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Oilers Growing Impatient With Forward Jesse Puljujarvi

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The Edmonton Oilers are off to a much better start to this season than last, but not everyone is rolling on all cylinders. Young forward Jesse Puljujarvi has been unable to make the most of ample opportunity on the right side, with just one point to show for eleven games of top-nine minutes. Now, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger speaking on “Insider Trading”, there’s “more tension” growing between the team and player. Dreger believes that an AHL reassignment, or perhaps even something more drastic, could be on the way.

Dreger said that such a demotion “could, in fact, be a breaking point for a player who just wants to develop in his own way in the NHL.” The Oilers expected the 2016 fourth overall pick to be much more effective at the NHL level, while Puljujarvi himself likely didn’t expect to spend 49 games in the AHL over the past two seasons and again be on a short leash this year. The two sides seem to be at odds with the youngster’s role and expectations within the organization and a change seems to be on the horizon. Most likely, that is yet another reassignment to the Bakersfield Condors. However, GM Peter Chiarelli has a history of pulling the trigger on trading under-performing young players, making a permanent solution also a possibility.

For his part, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal feels that both Puljujarvi and struggling rookie Kailer Yamamoto would be better served to stay in the NHL, saying that while “non-scoring”, both players are dynamic and worth a “roll of the dice”. However, Staples is also open to sending both down to the AHL, proposing that recently-demoted center Cooper Marody center the pair on an elite first line Bakersfield. That way, the trio would all continue playing with NHL-caliber talent around them, but would be able to better develop their skills and find their respective games at the AHL level. This is perhaps the top solution for the ongoing Puljujarvi problem and a likely result in short time if his poor play continues.

Minor Transactions: 11/09/18

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The NHL is unusually active for a Friday night, with six games on the schedule including the Hall of Fame game in Toronto. The New Jersey Devils will take part in the game honoring the new inductees which include Martin Brodeur, Martin St. Louis, Willie O’Ree, Alexander Yakushev, Jayna Hefford and Gary Bettman. As the league prepares to induct some of the greatest to play the game, we’ll keep track on all the more minor moves around the league.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned Cameron Gaunce to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL after almost two weeks with the team. Gaunce never did suit up for the Lightning, and will now try to get back into game shape with the Crunch. The 28-year old defenseman will likely be the extra man called up several times this season, though his playing time is expected to be restricted to mostly the minor leagues.
  • Given John Klingberg’s injury, the Dallas Stars have recalled defenseman Joel Hanley from the minor leagues. They’ve also moved both Klingberg and Alexander Radulov to injured reserve, though the latter’s stint is retroactive to October 30th. Hanley has five points in 11 AHL games this season, and will try to force his way into the NHL lineup now that they’re missing a big part of their blue line for at least a month.
  • The Ottawa Senators have returned Erik Burgdoerfer to the minor leagues, even as they start their short two-game road trip in Florida. Burgdoerfer has played in just a single game with Ottawa this season, and will spend most of the year in the minor leagues.
  • Jesper Bratt has been officially activated by the Devils and should be in the lineup tonight, a move that needed no corresponding transaction given that Eddie Lack cleared waivers and can remain in the minor leagues. Lack had been on conditioning loan to the Binghamton Devils and will now stay there on assignment. The Devils have sent Kurtis Gabriel back to the AHL though, in order to activate Stefan Noesen for tonight’s game.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have returned a pair of young players to the AHL. The team announced that forward Sam Carrick and defenseman Andy Welinski have been reassigned to the San Diego Gulls. Both players have logged considerable time in the minors already this season, but have only suited up for eight games total for the Ducks.

Daniel Sprong “Out There” In Trade Talks

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have been in a dire tailspin for the last few weeks, losing five games in a row including last night at the Washington Capitals. That’s created plenty of speculation about whether GM Jim Rutherford will make a move to address the roster in the coming days, given his propensity for making deals in the past. Darren Dreger was on TSN radio this morning talking about that, and mentioned that at least a small deal may be coming soon:

I don’t know that it’s going to be drastic. My sources yesterday [were] telling me that it might start with a smaller deal. You know Daniel Sprong, who is a 21-year old second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been you know, a limited player in the organization the last couple of seasons. He’s out there for trade.

Dreger went on to explain his belief that Rutherford will make a move at some point to try and put an end to the losing skid, noting that other teams like the Los Angeles Kings could be looking to shake up their rosters as well. It’s not the first time Sprong’s name has been included in trade talks, given the fact that he still hasn’t established himself as an everyday player in Pittsburgh. That’s something that the organization was clear about wanting last spring, when Rutherford himself said that Sprong would be a “regular” in the lineup. He’s played in 12 of 14 games for the Penguins this season, but logged fewer than ten minutes of ice time in eight of them.

