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Archives for April 2023

Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Joseph Woll

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With Matt Murray’s latest injury, the decision on who will start for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs was effectively made. Ilya Samsonov is now the team’s undisputed starter, though someone will need to help get the team through the last few games of the season.

That someone is Joseph Woll, recalled again today under emergency conditions. Radim Zohorna has been returned to the AHL, while Bobby McMann was moved to long-term injured reserve.

Woll, 24, has had an outstanding season. In 21 appearances at the minor league level he is 16-4-1 with a .927 save percentage. In four games with the Maple Leafs, he is 3-1 with a .934. The 2016 third-round pick is finally rounding into form after several injury-laden professional seasons, and is now pushing for a full-time position with Toronto.

Murray left Sunday’s game after an awkward collision with Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond, appearing to hit his head on the ice. The team has not revealed any timeline for the veteran netminder, but it is just another disappointing outcome in a turbulent season.

In 26 appearances, spread out by several injuries, Murray has posted a .903 save percentage. Samsonov, meanwhile, is now 25-10-4 on the year with a .915, and looks poised to meet Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning in game one, should nothing else change for the Maple Leafs over the last part of the season.

Prospect Notes: 2024 Draft, Moore, Michkov

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The 2023 draft is just a few months away, but some teams have already moved their first-round picks and may be looking ahead to next year’s crop of talented youngsters. Today, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic looks at the 2024 draft class, putting Macklin Celebrini as the best prospect available.

Several impact defensemen, including a handful of familiar names, highlight the rest of the group. David Jiricek’s younger brother will be available, as will Lane Hutson’s. Celebrini, meanwhile, will be one to watch as he makes the jump to college hockey next season with Boston University.

  • Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News reports that William Moore has signed on with the U.S. National Team Development Program after recently forgoing part of its development camp. The Mississauga-born dual citizen could have potentially been the first-overall pick in the upcoming OHL draft. Instead, he appears to be maintaining his college eligibility by going the USNTDP route for his hockey development.
  • In a stunning and saddening story from this morning, reports have emerged that the father of top 2023 draft prospect Matvei Michkov was found dead. An investigation into the situation is ongoing, and little information has been confirmed to this point.

Logan Hutsko Linked To SHL

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When the Florida Panthers signed Logan Hutsko in 2021, he looked like an interesting forward addition who could quickly rise through the ranks and provide some NHL value. The third-round pick had played well at Boston College and, despite his small stature, seemed to fit in Florida’s fast, creative, and versatile system.

General manager Bill Zito said he had “dynamic skill” and “unmatched determination,” noting how his pace and compete level would serve him well.

Now, two years later, it appears he might be off to Europe. A Swedish report from Johan Svensson suggests that Hutsko will sign with IK Oskarshamn for next season. As a restricted free agent this summer, he is allowed to sign overseas. The Panthers can temporarily retain his exclusive NHL rights by extending a qualifying offer, though it is unclear if he has any future in the organization.

The 24-year-old has done rather well through his first two years of AHL action, scoring 38 points as a rookie last year and 26 this season in just 39 games.

Through his time in Florida, he has not received a single call-up, and it now looks like he’ll chase a new opportunity elsewhere. Whether he ever makes an impact at the NHL level—or even suits up for a single game—still remains to be seen.

Columbus To Receive Los Angeles Kings 2023 First Rounder

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When the Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff birth last night it guaranteed that the Columbus Blue Jackets would receive their first-round pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft.

Columbus originally acquired a conditional first round pick from the Kings at the trade deadline as part of a package for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

The condition on the traded pick was that if Los Angeles did not qualify for the 2023 playoffs, Columbus would have instead received a 2023 second round pick and a 2024 second round pick. Columbus will likely have the extra pick land somewhere late in the first round, but should be pleased with their slotting in what is expected to be a deep draft.

This trade could ultimately turn out to be a win for both teams. Columbus is trying to rebuild around Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine and the first-round pick should help them fill out the depth around their two offensive stars. Los Angeles on the other hand have emerged from their rebuild as a potential juggernaut in the Western Conference. They still boast a few remaining stars from their two cup winning teams and have done a nice job building around them.

