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Arizona Coyotes Reassign Dysin Mayo

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After he was called up earlier in the week, the Arizona Coyotes assigned defenseman Dysin Mayo to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, per the team.

Mayo has played 15 games for the Coyotes this season, but he’s been held without a point and averages under 12 minutes of ice time per game. In his limited playing time, Mayo’s defense has seen a marked improvement from last season and has been a solid contributor.

The 26-year-old Mayo has been with the Coyotes for almost a decade after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The decision to assign Mayo to the Roadrunners doesn’t come as a significant surprise, given his role. However, he did log significant minutes for the Coyotes blueline in 2021-22, earning a three-year extension in the process.

The Roadrunners are currently sixth in the AHL’s Pacific Division, with a record of 21-25-4. That’s despite having the AHL’s leading scorer, Michael Carcone, who has 63 points in just 43 games in Tucson. Mayo’s return should shore up some defensive depth for Tucson, which has allowed the third-most goals in the league this season.

This last call-up to the Coyotes saw Mayo get into the lineup on two occasions, registering a shot on goal, a minor penalty, and a -1 rating.

In 24 games with the Roadrunners this year, Mayo has two goals and five assists for seven points in 24 games after the Coyotes first sent him down back in December 2022. He’s among the longest-tenured players with the team, playing 277 games in a Roadrunners uniform over seven seasons.

Latest On The Calgary Flames

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The Calgary Flames were a team with plenty of potential after perhaps the busiest offseason of any team, replacing their dynamic duo of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk with well-rounded additions that included Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Stanley Cup winner Nazem Kadri.

However, the team has struggled with consistency this season. Currently sitting in the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, questions are swirling around what moves the Flames will make to improve their roster before the March 3 trade deadline. Today, TSN’s Chris Johnston talked about what he’s heard about Calgary’s deadline plans.

According to Johnston, Flames general manager Brad Treliving has been looking to bolster the team’s forward group “throughout much of the season.” Johnston says that could come with a top-six forward in mind, unlike the team’s depth additions at the deadline last year.

It’s a thought process likely sparked by the disappointing offensive output of Huberdeau, who’s scored just 10 goals and is well south of a point-per-game pace with 36 in 51 appearances.

There have been some positives among Calgary’s current group of top-six forwards. 24-year-old Dillon Dube is seeing an increased role alongside Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli, and he’s responded with a career-high 33 points in just 54 games.

Jakob Pelletier has also been elevated alongside Kadri and Huberdeau at times. However, he has just one assist in eight NHL games as his minutes remain limited under head coach Darryl Sutter.

He also notes that Treliving could also explore adding a defenseman to shore up their blue line. They could use a more well-rounded partner for Nikita Zadorov on the third pair, as veteran Michael Stone is averaging just 13:07 of ice time per game and has posted poor advanced defensive numbers.

Johnston said he thinks the front office is “as perplexed as the rest of the hockey world” about Calgary’s ups and downs this season. The team has had hot stretches, but they’ve largely been immediately wiped out by losing streaks. As a result, they’ve sat on the fringes of a playoff spot after finishing first in the Western Conference last season.

Given their somewhat uncertain standing in a tight Western Conference wild card race, it makes sense that Calgary would take a wait-and-see approach with eight games left to play before deadline day.

Johnston does believe the team will ultimately make a move. Still, spending assets on an addition could be premature if the team can’t string together wins to solidify a playoff position.

Kailer Yamamoto Expected To Play Tomorrow

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The Edmonton Oilers have something up their sleeves. For a week now, the hockey world has been wondering how they would clear enough cap space to activate Kailer Yamamoto. The overwhelming sentiment was that Jesse Puljujarvi would end up on waivers. Either he would be claimed by another team, removing his entire $3MM cap hit, or buried in the minor leagues, giving them the needed $1.125MM.

Today, Puljujarvi was missing from practice but did not appear on waivers. The wire was silent, meaning something else would have to happen if Yamamoto is going to play tomorrow. He looks healthy and even told reporters that he is “feeling really good right now.”

According to head coach Todd Woodcroft, who spoke with reporters, including Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, a roster move is coming, and Yamamoto will play tomorrow. He also called it a “maintenance day” for Puljujarvi, who played a little over 11 minutes last night.

That means a trade is in the pipe, or someone else is going on long-term injured reserve to make room. Either way, all eyes will be on Edmonton over the next 24 hours given how many big names they have been connected to over recent weeks.

The team has shown (sometimes limited) interest in Erik Karlsson, Jakob Chychrun, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Patrick Kane, among others.

There is one other way that they could fit Yamamoto in, without making a trade or waiving someone. Edmonton could send two of their three waiver-exempt players to the minor leagues, and hold a 20-man roster. Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, and Vincent Desharnais can all be loaned back to the AHL without clearing and could create enough cap space, according to PuckPedia.

