AHL Shuffle: 03/12/22
It’s another busy Saturday in the NHL with 20 teams set to play so there should be plenty of roster movement throughout the day. We’ll keep track of those moves here.
Atlantic Division
- The Red Wings announced that they’ve recalled defenseman Luke Witkowski from Grand Rapids of the AHL. The 31-year-old has seven points and 62 penalty minutes in 43 games with the Griffins. He has been used on the wing in his last few NHL stints and with Robby Fabbri (injury) and Tyler Bertuzzi (unable to cross the border) unavailable for the next three games, it’s likely that Witkowski will have to play up front if he’s going to see his first NHL action since 2019-20.
Metropolitan Division
- The Hurricanes have sent goaltender Alex Lyon to Chicago of the AHL, per a team release. The 29-year-old has been shuffled back and forth in recent days with Frederik Andersen dealing with an undisclosed injury, one that it appears he’s ready to return from. Lyon has played in two games with Carolina this season but has spent most of the campaign with the Wolves, posting a league-leading 2.14 GAA in 23 games.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they have recalled forward Radim Zohorna from the AHL’s Scranton-Wilkes Barre Penguins, and have assigned forward Valtteri Puustinen to Scranton. This will not be Zohorna’s first trip to the NHL this season, as he already has two points in eight games, last playing for Pittsburgh back on February 10th. Despite being sent down, Pusstinen is an intriguing name for Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old, who was taken in the 7th round by Pittsburgh in 2019, made his NHL debut Friday night, tallying an assist, and has 34 points over 53 games with Scranton this season.
Central Division
- The Wild announced (Twitter link) that they’ve returned defenseman Calen Addison back to Iowa of the AHL. The 21-year-old was brought up three weeks ago and got into six games with Minnesota in that stretch, averaging just under 14 minutes. However, with eight blueliners on the active roster, they’ve decided that playing top minutes in the minors makes more sense for Addison at this time.
- The Stars announced (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned winger Riley Tufte to Texas of the AHL while recalling goaltender Adam Scheel. Tufte has been seeing regular action on the fourth line as of late but with Braden Holtby dealing with a lower-body injury, they needed to clear a roster spot and enough cap space to bring Scheel up to serve as Jake Oettinger‘s backup tonight. Tufte makes more than their other waiver-exempt forwards so he had to be the one to go down.
Pacific Division
- The Kings announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defenseman Christian Wolanin from AHL Ontario. The 26-year-old started off the season in the NHL but has spent most of the year with the Reign where he has 11 assists in 24 games. To make room for Wolanin on the roster, the team placed winger Andreas Athanasiou on IR retroactive to March 10th.
- The Golden Knights have sent blueliner Daniil Miromanov back to Henderson of the AHL per a team announcement (Twitter link). The 24-year-old was recalled on Monday as injury insurance but hasn’t played since then. Miromanov has played in seven games with Vegas this season plus 41 with the Silver Knights where he has six goals and 24 assists.
- The Sharks have returned goaltender Alex Stalock to San Jose of the AHL, per the AHL’s transactions log. The veteran was acquired from Edmonton to serve as goalie depth with both Adin Hill and James Reimer injured. Hill is set to return tonight so Stalock will head to the Barracuda. The 34-year-old was expected to miss the entire season due to a heart condition but returned to action last month.
This post will be updated throughout the day.
Kings AHL Head Coach John Wroblewski Resigns
Back in December, John Wroblewski took a leave of absence for personal reasons as head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign, the top affiliate of the Kings. Today, the team announced that Wroblewski’s absence would be a permanent one as it was mutually determined that he would not return. Wroblewski released the following statement:
Thank you to the Ontario Reign and everyone with the LA Kings organization for all of their support during my leave of absence. After discussions with the team, we have come to an amicable agreement that will allow me to go in a different direction. I’m looking forward to returning to coaching at the appropriate time.
The 40-year-old joined the Kings organization in 2020 after leading the U.S. National Team Development Program for four seasons where he worked with many top prospects, several of which have already moved into top roles in the NHL. Wroblewski has been coaching since 2007-08 and has clearly indicated a willingness to return behind the bench down the road.
