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Archives for January 2024

Gabriel Landeskog Skates For First Time Since Cartilage Transplant

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Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog skated on his own today for the first time since undergoing a cartilage transplant in his right knee last May, Colorado Hockey Now’s Evan Rawal relays.

It’s an incredibly promising development for Colorado’s captain. He hasn’t played an NHL game since June 26, 2022, when the Avalanche won Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final over the Lightning to win their third championship in franchise history. His cartilage transplant is the third surgery on his right knee dating back to March 2022.

Landeskog’s second surgery, which took place early in the 2022-23 season, was only expected to keep him out for three months and have him back in the lineup by the All-Star break. Instead, he missed the entire campaign, thus determining a more invasive surgery was needed to correct the issue and improve his long-term quality of life.

While today’s news increases optimism that the 31-year-old will resume his career at some point, expect the Avalanche to be overly cautious with his recovery timeline. Given the nature of a cartilage transplant surgery in an athlete, even a small setback in his progress will take him “back to square one,” Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan last October.

With three months to go until postseason play, it’s too early to rule Landeskog out of playoff action. The Avalanche will be in the mix come April, with 98% odds of making the playoffs and 15% odds of taking the Central Division title from the league-best Winnipeg Jets, per Hockey Reference. Even if he’s cleared to return, though, the likelihood of the Avalanche plopping him into the most rough-and-tumble environment of the season after nearly two years off seems low.

Colorado is certainly of the mind of winning the Cup this season, but it’s fair to assume MacFarland would like to extend the team’s window to compete beyond 2024. Letting Landeskog rest as long as possible in hopes of 2024-25 behind his first season with 70+ games played in six years would help achieve that goal.

At the time of writing, Landeskog’s 738 games played rank sixth in Avalanche history. His 248 goals, 323 assists, and 571 points rank seventh, ninth, and eighth, respectively. His 1.16 points-per-game pace in his final season before the injury, 2021-22, was a career-high.

Jets Notes: Heinola, Dillon, DeMelo

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Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ville Heinola has recovered from the ankle injury that wiped out the start of his season and is ready to return to the ice, according to Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. (via TSN’s John Lu) Heinola will be activated off of injured reserve, and assigned to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose where he can get some game action under his belt before he becomes a consideration for an NHL call-up.

Heinola, 22, is a 2019 first-round pick who was excellent in the AHL last season but has not yet played in more than 12 NHL games in a single season in his career. He appeared to be making real strides in preseason and training camp in the fall, but the injury he suffered scuttled his hopes of making the season-opening roster. Now back and healthy, he’ll look to work towards a more lasting call-up to the Jets’ NHL roster.

Some other Jets notes from Cheveldayoff’s media availability today:

  • Cheveldayoff told the media that they have had some conversations about a new contract with defenseman Brenden Dillon, but added that the discussions are not “ongoing.” The 33-year-old is currently entrenched as the club’s second-pairing left-shot blueliner and averages nearly 19 minutes per night, including 2:20 on the penalty kill. He’s making $3.9MM against the cap and could very well have an argument to match that number on his new deal, despite his age.
  • Another blueliner Cheveldayoff confirmed some, but not ongoing, conversations with on a contract extension is Dylan DeMelo. DeMelo is currently number-one defenseman Josh Morrissey’s partner on the team’s top pairing, and is playing the second-most minutes per night of any Winnipeg Jet. He’s chewing nearly 22 minutes per night and nearly three minutes short-handed. Seeing as he’s making $3MM on his current expiring contract, the 30-year-old’s big campaign on one of the NHL’s best teams is likely to set him up nicely for a pay raise this summer.

Arizona Coyotes Reassign Justin Kirkland

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The Arizona Coyotes have reassigned forward Justin Kirkland to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.

The move comes just as forward Jason Zucker’s suspension is set to expire. Kirkland made his Coyotes debut on January 7th, and played a total of two games on this most recent call-up. He averaged around seven minutes of ice time per game, registering one shot on goal, a shot block, and five hits.

