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AHL Tracker: 03/03/2023

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Trade deadline day is here, which means it will be a busy day for deals in the National Hockey League. It will also be a busy day for transactions between the NHL and AHL. Players must be on an AHL roster today at 2 PM CT to be eligible for the AHL playoffs.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have sent Darren Raddysh to the AHL. The 27-year-old right defenseman is having a great season for the Syracuse Crunch. He has scored 13 goals and 50 points in 50 AHL contests and will now be eligible to continue helping the team in the postseason.
  • The Boston Bruins have sent down Jakub Lauko to the Providence Bruins. The 22-year-old forward has ten goals and 16 points in 34 AHL games this season. He has also suited up for 12 NHL games with the Bruins, scoring three goals and five points.
  • Goalie Keith Kinkaid is on his way up to the Colorado Avalanche, per the team. It’s his first stint with Colorado in the NHL since the Avalanche acquired him from the Boston Bruins last week. Kinkaid hasn’t played a game yet with the organization, as he hasn’t seen any action with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. However, he appeared in one NHL game with the Bruins earlier this season, allowing just one goal and recording a win.
  • Forwards Drew O’Connor and Drake Caggiula were sent to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins today, per a release from Pittsburgh. O’Connor and Caggiula have both been important offensive forces with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, both hovering close to a point per game. While at least O’Connor will likely return to the NHL roster after the deadline, they’ll both be crucial parts of any playoff run in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks have sent David Gust, Isaak Phillips, and Brett Seney to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, according to Charlie Roumeliotis of NBCS Chicago. They needed to make room for newcomers Nikita Zaitsev, who has cleared immigration, and Anders Bjork, recalled today.
  • The Washington Capitals have recalled Vincent Iorio and Gabriel Carlsson, according to Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic. Dylan McIlrath has been returned to the minor leagues to make room.
  • The Calgary Flames have sent two young forwards down to the Calgary Wranglers. According to Ryan Pike of Sportsnet 960, Jakob Pelletier and Walker Duehr have been re-assigned to the AHL. The pair seem to have earned an NHL roster spot with their play, but are now eligible to help the Wranglers in the AHL postseason.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have completed a paper transaction with Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Jesse Ylonen, making them eligible for the AHL playoffs. They’ll stay with the big club for now, though, as Montreal plays out the stretch and continues to develop their youth.
  • Vancouver has done the same, sending Aatu Raty, Christian Wolanin, Noah Juulsen, and Vasily Podkolzin down, and recalling the latter three. Phillip Di Giuseppe is up instead of Raty, meaning the young forward will stay with the Abbotsford Canucks down the stretch.
  • Dakota Mermis has been reassigned to the Iowa Wild, after the Minnesota Wild made some moves today. With John Klingberg coming in, Mermis will return to the minor leagues where he has 24 points in 46 games for Iowa this season.
  • Zac Dalpe has been returned to the AHL, giving the Charlotte Checkers their captain back for a playoff run. The Checkers sit third in the Atlantic Division with a 30-18-5 record, and Dalpe is a big part of that success.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Milos Kelemen, Jean-Sebastien Dea, Vladislav Kolyachonok, and newcomer Michael Kesselring. After so many players were sent out of town in the last few days, plenty of playing time is available in Arizona.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Ottawa Senators Sign Dylan Ferguson

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The Ottawa Senators have added some goaltending depth for the rest of the year, signing Dylan Ferguson to a one-year, two-way contract through 2022-23. The deal follows the recent AHL acquisition of Ferguson, and sets him up to be a restricted free agent in the summer.

Despite being a seventh-round pick of the Dallas Stars who wasn’t tendered a contract after his entry-level deal expired, the 24-year-old Ferguson has actually appeared in the NHL before. That came way back in 2017-18, when he was an emergency recall directly from the WHL to play for the Vegas Golden Knights as they dealt with several injuries.

He hasn’t returned in the years since, but after posting a .930 save percentage through his first two appearances for the Bellville Senators, you can understand why the organization wanted to keep him around. After the stretch run, Ottawa will get to decide whether tendering him is worth it.

In the meantime, he’s now eligible for recall to the NHL should they need a backup.

Washington Capitals Sign Ethen Frank

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Sometimes, reinforcements come from unexpected places. After signing Ethen Frank to an AHL contract last spring, the Washington Capitals have now inked the undrafted forward to a one-year, two-way NHL contract for the 2023-24 season. The deal will carry an NHL salary of $775K, and an AHL salary of $205K.

Frank, 25, has taken the long route to get to this point but just never stopped improving. A five-year career at Western Michigan University culminated in an outstanding 2021-22 season where Frank led the nation in goals with 26 through 38 games.

Most attributed that to simply playing competition much younger than him, but the right-shot forward has proved his doubters wrong this year, acclimating to the AHL without issue. Through 45 games with the Hershey Bears, Frank has 24 goals to lead the team, to go along with the 41 points that put him third on the squad.

At this point, after succeeding at every lower level, the Capitals might as well give him a real tryout next training camp. Either he can continue to produce at the highest level, and becomes a great undrafted story, or he struggles to adapt to the speed of the NHL and doesn’t factor into their future plans.

A one-year deal poses very little risk to the club, and at the very least secures him as a featured contributor for the Bears again next year.

Minor Transactions: 03/02/23

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With all of the excitement of trade deadline week, the shuffling of players between the NHL and minor leagues often gets overlooked. Luckily, we’ll keep track of all that movement right here!

  • The Ottawa Senators have reassigned Jacob Larsson to the minor leagues, as Jakob Chychrun met them on the road in New York. Larsson has played in seven games with the Senators this season, failing to record a point.
  • Darren Raddysh is up with the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving them another defenseman for their road trip after tonight’s game against Pittsburgh. Raddysh hasn’t played in the NHL yet this season but has been incredible in the minor leagues, scoring 50 points in 50 games for the Syracuse Crunch.
  • With several changes made to the Pittsburgh Penguins roster, Drake Caggiula has been recalled for now. The 28-year-old has 37 points in 47 games in the AHL this season, the first time he has played in the minor leagues.
  • Arnaud Durandeau has been returned to the minor leagues by the New York Islanders, as Pierre Engvall jumps into the lineup. The 24-year-old Durandeau failed to register a point in his four NHL games.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have returned Elliot Desnoyers and Olle Lycksell to the minor leagues, after explaining that it was important for their development to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ playoff chase. Desnoyers, in particular, seems to have made an impact on the Flyers coaching staff, despite playing just two NHL games so far.
  • Lukas Reichel has been recalled from the Rockford IceHogs, now that Patrick Kane and company have left the building. A top prospect for the Chicago Blackhawks, Reichel scored three points in four games during an earlier call-up.
  • Mason Appleton has been moved to injured reserve by the Winnipeg Jets, meaning Axel Jonsson Fjallby is returning to the NHL.
  • With so many Detroit Red Wings players on their way out, Adam Erne is on his way up. The veteran forward has been recalled today.
  • Curtis Lazar has been activated from injured reserve by the Vancouver Canucks, meaning he can return after two weeks on the sidelines. The depth forward has five points in 45 games this season.

This page will be updated throughout the day. 

Colorado Avalanche Place Cale Makar On Injured Reserve

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In order to facilitate today’s call-ups from their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, the Colorado Avalanche placed defenseman Cale Makar on injured reserve, according to CapFriendly.

This move comes as Makar has dealt with concussion issues, something that has kept him out of the lineup since a February 18th contest with the St. Louis Blues. In that game, Makar collided with Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko, and he entered concussion protocol. That game had been his first since February seventh, when he was also sidelined with concussion symptoms.

While this placement on injured reserve is more about clearing a roster spot than anything else, it is an indication that Makar may still be a ways away from returning to the ice. It was not made clear if the IR placement was retroactive to the date of Makar’s last game, as the Dallas Stars did with today’s placement of Luke Glendening on injured reserve, but regardless one has to assume that Makar’s return to the ice isn’t imminent.

While the Avalanche have remained in the playoff hunt despite Makar’s absence for most of this month, this injury means the Avalanche remain without someone who is arguably their best player. The 24-year-old has shouldered an increasingly demanding defensive role this season and has scored 45 points in 46 games.

The reigning Norris and Conn Smythe Trophy winner is widely considered to be the best defenseman in the NHL, and his return to full health would do wonders for the Avalanche’s odds to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. But concussions are an extremely tricky issue, and the best course for Makar’s long-term personal health, as well as the long-term interests of the Avalanche, may be to be as patient with Makar’s timeline as possible.

Now, with Makar on injured reserve and his roster spot opened for another player to occupy, the team is free to give him as much time and space he needs to recover without the pressures of nightly games and roster math playing a major role.

Chicago Blackhawks Waive David Gust

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March 1: After scoring in his debut and appearing in three NHL contests for the Blackhawks, Gust has been placed on waivers. This is required if Chicago intends to send him back to the minor leagues.

Feb 23: The Chicago Blackhawks have made the dream of a hometown kid come true. David Gust, playing with the Rockford IceHogs on an AHL contract, signed a new two-year, two-way NHL contract with the Blackhawks. The deal will carry an average annual value of $762.5K, and allows the team to recall him immediately.

Gust, 29, is an Orland Park native that played the last two years with the Chicago Wolves, despite them being the affiliate of a different organization. This year he has broken out offensively, scoring 50 points in 51 games with Rockford, earning himself this look at the NHL.

