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Sabres Notes: Quinn, Anderson, Third Jersey

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Buffalo Sabres rookie Jack Quinn just broke into the NHL lineup but now won’t see the ice for quite some time. The team has announced that Quinn will miss the next four-to-six weeks with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Quinn just made his NHL debut last week and has two points in his first two games. The 2020 No. 8 overall pick has been one of the best players in the AHL this season with 35 points in 24 games and appears to be on his way to stardom in the NHL. However, that will be on hold for this season as Quinn will be out until March, at which time he will probably return to action in the minors before seeing another chance in the NHL. While this injury won’t chance much about Quinn’s impressive trajectory, it is disappointing for a Buffalo team with nothing to play for again this season and with numerous injuries already who were hoping to see their exciting prospect play a top role the rest of the way.

  • Veteran goaltender Craig Anderson finally looks ready to return to the Buffalo crease. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams revealed on a radio spot with WGR 550 that Anderson will accompany the team on their upcoming three-game western road trip and could see game action if he continues to progress. Anderson, 40, has been out since early November with an upper-body injury. After being convinced to come out of a brief retirement by the Sabres, this isn’t what Anderson was hoping for this season. However, in his six games prior to the injury Anderson was stellar, posting a .921 save percentage and 2.50 GAA. If he can get back to playing at that level, it could all be worth it for the respected veteran to go out on a high note.
  • The Sabres are bringing back a familiar face from the 90’s. No, not Dominik Hasek or Alexander Mogilny, but the literal face of the Buffalo. Chris Creamer of Sportslogos.net reports that the Sabres will bring back their 90’s primary logo, often referred to as the “Goathead” logo, to grace their third jersey in 2022-23 and beyond. Creamer even suggests that the alternate jersey could bring back the red and black scheme that the Sabres dawned for more than a decade in the mid-90’s into the 2000’s before returning to the blue and gold. It remains to be seen if that will actually be the case – the difference in appearance between the primaries and the alternate would be quite jarring – but it seems the Buffalo head logo will return regardless. A polarizing logo in its time, though far from the worst in Sabres’ history, it will be interesting to see if enough time has passed for the Buffalo fan base to embrace the return in the name of nostalgia.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/22/22

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The action starts early today as the Flyers visit the Sabres for a 1:00pm local time puck drop to kick off the Saturday slate. Ten more games will follow over the course of the day and night, highlighted by the Battle of Alberta between the Flames and Oilers. With a total of 16 games on the docket this weekend, teams will be busy tweaking their rosters. Keep up with all of the recalls and reassignments right here:

Atlantic Division

  • Call it a waivers loophole if you like, but the Detroit Red Wings have reassigned recently claimed forward Gemel Smith to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. They have done so legally via a conditioning loan. Smith landed on waivers as the Tampa Bay Lightning attempted to activate him from season-opening injured reserve, so Detroit is using the fact that he has yet to play this season in order to move him to the minors for the time being. Of course, this is a short-term loan and the elder Smith will have to earn a full-time role on the Red Wings if he wants to play with younger brother Givani Smith and avoid the wire again.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs are adding some insurance in net without costing Michael Hutchinson or Joseph Woll AHL starts. The team has recalled Erik Kallgren to the taxi squad from the AHL Marlies, making him the de facto third-string behind Jack Campbell and the injury-prone Petr Mrazek. The Leafs’ goaltending situation has been in flux much of the season, with Mrazek, Hutchinson, and Woll all making NHL appearances. The result has been Kallgren getting the lion’s share of starts in the AHL, though the Marlies have actually seen six different keepers so far this year.
  • Jacob Bernard-Docker is up from the taxi squad yet again and this time he is joined by Clark Bishop. The Ottawa Senators announced that the duo have been recalled to the active roster ahead of back-to-back match-ups this weekend.
  • After being reassigned to the taxi squad on Friday, Brett Murray is back with the Buffalo Sabres today, the team announced. Murray has played well at the NHL level this year in just his third pro season, recording six points in 18 games despite a limited role. He will likely remain the Sabres’ first recall option up front this season.
  • According to the New England Hockey Journal’s Mark Divver, forward Jesper Froden is on his way up to the Boston Bruins taxi squad from AHL Providence. He made his NHL debut earlier this season and has 20 points in 29 games with Providence.
  • The Florida Panthers are moving players down, assigning defenseman Chase Priskie to the taxi squad and goalie Evan Fitzpatrick to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Priskie made his NHL debut this season, while Fitzpatrick was signed for goalie depth earlier this month.

