Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

AHL

Minor Transactions: 01/27/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With the NHL season now fully underway and many AHL training camp rosters now finalized, options are running out for remaining free agents. Fortunately, opportunities seem to always be available in Europe and in the ECHL, even with most of those league well through their current campaigns. This keeps minor moves flowing, even on a relatively quiet day for NHL transactions:

  • Scouring the recently released AHL rosters, one will find Paul Bittner suspiciously absent. The 24-year-old forward, a second round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015, has been a solid contributor for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters over the past few years. However, when his entry-level contract expired this off-season, Columbus did not extend him a qualifying offer. Unable to find another NHL deal and apparently unable or unwilling to sign in the AHL as well, Bittner is off to Sweden. Vasby IK of the second-tier Allsvenskan has announced a deal with Bittner for the remainder of the season. The 6’4″ power forward should be quite the disruptive force in the Swedish minor league.
  • Another former Blue Jackets prospect is also on the move. Defenseman Michael Prapavessis, an NCAA free agent out of RPI, did not receive a qualifying offer this off-season either following the completion of his two-year ELC. Prapavessis was less of a surprise than Bittner, having seen limited action in the AHL as well as some time in the ECHL. Seemingly unable to land an AHL contract, Prapavessis is now in the ECHL on a permanent basis, at least for now, inking a deal with the Orlando Solar Bears for the rest of the season.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have reassigned forward Jack Badini from the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. The first-year pro, who was expected back at Harvard for his senior season this year, instead signed with the Ducks after the Ivy League cancelled all winter sports. The Ducks won’t rush his development this season, especially after a quiet start in the ECHL, but they want to see what he can do against AHL competition.
  • As noted yesterday, former Yale forward Curtis Hall has signed with the Bruins, but for this season it is an AHL deal with Providence rather than an entry-level contract with Boston. The Bruins expected the 2018 fourth-round pick to spend at least one more year developing in the NCAA, but that became an impossibility due to the Ivy League’s suspension of winter sports. The Bruins clearly felt that Hall, who already has pro size and was a dangerous goal scorer last season, was better off in the AHL than back in junior this season. However, they will wait to burn the first season of his ELC.

Jeremy Bracco Clears Unconditional Waivers

at CDT | by 10 Comments

Jan 27: Bracco has cleared waivers and had his contract terminated, according to CapFriendly.

Jan 26: After clearing waivers earlier this month, Jeremy Bracco finds himself there again. The Carolina Hurricanes’ forward has been loaned to KalPa in Finland for the rest of the season, while also being placed on unconditional waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Should a contract termination follow, the young forward would be an unrestricted free agent once again.

Bracco, 23, has dominated the AHL at times, including a 79-point season in 2018-19 that seemed destined to earn him a call-up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. When an NHL debut never came and the Maple Leafs decided not to issue him a qualifying offer, Bracco was a free agent looking for work. He ended up signing quickly with the Hurricanes, inking a one-year, two-way deal in mid-October.

Now, with the prospect of another AHL season on the horizon, he’ll face a new challenge overseas instead. The talented playmaker still has tremendous offensive upside, but desperately needs to fill out the other parts of his game if he’s to ever live up to his second-round billing.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/27/21

at CDT | by 2 Comments

It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day.

  • The Detroit Red Wings have moved Taro Hirose and Givani Smith back to the taxi squad after their overtime loss last night. The team is now 2-4-1 on the season and have scored just four goals in their last three games, but should be getting some reinforcements back off the COVID Protocol list at some point in the near future.
  • Connor Bunnaman and Samuel Morin were moved back to the Philadelphia Flyers taxi squad following their win last night. Bunnaman, 22, has yet to record a point this season in his three games, while Morin is still waiting to make his debut at forward after switching positions in the offseason.
  • Hunter Jones has been moved back to the AHL by the Minnesota Wild, likely meaning Andrew Hammond will be returned to the taxi squad. Hammond had been called up on an emergency basis as Cam Talbot dealt with a lower-body injury.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have sent Logan Stanley and Kristian Vesalainen back to the taxi squad, saving money on off days by moving the entry-level deals off the roster. The Jets don’t play again until Saturday, giving them some rest and practice time after playing seven games through the early part of the season. With that extra practice time in mind, they have added 2020 first-round pick Cole Perfetti to the practice squad switching out C.J. Suess who head to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. The Jets will get another chance to see what the talented young forward can do against his NHL teammates.

Snapshots: Stastny, Hall, Phantoms

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Back in October, the Winnipeg Jets made a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights to bring Paul Stastny north. In return, the Golden Knights received Carl Dahlstrom and a conditional fourth-round pick that was tied to games played by the veteran center. In essence, the condition was to provide some security for the Jets in case the 2020-21 season never happened, since Stastny is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent later this summer.

