The stage is officially set for the knockout rounds of the Olympic tournament. After today’s results, the United Stated, Finland, the Russian Olympic Committee, and Sweden have earned byes for the qualifying round while the remaining eight teams enter do-or-die mode. Back in North America though, those Olympic contests won’t resume until late Monday night while NHL action rolls on with four games apiece on Sunday and Monday, including sixteen different teams. As those clubs, as well as the other half of the league, prepares for the week ahead, keep up with all of the roster tweaks right here:
Atlantic Division
- The Montreal Canadiens can’t catch a break this season. The club has announced that defenseman Ben Chiarot, their most talked-about trade target, has been placed on injured reserve. To replace his roster spot, the team has recalled Corey Schueneman from the Laval Rocket. Chiarot is not expected to be out long-term, but this scare could push the Habs to trade him as soon as possible, potentially earning Schueneman a long-term NHL stay.
- Just a day after being recalled, Dan Renouf is headed back to the AHL. The Detroit Red Wings have announced that the veteran defenseman has been reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. This has been a common occurrence all season long in Detroit.
Metropolitan Division
- Zac Jones has been recalled by the New York Rangers, adding an exciting young player back to the NHL roster. Jones, 21, played in ten games for the Rangers late last season after winning a National Championship with UMass and looked like he belonged at the top level. Yet, he has only played in six games with New York this year despite posting 18 points in 27 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
- The New Jersey Devils have placed forward Janne Kuokkanen on the injured reserve, which will open up a roster spot for either Jack Hughes or Dougie Hamilton, both of whom are sidelined but reportedly nearing returns. As for Kuoakkanen, the 23-year-old is having a fine season but not quite meeting expectations he set with 25 points in 50 games last season. Rather than a half-point per game player, Kuokkanen’s 11 points in 43 games had him on pace for only about 20 points this season, which could now be even less given the injury absence.
Central Division
Pacific Division