Still, there’s reason to believe that Sprong would still hold considerable trade value. The 21-year old forward scored 65 points in 65 games as an AHL rookie last season, and put up huge totals in the junior ranks of the QMJHL. Selected 46th overall in 2015, there’s still plenty of upside in the talented forward that could bring some more established talent back to Pittsburgh.

Giving up on a young prospect isn’t exactly ideal, but the Penguins know they are in the middle of their competitive window with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel all quickly nearing the end of their most effective years. Rutherford has a reputation for making big positional changes in-season, and is never one to wait until the deadline to go after the player he is targeting. It’s not clear who Pittsburgh would want in any Sprong deal, but you can be sure the Penguins will make some sort of move before the season is out. Knowing that, there’s no doubt that teams are calling on Sprong to see if they can extract the talented young forward. Whether they can pry him out of Rutherford’s grasp is still to be seen.

Minor Transactions: 11/08/18

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Another day, another full slate of NHL games. With nine contests on the schedule, teams all around the league will have some last minute tweaks and tough decisions. We’ll be there to keep track of all of them.

  • The Minnesota Wild have recalled Matt Read from the minor leagues once again, as Eric Staal continues to deal with an illness. Read, 32, has split his time between Minnesota and the Iowa Wild this year, recording two points in seven games for the AHL affiliate. The veteran forward was signed for this exact reason, to serve as emergency depth in case of injury.
  • A.J. Greer is on his way back up to the Colorado Avalanche, after just a few days in the minor leagues. Greer was sent down on November 3rd, but will earn another look at the NHL level after more success with the Colorado Eagles. Greer has ten points in nine games for the Eagles this season, and has started to finally turn the corner as an offensive contributor at the professional level.
  • Boo Nieves has finally been activated off season-opening injured reserve, and will be assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Nieves hasn’t played yet this season, and before working his way into the NHL lineup will have to prove his health back in the minors. The 24-year old played 28 games for the Rangers last season, recording nine points.

Dallas Stars Recall Denis Gurianov

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It hasn’t been a smooth ride for Denis Gurianov since being selected 12th overall in 2015, but he may finally be getting his chance to prove himself at the NHL level. The 21-year old forward has been recalled by the Dallas Stars, replacing Justin Dowling on the roster. The team is getting back from a long road trip, and will play their next four games at home starting tomorrow night against the San Jose Sharks.

Gurianov hasn’t played in an NHL game since making his debut in April 2017, and for good reason. His play in the minor leagues has been inconsistent at best, and frustrating enough to even be scratched at times during the Texas Stars recent Calder Cup run. That inconsistency has seemed to disappear this season though, as Gurianov has often been the best player on the ice for Texas and leads the club with 12 points in 11 games. The 6’2″ forward still has huge potential, and the Stars still hope to squeeze out every drop of it before giving up on him. Why not, given the large draft capital and development time invested in the Russian forward, who first came over to the AHL in 2016. For a team always searching for secondary scoring help, the opportunity is there for Gurianov to establish himself at the NHL level and never look back.

That said, he’ll have to take advantage of that opportunity quickly before the window closes this time around. Brett Ritchie is close to returning from his illness, and Alexander Radulov will obviously be put back into the lineup when he returns from his lower-body injury. The latter was skating recently, and could be back before long for the Stars. If Gurianov is given the green light to play in his second NHL game on Thursday evening, he’ll have to do more than just be a passenger taking in the experience. Showing he can drive puck possession and offensive chances like he has in the minor leagues is a must, or he risks being sent back down to continue his development in the minor leagues.

Minor Transactions: 11/07/18

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After an interesting night in the NHL that saw the Ottawa Senators prove they can still compete among all the noise, and one of the newest St. Louis Blues forwards finally record a hat trick, there’s plenty to do on this Wednesday morning. With just three games scheduled for tonight, teams will be making adjustments to their lineups and preparing for the next few days. As always, we’ll be here to keep track of all those minor moves.