The 27-year-old pivot is a former 25-goal scorer in the AHL who made his NHL debut last season with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s scored 13 points in just 12 games in Tucson so far this season, and now returned there he will likely resume his top-end offensive role with the club.

While he’s back in the AHL for the foreseeable future, it’s not out of question that Kirkland receives another NHL recall. He brings size, versatility, and has shown he can score at the AHL level. Continuing his solid AHL production from the start of this season will be a top priority for him moving forward if he wants to get another shot at a call-up to the NHL roster.

Snapshots: Reinhart, Dumais, Pinto

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With Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander now locked into a long-term contract extension, Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart now appears to be the top free agent who could potentially be available on this summer’s free agent market. But he may not even get there. Reinhart told Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli that discussions are “ongoing” with the Panthers on a contract extension, and the direction of those talks is “definitely positive.”

Reinhart has said that his goal is to remain in Florida, but that doesn’t mean a contract extension is a given. Seeing as the 28-year-old is on pace to score nearly 60 goals and 105 points this season, there wouldn’t be a better time, financially speaking, for Reinhart to put his services up for an expansive free agent bidding war. That being said, Reinhart’s impressive chemistry with center Aleksander Barkov plays a significant role in his offensive success, and with the favorable tax situation in Florida it could be easier to find a solution on an extension that satisfies both sides than it would be in other states.

Some other notes from across the NHL:

  • Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Jordan Dumais, one of the most productive players in recent QMJHL history, is undergoing double hip surgery, according to Kevin Dubé of Le Journal de Québec. This is obviously a significant development for Dumais, who is set to be out until at least the second or third round of the QMJHL playoffs, at the earliest. Dumais has formed one of junior hockey’s best lines alongside Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford and undrafted forward Markus Vidicek. Now, he’ll have to focus on his own recovery rather than chasing down a QMJHL title.
  • Suspended Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto is allowed to resume activities with his teammates today, according to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. Garrioch added that Pinto is expected to resume skating with the Senators on Friday. Pinto has five games remaining in the 41-game suspension that was levied upon him earlier this season. He’ll need to sign a contract before he can dress for any games, though he can skate with the team without a contract. According to Garrioch, “the expectation is he’ll sign a one-year deal at or close to the $874,125 US qualifying offer the club put in the summer” after scoring 20 goals and 35 points in his first full NHL season.

Casey Cizikas Out Week-To-Week With Lower-Body Injury

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The New York Islanders have announced that fourth-line center Casey Cizikas is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

According to the New York Post’s Ethan Sears, the Islanders are trying out “completely different” forward lines in the aftermath of this injury. Cizikas is normally entrenched as the team’s fourth-line center, on an “identity line” with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has now taken on that role in his absence, while star forward Mat Barzal has shifted from Bo Horvat’s wing to Pageau’s old spot at third-line center, among other changes.

Cizikas played in the Islanders’ last game, but was knocked out of the contest after just four minutes of time on the ice. The 32-year-old veteran of nearly 800 games has scored 11 points in 39 contests this season. He’s most valued on Long Island for his work ethic and defensive abilities.

He’s the team’s leading penalty killer at the forward position, meaning the Islanders will need another center (likely Horvat, since Pageau is already a regular penalty killer) to step up and fill in some of those short-handed minutes left behind by Cizikas.

Jeff Skinner Out Week-To-Week With Upper-Body Injury

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The Buffalo Sabres have announced that forward Jeff Skinner is out with an upper-body injury on a week-to-week basis.

It was previously understood that Skinner would be undergoing further testing to determine the full extent of his injury, but there was some hope that it’d be classified as at most a day-to-day absence. That has proven not to be the case. Now, the Sabres will have to make do without a player who ranks second in team scoring.

The 31-year-old has had an impressive career renaissance under head coach Don Granato, going from healthy scratches and just 14 points of production under former coach Ralph Krueger in 2020-21 to a career-high 82 points in 2022-23.

Owner of a $9MM AAV contract, Skinner has become one of the Sabres’ most important offensive generators. Losing Skinner on a week-to-week basis could be a potentially fatal blow to Buffalo’s long-shot playoff hopes. MoneyPuck currently pegs the Sabres at a 7.9% chance of making the playoffs, which is certainly low but not completely impossible.

