Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/28/22
The theme for tonight’s NHL action is retirement, as both Henrik Lundqvist and Sergei Zubov will have their jersey numbers retired. Lundqvist’s No. 30 will be raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden, while Zubov’s No. 56 goes up at the American Airlines Center. Those two emotional ceremonies will be followed by a pair of good matchups, with the Rangers taking on the Minnesota Wild and Stars welcoming in the Washington Capitals. As those teams and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have reassigned Lassi Thomson to the taxi squad, after he played more than 23 minutes last night for the club. The young defenseman will continue to be moved off the roster between games in order for the Senators to save a bit of salary. Thomson is still on his entry-level contract, which means he earns much less when on the taxi squad or in the minor leagues.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have brought Carl Dahlstrom back from the AHL to the taxi squad, while sending Alex Biega back the other way. The two depth defensemen are basically handedness-based insurance for the Maple Leafs, and right now the team is still down left-handed Jake Muzzin as he recovers from a concussion.
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Gemel Smith from the AHL to the taxi squad and Calvin Pickard from the taxi squad to the active roster. Luke Witkowski has been sent back to the Grand Rapids Griffins to make room.
- The Boston Bruins have promoted Troy Grosenick from the taxi squad. Tuukka Rask was originally set to start tonight in Arizona but has been scratched so Grosenick will serve as Linus Ullmark‘s backup.
Metropolitan Division
- The Washington Capitals have recalled Joe Snively from the taxi squad, as Michal Kempny is unavailable due to entering the COVID protocol. Kempny took part in the team’s morning skate as they prepare for tonight’s game, but will not play.
Central Division
- The Dallas Stars have moved Rhett Gardner to the taxi squad and Anton Khudobin back to the AHL, as they get their regular goaltenders healthy again. Khudobin, 35, has an .898 save percentage in four games with the Texas Stars and an .879 in nine NHL appearances.
- The Winnipeg Jets have made several moves, following their game last night. Leon Gawanke, Johnathan Kovacevic, and Kristian Reichel have all been moved to the taxi squad, while Declan Chisholm and Mikey Eyssimont are going back to the AHL. Kovacevic played just over ten minutes in his NHL debut, recording one shot on goal.
- The Nashville Predators have reassigned Matt Tennyson to the taxi squad. Matt Luff and Cole Smith are headed to the AHL, while Tomas Vomacka has been assigned back to the ECHL. Vomacka, 22, has been often used as a practice goaltender by the Predators but has 12 games played at the ECHL level.
Pacific Division
- The Vancouver Canucks have sent Michael DiPietro and Sheldon Dries back to the AHL, after getting several players back from the COVID protocol yesterday. With Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak back in the net, the team can let DiPietro continue his season in the minor leagues after his short stint filling in.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Justin Abdelkader Released From PTO, Will Join U.S. Olympic Team
Jan 27: After just three games with the Griffins, Abdelkader is off to Beijing. He has been released from his PTO and will join the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing as an alternate. Abdelkader could be added to the roster if the team runs into injury or COVID-related issues. He did not record a point in his three AHL contests.
Jan 21: It’s been more than a decade since Justin Abdelkader last took the ice for the Grand Rapids Griffins. That stretch will end in the coming days after the veteran forward signed an AHL professional tryout with the Detroit Red Wings affiliate.
Abdelkader, 34, played last season for EV Zug in Switzerland and last suited up for an NHL game during the 2019-20 season. The veteran forward spent his entire career with the Red Wings organization, playing in 739 regular season games and racking up 252 points. A member of Team USA several times, Abdelkader served as captain for last summer’s World Championship squad that finished third, taking home a bronze medal in the process.
This might have seemed like an attempt to get onto the U.S. Olympic squad had it happened a few weeks ago, but the roster for that group was already announced. Instead, it appears more like a comeback attempt for a player who isn’t so far removed from NHL action.
Still, Abdelkader was a shell of his former self in 2019-20 with the Red Wings and failed to record a single goal in 49 outings. A stint with the Griffins won’t necessarily turn into anything more than that.
