Prospect Signings: March 14th, 2012
-Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Vladislav Namestnikov To A 3-Year Entry Level Contract
-Ottawa Senators Sign Cole Schneider To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract
-San Jose Sharks Sign Sebastian Stålberg To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract
-Los Angeles Kings Sign Brian O'Neill To A One-Year Entry Level Contract
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Lightning Sign Vladislav Namestnikov To A 3-Year Entry Level Contract |
 C. Vladislav Namestnikov Age: 19 Height: 6-0 Weight: 171 Drafted: Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1st round (27th overall) in 2011. 2011-12 Statistics: London Knights (OHL): 60 GP | 22 G | 48 A | 70 P | 50 PIM | plus-17 +/- CONTRACT: 3 Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Is over a PPG in his OHL career. -Both a Russian citizen & an American citizen. |
Thoughts:
The Tampa Bay Lightning's front-office staff has been impressed with Vladislav Namestnikov since the moment they began scouting him, and once they got him in their organization they grew even more fond of the nineteen year old prospect. Earlier this season it was heavily speculated that the Lightning were going to sign him prior to the 2011-12 season. Although they chose to wait, it was all but official that they'd be signing him at the end of his OHL season.
Namestnikov plays a good all-around game that has proven useful in almost every situation. He has a very rich hockey bloodline (His Father is Evgeny Namestnikov and his Uncle is Vyacheslav Kozlov) and its probably a big reason why his hockey sense and intelligence on the ice is so impressive. His skating is above average, and his offensive tools are all abundantly present. In his own end he is solid as well, and is also not afraid to take the role of agitator. I like this kid, and I think he'll be a big asset for the Lightning going forward. As he develops Tampa is going to have the luxury of having a player that will be able to provide what ever they may need in a particular moment.
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Ottawa Senators Sign Cole Schneider To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract |
 F. Cole Schneider Age: 21 Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Drafted: Undrafted 2011-12 Statistics: University Of Connecticut (NCAA): 38 GP | 23 G | 22 A | 45 PTS | 35 PIM CONTRACT: Two Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Named to the 2010-11 NCAA (AHA) All-Rookie Team -Won the Thomas Jacquard Award as UCONN's most valuable player |
Thoughts:
The Ottawa Senators have been one of the most active teams in undrafted free-agent signings in recent years, and with this news, the trend has apparently continued. The Senators announced that they have signed twenty-one year old Cole Schneider out of the University Of Connecticut.
Schneider has the body of an NHL player already and he uses it perfectly. One of the things that makes his big body so useful is that his above average speed enables him to get to loose pucks and then drive hard to the net. He shines in the offensive zone, but his impressive work ethic gets him on the back check when ever its needed. If he continues to improve at this rate —and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't — it certainly seems as though he will turn out to be an NHL player in some capacity. At worst, he's a great AHL depth forward that will be useful in a call-up situation. Very little risk here by the Senators and an admirable job by their staff to identify a player who I personally believe has surprisingly flown under-the-radar.
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San Jose Sharks Sign Sebastian Stålberg To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract |
 C. Sebastian Stålberg Age: 22 Height: 6-0 Weight: 187 Drafted: Undrafted 2011-12 Statistics: University Of Vermont (NCAA): 34 GP | 12 G | 19 A | 31 PTS | 22 PIM CONTRACT: Two Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Named to the 2009-10 NCAA (Hockey East) All-Rookie Team -Named to the 2010-11 NCAA (Hockey East) All-Academic Team -Named to the 2010-11 Hockey East All-Star Honorable Mention -Brother is Viktor Stålberg of the Chicago Blackhawks |
Thoughts:
The San Jose Sharks also seem to be a very active team in the undrafted free-agent market. Here they add a twenty-two year old forward in Sebastian Stålberg. The entry-level contract will run for the next two seasons because of Stålberg's age.
Sebastian Stålberg is not too similar to his brother Viktor in the fact that he doesn't really have the foot speed or high-end talent, but he is still a very competent two-way center. He is at his best on the defensive side of the puck and is terrific at taking face-offs. His work ethic is always present each and every shift. I don't think he will turn out to be a big name player, but it is very likely that he reaches the NHL as a good defensive bottom-six center. Honestly he could probably jump into the NHL right off the bat, but I think we'll see him get some time in the AHL first.
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Los Angeles Kings Sign Brian O'Neill To A One-Year Entry Level Contract |
 F. Brian O'Neill Age: 23 Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Drafted: Undrafted 2011-12 Statistics: Yale University (NCAA): 35 GP | 21 G | 25 A | 46 PTS | 26 PIM CONTRACT: One Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Named to the 2008-09 NCAA (ECAC) All-Rookie Team -Named to the 2008-09 NCAA (ECAC) All-Academic Team -Named to the 2010-11 NCAA (ECAC) First All-Star Team -Named the 2012 Ivy League Men's Ice Hockey Player of the Year -Captain of the 2011-12 Yale University Hockey Team |
Thoughts:
The Los Angeles Kings have been in pursuit of Brian O'Neill for years. Last off-season the Kings offered him a contract that would have payed him the maximum bonus he could possibly earn. He declined that offer so he could return to Yale for his senior year. Once Yale's season came to an end, the Kings quickly offered O'Neill the same contract and this time around he accepted it. The Kings obviously think very highly of O'Neill and for good reason.
O'Neill, despite being only 5'9, plays a very gritty and dynamic game. He has some quick feet and his agility really is impressive. He has a good set of hands, and he see's the ice well. His game is just really well-rounded and there is very little negative that you can pick out. The only thing that could hold him back from being an everyday NHLer is his size, but we've seen players his size and smaller do well at the highest level so him being a successful NHL player is definitely not out of the question. Right now I think O'Neill is probably a long shot, but he could very easily change my mind if his transition to the AHL goes smoothly.
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