This season the Kings were receiving some of the worst goaltending in the league until the trade with Columbus for Joonas Korpisalo. Korpisalo has gone 5-2-1 in eight games with a 1.75 goals against average and a .936 save percentage in what has been a career year for the 28-year-old. This recent stretch of success couldn’t have come at a better time for the Finnish goaltender, he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and with very few options available on the open market, Korpisalo could be in line for a hefty payday.

Dmitry Voronkov Expected To Sign ELC After KHL Season

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Columbus Dispatch reporter Brian Hedger tweeted that Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Dmitry Voronkov is expected to sign an entry level contract with the team after the KHL’s Gagarin Cup final. Voronkov’s Ak Bars Kazan team is tied 1-1 with Avangard Omsk in the final after dropping game two by a score of 3-2. The series shifts back to Omsk for game three.

The forward was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL entry draft and can play both center and the wing. In 54 KHL regular season games this season the 22-year-old had 18 goals and 13 assists to go along with four goals and four assists in 13 playoff games.

Voronkov is viewed by many around the Blue Jackets as a two-way forward who can fill a bottom six center role and chip in some offense. Hedger tweeted that Voronkov is “a big, snarly, two-way C prospect who projects as a hard-hitting hell-raiser for a third or fourth NHL checking line.”

Columbus is in desperate need of bottom six support. They are currently deploying Joshua Dunne and Justin Richards as their third- and fourth-line centers and both players have struggled in limited action. While it is customary for teams to audition young players when they find themselves out of the playoff picture, both Dunne and Richards are in their mid-20’s and are hardly seen as prospects at this point in their career.

Chandler Stephenson Out Tonight With An Illness

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Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Sun is reporting that the Vegas Golden Knights will be without the services of Chandler Stephenson this evening when they take on the Minnesota Wild. Stephenson was a late scratch with what is being described as an illness. He remains questionable for tomorrow night’s game against the Nashville Predators.

The 28-year-old Stephenson has 59 points in 76 games this season for the Golden Knights and should top 60 points for the second straight year. The Saskatoon native emerged last season as an offensive threat for Vegas and has carried his point production into this season as he currently sits second on Vegas in scoring. Stephenson came over to the Golden Knights in a trade with the Washington Capitals back in 2019 and quickly morphed his game from a defensive bottom six center into a play driving offensive player who is part of an effective power play unit.

Stephenson’s absence likely means that Teddy Blueger will be elevated from the fourth line to play alongside Phil Kessel on the third line. Blueger came over from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline and hasn’t shown much offense this season. He has five points in 14 games with Vegas since the trade and just 15 points in 59 games on the season.

Vegas has already clinched a playoff spot in what has been a bounce back season for the team after missing the postseason last year. The Golden Knights have a good chance to win the Pacific Division as they currently sit one point up on the Los Angeles Kings with a game in hand.

Snapshots: Three Stars, Moore, Briere

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The NHL released its Three Stars of the week ending April 2 and it shows a trio of league superstars who are gearing up for the postseason. Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was named the first star of the week. He started three games for the Lightning, winning them all, getting shutouts in two of those games and allowing just one goal in those three starts. Vasilevskiy shut out the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders while stopping 99 out of the 100 shots he faced in the past seven days.

Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers was the second star of the week. He helped the Oilers win all four of their games by scoring five goals and eight points as the Oilers officially clinched a playoff spot. His best game of the week came on Saturday night against the Anaheim Ducks when he scored a hat trick in a 6-0 victory for the Oilers.

The league’s third star of the week was Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak. He continued his hot pace that has lasted all season, just like his team. The Bruins won three of their four games last week with Pastrnak scoring five goals and six points in those four games. He now has 56 goals and 103 points on the season and has played a big role in the Bruins already reaching 60 wins and clinching the President’s Trophy as the team with the best regular season record.

  • Per Mark Divver of NHL.com, Detroit Red Wings prospect Cooper Moore found a new place to play next season. The defenseman has played the past three seasons at North Dakota, but will be heading to Quinnipiac next season as a senior. The 22 year old was a fifth-round pick of the Red Wings in 2019 and scored 13 points in 31 games at North Dakota last season.
  • Mercyhurst forward Carson Briere has been released from the team, per Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News. Briere was caught on video pushing a wheelchair down a flight of stairs last month. He just finished his third season of college hockey, scoring five goals and 13 points in 30 games, but will not be back for a fourth season at Mercyhurst.