Carrying a 20-man roster is extremely difficult for any length of time, given how one small injury can leave you shorthanded. Perhaps it is the only way to get around this problem at the moment, or maybe the Oilers have something else coming down the pipe.

NHLPA Names Marty Walsh Executive Director

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As expected, the NHLPA has officially announced their next executive director will be Marty Walsh, ending a nine-month search to replace the outgoing Donald Fehr. Walsh was unanimously appointed by the executive board, after being recommended by the player-led search committee.

Kyle Okposo, a member of that committee, released the following:

We are excited to name Marty Walsh as the next Executive Director of the NHLPA. Marty is a proven leader with a strong union background.  His energy and ability to connect with players were immediately evident to the search committee.  These were the very qualities we were focused on throughout our search for the next Executive Director.  We look forward to the NHLPA’s future under Marty’s leadership.

The committee included Okposo, Ian Cole, Mattias Ekholm, Justin Faulk, Sam Gagner, Zach Hyman, Nate Schmidt, Kevin Shattenkirk, Jacob Trouba, and James van Riemsdyk.

Walsh, 55, is not new to the public eye. He recently served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor, was the mayor of Boston for seven years, spent 16 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and was previously the president of the Laborers Local 223 in Boston.

He will officially take over from Fehr in mid-March, at which time there will be an introductory press conference.

Carl Hagelin Undergoes Hip Surgery

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It doesn’t seem like the Washington Capitals will be getting Carl Hagelin back this season. The veteran forward underwent hip resurfacing surgery on Monday and is now listed out indefinitely.

Hagelin, 34, has gone through a number of injuries over the last year and has not played yet this season. He underwent a hip procedure a few months ago, and had dealt with an eye injury that was affecting his vision.

In January, the speedy forward had been skating, and appeared to be on the road to recovery. But this latest surgery throws the rest of his career in doubt, given his age and the severity of the injury. Teammate Nicklas Backstrom underwent a similar procedure last year and has recovered well, but there are some other factors that could lead to a different outcome for Hagelin.

First and foremost, his contract with the Capitals expires at the end of the season. The four-year, $11MM deal signed in 2019 resulted in just 167 games played, as Hagelin spent more time on injured reserve than on the ice.

There’s also the question of effectiveness, even when healthy. Hagelin had scored just 17 goals in those three seasons with Washington, including three in 53 games during the 2021-22 campaign. While his speed still left him a capable penalty killer, most teams have younger options to fill that role – ones that aren’t coming off multiple hip surgeries.

Turning 35 in August, this could be the end for Hagelin in the NHL. If it is, he finishes with 713 games played, and two Stanley Cup championships. His versatility and work ethic made him a fan favorite anywhere he went, and that speed even landed him some down-ballot Selke love in his prime.

Pierre Dorion Speaks On Senators Trade Deadline Plans

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The Ottawa Senators are in a tricky situation. Similar to the Buffalo Sabres, who sit just a few points ahead of them in the Atlantic Division standings, they have shown some significant growth with a roster full of young, inexperienced talent. The playoffs are likely out of reach this season, but after so many lean years (they last had a winning record in 2016-17), adding at the trade deadline doesn’t seem out of the question.

Even just as a reward for the hard play the team has shown this year, it might be worthwhile to bring in a little boost for the group. More complicated is the fact that the team is going through the process of sale, and increased ticket sales over the last 30 games could be beneficial.

You could tell that there is still some indecision on the part of general manager Pierre Dorion when he met with reporters including Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia today. In detailing his deadline plans, he admitted that the next seven games would determine his strategy one way or another, but there were a few things that he has already decided.

First, is that Alex DeBrincat will not be traded. There had been some speculation regarding the diminutive sniper, because of how his contract is structured moving forward. The 25-year-old DeBrincat is owed a $9MM qualifying if the Senators want to maintain his RFA rights, which would result in a one-year deal that walks him right to unrestricted free agency in 2024. Despite his age, he will qualify for UFA status early because he has already finished six seasons in the NHL.

Ottawa could get a significant piece back for him at the deadline recouping the assets they sent Chicago at the draft. But getting DeBrincat for another season and trying to sign him long-term seems to be the plan for Dorion at this point, kicking the can on a decision down the road. If he’s still unsigned come this time next year, his name will certainly be in the news again.

Second, Derick Brassard will also not be dealt. The veteran forward is coming up on 1,000 games in the NHL, a milestone he will reach with the Senators, his hometown team (Brassard was born in Hull, just across the river from Ottawa). Technically there is still time for that to happen and then be traded, but it doesn’t seem like that is in the cards. Brassard, 35, is on a one-year, $750K contract and will remain with the team for the stretch run.

Third, Dorion admitted that he will add a defenseman if he can, but cautioned that the market is difficult to work with right now. When Travis Hamonic’s name was brought up as a potential chip, he said he likely won’t move him – not quite as determined as in the case of DeBrincat or Brassard.

