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Thursday Caterwaul: Florida Panthers Open Forum

Florida Panthers prospect Tyler Muszelik delivered another solid start at the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, MI.

The 19-year-old goaltender stopped 15 of 16 shots before giving way to Hampton Slukynsky 9:30 into the second period in USA White’s 7-3 victory over USA Blue.

Muszelik gave up the game-opening goal to Oliver Moore, one of  Chicago’s first-round picks in the 2o23 draft, 2:32 into first period before shutting down USA Blue for the remainder of his stint. He departed with a 3-1 lead, thanks to goals from Cutter Gauthier, Zeev Buium and Gabe Perreault.

The win gave USA White a 2-1 record at the Showcase while USA Blue fell to 1-2. Sweden also sports a 2-1 record after edging Finland (1-2) by a 3-2 count, with the winner going to Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who was chosen 17th overall by the Detroit Red Wings.

After an off-day the Showcase will conclude on Friday with games between USA Blue and Sweden and USA White and Finland.

NHL

The big news from the National Hockey League on Wednesday was Troy Terry and the Anaheim Ducks working out a new contract to avoid a scheduled arbitration hearing. Terry’s new deal is for seven years and worth a robust $49 million. The 25-year-old finished second on the Ducks in scoring last season with 61 points (23G/38A) in 70 games and made his second straight All-Star Game appearance.

Drew O’Connor and the Pittsburgh Penguins also avoided going to arbitration by coming to terms on a two-year contract worth $1.8 million. O’Connor, 25, produced five goals and 11 points in 46 games with the Penguins in 2022-23. He had eight goals and 22 points in 20 games with their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Winnipeg Jets signed restricted free agent forward Rasmus Kupari to a two-year deal worth $2 million. Kupari collected three goals and 12 assists in 66 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season.  On June 27, Kupari was dealt by the Kings, along with Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, and a 2024 second round draft pick, to Winnipeg in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois

2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Wednesday results

  • United States 8, Germany 1
  • Canada 5, Switzerland 0
  • Sweden 4, Czechia 2
  • Finland 2, Slovakia 1

Friday’s games

  • Germany vs. Slovakia (Seventh-place game)
  • Sweden vs. Switzerland (Fifth-place game)
  • Finland vs. Czechia (Semifinal)
  • United States vs Canada (Semifinal)

Talking Points