Minor Transactions: 02/27/17
It’s trade deadline week folks, and the NHL is abuzz with rumors and transactions. Last night we saw two huge deals go down, and today there may be more. For now, we’ll keep an eye on all the minor transactions around the league.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled Adam Erne and Yanni Gourde from the AHL. The pair of forwards have each played in a handful of games for the NHL squad this season, though neither has made a huge impact. It’s an odd move for the Lightning, who didn’t have any absences from practice yesterday according to Bryan Burns of the team site.
- The New Jersey Devils have recalled Blake Coleman from Albany to replace the injured Pavel Zacha, who they have shifted to injured reserve. The move is retroactive to February 21st, but Zacha isn’t expected to play this week as he recovers from a concussion.
- The Detroit Red Wings have brought Drew Miller and Jared Coreau back up from this minors, to help on their five-game road trip that begins tomorrow night in Vancouver. The team won’t return home until March 10th.
- According to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun, the Jets have brought Julian Melchiori back up from the AHL. The defenseman was sent down just five days ago and cleared waivers less than a month ago.
- The Blackhawks have assigned Lars Johansson to the Rockford IceHogs. Johansson came to the NHL to back up Scott Darling last night against the St. Louis Blues, but will head back to the AHL today.
Snapshots: Big Read, Miller, Suspensions
If you’ve ever wondered how deadline deals come together now that front offices have to go through so many obstacles to make a trade, you’re in luck. Salary caps, international scouting and forced parity are all discussed in Sportsnet’s latest “Big Read” by Gare Joyce. In a piece that goes in detail with two GMs, a scout, an agent and NHL lawyer, fans are brought into a world that is usually closed off to the general public.
I’ve never made or even tried to make a deal face-to-face with another GM. The idea that it’s something that we’ve kicked around at GMs’ meetings or talked about at games—it just doesn’t happen…when you’re making the call, just by making it, you’re telling another GM, ‘I don’t think your team is going to make the playoffs.’
The story reveals some interesting tidbits, like how many deadline deals are actually agreed to in principal weeks prior, only to not be put through to give the buyer some time to make sure his team is still in the hunt come March 1st. All these people will be extremely busy over the next few days, as teams finalize their rosters for the stretch run.
- Larry Brooks of the New York Post reveals that almost every discussion the New York Rangers are in start with some mention of J.T. Miller—which is a non-starter unless a superstar is involved. At just 23-years old, Miller is already the leading scorer on a very deep New York Rangers team and is on the cusp of becoming a household name in the NHL. Playing on both special teams and dominating at even strength, the Rangers would be crazy to deal him.
- The AHL has handed down a pair of suspensions, to Greger Hanson and Kurtis Gabriel. Binghamton Senators forward Hanson sent Toronto Marlies player Brett Findlay head first into the boards on Friday, resulting in a boarding penalty and a two-game suspension. Hanson has spent most of the season in the ECHL, and is actually on his fourth minor league team of the year. Gabriel has been suspended indefinitely pending a review of the brawl that continued off the ice on Saturday between the Iowa Wild and Chicago Wolves. Gabriel—who ended up knocked out from a devastating punch—was the one who incited the fight as both players were heading to their respective dressing rooms.
Sunday Waivers: Dalpe, Pulkkinen, Carter, McKegg
As we get ready for the final few days before the March 1st trade deadline, the Minnesota Wild have waived several players according to Renaud Levoie of TVA Sports. Today they placed Zac Dalpe, Teemu Pulkkinen and the newly signed Ryan Carter on waivers. Florida also placed forward Greg McKegg on waivers, after 31 fairly ineffective games this season.
Dalpe is on his way to Minnesota after returning from a meniscus injury suffered earlier this year, and has been placed on waivers to reset his clock as Michael Russo of the Star Tribune explains. The 27-year old forward is a former second round pick that has never quite found his way in the NHL despite performing well in the minor leagues. Recalled mostly as insurance for the next three games, he’ll provide some center depth over the next few days.
Russo also opines that Pulkkinen was placed on waivers as a type of memo to the league that he is available, though after playing just nine games in the NHL the league probably already knew that. The elite AHL scorer has never been able to make an impact at the NHL, mostly because of his skating ability. That quarter-step behind that is the difference between the two leagues often puts Pulkkinen behind the play, though he has been given very few chances to adapt, shuffled between the two leagues often throughout his career. Perhaps a rebuilding team will take a look at him before the deadline and let him play the rest of the season in the NHL to try and make the adjustments necessary.
McKegg has been a disappointment since being acquired for Zach Hyman in 2015. While the Maple Leafs have installed Hyman on their top line riding shotgun with Auston Matthews, the Panthers have been less enthralled with their player, giving him very little icetime and even sending him to the minors at times. The Leafs also received a seventh-round pick in that trade, making it even more painful for Panthers fans every time they see Hyman’s name on a scoresheet. McKegg will likely have to find his game again at the AHL level before getting another shot with the NHL club.
Snapshots: Carter, Crawford, Faulk
The Minnesota Wild have signed forward Ryan Carter to a one-year, two-way contract, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. The deal is worth a pro-rated $575K at the NHL level and $250K in the AHL.
