Morning Notes: Crosby, Patrick, Cangelosi
Last night, during the Pittsburgh Penguins-Ottawa Senators game, Sidney Crosby delivered a hard slash across the hands of Marc Methot resulting in one of the nastiest injuries this season in the NHL (*WARNING: GRAPHIC*). Senators’ head coach Guy Boucher said after the game that Methot would be out “weeks” with a “destroyed” and “shattered” finger, and owner Eugene Melnyk was upset about it this morning on TSN 1200 (via Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia and Frank Seravalli of TSN):
You hammer these [players who slash], you take away their money, and you say you know what? You are done for 10 games. We all know who [Crosby] is. The guy is a whiner beyond belief. You do this kind of stuff—I don’t care who you are in the league, I don’t care if you’re the number one player in the league—you should sit out a long time for this kind of crap.
Melnyk said that he was sure the league would be looking at it, but Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reports Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly will not be evaluating it further. Crosby will receive no discipline for this incident, just as he faced no penalty for his spear in an unfortunate area of Ryan O’Reilly‘s lower body.
- For anyone hoping to catch Nolan Patrick in the first round of the WHL playoffs, you might have to wait a few days. Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports that the projected top pick in the upcoming entry draft won’t play in game one due to a lower-body injury. The Brandon Wheat Kings take on the Medicine Hat Tigers in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
- The Calgary Flames have sent Garnet Hathaway back down to the Stockton Heat. The 25-year old forward didn’t play in his most recent call up, after Micheal Ferland returned earlier from his mumps quarantine. With Matthew Tkachuk now eligible to play after serving his two-game suspension, the need for Hathaway has lifted. Playing in 26 games for Calgary this season, Hathaway registered five points in under 10 minutes a night.
- Similarly, the Minnesota Wild have sent Gustav Olofsson down to the minors, liking meaning Christian Folin is ready to return to game action. Olofsson has played in 13 games for the Wild this season, but will have to wait until next year to really make his mark at the NHL level. The 22-year old will try to help the Iowa Wild make the postseason for the first time in their short history.
- Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports that the Albany Devils have signed Austin Cangelosi to a two-year AHL contract. The 22-year old forward just graduated from Boston College where he had back-to-back 20-goal seasons the past two years. The 5’7″ forward will try to prove that his size won’t stop his skill from shining through at the professional level, as he moves up to the next challenge in his hockey career.
Slater Koekkoek Recalled By Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are pulling out all the stops to try and squeak into the playoffs, and today they recalled Slater Koekkoek from the AHL to help them get there. The 23-year old has split the season between the Lightning and the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. As Bryan Burns of NHL.com reports, Koekkoek is likely the replacement for Jason Garrison, who was injured last night against the Boston Bruins.
The former 10th-overall pick has yet to make his presence truly felt at the NHL level, struggling to find ice time with the Lightning this season even when he did play. In 29 games, he averaged just under 13 minutes a night, including playing less than ten minutes on several occasions. Though he has generally fared well in the AHL since dominating for the Windsor Spitfires in 2013-14, his play has been somewhat disappointing at the highest level. Should he enter the lineup for Garrison, perhaps this time he’ll be allowed to stretch his legs a little bit and show what he can do in a playoff race.
After a win last night, the Lightning find themselves just three points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand on the Bruins. While they’ll have to fight off the Islanders and Hurricanes—who are on an unbelievable 6-0-3 run to vault them back into the picture—it is not inconceivable for the Lightning to make it in. If they do, Koekkoek could be a pretty nice insurance plan for a team that has faced injury concerns all season long. It’s unclear how long Garrison will be out (if at all), but for now pencil in Koekkoek for their game tonight against the Red Wings.
Washington Capitals Recall Paul Carey From Hershey
The Washington Capitals have brought Paul Carey up from the AHL to help them on their upcoming road trip. After facing the Arizona Coyotes tomorrow night, the Caps will go on a five-game road trip lasting more than a week. Carey will act as insurance throughout.
Carey last played for the team three weeks ago when Andre Burakovsky was still injured. The 28-year old forward has played four games at the NHL level this season, registering no points. He has however dominated the minor league level once again, with 55 points in 55 games. Had he not spent so much time up with the big club this season, he’d surely be the Hershey Bears’ leading scorer—he trails by only one point with eleven fewer games.
