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Travis Hamonic Reports To Vancouver

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Oct 29: CapFriendly reports that Hamonic’s $3MM cap hit is now officially back on the books, though at the buried rate. Just $1.875MM counts toward the cap ceiling while he is in the minor leagues with Abbotsford. To make the money work, the team has also moved Tyler Motte to long-term injured reserve.

Oct 26: The Vancouver Canucks unveiled some good news ahead of their home opener on Tuesday, announcing that veteran defenseman Travis Hamonic had reported to the team. Hamonic had previously taken a leave of absence after failing to report to training camp. The team held out hope that he would report at some point this season and that has now come to fruition before the end of the first month of the season.

Hamonic and the Canucks have both been tight-lipped about the reason for his absence. It has been attributed only to “personal matters” without any further detail. GM Jim Benning also vaguely noted that the issue was “bigger than what you guys think it is” and the team was assisting Hamonic with getting help. This obviously raises questions, which won’t soon go away even after his return, but for now anything is just speculation.

Having cleared waivers previously, Hamonic will initially report to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks in the coming days. However, once the 31-year-old is up to speed he will surely join Vancouver. Hamonic recorded ten points in 38 games in his first season with the Canucks in 2020-21 and can still be a major piece of the puzzle even if he’s on the back end of this career. The Canucks have depth on the blue line, but Hamonic will still have a place on the team when ready.

AHL Shuffle: 10/29/21

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Just six games on the docket for this evening as the NHL gets ready for a busy weekend, but tonight’s schedule does include some interesting storylines. The Florida Panthers are back in action with new interim head coach Andrew Brunette behind the bench, while the Chicago Blackhawks try to secure their first win against the other remaining undefeated team, the Carolina Hurricanes. As preparations are made for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling:

Atlantic Division

Metropolitan Division

  • With T.J. Oshie out week to week, the Washington Capitals have recalled Brett Leason from the Hershey Bears. The 22-year-old has yet to make his NHL debut and has just a single goal in five games for the Bears this season. Even worse, reporters including Samantha Pell of the Washington Post watched Nic Dowd go down in pain during morning skate, meaning Leason may be forced into action this evening.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Kasper Bjorkqvist back to the AHL, though this doesn’t necessarily mean that Sidney Crosby–who was with the main group again at practice–will be returning, as the team also expected Jeff Carter back from the COVID protocol at the end of the week.

Central Division

Pacific Division

  • The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Jonas Rondbjerg from the AHL, perhaps giving him another chance at the NHL after making his debut earlier this month. The 22-year-old winger has one goal in two games for the Henderson Silver Knights this season, but failed to score in his one game with Vegas.
  • The Vancouver Canucks have recalled Nic Petan from the AHL, moving Matthew Highmore to injured reserve to make room. Petan was a preseason regular in the top-six while Elias Pettersson dealt with his contract negotiation, but found himself sent to the minor leagues when the regular season began. He has two goals in two games for Abbotsford and has routinely shown he can score at a point-per-game at that level.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Mason McTavish Sent To AHL On Conditioning Loan

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When the Anaheim Ducks decided to keep Mason McTavish for the start of the season, it came with the same caveat as any other freshly-drafted player out of the CHL. If they used him for ten games, he would burn the first year of his entry-level contract and become a restricted free agent sooner than if he was sent back to junior. They also couldn’t send him to the AHL, as he’s too young to be eligible for the minor league. That is of course, unless he’s coming off an injury, as he is now. McTavish has been loaned to the San Diego Gulls on a conditioning stint as he recovers from a lower-body injury, he is also no longer listed on the team’s injured reserve.

A normal conditioning loan can last up to 14 days and any games McTavish players in the AHL will not count toward that ten-game threshold for his entry-level contract. In this case, it’s a sly way to get him some additional professional experience while not clicking up his NHL game count. It’s also a good way to get him back on track after being injured earlier this month.

McTavish, the third-overall pick in this year’s draft, had two points in his first three games with the Ducks including his first NHL goal. The 6’1″ forward plays with a physical presence but also has enough skill to contribute at the top of the lineup. Just 18, he spent last season playing in Switzerland when the OHL didn’t hold a season and hasn’t actually suited up for his Peterborough Petes since the 2019-20 season. If he sticks at the NHL level this year, it will have been a very interesting road for McTavish, who has just that one season of CHL hockey under his belt–in which he scored 29 goals and 42 points. The year before that, he was still playing for the Pembroke Lumber Kings.

For at least a little while longer, the Ducks won’t have to make the decision on whether to send him back or not.

Remi Elie Clears Waivers

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Oct 28: Elie has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the AHL.

