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North Division Notes: 2021-22, Quarantine Protocol, Sabourin

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Although the North Division was only intended to be a temporary alignment in 2020-21, the all-Canadian grouping has been popular north of the border. As a result, there are a number of teams hoping that the division might stay together for a while longer. Commissioner Gary Bettman was adamant earlier this week that the league will return to its normal divisional alignment next season, albeit with a small shift due to expansion. Yet, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that several Canadian teams are hoping to get at least another year of national competition. Ironically, this only seems likely if there continue to be restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border through the summer and into next season; the same restrictions that are making trade acquisitions difficult for Canadian teams and could prevent the North Division winner from playing at home in the semifinal and potentially the Stanley Cup Final series. However, the teams in favor of the North Division remaining intact feel that the impact could be more important than any ill effects this season. Johnston notes that these teams can feel the excitement within the country of the reignited Canadian rivalries and want to see that expand with fans being allowed back into games, further boosting the focus on the league. However, there is a way for this to be accomplished without the North Division continuing. Discussions earlier this season centered around the value of continuing to push the regional, non-divisional rivalries that have sprouted this season simply by changing the way scheduling is handled, rather than through realignment. Furthering the emphasis on regional play through extra contents between geographically linked teams would not only continue to fuel the rivalries created or rediscovered this season, but is also a way to save money on travel as teams continue to deal with losses this season. Perhaps this is the way to go that will make both the NHL and their Canadian contingent happy.

  • As noted, there is more downside than upside for the NHL and Canadian clubs to continued border issues. The most pressing of these problems with the trade deadline approaching is the required 14-day quarantine for anyone crossing into Canada, a major holdup in player acquisitions. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reached out to Health Canada and found that, despite a report earlier this year, there has been no formal request made by the NHL to amend the quarantine rules for trade acquisitions. However, Friedman did not sound optimistic that any such proposal would be accepted anyway. Specifically, players have wondered whether they could avoid the quarantine period if an acquired player has been vaccinated, but Health Canada stated that they do not know enough about the impact of vaccination on transmission to allow such a change. Friedman notes that lobbying efforts continue from the league to strike some sort of agreement with the Canadian government to ease quarantine restrictions, but the likelihood seems low. With the deadline now a month away and nothing formal yet in the works, Canadian contenders will likely have to account for a two-week absence of any new players acquired from their American counterparts.
  • It didn’t take long for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Sabourin to make his mark on this season, and not in a good way. After signing with the Leafs in Feburary, Sabourin was assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to get back into game shape and made his season debut against the Laval Rocket on Friday. On Saturday, the Leafs recalled him to their taxi squad, adding a physical, gritty veteran to their group of potential substitutes. Later in the day, the AHL announced that when Sabourin returns to the AHL, he will be suspended for one game; Toronto opted to send him down on Sunday to serve that ban. Sabourin crashed the Laval net late in Friday’s game and started an altercation with multiple opponents and the league deemed this was worthy of a suspension. With a one-game suspension, not to mention 17 penalty minutes, after just one game this year, Sabourin seems to be returning to the aggressive reputation that he has built in his AHL career rather than building on the progress he made as a more composed player with the Ottawa Senators last year.

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Josh Dunne

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have dipped their toes into the college free agent waters, signing Josh Dunne to a two-year entry-level contract. Dunne’s deal will start this season and has been immediately assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The 22-year-old served as captain for Clarkson University this season, though played just 14 games due to injury.

This isn’t the first time Dunne’s name has been thrown around by NHL teams. As Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports, the young forward was highly sought after last spring after an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him win the ECAC Best Defensive Forward award. The 6’4″ center may not project to be a top-line player at the next level, but a commitment to both ends of the rink and good hands around the net are a mix that scouts love in undrafted free agents.