All he had to do was complete five games, which happened earlier this week when Stastny played against the Ottawa Senators. He happened to score his first goal of the season and record a pair of assists, not a bad effort for the game that caused a fourth-round pick to change hands. The selection is Winnipeg’s pick from the 2022 draft, which will now belong to the Golden Knights.

  • It appears as though Curtis Hall’s collegiate career is over, as AHL reporter Mark Divver tweets that the Yale University forward has signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. Hall, 20, was a 2018 fourth-round pick of the Bruins and scored 17 goals and 27 points in 28 games last season for Yale. The 6’3″ center could be a valuable depth piece this season if he has indeed signed his ELC. UPDATE: Hall has actually only signed a one-year AHL deal, according to Divver. That would still end his college career but doesn’t start his ELC this season.
  • Speaking of depth, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms have added plenty of experience today by signing Chris Mueller to a professional tryout and Garrett Wilson to an AHL contract. Mueller, 34, has been a regular at the AHL level since the 2008-09 season and won the Calder Cup in both 2014 and 2018. He split last season between the Syracuse Crunch and San Diego Gulls, scoring 38 points in 60 games. Wilson, 29, has logged more than 400 AHL games of his own, including 51 last season with the Toronto Marlies. A physical forward that isn’t afraid to drop the gloves, he’s managed to rack up 205 points and 586 penalty minutes during his time in the minor league.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/26/21

at CDT | by 2 Comments

It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day.

  • Following the news that Evan Rodrigues is out “longer-term,” the Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Drew O’Connor from the taxi squad today. The forward will make his NHL debut this evening against the Boston Bruins after signing an entry-level contract last March. O’Connor, 22, was an undrafted college free agent signing after he scored 33 points in 31 games for Dartmouth last season. In seven games for Manglerud of the Norweigian league earlier this season, he recorded ten points.
  • The Washington Capitals have called up Michael Sgarbossa from the AHL to the taxi squad, giving them another experienced hand as they continue to navigate a COVID-stricken roster card. Sgarbossa has 50 games of NHL experience but has played eight years of professional hockey and could step into the lineup if necessary. Later in the day, Sgarbossa was elevated again, this time to the NHL roster along with Daniel Carr. Connor McMichael and Brian Pinho have been sent to the taxi squad.
  • Dylan Cozens has been recalled from the Buffalo Sabres taxi squad, with Casey Mittelstadt replacing him there. Remember that if Cozens plays in two more games this season, his entry-level contract will officially kick in for the 2020-21 season, making him an RFA in 2023. Should he play just one more game and spend the rest of the year in the minor leagues or junior, the contract would slide a year forward again.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent Nathan Gerbe back to the taxi squad, meaning Stefan Matteau is on his way back to the AHL. Gerbe has played in just one game so far this season, but did manage to record a point. He’ll remain a strong depth option for the team throughout the year.
  • The St. Louis Blues have recalled Jacob de La Rose from the taxi squad, while recalling Scott Perunovich from the AHL. The Blues will take on the Vegas Golden Knights later tonight. Perunovich, who had previously been rehabbing an injury, could be ready to go after taking the optional skate this morning with St. Louis.
  • Jordan Gross is going back into the Arizona Coyotes lineup, recalled from the taxi squad today. That means Victor Soderstrom is back out, moved back to the taxi squad as he continues his development. Soderstrom played two games for the Coyotes but is still looking for his first NHL point.
  • The Winnipeg Jets could make a lineup change this evening, after recalling Kristian Vesalainen from the taxi squad. The Jets will take on the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of Sunday’s loss. Winnipeg is currently sitting in third place in the North Division, two points back of the tied leaders.
  • Taro Hirose and Givani Smith have both been recalled from the Detroit Red Wings taxi squad, giving them another few options as they continue to deal with a COVID-19 situation. As of yesterday, the team had five players on the CPRA list, including four forwards.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Connor Bunnaman and Samuel Morin from the taxi squad, while also activating Shayne Gostisbehere. The veteran defenseman is expected to make his season debut after spending the last stuck in the COVID protocol. Gostisbehere recorded just 12 points last season, far from his career pace and a significant disappointment. With the Flyers struggling to find the right mix of defensemen though, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.
  • After Tyler Ennis cleared waivers earlier today, the Edmonton Oilers have moved him and Devin Shore to the taxi squad. Forwards Juhar Khaira and Patrick Russell have been recalled, giving the group a different look in the bottom-six.
  • The Nashville Predators have recalled Mathieu Olivier back from the taxi squad, reversing the move they made three days ago.  As a waiver-exempt forward, Olivier, who has played in three games for the Preds this season, will likely continue to be shuffled back and forth throughout the season.

