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Nashville Predators Recall Zach Sanford

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With just five games left in their season, the Nashville Predators are still in the race. They remain just three points behind the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames, with one and two games in hand, respectively.

They’ll try to make up some ground tonight with the Carolina Hurricanes in town and have recalled Zach Sanford to give them some reinforcements.

It would be quite the feat should the Predators pull it off, given how their trade deadline went. Tanner Jeannot, Nino Niederreiter, Mattias Ekholm, and Mikael Granlund were all moved, leaving Nashville with several young players in the lineup nightly.

They’ve also been without captain Roman Josi since the middle of March, and his return is still questionable. Despite that, the Jets and Flames have each failed to really grab hold of that final playoff spot, opening the door for some Juuse Saros-led magic in the final few weeks.

Sanford, 28, has played just 11 games in the NHL this season, the fewest total of his career. The big forward has scored two points with the Predators and 28 with the Milwaukee Admirals during his time in the AHL.

Los Angeles Kings Emergency Recall Jordan Spence

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The Los Angeles Kings announced Wednesday that they have recalled defenseman Jordan Spence on an emergency basis from their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign.

Spence, 22, has been playing with the Reign for most of the season, scoring four goals and adding 38 assists in 53 games. The move comes as the Kings deal with a rash of injuries on their blue line, with Alex Edler and Mikey Anderson currently sidelined with undisclosed injuries.

The Kings are well-positioned for the stretch run, having clinched a playoff berth earlier this week. The focus now sets on playoff positioning, with the most likely outcome a rematch of last year’s First Round series against the Edmonton Oilers. Spence isn’t coming into potential NHL action cold turkey, though, having played five games earlier this season with the Kings and being involved in multiple paper transactions throughout the year. He also recorded eight points in 24 games last season with Los Angeles and appeared in three playoff games.

Spence, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Kings, is a skilled puck-mover who excels in transition and logs big minutes at the minor-league level. He also possesses a solid defensive game, using his quick feet and positioning to shut down opposing forwards. He figures to be a future piece in the team’s top six defense corps, and he’s a great option to have on hand as a depth call-up at this stage in his development.

Columbus Blue Jackets Make Multiple Roster Moves

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The Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Wednesday that they have recalled goaltender Jon Gillies from their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, on an emergency basis. In addition, the team has assigned defenseman Jake Christiansen and goaltender Jet Greaves to the Monsters.

The move to send Christiansen back to the AHL could indicate that another defenseman, Nick Blankenburg, may be available for tomorrow’s game against the New Jersey Devils, per Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch. Blankenburg has been sidelined with an ankle injury since March 27 and was considered week-to-week, but could return to the lineup after an absence of 10 days and five games.

Gillies and Greaves have once again been swapped for one another on the NHL roster as Elvis Merzlikins remains sidelined with a lower-body injury. Greaves is returning to the Monsters after making his NHL debut on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old goaltender set a franchise record for shots faced and saves in his first NHL game, stopping 46 of 49 shots in a 4-2 loss. Greaves spent less than two days on the NHL roster after he was added from Cleveland on emergency recall on Monday.

As noted by AHL beat reporter Patrick Williams, the return to Cleveland will give the young Greaves good experience in high-stakes games. The Monsters are set to face off against the Belleville Senators tonight, with both teams three points out of the final playoff spot in the AHL’s North Division.

The Blue Jackets acquired Gillies in a pre-deadline trade with the Arizona Coyotes. It took a while for him to make his first NHL appearance with the team, but he made an immediate impact, stopping 24 of 27 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators last Sunday.

Since making his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season, the 29-year-old journeyman has gone 8-15-3 with a 3.29 goals-against average and .893 save percentage in 33 career contests with the Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames.

Despite his solid performance over the weekend, Gillies has struggled in the AHL this season, posting a 3.70 goals-against average and .878 save percentage in 15 appearances with the Tucson Roadrunners before the trade. He’s yet to appear with the Monsters since Columbus acquired him over a month ago.

Meanwhile, Christiansen heads back to the Monsters after being added to the Blue Jackets’ roster on an emergency basis on March 25. The 23-year-old defenseman has recorded three assists, four penalty minutes, and 25 shots on goal in 23 games with Columbus this season. The undrafted free agent signing is in his third professional season after completing five campaigns of junior hockey with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.

Nikita Okhotiuk Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery

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The San Jose Sharks have announced that defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk underwent successful core muscle surgery yesterday. While no further details related to the injury were included in the team’s official announcement, including a more detailed recovery timeline, the announcement did state that the team expects Okhotiuk to make a full recovery in time for the Sharks’ training camp in September.

This surgery announcement ends any possibility of Okhotiuk returning to the ice and making his debut within the Sharks organization this season. The 22-year-old Russian blueliner hasn’t played since a February 11th AHL contest against the Laval Rocket, one where he fought against minor leaguer Riley McKay. It’s unknown whether the injury that knocked out Okhotiuk is in any way related to the fight, but it’s worth noting that he did return to the game after serving his penalty.

