Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/26/21
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 Arizona Coyotes made a move as they usually do, this time recalling Michael Chaput from the taxi squad and bringing up Michael Bunting from the AHL to take his place.
North Division
- After losing in overtime last night to Toronto the Ottawa Senators have made a few moves. Alex Formenton and Filip Gustavsson have been re-assigned to the taxi squad, with Vitaly Abramov and Mark Kastelic going to the AHL to make room. Marcus Hogberg has also been assigned to the AHL on a conditioning stint. Given the Senators don’t play again until March 30, perhaps he’ll be ready to dress by their next game.
Central Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Alexandre Texier, placing Mikhail Grigorenko on the taxi squad to make room. Texier hasn’t played since March 14 and has just nine points in 30 games this season.
East Division
- The New Jersey Devils have sent Colton White to the AHL, moving him off the taxi squad after only recalling him yesterday. White, 23, has played in nine games at the AHL level this season but hasn’t yet cracked the New Jersey lineup. Later in the day, the team assigned Nicholas Merkley to the taxi squad and recalled Jesper Boqvist in time to play in this evening’s game.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Trade Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens
Although we’re now a little over two months into the season, the trade deadline is less than a month away. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens were one of the busier teams over the offseason in terms of adding to their roster following a decent showing in the bubble that saw them upset Pittsburgh in the Qualifying Round. They came out of the gate flying but have struggled since then with a coaching change not really affecting their on-ice success and now they face a condensed schedule down the stretch due to their COVID-related postponements. GM Marc Bergevin told reporters today that he doesn’t expect to do much but Montreal does have a few chips to move if they want to try to add between now and the deadline.
Record
14-8-9, 4th in North Division
Deadline Status
Light Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$2.06MM in full-season space ($3.57MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.
(These amounts are factoring in Paul Byron on the taxi squad but the veteran has been in the lineup for all but one game this season. Knowing he’ll be recalled several more times, their cap space is currently overstated.)
Upcoming Draft Picks
2021: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, TB 2nd, CHI 3rd, MTL 3rd, WSH 3rd, MTL 4th, STL 4th, VGK 4th, MTL 5th, OTT 5th, PHI 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th
2022: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, MTL 3rd, MTL 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th, STL 7th
Trade Chips
Few players have had their usage significantly altered since the coaching change but one that has is winger Artturi Lehkonen and not for the better. A fixture under Claude Julien, the 25-year-old has been a frequent healthy scratch under Dominique Ducharme. Lekhonen hasn’t been able to repeat his goal production from his rookie year but before this season, he had settled in as a third-line winger that could produce around 25 to 30 points while being a quality defensive player. With a $2.4MM cap hit (and only a $2.2MM qualifying offer this summer), Lehkonen could be someone that teams could justify taking back to match money with a low enough qualifier to be part of the plans beyond this season.
Jake Evans made the team out of training camp and while he has been in the lineup most nights, his role has also decreased under Ducharme and if Montreal only opts to try to make a small upgrade, his spot is the one that could be filled. He’s signed for one more year at $750K and at 24, he may be of interest to a rebuilding team. Joel Armia ($2.6MM) gives Montreal some size and defensive prowess on the wing but if they need to match money for a rental, he would be the likeliest of their pending unrestricted free agents to move.
Victor Mete’s trade request has been lingering for a while now and with the injury to Ben Chiarot, the Canadiens may be less inclined to move him now. However, if they are able to add a defenseman between now and April 12, the 22-year-old would become more expendable and with a $735K price tag, he’s certainly affordable for pretty much every team.
In terms of future assets, the announcement that Jordan Harris will return to Northeastern for his senior season (where he was named team captain yesterday) could have teams inquiring about his availability. He has outperformed his draft stock but with the temptation to get to free agency being stronger next year, he’s someone that Montreal could part with if they’re concerned about his willingness to sign although they’ve given no indication of concern so far. With a league-leading 14 draft picks, they could certainly deal from that surplus as well.
Others to Watch For: D Cale Fleury ($772K, RFA), Ryan Poehling, ($925K, RFA)
Team Needs
1) Impact Defenseman – Chiarot’s hand injury – one he is expected to return from by the end of the regular season – has left the left side of Montreal’s back end quite thin with only Joel Edmundson and Brett Kulak being somewhat proven options. Someone that would fit alongside Shea Weber would be ideal although unless they’re willing to pay up for Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm, they may not be able to address this one in the coming weeks.
