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Archives for February 2021

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 02/27/21

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There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day.

North Division

  • The Senators announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defenseman Erik Brannstrom from the taxi squad in advance of their game against Calgary. The 21-year-old has two goals and two assists in eight games so far this season.
  • The Canadiens shuffled up their taxi squad composition, sending Alex Belzile and Cale Fleury to AHL Laval while recalling Brandon Baddock and Joel Teasdale, per the AHL’s Transactions log.  Baddock and Teasdale won’t actually join Montreal but needed to be recalled to keep their taxi squad at the minimum number of players.  As expected, Paul Byron was also recalled from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
  • The Jets announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defenseman Logan Stanley from the taxi squad.  He will take the place of Tucker Poolman who was placed on injured reserve.  Stanley has played in 13 games so far with Winnipeg this season, averaging just under 12 minutes per game.
  • Toronto has changed up their taxi squad, announcing (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned winger Alex Galchenyuk and defenseman Martin Marincin to the minors while recalling winger Kenny Agostino and blueliner Timothy Liljegren to the taxi squad in their place.  The moves are basically to get Marincin and Galchenyuk some game action with neither suiting up over the last couple of weeks.
  • The Flames recalled center Glenn Gawdin and defenseman Oliver Kylington from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Gawdin was in their lineup against Ottawa on the fourth line while Kylington was once again a healthy scratch.

East Division

  • Ilya Samsonov is back with Washington as the team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled him back to the taxi squad from AHL Hershey. Samsonov has played in four games with the Bears as he works his way back from a bout with COVID-19, posting a .869 SV%.  The Capitals returned Pheonix Copley to Hershey in a corresponding move.
  • The Devils have assigned defenseman Connor Carrick from the taxi squad to Binghamton of the AHL, per the AHL’s Transactions log. The 26-year-old has only played once for New Jersey this season and cleared waivers earlier this month but will now get an opportunity to get some playing time in the minors.  Meanwhile, Matt Tennyson was recalled to New Jersey’s taxi squad.
  • Jared McCann is back, activated off the the injured reserve by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Joining him on the roster is Anthony Angello, recalled from the taxi squad. Drew O’Connor has been reassigned to the taxi squad in Angello’s place. Sam Miletic, also previously on the IR, has been activated and assigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Central Division

  • The Predators have recalled winger Eeli Tolvanen from the taxi squad, per their transactions log.  The 21-year-old has been shuffled back and forth on a near-daily basis this month but still has managed to play in 10 games for Nashville this season, notching two goals and an assist.
  • The Red Wings announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled center Frans Nielsen and winger Evgeny Svechnikov from their taxi squad.  Nielsen cleared waivers earlier this week while Svechnikov has been limited to just three games with AHL Grand Rapids this season.  Detroit also recalled goaltender Kaden Fulcher to the taxi squad from the Griffins.
  • Rhett Gardner is back up with the Dallas Stars. The team announced that the big, physical forward has been recalled from the taxi squad. Gardner has yet to find the score sheet through four games with Dallas and two games with AHL Texas so far this season, but was productive in the minors last year and hopes to find that touch soon.

West Division

  • The Sharks have sent winger Kurtis Gabriel to the AHL’s Barracuda from their taxi squad, per the AHL’s Transactions log.  The 27-year-old has played just one game with San Jose this season and should benefit from being able to get into a game at the minor league level.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have recalled forward Dryden Hunt from the taxi squad. Hunt, in his first season with the ’Yotes, has two points in five games but has spent much of his time on the taxi squad.
  • Lias Andersson has been recalled from the taxi squad, the Los Angeles Kings announced. This has been a common transaction for L.A. this season, as Andersson is waiver-exempt and can move freely between the taxi squad and active roster. The young center has played in more than half of the Kings’ games so far.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

West Notes: Bjornfot, Lindholm, Avalanche

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Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot was in the lineup tonight against Minnesota, his seventh game of the season.  That alone doesn’t sound all that meaningful but that is the revised threshold for junior-aged players to officially burn the first year of their entry-level contract, meaning the 19-year-old is officially in the first year of his contract.  Los Angeles opted to start Bjornfot in the minors this season, deferring the decision on his deal in the process but he has played a big role over his first six games – all wins – that basically forced their hand.  The next threshold to watch for is 27 games, the number that accrues a season of service time towards UFA eligibility.  That’s usually 40 games but has been prorated due to the shortened season.