Undrafted, the undersized winger has never appeared at the NHL level and has played nearly his whole career on minor league contracts. He’ll now not only get a chance to make some extra money, but do it with his hometown team.

Winnipeg Jets Sign Evan Cormier

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The Winnipeg Jets have added some goaltending depth, signing Evan Cormier to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750K at the NHL level. Cormier had been playing in the organization on an AHL contract but has been limited to ECHL action. This deal allows him to be brought to the NHL as an emergency backup, though it also required him to be placed on waivers today to stay in the minor leagues for now.

Cormier, 25, was a fourth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2016, but wasn’t given a qualifying offer after his entry-level deal expired in 2021. He’s rarely even appeared at the AHL level, and has a .905 save percentage in 27 games with the Kalamazoo Wings this season.

With Mikhail Berdin playing overseas, this is simply a move to give the Jets a little more depth at the position so that they aren’t in an emergency spot at some point down the road. Cormier isn’t expected to dress for the Jets unless several injuries happen simultaneously.

Coyotes Scratch Nick Bjugstad, Recall Laurent Dauphin

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The Coyotes announced (Twitter link) that they’ve scratched center Nick Bjugstad tonight for trade-related reasons, joining defenseman Jakob Chychrun on that front.  Taking Bjugstad’s place on the roster will be center Laurent Dauphin who has been recalled from AHL Tucson.

Bjugstad opted to sign a one-year, $900K contract with Arizona last summer in the hopes of playing a regular role and rebuilding some value after three straight quiet, injury-riddled seasons.  The move has turned out to be a good one for the 30-year-old who has posted 13 goals and 10 assists so far in 59 games while winning just over 47% of his faceoffs.  He also is averaging two hits per game.  With a low price tag, Bjugstad is the type of fourth liner that teams will certainly be looking to add to shore up their depth between now and Friday’s trade deadline and the Coyotes are making sure he’ll be available to be traded over risking him getting injured in tonight’s game against Chicago.

That decision gives Dauphin his third opportunity with the Coyotes this season.  The 27-year-old signed a one-year, two-way deal with Arizona in the summer but has only gotten into three NHL contests so far after suiting up in 38 with Montreal in 2021-22.  However, Dauphin has been productive in the minors with the Roadrunners, tallying 16 goals along with 25 assists in 48 games so far.

Devils Recall Graeme Clarke

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Graeme Clarke has played his way into becoming one of New Jersey’s more intriguing prospects and he was rewarded for his efforts as the team announced (Twitter link) that he has been recalled from Utica of the AHL.

The 21-year-old was a third-round pick by the Devils back in 2019 (80th overall) but has outperformed his draft stock since then.  He’s actually in his third season of professional hockey already – a rarity for a major junior-drafted player – and has shown steady improvement.  After putting up 24 points in 52 games last season, Clarke has been considerably more productive this year with 20 goals and 24 assists in 51 contests; his 44 points place him first on the Comets in scoring.

This will be Clarke’s first opportunity at the NHL level and it’s possible that it will be a short-lived one.  Recently acquired winger Timo Meier isn’t yet ready to play as he continues to battle an upper-body injury and Clarke may simply be up until Meier is ready to make his debut.  New Jersey had an open spot on their roster thanks to them losing Scott Harrington on waivers to Anaheim earlier today so no further moves needed to be made to bring Clarke up.

New York Rangers Make Multiple Roster Moves

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The New York Rangers have announced a few moves today ahead of their anticipation acquisition of Patrick Kane. They’ve recalled defenseman Braden Schneider from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, re-assigning forward Ryan Carpenter in his place. In addition, the Rangers have traded forward Austin Rueschhoff to the Nashville Predators in exchange for future considerations, per the team.

PuckPedia notes these transactions won’t be registered until tomorrow for cap reasons related to the Kane trade.

Schneider, New York’s first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, has solidified his role full-time in the NHL this season after splitting last year between the Rangers and Wolf Pack. He was sent down yesterday in a brief cap-related move. Still just 21, the right-shot D-man has five goals and 15 points in 59 games this year, along with solid defensive play.

Carpenter, on the other hand, has seen about equal time with the Rangers and Wolf Pack this year after multiple consecutive seasons as a full-time NHLer. The 32-year-old forward has a goal and two assists in 22 games with the Rangers this season, but he’s been in Hartford since the middle of January. Like Schneider, he was moved between leagues yesterday for cap-related reasons.

With the Rueschhoff trade, the Rangers move out a contract as they prepare to make a big add. In the midst of his third season with the Wolf Pack, the 25-year-old undrafted free agent will likely report to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. The former Western Michigan University standout had 20 goals, 23 assists, and 43 points in 113 games with Hartford across three seasons and has yet to make his NHL debut.

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