If Dunne is looking for guidance on his transition, he needs to look no further than the Blue Jackets front office. GM Jarmo Kekalainen also played at Clarkson as an undrafted forward before signing with the Boston Bruins in 1989. While things have changed a bit since then, even Kekalainen’s modest 55-game NHL career would be a win for Dunne.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/14/21

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There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

Central Division

  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Mathias Brome from the taxi squad as they prepare for their early evening game against the Hurricanes. Detroit actually won their last game against the Lightning, scoring six goals in the process. Brome wasn’t part of that game, but it looks like he will draw back in today.  Following the game, he was sent back to the taxi squad.
  • Alexander Radulov is back with the Dallas Stars. The team announced that the big scoring forward has been activated from the Injured Reserve. To make room for Radulov’s addition on the active roster, fellow forward Joel L’Esperance has been reassigned to the taxi squad.
  • After clearing waivers, the Carolina Hurricanes sent defenseman Jake Gardiner to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly, while recalling forward Morgan Geekie and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.  Both Geekie and Nedeljkovic have been making near-daily appearances on these lists this season.
  • The Nashville Predators returned defensemen Ben Harpur and Alexandre Carrier to the taxi squad.  Carrier scored his first career NHL goal on Saturday while Harpur has played in nine games so far this season.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning sent defenseman Luke Schenn to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The move doesn’t bank them any extra cap space since they’re already in LTIR but it extends Schenn’s waiver exemption.

East Division

North Division

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Clark Bishop and Matthew Peca from the taxi squad.  Bishop made his season and Ottawa debut on Friday against Edmonton while Peca has an assist in five games so far this season.
  • The Calgary Flames recalled Dominik Simon from the taxi squad while sending forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Oliver Kylington to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Both Ryan and Kylington were in the lineup in Saturday’s victory over Montreal.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs sent forward Kenny Agostino back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The 28-year-old made his Toronto debut on Thursday, playing just over four minutes against Winnipeg.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Minor Transactions: 03/13/21

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While things are largely quiet on the NHL transaction front, some familiar faces have recently signed deals elsewhere.  Here is a rundown of those moves and other minor transaction news.

  • Oscar Fantenberg used a good showing in the KHL back in 2016-17 to secure his first NHL contract and when he opted to return there this season, it certainly felt like he was trying to have history repeat itself by using a strong 2020-21 campaign to land another opportunity in North America. However, that won’t be the case as SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL announced that they’ve inked Fantenberg to a two-year extension, taking one depth defender off the UFA market early in the process.  The 29-year-old had seven assists in 37 games this season.
  • The Kings have inked winger Devante Smith-Pelly to a minor league PTO, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 28-year-old has played in 395 career NHL games over parts of eight seasons but hasn’t suited up at the top level since the 2018-19 campaign with Washington.  Smith-Pelly spent last season in the KHL with Kunlun Red Star and has yet to play at all in 2020-21.
  • The Sharks have recalled winger Ivan Chekhovich from his KHL loan and assigned him to AHL San Jose, CapFriendly reports. The 22-year-old was quite productive with Torpedo this season, notching 17 goals and 17 assists in 43 games but his team was swept in the opening round of the postseason.  Now, Chekhovich will be able to get a couple more months of playing time in with the Barracuda, resulting in close to a full year worth of games in a season where very few NHL prospects have had that opportunity.  He will have to serve a quarantine period before he can suit up, however.
  • The Coyotes have reassigned goaltender David Tendeck from ECHL Rapid City to AHL Tucson, per the ECHL’s transaction log. The 21-year-old is in the first season of his entry-level deal and has played in 13 games with the Rush this season, posting a 2.74 GAA along with a .913 SV% and two shutouts.
  • The Wild have signed center Bryce Misley to an AHL ATO, reports Michael Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 21-year-old was a fourth-round pick of Minnesota back in 2017 and recently wrapped up his college career with Vermont, picking up a goal and two assists in 13 games this season.  Minnesota has until August 15 to sign him to an entry-level deal or lose his rights.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/13/21

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There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

North Division

  • The Maple Leafs announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled Scott Sabourin to the taxi squad. The winger was recently converted to an NHL two-way deal and made his season debut in the minors last night.  It was a short-lived one, however, as he was ejected in the first shift of the game after instigating a fight following a goalie interference penalty.
  • The Senators announced (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned Clark Bishop back to their taxi squad.  Bishop made his Ottawa debut last night against Edmonton, picking up a pair of shots on goal in just under nine minutes of work.
  • The Calgary Flames have announced a one-for-one swap, recalling defenseman Oliver Kylington from the taxi squad and replacing him with the demotion of forward Zac Rinaldo. Kylington is expected to draw into the lineup tonight for the Flames.