More from the West:

  • The Ducks are expected to have defenseman Hampus Lindholm back in the lineup on Saturday against Vegas, relays Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. The 27-year-old has missed the last three games due to a lower-body injury.  While he won’t do much to bolster their scuffling offense that’s averaging less than two goals per game, Lindholm is a big part of their back end as he logs more than 22 minutes per night on the back end, second on the team to only Kevin Shattenkirk.
  • With Pavel Francouz out long term and the Avalanche having no idea when he’ll be able to return from his lower-body injury, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post argues that Colorado needs to trade for a veteran backup. Philipp Grubauer has been excellent so far this season but while that certainly bodes well for his free agency case, the team also doesn’t want to overtax him knowing they have eyes on a long playoff run.  A more experienced option to allow them to give Grubauer some more time off although with their cap situation, they’ll be forced to look for a low-priced veteran.  Given how goaltending depth has been in high demand this season though, even that may be a task that’s easier said than done.

This Day In Transactions History: The Eventful 2008 Trade Deadline

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This is typically the time of year where trade activity picks up around the league with the trade deadline immediately on the horizon.  Of course, this season is different and we’re still six weeks away from reaching that point.  So instead of looking ahead to what will be coming on the trade front, let’s instead take a look back at one of the busiest trade deadlines in recent memory in the 2008 trade deadline, held 13 years ago today.

There were a total of 24 trades made that day which, in itself, isn’t a particularly high number.  However, it’s who was dealt that made this one more memorable.  Here’s a look back at some of the more notable moves.  (A full listing of the trades can be found here.)

Capitals Add Veterans

Where did Sergei Fedorov finish his Hall of Fame career?  While he was in Detroit for the majority of it, he actually finished up with Washington as the Caps acquired the center as a rental player in exchange for defenseman Theo Ruth, a college prospect at the time that ultimately never made it past the AHL level.  Fedorov made an impact down the stretch and was one of their better performers in what turned out to be an abbreviated playoff run, earning himself another year with the Capitals in the process.

Washington also took the rare step of acquiring a starting goaltender, bringing in Cristobal Huet from Montreal for a second-round pick (which was later dealt and was used to pick Jeremy Morin who had a brief NHL career).  Huet was blocking the pathway to playing time for their goalie of the future in Carey Price and he was nothing short of dominant after being acquired, posting a 1.63 GAA with a .936 SV% following the move.  Unfortunately for him and the Capitals, he faltered in the playoffs as Philadelphia knocked out the Southeast champs in the opening round and Huet moved on to Chicago in free agency.  What made this trade even more unique was that the Canadiens weren’t a typical seller as they wound up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference that year.

Foote Returns To Colorado

The Adam Foote era in Columbus didn’t last particularly long.  Less than three years after leaving the Avalanche via free agency, Colorado opted to re-acquire him as a rental player, sending a first-round pick and a fourth-rounder to the Blue Jackets to bring back the then-36-year-old.  Foote logged more than 20 minutes a night both in the regular season and playoffs and went on to sign to play three more years with them, albeit in a much more limited capacity.  Meanwhile, the two picks the Avs gave up turned into Luca Sbisa and David Savard, both of which are still in the NHL today with Savard still being in Columbus where he’s a fixture in their top-four.

The Hossa Trade

The big prize on the rental market was Marian Hossa.  Atlanta was going to move him, it was just a matter of where and for how much.  Pittsburgh wound up being the destination as they acquired Hossa along with Pascal Dupuis in exchange for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, the rights to Angelo Esposito, and their first-round pick.  At the time, this seemed like a sizable return for the Thrashers, effectively acquiring three first-rounders (Armstrong and Esposito were picked in the first round) plus a promising center for a pair of rentals.

But things didn’t go as well as planned for Atlanta.  Christensen struggled and was eventually moved for a minimal return while Armstrong left in free agency two years later.  Esposito, a high-scoring junior star, struggled mightily in the minors and never made it to the NHL while they used the first-round pick on Daultan Leveille, a player they didn’t even wind up signing, opting instead for a compensation selection in 2013 at the 59th spot which was used on Eric Comrie who has been bouncing around on waivers in recent years.  What was supposed to be a haul of assets to give the Thrashers a boost for the future turned into next to nothing.