An AHL veteran since graduating from Boston College in 2012, Carey doesn’t project to be a big part of any NHL lineup during his career. He does however provide some some speed and skill that can be inserted in an emergency situation, and can style his play for what role he’s given.
The Capitals are still in first place after securing a victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in the shootout last night. With just nine games to play, the race for the President’s Trophy and the right to face a wildcard team is still very much alive.
Oilers Notes: Hart Trophy, Lander, Hall
The Edmonton Oilers may have lost a big game to their division rivals in Anaheim last night, but it was a big night for their captain, Connor McDavid.
McDavid scored a goal and three points to increase his lead at the top of the scoring race. He now has 85 points in 73 games, which is four points more than Sidney Crosby has, albeit in 66 games. Brad Marchand and Patrick Kane each have 80 points in 73 games.
While he’s leading the scoring race, a bigger question is where he’s at in the MVP race. While Cam Talbot has been superb for the Oilers this season, there’s no question that McDavid is the main reason for the team’s rise up the standings. The Oilers surpassed last season’s win total in mid-February, and have improved their goal differential by 63 goals. They finished in 29th last season, and are currently sitting in a divisional playoff spot this season. The biggest difference between this year and last? McDavid is healthy and arguably tied with Crosby for the title of best player in the NHL. Winning the scoring race would clear things up; in the past five years, the Hart has gone to either the Art Ross or Rocket Richard winner four times.
If McDavid does end up winning the Hart Trophy for league MVP, he will be the first Oilers player to win a major award since Andrew Ference won the King Clancy Award for off-ice leadership in 2013-14. McDavid would be the first Oiler to win an award for on-ice play since 1989-90 when Mark Messier and Bill Ranford took home the Hart, Lindsay, and Conn Smythe.
- Oilers minor-league centre Anton Lander has signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL for next season, according to KHL insider Aivis Kalniņš. A former second-round, Lander has struggled at the NHL level with just 35 points in 215 games. His only sustained success was back in 2014-15, when he scored 20 points in 38 games. But in the AHL, Lander is dominant. He has 22 goals and 46 points in 31 games this season for the Bakersfield Condors. The deal will be announced after the AHL season ends, and will make Lander one of the highest-paid imports in the KHL according to Kalniņš. Back in October, we reported on the top KHL salaries, and the highest-paid import on the list was Stephane Da Costa who makes approximately $1.3MM USD. That range would be a nice raise over Lander’s current contract which pays him $990K. It seems unlikely that the Oilers will tender Lander a qualifying offer in the spring.
- Taylor Hall may not be in Edmonton anymore, but he can’t escape the questions about his former team. Hall was asked today if he would watch and cheer for the Oilers in the playoffs. His answer? “No.” After six bottom-ten finishes with the Oilers, Hall once again finds himself at the bottom of the standings with the Devils while his former team is going to make the playoffs. Sportsnet’s Luke Fox quoted Hall as saying the situation has “a weird dynamic. You’re happy for your friends, that they’re doing well and they’re going to experience the playoffs, but you can’t help but be a bit jealous.”
Snapshots: Brodzinski, Rod, Ronning
As expected yesterday, the Los Angeles Kings have recalled Jonny Brodzinski today from the Ontario Reign to give him a taste of NHL action down the stretch. The minor-league sniper will not play tonight, but is expected to get into the lineup at some point over the remaining ten games. Armed with a howitzer of a shot, Brodzinski is an option for the Kings next season, as he’s proven everything he needs to at the AHL level.
With the Kings needing scoring wherever they can find it—they currently rank 27th in the league in goals for—Brodzinski may actually get a chance to move up in the lineup quickly. If he can show an ability to replicate his goal-scoring touch at the highest level, he’d instantly become one of their best options. Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson alone have accounted for more than 30% of the Kings’ goals this season, with no other player even eclipsing 15 on the season. Brodzinski would be a welcome addition if he can find enough open space to release that shot.