Snapshots: China, Malkin, Letang, Viveiros
China has revealed the roster that will take part in the upcoming Olympics, a group that includes 12 players born in North America. Some of those have NHL experience in the past, including Spencer Foo, Ryan Sproul, and starting goaltender Jeremy Smith. These players are allowed to participate even without Chinese heritage given how long they have been playing for Kunlun Red Star in the KHL, which served as a proxy for the national team, according to the Associated Press.
Brandon Yip, a 36-year-old forward that played nearly 200 games in the NHL, will serve as captain of the club, which gained entry to the tournament as host nation. Yip scored 32 goals and 62 points in his 190-game NHL career, which ended after the 2013-14 season. After a stint in the AHL and another in Germany, he joined Kunlun in 2017. China will be in tough at the event, as they find themselves in a group with the U.S., Canada, and Germany. They open the tournament on February 10.
- When Jeff Carter‘s two-year extension was announced yesterday, some immediately wondered what it meant for Evgeni Malkin‘s future with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Josh Yohe of The Athletic writes that representatives for the star forward and Penguins GM Ron Hextall have discussed a new contract, and Malkin is “eager” to remain in Pittsburgh. For teammate Kris Letang things aren’t so rosy, as the defenseman believes he will get a raise on the current $7.25MM cap hit he currently carries, according to Yohe.
- Henderson Silver Knights coach Manny Viveiros has been medically cleared to return to his duties, effective immediately. Viveiros was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and has been away from the team for much of the season. In a statement, the veteran coach notes that his “prognosis is very good” and thanks his family, coaches, players, medical team, and Golden Knights organization for all the support he received over the past few months.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/27/22
It’s a busy night in the NHL with ten games on tap, including a rematch of the St. Louis Blues-Calgary Flames. The two battled on Monday in what turned into a lopsided loss for the Blues as the red-hot Flames poured seven goals in on Jordan Binnington. Calgary has taken 110 shots on goal over the last two games, including a franchise-high 62 against the Columbus Blue Jackets last night. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling:
Atlantic Division
- The Buffalo Sabres have reassigned Casey Fitzgerald to the taxi squad, as they prepare for their three-game road trip that starts on Saturday. Buffalo has been absolutely decimated by injuries this season and now sit at 13-22-7 on the year.
- Another young face is coming up to the Ottawa Senators, as Egor Sokolov has been recalled from the AHL. Clark Bishop and Lassi Thomson have been moved to the taxi squad, but it’s Sokolov that will generate a lot of the headlines today. The 21-year-old has played in four games for Ottawa this season but is still waiting on his first NHL point. For Belleville, he has 21 in 27 games.
- Matt Kiersted has been loaned back to the taxi squad by the Florida Panthers, as Gustav Forsling returned to practice after his stint on the COVID protocol. He’s officially a game-time decision for tonight.
Metropolitan Division
- The New York Rangers have recalled Jonny Brodzinski and Zac Jones to the active roster, while backfilling the taxi squad with Tim Gettinger, Nils Lundkvist, Lauri Pajuniemi, and Tarmo Reunanen. With Jones up, Libor Hajek could potentially be coming out of the lineup after playing just 11 minutes against the Kings earlier this week.
- The Washington Capitals have recalled Joe Snively to the taxi squad, replacing Michael Sgarbossa who is headed to the AHL. The 26-year-old Snively made his NHL debut last month, recording an assist in just under seven minutes of ice time.
Central Division
- Kyle Rau is back from the AHL and will join the Minnesota Wild taxi squad, not for the first time. Rau has played four games for Minnesota this season, to go along with the outstanding 26 contests he’s finished in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward has 25 points in the minor leagues, continuing what has been a strong AHL career to this point.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Collin Delia, sending Cale Morris and Arvid Soderblom to the AHL in his place. Delia, 27, has a .910 save percentage in 14 AHL appearances this season and plenty of previous experience at the NHL level.
- With Nathan MacKinnon injured last night, the Colorado Avalanche have recalled Dylan Sikura from the Colorado Eagles. Sikura has been outstanding for the Eagles this season, scoring 14 goals and 31 points in 29 games.
- Johnathan Kovacevic is set to make his NHL debut after the Winnipeg Jets recalled him from the taxi squad today. The team assigned Leon Gawanke to the taxi squad from the AHL to take his place. Kovacevic, 24, was a third-round pick of the Jets in 2017 and has 14 points in 32 games for the Manitoba Moose this season.