Minor Transactions: 01/25/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NHL season is still less than two weeks old with teams continuing to work out the kinks and find the right balance in their lineups. Down in the AHL, training camps are underway and the league is quickly approaching the start of the regular season. At the junior level, plans are still being made to get seasons re-started, and in the QMJHL in particular the trade deadline arrived all the same. Overseas, most leagues have been playing for quite some time and teams are already making preparations for the postseason, some of which begin as early as March. Everyone is currently making moves and several are notable to NHL fans without falling neatly into “taxi squad management”. Keep up with those transactions here:

  • The Bakersfield Condors, AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, have finalized their training camp roster ahead of their  season opener next Friday, February 5. In announcing the group, the team revealed a pair of late veteran additions. Defenseman Kevin Gravel, who played for the Oilers and did a brief stint in Bakersfield in 2018-19, has signed a one-year AHL contract. Gravel brings over 100 NHL games, including at least three in each of the past five season, to the Condors. Goaltender Angus Redmond, who did not receive a qualifying offer from the Anaheim Ducks this off-season, will join the team in camp on a PTO. Redmond’s performance through his first three pro seasons, spent almost exclusively in the ECHL, has been unspectacular, but he is a former NCAA standout that had his best season to date last year.
  • The Hartford Wolf Pack’s training camp roster also included some surprise names. In addition to the usual names – New York Rangers prospects, signed and unsigned, and AHL contract holdovers from last season – Hartford will also take a look at forward Nolan Vesey and defenseman Jordan Sambrook. Vesey, the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jimmy Vesey, became a UFA this off-season when the Edmonton Oilers declined to extend a qualifying offer. Vesey has split the past two seasons between the AHL and ECHL and is still looking to find his footing in the pros after a successful collegiate career. Sambrook, a former Detroit Red Wings prospect and OHL standout, spent last season in the USports ranks at Brock University but is now trying to get back on track and break into the pros.
  • The QMJHL’s Val d’Ors Foreurs continue to pile up talent this season. After trading for reigning Defenseman of the Year Jordan Spence earlier this month, the team has now added a pair of prominent NHL prospects in a deal with the Sherbrooke Phoenix. Forward Samuel Poulin, a 2019 first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Sherbrooke captain, and defenseman Xavier Bernard, a 2018 New Jersey Devils selection, are headed to the Foreurs. In return, the Phoenix net a first-, second-, two third-, and sixth-round picks, including two 2021 selections.
  • Sherbrooke also added an exciting young piece to replace their outgoing veterans. The Phoenix traded first-round picks in 2021, 2022, and 2023 as well as a 2022 second-rounder to the Saint John Sea Dogs for forward Joshua Roy. Roy, a first-round hopeful in the 2021 NHL Draft, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 QMJHL Draft and recorded 17 points in his first 15 games earlier this season.
  • Colorado Avalanche prospect Alex Beaucage has also been traded in the “Q”, dealt by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to the Victoriaville Tigres. The 2019 third-round pick of the Avs had 14 goals and 20 points through 14 games to begin this season. The Huskies land a 2022 first-round pick and 2021 seventh-round pick in exchange for the talented scorer.
  • Helge Grans, a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings last year, will take at least one more season to develop at home in Sweden. The SHL’s Malmo Redhawks have announced a one-year contract extension with Grans to keep him with the club through 2021-22, featuring an interview with the young defenseman who appreciates how he has developed with the team. A valuable combination of size and skill on the blue line, Grans is yet another prospect that Kings fans have to look forward to.
  • After playing on a temporary contract to begin his tenure with the team, NHL veteran Vladimir Sobotka has officially earned a full-year contract with Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga. The deal was well-earned, too; Sobotka’s 24 points in 25 games makes him the second-best per-game scorer on the team, behind only captain and former Florida Panther Michal Repik. While Sobotka, 33, clearly has plenty of game left in him, it remains to be seen if he will attempt a return to the NHL next season.

AHL’s Stockton Heat To Play 2020-21 Season In Calgary

at CDT | by 2 Comments

In a surprising move, especially given the AHL’s return to action in less than two weeks, the Stockton Heat will not be playing in Stockton in 2021. Scott Linesburgh of The Stockton Record writes this evening that city and county officials have confirmed that the club does not intend to play out of their home city this season. Instead, the Calgary Flames’ affiliate is expected to share a home with their parent club. Linesburgh reports that this is likely just a one-year change related to the Coronavirus pandemic and cross-border logistics, though he does note that this was the final year on the Heat’s current lease at Stockton Arena.