- The San Jose Sharks are closing in on a contract with second-round pick Noah Rod, according to Kevin Kurz of CSN. The 2014 draft pick has continued to play in the NLA (Switzerland) for the past three seasons and may be ready to come across the pond. Known for his feisty game and ability to get under opponent’s skin, Rod showed an increased offensive game this year scoring 14 points in 27 games despite dealing with multiple injuries. He is likely still at least a year away from making a real impact in the NHL, but getting him over and into the AHL would help his transition to the North American game.
- After signing NCAA goaltender Chris Nell earlier today, the New York Rangers—or rather their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack—have signed Ty Ronning to an amateur tryout. The seventh-round pick last summer just finished his season with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, leading the team in scoring for the second straight season. At 5’9″ 170-lbs, Ronning is undersized to say the least, but has a role model on how to succeed at that size pretty close to home. Cliff Ronning, Ty’s dad, played 1137 games in the NHL and recorded 869 points despite actually coming in an inch shorter than his son is now. One of the all-time “small guys”, Cliff was exceptionally talented and even scored 85 points one season while skating for Vancouver with greats like Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden. Perhaps the younger Ronning was overlooked just as his father was in his day—Cliff went in the seventh-round too, but scored more than all but five of his draft class.
Luke Kunin Turns Pro; Signs ATO With Iowa Wild
One of the biggest names in college hockey is set to join the professional ranks, as Luke Kunin has signed an entry-level deal with the Minnesota Wild. He’ll start on an amateur tryout for the remainder of this season, with his entry-level deal kicking in next fall. This had been expected for some time, but Wild fans can finally uncross their fingers and let out a sigh of relief. The University of Wisconsin center will be an interesting option for the NHL team as soon as next year. 
Selected fifteenth overall last summer, Kunin returned to Wisconsin for his sophomore season and improved in basically every way. Scoring 38 points in 35 games to lead his team, he improved his defensive game and took fewer penalties while being more physical. He was given the captaincy of the Badgers, the first sophomore to wear the “C” in over four decades, and also wore the same letter for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. He is a born leader on and off the ice, and may one day wear something on a Minnesota Wild sweater.
Given the Wild’s fairly deep forward group, Kunin may have to wait a year in the AHL before making his mark on the big stage. That shouldn’t slow him down though, as he’s heading for the NHL one day to be sure. With Iowa in a very tight race for the final playoff spot in the Central Division, Kunin will get a taste of the tight-checking hockey he’ll have to face down the line. It will be a good learning experience for him as he jumps right into the fire.
Kunin represents one of a handful of top Minnesota prospects that will start to replace the aging core of Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise and Jason Pominville over the next few years. Jordan Greenway, Kirill Kaprizov and Alex Tuch all look like they’ll be impact players in the NHL one day, as the Wild continue to show off their drafting skills. While they battle with the Chicago Blackhawks for the crown of the best in the West, there are more good days ahead for the Minnesota franchise and their fans.
Jaroslav Halak Recalled From Bridgeport
The New York Islanders have recalled Jaroslav Halak from the AHL in time for their game against Pittsburgh tomorrow night. Halak has been playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers since the beginning of 2017, after clearing waivers on New Year’s Eve. 
In the AHL the veteran netminder has proven he can still perform, going 17-7-1 with a .925 save percentage. While he’ll likely never again be the 2010 Halak that carried the Montreal Canadiens all the way to the Conference Finals, he should still be more effective than Jean-Francois Berube in a backup role.
The Islanders are in the thick of the playoff race after winning last night against the New York Rangers. After seeing the Maple Leafs leapfrog Boston yesterday, New York is now chasing the Bruins and find themselves two points back with a game in hand. They will face the Bruins on Saturday in an all important matchup, the second half of a back-to-back. Whether Halak starts in one of the two is still yet to be decided (or at least announced) but it does seem to coincide with the call-up.
Halak was part of a three goaltender rotation earlier in the year, but the Isles had buried him in the minors to save almost a million dollars (pro-rated for the length of his stay in the AHL) in cap space. After trying to move him at the deadline, the team instead kept him around for exactly this scenario. Now he can try to help them into the playoffs and once there, maybe work some of his magic. The 31-year old has a career .924 save percentage in the postseason.
