round pick of the New York Rangers in 2006, Sanguinetti is a year removed from a 50 point season in 2011-12. That season, while with the Checkers, the 25-year-old had ten goals and 40 assists in 60 games.

A former CHL Top Prospect and OHL second team all-star, Sanguinetti once lead the entire OHL in goals by a defeneman with 29 in 2007-08.

Flood, Corrente land in Carolina on two-way deals

Mark Flood and Matt Corrente have signed two-way deals with the Hurricanes that could see the pair patrolling the blue line for the Checkers next season.

Flood, who spent last season in the KHL with a rebuilding Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, is back in North America after just one season overseas. Prior to leaving for Russia, Flood played several seasons in the AHL, including stops in Syracuse, Albany, Bridgeport, Manitoba, and St. John’s.

Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the sixth round of the 2003 draft, Flood, 28, is an offensive defenceman who can bring a definite spark to the Checkers powerplay. While he stands a chance at cracking the ‘Canes lineup next season, chances are that Flood will end up playing the bulk of his season in Charlotte.

Flood, a native of Charlottetown, PEI., has played 317 career AHL games, scoring 43 goals and adding 103 assists, as well as appearing in 19 playoff games, where he registered eight assists. Flood’s career highs came in 2010-11, when he put up 11 goals and 29 assists in 63 games with the Manitoba Moose.

Corrente, a New Jersey Devils first-round pick in 2006, can play at both the forward and defence positions, and is maybe best compared to a smaller — much, much smaller — John Scott.

While the 25-year-old was a first rounder, it’s safe to say he was drafted on potential rather than output. In his four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, Corrente never exceded 30 points, but amassed a staggering 419 PIM in 187 career regular season games. At the AHL level, where Corrente has spent his career with Devils affiliates Lowell and Albany, it’s been much of the same for Corrente. In his career, he’s had 49 points (13-36) in 163 games, but has racked up 350 PIM over that time.

According to the Hurricanes release, both deals are for one year.

Carolina signs Riley Nash to two-year, two-way pact

Riley Nash has signed on for two more years with the Hurricanes.

Nash, 24, was a first round draft pick, selected 21st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2007. Before Nash could suit up in Oil Country, his rights were traded to the Hurricanes for a 2010 second-round draft pick.

The 2006-07 BCHL rookie of the year has spent his entire pro career in the Hurricanes organization, but only recently made the jump to splitting time between the farm and the big club. In 2012-13, Nash played in 32 of Carolina’s 48 games, posting four goals and five assists while in the NHL. During his stint in the AHL last season, Nash put up 13 goals and 24 assists for the Checkers, and added another goal and two assists in five playoff games.

After his rookie campaign in the BCHL with the Salmon Arm SilverBacks, Nash headed to the NCAA, joining the ECAC’s Cornell University. In 102 NCAA games, Nash was a point per game player, tallying 37 goals and 65 assists. In 2007-08, his first year with Big Red, Nash was named the ECAC rookie of the year after registering 32 points (12-20) in 36 games.

Nash’s deal gives him the opportunity to make it back to the NHL next season.