This move will have quite the ripple effect on the AHL just ten days away from the planned start to the season. Stockton’s move north of the border, and the impossibility at this time of playing American opponents as a result, means that the AHL will have to realign on the fly once again. The Heat will be placed in the Canadian Division alongside the Belleville Senators, Laval Rocket, Manitoba Moose, and Toronto Marlies. This will mean that the Pacific Division will drop to six teams this season and the schedule, which was already released on Friday, will need to be amended. The Heat leave behind a 40-game schedule against the numerous AHL clubs in the American Southwest for an unknown slate in the Canadian Division, which has yet to release a schedule and features only one team within 1,600 miles of Calgary.

Of course, for the Flames’ purposes this means a much simpler strategy for moving players to and from the minors this season. Players who cross the border into Canada this season require a mandatory 14-day quarantine period. While the taxi squad has been implemented to offer a small group of stand-ins, any other additions for Calgary from Stockton would have left those players out of commission for two weeks. Now the team will require no wait time at all with their AHL squad expected to be sharing a facility.

The Heat’s move leaves the Edmonton Oilers as the only Canadian NHL team whose AHL affiliate remains in the U.S. or who hasn’t otherwise negotiated an agreement to send players to another AHL team in Canada, such as the Vancouver Canucks’ and Manitoba Moose’ relationship. If the Oilers plan to make such a move, they have limited time before the AHL season begins.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/25/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day.

  • After a loss last night, the Calgary Flames have moved Derek Ryan and Oliver Kylington to the taxi squad. The team continues to do this on off days to accrue cap space, but will eventually need to put Ryan through waivers again. After suiting up last night, the 34-year-old center has now played four games on the season; once he plays ten, he’ll have to clear again to go back to the taxi squad.
  • The New Jersey Devils have sent Nolan Foote from the taxi squad to the minor leagues, giving the young forward a chance to compete for an AHL role. The 20-year-old has still yet to make his professional debut, spending last season with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL.
  • After Connor Ingram took a leave to enter the player assistance program, the Nashville Predators recalled Kasimir Kaskisuo to serve as the team’s taxi squad goaltender. The move leaves them awfully thin at the position, with Devin Cooley (he of six career professional games) the only other goaltender in the minor leagues on an NHL contract. Should the Predators face any injury trouble to roster options Juuse Saros or Pekka Rinne, they could quickly see the bottom of their depth chart.
  • The Buffalo Sabres have moved Jonas Johansson to the taxi squad, a good indication that Carter Hutton is ready to return from his minor injury. The team has also moved Rasmus Asplund and Dustin Tokarski off the taxi squad, sending them to the Rochester Americans for the time being.

This page will be updated throughout the day as moves are officially announced. 

Scott Darling Signs AHL PTO

at CDT | by 1 Comment

Scott Darling is still working hard to find a job this season, this time inking a professional tryout agreement with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Darling had previously been in Florida Panthers training camp on an NHL PTO but was released from it just before the season began.

Darling, 32, spent last season playing in Austria after being bought out of his NHL contract, but is back in North America competing to try and get his career back on track. Once one of the most reliable backup goaltenders in the league, he posted a 39-17-9 record over three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks between 2014-17. After getting a chance to start in Carolina, everything seemed to crumble and Darling was out of the league in less than two seasons.

Perhaps returning to Rockford, where he first impressed the Blackhawks enough to call him up, will be exactly what the veteran goaltender needs to get things moving in the right direction. Darling posted a .927 save percentage in 26 appearances for the IceHogs in 2014-15.

Texas Stars Sign Six Players

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Texas Stars have added six players on AHL contracts for the 2020-21 season, bringing in a ton of experience and depth for their minor league run. Nicholas Baptiste, Cole Schneider, Nick Moutrey, Derek Barach, Nikita Scherbak have all joined the team, while Josh Melnick re-signs after spending last season in Texas.

These aren’t just minor league depth pieces, as Baptiste, Schneider, and Scherbak actually all have NHL experience. Baptiste, 25, was a third-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2013 and played 47 games at the highest level. He split last season between the Toronto Marlies and Belleville Senators, scoring 11 points in 35 games.

Schneider, 30, has just six games of experience at the NHL level but has been a force in the AHL for years. Last season he recorded 18 goals and 46 points in just 54 games for the Milwaukee Admirals.

Scherbak, 25, may be the most interesting name of the bunch, given he was a first-round pick in 2014. Selected 26th overall by the Montreal Canadiens, he received 37 games at the NHL level but never could quite make his mark. After spending some time in the Los Angeles Kings system, he left for the KHL last season and recorded 11 points in 31 games.

Texas will begin their season on February 5 against the Iowa Wild.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top