According to the AHL website, the Rangers have sent J.T. Miller and Chris Kreider to the CT Whale. Coach John Tortorella expressed concern that the magnitude of the virtual playoff games the Blueshirts are playing right now might be too much for the two, so these transactions aren’t a surprise.
The moves clear over $2 million in cap space and ensure that both Miller and Kreider will be eligible for the AHL playoffs. It is possible that New York is looking to acquire another forward today.
After practicing with the Rangers yesterday, 21-year-old prospect Jesper Fast has been assigned to the CT Whale. The 2010 sixth-round pick is eligible to play in both the AHL and NHL, but Fast is required to return to Sweden for the World Championships on April 15th, so it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for him to join the Rangers for just two weeks.
Instead, Fast will continue to practice with the Whale and will likely see some AHL game action. Fast’s demotion has nothing to do with the 23-man roster limit, as that was lifted last night.
The speedy winger tallied 18 goals and 17 assists in 47 games with HV71 of the Swedish Elite League this season.
Steven Fogarty (3rd round, 2011) and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish were eliminated from Frozen Four competition yesterday. The Irish were schooled by St. Cloud State by a score of 5-1 in the first round of the tournament. Fogarty was held off the scoreboard, and like Brady Skjei and Boo Nieves, will not be joining the Whale on ATOs, as that will count as a professional contract and void their eligibility for the NCAA.
Be sure to check after the jump for the full scoring lines for the games. Also check out our Prospect Stats page for season long scoring lines.
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Brady Skjei and the Minnesota Golden Gophers were shocked by Yale in overtime yesterday, losing in the opening round of the Frozen Four by a score of 3-2. The Golden Gophers got out to a terrible start, spotting Yale a 2-0 lead in the second period. Minnesota scored two goals in a five-minute span in the third period to eventually send the game to overtime, but Yale ended the contest just nine seconds into the overtime period.
Skjei, just finishing his freshman year, will not be joining the Whale on an ATO. Per NCAA rules, that would qualify as professional hockey, and Skjei would not be able to return to Minnesota.
In WHL action, Michael St. Croix and the Edmonton Oil Kings completed their first round series, defeating Kootenay 4-1 in Game Five, taking the series 4-1.
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Christian Thomas netted his 18th goal of the season in the second period of Connecticut’s 3-0 win over Worcester last night. Thomas’ goal was a powerplay goal and the eventual game winner. Sam Klassena and Brandon Segal also scored for the Whale, with Logan Pyett, Mike Vernace, Andrew Yogan, Nick Palmieri, Kelsey Tessier, and Micheal Haley contributing with assists. The win gives the Whale a 33-26-5-3 record, good for second in the division and sixth in the conference.
Be sure to check after the jump for the full scoring lines for the games. Also check out our Prospect Stats page for season long scoring lines.
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Update: I forgot that Saskatoon is hosting the Memorial Cup. McColgan and Nicholls will be participating in that, so they will not be available.
Original Post: The second seeded Saskatoon Blades were swept out of the WHL playoffs in the first round, dropping Game Four to the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1. The loss frees up both Josh Nicholls and Shane McColgan to join the Connecticut Whale. Nicholls is signed to an entry-level deal starting next year, and although McColgan is not signed, he is expected to sign an ELC before the Rangers’ rights expire. While neither will have a contract that starts this year, they can both sign ATOs and play for the Whale.
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Shane McColgan, Josh Nicholls, and the second-seeded Saskatoon Blades fell into a 3-0 hole to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the first round of the WHL playoffs. Both McColgan and Nicholls were held off the scoresheet in last night’s 5-2 loss. Nicholls is already signed to an entry-level contract for next season, and it is likely that McColgan will get his own ELC if and when Saskatoon is eliminated from the WHL playoffs.
While neither are signed for this season, they could both play for the Whale this year on ATOs.
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Steven Fogarty (2011 3rd) and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated Boo Nieves (2012 2nd) and the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 3-1 in the final CCHA Championship game. The loss ends Michigan’s season, as they needed to win the CCHA and earn the automatic bid to quality for the Frozen Four. With the loss, Yale takes the final at-large big. Both Nieves and Fogarty were scoreless in the contest.
Be sure to check after the jump for the full scoring lines for the games. Also check out our Prospect Stats page for season long scoring lines.
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S/t to Blueshirt Banter for the report.
Per Alex Nunn, who is a must follow for those wanted to keep track of Ranger prospects overseas, the SIHA (Sweden Ice Hockey Association) has reached a deal with the NHL to allow prospects to come over to the NHL before the World Championships. For the Rangers, this means that Jesper Fast (Fasth in Sweden, Fast in the US) will be loaned to the Connecticut Whale of the AHL until April 15. At that point, Fast must be returned to Sweden for the World’s.
Fast, who is already signed to a contract, may see some time with the Rangers. Scouts believe he is NHL ready, but he must first prove himself at the AHL level, which is the right move.
The CCHA Finals (Today, 2:05pm on MSG+) will have two Ranger prospects squaring off, as Boo Nieves’ (2012, 2nd) Michigan Wolverines will face Steven Fogarty’s (2011, 3rd) Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Michigan knocked off Miami of Ohio in the semi-finals, while Notre Dame took out Ohio State. Michigan needed a deep run in the CCHA tournament to qualify for the Frozen Four, and may even need to win this game to seal their bid. Both Nieves and Fogarty were held off the scoreboard in their team’s wins.
The contest will be televised, so check your local listings. The game is on Fox Sports Detroit, but it wouldn’t shock me if it’s simulcast on another channel for the east coast.
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