On Pittsburgh’s end, Hossa didn’t quite lead them to the Stanley Cup but he led the team in goals in the postseason and was one goal and point shy of grabbing a share of the league lead in those categories.  Of course, he then moved on to Detroit in free agency, the team that beat them for the title.  As for Dupuis, he decided to stay with the Penguins and spent eight more years with them, becoming a fixture in their middle-six.  In the end, even with Hossa ultimately leaving, they still wound up with the better of the trade.

Richards To Dallas

This wasn’t a deadline where just premium rental players were on the move.  How about someone on a max contract?  Back when the salary cap was instituted, the 20% max AAV was $7.8MM which a handful of players had, including Brad Richards.  With three full years left on his contract, the Lightning decided to part ways with Richards along with goaltender Johan Holmqvist to the Stars for winger Jussi Jokinen, center Jeff Halpern, goaltender Mike Smith, and a fourth-round pick (Kyle Bigos who never signed).

In Richards, Dallas got a premier center that, statistically speaking, was at his best with them as he averaged more than a point per game over parts of four seasons with the team before moving on to the Rangers in free agency.  Holmqvist hardly played but Marty Turco was entrenched as the starter so it didn’t matter much.

Tampa Bay was hoping that Smith could become their starter of the future but while he played relatively well – albeit inconsistent at times – it didn’t come to fruition and he left for Phoenix in 2011.  Jokinen was gone less than a year later for a package of depth players while Halpern moved on two years later in another late-season trade.  While it wasn’t the most impressive of returns, the Lightning did manage to get some much-needed cap space; yes, even then they were looking for more money.  Most of their savings went to Vincent Lecavalier’s 11-year, $85MM contract that summer.

Swapping Youngsters

Every good trade deadline needs a ‘pure hockey trade’, one that isn’t primarily fueled by a losing team selling assets or a cap-strapped team moving a player primarily to free up some cap space.  There was one of those at this deadline when Carolina dealt winger Andrew Ladd to Chicago for winger Tuomo Ruutu in a one-for-one swap.  Both teams were playoff-bound but the Hurricanes wanted a bit more grit and sacrificed some offensive upside to do it.

The deal worked out a bit better for Carolina with Ruutu ultimately spending parts of five more years with them, putting up a pair of 50-plus-point seasons along the way.  Ladd, meanwhile, was only with the Blackhawks before being moved to Atlanta in 2010 when they knew they weren’t going to be able to afford to re-sign him as a restricted free agent.  He briefly returned as a trade deadline rental in 2016 before becoming a member of the ill-fated UFA class that summer that several teams are really regretting right about now.

Campbell To San Jose

The Sharks decided to make a run at a long playoff run when they acquired blueliner Brian Campbell (along with a seventh-rounder) from Buffalo in exchange for promising winger Steve Bernier and a first-round pick (used on Tyler Ennis who is still in the league today).  Campbell was great in a San Jose uniform, picking up 19 points in 20 games following the move although he managed just a single goal in 13 playoff games before leaving for Chicago in free agency.  As for Bernier, he wasn’t in Buffalo for long as he was flipped to Vancouver for a 2009 third-round pick (which turned into Brayden McNabb) and a 2010 second-round selection which they then later traded.

Other veterans of some note that were on the move that day were defensemen Brad Stuart (Detroit), Ruslan Salei (Colorado), and Hal Gill (Pittsburgh) while Matt Cooke (Washington) and Frederik Sjostrom (NY Rangers) were among the forwards moved.

No one really knows what this year’s trade deadline is going to be like with it being a shortened season with only divisional play, a tight salary cap, and various quarantine restrictions.  It’s safe to imagine it won’t be quite as busy as the 2008 deadline was but if it comes anywhere close to this, it would certainly make for an exciting one.

East Notes: Sabres Injuries, Clutterbuck, Dal Colle, Schneider

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There’s some good news and some bad news on the injury front for the Sabres in advance of their pair of weekend matinees against Philadelphia.  The good news is that there’s a chance that defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could return with head coach Ralph Krueger telling reporters, including Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, that there’s a “high possibility” that the blueliner could play on Saturday.  Ristolainen was off to a good start to his season with six points in ten games while logging over 23 minutes per night before a particularly tough bout with COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the bad news is that center Jack Eichel and goaltender Linus Ullmark aren’t expected to be available for either game, relays Jourdan LaBarber on the Sabres’ team website.  Eichel was a late scratch on Thursday after experiencing some discomfort during the pregame warmup and is listed as day-to-day.  As for Ullmark, he left after the first period yesterday with Krueger indicating that they’re hopeful he will only be day-to-day after their weekend games.  One of Dustin Tokarski or Jonas Johansson will need to be recalled from the taxi squad.

