It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day.
- The New Jersey Devils have sent Nick Merkley to the taxi squad to make room for Jesper Bratt, who is out of the COVID protocol and will play his first game of the season tonight. Merkley cleared waivers before the season and does not need to clear them again until he plays in 10 games or spends 30 days on the NHL roster.
- Philip Tomasino, one of the top prospects in the Nashville Predators organization, has been assigned to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL for the time being. Tomasino, 19, normally wouldn’t be eligible to play in the AHL, but since the OHL is still not operating the young forward can hone his game at the professional level. The Predators have also moved Mathieu Olivier from the main roster to the taxi squad.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Connor Bunnaman and Nate Prosser from the taxi squad and are expected to have both in the lineup tonight when they take on the Devils. Prosser, 34, will be making his Flyers debut after spending the entire 2019-20 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. The undrafted defenseman has carved out a 354-game NHL career with all but one of those games coming with the Minnesota Wild.
- Filip Chlapik has been recalled from the taxi squad of the Ottawa Senators, as the team retroactively places Christian Wolanin on injured reserve. Chlapik, who cleared waivers earlier this month, is still just 23 years old and played in 31 games for the Senators last season.
- Taro Hirose and Givani Smith are back up for the Detroit Red Wings, recalled off the taxi squad for game day. Since both are on entry-level contracts, the Red Wings save some cash by moving them to the taxi squad—where they earn AHL pay—between games. They also technically bank some extra cap space, though given how much room Detroit has under the $81.5MM ceiling, that seems like an unlikely motivation.
- The Minnesota Wild have brought goaltender Dereck Baribeau up from the AHL to their taxi squad, giving them another goaltender as they deal with a minor injury for Cam Talbot. The 22-year-old goaltender played four games for the Iowa Wild and 15 for the Allen Americans last season and isn’t expected to dress for Minnesota anytime soon.
- Joel L’Esperance and Rhett Gardner have both been recalled from the taxi squad as the Dallas Stars place Jamie Benn on injured reserve, retroactive to January 22. The pair of young forwards will give them some extra options, but don’t provide much NHL experience to replace Benn.
- Patrick Russell and Jujhar Khaira have been sent back to the Edmonton Oilers taxi squad, while the team recalled Joakim Nygard and Devin Shore. The Oilers are back in action tonight as they welcome in the Toronto Maple Leafs, trying to right the ship on the rocky early-season waters.
This page will be updated throughout the day.