AHL Shuffle: 03/19/22
The final Saturday before the trade deadline typically yields some activity on the trade front. On top of that, with 22 teams in action, there should be plenty of AHL-NHL roster movement as well. We’ll keep track of those here.
Atlantic Division
- The Senators announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defenseman Dillon Heatherington from AHL Belleville. The blueliner isn’t expected to play tonight against Montreal barring a late scratch due to an injury or a trade. Heatherington has played in nine games for Ottawa so far this season.
- The Bruins have returned defenseman Jack Ahcan to AHL Providence, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 24-year-old has been up with Boston for most of the last month but has almost exclusively been in a reserve role. He’ll get a chance to get some game action in with Providence having a pair of games against Charlotte this weekend.
Metropolitan Division
- After clearing waivers, the Flyers have loaned winger Ryan Fitzgerald to Lehigh Valley of the AHL, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 27-year-old had been on season-opening IR until yesterday and is coming off an impressive 2020-21 campaign that saw him pick up 21 points in 28 games with the Phantoms.
Central Division
- The Predators have recalled defensemen Matt Tennyson and Jeremy Davies from AHL Milwaukee, per a team release. Tennyson has three points in four games with the Preds this season while Davies has only made one NHL appearance this season back in late January. The recalls were needed with the team placing Mark Borowiecki (lower body) and Matt Benning (upper body) on injured reserve.
- The Jets announced (Twitter link) that they’ve sent winger Kristian Vesalainen to Manitoba of the AHL. The 22-year-old has played in 53 games this season with Winnipeg but has just two goals and three assists. Once viewed as a top prospect after he was picked 24th overall in 2017, the assignment should allow Vesalainen to play a much bigger role compared to the 8:30 ATOI he has this season.
Pacific Division
- The Kings announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defenseman Christian Wolanin from AHL Ontario. This is the fifth time that the 27-year-old has been shuffled between the NHL and the minors since last Saturday.
This post will be updated throughout the day.
AHL Shuffle: 03/18/22
While the entire hockey world is focused on the trade deadline, there are still games to be played over the next few days. The six matches on the schedule for this evening include another entertaining bout between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, two teams that continue to do battle in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes are on top but have lost two in a row, while the surging Capitals are on a three-game win streak and now just three points out of a divisional playoff spot. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs made a curious roster move, adding Alex Steeves under emergency conditions while Wayne Simmonds gained non-roster status. The team clarified today that it was for personal reasons and Simmonds would be added back today, and he was with the group again at practice according to Mark Masters of TSN. The team will have to move Steeves (or someone else) off the roster to officially add Simmonds back.
- The Detroit Red Wings have assigned defenseman Luke Witkowski to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Witkowski, 31, is on his second tour of duty in Detroit and is best known for playing a throwback “enforcer” style of hockey that has become increasingly rare in today’s game.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Arizona Coyotes have assigned Michael Carcone back to the AHL, after he played his second NHL game earlier this week. The 25-year-old forward is a top option in the minor leagues but is still without a single point at the highest level.
Pacific Division
- The Anaheim Ducks have returned Danny O’Regan to San Diego of the AHL. He has played just four games with Anaheim this season, recording one assist but he has been more productive in the minors with the Gulls, picking up 26 points in 37 games.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Golden Knights Sign Derrick Pouliot To NHL Contract
There’s a new addition to the Vegas Golden Knights’ list of players under NHL contract, but likely not as big a splash as some fans hope for right now. The team has signed veteran defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a one-year NHL deal after he spent the first part of the 2021-22 season on an AHL deal with their affiliate in Henderson.
Per CapFriendly, Pouliot’s two-way deal pays him a $750,000 salary at the NHL level and a $350,000 salary at the AHL level.
Pouliot, the eighth overall selection in 2012 by Pittsburgh, hasn’t been an NHL regular since 2018-19 with the Vancouver Canucks. He does have over 200 games of NHL experience, though, and the Knights likely hope a combination of that and his offensively-minded game can provide a limited boost to their defense core, which just hasn’t jived well this season.
