It’s a busy Thursday around the NHL, with ten games on the schedule including the red hot Minnesota Wild looking to extend their lead in the Central Division with a win over the San Jose Sharks. Minnesota is already seven points ahead of second-place Colorado and have won their last seven games in a row. The Kirill Kaprizov-led Wild are threatening to run away with the top seed in the Central by Christmas. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Jacob Bernard-Docker from the AHL, after sending Lassi Thomson down yesterday. Bernard-Docker is another top prospect who will receive a chance to show what he can do at the NHL level as the Senators look to the future.
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Brian Lashoff from the AHL, as they move Gustav Lindstrom to injured reserve. Lashoff, 31, has 136 games of NHL experience, all of them coming with Detroit. An undrafted free agent signing a decade ago, he’s spent his entire professional career with the Red Wings organization, playing for Detroit or Grand Rapids.
Metropolitan Division
- The New York Rangers have sent Morgan Barron and Adam Huska back to the AHL, while recalling Keith Kinkaid. Kinkaid had been in COVID protocol, but will assume the backup duties in the NHL now that he’s out. The team announced that Greg McKegg is also out of the protocol, meaning an extra roster spot was needed.
Central Division
- Hudson Fasching has been returned to the Tucson Roadrunners again, as Arizona does frequently on off-days. The Coyotes don’t play until tomorrow and can save some money by keeping Fasching in between games. He’s already been involved in three transactions just this month.
Pacific Division
- The Seattle Kraken have officially moved Kole Lind to the minor leagues, a move they announced yesterday when Colin Blackwell entered the COVID protocol. Lind, 23, has played just three games for Seattle this season, spending most of the year with the Charlotte Checkers.
- The Calgary Flames have recalled Byron Froese from the minor league club, sending Juuso Valimaki down to make room. The team obviously felt they needed the extra forward over an extra defenseman, and Froese has more than 100 games of NHL experience.
- Alexei Melnichuk is headed back to the AHL locker room after the San Jose Sharks reassigned the young goaltender to the San Jose Barracuda. Melnichuk is still struggling to hit his stride in North America, now in his second season, but the Sharks’ lacking depth in net makes him the next man up.
This page will be updated throughout the day