Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for May 2021

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/11/21

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

  • The San Jose Sharks have sent Tristen Robins back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  In a corresponding move, Jacob Middleton was sent back to the minors.  Robins, a 2020 second-round pick, spent the season with Saskatoon of the WHL.

North Division

Central Division

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Justin Abdelkader, Brian Boyle To Play For Team USA

at CDT | by 1 Comment

Sometimes the IIHF World Championship is a great place for those playing overseas to show what they can do against NHL talent. It can operate as a springboard to a North American career for young undrafted talents, or act as a way to prove the worth of a former NHL regular. The latter will be what Justin Abdelkader and Brian Boyle will be after when the international tournament starts later this month. Frank Seravalli of TSN reports that Abdelkader and Boyle will suit up for Team USA at the tournament with the hope of resuming their NHL careers.

Abdelkader, 34, was bought out by the Detroit Red Wings last year, ending his contract with three seasons remaining on it. He ended up playing the 2020-21 season for Zug EV in Switzerland, scoring eight points in nine regular season games and adding another six goals in 13 playoff appearances. Abdelkader was also his usual pesky self, racking up 47 penalty minutes in the postseason.

A return to the 20-goal player he was in 2014-15 seems impossible at this point, but perhaps he can show enough at the tournament to prove he still has some worth on an NHL fourth line. It’ll be a hard sell though; the last time Abdelkader played an NHL season he failed to score a single goal (and recorded just three assists) in 49 games.

Boyle meanwhile has been in contact with NHL teams all season according to Seravalli, with teams showing interest even up to the trade deadline. He didn’t end up signing with any, but hopes to earn a new deal at the Worlds. Boyle played 39 games during the 2019-20 season with the Florida Panthers, scoring six goals and 15 points. Now 36, his size (6’6″ 245-lbs) and playoff experience (118 career games) are certainly factors in his favor.

The tournament is set to begin on May 21, with the first U.S. game the next day against Finland.

Chicago Blackhawks Agree To Terms With Henrik Borgstrom

at CDT | by 2 Comments

When the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Henrik Borgstrom at the trade deadline, he came without a contract. The young forward was playing overseas and it wasn’t clear if the team would be able to convince him to come back to North America right away. Turns out there was nothing to worry about. The Blackhawks have agreed to terms with Borgstrom on a two-year contract, according to Scott Powers of The Athletic. PuckPedia reports that the deal will carry an average annual value of $1MM.

Borgstrom, 23, scored 21 points in 30 games for HIFK this season in Finland, after spending nearly the entire 2019-20 season in the minor leagues. Selected 23rd overall in 2016, it has been a rocky road for Borgstrom since he left the University of Denver. In 58 career NHL games, the rangy center has just 19 points, but could be getting a much bigger opportunity in Chicago next season.

The center depth that the Blackhawks have built is interesting. Jonathan Toews missed the whole season with a mysterious medical issue, and top prospect Kirby Dach was out for most of the year with a wrist injury. That left a huge hole for the team to fill down the middle, giving an opportunity to relatively unknown names like David Kampf and Pius Suter. The former struggled to create any offense, scoring just one goal in 56 games, but Suter took full advantage of the minutes and ended up scoring 14 goals and 27 points. Both are restricted free agents this summer and could be brought back, likely as direct competition with Borgstrom depending on what happens with Toews.

The big question mark is really Dylan Strome, who has one year left on his deal but never did step into that top-line center role this year. The 24-year-old ended up with just nine goals and 17 points in 40 games, a huge drop off from his previous numbers with Chicago. There were even whispers that Strome could be available come deadline time, meaning he is a player to key an eye on as the draft and offseason approach. If the Blackhawks believe Borgstrom can fill a third-line center role, perhaps Strome or others become expendable.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Minor Transactions: 05/10/21

at CDT | by 3 Comments

With three of the four major European leagues having wrapped up their postseasons and the NHL and AHL winding down their regular seasons, there are a vast number of players now looking ahead to next season. While most players under contract in North America are still months away from free agency, there are many overseas that are free to move and decide on the next step in their careers. Here are some of those recent moves with NHL implications:

  • A pair of notable forward prospects have found their new home for the next several seasons. Liiga club KalPa has announced multi-year contracts with 2020 draft picks Kasper Simontaival and Jaromir Pytlik. Simontaival, a third-round selection of the Los Angeles Kings, is no stranger to the Finnish pros. The local product has spent time in the Liiga with Tappara over the past few years, but is seemingly looking to move on from his developmental club. Simontaival appears willing to take his time developing at home, signing a three-year deal with KalPa, but has already shown some potential NHL-caliber offensive skill. Pytlik, a fourth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils, is new to Finland but just eager to play after waiting for the OHL all season, only playing in a handful of international tournament games and Czech second-tier games. The big, two-way forward has signed a two-year deal with KalPa and will look to contribute in all scenarios for the club.
  • 2021 NHL Draft prospect Fyodor Svechkov has been traded in the KHL, or rather sold. Lada Togliatti announced today that they have moved their young standout to powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg in exchange for “monetary compensation.” Svechkov signed a three-year extension with Lada before this season, meaning SKA will have him under contract through the 2022-23 season. Given his draft stock, that may be all they get. Svechkov is projected by many to be a first-round pick this summer and helped his case by dominating the Russian junior and minor league ranks this season. The skilled and versatile forward could be an early selection that a team may want to rush to North America as soon as possible. SKA will have to find a spot in their veteran roster for Svechkov sooner rather than later if they want to maximize their investment.
  • Has Igor Bobkov had enough of dominating the KHL? The Gagarin Cup-winning goaltender has been granted a contract termination by the recently-crowned champions, Avangard Omsk announced. A well-respected and well-compensated KHL netminder, it stands to reason that this move likely points toward Bobkov giving the NHL another shot. A 2009 draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, Bobkov spent two seasons in the OHL and three seasons in the pros, split between the AHL and ECHL. Unhappy with his role and trajectory, Bobkov returned to Russia in 2015. Since then, he has become a three-time KHL All-Star with a career .923 save percentage and 2.09 GAA, including a GAA of 2.01 or lower in each of the past three seasons. The 30-year-old is one of, if not the best goalie in the KHL right now and could be eyeing a return to the NHL with a more established resume and plenty of gas in the tank.

San Jose Sharks To Sign Santeri Hatakka

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The San Jose Sharks have come to terms with one of their recent draft picks. According to CapFriendly, the Sharks are set to sign 2019 sixth-round selection Santeri Hatakka to an entry-level deal that will begin next season. It is believed to be a three-year ELC with an $850K AAV for the young defenseman.

Hatakka, 20, spent this season as a full-time player at the top pro level in his native Finland, playing for the Liiga’s Ilves. In fact, Hatakka is signed through the 2022-23 season with an option for an additional year, but the Sharks wanted to lock down the promising blue liner regardless of how long he plans to spend developing overseas. Hatakka held his own in the Liiga this season, recording seven points and an even rating in 44 games while receiving regular play time for a playoff team. Hatakka also played well against his peers at the World Junior Championship, recording two points in seven games for Team Finland en route to a bronze medal.

The Jokerit product is a well-rounded defender who some felt would be selected higher than he was in his draft year. While the Sharks have some impressive young names on the left side of the blue line already – Mario Ferraro, Nikolai Knyzhov, Brinson Pasichnuk in the pros alone – and long-term commitments to veterans Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Radim Simek, the team clearly sees upside in Hatakka and want to bring him into the organization and see what he can do. It may not be next year or even the year after, despite what the contract may imply, but one day Hatakka will be a factor in the San Jose depth chart.

Calvin Thurkauf Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

If it was unclear about where Calvin Thurkauf stood in terms of his future with the Columbus Blue Jackets, it isn’t anymore. After spending the 2020-21 season on loan with his hometown club EV Zug, Thurkauf has opted to stay in his native Switzerland for the long haul. Fellow National League club HC Lugano has announced a three-year deal with the young forward, ensuring that he won’t be returning to Columbus any time soon, if at all.

Thurkauf, 23, was initially expected to return to the NHL once the season began earlier this season. The restricted free agent had signed with Zug in August, but upon agreeing to a new deal with the Blue Jackets in October, that became a loan with a recall option for Columbus. When they never exercised that option, many were skeptical about the young power forward’s place in the organization. There is no way of knowing whether the Blue Jackets were the ones who told Thurkauf to stay put or if he asked to be left in Switzerland, nor is it clear if Columbus was aware that Thurkauf had long-term interests in the National League or if this deal came as a surprise. What is clear is that the player-club relationship is on a multi-year pause, if not canceled for good. Thurkauf will be a restricted free agent again this summer and the Blue Jackets could opt to make him a qualifying offer in order to retain his rights. It could be that by the time the 2024 off-season rolls around, the then-27-year-old could have taken major steps in his development and become a player that Columbus would want to bring back. However, the team may also decide that Thurkauf is simply not focused on an NHL career and could cut ties this summer by declining to extend a QO.

There has to be some consideration that money was involved in Thurkauf’s decision as well. While financial terms were not disclosed, Lugano’s offer was enough to convince Thurkauf to leave Zug – his hometown team, his developmental program, and the recently-crowned National League champions. Perhaps it was also more enticing than a minimum NHL contract. Thurkauf also projects to join fellow former NHLers Mark Arcobello and Mikkel Boedker as the core of Lugano, whereas he would again be battling for a roster spot in Columbus. After three years in the pros, Thurkauf finally earned his NHL debut last season, but was held scoreless in a sheltered role in just three games. While the talented forward showed promise in the WHL and AHL, the club or the player – or both – may have doubted his NHL chops at this point his career, leading to the move overseas. Only time will tell whether the relationship, however fragmented, continues between the two side and if Thurkauf’s decision eventually leads to him becoming a more polished and well-rounded pro, capable of tackling a second chance in the NHL.

