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Archives for February 2023

Alex Ovechkin Away From Capitals For Personal Reasons

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Feb 15: Ovechkin has announced the death of his father. Though no official timeline has been given for his return, head coach Peter Laviolette told the media, including Tom Gulitti of NHL.com, that he does not expect him back this week. That throws his status for Saturday’s Stadium Series game in jeopardy.

Feb 14: The Gretzky chase will have to wait. Alex Ovechkin will be away from the Washington Capitals to attend to a family matter and the health of a loved one.

After going scoreless in his last four, Ovechkin sits at 32 goals through 54 games this season and 812 for his career. Every time he lights the lamp, he inches closer to hockey immortality – and helps the Capitals fight for a playoff spot in the tough Metropolitan Division.

It is not clear how long he will be absent but will be missing at least tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes. The club also takes on the Florida Panthers on Thursday before meeting Carolina again on Saturday night.

Hopefully, the superstar winger will resolve whatever is taking him away and return to the team before long.

In the meantime, the Capitals have recalled Joe Snively to take his place. The 27-year-old winger has played six games with Washington this season, recording one point. The 5’9″ forward certainly isn’t a replacement for Ovechkin but is a nice offensive piece that the team can move around and potentially put on the powerplay.

Alex Steeves Reassigned To AHL; Auston Matthews Expected To Return

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The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their roster tweaks, this time sending Alex Steeves back down to the minor leagues. The move comes with Wayne Simmonds on waivers and Auston Matthews appearing to be ready to return after taking in a full practice yesterday.

Steeves, 23, will be down in time to rejoin the Toronto Marlies for their morning match against the Utica Comets today, but likely means he won’t be playing for the Maple Leafs this evening. The young undrafted forward has been outstanding at the AHL level, scoring 39 points in 44 games this season and generally being one of the team’s most reliable players.

Through two games this season and three last year, Steeves has just one point at the NHL level and hasn’t recorded a goal just yet. After becoming a star at Notre Dame, he signed an entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs that keeps him under contract through the 2023-24 season.

If this indicates Matthews’ return, it will be nearly bang on the three-week timeline he was originally given. The star forward last played on January 25 against the New York Rangers, before being shut down due to a knee sprain.

Without him, Toronto has gone 2-3, including an embarrassing loss to the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, in which they were outshot 40-29. Getting him back ahead of the deadline is no small thing, as the Maple Leafs can assess the strength of their group at full health.

Injury Notes: Pageau, Tinordi, Faber

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The New York Islanders are without one of their best depth pieces tonight against the Ottawa Senators. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is out for tonight’s game against his former team with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day, per the team.

Pageau sustained the injury at practice yesterday, says Stefen Rosner of NYI Hockey Now. Reportedly, Pageau was “clipped” during a drill and was slow to get up, yet stayed on the ice for the remainder of practice. The 30-year-old center has 10 goals and 29 points in 56 games this season. This is his first absence of the 2022-23 campaign.

  • Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi is out for the remainder of tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens with an undisclosed injury, the team said. The Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope notes that Tinordi had fallen awkwardly on a shift in the first period. Tinordi, 30, was claimed on waivers by the Blackhawks at the beginning of the season and has suited up in 26 games, recording five points.
  • One of the best prospects in hockey on one of the best teams in college hockey is out long-term. The Athletic’s Michael Russo agreed with reports today that Minnesota Wild defense prospect and University of Minnesota captain Brock Faber is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Kevin Fiala trade, Faber has 20 points in 30 games with Minnesota this year after representing the United States at the Olympics and World Junior Championships last season.

Trade Rumors: Meier, Gavrikov, Demko

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The latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading saw analysts such as Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston discuss some of the highest-profile names available on the market ahead of the trade deadline. One of those is San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier, and LeBrun gave significant updates on the two apparent frontrunners for his services: the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes.

On the New Jersey front, LeBrun says things are heating up, with talks accelerating between the two parties over the last 48 hours. Meier’s status as a pending restricted free agent is likely jamming up the works in getting a trade finalized, though, as LeBrun reports the Devils’ interest in Meier hinges on an extension as part of the trade. That’s a complicating factor, as LeBrun reported days ago that the Sharks have not yet permitted Meier’s agent, Claude Lemieux, to discuss potential extension terms with interested teams.

For the Hurricanes, it’s the opposite. LeBrun called them the more “open-minded” of the two front-runners, as they reportedly don’t need an extension worked out as part of the trade.

