A Dallas Stars prospect grabs his first goal in the Finnish Liiga since being loaned to JYP. A top Swedish prospect for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft transfers from Frölunda to Luleå and a former New Jersey Devils fifth-round pick is impressing in his return to the KHL.
Dellandrea Scores First Goal In Finland
Two weeks ago the Stars loaned prospect Ty Dellandrea to JYP Jyväskylä of the Finnish Liiga. Drafted 13th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he spent the 2019-20 season with the Flint Firebirds in the Ontario Hockey League. He captained the team for the second straight season and amassed 32 goals and 38 assists for 70 points in 47 games played. He represented Canada at the 2020 World Junior Championship, winning a gold medal in the process. He managed to record three goals and two assists across seven games in the tournament.
On Thursday, he picked up his first goal in the Finnish Liiga in his fifth game of the season. He capitalized on a loose puck and made a nice move to beat the goaltender. JYP would end up losing the game 3-2 to Sport. Through five games with JYP he has amassed one goal and one assist. Dellandrea is averaging approximately 16 minutes per game while also receiving an average of 2:17 on the power play. He’s getting his opportunities and the production is starting to come. He’s hovering around 49% on his faceoffs and it would likely be higher barring one bad game where he when 5-for-13 in the dot.
It’s a great opportunity for him to continue to develop his game as he awaits the start of the AHL season in February. The Stars will be without superstar Tyler Seguin to begin the season, so there is a chance that Dellandrea could make his NHL debut sooner rather than later. The expectation is he’ll return to the Stars once training camp opens for the 2020-21 NHL season.
Lysell Transfer to Lulea
One of the top Swedish prospects available for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Fabian Lysell, has opted to leave Frölunda HC and join Luleå HF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). It’s an interesting move for Lysell, especially since it’s during the middle of his draft-eligible season and he’s a native of Göteborg, Sweden where Frölunda play. He has played for the team throughout his entire youth career, but will be making the switch in hopes of a change of environment. He has been playing in Sweden’s junior league the J20 Nationell this season.
In an interview with Expressen, Lysell stated that the move had nothing to do with him looking for playing time in the SHL.
I felt that I needed a change of environment and a fresh start. Frölunda is an organization that produces a lot of talented players — but I personally felt that I needed a new environment to develop in. Luleå fitted in very well for me.
Fabian Lysell on his transfer to Luleå HF
Through 11 games played with Frölunda HC J20, Lysell has amassed three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. While Frölunda’s team boasts J20 superstar and Detroit Red Wings prospect Theodor Niederbach, the team in Luleå is desperate for some offensive help. Even if Lysell doesn’t jump right into the SHL, he should average more than the 15:17 time on ice that he was playing in Frölunda.
Sharangovich Impressing in KHL
Devils prospect Yegor Sharangovich is off to an impressive start to the 2020-21 KHL season. It’s his second season in the KHL after playing the last two in the American Hockey League (AHL). During the 2019-20 season he amassed 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 57 games played with the Binghamton Devils. During the current season he leads all drafted prospects in the KHL in goals (14) and points (17). Among all players, he is ranked sixth in goals and 53rd in points.
Drafted 141st overall by the Devils in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Belarus forward has played for Dinamo Minsk since his youth. The expectation is he’ll return to the Devils once training camp opens for the 2020-21 NHL season. The extra playing time in the meantime will help him get prepared for the start of the AHL season in February.
All stats provided by Instat Hockey.