2) Center Depth – While Montreal’s first three centers are pretty well set in Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Phillip Danault, an upgrade on the fourth line would be beneficial. It would give them a bit more security if their younger middlemen falter and given their struggles as a team at the faceoff dot, one that can take some key draws would also be desirable. With their cap room and Bergevin’s suggestion that they’ll largely be quiet, this may be the type of move he’s looking to make.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
East Notes: Penguins, Palmieri, Sabres
It has been a trying season for Pittsburgh so far as they’ve dealt with numerous injuries and inconsistency in goal. Despite that, the Penguins head into Thursday’s games eight points up on a playoff spot in the East Division which has them thinking about adding to their roster. Speaking with Josh Yohe of The Athletic (subscription link), team president Brian Burke indicated that he’d like to add a player by next month’s deadline but also recognizes the challenges in doing so:
“We’d like to make it better. Here’s the thing. We don’t have any picks left. We aren’t putting our top kids in play. So, we don’t necessarily have certain things to offer that other teams do. The things we can offer are a little different than other teams, maybe. But if we can add, we’re going to add. Put it that way.”
While the team has ample space right now with LTIR, that will go away when Jason Zucker returns so they’ll be limited to their remaining cap room. Per CapFriendly, that stands at about $1.1MM but that’s only if they wait to make a move until deadline day. As Zucker and perhaps others come back, that should improve a bit but it looks as if it will take some creativity for them to add an impact player by April 12th.
More from the East Division:
- Negotiations between the Devils and pending UFA winger Kyle Palmieri don’t appear to be going well. In the latest Insider Trading from TSN (video link), Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic indicated that the two sides are “struggling to find common ground on a contract”. The veteran is in the midst of a fairly quiet season with just six goals and nine assists in 29 games this season but has had at least 24 tallies in each of the past five seasons. While the free agent market wasn’t kind to wingers last fall, the 30-year-old projects to be one of the top ones available and still should be able to command a raise on his current $4.65MM AAV.
- The Sabres have shifted around their scouting department. Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News notes that Jeremiah Crowe will now be in charge of professional scouting while Jerry Fortin will head up the amateur scouting department. Previously, Crowe held the title of director of scouting, suggesting that Buffalo may be shifting back towards a more standard hockey operations department structure.
Trade Candidate: Eric Staal
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we continue our closer look at some of the players who have a good chance of being on the move between now and April 12th.
It has been an interesting six months or so for Eric Staal. First, he was surprisingly traded to Buffalo in the middle of the offseason for what seemed like a downgrade from Minnesota’s standpoint in Marcus Johansson based on their respective 2019-20 performances. Second, he has been involved in what has been nothing short of a disastrous season for the Sabres.
At this stage of his career, it’s certainly not what he signed up for and from Buffalo’s perspective, carrying a 36-year-old when the team is clearly going to be extending their rebuilding plans doesn’t make a lot of sense either. Accordingly, it looks like he’ll be on the move before next month’s trade deadline.
Contract
Staal is in the final season of a two-year, $6.5MM contract ($3.25MM AAV) with a $3MM salary. Per CapFriendly, his deal contains a ten-team no-trade clause. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
2020-21
It has been an ugly year for Staal, to put it nicely. When he was acquired, he seemed like a logical fit to provide some secondary scoring behind Jack Eichel while providing some veteran insurance for someone like Dylan Cozens to start out on the wing. He has been in that role for most of the year but has done next to nothing offensively with just three goals.
To be fair, it has been an ugly year for just about everyone on Buffalo offensively as not a single player overachieving offensively with few living up to even modest expectations. His power play time is down unsurprisingly and even his faceoff percentage is at the lowest rate in a decade.
Some players find themselves trade candidates based on an impressive performance that catches the eye of another team. In Staal’s case, he’s on the list because there’s basically nowhere to go but up. That’s a steep drop from someone who last season was a capable second-line center.
Season Stats
31 GP, 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points, -20 rating, 8 PIMS, 55 shots, 15:26 TOI, 47.8 faceoff win percentage, 50.3 CF%
Potential Suitors
While he was a top-six player just a year ago, teams won’t be viewing Staal as one now. As a result, his best role is with a team that has an offensively-oriented third line.