Metropolitan Division

  • Reinforcements are on the way to Philadelphia’s forward corps as the team announced that Wade Allison and Jackson Cates have been recalled from the taxi squad. Amidst a ten-game winless streak and with any shot at the postseason slipping away, combined with a litany of injuries, the Flyers will be looking to use more of their prospect depth the rest of the way, especially up front. Cates, who has already played in seven games with Philly this season, and Allison, who has only played in seven AHL games but has three goals to show for it, are first up.
  • The New York Rangers are shuffling up their practice squad composition. The team has announced that goaltender Tyler Wall has been returned to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack with defenseman Tarmo Reunanen and veteran forward Anthony Greco promoted to the taxi squad. Wall was in need of some game action after a stint on the practice squad, while Reunanen and Greco have earned time with the NHL group. Greco is second among Wolf Pack forwards in scoring and Reunanen holds the same place among club defensemen.
  • Columbus has sent forward Liam Foudy down to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, the team tweeted today. He went pointless in his lone NHL game this season.

Central Division

  • The good news for the Winnipeg Jets is that captain Blake Wheeler is back, activated from the injured reserve. The bad news is that the team announced the move as corresponding with Nikolaj Ehlers moving to long-term injured reserve. Young forward Kristian Reichel has also been reassigned to the taxi squad. The Jets have had a light schedule of late with just four games (three of them losses) in the past two weeks, but need to overcome the loss of Ehlers and find their groove with the Bruins, Penguins, Panthers, and Blues on the docket this week.
  • There is no shortage of Chicago Blackhawks updates today as team beat writer Carter Baum revealed numerous moves. Firstly, forward Jujhar Khaira and defenseman Riley Stillman have been placed on injured reserve. Fortunately not all health news was bad as forward Brett Connolly has been activated to the Chicago roster. Youngsters Wyatt Kalynuk and Cale Morris have been recalled to the taxi squad while forward Mike Hardman goes the other way to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
  • As has occurred frequently this season, Dallas Stars forward Riley Damiani is on the move. This time, he’s headed back to the minors to suit up for AHL Texas.

Pacific Division

  • The Seattle Kraken will let forward Alexander True get some play time down in the minors. The club has announced that True has been reassigned from the taxi squad to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, the Kraken’s temporary shared affiliated. True, 24, has been held scoreless in eight games with Seattle this season but has 18 points in 22 AHL games.
  • A trio of players have been added to the Vancouver Canucks roster. Experienced forwards Justin Bailey and Sheldon Dries have been recalled from the taxi, while young goaltender Michael DiPietro was made an emergency recall as well. Ironically, it is a defenseman that will be missing from the roster in a corresponding move, as Guillaume Brisebois has been placed on injured reserve.
    • The team additionally activated defenseman Ashton Sautner from COVID protocol, immediately assigning him to Abbotsford.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

Carolina Hurricanes Extend Jalen Chatfield

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The Carolina Hurricanes have done a little offseason business ahead of time, signing minor league defenseman Jalen Chatfield to a two-year contract extension. The deal is two-way in 2022-23, paying Chatfield $750K at the NHL level, $250K at the AHL level and includes a $300K minor league guarantee. In 2023-24, it is a one-way contract worth $775K. Hurricanes GM Don Waddell released a statement:

From the moment camp began, he’s played the Hurricane way. Jalen earned this two-year extension, and we know he will continue to bolster our blue line.