In the meantime, Reign assistant coaches Chris Hajt and Craig Johnson had been running the team and that will continue, per the team’s release. A search for a full-time head coach will likely need to wait until the offseason now.
AHL Shuffle: 03/11/22
Just four games on the Friday night schedule in the NHL, though that does include the red-hot Vancouver Canucks with another chance to keep chasing down the Pacific Division playoff spots. Vancouver will take on the rollercoaster ride that is the Washington Capitals, who oscillate between crushing playoff teams and losing to those outside the postseason. Given the Edmonton Oilers beat them earlier this week, the Canucks will need to do the same to keep pace. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Boston Bruins have returned Jesper Froden to the AHL after just a couple of days and no game action. The 27-year-old forward has played in five contests, his last coming on March 3, but has failed to record a single point.
- The Florida Panthers have recalled Spencer Knight while loaning Jonas Johansson to Charlotte of the AHL on a conditioning assignment. Johansson is certainly in need of some playing time as the goaltender has made just one appearance since December 8th. Meanwhile, Knight has been doing well with the Checkers and picked up a 29-save victory in a spot start back on Monday.
Metropolitan Division
- With Zdeno Chara being activated from injured reserve, the New York Islanders have returned Otto Koivula to the AHL. The 23-year-old Koivula has played in five games this season (and 12 in 2019-20) but is still looking for his first NHL goal. That’s not the case in Bridgeport, where he has 36 points in 43 games.
- Morgan Frost has been recalled to the Philadelphia Flyers, after Scott Laughton suffered an injury last night. To make room, Max Willman has been loaned back to the AHL. Frost, 22, continues to be bounced back and forth between the AHL and NHL, splitting his season almost directly in half this year. In 30 games with the Flyers, he has two goals and seven points.
Central Division
Pacific Division
- Rasmus Kupari has been recalled by the Los Angeles Kings, his first recall since going down at the beginning of February. Kupari has played in 37 games for the Kings this season, but registered just three goals and nine points in that span. Set to turn 22 next week, the young forward is still trying to establish himself as a regular at the NHL level.
- The San Jose Sharks have returned Ryan Merkley to the AHL, now that they’re getting back some healthy bodies on defense. Erik Karlsson was back yesterday and played nearly 26 minutes in the win, recording two assists. Merkley, the team’s 2018 first-round pick, has just three points in 23 appearances with the Sharks this season.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Penguins Notes: Forward Depth, Big Three, Drozg
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall spoke with the media today and touched on several subjects, including his trade deadline plans. While he feels “pretty good” about the team overall, he did mention that he would like to add to his forward group if possible. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic chimes in to specify that the Penguins are looking for a top-six scoring winger, one that comes with some term and is not an expiring contract.
There will be countless players linked to the Penguins in the coming days and it is important to note that the team has their first-round pick still, something the franchise has been notorious for dangling whenever they want to add talent. In fact, the Penguins have selected a player in the first round just twice since 2013, and one of those–Kasperi Kapanen–was traded before he ever played a game for the team, then bought back in another deal that included a first.
- Hextall also touched on the big three pending free agents in Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust. “Geno” and “Tanger” are two of the team’s top priorities according to the front office executive, who hopes that they can work out a deal that works for both sides in all three cases. Just yesterday a report emerged on Letang’s negotiations, but things are much less clear with a player like Rust, who is in line for a huge raise over the $3.5MM cap hit he has carried the last four seasons. For quite some time now he’s been much more than the quality middle-six depth that signed that contract but there are still concerns over his durability that has limited him to just 36 games this year, and how the team will fit in all three with a salary cap that isn’t set to substantially increase for a little while longer.
- Jan Drozg, in the final season of his three-year entry-level contract, has been loaned from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to the Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old has ten points in 23 games for the AHL Penguins this season but has played just once in the past month. At this point in his career, Drozg seems like a prime candidate to go unqualified in the offseason or head back to Europe to continue his development elsewhere. For now, his career takes him to Grand Rapids where he will hopefully get a bigger opportunity.
Roman Ahcan Signs AHL Contract
On a Wisconsin Badgers team filled with NHL draft picks, there were a few surnames that stood out among those undrafted. One was Brock Caufield, older brother of the Montreal Canadiens young sniper, and one of the others was Roman Ahcan. The latter has made the jump to professional hockey, signing an AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters for the 2022-23 season and joining them on a professional tryout for the rest of this year.