In terms of best fits within the East Division, there aren’t a lot of good ones. The Islanders have cap space for a rental but have decent depth down the middle. So does Boston although Charlie Coyle, their third-line center, has plenty of experience on the wing and could easily be shifted over. Of course, improved depth down the middle is hardly their biggest need so Staal would only make sense if other options fall through. Evgeni Malkin’s injury could create an opening in Pittsburgh but most of their cap room is derived from Jason Zucker’s LTIR and he’s expected back before much longer so making the money work would be a challenge.
In the Central, Florida is a team that doesn’t have the strongest center depth and would certainly benefit from adding a veteran to the mix. They have the cap room to absorb Staal’s deal without an offset although as a team that has typically been more of a budget one than a cap spender, they may still want Buffalo to either take a player back or retain on the contract. His old team in Carolina would be a feel-good story and they have the cap space to make it happen although with Vincent Trocheck nearing a return, there isn’t a pressing need for Staal either.
As for the North Division, Edmonton is known to be seeking some help down the middle – Frank Seravalli indicated as much in the latest Insider Trading for TSN (video link) – although Staal isn’t a right-shot player like the Oilers are believed to be seeking. They’re a team that also would need to match money or require some retention to get a deal done. With Vancouver’s recent injuries, they could stand to add a center if they hang around the playoff battle over the next few weeks although with basically no cap room at all, making a move could be tricky.
In the West, a reunion with Minnesota makes some sense. The Wild never really addressed their center depth after moving Staal and as someone familiar with the team and system, there’s some added value you don’t see with most rentals. At the same time, he’s not a huge upgrade based on his current performance and the salary cap element would be a bit challenging.
Likelihood Of A Trade
Considering Buffalo’s situation, both sides would likely want a move to happen although there aren’t a lot of good fits and even fewer that can afford him without matching some money. Ultimately, Buffalo’s willingness to absorb a contract or retain up to half of the contract will ultimately determine the outcome. Right now, it’s reasonable to think they’d be willing to do so which means Staal should be in another uniform by April 12th.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Kasperi Kapanen Out Week-To-Week
The Pittsburgh Penguins already have Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Tanev, Teddy Blueger, Mark Friedman and Jason Zucker on injured reserve, but might be adding another name soon. Kasperi Kapanen is out “week-to-week” according to head coach Mike Sullivan after suffering a lower-body injury in last night’s game.
Though Sullivan didn’t elaborate on what exactly the injury was or when it occurred, it seems likely to have happened when Kapanen blocked a clearing attempt by Brandon Montour. He immediately collapsed to the ice and left the game soon after, obviously dealing with pain in his lower half.
The 24-year-old Kapanen has been a strong performer in his return to Pittsburgh, re-acquired in the offseason from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Originally drafted by the Penguins 2014, he played over 200 games for Toronto before finally suiting up for Pittsburgh. In his 30 games this season, the speedy winger has seven goals and 21 points, good for sixth on the team behind the usual suspects.
That list of injuries for Pittsburgh is quite extensive and rips most of the forward depth out of the lineup. Even though they are facing the league’s worst team in Buffalo, it will be quite the test. The two games against the New York Islanders afterward will be even tougher, should they not receive any reinforcements.
PHR Live Chat Transcript: 03/25/21
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/25/21
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 the list for today so far:
Anaheim – Alexander Volkov*
Boston – Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Jesperi Kotkaniemi
NY Rangers – Brett Howden (plus part of the coaching staff)
Ottawa – TBA
Vancouver – Travis Boyd
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: Danton Heinen, Anaheim Ducks; Ben Hutton, Anaheim Ducks; Jacob Larsson, Anaheim Ducks; Anthony Stolarz, Anaheim Ducks; Phil Di Giuseppe, New York Rangers
All four players that were added recently for the Ducks have found their way off, though Volkov has been added as he moves from one team to another. After being acquired late last night, the young forward will need to face a short quarantine period before he can join Anaheim.
For the Rangers, Di Giuseppe has exited the protocol along with assistant coaches Jacques Martin and Greg Brown. They have joined the team in Philadelphia and can take over their regular duties once again.
Unfortunately, they aren’t the only coaches facing an issue like this. The Buffalo Sabres have announced that interim head coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis are self-isolating and will be unavailable for tonight’s game against the Penguins. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams will be being the bench as head coach instead.
*denotes new addition
Snapshots: Canadiens, Pitlick, Juulsen, Barron
The Montreal Canadiens are sitting fourth in the North Division as they deal with a COVID shutdown through Sunday, but have played fewer games than all of their division foes. One might think that would push GM Marc Bergevin to add to his squad and try to climb even higher in the standings, but the Montreal executive once again downplayed the idea at media availability today.
As Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets, Bergevin was asked multiple times about his trade deadline plans and repeatedly explained that no one should expect much from the Canadiens because of difficult cap restraints. Of course, no matter how many times he says it, Bergevin isn’t convincing some of his peers. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet wrote earlier this week that some other managers around the league believe the Canadiens made a push for Mattias Ekholm. Bergevin’s availability was before the report came out about Canada potentially reducing the quarantine for NHL players to seven days, though it is unclear if that would have any effect on Montreal’s deadline plans.
- If you thought Tyler Pitlick could make for a good depth addition at the deadline, perhaps not. The Arizona Coyotes forward is out “week-to-week” with a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old Pitlick has 11 points in 33 games this season for the Coyotes and is signed through next season at a $1.75MM cap hit. He had been seeing more and more ice time recently, including a whopping 24:08 earlier this month in an overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
- The New York Rangers have several wingers at the NHL level that were selected at the very top of the draft, but perhaps it is one that went 174th overall that fans should be excited about. Morgan Barron scored another two goals today for the Hartford Wolf Pack and now has seven in his first 11 professional games. The sixth-round pick was a star at Cornell University, becoming a Hobey Baker finalist and scoring 32 points in 29 games during the 2019-20 campaign. Standing 6’4″ with enviable skill, he’s turning heads at the minor league level already.
- The Florida Panthers have assigned Noah Juulsen to the AHL on a conditioning loan as he works his way back from injured reserve. Juulsen hasn’t played since February 25 and has just four appearances on the season. The 23-year-old has been injured basically his entire professional career, never playing more than 54 games in a season at all levels combined. The Panthers have also recalled Eetu Luostarinen from the taxi squad, sending Brett Connolly back to it in his place.
2021 NCAA Tournament Preview: Northeast Regional
March 25: Due to COVID-19 protocols, Notre Dame will not be taking part in the tournament. Boston College will get a “no-contest” advancement to the next round instead of playing the scheduled game on Saturday. This means the season is over for Notre Dame’s NHL prospects, who can now decide whether or not to sign a professional contract.
March 24: After an odd season played almost exclusively in-conference, the best of college hockey are finally about to collide. The 2021 NCAA Tournament is set to kick off on Friday, and by Sunday the 16-team field will be down to just four, the Frozen Four. Those teams will then meet next on April 8, with the champion being crowned on April 10. In a single-elimination, do-or-die tournament, the stakes are always high. In a season where almost no one has had the chance to face the top teams outside of their own conference, the bar has been raised even further.
Here is a look at the group in the Northeast Regional, hosted in Albany, New York. No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3 take place on Saturday, followed by the winners playing on Sunday for the chance to advance:
1) No. 3 Boston College
NHL Prospects:
F Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild (R1, 2019)
G Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers (R1, 2019)
F Alex Newhook, Colorado Avalanche (R1, 2019)
D Drew Helleson, Colorado Avalanche (R2, 2019)
F Jack McBain, Minnesota Wild (R3, 2018)
F Trevor Kuntar, Boston Bruins (R3, 2020)
F Logan Hutsko, Florida Panthers (R3, 2018)
D Jack St. Ivany, Philadelphia Flyers (R4, 2018)
D Eamon Powell, Tampa Bay Lightning (R4, 2020)
F Colby Ambrosio, Colorado Avalanche (R4, 2020)
D Michael Karow, Arizona Coyotes (R5, 2017)
D Marshall Warren, Minnesota Wild (R6, 2019)
F Nikita Nesterenko, Minnesota Wild (R6, 2019)
Priority Free Agents: F Marc McLaughlin, F Mike Hardman
Boston College is always a threat on the national stage and this year is no different. As deep as any team in the NCAA and with one of the best goaltenders in college hockey, the Eagles will be a tough out. Their top-ranked offense is the real x-factor though. While BC could stand on their talented two-way forwards, defense, and goaltending alone – who did combine for the No. 13 ranked scoring defense this season – it is their ability to score at will that makes them incredibly dangerous. The only team in the nation to notch more than four tallies a game, any team hoping to beat BC has to equally match their offense, which means beating the stellar Spencer Knight. Ironically, one of the only teams that has the top-end talent to do just that might be waiting for them in their round two match-up: cross-town mortal foes Boston University and their seventh-ranked offense.
