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Jonathan Toews, Tyler Johnson To Return For Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Blackhawks are getting a whole bunch of reinforcements tonight. Jonathan Toews, Tyler Johnson, Calvin de Haan, and Riley Stillman will all return, as Charlie Roumeliotis of NBCS Chicago reports. Henrik Borgstrom and Erik Gustafsson will sit, while Alec Regula was returned to the minor leagues earlier today.

While de Haan wasn’t technically on injured reserve, the other three were, with Johnson not playing since the end of October. The 31-year-old forward underwent the same artificial disk replacement surgery that Jack Eichel did, and will be playing in just his ninth game of the season. Toews meanwhile has been out since January dealing with a concussion issue. His return will hopefully come with a resurgence offensively, as the Blackhawks captain was able to score just four times through his first 43 games.

That has been a huge part of why the team has struggled this season, and the future for Toews is now very murky. He missed all of 2020-21 with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, and now seems a shell of the player that was an annual Selke and Hart trophy candidate. With new Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson indicating that a rebuild is coming for Chicago, and Toews having just one year left on his contract, it’s hard to envision him playing there for many more seasons unless he can really find his game at some point. Only 33, (34 in April) getting back on the ice tonight will be a good start.

In de Haan specifically, his return represents a very different situation. The 30-year-old defenseman is on an expiring contract and could be a nice trade deadline piece for the Blackhawks if he can show he’s healthy and relatively effective over the next few weeks. In 48 games this season he has just five points, but a physical defenseman who can play both sides and penalty kill will always be sought-after at the deadline.

Stillman meanwhile is potentially a piece for the future, as the 23-year-old signed a three-year $4.05MM contract extension last spring. In 28 games this season he actually has ten points, despite averaging fewer than 15 minutes a night. If players like de Haan are moved out at some point, the opportunity for a player like Stillman should be increased.

AHL Shuffle: 03/03/22

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It’s another matchup of first and last this evening, as the Colorado Avalanche take on the Arizona Coyotes. Yes, the Coyotes are 52 points behind the Avalanche in the standings, but that didn’t matter the last time these two teams met. On February 1, Alex Galchenyuk was the only successful shooter to give Arizona a 3-2 shootout victory over the powerhouse Colorado squad, a game the Avalanche have surely not forgotten, as it ended a home win streak at 18. As they and other teams around the league prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Ottawa Senators have returned Scott Sabourin to the AHL, after activating him off injured reserve. Sabourin hasn’t played in more than a month and will have to get some minor league action in before he’s ready to help Ottawa.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have activated Riley Barber from injured reserve and assigned him to the minor leagues. The 28-year-old forward has appeared in just two games for Detroit this season, spending most of his year with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Metropolitan Division

  • Zach Fucale is on his way back to Washington, recalled by the Capitals today after Ilya Samsonov was forced to leave practice yesterday. If Samsonov–who took a shot up high and left early–is unable to play, it would likely be Vitek Vanecek making his second start since returning from injured reserve. The Capitals take on the Carolina Hurricanes this evening, trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have sent Isaac Ratcliffe back to the AHL, which could suggest Kevin Hayes is ready to return to action. Ratcliffe, 23, appears to be one of the bright spots for Flyers fans to focus on, with four points in ten games this season. The 6’6″ forward is hard to miss when he’s on the ice, though he did receive fewer than eight minutes of action in his last game.
  • The New York Rangers have recalled Tim Gettinger, moving Kevin Rooney to injured reserve in the process. Gettinger, 23, hasn’t seen NHL action since mid-January and has just 13 games in total since making his debut in the 2018-19 season.

Central Division

  • Alec Regula has been returned to the AHL by the Chicago Blackhawks, where he can continue his strong minor league campaign. The 21-year-old defenseman looks like he will be a part of the Chicago blueline for a long time when he eventually makes the full-time jump, but for now is still focused on development. In 25 games for Rockford, the 6’4″ Regula has 17 points.

Pacific Division

  • The Seattle Kraken have returned Kole Lind to the minor leagues, despite his strong play last night in a win over the Nashville Predators. Lind recorded his second NHL point and generated five shots on goal, but will have to wait patiently for his next opportunity.

This page will be updated throughout the day 

San Jose Sharks Acquire Alex Stalock

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Another goaltender was dealt for future considerations last night, as Alex Stalock is now on his way to the San Jose Sharks from the Edmonton Oilers. The veteran netminder was originally not expected to play at all this season after being diagnosed with myocarditis but has now appeared in five games for the Bakersfield Condors.

Stalock, 34, actually has a long history with the Sharks. Drafted 112th overall by the team in 2005, he suited up 62 times for San Jose over parts of five seasons. That included an incredible rookie run in 2013-14 when he posted a .932 save percentage in 24 appearances, even getting into three postseason games when Antti Niemi struggled in the playoffs. It’s been years since he was part of the Sharks organization though, leaving them in 2016 when he was part of the deal that brought James Reimer over from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After a few seasons in Minnesota, Stalock was actually claimed off waivers by the Oilers in the 2020-21 season, but never appeared for the club at the NHL level. His future is relatively unclear at this point, though it has been good to see him back on the ice after many ruled him out completely. In five appearances with the Condors, he has a 3-1 record and a .862 save percentage.

