AHL Shuffle: 04/06/22
After a couple of wild matchups yesterday between playoff teams, today’s NHL schedule is a bit more subdued with only five games on the docket. Still, that includes an all-important game for the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights, with the former essentially out of the playoff race if they fail to take home two points in regulation. Vancouver now sits nine points behind the Dallas Stars with just 12 games to play, a gap that is probably insurmountable even if they did end up winning tonight. The Golden Knights meanwhile still find themselves out of a spot but have won five straight and made it a race again, even creeping closer to a Pacific Division spot as the Los Angeles Kings scuffle toward the finish line. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Kyle Criscuolo once again, his fifth transaction in less than a week. The 29-year-old has played three games this season for Detroit and 12 in his career, spending most of his time in the minor leagues.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Arizona Coyotes have assigned both Hudson Fasching and Ivan Prosvetov to the AHL, as Harri Sateri joined the team today. Prosvetov, 23, has played in 40 games for the Tucson Roadrunners this season, logging the lion’s share of the minor league work.
- Matt Tennyson has been returned to the minor leagues by the Nashville Predators, where he can continue to help the Milwaukee Admirals in their Calder Cup pursuit. The veteran defenseman has 14 points in 46 games for Milwaukee this season.
Pacific Division
- Yesterday, the Vancouver Canucks recalled Jack Rathbone, with Quinn Hughes absent from practice. Rathbone is up under emergency conditions, meaning he does not yet count toward the four post-deadline recalls that the Canucks are allowed.
- Juuso Valimaki is back up with the Calgary Flames, recalled today from the minor leagues. Valimaki has played just eight games with the NHL club this season, recording two points.
This page is updated throughout the day
Viktor Lodin Assigned To AHL
The Ottawa Senators have now officially reassigned Viktor Lodin to the Belleville Senators of the AHL, though things had been in the work for a few days. Lodin’s season in the SHL finished recently and now he will get his first taste of professional hockey in North America. Belleville head coach Trent Mann was on TSN radio yesterday to talk about his newest forward, explaining that Lodin will be making his debut by Saturday at the latest.
A fourth-round pick in 2019, Lodin has had an up-and-down development path over the last few years. After playing nearly a full season at the SHL level in 2018-19, he ended up back in the second tier in 2019-20 after struggling with Orebro HK. In 2020 he joined Timra, who had been demoted to the Allsvenskan (the Swedish equivalent of the AHL), and he spent all season there helping them win a championship and earn promotion back to the SHL.
In that 2020-21 campaign he had 40 points in 47 games, and he has come back with another strong season this year for Timra even after the promotion. With 12 goals and 27 points in 44 games, the 22-year-old Lodin is fourth on the team in scoring, trailing only three import players (including former NHL forward Ty Rattie.
Signed to a two-year entry-level contract last June, Lodin is under contract through 2022-23 and would then be a restricted free agent. Getting some games in down the stretch will only help his transition to North America full-time next season, when he is expected to play a big role for Belleville. Don’t rule out a debut at the NHL level either though, as his strong play at the highest level in Sweden has opened some eyes. Whether he can bring any of that offense to this side of the pond remains to be seen, but Lodin represents another prospect for the Senators that could be ready for action in the coming years.
Minor League Notes: Murray, Marlies, Dove-McFalls
The Texas Stars have signed goaltender Matt Murray–no, not that Matt Murray–to an amateur tryout agreement for the rest of the season. The 24-year-old netminder recently finished his college career at UMass-Amherst, where he played five seasons for the Minutemen. In 2021-22, the former AJHL star posted a 21-12-2 record with a .917 save percentage, and holds the school records for wins and shutouts. Undrafted, Murray has generated some buzz as a possible entry-level contract candidate, but it looks like he’ll have to show what he can do at the AHL level before that happens.
Here are some more minor moves from around the AHL:
- The Toronto Marlies have signed Michael Joyaux and Nolan Walker to AHL contracts for the 2022-23 season, stocking the system with a pair of college free agents. Joyaux, 25, has spent the last four seasons at Western Michigan and scored a career-high 32 points in 39 games this year. The undersized defenseman will have his work cut out for him at the next level, and certainly isn’t a lock to earn an NHL deal down the road. Walker, 23, meanwhile is a bit of the same story, as an undrafted, undersized forward. He is coming off his senior season at St. Cloud State, where he posted 24 points in 37 games.
- Samuel Dove-McFalls, a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, has decided to try his hand at professional hockey after all. The 24-year-old signed a tryout agreement with the Grand Rapids Griffins, after finishing his fourth season with the University of New Brunswick, where he served as captain this year. Selected way back in 2015, Dove-McFalls’ draft rights expired in 2017 when he failed to sign with the Flyers, making him an unrestricted free agent. A former QMJHL champion, he had 20 points in 24 games for UNB this season.
