Kraken Prospects
Seattle Kraken forward prospect Jani Nyman scored a 3rd period power play goal, but his Team Finland fell 3-2 to Team Sweden on Wednesday at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan.
His Finnish teammate and fellow 2022 Kraken 2nd-rounder Niklas Kokko took the loss in net despite an impressive performance that saw him make 31 saves. The Finland skaters only mustered 15 total shots.
Swedish forward and Kraken 2023 6th-rounder Zeb Forsfjall didn’t make it on to the scoresheet.
The event wraps up with two games on Friday.
Pacific Surprise
Pre-business hours Thursday, the Edmonton Oilers announced that player agent Jeff Jackson has been named the club’s new CEO of Hockey Operations. That makes him a “former-player agent” after thirteen years helping to build out Wasserman Hockey.
Prior to his days as an agent, Jackson played 263 NHL games as a winger before becoming a lawyer and eventually an assistant general manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ken Holland remains the Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.
“This is a big commitment to the long-term success of our organization,” said Oilers owner Daryl Katz in a statement. “Jeff has well-established relationships across the NHL, including a strong relationship with Ken Holland. He brings tremendous industry insight, knowledge and leadership built through a unique career experience that is ideal for this leadership role at OEGSE. He understands what it takes to build an elite organization for the modern NHL and will work closely with Ken and our whole team to put the Oilers in the best possible position to win.”
OEG used to be the Oilers Entertainment Group, now called OEG Sports and Entertainment. So technically, “entertainment” is in the name twice. I reckon that comes with having Connor McDavid as your captain.
“Jeff and I have had a long and fruitful relationship, and I have witnessed his care, relentlessness, and obvious knowledge of the game and industry firsthand,” McDavid stated. “I’m excited about this next chapter for me and to continue to be represented by Wasserman on and off the ice, with Judd Moldaver as my agent and Adam Phillips, my longtime manager, handling day-to-day matters.”
Alrightee then.
NHL Deal
Staying in the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks signed forward Troy Terry to a seven-year contract worth $7-million per season. The deal came down just ahead of an arbitration hearing slated for Wednesday.
Terry has come on strong the last two NHL campaigns, finishing with 23 goals and 38 assists last season, following a 67-point effort the year before. He’s twice represented the Ducks at the NHL All-Star Game.
Not bad for a 2015 5th-rounder who was previously best known for his shoot-out prowess during the 2017 World Junior Championship when he and his fellow Americans won the Gold Medal.
“We are very pleased to be able to come to an agreement,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “Troy is a major part of our team as a character player and leader, and we look forward to seeing him continue his ascent to being one of the League’s top players.”
There was also some bad news for the Kraken’s division foe as a Swedish newspaper reported that Ducks forward Isac Lundestrom will miss at least four months of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. The former 1st-round pick from 2018 suffered the injury during summer training.
The 23-year-old had 14 points, four of them goals, in 61 games last season.
Recent Hockey Joy Joy:
— Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Will Borgen
— Kraken Tuesday: Winter Classic Logos Revealed
— Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Eeli Tolvanen