This is his first year in the Golden Knights organization.
Additionally, the team also sent down Brayden Pachal back to Henderson, giving Daniil Miromanov another call-up in his place. They also activated forwards Mattias Janmark and Brett Howden from injured reserve, allowing for them to return to the lineup tonight.
Owen Tippett To Be Held Out Of AHL Lineup
The Florida Panthers, or more specifically the Charlotte Checkers, will be holding Owen Tippett out of the lineup tonight according to Darren Dreger of TSN, as trade rumors continue to swirl. Tippett has been linked directly to the Philadelphia Flyers in the past and Dreger once again notes the speculation surrounding Claude Giroux.
Tippett, 23, continues to be a dominant player at the AHL level, with points in 11 of his 12 games with the Checkers and eight in his last five appearances. That minor league success hasn’t really translated to the NHL to this point though, with the young forward racking up just 14 goals and 33 points in 94 career games. Important to remember when considering those numbers though is the role that Tippett has played for the Panthers, rarely seeing anywhere close to top-six minutes given their glut of other talented options. In fact, in his 42 appearances this season he’s broken the 15-minute mark just five times and averages 12:32 on the year.
There is reason to believe that Tippett can produce at a higher level if he’s given the chance. A brilliant goal scorer in the OHL, he was picked tenth overall in 2017. Because of his situation so far, there is actually an interesting opportunity for any acquiring team. Tippett will be a restricted free agent this summer but is still not arbitration-eligible. With his depressed NHL statistics, he won’t be able to negotiate much of a raise over his entry-level salary and perhaps would even be open to a multi-year bridge deal at a relatively low cost. If someone believes that he can take a big step forward quickly–and a team like the Flyers is known to want players that can make an impact right away as they try to avoid a rebuild–he could provide quite a bit of excess value.
An injury at this point would certainly throw a wrench in those plans, meaning Tippett will likely be held out through Monday or until a trade is completed. Giroux meanwhile is set to play in his 1,000th game with the Flyers tonight, a threshold that needed to happen before any deal was possible.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
AHL Shuffle: 03/17/22
Teams are beginning to make big changes as the NHL trade deadline is just a few days away, but while management focuses on improving the roster, the players must focus on the task at hand. Ten games are on the schedule for this evening, including the struggling Vegas Golden Knights taking on one of the league’s best teams when the Florida Panthers come to town. Vegas has lost five in a row and are slipping down the standings, now just one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks, a team written off just a few months ago. As those teams and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling right here.
Atlantic Division
- The Buffalo Sabres have reassigned Lukas Rousek to the AHL, meaning he’s on his way over from Europe now that his Czech season is over. The sixth-round pick scored 38 points in 49 games for Sparta Praha after signing his entry-level contract last spring. Already 22, he’s signed through next season.
- The Montreal Canadiens have loaned Cayden Primeau and Jesse Ylonen back to the AHL, making room to activate Jake Allen and Christian Dvorak. Allen hasn’t played in over two months, but should give the Canadiens a little boost down the stretch as he returns from injury.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The yo-yo season continues for Ville Heinola, who is back up with the Winnipeg Jets on an emergency basis. Heinola, 21, has played eight games for the Jets and 32 for the Manitoba Moose so far.
Pacific Division
- With Jesse Puljujarvi and Kris Russell returning to the Oilers lineup today, the team announced that they’ve loaned forward Brad Malone back to the Bakersfield Condors. Malone, a veteran forward, had two points in six games during his callup.
