Patrick Kane Played Through Injury In 2020-21
You wouldn’t know it by his 66 points in 56 games, but Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane played through a nagging injury all season. According to NBC Sports’ Charlie Roumeliotis, Kane disclosed in his exit interview that he had been dealing with an “issue” since before the 2020 playoff bubble. He opted to persevere through the pain of the undisclosed injury and it seems that was the right choice. Kane remarked that he does not need off-season surgery, nor will he miss time in his summer training. Instead, Kane believes that he will merely focus on more off-ice work in the off-season.
Kane, 32, only showed the slightest hint of wear and tear, as Roumeliotis points out that Kane had several maintenance days down the stretch. Yet, Kane still managed to play in every game for the Blackhawks. He has now missed one game or less in five of his past six seasons, showing no signs of slowing down in his 14th season. Again, even while battling injury, Kane also posted his third consecutive season of scoring at a point-per-game pace or better. It was the tenth time that he has achieved this mark.
Of course, Kane’s nagging injury begs the question of what he may have been able to do at full strength this year. Even without career running mate Jonathan Toews, Kane was still Chicago’s leading scorer by a wide margin and even adjusted his game to be more play-maker than scorer. The Blackhawks were in the playoff mix for a good portion of the season, so with a healthy Kane (and Toews) next season, the team could be a threat to return to the postseason next year.
Minnesota’s Marco Rossi Cleared To Resume Hockey Activities
Of all the NHL players to test positive for COVID-19 this season, no one took the virus harder than Marco Rossi – before he was even able to make his NHL debut. The ninth overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, Rossi was expected to compete for a roster spot right away this year. Instead, he never even made it to camp. After testing positive in November, Rossi was still cleared for the World Junior Championship, but after just four games with Team Austria he was removed from the lineup due to COVID symptoms. The complications grew so severe that the young center was sent back home to Austria in January, considered out indefinitely. As he continued to struggle with the virus, it became clear that Rossi would not play at all this season as he as reportedly busy fighting for his life.
More than six months since his initial diagnosis, things are finally looking up for Rossi. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler reports that doctors have told the talented forward that he can resume hockey activities. Rossi is expected to begin skating and training immediately. A full off-season regiment may just be enough to get him back in shape for next season as he looks to actually get a chance to compete for a roster spot in Minnesota.
Of course, expectations should be tempered. The Wild are in need of a future first line center and will give their top prospect every opportunity to make the team. However, Rossi is not just another prospect who was unable to play this season. His bout with COVID has surely taken a toll physically and even with an off-season of full hockey activities, it may still take him time to get up to game speed. Minnesota can only hope that the OHL phenom has no lasting effect and can make good on his draft stock, even if takes some time.
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 05/12/21
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
St. Louis – Jake Walman
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
Despite the Blues originally believing that Walman was in the protocol due to a false positive, they released this statement today:
After additional testing, it has been confirmed that Jake Walman has tested positive for COVID-19. Walman, who has been vaccinated, will now fall under the NHL/NHLPA quarantine protocols. Per the NHL/NHLPA agreement, the League will provide all updates.
A positive test result for Walman likely means that he will be unavailable for at least two weeks. He will not be in the Blues’ lineup when they face the Wild tonight or tomorrow, nor when they open the playoffs in the coming days.
Kuznetsov remains in the protocol for his ninth day and it is unclear whether he will be cleared in time for Washington’s series opener against Boston on Saturday. At the very least, he will have not played in a game since May 1. Teammate Ilya Samsonov was also put into the protocol, but since he is on the taxi squad does not need to appear on this list. It will not be clear that he has been removed until he arrives at practice with the Capitals, or the team releases the information.
*denotes new addition
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/12/21
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 St. Louis Blues have recalled Klim Kostin to the active roster and expect the young forward to make his season debut this evening. The team has also assigned Dakota Joshua to the taxi squad, while moving Nathan Walker to the AHL’s Utica Comets. According to the AHL transaction page, Joel Hofer has also been recalled to the taxi squad.