Part of that need for defense is due to a new injury for Nick Holden, which has moved him to injured reserve. The Senators now have just six defensemen on the roster, as Holden joins Jake Sanderson on IR.

Detroit Red Wings Extend Olli Maatta

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The Detroit Red Wings won’t be flipping Olli Maatta anywhere at the trade deadline. The defenseman has signed a two-year contract extension worth a total of $6MM ($3MM AAV) that will keep him in Detroit through the 2024-25 season.

Maatta, 28, was scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this summer after signing a one-year, $2.25MM contract with Detroit last July. His play this season has still left something to be desired but has been good enough to earn himself a more extended stay.

Playing just over 18 minutes a night, Maatta has 17 points in 49 games. At even strength, the vast majority of that time has been spent next to Filip Hronek, a pairing that has actually had outstanding results, even if the process looks shaky at times. With both players on the ice, Detroit has outscored opponents 29-12 despite rather pedestrian possession numbers.

For whatever reason, it has tilted the ice in Detroit’s favor, something they will try to continue to do over the next two seasons.

It also removes a potential target from trade speculation, as teams were likely considering Maatta as a depth addition, He does have quite a bit of playoff experience and won two Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Given how many other contracts are expiring on the Detroit roster, it makes sense that the front office will be trying to keep some of them. The deadline for the Red Wings could still be an explosive one, especially if Dylan Larkin ends up on the market.

Dallas Stars Recall Fredrik Karlstrom

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The Dallas Stars continue to scroll through depth forwards in the organization, this time recalling Fredrik Karlstrom from the minor leagues.

The 25-year-old Swede played three games for the Stars last season but has yet to appear at the NHL level this year. Through 40 games in the minor leagues, the 6’3″ center has eight goals and 21 points but offers a big, defensively-sound option for the Dallas bottom six.

It’s been something of a revolving door on the Stars fourth line this season, forcing them to rely heavily on their top group. Marian Studenic and Denis Gurianov played fewer than ten minutes on Tuesday night in a loss to the Boston Bruins, and neither one contributed to the penalty kill.

To be an effective presence there, you don’t need 15 minutes and a bunch of offensive zone starts, but it’s been obvious that the coaching staff hasn’t trusted certain players this season. Perhaps Karlstrom can work his way into the rotation and change that.

Brandon Saad Placed On Injured Reserve

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The St. Louis Blues have officially moved Brandon Saad to injured reserve after confirming the veteran forward would miss today’s game earlier in the week. Saad is dealing with an upper-body injury that will now keep him out at least a week, the minimum IR stint.

In his place, Jake Neighbours has been recalled from the minor leagues once again.

Saad, 30, never did put up the offensive numbers that some expected after his first few years in the NHL, but is still a quality two-way player that can be relied on in several situations. With 15 goals in 46 games this year he’s also provided some nice secondary scoring, though his overall impact has begun to decline.

The Blues don’t appear like they’ll be making a push this season, and have already sold off a couple of their expiring contracts. Getting Neighbours up and into some offensive situations was probably the plan all along. This injury will just speed up the process.

Still just 20, Neighbours already has 36 games under his belt at the NHL level and has scored ten points. His transition to pro hockey hasn’t been incredibly smooth but it has still been impressive, given he was drafted at the end of the first round and has barely played in the minor leagues. He’ll likely get a huge opportuntity down the stretch to establish himself as a full-time roster player going into next season.

Injury Notes: Cernak, Holden, Desharnais

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The Tampa Bay Lightning are without a top-four defenseman tonight, per Lightning Insider’s Erik Erlendsson. Erik Cernak has an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Tampa’s premiere shutdown defender will miss his fifth game of the 2022-23 campaign, as numerous short-term absences have kept him out of the lineup throughout the season. Rookie Nicklaus Perbix takes Cernak’s top-four spot tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. Cernak has 10 points in 49 games and a +1 rating on the season, as he enters an eight-year, $41.6MM extension next season.

  • The Ottawa Senators placed defenseman Nick Holden on injured reserve Wednesday, CapFriendly reports. Holden is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury that kept him out of yesterday’s storybook shootout victory over the New York Islanders. The 35-year-old veteran of 636 NHL games has a goal and nine assists in 47 appearances this season, and his 10 points are tied for third among Senators defensemen with Travis Hamonic.
  • Edmonton Oilers depth defender Vincent Desharnais won’t play against the Detroit Red Wings tonight because of an undisclosed illness, says Oilers color commentator Bob Stauffer. Desharnais has been a late bloomer in the Oilers organization, defying the odds to play NHL games after joining the Bakersfield Condors on an AHL contract. The 26-year-old 6’6″ defender has four assists in 12 games this season, largely slotting in when the team has opted to play 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

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