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Goalie prospects are some of the hardest to predict regarding how good they’ll end up being. At one point, former LA Kings goalie Cal Petersen was thought of as the guy to replace Jonathan Quick. Two seasons later, he finds himself struggling to get starts at the AHL level for the Leigh Valley Phantoms. A franchise should always have at least a couple of goalie prospects with the potential to become NHLers, just in case of a Petersen-esque situation, which the Kings found themselves in just a few years ago.
The Kings’ goalie pipeline when Petersen lost his way was nothing short of tragic. Jacob Ingham has had his development obliterated through lingering injuries and likely will never make the NHL. Lukas Parik and David Hrenak went back to Europe, and the Kings no longer owned the rights to either player. Matt Villalta, the most promising of the bunch, never really showed that he had what it took to make the NHL, and went to the Arizona Coyotes (now Utah Hockey Club) in the summer of 2023.
The Kings’ first move to fill this hole was done via trade at the 2023 trade deadline. LA acquired Michigan’s Erik Portillo, whose rights were owned by the Buffalo Sabres, for a third-round selection in the 2023 draft. One goalie prospect isn’t enough. Their second move was to draft Minnesota native Hampton Slukynsky in the fourth round, 118th overall. Since then, Slukynsky’s results prove that he was a great find by Mark Yannetti and his staff.
Warroad SAVE! Hampton Slukynsky with the AMAZING save to keep the game tied 2-2 in the 2nd! #lotzzamotzza pic.twitter.com/2vOIEca7vn
— YHH (@YouthHockeyHub) January 26, 2022
Slukynsky, measuring in at 6’1”, 190 lbs, was drafted straight out of high school, where he notched an astonishing 28-1-1 record as well as a .941 save percentage. He also took home the Frank Brimsek Minnesota Goalie of the Year award, making him just the 29th goalie to win it.
Slukynsky brings with him a cool nickname, “Hammer,” as well as a very interesting backstory. In an interview with John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor just after the 2023 draft, he said that he “never had [a goalie coach]. I kind of just played for fun and worked hard at it; I’ve done my own thing. I’d stay on after practice, when nobody’s on the ice, whatever I could do. I would learn from YouTube videos and stuff like that.”
Slukynsky also turned to unorthodox methods to physically work on his skills. “When I found out [pitching machines] were only 40 or 50 bucks, I got one. It’s been in my basement ever since and I use the pitching machine for 30-45 minutes every day….those little yellow balls used in the skills pitching machines, they curve a little bit, so it’s good,” the netminder added. These quirks are just a small part of what makes Hammer a fascinating prospect.
The year after his draft, and his first year with a real goalie coach, Slukynsky completely took over the USHL with the Fargo Force, finishing with a 28-3-0 record and a .923 save percentage. He finished first in the league in save percentage, goals allowed average (1.86), win percentage (.824), and shutouts (5). His red-hot performance continued into the playoffs, leading the Force to the Clark Cup with a 9-3-0 record and a .931 save percentage. Slukynsky was named the USHL Goalie of the Year for the 2023-24 season and received consideration for USHL Rookie of the Year for the year he had.
Hampton Slukynsky, the Fortress of Fargo
Slukynsky made this huge save with just 2:30 remaining in the third period last night.
Via: Josh Stenman | @fargoforce pic.twitter.com/msjPvQLFGq
— USHL (@USHL) April 29, 2024
Before this season, people asked the same questions of Slukynsky. How will he adjust to a new league? Is he too small to make it as a goaltender in the NCAA? So far, Slukynsky has been tearing up his new league once again with the Western Michigan Broncos. His .949 save percentage leads the entire NCAA, and he’s been quite the story so far in his new league. Despite only playing five games so far, he keeps impressing with every passing game, and recently won NCHC Rookie of the Week honors, as well.
A big week from Hammer earns him NCHC Rookie of the Week honors! Congrats Hampton!
https://t.co/ZiELN6LYTh #BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/fsHfbNGMaw
— WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) November 18, 2024
What does Slukynsky’s path to the NHL look like?
It entirely depends on his play. The LA Kings have until June of 2026 to tender an entry-level contract to the young goaltender. I would imagine they’d want Slukynsky to get a taste of pro hockey during that deal. If he continues this fantastic run in the NCAA, I would imagine that he’d finish this year and next year in the NCAA, then move over to the AHL where he’d follow a similar developmental model to Carter George; a year as backup in the AHL, a year as starter in the AHL, and then limited NHL minutes. There is a chance that we might even see a George-Slukynsky pairing in the AHL in a few years.