- The Los Angeles Kings have sent Quinton Byfield to the AHL, where the Ontario Reign still have meaningful games to play this season. The Reign, along with the rest of the AHL’s Pacific Division, will begin a postseason tournament in a week’s time.
North Division
- After activating Frederik Andersen, the Toronto Maple Leafs have returned Joseph Woll to the AHL from the taxi squad. Woll, arguably the team’s top (signed) goaltending prospect, has continued to struggle at the minor league level, posting an .889 save percentage in 12 appearances this season.
- The Montreal Canadiens have recalled both Jesse Ylonen and Xavier Ouellet ahead of their game tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. Now that the Canadiens are locked into the fourth playoff spot in the North, they will rest several regulars including Josh Anderson, Tyler Toffoli, Eric Staal, Joel Edmundson, Jeff Petry, and Jake Allen.
- The Edmonton Oilers have also made a recall, bringing up Kyle Turris from the taxi squad for today’s game. Turris has played just 26 games this season and just one since April 8.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Logan Brown and Parker Kelly from the taxi squad. J.C. Beaudin and Lassi Thompson will replace them on the taxi squad, recalled from the Belleville Senators.
Central Division
East Division
This page will be updated throughout the day
Christian Djoos Signs In Switzerland
It’s the end of an NHL career for Detroit Red Wings’ defenseman Christian Djoos, at least for now. The 26-year-old Djoos has signed a two-year contract with EV Zug in Switzerland, meaning his time with the Red Wings is over. Though the team can retain his restricted free agent rights this offseason by giving him a qualifying offer, they will expire before this new contract in Switzerland does. He will be an unrestricted free agent the next time he’s looking for work.
Originally selected 195th overall by the Washington Capitals in 2012, it was a longshot that Djoos would even make it to the NHL in the first place. Make it he did, cracking the NHL lineup in 2017-18 and helping the Capitals win the Stanley Cup. The 63 regular season games he played as a rookie would end up being his career-high though, as the Capitals eventually moved him back to the minor leagues and then traded him to the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks placed him on waivers earlier this season and he found himself in Detroit, where Djoos recorded 11 points in 36 games.
Perhaps the Red Wings informed him that he wasn’t going to get a qualifying offer, given that it would have needed to be $1MM, but either way, he has decided to take his talents overseas. Djoos should certainly find plenty of success in the Swiss league, after dominating the AHL during his time in North America. In the 2016-17 season, he recorded 58 points in 66 games for the Hershey Bears, trailing only minor league fixtures T.J. Brennan and Matt Taormina for the lead among defensemen.
Adam Raska Signs With San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have signed one of their 2020 draft picks, inking Adam Raska to a three-year entry-level contract. The young forward competed for the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL this season after taking part in the World Juniors for the Czech Republic.
Raska, 19, was the 201st player taken in 2020, after his first season in North America with the Oceanic. He scored 21 points in 35 games during that 2019-20 campaign, but came back at a better than point-per-game pace this time around. In 22 games this season he scored 25 points and added six more in eight playoff contests. Unfortunately, his club was defeated in the quarterfinals.
While those numbers don’t jump off the page and scream NHL talent, Raska is still very young and has scored at a high rate in the Czech junior system. It will be interesting to see if the Sharks send him to the AHL next season or loan him back overseas to continue his development at home. In his 11 career games in the Czech Extraliga, he has just one goal.
Seattle Kraken Sign Luke Henman
The Seattle Kraken have found their Reid Duke. The newest NHL franchise has signed the first player in franchise history, inking Luke Henman to a three-year entry-level contract. Henman was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018 but was never signed, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Kraken GM Ron Francis was actually already gone from the Hurricanes organization when they picked Henman, but he is obviously familiar with the player. He released a short statement on his first signing:
Our scouts have been watching players all year. In this case, Mike Dawson has been a strong supporter for Luke. Robert Kron and Tony McDonald like him too.
Luke has put up the numbers in the ‘Q’ and he is team captain. He has solid character. We do think he needs to get stronger. We are excited to sign him as our first player.