East Division

Central Division

  • The Stars announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled Rhett Gardner and Joel L’Esperance from the taxi squad while sending Ty Dellandrea to the taxi squad.  Gardner and L’Esperance have been held off the scoresheet in four games each this season while Dellandrea has a goal and two assists in 15 contests.
  • The Panthers announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled Riley Stillman from the taxi squad.  The 23-year-old played in 34 games for Florida last season but has only gotten into one NHL game so far this season.

West Division

  • Jamie Drysdale’s time on Anaheim’s taxi squad has ended again without the blueliner getting into his first NHL game as the Ducks have sent him back to AHL San Diego, per the AHL’s transactions log.  The 18-year-old defenseman has played quite well in his first taste of the pros, picking up nine points in a dozen games with the Gulls this season as he waits to see if the OHL will get up and running this season.  Goaltender Olle Eriksson Ek was also recalled to the taxi squad.
  • The Sharks have flipped taxi squad goaltenders as Alexei Melnichuk has been recalled from AHL San Jose while Josef Korenar has been sent from the taxi squad to the Barracuda, per the AHL’s transactions log.  Melnichuk played in five games while on this particular assignment, allowing 16 goals on 119 shots.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

AHL Players Currently Unavailable To Buffalo Sabres

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Yesterday, the AHL announced that due to COVID-19 protocols affecting the Rochester Americans, their game today against the Cleveland Monsters would be rescheduled for a month from now. Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports that the Americans have one confirmed case of COVID-19 and there is fear that there could be more. John Vogl of The Athletic meanwhile reports that while the team is in the protocol, the AHL players are currently unavailable to the Buffalo Sabres, Rochester’s NHL affiliate.

That puts a lot of pressure on the group at the NHL level, especially when dealing with injuries. Jack Eichel has left the Sabres for a second opinion on his neck injury and now Dylan Cozens is being evaluated for the injury he sustained last night. Riley Sheahan was back between Taylor Hall and Sam Reinhart on the Buffalo top line. Rasmus Ristolainen was also absent, though that is believed to be a maintenance day after he logged more than 23 minutes in each of the Sabres last two games.

Situations like this are part of the reason why a taxi squad was created this season, but it’s not like the Sabres are overflowing with NHL options. Their taxi squad already included only three skaters and one of them–C.J. Smith–was rotating in at practice. Buffalo lost again last night and will play tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If they don’t win, it would be a 10-game losing skid.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/12/21

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There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

North Division

  • Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced several transactions before their game against the Jets. Interestingly, Nicholas Robertson’s recall was not included. Robertson has joined the Maple Leafs taxi squad once again, perhaps a sign he could get back in the NHL lineup soon. After getting hurt just a few minutes into his first NHL game this season, Robertson has since returned and recorded nine points in 10 AHL games.  Joseph Woll was also re-assigned to the minors while Kenny Agostino was dropped to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
  • The Calgary Flames have recalled Dominik Simon from the taxi squad while sending Derek Ryan and Zac Rinaldo to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The exact opposite moves were made in advance of Thursday’s game against Montreal and could all be reversed tomorrow for the rematch as well.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have assigned Nick Suzuki to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The move is simply for cap-saving purposes and the 21-year-old will be recalled on Saturday.  Paul Byron, who had been shuffling back and forth in recent weeks, is now waiver-eligible again and will need to clear before going back to the taxi squad.
  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Clark Bishop from the taxi squad.  Bishop, who was acquired back in January just before the season started, will make his Ottawa debut tonight.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have sent Logan Stanley to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  He played just over 11 minutes against Toronto on Thursday and will likely be recalled for Saturday’s contest, also against the Maple Leafs.