This page will be updated throughout the day
AHL Shuffle: 03/16/22
The NHL has just four games on the schedule tonight, including one between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild that could have important playoff implications in both conferences. The Bruins find themselves just two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and three points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division playoff race after their recent hot streak, while Minnesota has lost seven of their last ten and has slipped down into a wild card position. As those teams prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling:
Atlantic Division
- The Boston Bruins have recalled Jack Studnicka from the AHL, while assigning newly signed Marc McLaughlin to the Providence Bruins to start his pro career. Studnicka has played in ten games for the Bruins this season, registering two points, but has been nearly a point-per-game player in the minor leagues.
Metropolitan Division
- Maxwell Willman has been recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers, giving them another forward for tomorrow’s matchup against the Nashville Predators. The Flyers have lost three in a row, seven of their last ten, and appear poised to trade their long-time captain in the coming days. The 27-year-old Willman has earned plenty of NHL action in this disappointing Flyers season, making his debut and playing in 34 games.
- Morgan Barron has been returned to the AHL, after the New York Rangers acquired Frank Vatrano earlier today. Barron, a sixth-round pick from 2017, has one assist in 13 games for the Rangers but remains a bottom-six option because of his size, physicality and ability to play center.
Central Division
- The Winnipeg Jets have assigned Ville Heinola to the minor leagues once again. The 21-year-old defenseman continues to be left out of the NHL lineup, and has played just eight games this season for the Jets. The 2019 first-round pick has 18 points in 31 games for the Manitoba Moose, where he’s headed now.
Pacific Division
- Christian Wolanin has been sent back to the AHL, his third transaction in as many days. The depth defenseman continues to be bounced up and down between leagues while his waiver status allows it, this time as Alex Edler returned to practice for the Los Angeles Kings. Wolanin, 26, has been all over the place this season, playing 24 games with the Ontario Reight, eight with the Kings, and one with the Buffalo Sabres during a short period between waiver claims.
- Sheldon Rempal and Noah Juulsen have been loaned to the Abbotsford Canucks, as the Canucks continue a homestand that will last through the weekend. Juulsen hasn’t played in over a month and has just seven games for Vancouver on the year, while Rempal played just his first game of the season a few days ago.
- With Kris Russell nearing a return, the Edmonton Oilers have sent Philip Broberg back to the AHL. The top prospect played just 11:48 last night in the win over Detroit and has averaged just over 13 minutes in 22 appearances this season.
This page will be updated throughout the day
AHL Shuffle: 03/15/22
After the NHL had just one game on the schedule last night, it’s back to a full slate of games on Tuesday with 22 teams in action. That includes a battle between two up-and-comers in the Anaheim Ducks and New York Rangers, both of which could be Stanley Cup contenders in the next few years. The Ducks, after some early season success, have fallen back to the pack and now look like sellers at the deadline, while the Rangers remain in the mix thanks to some outstanding goaltending and timely goal scoring. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- With Ryan Poehling out indefinitely, the young forward has been moved to injured reserve. In his place, the Montreal Canadiens have recalled Jesse Ylonen from the AHL. Ylonen, 22, has two points in eight career NHL games since being drafted 35th overall in 2018.
Metropolitan Division
- The Washington Capitals, without the services of Lars Eller as he deals with a positive COVID test result, have recalled Mike Vecchione from the AHL. The 29-year-old Vecchione was once a highly sought-after college free agent but hasn’t played in the NHL since 2017 when he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. This season he has taken his minor league game to a new level, scoring 36 points in 43 games for the Hershey Bears.
Central Division
Pacific Division
- The Calgary Flames have sent Connor Mackey back to the AHL, while recalling Adam Ruzicka. The swap of a defenseman for a forward suggests that Oliver Kylington could be ready to return after missing the last two games due to injury. Ruzicka, 22, has five goals and nine points in 23 games this season for the Flames.
- As expected, the Los Angeles Kings have made several recalls, bringing Martin Frk, Austin Strand and Christian Wolanin back from the AHL. Frk, a minor league superstar, actually has two goals in three games with the Kings this season.
- With Jason Dickinson being placed on injured reseve, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled Nic Petan from the AHL. Petan, 26, is having another outstanding season in the minors, with 44 points in 37 games for the Abbotsford Canucks.
