You may have heard about the increasingly contentious contract impasse between Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman and Boston management. We know someone Swayman had no trouble getting along with back in late August – Seattle Kraken goalie prospect Victor Ostman (above photo).
Both Swayman and Ostman are former University of Maine Black Bears. Swayman tended goal there for three seasons prior to being a 4th round pick of the Bruins in 2017. He won the Mike Richter Award as the best NCAA Division I goalie.
Ostman, born in Danderyd, Sweden, spent four seasons between the pipes for the Black Bears. Though undrafted, Seattle signed the 6-foot-4 netminder to a two-year entry level contract back in April. He’s currently in Coachella Valley, competing for a spot with the Firebirds.
During the summer, he and Swayman got together on campus, “to train and take a tour of the current construction on the Sean Walsh center,” according to Fox-22 TV. Current Maine head coach Ben Barr welcomed the pair’s return. “Hopefully more players come through here that end up playing at the highest levels like those guys. It’s great that those guys come back and help us out.”
DuPont Ready For WHL; Is WHL Ready For Him?
Everett Silvertips defenseman Landon DuPont won’t be able to keep up with older, more experienced WHL players… said absolutely no one, after the 15-year-old phenom had four assists and a +6 rating through his first three Silvertips games.
The performance earned DuPont Rookie of the Week status for the week ending September 29. DuPont recorded his first multi-point WHL game with a pair of assists in an 8-2 Everett victory over their U.S. Division-rival Portland Winterhawks.
Back in April, the WHL granted DuPont “exceptional status,” allowing him to compete prior to his 16th birthday. That put the 5-foot-11, 179-pound blueliner in good company. He’s the second WHL skater- following former Regina Pats star and reigning NHL Rookie of the Year Connor Bedard – to receive the exemption.
“Landon is a very exciting and dynamic young player who impacts the game all over the ice,”
Silvertips head coach Steve Hamilton said at the time. “He’s an incredibly mature young man that’s ready for the transition to the Western Hockey League.”
Kraken GM Francis ‘Most Patient Guy Alive’
A lot of off-season pixels and airtime were spent contemplating whether patience was wearing thin within Kraken ownership and among the fan base. Elliotte Friedman weighed in on his 32 Thoughts podcast.
“There are people in that organization who feel, ‘we can’t be patient.’ (Kraken GM) Ron Francis is the most patient guy alive. I wish I had Ron Francis’ patience when it came to making life decisions. This year, he got pushed by his organization.”
That push may have contributed to a pair of free agent signings. One, defenseman Brandon Montour from Florida, has been generally well received. The other, center Chandler Stephenson from Vegas, not so much – both because of its $43.75 million cost and seven year term. Friedman has a different take.
“Chandler Stephenson is a hell of a player. It’s not about the contract, it’s about what the player brings. He is there to shield Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. This year, it’s not about Stephenson’s production, although you certainly want it. He’s here to do the heavy lifting, to worry about (shutting down) Jack Eichel, to worry about one of McDavid or Draisaitl, one of J.T. Miller or (Elias) Petterson. Matty Beniers, his job is to score. Shane Wright, his job is to take the next step.”