Without Skinner, it’ll be even tougher for the Sabres to beat the odds and end the league’s most extensive playoff drought. On a team where key offensive players such as Dylan Cozens, Victor Olofsson, Peyton Krebs have failed to take desired steps forward in terms of production, the points Skinner provides on a consistent basis are invaluable.

Without him occupying his typical first-line left-wing slot, the Sabres could turn to Olofsson in that role. Olofsson has previously served as a healthy scratch, but did score 28 goals last season. The Sabres could also opt to elevate their leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt to Skinner’s role, thereby helping replace some of the playmaking Skinner provides, though it would potentially come at the cost of de-stabilizing the Sabres’ third line, leaving Zach Benson and Jordan Greenway in limbo.

Whichever route the Sabres choose to go down in terms of replacing Skinner in the immediate term, one thing is clear: this is a different team without the 2011 Calder Trophy winner, and a team that will find itself even harder-pressed to generate offense.

Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Gage Goncalves

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Gage Goncalves from their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

Set to turn 23 in just a few days, this recall puts Goncalves in a position to potentially make his NHL debut in the middle of his third full season in Syracuse. Goncalves has been a true developmental success story for a Lightning organization that has seen its crop of impactful forward prospects thin in recent years.

A late second-round pick at the 2020 draft, Goncalves spent the year after he was drafted playing in the WHL. He moved to pro hockey in 2021-22, scoring 17 goals and 32 points for the Crunch in a top-nine role. He moved into the top-six full-time last season and scored 13 goals and 54 points, as well as five points in five postseason games.

So far this season, Goncalves has become the centerpiece offensive player for the Crunch and the team’s first-line center. He’s already up to seven goals and 30 points in 33 games, and he recently was named to his first AHL All-Star game.

At the moment, it’s not immediately clear where Goncalves would slot into the Lightning lineup. The natural center is going to have a tough time displacing one of the team’s entrenched pivots (Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul, and Luke Glendening appear to have their roles locked down) but perhaps he can get his start on the wing in place of a less established winger such as former Crunch teammate Alex Barré-Boulet.

But seeing as forward Tanner Jeannot is out indefinitely due to injury, the Lightning before Goncalves’ recall had just 12 healthy forwards on their active roster. If nothing else, Goncalves’ recall gives the club a spare forward in time for tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

Vegas Recalls Isaiah Saville With Adin Hill, Michael Amadio Out

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The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled goaltender Isaiah Saville ahead of their Wednesday night game, as expected starter Adin Hill is not yet ready to return. The Golden Knights also shared that forward Michael Amadio will miss Wednesday’s matchup with illness.

Saville will serve as the team’s backup against the Colorado Avalanche, with Jiri Patera set to make his fourth start of the season. It’s only the sixth start of Patera’s career, which kicked off with two NHL appearances last season. He’s set a 3-2-0 record and .908 save percentage in his limited NHL career, though he’s spent more of his time operating as the starter for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. He’s appeared in 14 AHL games this year, setting a 6-6-2 record and .900 save percentage. He’s been backed up by a platoon of goalies, including Saville, who has managed a 4-3-0 record and .914 save percentages in seven games of his own. The sudden recall is only the second of Saville’s career, though the 23-year-old has yet to play in his first NHL game.

Hill’s unexpected setback now makes nine consecutive games that he’s missed with an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old has continued to look fantastic in the ice time he has managed, setting a league-leading .933 save percentage and 1.93 goals-against-average in the 15 games he’s played this season. His injury forces Vegas to turn to their AHL netminders, as the team is also missing Logan Thompson due to illness. Thompson has served as the de facto starter in Hill’s absence, setting a 12-8 record and .902 save percentage in 24 games.

Snapshots: Gauthier, Chytil, Danielson

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Cutter Gauthier shared that he is currently planning to sign his entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks following the conclusion of Boston College’s season, per team reporter Derek Lee. This news comes after Gauthier’s sudden trade to Anaheim, with the Ducks sending Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick back to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Gauthier added that he feels Boston College has a good chance of winning the 2024 Beanpot and the NCAA championship. The Eagles currently rank on top of USCHO.com’s Men’s Ice Hockey Rankings, boasting a 13-3-1 record. They are tied with the University of Maine for the fewest losses of any top-20 team.

