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Snapshots: Armia, Lafreniere, Nemec

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The Montreal Canadiens will make Joel Armia a healthy scratch tonight, sitting him along with Johnathan Kovacevic in favor of Anthony Richard and David Savard. Armia is in the second season of a four-year, $13.6MM contract he signed in 2021 after the Canadiens’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately, the five goals he scored during that run are exactly five more than he has this season. Armia hasn’t scored yet in 26 games and has just three assists, following a six-goal, 14-point 2021-22 campaign.

It’s understandable for him to be out of the lineup with that kind of production, but it will cause some speculation about his future in Montreal. The 29-year-old Finn was once an incredibly valuable, versatile player that could move up and down the lineup. Now it looks like his NHL career might be coming to an abrupt end.

  • Alexis Lafreniere entered the rumor mill when the New York Rangers decided to make him a healthy scratch recently, but The Athletic’s staff writes that the team has no intention of trading him at this point. The 21-year-old first-overall pick has struggled to find any level of consistency in the NHL, though his supporters will point to an even-strength scoring rate that is encouraging. One thing is clear: if he doesn’t miraculously find another level in the second half, he won’t be getting the massive second contract that many top picks earn. Lafreniere is scheduled to become a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, meaning he could be forced to accept a qualifying offer under $900K for next season, should the Rangers play hardball.
  • After Slovakia was eliminated from the World Juniors by a Connor Bedard overtime goal, captain Simon Nemec has been assigned back to the Utica Comets of the AHL where he’ll continue to play this season. The young defenseman logged huge minutes for his country at the tournament, racking up five points in five games while barely missing out on a chance to play for a medal. When Nemec was drafted, he committed immediately to playing in North America if the New Jersey Devils wanted him to, even if that meant spending the whole year in the minors. For Utica he has looked right at home, recording 11 points in 24 games so far.

Pittsburgh Penguins Recall Dustin Tokarski

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After Tristan Jarry left yesterday’s Winter Classic with an injury, the Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Dustin Tokarski from the minor leagues. The team has not moved Jarry to injured reserve to make room for the transaction; instead, Kris Letang has been designated non-roster while he is with family following the death of his father.

Tokarski, 33, has spent the entire season at the AHL level but has been excellent for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. With a .926 save percentage in 18 appearances, it’s one of his best performances to date in what has been a long successful career. The veteran netminder should be able to contribute if called upon, though Casey DeSmith will likely carry most of the load if Jarry is out for a little while.

DeSmith has a .911 save percentage in 13 appearances, though incredibly, nine of those have been losses. The 31-year-old has a career .915 and has been one of the most consistent backups in the league since debuting in 2017-18.

Still, losing Jarry is obviously a big blow. The 27-year-old netminder has been strong this year, winning 15 of his 25 appearances and posting a .918 save percentage. Not only does he have the Penguins to perform for, but he’ll also be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, meaning he’s playing for a contract. Time on the shelf will obviously hurt those negotiations, though it is a good sign that he wasn’t placed on injured reserve.

There is no timeline for Letang’s return at this point.

Toronto Maple Leafs Re-Assign Joey Anderson

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After losing his spot in the lineup to Dryden Hunt, Joey Anderson is headed back to the minor leagues. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that Anderson will rejoin the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, giving them a roster spot to activate Rasmus Sandin when necessary.

After a road trip coming out of the Christmas break, the Maple Leafs are headed home for three games starting tomorrow night. They won’t need the extra forward, given they already have Wayne Simmonds sitting out as a healthy scratch. Anderson as played seven games with the Maple Leafs this season, scoring one goal while averaging just over nine minutes a night. The 24-year-old hasn’t had much NHL opportunity since arriving in Toronto, playing 13 games since the start of 2020-21.

He has been arguably the Marlies’ best player though, with 11 goals and 19 points in 21 games this season. He’ll continue to stay sharp in the minor leagues until the NHL club needs him again.

Activating Sandin will give the Maple Leafs a decision to make when it comes to their defense. The group has played well recently and doesn’t have an obvious name to remove to make room for the young Swede. T.J. Brodie’s versatility means they can take a right-handed shot out – perhaps Conor Timmins, the newest regular – but there’s no easy answer given the results so far. The Maple Leafs have allowed just 94 goals against in 37 games, second-best in the league behind only the Boston Bruins.

Sandin, 22, has 14 points in 33 games this season and is averaging just over 18 minutes a night overall.

Nashville Predators Recall Roland McKeown

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Jan 2: The up-and-down continues for McKeown. After being assigned back down to the AHL yesterday, the Predators have brought him back up today.

Dec 29: The Nashville Predators have announced that defenseman Roland McKeown has been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

The move adds a seventh defenseman to the Predators’ roster, giving the team some reinforcements in advance of a back-to-back. McKeown is replacing Jordan Gross, who was sent down on December 21st when veteran blueliner Ryan McDonagh was activated off of injured reserve.

McKeown is now in line to play his fourth NHL game of the season, should head coach John Hynes opt to include him in a game-day lineup.

The 26-year-old had long been a member of the Carolina Hurricanes organization since arriving in a Andrej Sekera mid-season trade. Drafted 50th overall in 2014, McKeown had been seen as a quality prospect earlier in his career, scoring at decent rates in the OHL for the Kingston Frontenacs and then quickly playing a regular role for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.

He was never quite able to take the next step in his game and break into the NHL, though. After playing 10 NHL games for the Hurricanes in 2017-18, he didn’t earn any games in the following two years, leading to his exit from the organization.

After spending 2020-21 in Sweden playing for Skelleftea in the SHL, McKeown returned to North America in 2021-22 to serve as an experienced defensive option for the Colorado Eagles, the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate.

This year, McKeown has gotten back to the NHL, playing in three games for the Predators, as previously mentioned. McKeown averaged 13:44 time-on-ice per game, including 1:32 on the penalty kill.

With this recall, McKeown has a chance to put some quality NHL performances on his resume and establish himself as a go-to depth option for the Predators, who have him under contract for next season as well.

Minor Transactions: 01/01/23

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With the new year now upon us, today features the first slate of games of 2023. With the Winter Classic coming up tomorrow, there’s quite a bit on the calendar for NHL fans to get excited about. As these games go on, teams in minor and overseas leagues are making tweaks to their rosters. We’ll keep track of any notable moves here:

  • 2016 Vancouver Canucks draft pick and established SHL scorer Rodrigo Abols will be changing clubs this summer. The Latvian forward has announced that he will be leaving his current club, Orebro, to sign with Rogle for next season. Abols has 20 points in 27 games this season and last played in North America in 2019-20, scoring 23 points in 36 games for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds.
  • Former Montreal Canadiens prospect Martin Reway has parted ways with his current club, EHC Freiburg of the German DEL2. Reway arrived in the German second division after playing last year in the Czech second division. He has scored 23 points in 20 games this year for Freiburg.
  • The Erie Otters have completed a trade with the Niagara IceDogs, landing Pano Fimis, the number-two pick of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Fimis, who went undrafted last year, has scored 24 points in 28 games this year. He’ll arrive in Erie likely that this trade can spark increased production and give him a shot at getting drafted in the summer.
  • Tim Soderlund, perhaps best known for being a part of the 2021 trade of Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers, has parted ways with his current club, Djurgardens IF. The 24-year-old winger, a 2017 fourth-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, has scored 14 points in 29 HockeyAllsvenskan games this season. He last played in North America in 2021-22, splitting time between the AHL and ECHL before heading to Djurgarden.

Anaheim Ducks Activate Anthony Stolarz

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The Anaheim Ducks have announced that goaltender Anthony Stolarz has been activated off of injured reserve.

In a corresponding move, the team has assigned netminder Lukas Dostal to their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.

A few days ago, we covered that Stolarz had begun skating once again, a development that hinted at a soon-to-come return from the injured list.

Stolarz has been out of action since December 12th, when he suffered a lower-body injury. Now, with his activation, the Ducks have gotten John Gibson’s backup back onto their active roster.

The Ducks have been one of the worst teams in the NHL this season, and Stolarz has had his share of struggles. After posting a .917 save percentage in 28 games last year, Stolarz is down to an .889 through 13 contests this year.

Stolarz will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the league year, barring an extension. His expiring deal mans it’s imperative that Stolarz puts together a solid stretch of starts, in order to put himself in the best position possible for a potential trip to the open market.

To make room for Stolarz on their roster, the team has sent down their number-three goalie, Dostal. The 22-year-old Czech netminder has been a bright spot for the Ducks, posting a .909 save percentage through seven games. He’s been good in the AHL as well, with a .916 in 20 games.

Vegas Golden Knights Reportedly Place Alec Martinez On Injured Reserve

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2:25 PM: As reported by The Las Vegas Sun’s Danny Webster, Martinez’s absence has been indeed been extended. The team has reportedly placed him on injured reserve, which could put Korczak in a position to push Brayden Pachal for some ice time as the team’s third-pairing right-shot defenseman.

2:20 PM: The Vegas Golden Knights have announced a series of roster moves, recalling forward Byron Froese and defenseman Kaedan Korczak from their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.

Additionally, the team has sent forward Sheldon Rempal back down to the AHL, just two days after calling him up.

These roster moves put Korczak and Froese in a position to make their season debuts in the NHL. Korczak, 21, was a second-round pick by Vegas at the 2019 draft. After spending a little over a year developing in the WHL, Korczak has stepped into the AHL and been a quality everyday piece of Henderson’s back end.

He got into an NHL game last year as the Golden Knights dealt with a rash of injuries, and is now back on an NHL roster with a chance to get some more game action. Veteran blueliner Alec Martinez didn’t play in yesterday’s game, so it’s possible that this recall is Vegas adding some reinforcements in case his absence gets extended.

In Froese, the Golden Knights have recalled a physical AHL veteran who has played well in Henderson. The 31-year-old has been a quality scorer at the AHL level for years and has even served as an AHL captain. He’ll be able to fill in a depth role in coach Bruce Cassidy’s lineup if he’s called upon.

To make room for these recalls, the team sent down Rempal, just after he made his NHL debut. The 27-year-old was an elite scorer in the AHL last year, scoring 69 points in just 55 games, and he’s been solid in Henderson this year as well.

He played just under 8 minutes in last night’s game, and without having registered a major positive impact he’ll head back down to the AHL.

Snapshots: Nedeljkovic, Draisaitl, Latimer, AHL Trade

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Not too many players receive Calder Trophy votes in two separate seasons. Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic is one of those players. The former Carolina Hurricanes netminder lead an impressive rookie campaign down south before a surprising trade to the Red Wings that summer. Since the trade though, Nedeljkovic has struggled to adjust, slipping to a 3.31 goals-against average and .901 save-percentage. Things haven’t gone his way this season either, slipping further to a troubling 4.09 goals-against and .880 save-percentage.

With those struggles, many have wondered what Detroit will do with the goaltender, who is now the third-string behind starter Ville Husso and backup Magnus Hellberg. Some have wondered if a conditioning stint will be next for Nedeljkovic, who hasn’t played since December 8th. Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde told Michigan Live’s Ansar Khan that discussion of a conditioning stint hasn’t happened yet, but “[e]verything is on the table.” Lalonde added that the team will need that roster spot eventually with players coming back from injury, so “something will probably shake down.”

  • Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl, who missed last night’s game against the Seattle Kraken, is unlikely to play tonight against the Winnipeg Jets, says TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. Draisaitl, who Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said was nursing some bumps and bruises, didn’t practice Thursday either. The 27-year-old has 21 goals and 36 assist through 36 games this season. With Edmonton’s struggles, despite having Draisaitl and Connor McDavid in the lineup, they’ll need the former back in the lineup as soon as possible to keep things rolling.
  • Ottawa Senators prospect Carson Latimer has been dealt in the WHL. The former Prince Albert Raiders forward will be heading to the Kootenay Ice in exchange for forward Aiden Oiring, a third-round pick in 2024, and a conditional third-round pick in 2025. Latimer has spent parts of four seasons with Prince Albert and the Edmonton Oil Kings, sitting on 28 points through 31 games thus far in 2022-23.
  • The Colorado Eagles and Hartford Wold Pack completed a small trade in the AHL earlier today, reports NHL.com and AHL.com’s Patrick Williams. Forward Ben Tardif is heading to Hartford while defenseman Luke Martin will be heading to Colorado. Tardif, 22, has four points through 15 games in the AHL this year, as well as nine points in seven ECHL games. The ability for offensive dominance is there for Tardif, who had 59 points over 53 ECHL games last year. Martin, 24, was a second-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes back in 2017, and though he hasn’t made his NHL debut yet, he’s also dominated the ECHL with 68 points in 84 games on the backend over this season and last.

Arvid Soderblom Out Week-To-Week

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The Chicago Blackhawks got bad news today regarding one of their organization’s goalies, Arvid Soderblom. Per the Blackhawks’ AHL Affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, Soderblom will be out for the next two to three weeks with a groin injury.

This news comes as a setback for Soderblom, 23, during what has been a poor start to his AHL season. In five games there, Soderblom has a 1-3 record, a 4.17 goals-against-average, and a grisly .862 save percentage.

He’s spent most of the year in the NHL as the Blackhawks dealt with injuries to Alex Stalock and Petr Mrazek. He hasn’t fared much better there, although he was admittedly playing behind one of the league’s worst teams. In 15 NHL games this year Soderblom has a 2-10-2 record, a 3.45 goals-against-average, and a .894 save percentage.

Having suffered this injury, Soderblom will now be out of action for the next few weeks. In his absence, the IceHogs will lean on goalies Dylan Wells and Jaxson Stauber with Wells possibly first in line for an NHL call-up.

Florida Panthers Loan Anton Levtchi To AHL

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The Florida Panthers have loaned forward Anton Levtchi to their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

This move comes after Levtchi earned his first-ever NHL call-up four days ago. After making his NHL debut and getting into another game, Levtchi is headed back to Charlotte.

Levtchi, 27, is an undrafted forward who is in the middle of his first season in North America. The left winger has spent the past several years at Tappara Tampere in the Finnish Liiga, and he’d developed into one of the league’s very best scorers.

In 55 games last season Levtchi scored 26 goals and 61 points. This year, he’s spent most of his time in the AHL, where he’s found moderate success. He has 13 points in 24 games, and now he heads back to the AHL having gotten a taste of NHL action.

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