2) No. 7 St. Cloud State
NHL Prospects:
G David Hrenak, Los Angeles Kings (R5, 2018)
F Veeti Miettinen, Toronto Maple Leafs (R6, 2020)
D Nick Perbix, Tampa Bay Lightning (R6, 2017)
F Sam Hentges, Minnesota Wild (R7, 2018)
Priority Free Agents: D Spencer Meier
Everyone in college hockey is hoping to see BC and BU square off, so it’s up to the overshadowed Huskies to play spoiler. While St. Cloud doesn’t have the depth of talent as in years past and doesn’t match up with their Boston counterparts at first glance, the team finds ways to win games. Both their offense and defense ranked outside the top 16 in the NCAA and their goaltending has been fine if not unspectacular. Yet, St. Cloud finished second in the NCHC, arguably the strongest conference in college hockey. Call them overachievers if you like, but slated to play an underachiever in round one, the Huskies could hold off the anticipated upset.
3) No. 11 Boston University
NHL Prospects:
F Jay O’Brien, Philadelphia Flyers (R1, 2018)
D Alex Vlasic, Carolina Hurricanes (R2, 2019)
G Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks (R2, 2020)
F Luke Tuch, Montreal Canadiens (R2, 2020)
F Robert Mastrosimone, Detroit Red Wings (R2, 2019)
F Jake Wise, Chicago Blackhawks (R3, 2018)
F Dylan Peterson, St. Louis Blues (R3, 2020)
D Domenick Fensore, Carolina Hurricanes (R3, 2019)
D David Farrance, Nashville Predators (R3, 2017)
F Ethan Phillips, Detroit Red Wings (R4, 2019)
D Cade Webber, Carolina Hurricanes (R4, 2019)
D Case McCarthy, New Jersey Devils (R4, 2019)
F Logan Cockerill, New York Islanders (R7, 2017)
On paper, the Terriers are again one of the strongest rosters in the NCAA. However, they have been great on paper for several years now and it has not translated into elite regular seasons or postseason success. If everyone on the BU roster plays up to their potential, Boston University could be in for a deep run. Yet, the Frozen Four has eluded the historic program since 2014-15 and there is no reason to believe they will overcome their demons now, especially with hard-working St. Cloud State and hated rival BC standing in their way.
4) Notre Dame
NHL Prospects:
F Landon Slaggert, Chicago Blackhawks (R3, 2020)
D Jake Boltmann, Calgary Flames (R3, 2020)
F Jacob Pivonka, New York Islanders (R4, 2018)
D Spencer Stastney, Nashville Predators (R5, 2018)
F Trevor Janicke, Anaheim Ducks (R5, 2019)
F Ryder Rolston, Colorado Avalanche (R5, 2020)
D Nate Clurman, Colorado Avalanche (R6, 2016)
D Nick Leivermann, Colorado Avalanche (R7, 2017)
D Matt Hellickson, New Jersey Devils (R7, 2017)
Priority Free Agents: F Alex Steeves
The only unranked team selected to the NCAA Tournament, calling Notre Dame’s inclusion in the national field a surprise is an understatement. While the Fighting Irish have plenty of NHL prospect talent and finished fourth in the Big Ten in the regular season, they did not have a winning record against the likes of Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan and were one-and-done in the Big Ten Tournament without having to play any of those three. Their anemic 33rd-ranked offense is also unlikely to frighten elite opponents. Yet, the committee opted for Notre Dame over the likes of Providence, Denver, Bowling Green, or UMass Lowell. The team is not without a chance against Boston College, but they will have to finally find their clutch factor this season and play their very best.
National ranks courtesy of the March 22 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men’s College Hockey Poll
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/25/21
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 Colorado Avalanche have recalled T.J. Tynan and Sheldon Dries to the taxi squad, filling out the two vacant spots they had after sending Conor Timmins down yesterday. Dries has played three games for the Avalanche this season but is still looking for his first NHL point since the 2018-19 campaign. Logan O’Connor was also recalled from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
- The San Jose Sharks have recalled Jeffrey Viel to the taxi squad from the AHL. The 24-year-old has yet to play an NHL game in his short career but could add a bit of physicality to the lineup if the Sharks need it. In his 139-game AHL career, Viel has 18 fighting majors and 228 penalty minutes. Antti Suomela and Christian Jaros were sent to the taxi squad while Zach Gallant was sent back to the AHL, per CapFriendly.
