Minor Transactions: 02/20/19

The NHL hot stove is heating up with the trade deadline just around the corner, but teams are still making daily minor moves to prepare their lineups for the games at hand. As always, we’ll keep track of those moves right here.

• The Arizona Coyotes have sent Michael Bunting to the minor leagues once again, a move that shouldn’t surprise the young forward at this point. Bunting has bounced back and forth between the AHL and NHL all season, playing just five games with Arizona but 31 with the Tucson Roadrunners. The 23-year old has 27 points in those 31 minor league contests.
• Another player who has to be used to the shuttle between leagues is Dylan Gambrell, and today the San Jose Sharks sent him down once again. Gambrell has been involved in transactions for three straight days, and six total since the start of 2019.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning have sent Jan Rutta back to the minor leagues today while recalling Mathieu Joseph. The Lightning had recalled Rutta as insurance for their game last night given Victor Hedman’s injury, but will now send him back to the Syracuse Crunch where he has six points in ten games.
• Patrick Eaves has been sent to the minor leagues after clearing waivers, re-joining the San Diego Gulls. Eaves played five games in the AHL during a conditioning stint, but hasn’t spent any real lengthy time in the minors since his first professional season in 2005-06.