What kind of goalie does Slukynsky project as?
He’s eerily similar to Quick. You see the same highlight-reel saves, the same dominant play, the same athleticism. His composure, poise, and leadership qualities point to someone who will be a surefire playoff performer. Of course, success is not guaranteed, but Slukynsky is one of the top goalie prospects outside the NHL right now. He’s earned the hype and then some.
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Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
Could this young forward answer multiple questions for the Rangers?
Through much of his time with the New York Rangers, Mika Zibanejad has been too good to be a second-line center, yet not quite a top liner for a contender. Now aging out of his prime, his play has dropped off the past two seasons, only rebounding when moved to the wing next to midseason acquisition J.T. Miller. That presents a problem for New York. The Rangers are not deep down the middle. Moving Zibanejad back to center provides that depth, putting Vincent Trochek back in his appropriate 3C role. But does Zibanejad again suffer without Miller? It also leaves the Blueshirts thin on the right side. Zibanejad can’t play two positions at once and the Rangers cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. There is a solution, however: Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. Anaheim and New York already have strong front office ties, with a pair of trades in the past eight months. The cross-continental line should be open. McTavish is precisely the player archetype that Rangers general manager Chris Drury has sought in this past year. The 22-year-old possesses good size (6-foot-1, 219 pounds) and plays with a grit that Drury adores. An old-fashioned power forward in the making, McTavish hunts bodies, making life miserable for defenders on the forecheck and finds pockets of space when off the puck, where he unloads a cannon of a shot. An all-situations player, McTavish digs in the corners and is developing nicely as an offensive driver. McTavish is a hard worker who shows leadership traits. New Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan loves to play with speed and relentless pressure, a mantra that suits McTavish down to the ground. For a second-line center, McTavish’s numbers don’t exactly pop off the page, but 52 points (22 goals) in 76 games for a bad Ducks team is nothing to sneeze at. In New York, he would also presumably get to play with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Given the playmaking ability of those wingers and McTavish’s heavy shot, 30-plus goals could be on the cards. Bleacher Report has stated that the Ducks are unlikely to extend McTavish an offer sheet, instead willing to match whatever offer comes his way. Does that mean he is on the trade block? At the very least it means that Anaheim will likely be willing to listen to offers. That said, it would take an almighty package to pry the former No. 3 pick out of Orange County. The Ducks would rightly command a first-round pick — if not two — and a highly-rated prospect. New York has its own first-rounders in store, as well as a, likely, late first-rounder next year, with second-round picks each year except 2027. Would New York part with a first, a second and a pair of its top prospects? The Rangers are loaded with left wing prospects. Whilst Gabe Perrault is likely off the table, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora and Brett Berard should be discussed, as should defenseman E.J. Emery. Would picks and a pair of prospects be enough for Anaheim, though? Here’s a thought experiment: a deal centered around Will Cuylle. As mentioned, the Rangers have a raft of left wingers coming through and Lafreniere is also a natural left winger. Would trading Cuylle for McTavish solve the Rangers' issues at the pivot, allowing Zibanejad to help fix the right-hand side and give the team room to develop more youngsters on the left? Could this solve three issues in one swoop? It would be a, potentially, seismic move, but it might just make sense for both teams, especially if the Ducks are not looking to keep McTavish around long-term. It would complete a remarkable offseason for Drury.
WNBA All-Star Game ratings paint a troubling picture
WNBA players sent a message to the league with T-shirts they wore ahead of the All-Star Game on Saturday night, but the ratings for the game did not exactly strengthen their stance. Prior to the All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Caitlin Clark and other players warmed up in shirts that said “Pay us what you owe us” across the front. The message had to do with the current state of collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the WNBA and WNBA Player’s Association. Unfortunately for the players, the television ratings for the game were not very good. Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported on Tuesday that the WNBA All-Star Game drew 2.19 million viewers on ABC, which was down roughly 36% from a year ago. Last year’s game featured the WNBA All-Stars against the Team USA squad that was preparing to compete in the Summer Olympics in Paris. The dip in ratings is likely another example of the type of impact Clark has had on the WNBA. Although she was a team captain for this year’s All-Star Game, Clark did not play due to a groin injury. Clark played in last year’s game for the All-Star side, as she did not make the Team USA Olympic roster. Many fans were outraged that she was snubbed from the Olympic team, which added an element of intrigue to the All-Star Game. There is no way of knowing for certain whether more fans would have watched the All-Star Game on Saturday night had Clark played. It is a safe guess, however, especially when you look at some recent trends for the league.