- Gawanke has now come up to the active roster, along with forward Kristian Reichel. The move comes after defenseman Dylan Samberg was moved to injured reserve. Gawanke and Reichel are both projected to be scratched for tonight’s game against Vancouver.
- On a day where more arena rumors took hold of the news cycle, the Arizona Coyotes recalled defenseman Cam Dineen to the taxi squad from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. Arizona has shuffled Dineen up and down this season, as he’s notched four points in five games in the AHL and four points in 14 games in a third-pairing role in the NHL.
- Matt Luff and Matt Tennyson continue their shuffle up and down between the active roster and taxi squad. The Nashville Predators recalled them today, and they’ll likely find themselves in the lineup against Edmonton tonight.
Pacific Division
This page will be updated throughout the day
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/26/22
Five games are on the NHL schedule this morning, including a battle between the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche, two teams who consider themselves Stanley Cup contenders. The Bruins will have to try and slow down a freight train, though, as the Avalanche have won seven in a row and haven’t lost in regulation in their last 13. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have sent Lassi Thomson to the taxi squad, though that assignment could be short-lived. The Senators are back in action tomorrow against the Carolina Hurricanes and likely will need to use Thomson again, unless Erik Brannstrom can test out of the COVID protocol.
- With the Montreal Canadiens starting to get healthier, the team has sent Corey Schueneman back to the AHL. The 26-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut this season, skating in four games with Montreal. Later in the day, the team also activated Josh Brook from injured reserve and sent him to the AHL, while assigning Michael McNiven to the taxi squad.
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Isaac Ratcliffe to the taxi squad, sending Jackson Cates, Linus Sandin, and Felix Sandstrom back to the AHL. Connor Bunnaman and Cam York, meanwhile, are headed to the taxi squad from the active roster. The Flyers don’t play again until Saturday, meaning there is time to save cap and salary while reinforcing the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the time being.
Central Division
- The Winnipeg Jets have returned Johnathan Kovacevic and Kristian Reichel to the taxi squad, after recalling but scratching them both last night. Kovacevic, 24, has still not made his NHL debut but has been a strong performer for the Manitoba Moose.
- The Colorado Avalanche have recalled Hunter Miska to the taxi squad, where he’ll likely serve as nothing more than a practice goaltender. Miska has been terrible in his four appearances for the Colorado Eagles, allowing 13 goals on 64 shots.
- James Neal is on his way back to the minor leagues, reassigned by the St. Louis Blues today. The veteran forward cleared waivers at the beginning of the month and does not yet need to clear them again to go to the AHL.
- The Nashville Predators have reassigned Cole Smith and Matt Tennyson to the taxi squad, moves that could be reversed by tomorrow’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. The Predators move players on and off of the taxi squad between almost every game, as they try to save salary and cap space.
Pacific Division
- The Edmonton Oilers have assigned Ilya Konovalov to the AHL, while moving Kyle Turris to the taxi squad. Moving Turris, who cleared waivers again recently, down clears $1.125MM off the cap for the Oilers, who have once again been linked to Evander Kane as the NHL wraps up his investigation.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/25/22
Eight games are on the slate tonight in the NHL, but all eyes will be on UBS Arena where the New York Islanders will welcome in the Philadelphia Flyers. A mid-week match between two struggling teams may not normally draw much attention but when Keith Yandle steps on the ice, he’ll pass Doug Jarvis and become the NHL’s all-time iron man. Yandle has played in his 964th consecutive match last night, failing to miss a game since starting his streak on March 26, 2009. Phil Kessel, who has his own streak going, will also be in action tonight in his 941st consecutive game. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- Erik Brannstrom has entered the COVID protocol today, meaning Lassi Thomson is back up from the AHL for the Ottawa Senators. Thomson, 21, has played in 12 games for Ottawa this season and another 15 for the Belleville Senators of the AHL. The 19th overall pick in 2019, he’s one of several high-end defense prospects in the Senators organization that will soon be fighting for full-time minutes at the NHL level.
- The Boston Bruins have recalled Jesper Froden to the taxi squad, giving them an extra forward as they hit the road for a game in Colorado tomorrow. Froden, an undrafted signing out of Sweden, has 21 points in 30 games for the Providence Bruins and made his NHL debut last month.