AHL Shuffle: 04/05/22
It’s a busy night in the NHL with ten games on tap, including several that could have playoff implications. The Toronto Maple Leafs try to complete the Sunshine sweep as they head to face the Florida Panthers, while the Minnesota Wild try to show why they’re ahead of the Nashville Predators in a Central Division matchup. One interesting cross-conference game will be the Colorado Avalanche taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins, a battle of two Stanley Cup contenders (and of two good friends in Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon). As those teams and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor shuffling right here.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Parker Kelly from the AHL, giving them an extra body for their match this evening. Kelly, 22, has played in 27 games for Ottawa this season, scoring five goals.
- Forward Kyle Criscuolo is up with the Detroit Red Wings under emergency conditions, per the team. Criscuolo already has an assist in three NHL games this season and could add to that total in the next few games if in the lineup.
Metropolitan Division
- After securing his first win as a member of the New York Islanders, Cory Schneider has been returned to the minor leagues. The 36-year-old netminder stopped 27 of 30 shots on Sunday in his first NHL appearance since 2020. That win could very well end up being his final appearance in the NHL, depending on what happens down the stretch and when he reaches unrestricted free agency in the summer.
Central Division
Pacific Division
- Another emergency call-up comes in the form of defenseman Jack Rathbone, who’s now up with the Vancouver Canucks. Rathbone suffered what seemed to be a serious injury with AHL Abbotsford earlier in the year, but is now healthy and could get some NHL action down the stretch. He’ll likely slot into the lineup tomorrow against Vegas as Quinn Hughes is out with a non-COVID illness.
This page is updated throughout the day
Devon Levi Returning To Northeastern
According to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, goalie prospect Devon Levi has informed the organization that he intends to return to Northeastern University for his junior season (link). Though it had not been confirmed, the general belief had been that Levi would return to Northeastern instead of opting to turn pro and sign with Buffalo. As much as the Sabres would like to have the goaltender enter their organization now and learn the business of being a professional hockey player, the move seems to make sense for Levi, who can have another year of development at the NCAA level, another year of education at Northeastern, and another chance at a national title.
Also of note for the 20-year-old is that turning pro would not necessarily mean a regular role with the Buffalo Sabres, and a likely trip to the Rochester Americans of the AHL for at least a year. Although professional could benefit Levi, another year at Northeastern may ultimately be more appealing while still allowing him to develop.
Selected in the seventh-round by Florida in 2020, 212th overall, Levi has been a standout in college. After missing his Freshman year due to injury, Levi burst onto the scene this season as a Sophomore, boasting a .952 save-percentage and 1.54 goals-against average over 32 games. Time will tell how the young goaltender develops, but his return to Northeastern does not make him any less a part of the Sabres’ future plans.
AHL Shuffle: 04/04/22
The NHL is rather quiet this evening with just four games, though a pair of them do have significant playoff implications. The Toronto Maple Leafs head to Tampa to take on the Lightning in a battle for the second seed in the Atlantic, while the Los Angeles Kings welcome in the Calgary Flames and try to continue their chase of the Pacific crown. The Flames sit just three points ahead of the Kings and have lost three straight, though they do have three games in hand on their pursuers. As those teams and others prepare for this evening, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have assigned Kyle Criscuolo to the AHL, after he played in just his 12th career NHL game last night. The 29-year-old forward has been excellent in his return to the Grand Rapids Griffins, joining them last season and posting 51 points in 78 games to this point. In three matches this season with Detroit, he recorded one point–his first at the NHL level.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Victor Soderstrom from the AHL, bringing up the top prospect once again now that he’s recovered from injury. Soderstrom, 21, has played in 13 NHL games this season but is still looking for his first point of the year, while he has registered 13 in 23 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.
Pacific Division
- Bowen Byram is back up with the Colorado Avalanche and will travel on their upcoming road trip, which includes two stops in Canada. Byram, who has always should immense ability when on the ice, has struggled with head injuries during his short career and has just 39 professional games (at any level) to his name to this point.
- The Calgary Flames have recalled Adam Ruzicka and Juuso Valimaki from the AHL. The pair have joined them in Los Angeles and will be available for tonight’s game if needed. The 23-year-old Valimaki was once considered a key future piece for the Flames, though injuries and inconsistency have slowed his progress in recent years. This season, he’s played just eight games with the big club, spending most of the year with the Stockton Heat.
- Pavel Dorofeyev has been sent back to the AHL by the Vegas Golden Knights, after playing in his second career NHL game a few days ago. The 21-year-old winger is still looking for his first point at that level, but has 41 in 53 games for the Henderson Silver Knights.
This page is updated throughout the day
Montreal Canadiens Sign Emil Heineman
The Montreal Canadiens have added another prospect to the ranks, signing Emil Heineman to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal, which carries an NHL cap hit of $897.5K, will begin in 2022-23. For now, the young player will join the Laval Rocket on a professional tryout and spend the rest of the season in the AHL.
Heineman, 20, has already been included in two trades in his young career. Originally selected by the Florida Panthers, he was shipped to the Calgary Flames in the Sam Bennett deal, and then Montreal in the Tyler Toffoli trade. Less than two years after he was picked 43rd overall, the young forward now has an NHL contract in hand and a pretty clear path the relevance in the Canadiens’ organization.
