Confirmed with Link: Avs re-sign Dries, add Miikka Salomaki, Kiefer Sherwood and Mike Vecchione

[Bill Peckerskull]

Avalanche Re-Signs Dries, Adds Three Forwards

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has re-signed forward Sheldon Dries to a one-year contract for the 2020-21 season. Additionally, the Avalanche has signed forwards Miikka Salomaki, Kiefer Sherwood and Mike Vecchione to one-year deals for the upcoming campaign.

Dries, 26, appeared in five games for the Avalanche this past season (0g/0a) and made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 7 of Colorado's second-round series against the Dallas Stars. The Macomb Township, Michigan, native recorded 35 points (21g/14a) in 50 games for the Avs' American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, leading the team in goals and finishing third in points. He made the Avs' opening-night roster as a rookie in 2018-19 and recorded six points (3g/3a) in 40 contests for the Avalanche that season.

Dries (pronounced dr-EYE-z) has produced six points (3g/3a) in 45 career NHL games and has totaled 76 points (43g/33a) in 145 career regular-season AHL games for the Eagles and the Texas Stars. In his first professional season in 2017-18, he notched 30 points (19g/11a) in 70 regular-season games for Texas and added 10 points (10g/0a) in 22 playoff contests for the Western Conference champions, leading all rookies in postseason goals.

Prior to signing with Texas as an undrafted free agent, Dries played four seasons at Western Michigan University, collecting 84 points (44g/40a) in 148 career outings and serving as the team's captain for three seasons. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound center earned National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Second All-Star Team honors for his final campaign in 2016-17.

Dries played two full seasons for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League from 2011-13, recording 87 points (41g/46a) in 116 games and adding nine points (2g/7a) in 16 USHL postseason appearances.

Salomaki, 27, spent the majority of the 2019-20 season with the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals, tallying 15 points (5g/10a) in 41 games while appearing in five games (1g/0a) for the Nashville Predators. Following a Feb. 22 trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Salomaki skated in eight games for the club's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, tallying four points (2g/2a). Selected by Nashville in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Salomaki has collected 27 points (12g/15a) in 167 career NHL contests, all for the Predators. He has also appeared in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording three points (1g/2a).

Salomaki has registered 92 points (37g/55a) in 173 career AHL contests. The 5-foot-11, 203-pound right wing competed for Karpat in Finland's top professional league from 2010-13, totaling 50 points (25g/25a) in 122 career Liiga outings.

The Raahe, Finland, native represented his country at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, recording two points (1g/1a) in 10 games to help Finland capture the silver medal in his first appearance in the tournament. Salomaki also competed for Finland at three consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships from 2011-13.

Sherwood, 25, split the 2019-20 season between the Anaheim Ducks and the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, tallying a point (0g/1a) in 10 games for the Ducks and 23 points (16g/7a) in 37 contests for San Diego.

Signed by Anaheim as a free agent on March 19, 2018, Sherwood has skated in 60 career NHL games, all with the Ducks, and has recorded 13 points (6g/7a). The 6-foot, 194-pound right wing has produced 43 points (24g/19a) in 77 career AHL regular-season contests and added eight points (4g/4a) in 16 Calder Cup Playoff games.

The Columbus, Ohio, native played three seasons for Miami University (Ohio) from 2015-18, registering 86 points (34g/52a) in 106 career games. Prior to college, Sherwood played for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League from 2013-15, recording 90 points (42g/48a) in 126 contests and skated in six games for the U.S. National Team Development Program during the 2012-13 campaign.

Vecchione (pronounced VECK-ee-oh-nee), 27, spent the 2019-20 season with the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage, recording 36 points (21g/15a) in 61 games and leading the club in goals and finishing second in points. Signed by the Philadelphia Flyers as a free agent on March 31, 2017, Vecchione has skated in two NHL contests (0g/0a), both for Philadelphia, and has recorded 114 points (53g/61a) in 193 career regular-season AHL outings for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the Rampage. In 2018, the 5-foot-10, 194-pound right wing skated in 12 Calder Cup Playoff games for Lehigh Valley, tallying seven points (3g/4a).

Vecchione played four seasons at Union College from 2013-17, where he amassed 176 points (71g/105a) in 149 career games, finishing his career as the program's all-time leader in points and assists. The Saugus, Mass., native served as team captain for two seasons (2015-17) and was a Hobey Baker finalist and ECAC Player of the Year in 2017.

Prior to college, Vecchione played two seasons for the United States Hockey League's Tri-City Storm, producing 89 points (36g/53a) in 112 games from 2011-13.

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[Cousin Eddie]

770k for Dries is perfect for that 13th forward role.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

770k for Dries is perfect for that 13th forward role.

I'm more interested in his $395k minors salary.

 

[Avsboy]

That's weird. Eggs for dinner?

 

[Richard88]

That's weird. Eggs for dinner?

Again? Eggs for the 97th time today?

 

[Avsboy]

Again? Eggs for the 97th time today?

It's been drilled into my brain. I'm scarred for life.

 

[Richard88]

It's been drilled into my brain. I'm scarred for life.

You're weird for being scarred for life...

 

[UncleRisto]

Well, that's that.

 

[McMetal]

Still need a #3 goalie. It's really risky to roll with Werner there. Might work out, but if it doesn't you're hurting his development.

 

[LTC Pain]

A++++++++++++ (using Ryker's voice)

 

[tigervixxxen]

Great, they maybe needed one of these guys at got four.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Great, they maybe needed one of these guys at got four.