Chatfield, 25, has appeared in seven games for the Hurricanes this season but spent most of his time in the AHL, recording four goals and seven points in 21 games for the Chicago Wolves. Undrafted, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2017 and spent three seasons with the Utica Comets. In 2020-21, he made his NHL debut by skating in 18 games with the Canucks, registering a single point.

While he doesn’t figure to play a ton at the NHL level, Chatfield represents strong depth for the Hurricanes organization and can continue to lead with the Wolves. He cleared waivers without a problem at the beginning of October and now, with this two-year extension in hand, will likely clear them the next time the Hurricanes need to sneak him through.

Despite being just 25, Chatfield would have qualified for Group VI unrestricted free agency this summer. He’s now avoided RFA status altogether, as he’ll be a UFA when this new deal expires in 2024.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/21/22

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The NHL schedule is filled with eight games this evening, including the Florida Panthers trying to keep up their incredible goal-scoring pace against the Vancouver Canucks. After last night’s 6-0 debacle in Edmonton, the Panthers have scored at least five goals in eight of their last ten games, averaging 5.7 over that stretch. As they and others prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Buffalo Sabres have assigned Brett Murray to the taxi squad, meaning he won’t be available to the Rochester Americans this evening after all.  Unfortunately, it’s because top prospect Jack Quinn suffered a lower-body injury in last night’s game and is undergoing an MRI today. Bill Hoppe of Buffalo Hockey Beat reports that GM Kevyn Adams expects Quinn to miss some time.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Joey Anderson and Carl Dahlstrom to the taxi squad, suggesting that there could be another change coming on the back end. The team is without Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl at the moment and face the New York Islanders tomorrow night. Alex Biega, playing for Holl, saw just 12 minutes of ice time in the team’s last game.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Calvin Pickard to the taxi squad, giving them another goaltender as they prepare for the Dallas Stars tonight. Detroit will be hitting the road after the game to play again tomorrow night in Nashville.

Metropolitan Division

  • The Washington Capitals have returned Axel Jonsson-Fjallby to the Hershey Bears of the AHL, after playing just eight minutes last night. The 23-year-old has one point in nine games this season, his first in the NHL.

Central Division

  • The Chicago Blackhawks have removed both Kirby Dach and Brett Connolly from the COVID protocol, while recalling Mike Hardman from the AHL. To make room, Cale Morris has been sent to the AHL. Hardman, 22, has drawn the ire of some fans this season after failing to score a single goal in 20 appearances with the Blackhawks but remains an option for the bottom-six.
  • The Dallas Stars have sent Thomas Harley, Ty Dellandrea, and Rhett Gardner to the AHL, where they’ll join the Texas Stars ahead of tonight’s game against the Rockford IceHogs. Harley, a top prospect for Dallas, has played in eight games for the NHL squad this season.
  • Calen Addison, Matt Boldy, Connor Dewar, and Andrew Hammond have all been recalled from the taxi squad ahead of the Minnesota Wild game against the Chicago Blackhawks this evening. Boldy, 20, has four points in four games for the Wild so far this season.
  • The Nashville Predators have reassigned Matt Tennyson to the taxi squad, as they take a day off from a busy schedule. The Predators will be back in action tomorrow, meaning Tennyson could be back.

