Capped: Spring 2015 Entry-Level Contracts

Chris Pudsey

2015-03-19

BrandonMontour

 

Taking a look at the latest entry-level contracts signed this spring.

 

This is a busy time in most fantasy leagues for fantasy GMs. You have either just completed your trade deadline or about to, and your playoffs are either started are close at hand. Exciting stuff for us all.

 

This is also a busy time for actual NHL GM's as well. This is the time of year when you see a lot of U.S. College players getting signed to entry-level contracts, as well as the kids coming out of the CHL. Some were drafted; some were passed over in their draft years.  

 

In this week's Capped, I am going to take a look at five players who signed their first NHL contracts and what they might bring to their respective franchises. Some might be worth snagging (either by FA pickup or in next years draft, depending on how your league works with these late signees) and hopefully reading this will give you a leg up on your competition. In some of the cases, their actual cap hit has been released. In other cases, the actual cap hit hasn't been released yet because some of them have only signed an amateur try-out (ATO) contract until the end of this year so they can compete in the AHL for the playoffs, and their ELC doesn't actually start until next year. 

 

Ben Hutton (D – Vancouver)

Contract – three-year ELC

Drafted – 147th overall (5th round) in 2012

 

Hutton decided to forego his senior year with the University of Maine and sign his entry-lever contract with the Vancouver Canucks. The 21 year-old offensive minded defenseman was actually a forward until he was 16 and this shows in his game. In his three years with the Black Bears, he was the team's top scoring defenseman each year. In fact, last year, he led all college defensemen in goals scored, sniping 15 goals in 35 games. A lot of this comes from his high shot rate he offers. Like most offensive defensemen, he's not a physical player, but he's not a defensive liability either. He's good at using his 6'3", 200-pound frame to keep players to the outside by using his strong speed and long reach.

 

Hutton's a smooth skater who is capable of playing in all situations. How he adjusts to the pro game will be determined in Utica for their playoff run this year. He projects as a top-four, offensive defenseman but if the Canucks are smart they will not rush him to the NHL. They should let him adjust to the speed in the AHL for a full season and then give him his shot.

 

Brandon Montour (D – Anaheim)

Contract – ATO this year, ELC – three years starting 2015/16, $832,500

Drafted – 55th overall (2nd round) in 2014

 

After playing one season with the University of Massachusetts, Montour has decided to sign his ELC with the Anaheim Ducks. As it stands right now, his ELC doesn't actually kick in until the beginning of next year so for now, he has signed an ATO contract which will allow him to play the rest of this year in the AHL with the Ducks affiliate in Norfolk.

 

Montour is an offensive-first type of defenseman. During his short time with the UMass Minutemen, Montour played in 21 games and amassed 20 points (3-17), which also included six multi-point games. It's his dynamic skating ability that makes his stand out from others and that serves him well at both ends of the ice. His speed can help him lead the rush or can aid him in getting back into position in the defensive end.

 

Montour is just another solid defensive prospect in a deep Anaheim system. He will get plenty of time to adjust to the pro game along side another high end, offensive prospect, Shea Theodore in the AHL. 

 

He's probably a couple years away from making a dent in the NHL, but certainly one worth stashing in your fantasy minors, assuming he's even available after being drafted high in the NHL draft.

 

 

The 6', 190-pound Sautner attended the Arizona Coyotes' training camp last year and the Minnesota Wild camp the year before but was unable to secure a contract with either franchise. Vancouver stepped up this year and decided to sign him to a three-year entry-level deal. Once the Oil Kings season ends, Sautner will join Utica in the AHL.

He's a project at best, and probably a long shot to ever make the NHL, but still worth keeping an eye on once his AHL career starts rolling.

 

Cole Bardreau (RW – Philadelphia)

Contract – two-year ELC, $925,000

Drafted – undrafted

 

This guy's story is literally the thing movies are made of. 

 

It was January 2013 and Bardreau, a sophomore at Cornell University, had just returned after helping the U.S. World Jr. Team win Gold. In his second game back, Bardreau got pushed, head first into the boards and caught a rut at the same time. At first, he didn't know what it was but he finished the game anyway. He thought it was a concussion, or just a bruised sternum. Two days later, after complaining to Cornell staff that his neck still hurt, he got precautionary x-rays done to see what was going on. It was found that he had a vertebra in his neck broken in two different places and was in danger of being paralysed. Let me repeat, he finished the game and went among his business for two days after the hit. He would spend the next three months in a stiff neck brace. 

 

Eventually, he was allowed to work his way back into actually playing hockey, where he played 26 games last year for Cornell, and was an assistant captain. This year, he played in 30 games, scoring five goals and 17 assists.

 

The gritty center fancies himself along the lines of a Ryan Callahan style of player. A self-proclaimed "hard-worker", he was courted by a few NHL teams before settling on the Philadelphia Flyers. He signed an ATO and will join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the remainder of the AHL season before his ELC kicks in starting next year.

He's a projected third or fourth liner at the NHL level.

 

Frank Vatrano (LW – Boston)

Contract – three-year ELC

Drafted – undrafted

 

After a successful season at the University of Massachusetts, Vatrano is forgoing his final two years of eligibility and has signed an ELC with the Boston Bruins. In his first full season this year with UMass, Vatrano lead the team in goals (18) and added 10 assists in 36 games. 

 

The 5'10", 215-pound winger has quick hands and is not afraid to shoot the puck. In fact, he was second in the nation in total shots taken this past season. Despite his height, he's a perfect type of Bruins player; quick, gritty and doesn't shy away from the physical style of play.

 

He still has lot of room for improvement and will get the chance to do so in Providence to start his professional career.

 

****

 

This is just the early stage of the college and junior signings. I am sure over the next few weeks, there will be plenty more to look at and discuss. Any of these kids could be the undrafted skater on your fantasy roster. I will continue to monitor the signings and pass on any more that seem fantasy relevant.

 

As always, thanks for reading. Feel free to follow me on twitter: @chrispudsey

Leave A Comment

UPCOMING GAMES

Mar 29 - 19:03 BUF vs N.J

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY MTL
AUSTON MATTHEWS TOR
NATHAN MACKINNON COL
JACK QUINN BUF
FILIP FORSBERG NSH

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
IGOR SHESTERKIN NYR
IVAN FEDOTOV PHI
FREDERIK ANDERSEN CAR
LOGAN THOMPSON VGK
ALEKSEI KOLOSOV PHI

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency NSH Players
22.6 RYAN O'REILLY GUSTAV NYQUIST FILIP FORSBERG
21.9 TOMMY NOVAK MARK JANKOWSKI LUKE EVANGELISTA
18.6 COLE SMITH KIEFER SHERWOOD MICHAEL MCCARRON

DobberHockey Podcasts

FIND US ON FACEBOOK