The 21-year-old Henman scored 43 points in 32 games for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada this season and is currently in a quarter-final playoff series. He has registered six goals and eight points in seven postseason games so far, continuing his solid junior performance. Though slight, Henman has put up great numbers for the Armada throughout his QMJHL career and obviously caught the eye of the Kraken staff.
Of course, this doesn’t mean Henman is headed for the NHL. Just ask Duke, who has played entirely in the AHL so far in his professional career since being the first player signed by the Vegas Golden Knights, suiting up solely for the Chicago Wolves and Henderson Silver Knights. In the coming months, the Kraken will add dozens and dozens of players to the organization, pushing Henman down the depth chart.
Alexander Barabanov Signs Extension With San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks liked what they saw from Alexander Barabanov down the stretch. The Russian forward’s agent Dan Milstein tweeted out that his client has signed a one-year extension with the Sharks after being acquired at the trade deadline. PuckPedia reports that the deal is worth $1MM.
Barabanov, 26, originally signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2020-21 season, but was unable to make much of an impact in his time there. Through 13 games with the Maple Leafs, he registered just a single assist and failed to score a goal. Toronto found him a home willing to give him an opportunity at the deadline, trading Barabanov to the Sharks (in exchange for Antti Suomela), who almost immediately put him on the top line. In his San Jose debut, he scored the game-winner for his first NHL goal and would go on to register seven points in eight games with the team.
Given his age, Barabanov could have become an unrestricted free agent this summer when his one-year entry-level deal expired. Instead, he’ll get another chance to establish himself with the Sharks after a long KHL career. Barabanov will once again be a UFA at the conclusion of this new contract.
Sean Monahan To Undergo Hip Surgery
The last four games of the season for the Calgary Flames are not really worth anything, given the North Division playoff spots are already decided. So why not get a head start on injury rehab? Sean Monahan will not play again this season and is scheduled for hip surgery next week. The Flames expect Monahan to be a full participant in training camp for next season.
It was a disappointing year for the 26-year-old center, who scored just ten goals in 50 games and registered a career-low 28 points. Monahan had scored at least 22 goals in every season of his career to this point, a pace he wasn’t on even if this season had been a full 82. He actually had 15 points in his first 20 games of the year, but managed just five goals and ten points in the 26 games with Darryl Sutter behind the bench. His ice time in those games was also greatly reduced, totaling fewer than 15 minutes on several occasions down the stretch.
While a hip injury could obviously be a part of those struggles, Sutter wasn’t afraid of calling out his best forwards when they couldn’t find the back of the net. Monahan was moved to the wing for the Flames a few days ago, a surprise that complicates the offseason even further. The team quite obviously needs a refresh if they want to compete for the postseason next year, but Monahan has been entrenched as a center for the last eight years in Calgary. If Sutter, who it should be noted has also pointed out the positives in Monahan’s game several times during his tenure (and even before it), believes that he’s no longer best-suited for the middle of the ice, perhaps they target another center to take his place.
Monahan has two years remaining on his contract and carries a $6.375MM cap hit. His deal also includes a 10-team no-trade list.
Montreal Canadiens Agree To Terms With Rafael Harvey-Pinard
The Montreal Canadiens may be focused on a playoff matchup with one of their rivals, but that doesn’t mean the front office isn’t working on the future. Rafael Harvey-Pinard has agreed to terms on a two-year entry-level contract. The deal kicks in next season and carries an average annual value of $825K.
Harvey-Pinard, 22, was the Canadiens’ seventh-round choice in 2019, 201st overall. He spent this season with the Laval Rocket of the AHL on a minor league contract and showed he was more than ready for the challenge of a professional season. In 32 games, the 5’9″ winger registered 19 points and didn’t receive a single penalty minute.
Once a star at the QMJHL level, Harvey-Pinard won the Memorial Cup with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in 2019, scoring 27 points in 20 playoff games along the way. That kind of offensive dominance will be difficult to reproduce at the professional level, but the Canadiens obviously believed he was worth an NHL contract slot. Had Harvey-Pinard not signed his entry-level deal by the end of the month, he would have become an unrestricted free agent.