Carolina Hurricanes Free Agency Preview: European UFAs
The 2020 NHL free agency class could have a few hidden gems coming over from European leagues. Will the Carolina Hurricanes be bidders for any of their services?
Every year players playing overseas look to take their talents to North America and NHL during the offseason. Most of the time, these players are a bit of late bloomers looking to make the jump after a few successful seasons in the KHL, Liiga, SHL, etc. While not all of them will make an immediate impact at the NHL level, for teams looking to bolster their depth it’s worth the risk.
Over the past couple of seasons, we’ve seen the Carolina Hurricanes sign guys like Derek Ryan, Michael Fora, and Michal Cajkovsky with varying levels of success, with Ryan being the only player to have any impact at the NHL level. Even with that in mind, these moves, at the very least, provided the organization with the aforementioned depth.
Most of the time, these players tend to be young enough to where they come over on a two way, entry-level deals so, if the player fails to make the roster during training camp, they can always get some seasoning in the American Hockey League. Should they opt to return overseas like Fora and Cajkovsky did early into their tenures with the franchise, the organization isn’t out anything.
This year there’s once again a few players that are gaining some attention and buzz with scouts around the league. So, with that in mind, let us take a look at a few of the top guys possibly available and what they could potentially bring to the Hurricanes roster.
Forwards
Kicking off the list, Julius Nattinen is a 23-year-old Finnish centerman playing for JYP in the Finnish Elite League. Nattinen is a guy who once was a highly sought after prospect after putting up 71 points in 52 games with the Barrie Colts in the OHL. Drafted in the second round, 59th overall, by the Ducks, he spent a single season in the AHL before having his entry-level deal mutually terminated.
Spending the last two seasons in the Liiga, he seems to have finally gotten to the level of play scouts were expecting from him during his draft year. Producing at just over a point per game pace, he is a guy expected to sign with an NHL club this offseason.
Should the Canes be interested in his services, he would be somewhat of a Lucas Wallmark type replacement. Slotting in on the third line, he would provide the team with solid two-way play with the added ability to contribute some offense. With 33 goals this season, under the right circumstances, he could be a cheap 20 goal guy in the NHL.
Although technically under contract for a few more years, Pius Suter enters the summer with both NHL interest and an out clause in his current deal, leading many to believe he’s among those looking to make the jump. Playing for the Zurich Lions in Switzerland, he too is coming off a season where he produced at over a point per game pace.
At 23, he is a guy whose been on the radar of NHL teams for a while now. Attending a few rookie camps over the years. Listed as a C/LW he is a versatile guy who is capable of playing up and down a lineup. When you follow his young career up to this point, he appears to fit the bill as some who is a late bloomer.
Finishing this past season with the most goals and points in the entire NLA league, to go along with the best +/-, he appears to be a solid two-way guy. Playing with Nino Niederreiter for the Swiss National team on occasion, perhaps he could help sell the Canes to Suter should they be among the teams interested in his services.
The last two names on the list, Mikhail Grigorenko and Dmitrij Jaskin aren’t strangers to the league with both having well over 200 NHL games under their belt. Grigorenko, a former 12th overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres, opted to return to Russia back in 2017 after appearing in 75 games with the Colorado Avalanche.
Over the past two seasons, the 25-year-old forward has put up 93 points in 102 appearances with CSKA Moskva. As one of the top players in the entire KHL, many are expecting Grigorenko to take another shot at an NHL career this offseason with his current deal set to expire.
Jaskin, on the other hand, may end up staying in Russia for another year after signing a contract extension with Dynamo Moskva a few days ago. While there’s some belief that he too has an NHL out clause, his return to the NHL this offseason is looking unlikely.
Even after a 63 point, 31 point season in the KHL the former St. Louis second-rounder is nothing more than a depth player at the NHL level at this point. Under the right circumstances, it is possible he could put of 20 goals but that seems unlikely with his current career-high 6, set back in 17-18.
Defense and Goaltending
Currently playing in the SHL, Johannes Kinnvall is a right-shot defenseman for HV71. With 40 points in 51 games, he’s one of the best offensive blueliners in Sweden. At just 22 years of age, he appears to be a prime guy for an NHL club to look to sign and develop within their system.
Although the Canes are set with right-shot D at the NHL level, it is never a bad thing to add to it, especially when you don’t have to give up any assets in the process. On a few teams, Kinnvall could slide right into the lineup on the third pair, but with Carolina, he would more than likely start the season in the AHL.
Over time, should he continue his positive trajectory he could be a solid second pair guy in the NHL. With his age, he would have to sign a two-year entry-level deal, per the CBA, making him well worth a shot.
Rumored to already have a deal in place with the Ottawa Senators, Artyom Zub was said to have had a few NHL suitors. Playing his native Russia, Zub is another right-shot D who could slide right into a team’s bottom pair without looking out of place.
With 22 points in 57 games with SKA St. Petersburg the 24-year-old Russian is more of a defensive defenseman. His plus 35 was the best in the entire KHL, a reflection of his ability to shut down opposing team’s top guys. In the NHL he probably tops out as a Trevor van Riemsdyk type player, solid defensively with very little offensive production.
At 26, Mikko Lehtonen is the elder skater of this list. Currently playing for Jokerit in the KHL, Lehtonen is a Finnish left-shot defenseman who has slowly worked his way up the ranks. His 49 points were best among D in the entire league.
Said to have nothing left to prove in Europe, it is possible that he finally makes the jump to North America and the NHL this offseason. Capable of providing a bit more offensively than Zub or Kinnvall, he could be a good get on the cheap.
With Timur Bilyalov signing an extension with Ak Bars Kazan, the only goalie on the list is Alexei Melnichuk. The only player mention who has been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes so far, Melnichuk is rumored to have narrowed his list of NHL suitors down to four clubs, the Canes, Aves, Golden Knights, and Sharks.
At 21 his certainly has the time to progress into a solid NHL netminder in the very near future. Appearing in 16 games for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL he posted an impressive 1.68 GAA and a .930 save percentage, earning KHL goaltender of the month honors in the process back in September. His solid numbers continued in the VHL, the AHL equivalent in Russia, with a GAA of 1.95 and a .925 save percentage.
Should the Canes be the one who wins his services, he will more than likely be the best bet to start for the Checkers in the AHL. With goaltending a difficult position to judge, adding another top prospect into the pipeline would be nothing but a smart move for the organization this summer.
Question for CC Readers: Do you think the Carolina Hurricanes should look to sign any of these European free agents this upcoming offseason? If so who?