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Vancouver Canucks Reassign Arturs Silovs

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Now that Thatcher Demko appears healthy after recording back-to-back wins earlier in the week, the Vancouver Canucks no longer needed three goalies on the roster. The odd-man out is Arturs Silovs, as the Canucks announced they reassigned Silovs back to their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, earlier today.

Due to Demko’s recurring injuries throughout the 2024-25 campaign, Silovs has been an oft-called-upon third netminder for Vancouver. He’s doubled his career games total this season, managing a 2-6-1 record in 10 games for the Canucks with a .861 SV% and 3.65 GAA. If the topical save percentage and goals-against average weren’t bad enough, Moneypuck has Silovs ranked 66th out of 72 netminders with 10 or more games played this year with a -10.2 goals saved above expected.

It’s a far cry from his impressive performance in last year’s playoffs. Vancouver tasked Silovs with backstopping the team through the back half of their Round One matchup against the Nashville Predators after Demko and Casey DeSmith fell to injuries. Including a series-deciding shutout in Game Six against Nashville, Silovs helped the Canucks take the eventual Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers to seven games.

Unsurprisingly, his time in Abbotsford this season has provided better results. Despite being rostered for Vancouver for much of the year, Silovs has posted a 11-4-0 record in 15 games with the AHL Canucks with a .902 SV% and 2.53 GAA. His save percentage has dropped mildly compared to last season, but Silovs has still proved a quality goaltender at the AHL level.

Lack Of Cap Space An Impediment For Lightning And Isaac Howard

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With more college teams starting to be eliminated, we’re seeing an influx of NHL prospects signing contracts.  With Michigan State losing on Thursday, several of their prospects will be turning pro.  While it’s expected that Lightning winger Isaac Howard will be one of them, his situation might take a little longer to resolve.

Scott Wheeler of The Athletic relays (Twitter links) that Howard’s desire is to burn a year of his entry-level deal right away and join Tampa Bay for the stretch run where he could play for them, including in the playoffs.  However, that’s something they can’t afford to do.  Per PuckPedia, the team has just $8,372 of cap space which obviously isn’t enough to fit Howard in.  Even prorating by day, they’d likely only be able to sign him with two days left in the regular season.  That’s still not for another roughly three weeks and it might be harder for the team to consider using him in the playoffs after sitting for so long.

Alternatively, the Lightning could push for Howard to go to AHL Syracuse.  For that to happen, he’d have to sign an entry-level deal that begins next season (eliminating his NHL eligibility this season) or sign a tryout deal with the Crunch, play with them for a bit, and then sign an NHL deal with Tampa Bay beginning this year to be playoff-eligible.  The latter route is rarely taken but there is a recent instance of a player doing that; Anaheim’s Sam Colangelo took that path last season.

Howard started his college career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2022-23 but went to Michigan State via the transfer portal the following year.  He put up a point per game last season and found another gear offensively this year, tallying 26 goals and 26 assists in just 37 games, slotting him fifth in NCAA scoring while demonstrating he’s ready to make the jump to the pros.  But with Tampa Bay’s cap situation, just how exactly he’s going to start his professional career remains in question.

Predators Sign Matthew Wood

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Another top college prospect has decided that the time is right to turn pro.  The Predators announced that they have signed forward Matthew Wood to a three-year, entry-level contract.  Financial terms of the deal, which begins this season, were not disclosed.

The 20-year-old was the 15th overall selection back in 2023, following a very impressive freshman season at the University of Connecticut.  That year, he had 11 goals and 23 assists in 35 games before averaging nearly two points per game for Canada at the World Under-18s, further boosting his stock heading into the draft.

But things didn’t go as well for Wood last season.  His point total dropped to 28 in 34 games although 16 of those were goals.  Nevertheless, he opted to enter the transfer portal after the season, joining the University of Minnesota.

Wood played for Canada at the World Juniors last year but didn’t make the squad this season.  However, he had a strong year for the Golden Gophers, setting new benchmarks in goals (17) and points (39) in 39 contests, good for a share of second place in team scoring while earning him a spot on the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention team.

Wood will now get his first taste of NHL action as he’ll report to the Predators in the coming days.  Because he’s burning the first year of his contract this season, he will not be eligible to report to AHL Milwaukee when Nashville’s season comes to an end.  The Preds have ten games left this season so Wood should have a chance to get at least a few games in with the big club, giving him a chance to make a good first impression toward a possible full-time spot next season.

Connor Zary Out Week-To-Week

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While it wasn’t the worst-case scenario for Flames forward Connor Zary as it pertains to his lower-body injury, he’ll still be out for a little while.  The team announced (Twitter link) that Zary has been listed as out week-to-week.

The injury was sustained back on Thursday in their loss to Dallas in a collision with Mikko Rantanen, requiring some assistance to get off the ice.  Initially feared it could be a recurrence of the significant knee injury that caused Zary to miss 15 games recently, it doesn’t appear as if the injury is as severe but nonetheless, he’s set to miss some time.

