Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/15/22

Today marks the busiest slate of games in the NHL since the calendar flipped to 2022, even with a schedule change. All 32 clubs were in fact expected to play today, but with three postponements in Canada, 26 teams will hit the ice on Saturday with the start times for 13 match-ups ranging over 10 hours. With so many teams preparing for action – three of whom will suit up again tomorrow as well – look for a flurry of roster activity today:

Atlantic Division

• A top Senators prospect is getting another chance to stick in Ottawa. Defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker has been recalled from the taxi squad, the team announced. A first-round pick in 2018, Bernard-Docker played in five games with Ottawa last season after leaving the University of North Dakota, but has only seen five NHL games so far this year. However, his consistency with AHL Belleville combined with his clear upside will make it hard for the Senators to keep him out of the lineup moving forward.

Metropolitan Division

• The New York Rangers have been keeping busy today. The team first announced that goaltender Keith Kinkaid has been reassigned from the taxi squad to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack with prospect Tyler Wall recalled in his place. This is likely an effort to get the veteran third-stringer some playing time in the minors while Wall, an impressive collegiate product of UMass Lowell, earns some experience working with the NHL group. Next, the team made the welcomed reveal that forwards Julien Gauthier and Ryan Reaves, as well as head coach Gerard Gallant and assistant Mike Kelly, have cleared COVID Protocol. As a result, they announced the corresponding move of forward Anthony Greco returning to the taxi squad. Greco made his Rangers debut on Thursday, his first NHL game since 2018 and just the second of his six-year pro career despite strong AHL numbers.
• Young New Jersey Devils netminder Akira Schmid has cleared COVID Protocol and has been reassigned to AHL Utica, the team announced. With the Devils off this weekend, Schmid will be able to shake off the rust by suiting up for some AHL action instead. The big Swiss keeper has made the uncommon and impressive jump from the USHL directly to the NHL this season, with three appearances for New Jersey as a 21-year-old first-year pro.
• The Washington Capitals have announced the recall of veteran defenseman Michal Kempny from the taxi squad.  The 31-year-old has only suited up three times this season in the NHL, instead spending most of the year with Hershey of the AHL after clearing waivers.  He has seven assists in 24 games with the Bears.

Central Division

• Alex Goligoski has been activated from the league’s COVID Protocol, which has had a domino effect in Minnesota. The Wild announced that fellow defensemen Calen Addison and Dakota Mermis have each been demoted as a result, with Addison moving to the taxi squad and Mermis to AHL Iowa. Goaltender Andrew Hammond and impressive rookie forward Matt Boldy have also re-joined the taxi squad. In the case of Boldy, the placement should be temporary; the 2019 first-round pick has logged three points in his first three NHL games.
• The Nashville Predators have reshuffled their taxi squad forwards. Matt Luff has been promoted to the active roster, where has logged three points in eight games in his first season with Nashville. Meanwhile, Cody Glass has been demoted to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. In his first season in Nashville, the 2017 No. 6 overall has played in just four NHL games and has been kept off the score sheet.
• The St. Louis Blues have recalled Alexey Toropchenko from the taxi squad. The big winger has played in four games with the Blues so far this season, but with no points to show for it. Playing for his fourth different team in four years, Toropchenko has found some success with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds this season with 11 points in 26 games, but hopes he can translate that scoring into a longer stay in St. Louis.

Pacific Division

• The Los Angeles Kings have made their seemingly daily roster moves, recalling winger Samuel Fagemo and defenseman Jacob Moverare from the taxi squad.  Fagemo is tied for second in goals with AHL Ontario having scored ten times in 26 games while Moverare has eight points in 22 contests in his first full season with the Reign.

This page will be updated throughout the day.