Central Division

  • The Dallas Stars have recalled Jerad Rosburg from the AHL, sending Taylor Fedun down in his place. Rosburg joins the Stars taxi squad for the first time (in fact, it is the first recall of his career) after signing out of Michigan State last spring. The 24-year-old defenseman has one point in ten games as a rookie for the Texas Stars this season.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have sent Evgeny Svechnikov back to the AHL after scoring four points in four games this season in the NHL. The 24-year-old first-rounder has barely received a sniff at the highest level, appearing in just 24 games for the Red Wings since they picked him 19th overall in 2015.  Mathias Brome was also sent back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
  • The Nashville Predators have moved Michael McCarron, Alexandre Carrier, and Ben Harpur back to the taxi squad, now that it is an off day. The Predators were pummeled again by the Hurricanes last night, giving up three goals in the first 12 minutes of the game.
  • With the Carolina Hurricanes not in action tonight, they’ve assigned Alex Nedeljkovic, Jake Bean, and Morgan Geekie back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The three have frequently been shuffled back and forth over the past several weeks.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning assigned Ross Colton to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly while Alex Barre-Boulet returned to the minors.  Colton has a goal in three games so far this season while Barre-Boulet is pointless in his first two career NHL contests.

East Division

  • The Boston Bruins sent both Greg McKegg and Anton Blidh to the AHL today in order to get them into a game for the Providence Bruins. The P-Bruins take on Hartford this afternoon and since McKegg has played just a single game at any level this season, he’ll be in the lineup to stay fresh.  Jack Studnicka, Urho Vaakanainen, and Daniel Vladar were all assigned to the taxi squad while Callum Booth joined McKegg and Blidh in getting sent to Providence, per CapFriendly.
  • Once again, the Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Josh Currie to the AHL. The 28-year-old forward has been bouncing up and down all season, getting to just five total games between the two levels.  Colton Sceviour and Anthony Angello were also sent to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have sent Andy Andreoff back to the taxi squad while assigning Wade Allison to the AHL.  Andreoff has played in four games with Philadelphia this season while Allison was just activated off season-opening injured reserve.
  • The New York Islanders have moved Austin Czarnik to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The winger has played in just two NHL games so far this season.
  • The New York Rangers continued their trend of daily roster movement.  Per CapFriendly, Kaapo Kaako, K’Andre Miller, and Keith Kinkaid were sent to the taxi squad with Austin Rueschhoff being sent to the AHL to accommodate those three assignments.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Prospect Notes: Kravtsov, Zary, Krys

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Vitaly Kravtsov’s KHL team was eliminated from the playoffs today, meaning the New York Rangers prospect can now come to North America to join his NHL club. The 21-year-old winger is already under contract and was just loaned overseas, meaning he could play as soon as his quarantine protocols are over. That’s expected to take up to two weeks, but it could still mean the Rangers have a boost down the stretch.

Kravtsov, the ninth overall pick in 2018, scored 16 goals and 24 points in 49 KHL games this season, a strong offensive showing for a player that had struggled at times in the past. The 6’3″ winger is still an important part of the Rangers’ future and gives them another young forward to build around.

  • With the British Columbia teams in the WHL set to return soon, Connor Zary’s time with the Stockton Heat is finished. The 19-year-old forward has been assigned back to the Kamloops Blazers after scoring seven points in nine AHL contests. Zary was the 24th overall pick in 2020 and is too young for the AHL whenever the WHL is in session, but showed quite well in his first taste of professional hockey. The Calgary Flames prospect had 38 goals and 86 points last season for the Blazers and should be even more dominant now that he has some AHL experience under his belt.
  • Chad Krys, the Chicago Blackhawks second-rounder from 2016, will end his own 2020-21 season after just six AHL appearances. The Rockford IceHogs announced today that Krys underwent successful shoulder surgery yesterday and will be out for the next five to seven months. Hopefully, that leaves him able to compete in Blackhawks training camp for next season, but Krys has a long road back at this point.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/11/21

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There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

  • The San Jose Sharks have recalled Fredrik Handemark and Antti Suomela from the AHL, sending Joachim Blichfeld back in their place. Blichfeld recently completed his two-game suspension and played on Monday for the Sharks, but is still scoreless through five NHL appearances.