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have returned forward Trevor Moore to the minor leagues, now that they’re off for a few days. Moore didn’t suit up for the Maple Leafs this time around, but should be considered the first call-up if the team experiences any more injuries up front. That said, with a road trip coming up next week he could be back up to fill the extra roster spot in just a few days.
  • Anthony Peluso has been recalled by the Calgary Flames after Dillon Dube was moved to injured reserve. Peluso took rushes with the team at practice as well, indicating that he’ll get into the lineup for the third time this season. Dube is dealing with a concussion, but his injured reserve stint is retroactive to November 3rd meaning he could come off whenever he is healthy.
  • Alex Lyon and Tyrell Goulbourne have been returned to the AHL by the Philadelphia Flyers, indicating that at least one of Brian Elliott or Michal Neuvirth will be able to suit up tomorrow night against the Arizona Coyotes. Calvin Pickard is the only fully healthy goaltender on the roster now, but sitting Lyon at the NHL level with little to do wasn’t an option.
  • The Vancouver Canucks have reassigned Jalen Chatfield to the Utica Comets of the AHL, ending his brief NHL taste before he actually played in a game. Chatfield, an undrafted free agent signing, has played seven games for the Comets this season but is still waiting to make his NHL debut.
  • After just a day, the Detroit Red Wings have returned Christoffer Ehn to the minor leagues. Ehn got just 6:53 in ice time last night for the Red Wings, but managed to record four hits and a shot on goal in his 10th game of the season. The young forward will likely be the first call-up again down the road for Detroit.
  • Kenny Agostino has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens, giving the former AHL MVP another shot at the highest level. The minor league dynamo has another ten points in his first 12 games for the Laval Rocket this season, continuing his near point-per-game pace in the AHL through five seasons. Despite that success, he’s been given just 22 opportunities to suit up for an NHL game, something he’ll try to change with the Canadiens this season.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes have brought up two young players once again, recalling Phillip Di Giuseppe and Clark Bishop from the Charlotte Checkers. To make room, Nicolas Roy has been sent back down after six games with the Hurricanes. Carolina has been swapping players in and out of their bottom-six all season trying to find a fit, and will give Di Giuseppe and Bishop another chance to make an impression in the coming days.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have returned center Chase De Leo to San Diego of the AHL, just one day after recalling him.  The 23-year-old didn’t play in Tuesday’s loss against the Kings.  De Leo is off to a decent start in the minors with five points in eight games and will likely get another look with the big club later on this season.

Pacific Notes: Tanev, Oates, Tippett

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The Vancouver Canucks have exceeded expectations so far this season and are about to get even better. With 18 points in 15 games, the Canucks hold the second spot in the Pacific Division right now and are riding a three-game win streak. Yet, they have been without stalwart defenseman Chris Tanev for the past five games and have had to find ways to earn points without his assistance. That ends tonight, as CapFriendly reports that Tanev has been activated from the injured reserve and should be active against the Detroit Red Wings this evening. With Alexander Edler still sidelined, Tanev should step right back into Vancouver’s ice time leader role and will try to improve upon his three total points so far in the campaign. Tanev’s return should be a major boost for the Canucks, who despite their relative success, are still among the bottom third of the league in points against and could use some more stability on the back end, the hallmark of Tanev’s game. To make room for Tanev, CapFriendly additionally notes that young Jalen Chatfield has been returned to the AHL’s Utica Comets. Chatfield, 22, is in his second pro season out of the OHL, but has yet to make his NHL debut.

  • Following the firing of John Stevens, hiring of Willie Desjardins, and other re-shuffling of the coaching staff, the Los Angeles Kings continue to make small changes to their operations. Today, GM Rob Blake came to terms on a consulting agreement with Hall of Fame player and former coach Adam Oates, the team announced. Oates, and his Oates Sports Group, currently provide skill evaluation and development services to individual players around the league and beyond. It will be business as usual for the company and their player clients, but now special services will be offered to the Kings. Los Angeles has dealt with speed and finesse issues for years now and this move signifies that they are willing to do whatever it takes to find the solution to those problems. They hope that Oates, who recorded 1420 points over his 19-year NHL career, can lend a major hand in the pursuit of a revamped offense under Desjardins.
  • In his latest 31 Thoughts article, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman writes that Dave Tippett has been a hotly rumored name on the NHL coaching market for a while now, with Friedman sounding somewhat surprised that he was not named as the replacement in L.A. or Chicago. When last we heard from the former Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes head coach, he had taken an advisory role with the potential Seattle expansion team. When Friedman reached out to Tippett recently for comment on the job market, he confirmed that he was happy with his current role and staying in Seattle. If Tippett really has been approached with coaching offers and has declined in favor of the status quo, that says a lot about his anticipated job with the Seattle expansion team. Tippett seems confident with his current allegiances, indicating that he is likely in line to be the franchise’s first head coach or perhaps even general manager.