This page will be updated throughout the day
AHL Shuffle: 03/14/22
There is just one game on the schedule for this evening, and not one that will garner a ton of interest given their respective seasons. The Arizona Coyotes travel to the Ottawa Senators in a match of two teams without any playoff hopes, though the former is at least showing a little fight down the stretch. The Coyotes are 6-4 in their last ten and have actually climbed within two points of the Seattle Kraken in the battle for last place in the west. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled Boris Katchouk from his AHL conditioning stint, where he suited up three times for the Syracuse Crunch. Katchouk is coming off a period on the COVID list and has only played in two NHL games since the start of February. The young forward has six points in 37 games.
Metropolitan Division
- Depth defenseman Jalen Chatfield has been returned to the AHL by the Carolina Hurricanes. Chatfield is one of the leaders for the Chicago Wolves and only really sees NHL time as an injury replacement. In 30 minor league games this season, he has five goals and 11 points.
- Trey Fix-Wolansky has been loaned back to the AHL by the Columbus Blue Jackets, after playing his sixth NHL game last night. The 22-year-old forward has two points in those contests, with even that being an impressive number for a player selected 204th overall in 2018. In fact, Fix-Wolansky is the only seventh-round pick from that draft to score an NHL goal to this point.
Central Division
- The Coyotes have made a move before their game, recalling Michael Carcone and Cam Dineen from the AHL. Hudson Fasching has been sent back down to make room. Carcone, 25, has just one game under his belt at the NHL level but has been outstanding for the Tucson Roadrunners this season.
Pacific Division
- The Los Angeles Kings have loaned Martin Frk, Austin Strand, and Christian Wolanin back to the AHL, a move that may be undone tomorrow when the team is back in action. The Kings often send eligible players down between games to save some salary, though they are not accruing cap space while in long-term injured reserve relief.
- Not only has John Leonard been recalled from the AHL but he was practicing on the top line with Tomas Hertl and Alexander Barabanov according to Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group. Leonard, 23, has 17 goals and 32 points in 45 games with the San Jose Barracuda but is still looking for his first NHL point of the season.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Paul Cotter and Brayden Pachal, giving them an extra few bodies as they travel to Winnipeg for tomorrow’s game. Cotter, 22, is welcomed back after making his NHL debut earlier this season and playing in six games, scoring twice. Pachal meanwhile has yet to see any NHL action.
This page will be updated throughout the day
AHL Shuffle: 03/13/22
The 2022 NHL Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario is the highlight of Sunday’s slate, even if the Buffalo Sabres are not appointment television and the Toronto Maple Leafs have five wins in their past 11 games. An outdoor game between these regional yet cross-national Atlantic Division opponents should be an excellent event to watch and will certainly be memorable if the Sabres complete the unlikely upset and continue the Leafs’ slide. Elsewhere around the league, 18 other teams are in play, including some heavy-hitting match-ups. The Carolina Hurricanes face the Pittsburgh Penguins in a matinee battle between Metropolitan foes, the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild square off in a Central collision with playoff position implications, and the top two teams in the West meet again as the Colorado Avalanche host the Calgary Flames. Despite plenty of action today and just one game on the docket on Monday, keep an eye out for any and all shuffling right here:
Atlantic Division
- The Montreal Canadiens have recalled defenseman Corey Schueneman from the Laval Rocket, and he’s on his way to join the team in Philadelphia for their game tonight. Defenseman Joel Edmundson made his season debut last night against Seattle after returning from injury, but the team is taking his return to the lineup slowly by not playing him in back-to-back games. Schueneman has two points in eight games with the Habs this year.
Metropolitan Division
- As announced by the team, the New York Rangers have assigned forward Tim Gettinger to the Hartford Wolf Pack. He was one of the team’s three extra forwards as they opted for 11 forwards and seven defensemen last night against the Stars, and he has no points in eight NHL games this season. While nothing has been confirmed, it could potentially be a sign that Kaapo Kakko is close to a return to the lineup after missing roughly six weeks with an upper-body injury.