North Division

Central Division

East Division

  • The New Jersey Devils have recalled Jesper Boqvist from the AHL and placed him on the taxi squad, filling one of the two spots they had open. Boqvist, 22, played in five games earlier this season but failed to record a point. The 36th overall pick in 2017, he has just four goals and no assists in 40 career games.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Andy Andreoff from the taxi squad and are expected to put him into the lineup tonight. The team is going back to six defensemen with Philippe Myers coming out. The Flyers have also flip-flopped Alex Lyon and Felix Sandstrom between the taxi squad and AHL as they attempt to keep both fresh.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Josh Currie from the AHL and placed him on the taxi squad. Currie has been up for a good chunk of this season and has only managed to play five combined games between the two leagues.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Injury Notes: Eichel, Pietrangelo, Bruins, COVID

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Jack Eichel is leaving Buffalo… to get a second opinion on his injury. The Sabres superstar has been dealing with a lingering upper-body injury this season, which was aggravated on Sunday according to The Athletic’s John Vogl. Eichel returned to Buffalo while his team took on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday and now as they head home, Eichel is leaving to see a specialist. It is still unknown what exactly is bothering Eichel and there have been contrasting reports as to its severity. While head coach Ralph Krueger stated that Eichel may miss only a week, other sources claim that the injury could be much more severe. Seeking a second opinion is certainly not an indication that this is an ailment that only requires a week of rest. Fortunately (?), the Sabres’ season is already lost and they have no reason to bypass proper treatment and rehab for Eichel in order to rush him back to action. While the All-Star center surely would like to return and improve upon a dismal season by his standards, there should be no pressure from the team. Perhaps only Krueger, the optimistic voice on Eichel’s injury, stands to gain from his quick return, as the head coach’s seat is very hot.

  • Alex Pietrangelo has also left his team, abandoning the Golden Knights’ road trip in order to return to Las Vegas, head coach Peter DeBoer tells NHL.com’s Danny Webster. Pietrangelo is out “for the foreseeable future” due to an upper-body injury. Pietrangelo left the Knights’ Saturday tilt with the San Jose Sharks after blocking a shot and did not suit up on Monday. While the team has not disclosed the specific injury that their big off-season addition suffered, it is believed to be related to his left hand or wrist. DeBoer stated that he does not think that Pietrangelo will be out “long, long-term” but did say that there is not timetable for his return.
  • The Boston Bruins have suffered through consistent injuries all season long and there is still a lack of concrete information on their extended absences. GM Don Sweeney spoke to the media and attempted to provide some insight, but had few details to offer. Forward Ondrej Kase, acquired at the 2020 trade deadline, has been out since the Bruins’ second game of the season after suffering his third head injury in a calendar year. He has resumed skating and is “eager to play”, but there is still no timetable for his return as they work him back cautiously from another concussion. Kase was expected to provide secondary scoring for the Bruins this season, which has again been a struggle for the team, and they will likely have to make a call on adding a forward at the trade deadline before they get to see much of Kase back in action. Sweeney also addressed the status of another injury-prone player, Kevan Miller. Miller missed all of last season with a fractured kneecap and recently suffered a “setback from a volume standpoint”, likely overworking his surgically-repaired knee. An absence from Miller, even just due to rest, is not unexpected but Sweeney stated that he too has not timeframe for a return. Jeremy Lauzon, who suffered a broken hand late last month, was given more of a ascertainable timeline to return, but according to Sweeney he appears to be on track to return later in his four-to-six-week window. Lauzon has already missed over two weeks following surgery, but he reportedly will still not be re-evaluated for another four weeks. As for Brandon Carlo, whose recent head injury was well-publicized, Sweeney offered no update other than to say he is feeling better, but not skating.
  • The NHL has done a tremendous job of working their COVID Protocol Related Absences list down to just a handful of names over the past week or so. The league finally appears to have a handle on the virus, just in time for many players to soon start receiving vaccines. However, Coronavirus continues to rear its ugly head in other corners of the hockey world. On Wednesday night, an AHL game between the Binghamton Devils and Lehigh Valley Phantoms was suspended after the first period due to COVID-19 protocols affecting the Devils, NHL.com’s Mike Morreale reports. At the college level, the ECAC announced that Clarkson University, ranked second in the conference and 14th nationally, will be forced to end their season due to COVID. Not only will Clarkson miss out on both the ECAC and NCAA Tournaments, but the ECAC is now left with just three teams playing two games to determine a conference champ, with their Ivy League members also not competing this season. Clarkson becomes the second program, after Merrimack College, forced to end their season prematurely due to COVID.

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