Today marks the end of the regular season for most teams, as the eliminated ones conduct their exit interviews and contending ones gear up for the playoffs. There are no games on the docket today, and the only remaining regular season contest is a Sunday tie between the Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets. Today should see some action with teams shuffling their rosters in order to get their AHL affiliates the ideal rosters for the Calder Cup playoffs, and we’ll keep track of all that roster shuffling here.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have made a whole host of moves to add players to the Belleville Senators in advance of their affiliate’s playoff run. The team assigned four players to Belleville: goaltender Filip Gustavsson and forwards Viktor Lodin, Mark Kastelic, and Parker Kelly. While Gustavsson, Kastelic, and Lodin (at least since he has come over to North America) have played more games for Belleville than Ottawa this season, Kelly actually got into 41 NHL games compared to 33 in the AHL, so getting him back for their playoff run will likely be a nice boost for Belleville as they look to capture the Calder Cup.
- While not an AHL transaction, the Buffalo Sabres have loaned goaltender Michael Houser to Cincinnati of the ECHL. The 29-year-old had his minor league deal converted to an NHL pact back in January and he was recalled yesterday to serve as the backup for Buffalo’s final game of the season.
- The Boston Bruins have returned defensemen Jack Ahcan plus forwards Marc McLaughlin, Oskar Steen, and Jack Studnicka to Providence of the AHL, per the AHL’s transactions log. All four players were in the lineup last night for their regular season finale against Toronto. One player who isn’t going to be returned for the AHL playoffs, however, is forward Chris Wagner, reports Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). He recorded 11 hits last night and will be kept as a fourth line option for their series against Carolina.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have returned winger Joey Anderson to Toronto of the AHL, per the AHL’s transactions log. Anderson played 12:33 against Boston last night while on emergency recall. He has 42 points in 55 games with the Marlies this season, a team that is trying to secure the final North Division playoff spot this afternoon.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled center Riley Nash, per an announcement from their AHL affiliate in Syracuse. Brayden Point was scratched for their game on Friday and Nash will serve as an extra option down the middle in case Point’s injury carries over into the playoffs. Nash had four assists in 49 games between the Lightning and Coyotes this season.
Metropolitan Division
- While this was reported yesterday, the New York Rangers today confirmed the seven black aces that will be joining the team for their playoff run. The team has recalled forwards Tim Gettinger, Lauri Pajuniemi, defensemen Zac Jones, Matthew Robertson, Nils Lundkvist, Jarred Tinordi, and goaltender Keith Kinkaid from the Hartford Wolf Pack. For the Rangers, the team is hoping that their roster stays healthy and none of these players end up needing to play. But with the brutal nature of playoff hockey, one or two could find their way into the lineup.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have loaned the following players to their AHL Affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms: Defensemen Egor Zamula and Linus Hogberg and goaltender Felix Sandstrom. Each player has played the majority of their season with the Phantoms, but has gotten some games in with the Flyers more recently as the team plays out the stretch run of what has been a miserable season for their franchise. Now, each player gets the chance to return to where they have spent most of their seasons to help the Phantoms for their final game of their season, a contest against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
- The New Jersey Devils announced that they’ve returned wingers Alexander Holtz, Fabian Zetterlund, and Nolan Foote, as well as defenseman Nikita Okhotyuk, Reilly Walsh, and Kevin Bahl to Utica of the AHL. The Comets finished first in the North Division and will now have ample reinforcements coming in time for the playoffs. New Jersey also assigned 2021 first-round pick Chase Stillman to Utica after his junior team in Peterborough was eliminated in the OHL playoffs.
Central Division
- The St. Louis Blues announced the recall of center Dakota Joshua from Springfield of the AHL. The 25-year-old has split the season between the Blues and Thunderbirds, picking up three goals and five assists in 30 NHL contests plus nine goals and 11 helpers in 35 AHL contests. Joshua should start the playoffs as extra depth but could get into the lineup at some point in their series against Minnesota.
Pacific Division
- With the Anaheim Ducks out of the playoffs, they have returned defensemen Simon Benoit and Trevor Carrick plus wingers Buddy Robinson and Hunter Drew to San Diego of the AHL. The Gulls secured the seventh and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division and will play Ontario (the Kings’ affiliate) in a best-of-three play-in series beginning next week.
This page will be updated throughout the day.