Arthur Staple of Newsday was first to announce a recall was imminent.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pittsburgh Penguins Recall Josh Archibald From AHL
Back again. The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Josh Archibald Thursday morning, bringing him back up just a week after his last assignment. The recall is likely due to the injury Jake Guentzel suffered on Tuesday night, when he was hit by Rasmus Ristolainen—who will get a hearing later today to determine his penalty.
Archibald last played for the Penguins on March 13th, and has two points in three total NHL games this season. The 24-year old has set career highs at the AHL level with 16 goals and 29 points. He’ll likely move into the fourth line with someone like Chris Kunitz or Patric Hornqvist moving up to the top line beside Sidney Crosby.
Guentzel was diagnosed with a concussion following the game against the Sabres on Tuesday, and unfortunately will be out for at least a few days. The 22-year old rookie has had an excellent season playing mostly with Crosby, scoring 25 points in 35 games.
Buffalo Sabres Send Three Players To AHL
With the Buffalo Sabres off until Saturday night, they’ve re-assigned three players to the American Hockey League. Justin Bailey, Brady Austin and Casey Nelson will all be headed down to the Rochester Americans for at least a few days, while the team figures out who will be healthy for their weekend matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bailey, 21, has spent 32 games with the Sabres this season, registering just four points. The second-round pick in 2013 has established himself as an effective power forward at the minor-league level, and looks like he’ll be an NHL player for years to come. While he doesn’t possess elite skill, he has shown he can play the net-front on a powerplay and remove pucks from defenders (or defenders from pucks) in the corner.
Austin and Nelson both were only called up on Monday after Taylor Fedun and Cody Franson were struck by injury. The pair have played the past two games and were forced into extended action after Rasmus Ristolainen was ejected early from last night’s contest. Both are young enough to develop into something more than organization depth, but haven’t shown much promise of locking down an NHL job full-time just yet.
West Notes: Vegas, Brodzinski, Janmark
The Vegas Golden Knights are primed to use every dollar allowed under the salary cap, and they’ll be willing to do so in various different ways. As Dan Marrazza of NHL.com writes, the team will look at examples like last summer’s Pavel Datsyuk deal as ways to use their cap space to gather assets as quickly as possible. Remember, the Arizona Coyotes acquired Datsyuk’s cap-hit that had no salary attached to it, in order to move up in the draft and select Jakob Chychrun 16th overall. Bill Foley, owner of the Golden Knights, explained it this way:
Cap space is valuable, and there will be people willing to give us good assets to take certain contracts, because they have cap issues. There are teams that have cap stress, there re teams that have expansion stress, there are teams that have both. We’re here willing to talk to all these clubs.
Indeed, Vegas would be wise to take a book from the Coyotes asset collection strategies of the past couple of season, but they can go even further. With Foley willing to pay up to the cap, it doesn’t have to be just dead cap-hits that they acquire for assets, but real salary that is hurting teams. That opens up all 30 franchises as potential customers at the Golden Knights cap-space saloon, hoping to clear out some room to go after the big fishes on this year’s market.
- Jon Rosen of NHL.com tells us that we shouldn’t be surprised if a Jonny Brodzinski call-up is announced tomorrow. The 23-year old winger has been lighting it up at the AHL level where he has 47 points in 56 games this season. Armed with a shot that can score from anywhere in the offensive zone, Brodzinski has been a pure goal-scoring threat at every level without possessing any other standout skill. His ability to be in the right spot at the right time has always followed him, which will now be tested at the NHL level. With the Kings now eight points back of a playoff spot and still struggling to score goals, there isn’t much risk in seeing what Brodzinski can do.
- The Vancouver Canucks will be without Jayson Megna or Joseph Cramarossa for the rest of their current road trip after both missed practice today. Cramarossa is having trouble walking after blocking a shot in last night’s game, while Megna is dealing with an upper-body injury. The Canucks face off against the St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets before heading home at the end of the month.
- Mark Stepneski of NHL.com relays that though Mattias Janmark was on the ice at practice today, he won’t play for the rest of the season. The young forward had surgery in September to fix a congenital knee condition that has been affecting him since he was a teenager. After scoring 29 points in his rookie season, the Stars were hoping for a big sophomore performance—one that never even got started. He says he’ll be ready for camp next fall.