Ahcan, 22, is the younger brother of Boston Bruins defenseman Jack Ahcan, who just so happened to have a big night of his own yesterday. Jack Ahcan recorded his first NHL goal in a win against the Chicago Blackhawks, just his eighth NHL game since signing in Boston in 2020. He too was an undrafted talent that spent four years at college–St. Cloud State, not Wisconsin–and earned a two-year entry-level deal.
It won’t be a family reunion in the Bruins organization though, as Roman Ahcan joins the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets and tries to show that he too is worthy of an NHL deal down the road. Undersized like his brother, the young forward put up 34 goals and 74 points in 130 college contests.
Interestingly enough, there’s a third brother that could be chasing the same dream in a few years. Nineteen-year-old Grant Ahcan is set to start at St. Cloud State next season, after playing for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL this year.
AHL Shuffle: 03/10/22
After a quiet Wednesday, the NHL is practically overflowing with games tonight as 26 of the league’s 32 teams are in action. That includes Jack Eichel‘s return to Buffalo to take on the Sabres for the first time since their messy divorce last year. Eichel reflected on his time with Buffalo and the way the two sides parted yesterday, suggesting that the team was “toying” with him by the end of it. You can bet his return to the ice will bring some mixed emotions from Sabres fans and a surge of adrenaline for the Golden Knights center. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.
Atlantic Division
Metropolitan Division
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Valtteri Puustinen from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Puustinen was the team’s 2019 7th round pick (203rd overall) and finally made the jump to North America this season. After posting 41 points in 51 games for HPK Hameenlinna in Finland, the 22 year old winger is set to potentially make his NHL debut after a successful rookie season in the AHL, where he has 34 points in 53 games so far.
Central Division
- Reese Johnson has been activated from long-term injured reserve by the Chicago Blackhawks and assigned to the minor leagues. The 23-year-old forward has been out for months with a broken collarbone, and has four points in 18 NHL games this season. While he’ll likely get his legs under him in the AHL, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson back with the Blackhawks at some point.
Pacific Division
This page will be updated throughout the day
Jack Campbell Out With Rib Injury; Erik Kallgren Recalled
The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Erik Kallgren from the AHL under emergency conditions, as Jack Campbell will be out for a minimum of two weeks with a rib injury. This is Kallgren’s first recall to the regular roster this season.
With Campbell out, the focus will turn to Petr Mrazek, the inconsistent netminder that Toronto signed to a three-year contract in the offseason. Mrazek dealt with injuries of his own early in the season and has made just 15 appearances so far, posting an .890 save percentage in those games. He does have a 10-5 record as the Maple Leafs have been able to outscore their goaltending woes fairly regularly, but with the pressure now squarely on Mrazek’s shoulders, things are going to have to improve.
In the case of Kallgren, the team has an interesting name to pivot to in this situation. A seventh-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2015, the 25-year-old netminder spent the last two seasons playing in Europe, where he rediscovered his game and earned another NHL contract. With the Toronto Marlies this season, Kallgren has a 15-8-1 record and a .904 save percentage in 26 appearances. Whether he’s ready to help the Maple Leafs or not, he’ll serve as the backup for the time being.
Joseph Woll, the other young netminder that the Maple Leafs have used this season, played two days ago for the Marlies and stopped 27 of 29 shots. His .903 AHL save percentage on the season isn’t much different than Kallgren, however, and it’s unclear who would really be able to step up if Mrazek were to suffer an injury or struggle.
Toronto Maple Leafs Extend Kyle Clifford, Carl Dahlstrom
The Toronto Maple Leafs have decided they want to keep around some veteran depth, even if it is at the minor league level. The team has signed Kyle Clifford to a two-year extension that will carry an average annual value of $762.5K, and Carl Dahlstrom to a one-year, two-way extension that carries an NHL salary of $750K.
The cap hit for Clifford represents the league minimum in both years (it increases from $750K to $775K in 2023-24) and means he’ll be staying in the Maple Leafs organization through his 33rd birthday. The veteran bottom-six forward has 738 regular season games to his name, but only 12 this season after failing to get into much action with the St. Louis Blues and then spending considerable time with the AHL’s Marlies after arriving in Toronto.