  • LeBrun also gave an update on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who’s scratched tonight for asset protection. He named the Edmonton Oilers as a fit for Gavrikov, as while their interest in San Jose Sharks superstar Erik Karlsson is well-documented, the financial aspect of the trade is likely too tough to work out. A swap with Gavrikov and oft-maligned forward Jesse Puljujarvi would save Edmonton money, as Gavrikov’s $2.8MM cap hit comes in $200,000 under Puljujarvi’s $3MM hit. Johnston also added that there may be some “sticker shock” for teams calling on Gavrikov, as Columbus is holding firm to an ask of a first-round, third-round, and fourth-round draft pick.
  • Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko told reporters including CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal today that rumors of a trade request are unfounded. Dhaliwal added that Demko’s agent, Jordan Neumann, had reiterated to him that Demko didn’t want out of the Canucks organization. After a two-and-a-half month absence due to injury, Demko is close to returning to the Canucks lineup in the near future.

Anton Malmstrom Garnering NHL Interest

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Defenseman Anton Malmstrom from Bowling Green State University is drawing some NHL interest as the end of the college hockey season approaches, reports Bally Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland. After attending St. Louis Blues development camp last summer, Strickland says they remain the front-runner to sign him.

Malmstrom is not a name most hockey fans will be familiar with. Passed over in his draft year, 2018, Malmstrom spent two more seasons in his home country of Sweden before crossing the Atlantic to play at Bowling Green.

He’s far from an offensive force, but strong defensive structure in his game earned him a four-game call-up to the SHL’s Djurgardens IF in his last year in Sweden, 2019-20. In three seasons since with Bowling Green, including the current year, Malmstrom has seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 85 games.

While those offensive numbers aren’t eye-popping, Malmstrom hasn’t produced much above U18 play. It’s clearly not the calling card of his game, though, and his defensive play has been strong enough to warrant past and present interest from NHL teams. Malmstrom also participated in the Boston Bruins development camp in 2021.

His 6’4″, 203-pound frame certainly adds to the appeal. Now with another season under his belt in North America, Strickland’s report suggests NHL teams are ready to extend a financial commitment to Malmstrom’s furthered development.

Vladislav Gavrikov Held Out For Trade-Related Reasons

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4:55 pm: While Gavrikov has likely played his last game in Columbus, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes doesn’t expect a trade to come tonight. He tweeted Tuesday afternoon that “nothing is imminent” regarding Gavrikov and that Columbus remains aggressive in trying to find a trade partner.

9:34 am: We have a new catchphrase in the NHL. Vladislav Gavrikov will be held out of tonight’s Columbus Blue Jackets’ lineup for “trade-related reasons.” The big defender has been one of the top trade targets for weeks, given his expiring contract and versatility.

Gavrikov, 27, carries a cap hit of just $2.8MM, meaning basically any contender in the league could fit him in with some creative accounting. Given that Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets is reporting no trade is imminent, this move will likely cause all interested teams to put together their best offer.

This isn’t a player that will wow you offensively, but Gavrikov can do just about everything else. He is physical, defends hard, blocks a ton of shots, and can help any penalty kill. Plus, even though offense isn’t his calling card, he can effectively move the puck out of his end – not just bang it off the glass. That’s how he ended up with 33 points last season, even if that number is probably going to be a career-high or close to it.

At last year’s deadline, defensive defensemen with expiring contracts brought back a significant amount at the deadline. Josh Manson cost a second-round pick, and prospect Drew Helleson, while Ben Chiarot even landed a first-round pick for the Montreal Canadiens. The former ended up winning a Stanley Cup and re-signing, while the latter didn’t contribute much in the postseason, and then moved on in free agency.

You can see how it might be difficult to jump into the bidding on a player like Gavrikov, even if he fits a need. In this case, Gavrikov’s agent has already been given permission to discuss an extension with interested teams. That will maximize the Blue Jackets’ return and give acquiring clubs a bit of security past this one playoff run.

Given his age, an extension is buying out prime years for the big Russian. Gavrikov won’t turn 28 until late November.

Detroit Red Wings Place Lucas Raymond On IR, Recall Jakub Vrana

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After he missed the last two games, the Detroit Red Wings placed forward Lucas Raymond on injured reserve today, retroactive to February 10. The team announced that Jakub Vrana has been recalled from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins to replace Raymond’s roster spot.

It’s an unfortunate absence for Raymond. Last Friday, he sustained a lower-body injury after colliding with teammate Ben Chiarot in practice. He’ll miss at least the team’s next two games, a back-to-back in Alberta against Edmonton and Calgary.

Again in a top-six role, Raymond has 15 goals, 18 assists, and 33 points in 50 games with Detroit. He’d yet to miss a game in his young NHL career until last weekend’s absence.

For Vrana, it’s been a long road back to the NHL since entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program last October. He was out of action for two months until returning to Red Wings practice in mid-December, but he hasn’t played a game for Detroit since then. The team assigned him a conditioning stint to Grand Rapids days later, where he’s remained since, clearing waivers in the process.