- After announcing that Tyler Pitlick is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the Arizona Coyotes have moved him to injured reserve. Meanwhile, they’ve swapped Frederik Gauthier and Lane Pederson between the taxi squad and AHL.
- The Anaheim Ducks have sent Andy Welinski and Lukas Dostal back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Welinski played a season-high 18:11 last night while Dostal served as the backup goaltender.
- The Dallas Stars have made a large number of roster moves. Nick Caamano, Justin Dowling, Rhett Gardner, and Joel L’Esperance were all promoted from the taxi squad while Ty Dellandrea and Tanner Kero were recalled to the taxi squad.
- The Los Angeles Kings have sent Austin Strand and Tobias Bjornfot to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Bjornfot has three assists in 17 games this season while Strand has a helper in six games.
- The Minnesota Wild have promoted Will Bitten to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The 22-year-old has four assists in 11 games with AHL Iowa this season.
- The St. Louis Blues have brought up Dakota Joshua and Jake Walman from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The two have made frequent appearances on this list in recent weeks as they’ve been sent down on non-game days to save some money.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Patrick Brown from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. He has played in three games for Vegas so far this season. Carl Dahlstrom was recalled to the taxi squad to take Brown’s place.
North Division
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Braydon Coburn from the taxi squad as they prepare for action tonight against Toronto. Jack Kopacka has been sent back to the AHL, while Mark Kastelic is up to take his spot on the taxi squad.
- The Calgary Flames have tweaked their taxi squad, sending Alex Petrovic down from the NHL roster while recalling Louis Domingue and Michael Stone from the minors, per CapFriendly. Artyom Zagidulin was sent to the minors to make room for Domingue.
- The Edmonton Oilers have sent Joakim Nygard back to the taxi squad. After playing in 33 games last season, he has suited up in just six NHL contests so far this year.
- The Montreal Canadiens have recalled Jake Evans from the taxi squad while promoting Laurent Dauphin to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Evans was sent down yesterday to free up a bit of cap space while the team is off due to COVID protocols.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Michael Hutchinson and Alex Galchenyuk from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Hutchinson is needed with Frederik Andersen currently injured. Kristians Rubins was also sent to the taxi squad.
- The Vancouver Canucks have sent Tyler Graovac to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The 27-year-old has played in Vancouver’s last two games, averaging just under 10 minutes per game.
Central Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Mikhail Grigorenko from the taxi squad once again as he continues to move on and off the roster on a daily basis. The 26-year-old forward now has seven points in 18 games this season.
- As expected, the Carolina Hurricanes have promoted Jake Bean from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The defenseman has 10 points in 21 games so far this season.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have promoted Wyatt Kalynuk from the taxi squad while sending Mackenzie Entwistle down, per CapFriendly. Both players have played just once for Chicago this season.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have brought up Luke Schenn and Andreas Borgman from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Even so, they’re unable to dress a full roster tonight due to injuries to Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak.
East Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Samuel Morin and Alex Lyon from the AHL to the taxi squad, sending Felix Sandstrom back the other way. As expected, Lyon got in some game action in Lehigh Valley’s game yesterday, but certainly didn’t fare very well. The goaltender allowed five goals on just 16 shots in a loss to the Hershey Bears.
- The Boston Bruins have sent Oskar Steen, Urho Vaakanainen, and Jeremy Swayman back to the AHL, recalling Callum Booth to the taxi squad in the process. The Providence Bruins play this afternoon against Hartford and look like they’re getting quite a group of reinforcements in time for the game. They later recalled Steen while also recalling Jack Ahcan, Jack Studnicka, and Steven Kampfer from the taxi squad while sending Daniel Vladar to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Steven Fogarty and C.J. Smith from the taxi squad while back-filling with Jean-Sebastien Dea and Brett Murray from the AHL. On his way from Rochester along with them is Seth Appert, who will help GM Kevyn Adams coach tonight with Don Granato self-isolating.
- The New Jersey Devils recalled Nicholas Merkley from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Colton White was recalled from the minors to the taxi squad in a corresponding move.
- With the New York Islanders back in action tonight, they’ve recalled Oliver Wahlstrom, per CapFriendly. Wahlstrom has 15 points in 26 games so far this season.
- The New York Rangers recalled Kaapo Kakko from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The sophomore has four goals and two assists in 24 games, a point per game output that is lower than his rookie season.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Drew O’Connor from the taxi squad while sending Sam Miletic to the minors, per CapFriendly. O’Connor has an assist in nine games this season.