There’s almost no offense in the Stanley Cup champion, but the Maple Leafs have shown they value his leadership and grit enough to trade for him twice in the last few years. It’s no surprise that Clifford was actually Toronto GM Kyle Dubas’ first client during his short period as a player agent. This new deal certainly shouldn’t guarantee a huge amount of playing time, but will reward Clifford handsomely even if he’s playing in the minor leagues.
For Dahlstrom, the season has been spent almost exclusively in the minors, with just a single appearance for the Maple Leafs to this point. The 6’5″ defenseman has been good for the Marlies, racking up 13 points in 36 games, but shouldn’t be expected to take an NHL job anytime soon. Signing him to a short-term extension maintains some organizational depth, while giving the 27-year-old stability he hasn’t had the last few years as he bounced around the league.
Philadelphia Flyers Recall Cam York
The Philadelphia Flyers, last in the Metropolitan Division and winners of just three games in their last ten, have recalled top prospect Cam York from the minor leagues. York last played in the NHL more than a month ago, going back to the AHL on February 2. He’s played 13 games since then for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, recording three points.
The interesting part about a York recall, other than the obvious excitement that comes with a top prospect, is the situation that Philadelphia finds themselves in when it comes to the trade deadline. Five of the seven other defensemen on the Philadelphia roster are pending unrestricted free agents. Rasmus Ristolainen, Justin Braun, Keith Yandle, Kevin Connauton, and Nick Seeler are all on expiring contracts, suggesting they could be moved at some point if not in the team’s future plans.
Philadelphia has six games left before the March 21 trade deadline, meaning decisions on those players will have to come soon. York’s return to the NHL squad could simply be a chance for him to get another opportunity, or it could be the team preparing for life after some incoming moves. Either way, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to recall him if he’s not going to play–the Phantoms have a three-in-three this weekend that he could have taken part in–so expect York to enter the lineup in one way or another.
AHL Shuffle: 03/09/22
Just two games in the NHL this evening, though that does include a matchup between Connor McDavid and Alex Ovechkin. The Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals will do battle in a game of two teams headed in opposite directions. The Oilers have lost three in a row and are running the risk of falling out of the Pacific Division playoff race, while the Capitals stormed back yesterday to take their third in a row. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Montreal Canadiens have sent down defenseman Corey Schueneman to the AHL’s Laval Rocket. Schueneman, 26, is an undrafted player who impressed in brief NHL action under coach Martin St. Louis and is now headed back to Laval where he has 10 points in 27 games.
Metropolitan Division
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Kasper Bjorkqvist back to the AHL, without him actually getting into a game during this recall. The 24-year-old forward has played in six games this season, all of them coming back in January, and has a single goal.
- The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled goaltender Alex Lyon from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. Lyon was sent down on Monday and returns to the Hurricanes roster sporting a .908 save percentage in his 2 NHL appearances this season.
Central Division
- Nathan Beaulieu has been moved to long-term injured reserve, with the Winnipeg Jets recalling Ville Heinola in his place. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s getting into the lineup though, as Heinola figures to be the seventh defenseman on the upcoming road trip (at least to start).
Pacific Division
- The Los Angeles Kings have moved Mikey Anderson to injured reserve, recalling Jordan Spence to take his place on the roster. Spence, 21, has been lighting up the minor leagues in his first year of professional hockey, scoring 42 points in 46 games for the Ontario Reign. The fourth-round pick has a very interesting background, including being born in Australia and learning to play hockey in Japan before eventually returning to Canada at 13, the country he competes for internationally.
- The Anaheim Ducks have sent Brendan Guhle to the AHL, as Josh Manson continues to get closer to returning and after the team claimed Andrej Sustr off waivers. Guhle, 24, hasn’t even played in an NHL game this season, despite being up with the team on several occasions.
- The Edmonton Oilers have activated Zack Kassian off of long-term injured reserve and then added Kyle Turris to the list in a corresponding move, according to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic. Kassian has 14 points in 35 games this year and returns to an Oilers lineup that he has featured in for seven seasons. Turris, 32, was previously mentioned as a trade candidate and has only 4 points in 23 games for the Oilers this season.
This page will be updated throughout the day