Anhorn joins Moose on blue line

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This article was published 05/04/2024 (560 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He’s the new kid in town, even if his birth certificate shows there’s already a bit more mileage than usual on the latest prospect.

Dylan Anhorn, 25, has joined the Winnipeg Jets organization after finishing his college career at St. Cloud State University, where he captained the Huskies. The left-shot defenceman, who was born in Calgary, signed an amateur tryout for the rest of this season with the Manitoba Moose, and a one-year contract with the AHL club that starts next year.

“I’ve been talking to them for a bit now. Over a year. Fortunate to be able to work it out, get down here, meet the guys and join the team. It’s been fun so far,” Anhorn said following his first practice with the Moose on Friday.

He had 33 points (six goals, 27 assists) in 38 games with St. Cloud this year and was one of the top undrafted NCAA free agents. He’s taken the long road to the pro ranks, having missed his sophomore season in 2020-21 when COVID wiped it out, then suffering two major injuries in 21-22 (ruptured spleen) and 22-23 (broken foot) that cost him half those years.

“I’ve been talking to them for a bit now. Over a year. Fortunate to be able to work it out, get down here, meet the guys and join the team. It’s been fun so far”–Dylan Anhorn

“It makes you grateful for the game that you play and for your health,” said Anhorn, who played two seasons at Union College before moving to St. Cloud and has previously faced off against current Moose players Jeff Malott and Parker Ford.

“It’s what I love, this sport, and I think that’s it a real character test when you have to go through challenges like that. It makes you better, you come out of it stronger. I’m just happy to have had a full healthy year this season and be feeling great. And fortunate to be joining a great organization like the Jets.”

Although he had offers from other teams, signing with Winnipeg made the most sense. Having the Moose under the same roof as the Jets was a major factor.

“It’s always nice to get to see how the NHL guys are doing their thing to get to learn from them. Learn habits and stuff, and obviously the extra eyes on you is a benefit as well,” he said.

“If you perform well, hopefully get noticed and good things happen.”

Anhorn was a neuroscience major at Union College, and has been taking his sports management Masters through St. Cloud. He’s been described as a strong skater with a great hockey IQ and plenty of character.

“If you perform well, hopefully get noticed and good things happen”–Dylan Anhorn

“Try to play a two-way game. Contribute offensively as much as possible while playing smart,” he said. “Good stick, good feet, defensive game. Just going to do what I can to help this team win and hopefully get in the lineup at some point.”

Anhorn was asked which NHL players he might try to model his game after.

“There’s some great examples on the Jets. Josh Morrissey. Also Neal Pionk and Nate Schmidt, two other undrafted, average sized, good skating college defencemen,” said Anhorn.

“Those are for sure some guys I try to model my game after. Hopefully one day if things go well and I perform well, maybe I can get to that place.”

AROUND THE GLASS:

There’s been plenty of debate about the line brawl that took place after the opening faceoff at Madison Square Garden earlier this week.

Everyone figured New York Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe and New Jersey Devils tough guy Kurtis MacDermid would be dropping the mitts, but few could have predicted that the other other players on the ice would follow suit.

Fighting and its place in the game will continue to be a source of debate for years to come, but count us among those who found this example to be in the entertaining category.

There were definitely repercussions for both teams, as eight players were ejected for being involved in a secondary scrap leaving both clubs to play the remaining 59:58 with just 14 skaters.

We’re definitely not fans of staged fighting, but there is still a place for it in the game. Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon told us the melee brought back memories.

“Well, I was on that Washington Capitals team that had the big rumble at MSG in 2020 or 2021,” said Dillon.

“Well, I was on that Washington Capitals team that had the big rumble at MSG in 2020 or 2021”–Brenden Dillon

“I think I was trying to fight (current Jets teammate Morgan) Barron that game when he was with the Rangers. You talk about the good and bad of fighting in hockey. There’s a time and a place for it, of course. That’s a big rivalry game (between the) New Jersey and the Rangers. So it’s fun to watch. I’m glad nobody really got hurt or anything like that in the whole thing.”

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Former Jets head coach Paul Maurice moved up to fourth place on the all-time wins list earlier this week, picking up No. 865.

Next up on that list is Dauphin product Barry Trotz at 914. Scotty Bowman tops the list with 1,244 wins, while Joel Quenneville sits second at 969.

While it’s true that Maurice is first on the all-time losses list (736), his longevity is a testament to his passion for the game and his hockey mind.

“What hits me is sometimes I think back and I thought, ‘If I could coach 500 games, that would be something else.’ I think the average number is like 250 or 350,” Maurice said Thursday after the win over the Ottawa Senators. “Then you hit it and you go, ‘Oh, man, if I could win 500 games, that would be something.’

“Then you start getting older. I have more fun coaching the game now than I ever have in my life. I like the game, where it’s at. I love these players and this organization. I’ve been lucky. I’ve worked with great teams and great people and that’s kind of how I got here today.”

Maurice has done an excellent job with the Florida Panthers this season and it’s a bit surprising he hasn’t generated more buzz when it comes to the Jack Adams Trophy.

There are a number of excellent candidates for the coach of the year award this season, but Maurice should be among them.

The expectations for the Panthers going into the season were high after the eighth seed made a remarkable run to the Stanley Cup final before bowing out to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Many teams that win the conference final in this scenario have issues the next season and the Panthers were without Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour for a lengthy stretch.

Sam Reinhart is flourishing with the first 50-goal season of his career, Aleksander Barkov is a front-runner for the Selke Trophy, Matthew Tkachuk has been one of the most productive players in 2024 and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is making a late push to contend for the Vezina Trophy with Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

This is one of the awards the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association doesn’t vote on, so our opinion on the potential winners doesn’t reveal anything prior to the winner being announced in June.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld