Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

AHL

Jarred Tinordi Assigned To Conditioning Loan

at CDT | by 9 Comments

The New York Rangers continue to employ the conditioning loan to manage their depth on the blue line this season. After Libor Hajek spent time with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack earlier this season, it is now Jarred Tinordi’s turn. The team has announced that the veteran defenseman is on his way down to the minors for a conditioning stint.

Tinordi’s loan is a bit more puzzling that Hajek’s, however. While Hajek, 23, is still a young and once-promising asset that could have been lost on waivers, Tinordi is a lesser risk. In fact, the 29-year-old stay-at-home specialist already cleared waivers earlier this season. There is also the fact that the Rangers have a clear top six and wouldn’t be significantly harmed even if Tinordi was claimed. Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, and Patrik Nemeth have played in all 25 of New York’s games, while rookie Nils Lundkvist has suited up for 20. Tinordi has played in only five games, the last of which came all the way back on November 21, and is averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time per game. Hajek meanwhile has amazing still not seen NHL action this year. With such a solid six, is it worth manipulating the roster in this way just to ensure a player like Tinordi isn’t claimed?

The counter-argument is this: beyond their current top six, the Rangers are not as deep as they may seem on defense and Tinordi is more of an established NHL value than it may seem too. While New York has been fortunate enough to not have to dive into their defensive depth yet this season, an injury or tow, especially to one of top blue liners, would leave the team exposed. Miller and Lundkvist are both very young and raw and there are more like them in Hartford. Though all very talented prospects, leaning on the inexperience of Zac Jones, Braden Schneider, or Matthew Robertson in the event of health issues on the NHL blue line would leave the Rangers with very little veteran leadership and know-how. If Tinordi was lost on waivers, only Anthony Bitetto would offer an experienced depth option. Just last year, Tinordi was claimed on waivers too. The Boston Bruins took a shot on the big rearguard when the Nashville Predators risked him on the wire and Tinordi ended up playing out the season in Boston and even suiting up in the postseason. Given their lack of veteran options, it seems that the Rangers are unwilling to risk history repeating itself.

So, Tinordi will get some play time and stay game-ready with a stint in Hartford. The move could also allow for Hajek to finally draw back into the Rangers lineup and could provide the promising Wolf Pack blue liners with another veteran mentor, at least for the time being. It’s not exactly a critical move for the franchise, but it’s a safe play for a team with their eye on finally getting back to the postseason this year.

AHL Shuffle: 12/10/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Friday nights are often relatively quiet in the NHL, but this evening’s schedule still has seven games on it for hockey fans across the country. That includes another entry in the Pittsburgh Penguins-Washington Capitals rivalry and a mismatch in the desert. The Philadelphia Flyers will also try to snap their 10-game losing streak against the Vegas Golden Knights, while the Vancouver Canucks will try to make it three in a row under Bruce Boudreau. As those teams and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Boston Bruins have returned Oskar Steen to the AHL, where he has been outstanding so far this season. The 23-year-old forward has six goals and 13 points in 12 games for the Providence Bruins, which has, in turn, resulted in his chance with the NHL club. The undersized forward is still looking for his first NHL goal, but has recorded two points in three games this season.

Metropolitan Division

Central Division

  • As expected, Jacob MacDonald is back up with the Colorado Avalanche after spending just a single day assigned to the AHL. The 28-year-old defenseman has played in five games with the Avalanche this season and with Bowen Byram still out with an injury, they may need him again. Byram has been cleared for a concussion, but is still dealing with a head issue and will not be rushed by the team.
  • With Juuse Saros ready to return for the Nashville Predators, the team has sent Connor Ingram back to the minor leagues. Matt Luff has been recalled in his place. Ingram finally made it to the NHL, playing two games for the Predators and stopping 58 of 64 shots in the process.
  • The St. Louis Blues have moved both Ville Husso and Jake Walman to injured reserve, recalling Matthew Peca from the AHL under emergency conditions. The Blues continue to skirt the cap ceiling, but should no longer need to play shorthanded (unless they suffer any other minor injuries).

Pacific Division

  • The Canucks have recalled Noah Juulsen from the AHL, after moving Travis Hamonic to injured reserve yesterday. Juulsen was one of the two players acquired in October for Olli Juolevi, but has yet to make his Vancouver Debut. In 17 games with the Abbotsford Canucks, he has just one point.
  • Philip Broberg is back with the Edmonton Oilers, recalled today as the team moved Kris Russell to injured reserve. It was only yesterday that Broberg was sent down when Cody Ceci came off the shelf but he won’t be able to wait around in the minors very long.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Cole Perfetti Loaned To Canada WJC Selection Camp

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Canadian World Junior selection camp has received a huge boost, as Winnipeg Jets prospect Cole Perfetti was officially loaned from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. The Jets could have blocked Perfetti from competing in the tournament if they wanted him to continue his strong play in the minor leagues, but the 19-year-old forward will be there to compete with Canada at the upcoming event.

This isn’t the first time Perfetti will compete for Canada. He took home a silver medal last year with the World Juniors, and then was eventually selected for the World Championship team in the summer. Though he played a limited role on that NHL-level squad, Perfetti still scored twice and took home a gold medal when Canada stormed back late in the tournament.

This year saw his NHL debut, as the young forward played two games with the Jets. It also has seen even more dominant play from him in the minor leagues, with 15 points in 17 games for Manitoba. Overall, the teenager has 41 points in 49 AHL games to this point, numbers that will quickly have him rising the depth chart in Winnipeg. Selected tenth overall by the Jets in 2020, he very well could be wearing a letter for Canada at the tournament later this month.

Goalie Notes: Bernier, Korpisalo, Fucale

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The New Jersey Devils have placed Jonathan Bernier on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, meaning Akira Schmid is on his way up to the big leagues. Bernier last played on December 3 against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing six goals on 32 shots. Overall this season he hasn’t been very busy, appearing in just ten games and posting a .902 save percentage.

Schmid meanwhile has been outstanding for the Utica Comets, posting a .944 and 8-0-2 record in ten games. The 21-year-old netminder is in his first year of professional hockey after spending the last few seasons in the USHL, but looks like the transition will be no problem for his 6’5″ frame. Should Schmid get a chance to play, it would be his NHL debut.

  • Speaking of goaltenders making debuts, Daniil Tarasov has been sent back to the AHL after playing in his first three NHL games. The young netminder was up while Joonas Korpisalo dealt with a non-COVID illness, which he has now recovered from. Korpisalo was activated from injured reserve and will resume his duties alongside Elvis Merzlikins in the Columbus Blue Jackets net. That is of course unless the team makes a trade at some point, one that looks even more likely now that Tarasov has shown he can handle things at the NHL level. The 22-year-old posted a .936 save percentage in his three appearances.
  • Zach Fucale made his own NHL debut earlier this season with the Washington Capitals, posting a 21-save shutout after a long minor league career. He’s back up with the Capitals again, recalled as a precaution with a back-to-back coming up. The team has been dealing with COVID protocols and injuries all season, so having a third goaltender with the group gives them a little insurance in case the worst happens.

Alexander Holtz To Play For Sweden At WJC

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The New Jersey Devils have decided that the World Junior Championship is the best place for Alexander Holtz after all, announcing that they will allow him to play for Sweden at the upcoming tournament. Holtz had been playing in the AHL for most of this season, getting his feet wet in the NHL for six games as well.

Sweden released their roster in recent days, but had been keeping a spot open for Holtz if the Devils decided to release him for the tournament. The 19-year-old forward will actually be participating for the third time, as he’s been one of the most dangerous young forwards in Sweden for years. This season in the AHL, Holtz has ten points in ten games and he even added two assists in the six matches with the Devils. A bronze medallist at the 2020 event, he’ll join a Swedish team that has their eyes set on the podium once again.

Even if a player has proved they can handle professional hockey, the World Juniors is often considered one of the best places for development. Holtz and the other youngsters at the tournament will be put in games against those that they will face for the next decade, and for the Devils’ prospect in particular, be given a huge amount of responsibility. He very likely will be on the top line and the top powerplay unit, though this time he won’t have his old running mate Lucas Raymond, who is starring in the NHL and was not named to the team.

AHL Shuffle: 12/09/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

It’s a busy Thursday around the NHL, with ten games on the schedule including the red hot Minnesota Wild looking to extend their lead in the Central Division with a win over the San Jose Sharks. Minnesota is already seven points ahead of second-place Colorado and have won their last seven games in a row. The Kirill Kaprizov-led Wild are threatening to run away with the top seed in the Central by Christmas. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Jacob Bernard-Docker from the AHL, after sending Lassi Thomson down yesterday. Bernard-Docker is another top prospect who will receive a chance to show what he can do at the NHL level as the Senators look to the future.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Brian Lashoff from the AHL, as they move Gustav Lindstrom to injured reserve. Lashoff, 31, has 136 games of NHL experience, all of them coming with Detroit. An undrafted free agent signing a decade ago, he’s spent his entire professional career with the Red Wings organization, playing for Detroit or Grand Rapids.

Metropolitan Division

  • The New York Rangers have sent Morgan Barron and Adam Huska back to the AHL, while recalling Keith Kinkaid. Kinkaid had been in COVID protocol, but will assume the backup duties in the NHL now that he’s out. The team announced that Greg McKegg is also out of the protocol, meaning an extra roster spot was needed.

Central Division

  • Hudson Fasching has been returned to the Tucson Roadrunners again, as Arizona does frequently on off-days. The Coyotes don’t play until tomorrow and can save some money by keeping Fasching in between games. He’s already been involved in three transactions just this month.

Pacific Division

  • The Seattle Kraken have officially moved Kole Lind to the minor leagues, a move they announced yesterday when Colin Blackwell entered the COVID protocol. Lind, 23, has played just three games for Seattle this season, spending most of the year with the Charlotte Checkers.
  • The Calgary Flames have recalled Byron Froese from the minor league club, sending Juuso Valimaki down to make room. The team obviously felt they needed the extra forward over an extra defenseman, and Froese has more than 100 games of NHL experience.
  • Alexei Melnichuk is headed back to the AHL locker room after the San Jose Sharks reassigned the young goaltender to the San Jose Barracuda. Melnichuk is still struggling to hit his stride in North America, now in his second season, but the Sharks’ lacking depth in net makes him the next man up.

This page will be updated throughout the day

AHL Shuffle: 12/08/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Just four games are on the NHL schedule this evening, though this will kick off with a bang when Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche visit Adam Fox and the New York Rangers. The best two defensemen in the league–according to Norris Trophy voting last season–the pair of dynamic blueliners are having repeat performances, scoring more than a point-per-game for each of their sides. Born just eight months apart, Fox and Makar will likely be rival superstars for a long time. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor shuffling around the league.

Atlantic Division

  • With Christian Dvorak dealing with an injury, the Montreal Canadiens have recalled Jesse Ylonen from the AHL. Ylonen was practicing on the fourth line alongside Michael Pezzetta and Cedric Paquette today, as Ryan Poehling slides into the second-line center position.
  • The Ottawa Senators have sent Lassi Thomson back to the Belleville Senators, though he’ll certainly be back at some point. The young defenseman has shown flashes of strong play for the team but still needs some polish at the minor league level before he is given a full-time NHL roster spot.

Metropolitan Division

  • After he cleared waivers, the Columbus Blue Jackets have sent Scott Harrington to the minor leagues, clearing room for Emil Bemstrom to return to the NHL roster. Bemstrom, 22, was out with an oblique injury for the first part of the year but is healthy enough to contribute once again.

Central Division

  • After playing with just ten forwards last night, the St. Louis Blues have triggered an emergency roster exemption that allows them to recall a player without his cap hit. Nathan Walker is that player, as it needed to be someone with a hit of $850K or less. Walker’s two-year, two-way deal comes with an average annual value of just $750K at the NHL level.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have recalled Ville Heinola, giving the team another defenseman while they deal with Neal Pionk’s absence. Heinola, a first-round pick from 2019, has 14 points in 18 games for the Manitoba Moose this season.
  • The Colorado Avalanche have returned Justus Annunen to the Colorado Eagles. The goaltender made his NHL debut earlier this week but with Darcy Kuemper ready to return tonight, he’s no longer needed with the big club for the time being.

Pacific Division

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Jujhar Khaira Released From Hospital; Out Indefinitely

at CDT | by 16 Comments

Last night, after a scary hit that sent him to the ice unconscious, Chicago Blackhawks forward Jujhar Khaira was taken to a nearby hospital and monitored overnight. After extensive testing, he has been discharged and returned home. The Blackhawks have announced that though he suffered a significant injury, Khaira is expected to make a full recovery. There is no timeline for his return to play.

The hit, which was delivered by Jacob Trouba of the New York Rangers, did make contact with Khaira’s head, but also drove directly through his core. It was not penalized, but Trouba did end up fighting Riley Stillman soon afterward.

Chicago has made several roster moves following the game. Mike Hardman and Philipp Kurashev have been recalled, while Wyatt Kalynuk and Ian Mitchell have been sent back to the AHL. Mackenzie Entwistle, who was on injured reserve, has been activated and sent down.

Blue Jackets Reach Extension With AHL Affiliate

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Columbus Blue Jackets have reached a new multi-year agreement with the Cleveland Monsters, their AHL affiliate. The two organizations have developed into one of the strongest NHL-AHL relationships in the league since they partnered in 2015, including a Calder Cup championship in 2016.

Monsters team president Mike Ostrowski released the following statement in regards to the new agreement:

We are extremely proud and excited to continue our affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Our partnership with Columbus is great on many levels and allows our players to play in a major league environment which provides them a taste of what the NHL experience is like. Monsters fans are the best in the AHL and now they’ll be able to continue seeing future Blue Jackets play right here in downtown Cleveland, as well as follow their careers as they head to the Jackets. This partnership is outstanding for hockey in the state of Ohio.

The strong geographic connection between the two cities is obviously an important part of their relationship, and allows the Blue Jackets to have even more flexibility in terms of roster construction on a day-to-day basis, knowing their affiliate is just up the road.

Cleveland meanwhile has seen many NHL players come through their dressing room since partnering with Columbus, including Zach Werenski, Josh Anderson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Sonny Milano, Joonas Korpisalo, and Elvis Merzlikins, among others. The two sides will have that pipeline continue now into the future, though the specific details of the agreement were not made public.

AHL Shuffle: 12/07/21

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

We’re already a week into December and the NHL season is flying by. The New York Islanders will be the final team to eclipse the quarter-season mark when they play in their 21st game tonight, taking on the surging Ottawa Senators. New York hasn’t won a game since November 6 against the Winnipeg Jets, losing 11 straight since then. As they and the rest of the teams in action tonight prepare, we’ll keep track of the minor league shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Montreal Canadiens have assigned Mattias Norlinder to the AHL, where he’ll play the next three games before the team reassesses the situation. Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports that Norlinder doesn’t actually have a European Assignment Clause in his contract, meaning that the threat of going back to Sweden came from the normal transfer agreement for players selected outside of the first round. Now that he was on the NHL roster when the calendar turned to December, they can send him to the AHL without issue. Corey Schueneman has been recalled in his place.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Luke Witkowski from the minor leagues, giving them some depth at both forward and defense, given the veteran has played both in his NHL career. Currently listed as a defenseman, he’ll give the team an extra body on the back end while Marc Staal deals with his COVID designation.
  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Kyle Keyser and then returned him in the same day, likely just bringing him up as a precaution as they determined whether Linus Ullmark would travel with the team. Ullmark skated in full with the group today after missing recently with a non-COVID illness. The Bruins have also recalled Oskar Steen, as Tomas Nosek will not travel with the team due to a non-COVID illness.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled Fredrik Claesson from the AHL, sending Alex Barre-Boulet down in his place. With Erik Cernak dealing with an injury, the team needed some extra depth on defense.

Metropolitan Division

Central Division

  • The Dallas Stars have officially sent Ben Bishop to the AHL on a conditioning loan, as expected. The veteran goaltender is approaching a return from the injuries that have kept him out for more than a year, and when he does, the Stars will have quite the logjam in goal at the NHL level.
  • Connor Ingram is back up with the Nashville Predators after the team recalled him from Milwaukee today. With Juuse Saros unavailable for Tuesday night’s game with a non-COVID illness, they needed another goalie body on the roster. Ingram has a .906 save percentage in two starts with Nashville this season.

Pacific Division

This page will be updated throughout the day

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

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top