Pacific Division

This page will be updated throughout the day

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/20/22

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Nine games grace the NHL schedule this evening, as we inch closer to next month’s All-Star break. A lot of eyes will be on the Edmonton Oilers after this week’s press conference dust-up, as they take on the powerhouse Florida Panthers, trying to snap out of their long losing streak. As they and other teams prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Jack Quinn to the taxi squad, and have the young forward practicing on the top powerplay unit. Buffalo won 3-1 over the Senators earlier in the week and now sit at 12-20-7 on the year. Later in the day, Quinn was recalled to the active roster and Brett Murray was reassigned to the AHL.
  • The Boston Bruins have returned Kyle Keyser and Steven Fogarty to the AHL from the taxi squad, as the Providence Bruins prepare for action tomorrow night. The minor league team is off after that all the way to February 11, meaning there could be some additional recalls in the coming days.
  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Jacob Bernard-Docker and Clark Bishop from the taxi squad, following Dillon Heatherington clearing waivers. Heatherington has now been sent to the taxi squad.
  • Tampa Bay will not have to play with four defensemen tonight, after recalling Fredrik Claesson to the taxi squad today. Of course, that’s depending on who stays healthy heading into tomorrow’s match against the Anaheim Ducks.
  • The Florida Panthers have recalled Maxim Mamin and Matt Kiersted from the taxi squad ahead of tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. Mamin, 27, has played in 20 games this season for the Panthers, scoring five goals and seven points.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent Michael Hutchinson back to the minors from the taxi squad.  Between spending some time as the backup for the Maple Leafs, the COVID pause, and the recreation of the taxi squad, he has played just once since late November.

Metropolitan Division

  • The New York Rangers have recalled Jonny Brodzinski, Tim Gettinger, and Zac Jones to the taxi squad, giving them some extra bodies for their short road trip. The Rangers are off to Carolina for a game tomorrow before returning home to take on the Coyotes on Saturday.
  • With Jakub Voracek coming off the COVID list, the Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned Liam Foudy to the taxi squad. Foudy made his season debut a few days ago after spending the early part of the season with Cleveland in the AHL.

Central Division

  • The Minnesota Wild have recalled Kevin Czuczman from the taxi squad. Michael Russo of The Athletic suggests that since Hunter Jones was not added to the taxi squad, Cam Talbot could be traveling with the team to Chicago.
  • The Nashville Predators have recalled Matt Tennyson from the AHL, giving them another defenseman for tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. Tennyson, 31, has 165 games of NHL experience, though none of them have come this season.
  • Riley Damiani is back up from the taxi squad for the Dallas Stars, and he’s coming along with Rhett Gardner this time. The two have been involved in several transactions this month as the team continues to bounce names up and down, collecting cap space and saving salary. Later on, Gardner was returned to the taxi squad.

Pacific Division

  • The Los Angeles Kings have activated Carl Grundstrom from the COVID list and will insert him into the lineup this evening. Jacob Moverare has also been recalled to the active roster from the taxi squad, as the team prepares for a match against the Colorado Avalanche.
  • With Thatcher Demko’s status uncertain as the Vancouver Canucks wait for additional COVID testing results, the team has recalled Michael DiPietro to the taxi squad. DiPietro could be asked to play tomorrow night should Demko be ruled out.
  • The Edmonton Oilers have moved Zach Hyman to the COVID protocol, joining Stuart Skinner and Josh Archibald. One player that isn’t in the protocol anymore is Kyle Turris, activated today. Kris Russell has also been activated from injured reserve while Ilya Konovalov has been officially recalled to back up Mikko Koskinen in Skinner’s absence.
  • With Morgan Geekie being activated off injured reserve, the Seattle Kraken have returned Alexander True to the taxi squad.  True has played in eight NHL games so far this season, being held off the scoresheet in just over eight minutes per game of playing time.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Devan Dubnyk Signs AHL PTO

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Jan 19: After more than a month with the team and four appearances, Dubnyk has been released from his PTO. The 35-year-old netminder is expected to be in the mix for Team Canada’s Olympic squad, though he did register just an .869 save percentage during his time with the Checkers.

Dec 7: The Charlotte Checkers are bringing in some veteran goaltending depth, signing free agent Devan Dubnyk to an AHL professional tryout. The 35-year-old netminder played 22 games at the NHL level last season, but hadn’t found a contract so far in 2021-22.