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Linus Sandin and Connor Bunnaman to the active roster, loaning Jackson Cates back to the taxi squad. Sandin is expected to make his NHL debut this evening when the Flyers take on the Islanders.
Central Division
- The St. Louis Blues have assigned Dakota Joshua, Alexei Toropchenko, and Calle Rosen to the AHL after returning from their road trip. The team hosts the Calgary Flames on Thursday in a rematch of last night’s 7-1 thrashing.
- Riley Tufte has been assigned to the AHL by the Dallas Stars, where he can play tomorrow night for the Texas Stars. Tufte, 23, has played in five games for Dallas this season and has 13 points in 24 minor league games.
- The Arizona Coyotes have assigned Hudson Fasching to the AHL from the taxi squad, allowing the forward to continue his minor league season. Fasching has 16 points in 19 games for the Tucson Roadrunners so far.
- The Nashville Predators have recalled defenseman Matt Tennyson and center Cole Smith from the taxi squad. Tennyson has three assists in two games with the Preds so far this season while Smith has suited in five games without recording a point.
Pacific Division
- The Los Angeles Kings have made their usual long list of moves on an off day. Samuel Fagemo, Alex Turcotte, Christian Wolanin, and Matt Villalta have all been sent from the taxi squad to the minor leagues. Austin Strand has been moved from the Kings’ active roster to the taxi squad, while Jacob Ingham and Jacob Moverare have been brought up from Ontario to the taxi squad. Expect more movement before Thursday’s game against the Islanders as the Kings continue to juggle the salary cap and development of young players.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/24/22
It’s a new week in the NHL and that means a full schedule, including seven games this evening. One of the prime matchups is between two teams that were perhaps not expected to be contenders at the start of the season. The New York Rangers, first in the Metropolitan, will welcome in the Los Angeles Kings, second in the Pacific. Both teams won their previous game and will try to continue that trend at Madison Square Garden. As they and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have made several transactions. Calvin Pickard is heading to the AHL, while Kyle Criscuolo and Luke Witkowski are headed to the taxi squad. To join them, the team has also recalled Kaden Fulcher from the AHL to the taxi squad. Pickard has been outstanding for the Grand Rapids Griffins this season, posting a .929 save percentage in 26 appearances.
- With the Toronto Maple Leafs getting Ondrej Kase and Justin Holl back into the lineup, the team has sent Joey Anderson, Carl Dahlstrom, and Erik Kallgren back to the AHL. Dahlstrom played his first NHL game since 2019-20 while Holl was out, but isn’t expected to be a regular contributor.
- The Ottawa Senators have sent Jacob Bernard-Docker, Filip Gustavsson, and Logan Shaw to the AHL, though they obviously could recall any of them again before tomorrow’s game against the Sabres. Ottawa won just their 12th game of the season last night.
- The Buffalo Sabres have reassigned Brett Murray to the AHL, though the Rochester Americans don’t play again until Friday, so he might be back up at some point this week. Murray, 23, has played in 19 games for the Sabres so far this season, recording six points.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned Charles Hudon, Daniel Walcott, and Andrej Sustr to the AHL. With just three games left for the Lightning before the All-Star break–and all of them coming at home–the team is reinforcing the Syracuse Crunch.
Metropolitan Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets assigned Jake Christiansen to the AHL from the taxi squad, giving him a chance to continue his strong minor league season. The undrafted defenseman has 20 points in 25 games for the Cleveland Monsters and made his NHL debut, skating in three games with Columbus.
- The Rangers have added Adam Huska to the taxi squad, a curious move given Keith Kinkaid exited with an injury in yesterday’s Hartford Wolf Pack game. The AHL squad doesn’t play until Wednesday, but will likely need Huska back unless Kinkaid’s injury isn’t serious.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Linus Sandin, Connor Bunnaman, and Felix Sandstrom to the taxi squad. Sandin, 25, has still not made his NHL debut since signing out of Sweden but has seven points in 13 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
- A.J. Greer, back from the hit that earned Ross Johnston a three-game suspension, has been activated from injured reserve and returned to the AHL. Greer has 15 points in 22 games for the Utica Comets this season.
