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San Jose Sharks Recall Nick Cicek, Nikolai Knyzhov

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The San Jose Sharks recalled defensemen Nick Cicek and Nikolai Knyzhov from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda on Sunday, per a team tweet.

As The Athletic’s Corey Masisak notes, the recalls give San Jose some extra defensemen on the roster as they embark on a three-game road swing. Defenseman Radim Simek also left yesterday’s 8-3 loss to Washington, and his status is still unknown.

For Knyzhov, it’s a chance to get into his first NHL games since his breakout campaign in 2020-21. After just three previous games of NHL experience, Knyzhov appeared in all 56 games during the COVID-shortened campaign, scoring 10 points and mostly played alongside Erik Karlsson.

He’s played just 12 games of hockey since then, all coming this year with the Barracuda. A groin injury cost him the entire 2021-22 campaign, and an offseason Achilles injury kept him out through the end of January 2023. He hadn’t recorded a point with the Barracuda, but the defensive-minded Knyzhov will still get a chance to show that he can still play a role in the NHL.

Cicek, 22, has four assists in 16 games with the Sharks this season. Signed this past offseason after an impressive performance on an AHL deal last year, Cicek has slid up to the seventh or eighth spot on the organization’s defense depth chart.

Dallas Stars Loan Fredrik Olofsson, Matt Murray To AHL

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The well-worn track between the NHL and AHL for a pair of Dallas Stars players saw more traffic today. As announced by the team Sunday afternoon, forward Fredrik Olofsson and goalie Matt Murray have been loaned to the AHL’s Texas Stars.

Murray heading to the AHL could be a sign that backup Scott Wedgewood is ready to return from an undisclosed injury that’s kept him out for much of the past few weeks. Wedgewood last played just over two weeks ago and was heating up with a .920 save percentage in his last five starts, although a lack of goal support left him with just a 1-4-0 record. An AHL presence for most of his career, the 30-year-old Wedgewood has done well since earning the full-time backup gig in Dallas.

The “other” Matt Murray made his NHL debut three nights ago, stopping 19 of 21 shots in a 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. He returns to Texas, now indisputably the team’s third-string goalie after Anton Khudobin was dealt to the Blackhawks in this week’s Max Domi trade.

Olofsson, 26, is still waiver-exempt and will likely continue to return to Texas as breaks in Dallas’ schedule allow. With accruing salary cap space nor roster limits in consideration after the trade deadline, Olofsson’s deployment by Dallas isn’t affected by any financial motivations. The undrafted free agent has played in 20 games with Dallas this season, registering a goal and three assists.

Coyotes Assign Three To AHL

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The Coyotes have made a trio of roster moves following their game last night against Carolina, announcing (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned defensemen Vladislav Kolyachonok and Michael Kesselring plus forward Milos Kelemen to AHL Tucson.

Kolyachonok is the most experienced of the three at the NHL level, making 34 career appearances with the Coyotes although only two of those have come this season.  The 21-year-old has spent most of the year with the Roadrunners, picking up 14 points and 52 penalty minutes in 54 games.  He has one year left on this one on his entry-level deal.

As for Kesselring, he’s new to the organization after coming over from Edmonton as part of the Nick Bjugstad trade earlier this week.  He made his NHL debut last night after spending the full season in the minors with AHL Bakersfield prior to the swap.  After picking up 13 points in his rookie pro campaign, the 23-year-old had 13 goals and nine assists with the Condors in 49 games this season.  He also has one season left on his entry-level pact.

Kelemen, meanwhile, is in his first season in North America after signing a two-year, entry-level deal with the Coyotes back in May.  He played his second NHL contest last night and has also been with the Roadrunners for most of the season, tallying 13 goals and 13 assists in 52 games.

While Arizona added Brett Ritchie and Connor Mackey at the deadline yesterday, neither player was available to suit up against the Hurricanes which resulted in Kesselring and Kelemen being brought up yesterday to fill out their roster.  The newcomers should be available to suit up on Sunday against New Jersey.

AHL Shuffle: 3/4/23

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While there were plenty of recalls yesterday following paper demotions to the minors to maintain AHL eligibility, some of those moves will come today instead.  We’ll keep track of those transactions here while non-paper recalls will be covered separately.

  • The Lightning announced that they’ve recalled defenseman Darren Raddysh from AHL Syracuse. The 27-year-old played for Tampa Bay in Thursday’s loss to Pittsburgh but has spent most of the year with the Crunch, picking up 50 points in 50 games to put him second among all AHL rearguards in scoring.
  • The Penguins announced (Twitter link) the recall of forward Drew O’Connor from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 24-year-old last played in the AHL three months ago and since then, he has been a regular most nights with Pittsburgh, recording five goals and three assists in 27 games.
  • The Flames have recalled wingers Walker Duehr and Jakob Pelletier from AHL Calgary, per the AHL’s transactions log.  Both players were papered down on Friday.  Duehr has four points in 17 games with the Flames so far this season while Pelletier has seven points in 16 contests, five of which have come in Calgary’s last five outings.
  • Nashville has recalled forwards John Leonard and Luke Evangelista from Milwaukee after sending them down yesterday, per the AHL’s transactions log.  Leonard scored in his first game of the season with the Predators on Thursday while Evangelista has an assist over his first two NHL appearances.
  • The Kings have recalled centers Rasmus Kupari and Quinton Byfield, per the AHL’s transactions log.  Kupari has spent most of the year with Los Angeles, getting into 47 games with them compared to 11 with the Reign while Byfield has suited up 34 times for the Kings compared to 16 in Ontario.  These quick demotions will keep them eligible to play in the AHL postseason.
  • The Avalanche announced (Twitter link) they have sent down Ben Meyers to the Colorado Eagles. Meyers has played 34 games in the NHL this season with the Avalanche, scoring one goal and zero assists.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

New York Rangers Acquire Anton Blidh, Wyatt Kalynuk

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The New York Rangers made two more minor moves just before the bell sounded. First, they acquired Anton Blidh from the Colorado Avalanche sending Gustav Rydahl back in return. Then, they acquired Wyatt Kalynuk from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for future considerations. All three players are currently in the minor leagues.

Blidh, 27, is the most experienced player in the deals, with 84 NHL games under his belt. Fourteen of those have come this season with Colorado, but the depth forward has been kept completely off the scoresheet. His acquisition is likely just to extend the Rangers forward depth chart ahead of the playoffs, as he is unlikely to play much unless the team suffers several injuries.

You could say the same for Kalynuk, who last saw NHL action during the 201-22 season and has spent this entire year with the Abbotsford Canucks. His acquisition is likely more about giving the Hartford Wolf Pack a bit more expeirence. Kalynuk was once expected to be a regular at the NHL level, after signing with Chicago out of the University of Wisconsin, but after 26 games in a Blackhawks sweater, his time in the league ran out.

Rydahl, meanwhile, was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the SHL, where he has won multiple championships and starred for Farjestads. His first taste of North American hockey hasn’t worked out, with just seven goals and 15 points through 40 games, but perhaps the Avalanche can find a little more juice in the 28-year-old center.

Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks Swap Depth Players

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The San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars have completed a trade to swap AHL centers. The Sharks are sending 23-year-old Scott Reedy to Dallas in exchange for Jacob Peterson. Reedy has been assigned to the Stars’ AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, while Peterson could end up in the NHL thanks to the Sharks’ trades of two forwards today: Vladislav Namestnikov and Nick Bonino.

This deal swaps two 23-year-old centers who have each spent the year with their club’s AHL affiliate, save for one NHL game completed by Peterson this season. As mentioned, the Sharks have shipped out quite a few forwards in recent trades, so this deal could simply be the team preferring so see what Peterson can do in their system rather than call up Reedy, who played 35 games for the big club last season

Reedy, 23, is a fourth-round pick of the Sharks from the 2017 draft who earned last season’s NHL chance after an impressive AHL performance. He finished with 18 goals and 27 points in 38 games, and ended up scoring nine points in 35 NHL games as the Sharks got to test some of their young in-the-system players in NHL games. He’s struggled in the AHL this season, scoring just 13 points in 38 games, prompting this trade.

The Stars get a player with less NHL experience than Peterson, although he could be someone the team liked back when he was a point-per-game player at the University of Minnesota.

For the Sharks, they are receiving a player with 66 games of NHL experience who has been more productive this year at the AHL level. The 2017 fifth-rounder scored 33 points in 46 SHL games for Farjestad BK in 2020-21, leading to him crossing the Atlantic to play in Texas. Peterson scored 17 points in 65 games for the Stars last year, averaging eleven minutes of ice time per night.

While he could instantly step in to replace Reedy in their AHL affiliate’s top-six, Peterson could also be a more experienced option for head coach David Quinn to tap to fill the spots in his lineup vacated by the departures of Michael Eyssimont and Bonino.

Three Players Clear Waivers

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March 3: All three players on waivers yesterday cleared and are eligible to be sent to the American Hockey League. Derrick Pouliot can continue to play with the San Jose Barracuda while Jean-Francois Berube and Evan Fitzpatrick are likely to stay in the minor leagues as well. James Mirtle added there were no new players place on waivers today.

March 2: Three players have hit the waiver wire, all with brand-new contracts in hand. Derrick Pouliot has signed a one-year deal with the San Jose Sharks for the rest of the season, after previously playing under an AHL deal. To stay with the San Jose Barracuda, he needs to clear waivers first. Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group reports that Pouliot’s pro-rated contract is worth $750,000 at the NHL level and $250,000 at the AHL level.

Joining him on the wire are Jean-Francois Berube and Evan Fitzpatrick, who have both signed with the Florida Panthers. PuckPedia reports that Berube’s one-year deal is worth $750K in the NHL and $100K in the AHL, while CapFriendly reports Fitzpatrick’s is $75K in the AHL.

Both players from yesterday have cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.

Pouliot, 29, has been effective with the Barracuda this season, but it is a bit curious to see him sign a contract now. It seems unlikely that the Sharks would need to recall him unless they are involved in trade talks on several other defensemen, or don’t want to bring up some of the other younger names available.

For the Panthers, adding two goaltenders is just in case of an emergency, while Spencer Knight continues in the Player Assistance Program. Without him, Mack Guzda was the only other netminder in the organization signed to an NHL contract.

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.

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