It’s been quite a while since Dubnyk suited up in the AHL, last gracing the minor league during the 2013-14 season. Before those eight games with the Hamilton Bulldogs, it was way back in 2009-10 when he played a full season with the Springfield Falcons. In nearly 550 regular season NHL games, Dubnyk has a 253-206-54 record while posting a .914 save percentage. A finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2015, he has been ineffective the last two seasons in the NHL.

For the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche last year, Dubnyk posted an .895 save percentage in those 22 appearances. This PTO will help the Checkers cover the goaltending position while Joey Daccord is recalled to the Seattle Kraken, though it’s not clear how long it will last. It could be turned into an AHL contract, or perhaps the veteran goaltender is hoping to showcase enough to land an NHL deal somewhere in the league. At the very least, he’s getting a chance to play in some competitive games ahead of the Spengler Cup, where he is expected to be the starter. Should the NHL decide not to go to the Olympics, Dubnyk would also be in the mix for Team Canada.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/19/22

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It’s a light Wednesday evening in the NHL with just three games on the schedule, though there are a couple of tasty matchups. First, the Toronto Maple Leafs travel to take on the New York Rangers in a matchup of two Eastern Conference playoff teams. Next, the streaking Colorado Avalanche head to California to take on the struggling Anaheim Ducks, two teams heading in opposite directions. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling right here.

Atlantic Division

  • Jacob Bernard-Docker has been moved to the Ottawa Senators taxi squad, saving some salary while the team is off. The Senators don’t play until tomorrow when they’ll take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first of a three-game road trip.

Metropolitan Division

  • The Washington Capitals have recalled Axel Jonsson Fjallby from the AHL to the taxi squad, giving them an extra forward if needed. Jonsson-Fjallby has played in eight games this season for the Capitals but is still looking for his first NHL goal.

Central Division

  • With Joel Eriksson Ek officially exiting the COVID protocol, the Minnesota Wild have reassigned Connor Dewar to the taxi squad. Eriksson Ek hasn’t played since before Christmas due to an injury and positive COVID result. The two-way center has 11 goals and 20 points in 30 games so far.
  • The Nashville Predators have reassigned Jeremy Davies to the taxi squad, after he made his season debut last night. A seventh-round pick from 2016, Davies played over 12 minutes, recording a minor penalty and three shots.

Pacific Division

  • The Los Angeles Kings have loaned Jaret Anderson-Dolan to the AHL, while moving Jacob Moverare to the taxi squad. The daily moves by the Kings are meant to save some cap space and salary while the team sits dormant. More are expected tomorrow ahead of their game against the Colorado Avalanche.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Danny O’Regan to the taxi squad and Brogan Rafferty to the active roster, as the team continued to deal with COVID-related absences for Josh Manson, Cam Fowler, and Simon Benoit. Rafferty, 26, has played exclusively at the AHL level this season and has 10 points in 27 games for the San Diego Gulls.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/18/22

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It was a busy Monday in the NHL and things aren’t slowing down as the league plows ahead with their soon-to-be condensed schedule. Eight games are on the docket, including the red-hot Florida Panthers taking on the stingy Calgary Flames. The Panthers have averaged more than six goals per game over their last eight but will take on a Calgary Flames team that has allowed just 87 on the season, the fewest in the Western Conference. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling right here.

Atlantic Division

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Mark Kastelic and Logan Shaw to the taxi squad, giving them some extra forward depth. Kastelic, 22, has 11 points in 31 games for the Belleville Senators this season to go along with 38 penalty minutes. The 6’3″ forward was a fifth-round pick in 2019 and has yet to make his NHL debut. Later in the day, the team announced that Filip Gustavsson has been recalled as Matt Murray will miss tonight’s game with a non-COVID illness.