Central Division
- The Dallas Stars have reassigned Riley Damiani, Rhett Gardner, and Riley Tufte from the AHL to the taxi squad, giving them some extra bodies for their trip to Philadelphia. The Stars have won their last two games but still sit nine points behind the Minnesota Wild for fourth place in the Central Division.
- The Nashville Predators have recalled Matt Luff to the taxi squad, while sending Tomas Vomacka all the way back to the ECHL. Vomacka, 22, has been used as a practice squad goaltender this season, while also posting solid numbers for the Florida Everblades in 12 ECHL appearances.
Pacific Division
- The Calgary Flames have added Byron Froese to the taxi squad, as they prepare for action tonight against St. Louis. The Flames have had quite a rough stretch, losing seven of their last ten and falling out of a playoff spot. Froese, 30, has ten goals and 19 points in 22 games for the Stockton Heat this season.
- The team’s now brought up another body to the taxi squad, calling up defenseman Connor Mackey. The Illinois native has 20 points in 34 games this year with Stockton.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/23/22
After a busy 11-game game slate on Saturday, there are only five games on the schedule today – though spread out throughout the day. While there may not be any heavyweight match-ups, four of the five contests feature a team currently in playoff position. As teams prepare for those games or just the week ahead, keep up with all of the roster moves of the day right here:
Atlantic Division
- Defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker and forward Clark Bishop were sent to the taxi squad by the Ottawa Senators today, ending their stints on the active roster. Bernard-Docker has gotten solid looks in the lineup this season, including playing with Thomas Chabot.
Metropolitan Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have two key contributors back in action, as defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and rookie forward Cole Sillinger have both been activated from COVID Protocol. In order to accommodate the additions, the Jackets have moved defenseman Jake Christiansen to the taxi squad. Down in the minors, the team has also demoted goaltender Cam Johnson from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters to the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.
Central Division
- Shuffling players today, the Nashville Predators reassigned forward Cole Smith and defenseman Matt Tennyson to the taxi squad from the active roster. They also sent defenseman Jeremy Davies down to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Only one of those players has points for Nashville this season — Tennyson has three in two games.
Pacific Division
- Adrian Kempe is off of COVID Protocol and will provide a major boost to the Los Angeles Kings’ lineup. He’s not the only roster addition, as defenseman Austin Strand has also been promoted to the Kings from the taxi squad.
Kyle Turris, Tim Soderlund Clear Waivers
Jan. 22: Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that both Turris and Soderlund have cleared waivers. Soderlund had his NHL contract terminated and a new one announced by Djurgardens. He signed back with the SHL club for the rest of this season, after which he’ll become an unrestricted free agent once again.
Jan. 21: The Edmonton Oilers have made one change, as Kyle Turris has been placed on waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The veteran forward was on waivers at the start of the season and cleared, but had been with the NHL team long enough that he needed them again in order to be assigned to the AHL. The Oilers have also placed Tim Soderlund on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a contract termination.
Turris, 32, carries a cap hit of $1.65MM for the Oilers, which means just $1.125MM would come off the cap if he were sent to the minor leagues. That, plus the opening of another contract slot with the termination of Soderlund, could suggest the Oilers are set to make an addition of some sort. Evander Kane is the obvious connection here, though the results of his investigation with the NHL have still not been released.
There is little chance that another team claims Turris, but if they did, the Oilers would likely welcome the departure. The veteran forward has recorded just one goal and four points in 21 games for Edmonton this season, averaging fewer than nine minutes when he does get into the lineup. There’s not much to suggest he’s providing any more value than a $750K replacement from Bakersfield, meaning the cap savings would be worth more than having him on the roster. PuckPedia reported this morning that the Oilers were expected to sign Ryan Malone from Bakersfield for exactly that reason, but Ryan Rishaug of TSN adds that a COVID situation in the minor leagues makes this impossible for now. Malone would need to clear waivers to report to the Condors if signed to an NHL deal.
Still, this certainly isn’t an answer to the Oilers’ problems unless the goaltending and defense are also addressed at some point. The team is struggling in all aspects of the game, meaning any slight cap space will have to be spent carefully.
Sabres Notes: Quinn, Anderson, Third Jersey
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.