Snapshots: Holloway, Corrado, Playoffs

at CDT | by 5 Comments

The Edmonton Oilers won’t have Dylan Holloway in the lineup this season as his entry-level contract starts next year, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get a close look at him in the meantime. The young forward has signed an amateur tryout with the Bakersfield Condors and will finish the season in the AHL.

Holloway is coming back after suffering a thumb injury at the end of his college season and will be getting his first taste of professional hockey. Still just 19, he recorded 11 goals and 35 points at the University of Wisconsin, anchoring the second line behind the Cole Caufield-driven top unit.

  • Frank Corrado won’t be returning to the NHL anytime soon, as the veteran defenseman signed a contract with Dinamo Riga in the KHL. He spent this season with MODO in the Swedish second league, recording 17 points in 34 games. The Vancouver Canucks draft pick played 76 games in the NHL and several seasons in the minor leagues before taking his game overseas.
  • The Stanley Cup Playoffs could start as soon as Saturday, according to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. Daly spoke with Nick Cotsonika of NHL.com, explaining that though the North Division doesn’t actually finish their regular season schedule until May 19, the other three divisions could start as early as May 15. In fact, the North could actually start their playoff schedule just hours after the regular season concludes, since the last few games are likely between two non-playoff teams in Calgary and Vancouver.

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 05/10/21

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:

Colorado – Devan Dubnyk
Washington – Evgeny Kuznetsov

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: None

The same two players remain out, with Kuznetsov now in the protocol for seven days. The Capitals have just one game left in the regular season, tomorrow night against Boston, meaning the talented center could have to wait until the playoffs begin to get his game legs back under him.

*denotes new addition

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/10/21

at CDT | by 1 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

  • Sam Carrick has been sent back to the AHL by the Anaheim Ducks, now that their season is over. Carrick can take part in the Pacific Division postseason, the only minor league playoffs that will be held this season.

North Division

  • The Winnipeg Jets have recalled Eric Comrie and Dominic Toninato from the taxi squad under emergency conditions. Comrie was just announced as the team’s Masterton Trophy nominee, after a season that saw him claimed and then reclaimed on waivers, with very little playing time to show for it.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have reassigned Denis Malgin to the taxi squad after his outstanding season in Switzerland. The 24-year-old scored 19 goals and 42 points in 45 games for Lausanne HC and is now back in North America to give the Maple Leafs a little more playoff depth.

Central Division

  • After clearing waivers, Calvin Pickard has been reassigned to the AHL by the Detroit Red Wings. Pickard has played six games for the Red Wings this season, posting an .874 save percentage.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Joey Keane from the AHL and expect him to make his NHL debut this evening. The 21-year-old defenseman has 12 points in 21 games with the Chicago Wolves this season.
  • With several players sitting out tonight, the Nashville Predators have recalled forwards Rem Pitlick and Michael McCarron, defenseman Tyler Lewington, and goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo from the taxi squad.

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day

New York Rangers Extend Ryan Lindgren

at CDT | by 2 Comments

After just a few days on the job, New York Rangers GM Chris Drury has completed his first big move. The team has signed Ryan Lindgren to a three-year contract extension. Lindgren was set to become a restricted free agent this summer. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet tweets the full breakdown:

  • 2021-22: $2MM salary
  • 2022-23: $3MM salary
  • 2023-24: $4MM salary

Earlier today, the Rangers named Lindgren this year’s winner of their Players’ Player Award, which is awarded “to the Ranger who, as selected by his teammates, best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.”

Originally selected by the Boston Bruins in 2016, Lindgren was one of the pieces the Rangers received in the 2018 Rick Nash deal. He played in 51 games this season, often pairing with Norris Trophy candidate Adam Fox, and recorded 16 points. While Lindgren didn’t receive any powerplay time, he did trail only Fox in shorthanded ice time this season, averaging 2:30 on the penalty kill every night.

That kind of defensive presence is valuable and obviously worth it to the Rangers as they move forward with new management. The 23-year-old Lindgren would not have been eligible for salary arbitration, but won’t even need to enter into any free agent negotiations.

Importantly, he will still be an RFA at the deal’s expiry, leaving the Rangers with a bit of team control down the road. If his development continues, by the time he’s 26 he’ll be looking for a much more expensive long-term deal. For now, he comes in as the team’s third-highest-paid defender for next season, though Anthony DeAngelo’s final year is expected to be bought out this offseason. The team has one more year of Fox on his entry-level deal, one of the most valuable contracts in the league right now.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top