For the Oilers, there were already enough goaltenders in the system to fill out the minor league spots, with Stuart Skinner obviously needing the most playing time whenever he’s in the AHL. In San Jose meanwhile, the Sharks are dealing with an emergency recall of Zachary Sawchenko while Adin Hill deals with injury, meaning Stalock may actually get a look in the NHL if healthy enough to do so.

Ivan Miroshnichenko Could Miss 2022-23 Season

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One of the top prospects for the 2022 draft–at least before the recent invasion of Ukraine poured doubt onto the futures of all Russian prospects–was Ivan Miroshnichenko, a brilliant skater that combines good size with uncanny offensive instincts. The 18-year-old was expected to go right near the top of the board, with one scout even putting him first overall in Bob McKenzie’s midseason poll for TSN. Now, it’s unclear when Miroshnichenko will even play hockey again.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation announced this morning that the young forward has been diagnosed with a serious health issue and could miss the entire 2022-23 season. He is currently receiving medical treatment in Germany, and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has confirmed that Miroshnichenko has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The disease is “the most common form” according to Friedman, and is curable.

At this point, it’s completely unclear how this will affect Miroshnichenko’s draft position, though it seems very likely that he will drop out of the first few selections. Those choices are so valuable to teams that even with his unique blend of skills–skills that could potentially give him the highest upside in the entire draft–it’s likely too much of a risk to use one on him unless there is more clear progress in the coming months. The NHL draft is set for July 7 this year.

This isn’t the first time a young Russian forward has received some bad medical news recently. Rodion Amirov of the Toronto Maple Leafs is also receiving treatment in Germany after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Snapshots: Capitals, Penguins, King

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Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan gave a variety of updates in a midseason presser today, recapped in this article by The Washington Post’s Samantha Pell. First and most concerning is the health status of winger Carl Hagelin, who was hit in the eye with a stick during yesterday’s practice. MacLellan called the injury “serious,” and Hagelin has had surgery within the past day. MacLellan says the examination went in a positive direction, but that the next steps for Hagelin are “still to be determined.” However, it’s possible that winger Anthony Mantha could return to the lineup this week in Hagelin’s absence. Mantha had six points in 10 games this season before going down with a shoulder injury.

More notes on this Wednesday evening:

  • As the Pittsburgh Penguins embark on a tough schedule ahead with a long string of games against playoff teams, they could be getting two reinforcements back in the lineup. Head coach Mike Sullivan says center Teddy Blueger is now taking full-contact practices but will need a few practices more before he’s ready to return the lineup. Winger Jason Zucker “isn’t as close” as Blueger, but will likely return to practice soon. Blueger has been out since late January with a broken jaw, while Zucker has been out with an upper-body injury since around the same time.
  • Newly-named Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson called interim head coach Derek King “definitely a viable candidate” to be the team’s next permanent head coach today. While Blackhawks fans may be frustrated that their management crew won’t see fresh faces, the rebuilding team has kept up a .500 points percentage under King, an impressive feat considering a weak roster and some tough injuries. It would be King’s first NHL head coaching role.

Edmonton Oilers Extend Dmitri Samorukov, Sign Two Others

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The Edmonton Oilers announced Wednesday afternoon that they’ve signed defenseman Dmitri Samorukov to a one-year contract extension. The organization also signed forward James Hamblin and defenseman Vincent Desharnais, who were both on AHL deals with their affiliate in Bakersfield, to two-year contracts beginning next season. Per CapFriendly, Hamblin’s two-way deal carries a $807,500 cap hit and Desharnais’ carries a $762,500 cap hit. Samorukov’s is a one-way deal paying him $775,000.

Samorukov’s extension and Desharnais’ contract are both standard player contracts, while Hamblin’s is an entry-level deal.

Samorukov, a third-round pick of the team in 2017, is on the right track again after some injury troubles. He made his NHL debut earlier this season and the defensive defenseman has 11 points in 36 AHL games this season, already breaking his career-high of 10 set in 2019-20. He could get a faster track to the NHL under new Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft, considering the two know each other well by this point.

The Woodcroft connection also likely has a lot to do with Desharnais and Hamblin getting their deals. Desharnais has taken the long way to his first NHL deal, signing with the Condors in 2019 after finishing his college career at Providence. Since then, he’s graduated from a stint in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder, and now has 18 points in 42 games with Bakersfield this year. He was actually a seventh-round pick of the Oilers in 2016, but his signing rights expired years ago.

Hamblin, just 22, signed with Bakersfield after three years as captain of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. He has a solid 12 goals and 20 points in 39 AHL games this season.