Gauthier has commanded the top center role with Boston College this season, scoring 23 points in his 17 appearances this year – a mark that’s ranked second on the team, behind New York Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault, who has 25 points. Gauthier earned the top role partway through his freshman year last season when he led the team in scoring with 37 points in 32 games. His goal-scoring has also been of note in college, with his 13 goals in 17 games ranked fourth in the NCAA in goals-per-game.

Other notes from around the league:

  • If and when young centerman Filip Chytil is able to return from long-term injured reserve is likely to dictate how the New York Rangers approach the trade deadline, per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. Rosen shares that the Rangers could certainly be an active team as the trade deadline approaches, but that Chytil’s $4.4375MM cap hit will severely limit the team’s ability to add talent should it be added back to their bill. Chytil has been out of action since November 2nd, missing 23 games. The 24-year-old recently returned to his home country of Czechia to continue recovering from what is believed to be a concussion. Chytil recorded 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games last season.
  • Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson has been traded in the WHL, moving from the Brandon Wheat Kings to the Portland Winterhawks. In return, Brandon has received Nicholas Johnson, Rhett Ravndahl, two first-round picks, and a fifth-round pick. Johnson hasn’t played since December 10th, battling his way back from a lower-body injury. Danielson is one of only two players on the Brandon roster scoring at a point-per-game pace, managing 26 points in as many appearances. He led the team in scoring last year with 33 goals and 78 points in 68 games – a mark that was enough for Detroit to select him with the ninth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He now moves to a Portland team that ranks second in the WHL’s Western Conference, with a 25-10-2 record.

Oliver Kylington Loaned To AHL On Conditioning Basis

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01/10/24: The Flames have issued a positive update on Kylington’s progress. He’s “trending towards playing” in the Wranglers’ game tomorrow night against the Ontario Reign. Should he end up playing, it will be Kylington’s first game action since May 2022.

01/04/24: The Calgary Flames have announced that defenseman Oliver Kylington has been sent to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, for the purpose of a conditioning assignment.

Following that announcement, the Flames issued a statement from Kylington which reads as follows:

I feel I’m in a good place with my mental health and ready to take another step forward. Returning to Calgary has been the right decision. I’ve felt tremendous commitment from Flames ownership, management, and my teammates, and I am appreciative of the support and resources made available to me. I also thank my family, friends, and the fans for their encouragement. I’m looking forward to getting on the ice in a team environment and back to my everyday life. I have missed it very much.

Kylington has not played since 2021-22, as he missed all of last season and so far all of 2023-24 for personal reasons. In early December, Flames head coach Ryan Huska gave an update on Kylington’s status, communicating that the Swedish blueliner was still a long way away from returning.

Now, according to today’s announcement, it appears Kylington is now far closer to a return to the NHL than it seemed a little more than a month ago. Kylington’s conditioning stint can last up to six days, or three games, whichever period is longer, although the Flames can request an extension of two games if they decide that would be necessary for Kylington’s fitness to play in the NHL.

Kylington, a pending UFA, has a $2.5MM cap hit that is currently placed on LTIR. The Flames would need to activate him off of that last to get him back onto their roster, though that shouldn’t be a major issue as CapFriendly currently projects them to have more than enough cap space to do so. The team also currently has an open roster spot on its 23-man roster.

As for where Kylington could slot in once he returns to the Flames’ lineup, it’s not immediately clear whether he’d immediately return to playing alongside veteran Chris Tanev. Tanev is currently playing next to Noah Hanifin, so it could be that Kylington takes Jordan Oesterle’s spot alongside MacKenzie Weegar, or Dennis Gilbert’s spot next to Rasmus Andersson.

In any case, this development is an extremely positive one for the Flames. The left side of their defense is notably thinner than their ironclad right side, so adding a player who scored 31 points in 73 games during his last NHL season will certainly help matters there.

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