Elsewhere in the East Division:

  • Islanders winger Cal Clutterbuck missed practice today due to an unspecified injury with head coach Barry Trotz classifying him as day-to-day, notes Newsday’s Andrew Gross. He left Thursday’s contest against Boston in the first period and did not return.  However, it appears that New York could get some good news on the injury front as Michael Dal Colle practiced today and could be available for one of their games this weekend.  The 24-year-old is currently on IR with a lower-body injury and has missed the last four games.
  • From the same column, Gross notes that Islanders goaltender Cory Schneider has been designated as a non-roster player and is unavailable due to family reasons. That was what prompted Jakub Skarek to be recalled to the taxi squad yesterday to keep the team compliant in having three available goaltenders.  New York now has an extra roster spot available although with an extra forward and defenseman up on most game days, they likely won’t need to use it.

Luke Green Loaned To Vaasan Sport

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Winnipeg Jets prospect Luke Green hadn’t gotten into any of the first six games with the Manitoba Moose this season, so the team is sending him elsewhere to get on the ice. The 23-year-old defenseman has been loaned to Vaasan Sport in Finland where he can start getting some game action.

It’s been a long few years for Green, who was the 79th overall pick in 2016. His 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons were both cut short due to injuries (shoulder surgery and concussions), and after finally working his way back to full health in the fall of 2019, he was injured in December and never returned to action. That’s three lost seasons in a row at perhaps the most crucial period of a prospect’s development. In all, he has played just 28 AHL games to this point.

That doesn’t necessarily mean his professional career is over, but it seems extremely unlikely that Green will get another NHL contract when his entry-level deal expires this summer. He’ll be a restricted free agent, but unless the Jets believe they can still turn him into a useful asset, he’ll go non-tendered. Of course, he has a little time to change their minds and show that the high-flying offensive defenseman he was in junior is still in there, somewhere.

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 02/26/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here are today’s results:

NY Rangers – Kaapo Kakko
Ottawa – Ryan Dzingel
Philadelphia – Travis Konecny
San Jose – Tomas Hertl

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: K’Andre Miller, New York Rangers; Scott Laughton, Philadelphia Flyers; Oskar Lindblom, Philadelphia Flyers

Not only is it great news that the Flyers are down to just one player after their large outbreak, the fact that Hertl remains alone on the Sharks list means the team should be able to continue their season on schedule. San Jose is scheduled to play against the Blues tomorrow.

Snapshots: Skinner, Rutherford, Matthews

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Jeff Skinner has been relegated to the taxi squad in Buffalo, not even skating with the active roster on a regular basis. His agent recently spoke with the team’s GM to voice concerns, but Skinner spoke to the media directly today. When asked by Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News whether he would want to be on a different team he was clear:

No. I love being a Sabre. I love the city of Buffalo. I wouldn’t have chosen to stay here if that wasn’t the case, so that answer is simple.

Skinner handled the questioning as professionally as possible, not willing to detail any of the conversations he’s had with head coach Ralph Kreuger. Unfortunately, professionalism isn’t really the issue here, production is. The 28-year-old didn’t score a single goal in his 14 games earlier this season and is still sitting on just 24 points since signing the $72MM extension.

  • Jim Rutherford still has “the bug” to work in a hockey front office again, as he explained to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. The legendary executive resigned his position as GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this year, replaced by Ron Hextall. That transition seems to have been his plan all along, as he tells LeBrun he suggested Hextall to Penguins CEO David Morehouse as his eventual replacement several times both before and after his resignation.
  • Auston Matthews has been dealing with a wrist injury for the Toronto Maple Leafs and today was absent at the team’s practice. Head coach Sheldon Keefe listed him as day-to-day but wouldn’t rule him out for tomorrow’s match against the Edmonton Oilers. The team did have some good news as Joe Thornton, Jack Campbell and Jake Muzzin (with a full shield after breaking a bone in his face), returned to practice.

“Good Chance” Vladimir Tarasenko Returns On Blues’ Upcoming Trip

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The St. Louis Blues will start a six-game road trip tomorrow night against the San Jose Sharks and at some point during it, will likely get a big boost. Vladimir Tarasenko was a full participant in practice today and afterward, head coach Craig Berube told reporters including Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic that there is a “good chance” the sniper returns at some point during the trip.