Roster Notes: Meyers, Wedgewood, Kasper

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The Colorado Avalanche announced Ben Meyers has been called up to the NHL roster. The 24 year old is playing his first full pro season after a great college career at Minnesota and has split that time between the AHL’s Colorado Eagles and the Avalanche. Though he has played well at the minor-league level, Meyers has struggled with the Avalanche this season.

In 20 AHL games, Meyers has scored six goals and 24 points, but in 33 NHL games he has just one goal and is yet to register his first NHL assist of his career. The Avalanche will use Meyers as a depth part as they try to claim the top spot in the Central Division. There is currently just one point separating the first-place Minnesota Wild from third-place Dallas Stars with Colorado currently holding on to the second seed with just seven games to play in the regular season.

  • Speaking of the Dallas Stars, they announced Scott Wedgewood would return to the lineup today after a long absence. The veteran goaltender has been out of the lineup since February 18 with a lower-body injury but is finally ready to return after missing six weeks. He has played 18 games with the Stars this season, posting a 2.92 GAA and a .913 SV%. He will be in goal when the Stars face the Nashville Predators tonight.
  • Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News reports Marco Kasper is dealing with a lower-body injury and he is currently listed as day-to-day. Kasper, the Red Wings first-round draft pick last June, just made his NHL debut on Sunday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 18 year old played 14:59 in his debut and had one shot on goal, but he may have to wait a few days before he gets into the second NHL game of his career.

Canadiens Recall Corey Schueneman

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The Montreal Canadiens announced today that Corey Schueneman has been called up to the NHL. The 27-year-old defenseman has played most of this season with the Laval Rocket, but has already suited up for four NHL games with the Canadiens this season as well. He has one assist in those four games and had two goals and six points in 24 NHL games last season.

With the Rocket, Schueneman has carved out a big role over the past two seasons, playing 58 AHL games this season and scoring five goals and 21 points. The 6-foot and 196 pound defender is a pending unrestricted free agent, and will get a short audition in the NHL to show someone he can be a reliable depth option for them next season.

This move signals bad news for defenseman Jordan Harris who appears to be just the latest Canadiens player to suffer an injury. Harris missed practice today, and though there was no official update on his status, the Canadiens would not need Schueneman if Harris was healthy. It is also important to note Schueneman was recalled on an emergency basis, which means the Canadiens do not have enough healthy defensemen for Tuesday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Defensemen Kaiden Guhle, David Savard and Arber Xhekaj are already out of the Canadiens lineup with injuries and Harris appears to be the next blue liner to join that list. It opens the door for Schueneman who is looking for a contract for next season.

Minor Moves: Blue Jackets, Steen, Sharks

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The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Monday that they’ve added goaltender Jet Greaves on emergency recall from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, assigning goaltender Jon Gillies to Cleveland in a corresponding move. Additionally, center Justin Richards has been assigned to Cleveland.

The move to swap Greaves and Gillies comes after Gillies won his Columbus debut last night, stopping 19 of 22 shots in an overtime win. Greaves has been recalled to Columbus on multiple occasions this season but has still yet to appear in his first NHL game. With the end of the season approaching, Columbus will continue to rotate goalies between the NHL and AHL to give everyone playing time, especially with Elvis Merzlikins sidelined with a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old Richards was returned to Cleveland after registering an assist while playing in the team’s last two games.

  • The Boston Bruins announced today that forward Oskar Steen has been assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate in Providence. Steen, 25, has recorded a goal in two appearances for the Bruins this season, both coming within the last few weeks. The move is likely a sign that either David Krejci is ready to return from a lower-body injury or the team plans on putting Patrice Bergeron back in the lineup after taking some time for load management.
  • The San Jose Sharks have announced that forwards Kyle Criscuolo and Daniil Gushchin have been reassigned to their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. Criscuolo, 30, scored his first NHL goal in his first appearance for the Sharks over the weekend, while Gushchin, 21, also scored his first NHL goal, coming in his NHL debut. Gushchin has had a productive first professional season in the minors after being drafted 76th overall in 2020.

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