Vrana ended up suiting up 17 times for Grand Rapids, recording six goals and five assists for 11 points. It’s not the type of production you’d like to see in the minors from a player who’s been a bona fide top-six winger over the past three seasons. But the reported deteriorating relationship between Vrana and the Red Wings might need to be considered as a factor.

With this year and next left on a contract paying him $5.25MM per season, this could be a showcase move for Vrana. He does have some trade value, especially if Detroit retains salary, and especially if he can put up some points in his return to the lineup. The 26-year-old has been on pace for at least 20 goals in four consecutive seasons, although injuries and COVID have hampered his numbers since 2020.

Snapshots: Predators, Shore, Gadjovich

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The Nashville Predators aren’t going to be buyers this year. That’s according to general manager David Poile, who joined Nashville radio this morning to explain his trade deadline plans.

I do not think we are a buyer, let’s start with that. If things don’t change more favorably and get into some kind of winning streak, we certainly could be a seller. But that’s not today. 

The Predators sit fifth in the Central Division, and despite a 25-20-6 record, actually have a negative goal differential on the year. However, what they would sell isn’t clear, given the only pending UFAs on the roster are Mark Jankowski and Kevin Lankinen. Teams rarely target players with long-term contracts at the deadline, and the Predators have 10 of 23 roster spots inked through at least 2024-25.

  • Devin Shore is back up for the Edmonton Oilers, meaning Kailer Yamamoto won’t be coming off injured reserve just yet. Klim Kostin was back on the ice with the team today, and Leon Draisatil was only missing for maintenance and is expected to play tomorrow. For Yamamoto to return, the Oilers need to clear a significant amount of cap space; most expect that to be the waiving or trade of Jesse Puljujarvi, though nothing has materialized to this point.
  • Jonah Gadjovich will be out on a week-to-week basis, according to Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group. Kevin Labanc will jump back into the San Jose Sharks lineup on the fourth line, potentially giving the team a chance to showcase the forward before the trade deadline. The 27-year-old Labanc still carries a $4.725MM cap hit through next season and has 25 points in 45 games.

Arber Xhekaj Out Indefinitely

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One of the bright spots for the Montreal Canadiens and their fans this season has been the emergence of Arber Xhekaj. The young defenseman basically came out of nowhere to make an impact at the NHL level, bringing an intimidating level of physicality to the rink every night.

Unfortunately, that rookie season may be cut short. The Canadiens have announced that Xhekaj will be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury suffered on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers.

No clear timeline has been determined yet, but the injury appeared to be related to his right arm or shoulder after a fight with Vincent Desharnais.

Through 51 games this season, Xhekaj leads the NHL with 101 penalty minutes and has landed 159 hits to lead the Canadiens easily. Those numbers are despite averaging just 15 minutes a game on the back end, alongside several other of the Montreal youngsters.

Even though his toughness will stand out more than anything, Xhekaj has also impressed with real NHL ability. He has five goals and 13 points, even occasionally seeing some time on the powerplay. That is an incredible feat for an undrafted defenseman coming right out of junior hockey.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Spencer Martin Clear Waivers

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Feb 14: Both players have cleared and can be assigned to the minor leagues.

Feb 13: According to Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness, who spoke with reporters including Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby has been placed on waivers today. The club needed room for the return of Dylan DeMelo and is “selfishly” hoping that Jonsson-Fjallby clears and can stay with the organization.

He isn’t alone. Spencer Martin has also been placed on waivers by the Vancouver Canucks, suggesting that Thatcher Demko will soon return from injury.

It’s a significant fall for Martin, who signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Canucks in April to serve as the team’s primary backup. At the time, it seemed rather undeserved given he had only played in nine NHL games, but the Canucks were confident in his ability to play at the highest level after posting a .950 save percentage in his short time with them.

Unfortunately, he’s come nowhere near that number this season, with an .871 through 29 appearances. The goaltending in Vancouver has been rather dreadful, even if their defensive performance has hung netminders out to dry far too often.

The move essentially signals that Collin Delia has passed him on the depth chart, and will remain as the backup for Demko moving forward.

For Jonsson-Fjallby, this could potentially lead to another fresh start somewhere else. Not only do the Washington Capitals have the option of re-claiming him and sending him directly to the minor leagues if they are the only team interested, but his play could draw the gaze of some other teams looking for depth forwards. Through 45 games with Winnipeg, the 25-year-old has four goals and 11 points, routinely showing off his speed to get in on the forecheck.

He won’t be a top-six impact player, but could be of interest for clubs looking to add penalty killing and energy to a fourth line.

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