Tarasenko last played in an NHL game during the postseason bubble but hasn’t suited up for a regular season game since October 24, 2019. He was limited to just 10 games last season, the first injury-riddled campaign of his career. The winger had played in at least 76 games in each of the five seasons previous, scoring at least 33 goals in each of them. That kind of offensive consistency is hard to come by, meaning his return should be an incredible addition for a Blues team looking to go on a deep playoff run.

When it was revealed that Tarasenko was likely to return this season, the question became how the Blues would fit him in under the salary cap. That question is at least partially answered now that Alex Steen and Carl Gunnarsson are out for the year, giving the team quite a bit more long-term injured reserve space. The Blues will still have to make a few transactions, but Tarasenko doesn’t push them over the top as much as once believed.

His return comes at a perfect time for the 2019 Cup champions, as they’re actually mired in a three-game losing streak and have scored just one goal in their past two. While they still sit second in the West Division standings, that’s in part due to playing 20 games already–only the Anaheim Ducks have played that many.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Filip Chlapik Placed On Unconditional Waivers

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Feb 26: Chlapik has cleared waivers. His contract was terminated today; Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a short statement on the move:

After considerable dialogue with Filip and his representation, we have mutually decided to part ways. We’re appreciative of Filip’s efforts with the organization, both in Belleville and in Ottawa, and wish him the best as he moves forward.

Feb 25: CapFriendly reports that Chlapik is actually on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a contract termination. It was curious why the team would put him on waivers despite being in the minor leagues, which this answers. Chlapik will become an unrestricted free agent should the termination go through.

11:05am: According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the Ottawa Senators have placed Filip Chlapik on waivers once again, after he cleared at the beginning of the season. The young forward has played just one game at the NHL level this year.

Will the floodgates open now that a skater (Mark Friedman) has been claimed off waivers? Chlapik is not like many of the other players that hit waivers, given he is still just 23 years old. The 6’2″ forward was the 48th overall pick in 2015 but has just 57 games under his belt at the NHL level.

In all likelihood, he’ll pass through, but if a team is dealing with injuries and wants to take a chance on the young forward, they have another chance. Chlapik’s two-way deal costs just $735K this season while in the NHL and he’ll be a restricted free agent again this offseason.

Los Angeles Kings Looking For “Dynamic” Defenseman

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The Los Angeles Kings are in third place. That’s not something anyone expected to read this season, but after winning their last six in a row, the Kings look to not only be in contention for a playoff spot but perhaps even the West Division crown. They sit just two points behind the division-leading Vegas Golden Knights and one behind the St. Louis Blues, though all three teams have different amounts of games played. Los Angeles GM Rob Blake is starting to see the payoff from the incredible prospect pool he has accumulated, with players like Gabriel Vilardi, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, and Mikey Anderson all making strong contributions this season.

Now, perhaps with an eye on the future and the present, Blake is ready to add. From Darren Dreger on TSN’s latest Insider Trading:

Rob Blake of the Los Angeles Kings is another one looking for a defenseman…25-and-under, he specifically wants a dynamic, left-shot defenseman. When you look at the Los Angeles Kings they do have an abundance of forwards, particularly at center ice. I’m reminded of the big trade that involved the Columbus Blue Jackets a few years back and the Nashville Predators. Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones. If something like that could be worked out for Rob Blake and the LA Kings, he’d do that in a heartbeat.

Taking out the obvious note that anyone would do Jones for Johansen right now if they were the one getting the defenseman, Dreger seems to be implying that Blake isn’t just looking for a depth defenseman to fill out the roster. Instead, the Kings may be looking for a more impact name and be willing to move another high-potential forward in the process. Remember at the time of the deal, Johansen was coming off a 71-point season with the Blue Jackets and had 26 through the first 38 games in 2015-16.

Interestingly, another young Nashville defenseman has been in the rumor mill lately, as Dante Fabbro was not ruled an untouchable. The 22-year-old is a right-shot though, so perhaps that wouldn’t be on the radar for Blake in Los Angeles. His teammate Mattias Ekholm shoots left but doesn’t fit into the 25-and-under club, meaning he’s probably off the list too.

Dynamic young defensemen aren’t on the block often, so Blake may be waiting a while. What this does signal though is that the time for a tear down may be behind the Kings as they look to compete instead of rebuild.

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