As mentioned, this injury ends the possibility of Okhotiuk skating for the Sharks’ organization for the first time this season. He was acquired by the franchise in the Timo Meier trade, alongside a package of other young Devils players and draft picks.

The 2019 second-rounder finishes his season having played a total of 30 games, 20 in the AHL and 10 in the NHL. He scored seven points across that span of games (six in the AHL) and also registered 35 penalty minutes.

Both the Sharks and Devils have been intrigued by the physicality Okhotiuk brings to the game, and it’s likely that the Sharks will give the 22-year-old the opportunity to make coach David Quinn’s opening-night lineup at training camp in the fall. With that opportunity in mind, Okhotiuk’s offseason recovery process will be of paramount importance for the short-term future of his career.

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.

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.

Philadelphia Flyers Recall Ronnie Attard

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With the season winding down, the Philadelphia Flyers are giving another NHL look to one of their better defense prospects. The team recalled Ronnie Attard from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Monday, per a team tweet.

In his first full professional season, the 24-year-old Attard has taken on a big role in the minors and responded well. The 2019 third-round pick out of Western Michigan University has 30 points in 64 games with Lehigh Valley in 2022-23, leading the team’s defense, and his +9 rating is second among Phantoms defenders.

After signing his entry-level contract late last season, Attard played in 15 games down the stretch for the Flyers, recording two goals and two assists. His NHL appearances on this recall will be his first since then.

With Rasmus Ristolainen sidelined day-to-day with an upper-body injury, there’s increased opportunity for Attard to get into the lineup. He could play in a second-pairing role alongside Travis Sanheim, a spot currently held by seldom-used veteran Justin Braun, who has just two assists in 47 games this year.

Nashville Predators Recall John Leonard

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The Nashville Predators disclosed Monday that the team has recalled forward John Leonard from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. With a road-home back-to-back upcoming over the next two days, recalling Leonard gives the team a 13th healthy forward on the roster should an unforeseen injury occur.

Leonard is the most experienced recall option among forwards still waiver exempt. The 24-year-old winger has accumulated 62 games of NHL experience over the past three seasons, with four coming in Nashville this season. He has one point, his first goal as a Predator, coming in a March 2 game against the Florida Panthers.

This is Leonard’s third recall of the season after he was recalled twice in three days on an emergency basis in the first week of March. Acquired along with a third-round pick from the San Jose Sharks last summer in exchange for the rights to Luke Kunin, Leonard has 14 goals and 38 points in 61 games in the AHL this year.

A pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, Leonard could be a candidate to not receive a qualifying offer and head to unrestricted free agency in July. The 2018 sixth-round pick has seen a step back from last season’s offensive production in the minors, and with his NHL opportunities diminished, the Predators may opt not to retain his services.

St. Louis Blues Recall Vadim Zherenko Under Emergency Conditions

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The St. Louis Blues recalled netminder Vadim Zherenko under emergency conditions from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds on Monday, the team said in a release. Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that backup Thomas Greiss is injured, necessitating the recall of a goalie from the minors.

This is the first recall of Zherenko’s career. Drafted 208th overall in 2019, it’s a rapid rise to relevance for a player picked less than 10 spots away from the end of the draft.

However, the 22-year-old has earned a brief NHL look with his play this season. Zherenko has been a more-than-capable backup in Springfield to Joel Hofer, who earned a long look at the NHL level last month. In 24 games with Springfield, Zherenko has a record of 10-8-3, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.96 goals-against average. This is his first season in North America after a development path through Russia and Finland post-draft.

With Springfield’s season in crunch time on the verge of clinching a Calder Cup playoff berth, the Blues likely opted to leave Hofer in the minors to continue to gain meaningful experience in stretch run games.

Dallas Stars Recall Thomas Harley

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As announced by the team Monday morning, the Dallas Stars have recalled defenseman Thomas Harley from the Texas Stars of the AHL.

Harley’s first recall of the season comes with just a few weeks left, much later into the year than most Stars fans were expecting. The 21-year-old played in 34 games with Dallas last season but saw limited ice time and limited production (one goal, three assists).

Extended time in the minors has seemed to be the right choice for Harley’s development, though. His defensive game has shown significant strides this season, and he’s added 10 goals and 34 points in 66 games to lead the team’s defense corps in goals.

Selected 18th overall in 2019, Harley will continue to push for more NHL looks over the next few seasons. With only depth veteran Joel Hanley slated for free agency this offseason, though, a significant full-time chance may not come until 2024-25. That’s likely fine with Dallas, who seems content to let Harley grow at his own pace into the capable top-four defender they expect.

With a three-game homestand on tap for the Stars, Harley could make his 2022-23 NHL season debut sometime this week.

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