This is Zary’s first full NHL season after he spent a bit of time with AHL Calgary last year.  The 23-year-old had 14 goals and 20 assists in 63 games in 2023-24 and is producing at a similar clip this year, tallying 13 goals and 14 helpers in 54 outings, good for seventh in team scoring, fifth among Flames forwards.

Zary joins Anthony Mantha and Justin Kirkland (who both have season-ending injuries) on the shelf for Calgary as they look to get back into a playoff spot.  Entering tonight’s action, the Flames are six points out of the last Wild Card spot held by St. Louis but also have three games in hand on the Blues.  But they’ll have to find a way to stay in the mix without one of their top-six forwards for at least the next little while.

Bokondji Imama Out Four To Six Months After Bicep Surgery

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Bokondji Imama’s first season with the Penguins has come to an early end.  The team announced that the winger underwent successful surgery to repair a bicep injury.  The procedure carries a recovery timeline of four to six months.

The 28-year-old joined Pittsburgh in free agency last summer, inking a one-year, two-way contract.  Imama started the campaign with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, notching three goals, two assists, and 47 penalty minutes in 24 games with them before being recalled to the big club in late January.

Since then, Imama has had his biggest taste of NHL action, getting into 16 games, tallying a goal, 30 penalty minutes, and 45 hits in a little under six minutes of playing time per night.  For his career, he has a pair of goals in 31 appearances at the top level.

Imama will once again be an unrestricted free agent this summer.  At the long end of the recovery timeline, he could miss part of training camp which might negatively affect his market in free agency.  Imama indicated earlier this month that his preference was to remain with Pittsburgh but with this injury, it remains to be seen if they’ll be willing to do so.

Flames Sign Jacob Battaglia To Entry-Level Contract

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The Flames have agreed to terms with one of their more promising prospects.  The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve signed winger Jacob Battaglia to a three-year, entry-level contract.  The deal will carry an AAV of $931.7K and while not specified by the club, it will begin next season.

The 19-year-old was a late second-round pick last year, going 62nd overall after a promising sophomore season with OHL Kingston.  After potting seven goals and 20 assists as a rookie, those numbers jumped to 31 and 34, respectively, in 67 outings in 2023-24.

This season, Battaglia was able to add to those totals once again.  He finished up the campaign with 40 goals and 50 helpers in 68 games, good for a share of the team lead in scoring with Vegas prospect Tuomas Uronen.  Battaglia had a pair of assists in yesterday’s playoff opener as well.

As Battaglia won’t turn 20 until next March, playing in the minors next season won’t be an option.  He’ll have to make Calgary’s roster or be returned to Kingston.  The latter scenario is much more likely and in that instance, his deal will slide and still have three years left on it heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

Blackhawks Sign Sam Rinzel

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11:03 AM: The Blackhawks officially confirmed Rinzel’s signing.

10:17 AM: It appears Oliver Moore won’t be the only prominent prospect that the Blackhawks will be signing.  Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports (Twitter link) that Chicago is also inking defenseman Sam Rinzel to a three-year, entry-level deal that begins this season.  PuckPedia adds (Twitter link) that the contract will break down as follows:

2024-25: $830K salary, $95K signing bonus, $25K games-played bonus
2025-26: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus, $500K ‘A’ bonuses
2026-27: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus, $750K ‘A’ bonuses

The above works out to a cap hit of $942K and an AAV of 1.363MM.  Rinzel isn’t eligible for ‘A’ bonuses in his contract this season since they’re unachievable with how little time is remaining in the schedule.

The 20-year-old was the 25th overall selection by Chicago back in 2022 out of Chaska in Minnesota’s high school system.  At the time, he was viewed as a high-ceiling but a long-term development project.

Rinzel spent his post-draft season exclusively with USHL Waterloo after spending a bit of time there the year before as well.  After a strong year offensively with them, he went on to the University of Minnesota where he has spent the last two seasons.  In his freshman year, Rinzel put up two goals and 26 assists in 38 games while this season, he notched 10 goals and 22 helpers in 40 contests, ranking him sixth among all Division I blueliners in points.

It appears Chicago feels Rinzel is ready for the next test.  Because the contract starts this season, he will not be eligible to play with AHL Rockford once Chicago’s season ends but there’s a good chance he’ll see some time with the IceHogs next season with GM Kyle Davidson shifting toward giving his top prospects a chance to play a prominent role in the minors before getting an extended NHL look.  But for now, Rinzel will be able to get his feet wet at the NHL level and get into a few games with the Blackhawks down the stretch.

Blackhawks Sign Oliver Moore To ELC

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11:02 AM: The Blackhawks officially confirmed Moore’s signing.