We were very weak for forward depth beyond the NHL guys.

All of these guys have NHL experience. Definitely very much needed

 

[Foppa2118]

Glad they brought back Dries. Too often the Avs let guys go who have proven to be decent callups.

Usually it's because they don't want to give them a raise, but Dreis is making the same AHL salary as last year, and only gets about a $32k raise in the NHL.

Interesting number on a one year deal though at $771,750. Why the $750 and not an even $1k?

 

[UncleRisto]

Glad they brought back Dries. Too often the Avs let guys go who have proven to be decent callups.

Usually it's because they don't want to give them a raise, but Dreis is making the same AHL salary as last year, and only gets about a $32k raise in the NHL.

Interesting number on a one year deal though at $771,750. Why the $750 and not an even $1k?

5% increase.

 

[Frobbo]

A bit underwhelming...

 

[Foppa2118]

5% increase.

Good catch. That must be what it is.

They must be sticklers on these numbers for AHL guys. Worried about the next 5% raise so they don't want to round up and give him an extra $250.

 

[MarkT]

From what I can find:

Salomaki: Doesn't seem to have any NHL level offensive skill to speak of. Decent defensively. If we have to call him up he'll probably fine in the 6 minutes Bednar gives him.

Sherwood: only 25, he's a LW who has shown speed and good forechecking ability. I wouldn't be surprised, if he does well at camp, to see him as an early call-up.

Vecchione: AHL middle six winger. I couldn't find much about the way he plays, but he can score at the AHL level.

All good depth signings. I'm very happy with these. All three should in theory be able to handle themselves in a 4th line role in case of a call-up, and all three should be useful players for the Eagles.

 

[Pokecheque]

770k for Dries is perfect for that 13th forward role.

He won’t be the 13th forward.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Like adding Sherwood. The rest is a big meh. But wouldn't be surprised to see Kiefer spend some time with the Avs whenever the next season starts.

 

[RockyMtnRedhawk]

Congrats Kiefer! Go RedHawks! Kiefer works his A$$ off every shift. Probably a guy who is too good in the AHL, and not quite good enough to be a consistent NHLer, but I like the signing for depth. He skates well and works hard. Better than Dries, Tynan, etc.

 

[tigervixxxen]

They already have Tynan, Greer they brought back to be a AHL vet is the only logical reason, Dries. I’m not assuming Kaut and LOC start in the NHL then Bowers who they allegedly need to get ready for a callup. So you add 3 more top forwards to that mix easy to push the younger (cheaper) guys out that doesn’t even mention the third year pros in Barron, Dickinson, Lewis that allegedly should be ready to contribute if you have any plan whatsoever plus Nick Henry and they also signed 4 forwards to AHL deals. It only works out if they sign absolutely nobody else at forward.

Not a fan of Dries at all at the NHL level. It’s clear Bednar does not trust him and his analytics are brutal.

 

[Metallo]

They already have Tynan, Greer they brought back to be a AHL vet is the only logical reason, Dries. I’m not assuming Kaut and LOC start in the NHL then Bowers who they allegedly need to get ready for a callup. So you add 3 more top forwards to that mix easy to push the younger (cheaper) guys out that doesn’t even mention the third year pros in Barron, Dickinson, Lewis that allegedly should be ready to contribute if you have any plan whatsoever plus Nick Henry and they also signed 4 forwards to AHL deals. It only works out if they sign absolutely nobody else at forward.

Not a fan of Dries at all at the NHL level. It’s clear Bednar does not trust him and his analytics are brutal.

I’m not sure why you worry about the minutes guys like Henry or Lewis get. If they were any good they would get minutes.

Our good prospect that won’t make the club will get the minutes. Not worried one bit.

 

[S E P H]

Actually, those are pretty solid depth signings, Salomaki was an NHL regular before he got his spot taken by a couple of injuries (one of the better 13th forward you can find). Sherwood is really fast and has some underrated secondary scoring, whereas Vecchione has been one of the best AHL forwards the last couple of years.

 

[duxfan1101]

Ducks fan here, Sherwood is an easy guy to root for. He has some good speed, always works super hard, and is surprisingly very strong. He's got a very hard shot, evident by his 16 goals in a small sample in the AHL last season. A major negative, however, is he can get pretty severe tunnel vision with the puck on his stick, he's not the greatest distributor of the puck.

The best part of his game, though, is his ability on the PK. His feet and stick don't stop moving, allowing him to break up plays regularly, at least at the AHL level.

All in all, I don't think he'll ever be anything more than a 4th line RW (yes, he almost exclusively plays RW) and PK guy in the NHL, but he has some tools that, at the very least, make him interesting and fun to watch.

 

[MarkT]

Ducks fan here, Sherwood is an easy guy to root for. He has some good speed, always works super hard, and is surprisingly very strong. He's got a very hard shot, evident by his 16 goals in a small sample in the AHL last season. A major negative, however, is he can get pretty severe tunnel vision with the puck on his stick, he's not the greatest distributor of the puck.

The best part of his game, though, is his ability on the PK. His feet and stick don't stop moving, allowing him to break up plays regularly, at least at the AHL level.

All in all, I don't think he'll ever be anything more than a 4th line RW (yes, he almost exclusively plays RW) and PK guy in the NHL, but he has some tools that, at the very least, make him interesting and fun to watch.

Hey thanks for this. I always appreciate when fans of other teams share this kind of information. It helps to set expectations properly among fanbases.