The most important season of Liam Kirk’s career has turned into a barren wasteland.
This should have been the year when he lit up junior hockey and made a name for himself with the world of professional hockey beckoning. A global pandemic had other ideas.
The Ontario Hockey League has set dates that have been continuously pushed back with neither the league nor the provincial government able to agree. This is despite the QMJHL and WHL providing players in those league with playing time in a contracted season.
Kirk had a short stint in Swedish third tier hockey with Hanhals Kings https://wp.me/p2gDti-11h but returned to the UK just before Christmas with the OHL set to return in January.
That of course never happened and the GB forward was left twiddling his thumbs until the NIHL Spring Cup Streaming series began.
In truth though, this competition is nothing more than an extended practise session for Kirk on a stacked Sheffield Steeldogs roster.
Not intended as a slight on the level of competition but a simple fact.
At the time of writing, the Maltby native has recorded twelve goals and eighteen points through six games. Yes, you read that correctly.
The sudden announcement of an Elite League Series, just a month after the prospect of an Elite League season looked dead in the water, has brought new developments to light.
The Sheffield Steelers added Kirk to a ‘protected’ list of five players they wish to ensure are on their roster for this five-week competition.
In making this arrangement the 21-year-old had to sign a contract with the Steelers for the 2021-22 Elite League campaign.
It’s a mutually beneficial deal for both parties with Kirk having guaranteed ice-time with the Steelers should North America not be an option in the fall of next year for whatever reason and Sheffield guaranteeing they have the rights to the young GB star if he’s available.
But couldn’t Kirk still return to play in the OHL for ‘this’ season?
That is indeed a possibility but as Kirk told Phil Harrison of ‘The Yorkshire Post,’ that is looking like a long-shot at this juncture.
“I think Peterborough went back into a red-level threat for Covid recently so they are pretty much on lockdown again,” explained Kirk. “It’s looking less and less likely like there is going to be something and even if there is this late on, I’m not really sure about it.
“I’ve got guaranteed ice over here with the Elite Series starting and then, hopefully, the World Championships, I’m leaning more towards that.
“Obviously it is not how I saw this season going but, I think I’d be daft to give up the opportunity to play at the worlds where your certain to get the guaranteed ice when there is a lot of uncertainty right now around Canada and the OHL.
“That’s not 100 per cent guaranteed. I mean, if the OHL does put a plan out there then I’ll obviously go through it with my agent and everyone else, but it’s looking more and more likely at this stage that it is not really a viable option.”
At this point playing five weeks of more competitive hockey than the NIHL and then being able to compete at the World Juniors does seem like the safer bet. It’s just a frustrating scenario to be faced with.
The problem facing Liam Kirk square in the face is this.
He turns 22 next January and the likelihood is that the Arizona Coyotes, the team who drafted him back in 2018, are not going to offer him an NHL entry-level contract between now and when his rights expire in June 2022.
From the outside looking in, Arizona has done nothing to assist Kirk’s career during this pandemic.
They have not opted to sign him to an ELC or had their affiliate in Tucson pen him to an AHL deal. There were plenty of other opportunities afforded to Kirk’s peers in the ECHL including with Rapid City Rush, who is also affiliated with Arizona. Again, no dice.
The stint in Sweden with Hanhals was arranged by Head Coach and GM of the Steelers, Aaron Fox, not the Coyotes.
His body of work in North America right now stands at just 110 regular season OHL games and a handful of playoff appearances.
That’s not going to be an easy sell to any team in either the AHL or ECHL if Kirk is left to fend for himself by the Coyotes.
The Ontario Hockey League won’t be an option as he’s now too old.
Will Arizona even invite him to their NHL training camp before the 2021-22 season?
Your guess is as good as mine at this point.
Are you confused by Arizona’s treatment of Kirk? You’re not alone.
“I do want to be back in North America, that is still my main goal,” said Kirk. “My focus for next season is to maybe have a good showing in the worlds and prove myself to earn an NHL entry-level contract but, if not, look at the AHL or other options.
“There are out clauses with the Steelers deal, but it’s really more like a back-up option that if Covid is still around and there are no options for me in North America then there’s available ice in England and that I do have a guaranteed place to play come next season.”
Certainly, a good showing at the upcoming World Championships will give Kirk confidence and hopefully show scouts that this young man has something to offer at the professional level in North America.
The NHL dream is still alive but it’s going to be a more difficult journey than anyone could have imagined.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/other-sport/liam-kirk-stays-focussed-on-nhl-target-while-he-prepares-to-pull-on-sheffield-steelers-jersey-again-3158805 The Yorkshire Post: Phil Harrison
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