Pittsburgh Penguins Make Three Roster Moves

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Zach Aston-Reese and Garrett Wilson from the minor leagues, sending down Derek Grant in their place. This shakeup was expected after the team lost their fourth consecutive game last night when they were dismantled by a speedy and tenacious New Jersey Devils team. The Penguins are now tied with the Capitals, Blue Jackets and Flyers for second in the Metropolitan Division, having lost all of the lead they built early in the year.

Some onlookers had expected Aston-Reese to be with the team right from the start of the season, and his play for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins so far has shown why. The 24-year old undrafted forward has six goals and nine points through his first 11 games this year, and has looked out of place at times among his minor league contemporaries. That is, other than Wilson, who is off to another excellent start with 11 points in 11 games. The 27-year old veteran minor league forward has routinely put up big numbers in the AHL, but has just 34 NHL games to his credit—none of them with the Penguins despite this being his third year in the organization.

Grant meanwhile has struggled to find any success in the NHL this season, failing to register even nine minutes of ice time in any of the four recent losses. After scoring 24 points when pressed into service with the Anaheim Ducks last season, Grant looked like he might be able to be more than just a depth forward for the Penguins. That doesn’t appear to be true, and the team already cleared him through waivers just after the season began. With zero points so far in six games, he hasn’t made much of an impact for the Penguins and will head to the minor leagues to get his game back on track.

Minor Transactions: 11/06/18

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The NHL saw a coaching shakeup this morning when Joel Quenneville was removed from his position with the Chicago Blackhawks, but will quickly move on to other things with nine games on the schedule. As teams prepare for their games, we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.

  • Dakota Mermis has been recalled by the Arizona Coyotes, giving the team a full 23-man roster once again. Mermis, 24, played in nine games for the Coyotes last season and is off to a great start with five points in his first nine games for the Tucson Roadrunners. The Coyotes start a road trip on Thursday when they travel to Philadelphia.
  • The Boston Bruins have returned both Anton Blidh and Jeremy Lauzon to the AHL, which could mean good news for some of their injured players. The Bruins are down to just 20 players on the active roster and don’t play until Thursday night, meaning there could be another recall if someone isn’t activated in the next day or so.
  • Chase De Leo has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks, prior to the team’s game tonight in Los Angeles. De Leo has five points in his first eight games in the minor leagues, and will try to fight for a spot in the NHL for the first time this year. The 23-year old forward has just two NHL games under his belt, both with the Winnipeg Jets.
  • Christoffer Ehn has been recalled by the Detroit Red Wings, following the move to injured reserve for Jonathan Ericsson. Ehn played nine games with the Red Wings earlier this season, and has shown good ability in the minor leagues. A fourth-round pick from 2014, he’s been performing well this season, his first in North America.
  • The Buffalo Sabres have assigned Sean Malone to the Rochester Americans, meaning he must be ready to start playing again. Malone suffered an injury early in training camp and had already been rehabbing in Rochester, but will now be able to suit up for game action.

Mike Condon Officially Assigned To AHL

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Though Mike Condon cleared waivers earlier this month, the Ottawa Senators hadn’t actually assigned him to the minor leagues yet. That changed this morning, when the team officially moved their veteran goaltender to the Belleville Senators to get some work in and regain his confidence. Mike McKenna has already been up with Ottawa for the last few days, and served as the backup for their most recent game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The move may be to prepare for Brady Tkachuk’s return from injured reserve, as Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports that the young forward is back in a full-contact sweater today at practice.

Condon, 28, struggled mightily in his first two appearances this season for the Senators and needs to hit the reset button on his career. After a bad year behind a disappointing team in 2017-18, he’s on the edge of being pushed out of the NHL entirely. Ottawa will give him a chance to find his groove again in the minor leagues, but it’s not like Condon has a huge body of work to fall back on. His rookie season in Montreal, when forced into action due to a Carey Price injury, Condon showed he could be useful but not outstanding in the NHL. A .903 save percentage that year wasn’t good enough to post even a .500 record with the Canadiens, and he couldn’t secure a long-term job.

In Ottawa, his .914 save percentage was a huge part of the upstart Senators finish in 2016-17 and eventual run to within a goal of the Stanley Cup Finals. That year though is the only one in which he’s posted numbers anywhere near league average in the NHL, meaning questions surrounding his ability are bound to creep into conversation until he proves otherwise.

Undrafted, Condon signed out of Princeton University and is now in the second season of a three-year deal with the Senators. His contract carries a cap hit of $2.4MM, but more importantly to a team like Ottawa actually pays him $3MM next season. That amount is way too much for an organization to keep in the minor leagues, meaning he either needs to find a way to improve his play or likely find himself on his way out of town.

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