Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for April 2021

East Notes: Malkin, Siegenthaler, Chara, Capitals

at CDT | by 2 Comments

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin returned to practice on Friday with a non-contact jersey as he continues to work his way back from a lower-body injury that’s believed to be a knee issue, notes Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  The veteran has been out since mid-March and is currently on LTIR.  If he’s able to return between now and the end of the regular season, Pittsburgh will need to clear just over $2.6MM off their books to get cap compliant before he can be activated.  Injuries have limited the 34-year-old to just 29 games this season and he hasn’t been as productive as usual with eight goals and 16 assists in those contests.

More from the East Division:

  • Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler has been placed in COVID protocol, the team announced (Twitter link). New Jersey acquired the 23-year-old earlier this month and had given him a bigger role as Siegenthaler has averaged 17:10 per game in six contests with the Devils after logging just 13:23 per game in seven matches with Washington.  Colton White was recalled to take Siegenthaler’s place in the lineup.
  • The Rangers were among the teams that showed considerable interest in Zdeno Chara last offseason, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post. The 43-year-old was eyed as a mentor to what has become a very young back end with five rearguards aged 23 or younger suiting up against Philadelphia earlier in the week.  However, Chara opted to sign with Washington in the hopes of a long playoff run.  New York is likely going to have a similar desire to add a veteran for next year as well but they may be better served going after someone that can play a bit higher in the lineup.
  • The Capitals will be keeping their AHL coaching staff around for the foreseeable future as the team announced recently that head coach Spencer Carbery, assistant coach Patrick Wellar, and associate goalie coach Alex Westlund have all signed multi-year contract extensions. Carbery is in his third season at the helm with Hershey with the Bears posting a .702 points percentage over that span.  Hershey has a 16-5-2 record this season to lead the seven-team North Division in points with 34.

Jets Prospect Logan Neaton Transfers To Miami (Ohio)

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

There have been more players than usual transferring in college hockey in recent weeks and the Jets have seen a few prospects take that route.  The latest is goaltender Logan Neaton who is heading from UMass-Lowell to Miami (Ohio), reports Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News (Twitter link).

The 22-year-old was a fifth-round pick of Winnipeg back in 2019 (144th overall) but he has hardly played since then.  After playing three games in his freshman year, he was limited to just three again this year as he served as their third-string option while posting a save percentage of just .855.  Now halfway through his college eligibility, a chance to go elsewhere and get more playing time certainly makes sense.

Players that transfer typically have to sit out a season first (with some exceptions) but last week, the NCAA Division I Council passed legislation that, if ratified by the Board of Directors next week, would allow players to transfer once without having to miss a year.  That certainly is playing a role in the increased number of players in the transfer portal.

Speaking of that, Neaton is the third Jets college prospect to transfer in recent weeks.  Jared Moe, a 2018 sixth-rounder, moved from Minnesota to Wisconsin while Harrison Blaisdell, Winnipeg’s other 2019 fifth-round selection, is currently in the transfer portal after spending his first two years with North Dakota.

Central Notes: Toews, Seguin, Acciari, Hurricanes

at CDT | by 2 Comments

While the Blackhawks have been without top center Jonathan Toews all season long due to an illness, it appears as if he should be able to play next season.  In a recent video appearance on NBC Sports (video link), TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that while the veteran isn’t expected to return this season, his health continues to improve and as things stand, is expected to be available for the 2021-22 campaign.  Toews has two years left on his deal with a $10.5MM AAV and assuming he is back to full health by then, he would almost certainly return to his spot on Chicago’s top line; his vacancy is one that they’ve struggled to fill internally this season.

Elsewhere in the Central:

  • Back at the trade deadline, Stars GM Jim Nill was hoping that center Tyler Seguin would be able to return this coming Monday. However, head coach Rick Bowness told reporters, including Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News, that the target date is just “wishful thinking” at this point.  However, it doesn’t sound as if the veteran will be out much longer with Bowness indicating he’s hopeful that Seguin will be able to play sometime later in the week.  He has missed the entire season after offseason hip surgery and would undoubtedly be a significant addition to a Dallas team that is four points out of the final playoff spot in the division though they have three games in hand on Nashville.
  • Panthers center Noel Acciari will miss his fifth straight game tonight due to an upper-body injury, the team announced (Twitter link). The team is targeting one of their games against Nashville on Monday or Tuesday for him to return.  Acciari, who was on the top line recently when Aleksander Barkov missed time, has 11 points in 36 games this season.
  • Hurricanes winger Jordan Martinook won’t play today after being injured on Thursday, notes Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed some optimism that the 28-year-old won’t be out of the lineup for long.  Meanwhile, while Teuvo Teravainen (concussion) took part in some team drills yesterday, he’s also not expected to suit up.  He has played just once in the last two months because of his symptoms.

