It’s a new week in the NHL and that means a full schedule, including seven games this evening. One of the prime matchups is between two teams that were perhaps not expected to be contenders at the start of the season. The New York Rangers, first in the Metropolitan, will welcome in the Los Angeles Kings, second in the Pacific. Both teams won their previous game and will try to continue that trend at Madison Square Garden. As they and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have made several transactions. Calvin Pickard is heading to the AHL, while Kyle Criscuolo and Luke Witkowski are headed to the taxi squad. To join them, the team has also recalled Kaden Fulcher from the AHL to the taxi squad. Pickard has been outstanding for the Grand Rapids Griffins this season, posting a .929 save percentage in 26 appearances.
- With the Toronto Maple Leafs getting Ondrej Kase and Justin Holl back into the lineup, the team has sent Joey Anderson, Carl Dahlstrom, and Erik Kallgren back to the AHL. Dahlstrom played his first NHL game since 2019-20 while Holl was out, but isn’t expected to be a regular contributor.
- The Ottawa Senators have sent Jacob Bernard-Docker, Filip Gustavsson, and Logan Shaw to the AHL, though they obviously could recall any of them again before tomorrow’s game against the Sabres. Ottawa won just their 12th game of the season last night.
- The Buffalo Sabres have reassigned Brett Murray to the AHL, though the Rochester Americans don’t play again until Friday, so he might be back up at some point this week. Murray, 23, has played in 19 games for the Sabres so far this season, recording six points.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned Charles Hudon, Daniel Walcott, and Andrej Sustr to the AHL. With just three games left for the Lightning before the All-Star break–and all of them coming at home–the team is reinforcing the Syracuse Crunch.
Metropolitan Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets assigned Jake Christiansen to the AHL from the taxi squad, giving him a chance to continue his strong minor league season. The undrafted defenseman has 20 points in 25 games for the Cleveland Monsters and made his NHL debut, skating in three games with Columbus.
- The Rangers have added Adam Huska to the taxi squad, a curious move given Keith Kinkaid exited with an injury in yesterday’s Hartford Wolf Pack game. The AHL squad doesn’t play until Wednesday, but will likely need Huska back unless Kinkaid’s injury isn’t serious.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Linus Sandin, Connor Bunnaman, and Felix Sandstrom to the taxi squad. Sandin, 25, has still not made his NHL debut since signing out of Sweden but has seven points in 13 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
- A.J. Greer, back from the hit that earned Ross Johnston a three-game suspension, has been activated from injured reserve and returned to the AHL. Greer has 15 points in 22 games for the Utica Comets this season.
Central Division
- The Dallas Stars have reassigned Riley Damiani, Rhett Gardner, and Riley Tufte from the AHL to the taxi squad, giving them some extra bodies for their trip to Philadelphia. The Stars have won their last two games but still sit nine points behind the Minnesota Wild for fourth place in the Central Division.
- The Nashville Predators have recalled Matt Luff to the taxi squad, while sending Tomas Vomacka all the way back to the ECHL. Vomacka, 22, has been used as a practice squad goaltender this season, while also posting solid numbers for the Florida Everblades in 12 ECHL appearances.
Pacific Division
- The Calgary Flames have added Byron Froese to the taxi squad, as they prepare for action tonight against St. Louis. The Flames have had quite a rough stretch, losing seven of their last ten and falling out of a playoff spot. Froese, 30, has ten goals and 19 points in 22 games for the Stockton Heat this season.
- The team’s now brought up another body to the taxi squad, calling up defenseman Connor Mackey. The Illinois native has 20 points in 34 games this year with Stockton.
This page will be updated throughout the day
CALVIN.PICKARD!