CHL Cancels Canada-Russia Series

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The CHL has canceled the 2022 Canada-Russia series, releasing the following statement:

The Canadian Hockey League strongly condemns the recent actions by Russia involving military force in Ukraine and encourages a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with both sides winning three games the last time it was held in 2019. It is normally a premier scouting event held in November with representatives from each of the three leagues that make up the CHL, plus a select team from Russia. That will no longer be possible, but the more immediate concern is the rest of the statement and some reporting that emerged earlier in the day.

Dan Milstein, an agent of many of the Russian players in North America, tweeted that the CHL is expected to announce a ban on Russian and Belarusian players from the upcoming draft. Further down in their original statement, the CHL instead says that the date and format of the 2022 Import Draft has yet to be determined and will be announced at a later date. They are “supportive of their [current players] continued development regardless of their country of origin.”

In 2021, 16 Russian players and 11 Belarusian players were selected in the Import Draft.

Calgary Flames Acquire Michael McNiven

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The Calgary Flames have acquired Michael McNiven from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for future considerations. The Laval Rocket, where McNiven was playing, thanked him in a tweet, suggesting he will be moving to one of the minor league affiliates of Calgary.

McNiven, 24, has known only the Canadiens organization since turning pro, signing as an undrafted goaltender out of the OHL. He’s spent time with the Rocket, Brampton Beast, Adirondack Thunder, Jacksonville Icemen, and Norfolk Admirals over the years loaned around to get as much playing time as possible as he continued his development. It paid off this season when he made his NHL debut for Montreal, though things didn’t go very well in his 20 minutes of action. McNiven allowed three goals on seven shots, meaning his career save percentage sits at .571 until he makes another NHL appearance.

A former Owen Sound Attack star who once went 41-9-2 in an incredible junior season, McNiven hasn’t been able to find much consistency at the AHL level and holds just an .869 save percentage this season in 11 appearances. Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic tweets that the goaltender has been unhappy in the Canadiens organization for some time, and will now get a fresh start with the Stockton Heat.

With Jake Allen nearing a return, the Canadiens should have enough goaltending depth to cover all of their organizational holes, though there is also a chance they dip their toes into the college or junior free agent markets at some point. By moving McNiven out, they open up an extra contract slot and now have just 47 of the maximum 50 on the books.

Snapshots: Kraken, Trade Bait, Senators

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The Seattle Kraken are “open for business” in regards to being a third-party broker for trade deadline deals or even a parachute for bad contracts, according to general manager Ron Francis. Francis spoke with Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic and was quite clear that he has already told every other GM in the league that they are willing to spend cap space and money to acquire other assets.

Interestingly enough, he also explained, among other things, that the team is planning on being aggressive again in free agency this summer. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet happened to include a note in today’s 32 Thoughts column that he sees John Klingberg as a good fit for Seattle in the offseason when the veteran defenseman hits unrestricted free agency.

  • If there is a theme to the changes on Frank Seravalli’s trade targets list for Daily Faceoff, it’s young forwards. Filip Zadina, Alexandre Texier, and Kasperi Kapanen all find themselves among the additions, with various reasons for their inclusion. Zadina especially is an interesting one, as he jumps directly to No. 12 on the list of the most likely pieces dealt, despite being on a team that would traditionally be holding onto young assets. The 22-year-old simply hasn’t been successful enough at the NHL level to this point, scoring just 22 goals and 54 points in 138 career games.
  • The Ottawa Senators have opened extension talks with Nick Paul, but David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period tweets that those discussions haven’t progressed very far. The Paul situation is an odd one, given the fact that an extension with Ottawa shouldn’t be that complicated for a player with a career-high of 20 points, and will certainly conjure memories for Senators fans of the situations Mark Stone, Kyle Turris, and Erik Karlsson faced before ultimately being traded out of town.

St. Louis Blues Sign Will Cranley

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Another young prospect has landed an NHL deal, as the St. Louis Blues have signed Will Cranley to a three-year entry-level contract. That contract will start in 2022-23, while Cranley will continue to play with the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL for the rest of this season. Per CapFriendly, the terms of the $842K AAV contract are as follows:

2022-23: $750,000 base, $75,000 signing bonus
2023-24: $775,000 base, $75,000 signing bonus
2024-25: $775,000 base, $75,000 signing bonus

Selected 163rd overall in 2020, Cranley actually made his professional debut with the Utica Comets last season when the OHL was shut down due to COVID restrictions. He stopped 21 of 23 shots in a losing effort, but that performance is obviously encouraging enough to help his case when it came to earning an NHL contract.

It’s the junior level that has actually proven more difficult for the 6’5″ netminder, who has a career .878 save percentage in 66 games for Ottawa so far. That number has actually gone down this season with his .872 save percentage 2021-22, and Cranley has lost 21 of his 34 appearances.

Still, goaltenders with a frame like his don’t come around every day, and the Blues must obviously believe that their development staff can coax the best out of him at the next level. There’s a lot of work to do, but it can start in earnest next season when he jumps full-time to the professional level.

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