Artem Anisimov Focused On NHL

at CDT | by 1 Comment

It certainly hasn’t been a banner year for Artem Anisimov. The 32-year-old forward has just two goals and eight points in 18 games with the Ottawa Senators. He has cleared waivers twice thanks to a contract that still carries a $4.55MM cap hit and has also dealt with injury. But that contract is coming to an end at the conclusion of this season and Anisimov will become an unrestricted free agent.

Though some speculation has emerged in the recent weeks that the veteran center will return to Russia and play in the KHL, that may be getting a little ahead of the situation. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reached out to Anisimov’s agent Todd Diamond, who denied any report of his client returning to the KHL noting that “his only focus is to continue his career in the NHL.”

Now obviously, that depends on whether an NHL team will actually want to sign Anisimov, and that’s no guarantee after the last few seasons. Even last year he wasn’t a strong performer for Ottawa, recording just 20 points (though 15 of those were goals) in 49 games.

Perhaps that was just a symptom of bad linemates and losing his role in Ottawa was simply because the team wanted to give their younger players more opportunity, but a bounce-back from Anisimov is no guarantee in 2021-22. If a team does sign him, it would likely be for near the league minimum, a salary he could likely eclipse if he did return to the KHL. For now, the focus is on the NHL–we’ll see if it stays there.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 04/23/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

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 is today’s list:

Calgary – Josh Leivo*
Colorado – Joonas Donskoi, Mikko Rantanen
New Jersey – P.K. Subban

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: Philipp Grubauer, Colorado Avalanche

 

The Flames canceled morning skate today after Leivo’s positive test but will play as scheduled this evening against the Canadiens.

For Colorado, getting Grubauer back is incredibly important as they try to get back on track and chase down the Golden Knights. The goaltender has been outstanding for the Avalanche this season, posting a .920 save percentage through 34 appearances.

*denotes new addition

Zach Bogosian Out Minimum Of Four Weeks

at CDT | by 4 Comments

The Toronto Maple Leafs had played the same six defensemen for nearly two months straight until recently but now may have to look for a new mix. Zach Bogosian went down with a shoulder injury in Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks and head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters including Kristen Shilton of TSN that after further evaluation, the veteran defender will miss a minimum of four weeks.

That means Bogosian will miss the rest of the regular season and could even be out of the picture for the first few games of the playoffs. Rasmus Sandin has played the last two games for the Maple Leafs after an early-season foot injury and last night paired with Travis Dermott on the third pair. Bogosian’s injury could mean a longer runway for the young Sandin, but it also could potentially open the door for trade deadline addition Ben Hutton.

This kind of injury is exactly why the Maple Leafs added Hutton, though losing Bogosian certainly isn’t an ideal situation. One of only two right-handed shots on the active roster, the 30-year-old had been strong in his limited role. Penalty killing and a physical presence are exactly why Toronto added the Stanley Cup champion, and Bogosian provided both while averaging under 15 minutes a night.

Interestingly, the Maple Leafs could now move Bogosian’s $1MM salary on long-term injured reserve retroactive to when he last played. Normally after the trade deadline that doesn’t provide a huge bonus, but there is still at least some thought that Frederik Andersen will be healthy enough to play before the end of the year. Activating him is tricky at the moment given how little cap space they have, but perhaps the team can find a creative way to get around that. If Bogosian is placed on LTIR he would have to miss a minimum of 10 games, meaning he would not be able to return before the end of the year.