Metropolitan Division

  • The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Josh Leivo back to the taxi squad, moving Joey Keane to the Chicago Wolves to make room. Leivo has played in just three games for Carolina this season, spending most of the year in the minor leagues where he has 19 points in 20 games for Chicago. A veteran of more than 200 NHL contests, he’ll be an extra forward option after Martin Necas was put in the COVID protocol yesterday.
  • Michael Sgarbossa has been recalled by the Washington Capitals, giving them another forward to use against the Winnipeg Jets this evening. The Capitals lost their last game but remain within three points of first place in the Metro.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have added Max Willman to the active roster, while sending Jackson Cates back to the AHL. Cates has played in seven games for the Flyers this season, his first full year of professional hockey after signing out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have reassigned Anthony Angello, Kasper Bjorkvist, and Filip Hallander to the AHL, as the team is back home for the next few days. The Penguins will welcome in the Senators on Thursday before heading to Columbus for a game Friday evening.

Central Division

  • The Chicago Blackhawks have removed Seth Jones from the COVID protocol, meaning the team could make some other changes. Jakub Galvas, Mike Hardman, Cale Morris, and Josiah Slavin have all been reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs, though the minor league club doesn’t have a game until Friday.
  • The Dallas Stars have reassigned Anton Khudobin to the taxi squad, adding Ty Dellandrea to it as well. The move suggests that Braden Holtby is ready to exit the COVID protocol and retake his position alongside Jake Oettinger in the Stars’ net. Khudobin played twice last week, allowing five goals on 50 shots.
  • The Minnesota Wild have reassigned Kevin Czuczman, Hunter Jones, and Kyle Rau to the AHL, while moving Calen Addison, Matt Boldy, and Andrew Hammond back to the taxi squad. The moves don’t necessarily mean that players like Boldy are actually out of the lineup, but will save the team some cap space while they wait for their next game.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have placed Antoine Roussel in the COVID protocol, while also assigning Vladislav Kolyachonok, Victor Soderstrom, and Ivan Prosvetov to the AHL. The Coyotes are off until tomorrow when they travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have reassigned Declan Chisholm to the AHL, while bringing Arvid Hom, Mikey Eyssimont, and Austin Poganski up to the taxi squad. Chisholm made his NHL debut last week, playing 13:44 against the Detroit Red Wings and recording four shots on goal.

Pacific Division

  • Jacob Ingham and Austin Strand have been sent to the AHL from the Los Angeles Kings taxi squad. The Kings are at home against the Lightning tonight after a short road trip and don’t need the extra practice bodies for the time being.
  • The Seattle Kraken have recalled Joey Daccord from the AHL, sending Max McCormick back to make room. Seattle of course claimed Karson Kuhlman on waivers yesterday, adding a forward to the active roster.
  • The Calgary Flames have activated Adam Rucizka to the active roster from the taxi squad.  The 22-year-old has played in five games with Calgary this season and scored his first career NHL goal last month.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/17/22

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Eight games grace the NHL schedule today, including quite a few afternoon tilts as the United States celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day. The Detroit Red Wings will head to snowy Buffalo to take on the Sabres, before the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche play an important Central Division test. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.

Atlantic Division

  • The Montreal Canadiens have sent Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Jesse Ylonen, and Gianni Fairbrother back to the Laval Rocket of the AHL. Fairbrother, 21, failed to actually get into a game with Montreal as he entered the COVID protocol almost immediately after being recalled. He’s out now, but will head back to the minor leagues.
  • The Sabres have recalled Mattias Samuelsson from the AHL, sending Casey Fitzgerald to the taxi squad to make room. Samuelsson, 21, has 15 points in 20 games with the Rochester Americans this season, showing he’s ready to take the next step and contribute as an NHL defenseman.
  • Thomas Greiss has entered the COVID protocol, leaving the Red Wings to recall Calvin Pickard from the AHL. Pickard will back up Alex Nedeljkovic in today’s match.