Celtics Expected to Make Another Trade After New Comments From Executive
The Boston Celtics' priorities were already apparent before making the trades they did. Because they wanted to get under the NBA's second tax apron, the Celtics were willing to downgrade some of their players to get under it. That's why the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons and Kristaps Porzingis for Georges Niang. It is a talent downgrade, but it helped Boston achieve their goals of getting under the second apron, even if those players aren't as good as Holiday or Porzingis. However, those trades only helped Boston get closer to being under the NBA's second tax apron, but it didn't get them under completely. Boston signed a few more players this offseason, including Luka Garza, Josh Minott, and Hugo Gonzalez. While these players are on inexpensive contracts, combined, they are enough to keep the Celtics above the NBA's second tax apron. That's why Boston isn't done making moves. Spotrac's Keith Smith revealed in an interview with a Boston Celtics executive that more trades will follow because they are still above the NBA's second tax apron. “Still figuring it all out. As you’ve noted, we’re still above the second apron. We won’t finish there," the Celtics exec told Smith. As far as how the Celtics will do that is anyone's guess. They may trade Anfernee Simons for someone who makes less than him. They may trade Niang's contract to a team that can absorb it via trade exception. They may even trade Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard to do it. Regardless, more moves are coming for the Celtics.
4 Steelers Players' Roster Spots Could Be In Jeopardy Ahead Of 2025 NFL Season
The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in a bunch of new faces, bringing a fresh sense of excitement and optimism ahead of the upcoming season. As the organization continues to make moves and finalize its roster, it seems like they’re tying up loose ends and preparing for this upcoming season. However, the changes might not be finished just yet, as a Steelers insider predicts a few potential cuts on the horizon. On a recent episode of the Chipped Ham Football podcast, Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo talked about how the team looks heading into the rapidly approaching training camp. When the conversation shifted to potential roster cuts, Batko named four players who could be at risk, adding that he believes one or two of them are likely to be let go by cutdown day. "To me, I look at it as there's three L's here," Batko said. "[Isaiahh] Loudermilk, [Dean] Lowry, [Logan] Lee. Actually, four L's. Loudermilk, Lowry, [DeMarvin] Leal, Lee. I think one or two of those guys unfortunately for them, are probably going to take an L on cutdown day." Cutdown Day in the NFL is when teams have to shrink their rosters from the offseason maximum that can be around 90 players to just 53 for the regular season. It usually happens at the end of preseason and is a big moment for players fighting for a spot. Some make the team, some get released, and others might be moved to the practice squad. It’s a stressful and emotional time, as one decision can change a player’s entire career. During the podcast, Batko noted that the defensive line and linebacker groups are the most likely areas for surprise cuts. With a crowded defensive line room, it’s clear the Steelers have made a strong push to bolster that unit, which could lead to some tough roster decisions. The Steelers used their highly valued first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft to select Derrick Harmon, a talented young defensive tackle from the University of Oregon. While it's common for rookies to spend time developing before earning significant playing time, Harmon seems to be the exception. Early indications from the team suggest that he’s already in line for a starting role, highlighting both his potential and the confidence the coaching staff has in his ability to make an immediate impact. The Steelers’ defensive line has some big questions as the season starts. Veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward, who is 36, still plays well and brings experience. However, beyond him, most of the players are young draft picks or longshots who haven’t proven themselves yet. Since the team didn’t sign any big free agents, they’re relying on Harmon and other young players to quickly step up and help Heyward hold down the defense. Heyward has been a key piece of the Steelers’ defense for years, with an insider even ranking him among the top three defensive linemen in franchise history. However, now at 36, the Steelers know they need to prepare for the day when Heyward is no longer on the field. That’s why they’re focusing on developing younger players to eventually fill his role. Finding the right balance between veteran experience and promising talent is a tough thing, but it’s a strategy the Steelers have used across their entire roster this offseason. The Steelers Are Putting In The Work With offseason programs underway and training camp quickly approaching, now is the perfect time for players like Batko mentioned that are on the cusp to show why they deserve a spot on the roster. Cutdown days are always tough, but ultimately, the NFL is a business. The Steelers have to make the best decisions to ensure they have the strongest roster possible heading into the season, but fans are excited and hopeful for this team this year.
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