It is incredible just how injury-prone Bogosian has been throughout his career. After playing 81 games in his sophomore season as a teenager, he hasn’t been able to total more than 71 in a single year. In fact, only once since that second season has he even played in more than 65, with just 689 total across his 13-year career.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 04/23/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

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:

West Division

  • Joachim Blichfeld has been realled to the San Jose Sharks taxi squad. The 22-year-old forward actually earned himself a suspension in his season debut and has spent most of the year at the minor league level. He’s been outstanding in the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 22 points in 25 games.

North Division

  • The Winnipeg Jets have flipped practice goalies, sending Eric Comrie to the AHL and recalling Mikhail Berdin. The 23-year-old Berdin is a very intriguing prospect despite his low draft profile after strong play in the minor leagues and KHL.

Central Division

East Division

  • The Philadelphia Flyers have returned Pascal Laberge to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, recalling Mason Millman to the taxi squad once again. Millman, 19, hasn’t played in the NHL yet but is getting tons of professional experience this season, a year that he would normally have been limited to OHL hockey.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Jakob Silfverberg Undergoes Hip Surgery

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The Anaheim Ducks won’t have Jakob Silfverberg back this season, as the veteran forward has undergone hip surgery to repair a torn labrum. The recovery timeline is between four and six months according to Elliott Teaford of The OC Register.

Silfverberg, 30, signed a new five-year extension with the Ducks back in spring of 2019, meaning he’s still under contract for the next three seasons at a $5.25MM cap hit. Unfortunately, his offensive productions declined rapidly this season, with just eight goals and 16 points in 47 games. Just five of those points came in the last 21 games, so perhaps shutting down Silfverberg to get him fully healthy is a good choice.

If he isn’t one of the victims of an Anaheim rebuild, the team will need him to get back to his previous level–that of a consistent 20-goal, 40-point man. When that kind of production is added to Silfverberg’s strong defensive impact, it creates a valuable player. If he isn’t scoring, that $5.25MM price tag suddenly looks pretty expensive.

With the league still looking at the beginning of October to start the 2021-22 season, there’s a chance that Silfverberg isn’t ready to go on opening day. He seems likely to miss at least part of training camp during his rehab, though obviously, things will have to be re-evaluated throughout the summer.

Dylan Larkin To Miss Rest Of Season

at CDT | by 4 Comments

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that captain Dylan Larkin will miss the remainder of the season with an upper-body injury. Larkin missed last night’s game and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Larkin, 24, will end his season without even reaching ten goals, a disappointing output even if the year didn’t really mean anything in the long-term. Detroit is just at the beginning of a full rebuild and had no plans on reaching the postseason. Still, we’re now two years removed from the outstanding 32-goal, 73-point breakout for Larkin and everyone is waiting for him to reach those heights again.

While this injury doesn’t sound like it will affect his training for 2021-22, there’s not a lot left to play for this season. The Red Wings can give his minutes to younger players–including Joe Veleno, who could make his NHL debut in the coming days–while Larkin resets and gets ready for a year where Detroit could actually be pushing for a playoff spot.

After the Red Wings traded away Anthony Mantha, it’s interesting to watch what happens with the rest of their previous core, Larkin included. The 24-year-old has just two years remaining on his current contract before unrestricted free agency, but is also the captain and most consistent offensive player. GM Steve Yzerman has set up the Detroit cap situation with not a single player signed beyond the 2022-23 campaign, meaning if you don’t perform, he can go in a different direction.

Joe Thornton Avoids Suspension, Earns Fine

at CDT | by 11 Comments

The Department of Player Safety has decided that Joe Thornton’s hit on Mathieu Perreault last night did not rise to the level of a suspension, issuing the Toronto Maple Leafs forward a $3,017.24 fine for interference instead. Perreault left the game for a time but ended up returning to action for the Winnipeg Jets. That is the maximum allowable amount under the current CBA.

The incident occurred partway through the third period and Thornton did receive a minor penalty for it. Still, this is now the second time a Toronto player has been fined in the last week for a dangerous play against the Jets, following Zach Hyman’s high-stick on Neal Pionk. Between those incidents, Alexander Edler was given a two-game suspension for a hit on Hyman.

It’s getting physical in the North Division as the playoffs approach, especially between the Maple Leafs and Jets who are still battling it out for the top spot. The lack of serious injury likely helped Thornton’s case here and Toronto will certainly be happy their veteran forward will be available going forward.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top