Metropolitan Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

This page will be updated throughout the day

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/16/22

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After an enormous Saturday slate, only the Canucks and Capitals will take the ice today. However, other clubs will still be preparing for the week ahead with roster tweaks and injury adjustments. Keep up with those moves all day long right here:

Atlantic Division

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs will get a pair of veteran forward some play time down in the minors. The team has announced that Joey Anderson and Brett Seney have been reassigned from the taxi squad to the AHL Marlies. While Anderson and Seney are perfect taxi squad members – experienced players that can easily slot into an NHL lineup and whose development isn’t harmed by inactivity – at some point even those types need to see game action every once in a while.
  • So much for an extended stay on the NHL roster for Jacob Bernard-Docker. Just one day after he was recalled, the Ottawa Senators have reassigned the top prospect back to the taxi squad. He won’t stay there for long; the young blueliner needs to play regularly, either in Ottawa or back in Belleville.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have brought up some reinforcements to the taxi squad, announcing the recalls of goaltender Calvin Pickard, forward/defenseman Luke Witkowski, and winger Taro Hirose from Grand Rapids of the AHL.  Detroit is on the road in Buffalo on Monday and the three will serve as replacement options if someone is injured or enters COVID protocol.

Metropolitan Division

  • Veteran goaltender Jean-Francois Berube accompanied the Columbus Blue Jackets on their recent road trip as a member of the taxi squad. However, now that the team is off until Thursday he will head back to the minors. The Blue Jackets announced that Berube has been reassigned from the taxi squad to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers added two players to their taxi squad today, per the team – forward Connor Bunnaman from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms and goalie Kirill Ustimenko from the ECHL’s Reading Royals. Bunnaman, a frequently shuttled player between the NHL and AHL, has five games in with the big club this season and no points.

Central Division

  • Though they play only one game in the next five nights, the Minnesota Wild are adding to their taxi squad. The team announced that goaltender Hunter Jones and forward Kyle Rau have been recalled from AHL Iowa. Rau, a Minnesota native and long-time member of the Wild organization, is a familiar face to fans but Jones is not. The 2019 second-round pick has played more games in the ECHL than AHL this season, but has performed well in those few AHL appearances and earned a chance to work with the NHL team.
  • Thomas Harley is still looking for his first NHL point through eight games, but the 2019 first-round pick may get another opportunity soon. The Dallas Stars promoted Harley yesterday to the taxi squad from AHL Texas, where he has had no trouble producing with 35 points in 56 career games, but today have returned him to the minors. Forwards Riley Damiani and Rhett Gardner have also been reassigned to Texas for the time being.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks continue to shuffle the deck. Per team beat writer Carter Baum, the Blackhawks have activated defenseman Jake McCabe from the COVID Protocol and reassigned defenseman Ian Mitchell to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs as a corresponding move. Also heading back to Rockford is forward Lukas Reichel. Meanwhile, the taxi squad is getting some reinforcements from the AHL in the form of forward Mike Hardman and goaltender Cale Morris. 
  • As tweeted by the Nashville Predators communications department, the team made a flurry of roster moves today. Nashville reassigned forward Matt Luff to the taxi squad from the active roster, recalled defenseman Jeremy Davies from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals to the taxi squad, and moved goalie Tomas Vomacka to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL from Milwaukee. The moves could be a sign that forward Filip Forsberg, who the team placed in COVID protocol on January 8th, might be close to returning.

Pacific Division

  • The Vancouver Canucks continue to manage their options in net following the COVID diagnosis of veteran Jaroslav Halak. Spencer Martin was an emergency recall from the taxi squad yesterday and today it is young Michael DiPietro getting the call from AHL Abbotsford to take Martin’s spot on the taxi squad. It would not be a surprise to see the two switch places as well; Martin has been stellar in the AHL this season, but it is DiPietro that is a future member of the Canucks and in need of NHL experience.
  • Another routine move for the Los Angeles Kings as the team has returned forward Samuel Fagemo and defenseman Jacob Moverare to the taxi squad less than 24 hours after recalling both to the active roster. The rookie duo have been involved in more roster moves than NHL games, having each played just once for L.A. this season.

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