In 38 games for Leksands IF this season–his second full year in the SHL–Heineman scored 11 goals and 16 points. While those numbers don’t pop off the chart, there is plenty of optimism for his future at the North American professional level, especially after his performance in the Champions League, where he scored four times in nine games. While his overall offensive upside may be limited, there’s a never-ending work ethic in Heineman that should serve him well as he tries to carve out a role with Montreal.
The Canadiens system is about to get awfully crowded, with nearly countless draft picks in the next few seasons. But a player like Heineman has a leg up with his deal already in hand, and can now begin the climb to the NHL ranks.
AHL Shuffle: 04/03/22
Today is a relatively busy day for games, with two contests having already concluded, including an Ottawa Senators win over the Detroit Red Wings that featured a Josh Norris hat trick. There should be some roster shuffling throughout the day and we’ll keep track of those movements here.
Atlantic Division
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Blue Jackets have recalled two players from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. Defenseman Jake Christiansen and forward Carson Meyer have been elevated to the main squad. Christiansen’s recall is a regular one, while Meyer’s is an emergency recall, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers. Christiansen, 2s2, is an undrafted player who is looking like a savvy pickup for the Blue Jackets, as he has 42 points in 54 AHL games for the Monsters, which leads the team. He also has gotten into four NHL games this year and has a goal. Meyer, 24, was a 2017 sixth-round pick and has 16 goals and 27 points in 57 AHL games this year.
Pacific Division
- The Oilers have brought up goaltender Stuart Skinner from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on an emergency basis. Mikko Koskinen will miss tonight’s game with a non-COVID illness so Skinner will back up Mike Smith. Skinner has played in 13 games for Edmonton this season, posting a 2.62 GAA along with a .913 SV%.
- The Kings have returned forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan to Ontario of the AHL, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 22-year-old was brought up on an emergency recall on Thursday but didn’t see any game action. Anderson-Dolan doesn’t have any points in seven games with Los Angeles this season but has been quite productive with the Reign, notching 41 points in 45 games.
This post will be updated throughout the day.
Arizona Notes: Ladd, Moser, Imama
Arizona Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny announced that forward Andrew Ladd would play in today’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center, reports PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan. The veteran has not played since February 20th, after being placed on IR on February 28th. Ladd’s first game back in the lineup will be in a familiar building, as he spent parts of four seasons with the Blackhawks.
It’s been another season of struggles for Ladd, as he has not played up to his previous career numbers and has dealt with his share of injury, a theme that seemed to define his career with the New York Islanders. However, after being traded to the Coyotes in the offseason, Ladd has had a bright spot, being able to play most nights when healthy and mentor the next generation of Coyotes talent. In 42 games this season, Ladd has six goals and three assists.
- Also from Tourigny, defenseman Janis Moser is not expected back for a few more weeks, reports Jose Romero of AZ Central Sports. The 21-year-old rookie has been out since suffering an injury on March 15th against the Montreal Canadiens. Moser has been a welcomed addition to the Arizona blueline this year, with three goals and nine assists in 33 games so far this season.
- An interesting suspension was handed out to one of Arizona’s AHL players earlier this week. Tucson Roadrunners forward Boko Imama was suspended for one game after receiving his 10th fighting major of the season. As Morgan explains, this is part of AHL Rule 23.7, which issues the automatic suspension after a player’s 10th fighting major of the season. Per Rule 23.7, a player is automatically suspended for the next game after his 10th through 13th fights of the season, then is automatically suspended two games after his 14th or more fights of the season. If the opposing player in a fight is issued an instigator penalty, then the fighting major will not count towards the player’s total for the season. For more on the AHL’s rules, follow the link.
AHL Shuffle: 04/02/22
The first Saturday in April is a busy one with nine games on the docket including what was an eventual matinee game that saw Florida come back from a four-goal deficit in the third to beat New Jersey in overtime. There should be some roster shuffling throughout the day and we’ll keep track of those movements here.
Atlantic Division
- The Red Wings announced the recall of center Kyle Criscuolo from Grand Rapids of the AHL. The 29-year-old has played in 49 games with the Griffins this season, picking up 32 points. With Detroit playing in Ottawa on Sunday, Tyler Bertuzzi will be ineligible to play while Dylan Larkin is day-to-day with a minor injury so Criscuolo will serve as some insurance to make sure they can dress 12 forwards for that game.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Coyotes have flipped backup goalies as they’ve recalled Ivan Prosvetov while sending Josef Korenar to Tucson, per the AHL’s transactions log. Harri Sateri was able to join the team recently but will need some time before being game-ready so Arizona is shuffling their backups in the meantime. Prosvetov has a pair of starts this season for the Coyotes, posting a .893 SV% in those outings.
Pacific Division
- The Los Angeles Kings loaned forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan back to the Ontario Reign today, according to the team on Twitter. Anderson-Dolan has been held pointless in seven games with the big club this season, last playing on March 12th.
This post will be updated throughout the day.