Oct 27: The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed forward Remi Elie on waivers today, according to Chris Johnston of TSN. Elie started the year on season-opening injured reserve, but his placement on waivers today suggests he’s ready to return to action at the AHL level.

Even though Tampa Bay is without the services of Nikita Kucherov for the next two months, don’t expect Elie to get a chance with the big club. The 26-year-old is really just minor league depth at this point, given he hasn’t suited up for an NHL game since 2018-19 with the Buffalo Sabres. In each of the last two seasons he was exclusively with the Rochester Americans, where he recorded 19 points in 2020-21.

It seems very unlikely that he would be claimed, especially coming off an injury to start the year. He does have a pretty solid minor league guarantee though, as he’ll earn $350K this season even if he fails to spend a single day on the NHL roster. Elie could certainly see some time as an injury call-up, but shouldn’t be expected to be an impact player for the Lightning this season.

Max Domi Activated From Injured Reserve

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are getting a key player back a little ahead of schedule as Max Domi has been activated from injured reserve. Domi was ruled out with a fractured rib and given a two- to four-week timeline on October 18, just ten days ago. The team has also sent Justin Danforth to the AHL to make room on the roster.

Domi will end up missing just four games should he return tomorrow night for the Blue Jackets as expected. It had been quite the start for the 26-year-old forward before he went down to injury, scoring four points in two games despite averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time. He may not be the top-line player that some hoped he could develop into, but he’s an important forward for the Blue Jackets as they continue to try and compete in the Metropolitan Division.

Without him, the team went 2-2 over the past four games but still sits fifth in the Metro despite a 4-2 record. Emil Bemstrom and Dean Kukan remain on injured reserve, but getting Domi back so quickly will obviously be a welcome sight. The lines at practice today, tweeted out by team reporter Jeff Svoboda, indicate that if Domi goes in, he will likely be knocking rookie Yegor Chinakhov out and playing on the second unit with Gustav Nyquist and Cole Sillinger.

AHL Shuffle: 10/28/21

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A busy Thursday holds nine games on the schedule around the NHL, including the undefeated Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues trying to stay perfect in their respective matches. Can the Arizona Coyotes get their first win of the season against the defending champs? As always, while teams finalize their gameday rosters we’ll be right here to keep track of all the minor moves.

Atlantic Division

Metropolitan Division

  • Cory Schneider has been added to the Bridgeport Islanders roster after he recently cleared waivers, following the activation of Semyon Varlamov yesterday. The 35-year-old veteran will likely serve as organizational depth, with Jakub Skarek and Kenneth Appleby getting the majority of starts in the minor leagues.
  • The New Jersey Devils have sent Nico Daws back to the AHL, suggesting that one of their other goaltenders is ready to return to action. Daws posted an .875 save percentage in his two NHL appearances, securing a win for the Devils in the process.

Central Division

  • The Chicago Blackhawks have sent Ian Mitchell back to the Rockford IceHogs, recalling Isaak Phillips in his place. Phillips, 20, would be making his NHL debut should he get into a game with the Blackhawks this season. A fifth-round pick, he has quickly developed into one of the most reliable defenders for Rockford and has two points in his first four games this year.

Pacific Division

  • On top of sending Mason McTavish down on a conditioning stint, the Anaheim Ducks also assigned Sam Carrick to the minors.  The 29-year-old logged nearly 10 minutes of ice time in his season debut on Tuesday.  Carrick had six points in 13 games with Anaheim last season so he should get another shot at NHL action at some point later this season.

This page will be updated throughout the day

AHL Shuffle: 10/27/21

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After yesterday’s explosive news in Chicago, the NHL season still trundles on with five games on tap tonight. As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling as teams prepare their lineups.

Atlantic Division

Metropolitan Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

  • After being sent down yesterday, Arthur Kaliyev, Rasmus Kupari, and Austin Strand are all back up with the Los Angeles Kings. The paper transaction allowed the Kings to accrue a little bit of extra salary cap space, while also paying the trio their AHL salaries for a day. The Kings will host the Winnipeg Jets tomorrow night. Kale Clague, who was sent down before the season started, has also been recalled.

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Dean Kukan Out Eight Weeks With Broken Wrist

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have moved Dean Kukan to injured reserve after he suffered a wrist fracture in last night’s game against the Dallas Stars. Kukan is expected to miss eight weeks with the injury. In his place, the team has recalled Gavin Bayreuther from the AHL.