Central Division
- NBC Sports’ Charlie Roumeliotis reports that the Chicago Blackhawks have reassigned young defenseman Alec Regula to the AHL. Regula has played in six games with Chicago this season, doubling up his rookie season total from last year. Just a second-year pro, Regula has not looked out of place in limited NHL action nor in the AHL, where he has 17 points in 27 games for the Rockford IceHogs. The big defender will be one of the pieces that Chicago builds around as they begin their rebuild, but for now he does not have a permanent NHL role.
- The Dallas Stars have recalled recent waiver claim Marian Studenic from a conditioning loan to AHL Texas. The 23-year-old forward has only three points in 25 NHL games, but the Stars saw enough to warrant a claim. It remains to be seen though just how long the leash is for Studenic. With little cap space and roster flexibility to go around in Dallas, Studenic will need to show he belongs ahead of the deadline or he could hit the wire once again.
Pacific Division
- The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Daniil Miromanov from the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, the team announced. The rookie defenseman was demoted yesterday, but this has proven to be no more than a paper transaction given his immediate recall today. Miromanov has bounced around the junior and pro ranks in North America and Europe but at 24 has finally received NHL action this year, skating in seven games already with Vegas.
- There’s an internal roster overhaul ongoing in Los Angeles, per a team release. The Kings have placed veteran leaders Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown on injured reserve and demoted young Jaret Anderson-Dolan to the AHL’s Ontario Reign. In their place, forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Martin Frk and defenseman Austin Strand have been recalled. All three have played for L.A. this season, albeit in limited action, and now face the tall task of helping the injury-depleted roster stay on track in their postseason pursuit.
- The Calgary Flames have made a man-for-man swap, assigning forward Adam Ruzicka to the Stockton Heat and calling up defenseman Connor Mackey. Ruzicka, often an extra this season, was nearing the end of his waiver ineligibility. Mackey, who scored three points in six Flames games at the tail end of last season, gets a chance to get into the NHL lineup for the first time this season.
West Notes: Sharks, Kylington, Bowey, Drysdale
The San Jose Sharks announced that they have activated goaltender Adin Hill off of IR today. In a corresponding move, goaltender Alex Stalock has been assigned to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. Additionally, forward Ryan Dzingel, who cleared waivers, has been assigned to the Barracuda as well.
Hill last played on January 22nd when he was injured in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stalock had been brought in through a March 2nd trade with the Edmonton Oilers, but had only played in one game for the Sharks, where he gave up six goals to the Nashville Predators in a losing effort. For Dzingel, it’s has been a strange few weeks, having been traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 19th and immediately placed on waivers, then claimed by the Sharks. Dzingel played in six games for the Sharks, scoring a goal, before being placed on waivers yesterday, and clearing today.
- The Calgary Flames announced that defenseman Oliver Kylington is day-to-day and would not play in today’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. Kylington has been enjoying a breakout season with Calgary, recording 25 points in 56 games for the Pacific Division leading Calgary Flames. Instead of Kylington, defenseman Michael Stone has drawn into Calgary’s lineup, his first game since December 5th, and only his third game this season.
- The Vancouver Canucks announced that they have assigned defenseman Madison Bowey to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. Bowey only played in two games with Vancouver after being recalled on February 21st, but has been having a solid season for Abbotsford, providing 16 points in 33 games.
- Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register reported that Jamie Drysdale‘s absence from the Anaheim Ducks’ lineup tonight is due to a healthy scratch and not an injury. Drysdale is expected to be a future cornerstone defenseman for the Ducks, however he has struggled recently, registering a plus/minus of -7 over his last two games. With Josh Manson returning to the lineup, replacing forward Sam Steel on the roster, a defenseman was likely to come out of the lineup.