A familiar NHL name is taking a new route. Philip Samuelsson, a former defenseman who spent time with Pittsburgh and Arizona before finishing his playing career overseas, has been hired by AHL Rochester as an assistant coach.
Samuelsson is 35 and was originally a second-round pick of the Penguins in 2009. He appeared in five games with Pittsburgh before being traded to Arizona in 2014, then added eight more NHL games over two seasons with the Coyotes before beginning to bounce from team to team. His most recent stop came in Italy, where he wrapped up last season with HC Bolzano of the ICEHL and posted 21 points in 43 games.
Now, he’s moving into coaching and will try to climb the ladder from that side of the game.
The Wild also made a batch of front office changes earlier this week. One of the biggest was the addition of Dan Mackinnon as Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting.
Mackinnon arrives after 10 seasons in New Jersey, including the last seven as an Assistant GM. Minnesota also promoted Alex Goligoski, who goes from Player Development Advisor to Player Development Coach.
In junior hockey, Blues prospect Nick Bogas is headed for a new stop. OHL Flint acquired his rights from Sarnia in a deal that sent back a player and four draft picks.
Bogas, drafted in June out of the U.S. National Team Development Program, put up four points in 37 games there last season.
His junior run is expected to be a short one, since he has already committed to Michigan State University for next season.
There could also be movement coming for Hurricanes prospect Timur Kol. Sport-Express’ Artur Khairullin reports that the 19-year-old defenseman is expected to be dealt to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the KHL.
Kol, a sixth-round pick in 2024, has spent most of the past two seasons in Russia’s junior league and was productive last season in Dynamo’s MHL system, finishing with 13 goals and 16 assists in 35 games. The possible trade could open the door to more time at a higher level.
In Other News...
Oilers Fans Are About To Feel How Different This Roster Looks
Training camp always has a way of revealing how much a roster has changed, and this summer in Edmonton has been no exception. The Oilers moved on from several familiar names through trades, free agency and unresolved contract situations, leaving a different-looking group for the upcoming season, while Minnesota quietly picked up one of those departures in Calvin Pickard.
Pickards move to the Wild is part of a broader shuffle that also sent Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks and Jack Roslovic to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and each player now has a new role to sort out. For Minnesota, the interest is less about the headlines elsewhere and more about what Pickard brings to a goaltending picture that can still change before opening night. [Read more 🡒]