9:43 AM: The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to sign college center Oliver Moore to an entry-level contract (as per Scott Powers and Scott Wheeler of The Athletic). Moore was a Blackhawks first-round pick in 2023 (19th overall) and will be leaving college early to sign a pro contract and join Chicago.  PuckPedia reports that the deal, which will carry a cap hit of $942K and an AAV of $1.34MM, breaks down as follows:

2024-25: $830K salary, $95K signing bonus, $25K games-played bonus
2025-26: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus, $600K ‘A’ bonuses
2026-27: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus, $600K ‘A’ bonuses

Moore’s NCAA season came to an end on Thursday when the University of Minnesota was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament, and the expectation is that the 20-year-old will join the Blackhawks today for practice and possibly dress for his NHL debut tomorrow.

Moore finished fourth on the Golden Gophers in scoring this season, his second in the NCAA. The Mounds View, Minnesota native tallied 12 goals and 21 assists in 38 games, along with a +13 plus/minus. In his rookie season last year, Moore posted very similar numbers with nine goals and 24 assists in 39 games and was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie Team. Moore’s college career ultimately ended in disappointment when Minnesota was knocked out of the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, however, he did finish his career on a high, recording points in eight of his final nine college games and ten points overall to wrap his collegiate career.

Moore has also had a decorated international career, winning gold medals with Team USA at back-to-back World Juniors, including this past year where he registered a goal and four assists in seven games.

Moore went through some offensive inconsistencies this season, but he remains a high-end prospect with elite skating abilities and should be an impact player for the Blackhawks in the near future. His versatility will be an asset, and he should bring energy to a Blackhawks team that continues to stockpile young talent.

Matt Grzelcyk Hoping To Stay With Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is in the midst of a career year and has made it clear that he is hoping to earn an extension with the Penguins to remain in Pittsburgh beyond this season (as per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports). Grzelcyk is quoted as saying  “I would love to be here,” and adds that he hopes to leave a good impression in the final weeks of the season to get an extension for next year. Grzelcyk had some trouble adjusting to his new team in the early going but settled in later in the year, playing alongside Kris Letang.

The Penguins opted not to trade the 31-year-old at the NHL Trade Deadline, and the question for Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has now become, do they want to commit a few years to a small, aging defenseman who is coming off a career year? Grzelcyk should be able to fetch a raise on a multi-year deal this summer, and if it’s too rich for Penguins, the Charlestown, Massachusetts native will be relocating for a second straight summer.

Grzelcyk was a homegrown fan favorite in Boston and showed flashes of being an offensive defenseman. However, he never tallied more than 26 points in a season and didn’t have many opportunities to utilize his offensive skillset. This year, Grzelcyk has had an opportunity to do so and has capitalized on it, tallying a goal and 34 assists in 74 games while averaging 20:27 of ice time per game. His underlying numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but given the Penguins’ lack of depth on the left side of their defense, he’s become a top-pair defender for the rest of the season.

Whether Grzelcyk stays in Pittsburgh remains to be seen, but he has made the most of his opportunity with the Penguins and has resurrected a career that was in limbo when he exited Boston last summer.

West Notes: Salin, Buchnevich, Kupari

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Should everything go according to plan, the Los Angeles Kings are expected to sign Otto Salin to an entry-level contract this weekend (Twitter Link). Salin has reportedly already landed in Los Angeles, and he’s expected to join the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, for the remainder of the season.

Los Angeles selected Salin with the 148th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. That season, the native of Helsinki, Finland, scored four goals and 12 points in 11 games for HIFK 20 of the U20 SM-sarja league, and another one assist in six games for HIFK’s Liiga team.

He posted similar results for HIFK and TPS during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons but has found another level to his game this year. The right-handed defenseman finished seventh on the team in scoring (second among defensemen), scoring eight goals and 20 assists in 56 contests, including the goal that clinched TPS’s spot in the 2024-25 Liiga playoffs. Unfortunately, their postseason run ended relatively quickly, with SaiPa besting them in the first-round matchup in five games.

Other notes from the NHL’s Western Conference:

  • The St. Louis Blues will have an important top-six forward back in the lineup tomorrow night against the Colorado Avalanche. According to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, Pavel Buchnevich feels “really good” and will return from his illness-related four-game absence. While Buchnevich’s significance to the Blues’ offense is undeniable, his absence from the lineup seems to have gone unnoticed by the team. Despite being on a winning streak before Buchnevich exited the lineup, St. Louis managed a 4-0-0 record without him, averaging 4.25 goals per game.
  • Although he returned from concussion protocol a few days ago, Winnipeg Jets’ color analyst, Mitchell Clinton, reports forward Rasmus Kupari has suffered a setback and will miss the next few days. It’s been another difficult year for the former 20th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, who’s registered five goals and three assists in 59 games for the Jets. Still, it’s an improvement over last year’s numbers, when Kupari tallied only one assist in 28 contests.

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