Kukan, 28, is in the second season of a two-year contract signed in 2020 that carries an average annual value of $1.65MM. The Swiss defensemen has been a part-time player for the Blue Jackets in each of the last several seasons, totaling 114 regular season games since coming to North America in 2015. This season he has appeared in two games, failing to record a point in nearly 30 minutes of total ice time.

While not a key player for Columbus, Kukan’s injury will certainly weaken the depth of the blue line as the team continues to try and compete in the difficult Metropolitan Division. Adam Boqvist is also dealing with a minor injury, necessitating the recall of Bayreuther who will be the eighth defenseman on the active roster.

The 27-year-old Bayreuther has just 28 games at the NHL level in his career but is a well-respected minor league veteran that can step into the lineup in a pinch. In five games with the Cleveland Monsters this season, he has three points. Interestingly enough, Bayreuther was actually given a two-game AHL suspension just today after a cross-checking incident over the weekend. That will not affect his NHL availability, but means he’ll have to sit out whenever he returns to the Monsters.

AHL Shuffle: 10/26/21

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Seven more games on the schedule around the NHL tonight, including the Seattle Kraken’s second home game. The team is expected to do something to honor the 1917 Seattle Metropolitans, who won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Montreal Canadiens, their opponent tonight more than 100 years later. As always, we’ll keep track of any minor moves made today right here.

Atlantic Division

  • After just one day on the AHL roster, Oskar Steen and Jack Studnicka have been recalled by the Boston Bruins. This type of “paper transaction” can be done whenever the Bruins have an off day in order to accrue cap space throughout the season, since both players are still waiver-exempt.

Metropolitan Division

  • Though the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Kasper Bjorkqvist’s recall yesterday, it didn’t actually go through until today. The 2016 second-round pick is on the ice at an optional morning skate today, alongside Sidney Crosby and many other Penguins forwards. Bjorkqvist has yet to make his NHL debut and spent most of last season with KooKoo in Finland.

Central Division

  • The Colorado Avalanche have recalled Jacob MacDonald from the AHL, suggesting that Samuel Girard won’t be available tonight. MacDonald is a worthy replacement though, who played in 33 games for the Avalanche last season and is a dominant force at the minor league level. Once again he’s off to a good start with the Colorado Eagles, scoring four points in his first four games.
  • Reinforcements at every position are arriving to Arizona. The Coyotes have recalled Barrett Hayton, Cam Dineen, and Ivan Prosvetov after incurring several injuries on Monday night.

Pacific Division

  • The Vancouver Canucks have recalled Justin Bailey from the Abbotsford Canucks, as Justin Dowling is moved to injured reserve. Bailey, 26, has played 68 games at the NHL level in his career, including three last season for the Canucks. He has just five goals and nine points in those matches.
  • The Los Angeles Kings have made several changes to their roster. Veteran forward Brendan Lemieux has been activated to the roster, while sending three players down to the AHL. Arthur Kaliyev, Rasmus Kupari, and Austin Strand have been reassigned to the Ontario Reign, providing quite a boost to the farm roster.

This page will be updated throughout the day

AHL Shuffle: 10/25/21

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Seven games grace the NHL schedule this evening, including the defending champs taking on the early season success story in Buffalo. With so many teams in action, there should be several transactions that will be covered here.

Atlantic Division

  • The Boston Bruins have returned Oskar Steen and Jack Studnicka to the AHL, with two days off before playing later this week. The Bruins can save some cap space by sending their two young forwards down, both of whom are still waiver-exempt.

Metropolitan Division

  • Nick Seeler is on his way back up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers who play Wednesday in Edmonton. Ryan Ellis is currently day-to-day and is a game-time decision, meaning the team needed some insurance for the Western Canada road trip.
  • The New York Rangers have assigned Morgan Barron to the AHL, suggesting that one of their injured forwards is ready to return. The team is set to take on the Calgary Flames this evening, looking to continue their strong start.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Kasper Bjorkqvist, giving them an extra forward while Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Bryan Rust remain out. The 24-year-old Bjorkqvist has yet to make his NHL debut and has just three goals in 15 career AHL contests.

Central Division

Pacific Division

  • The Anaheim Ducks have returned Sonny Milano and Sam Carrick to the AHL, after almost a week with the big club. The Ducks are home from their road trip, meaning the San Diego Gulls are right around the corner if they need any further call-ups and can afford to keep players at the minor league level in between game days.
  • One of the top prospects of the Vegas Golden Knights could be getting his first look at the NHL level. The team has announced that defenseman Kaedan Korczak has been recalled from the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. There has been no indication yet whether Korczak, the 41st overall pick in 2019, will suit up for the Knights on Monday, but the promising young blue liner will cherish his first recall either way.

This page will be updated throughout the day

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