Carter had major shoulder surgery in October to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Many believed this was it for the 33-year-old left winger due to his age and the seriousness of his injury. Carter has been skating with the Wild for the better part of a month, and told Dane Mizutani of TwinCities.com that he couldn’t give up his career without at least trying to come back.
“I wanted to be a part of it, and for awhile it hurt a little bit that I wasn’t a part of it. It’s good to be here now.”
Carter was reportedly in talks with the Wild for the past month, and last week signed a Professional Try-Out (PTO) with the Iowa Wild of the AHL. He is without a point in three appearances with the AHL club.
In a related news item, the Wild have recalled center Zac Dalpe from Iowa. The big forward has three points in nine games with the Wild this season, and two goals in 12 games with their AHL affiliate.
- The Chicago Blackhawks will be without starting goaltender Corey Crawford when they take on the St. Louis Blues this afternoon, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune. Crawford is battling an illness and won’t be able to dress. Coach Joel Quenneville told the media that Crawford does not have the mumps. Chris Hine, also from the Tribune, quoted Quenneville as saying that Lars Johansson will likely get the emergency call up from Rockford to backup Scott Darling.
- The venerable Postmedia reporter Jim Matheson reported that Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk is in play at the trade deadline. Faulk is having a poor year with 25 points (just one assist in his last six games), but has a history of being a point-producing defenseman. Matheson cites the play of Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, and Noah Hanifin as the reason that Faulk is on the market. The Hurricanes would be need a young center in return, Matheson believes. Despite the fact that plenty of teams would be interested in Faulk even though he’s having a poor season, any potential deal may have to wait until after the season; Faulk makes $4.83MM and has three years left on his contract after this season.
Lightning, Coyotes Swap Minor Leaguers
Though not quite as exciting as the two deals yesterday, another trade has gone down in the NHL today. As the Tampa Bay Times reports, the Lightning and Arizona Coyotes have agreed on a swap of forward prospects. Heading to Tampa is Stefan Fournier, while Jeremy Morin heads to Arizona. Neither minor leaguer is much of a threat to become an impact NHL contributor any time soon, but may be able to help their respective AHL franchises.
It’s not the first time that Morin has been on the move; far from it in fact. The 25-year-old winger was a second-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers back in 2009, but was traded not long after in the summer of 2010. Following an 83-point season with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, Morin was one of the main pieces that went to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Dustin Byfuglien. Morin then broke into the NHL in 2010-11 at the age of 19. However, he was used sparingly in five seasons in Chicago, recording 16 points in just 54 games. Believing that Morin had stopped developing, the Blackhawks flipped him to the Columbus Blue Jackets midway through the 2014-15 season for another struggling prospect, Tim Erixon. After just a half-season in Columbus, Morin was on the move again, heading back to Chicago alongside Artem Anisimov in the Brandon Saad trade. Chicago wasted no time in trading Morin yet again, this time in a deal that worked out much better than Erixon, a swap with the Toronto Maple Leafs for Richard Panik. Only two months later, Morin was part of a deadline deal that shipped him out of Toronto to the San Jose Sharks along with James Reimer. Finally in charge of his own fate, Morin signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Lightning when free agency opened on July 1st of this summer. In 43 games this season with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, Morin has 21 points, his best minor league season since 2013-14. However, that clearly hasn’t helped him find a permanent home, as he’s on the move yet again. Morin will report to the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners and will likely finish the season with the team before searching for a new opportunity once again this off-season.
Fournier has not had to endure quite the same treatment. The 24-year-old signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2013 after a strong junior career in the QMJHL and played three seasons with the organization, in the AHL and ECHL, before being traded to the Coyotes alongside Jarred Tinordi in a three-team deal last season. Fournier has done little to help the Coyotes, or Roadrunners for that matter, in 2016-17 with just four points in 29 AHL games. With the move to Tampa Bay, more accurately the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, perhaps Fournier can find the scoring touch he had in juniors that he has been unable to find in the pros. Fournier will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so the remainder of the season should act as a tryout for an extension with the Lightning.
Kings Activate Quick, Nolan From IR
Two-time Stanley Cup winning goalie Jonathan Quick has been activated from LTIR by the Los Angeles Kings, as first reported by TSN’s Frank Seravalli, and is scheduled to make his first appearance in more than four months this afternoon as the team prepares to play host to the Anaheim Ducks. Quick has been sidelined due to a groin injury suffered in the first period of the 2016-17 season opener. It’s hoped the return of the veteran netminder will help propel the Kings, currently five points behind Nashville for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, back into a postseason slot.
The Kings have relied primarily on veteran backup backstop Peter Budaj with Quick sidelined. Budaj has more than held his own in 51 starts, tying his career high in Save % with a 0.917 mark and posting a career-best 2.12 GAA. He also leads the league in both shutouts (7) and losses (20).
It’s hard to fault the goaltending for the team’s struggles given Budaj’s strong performance but Quick’s return will certainly provide a boost for the Kings down the stretch. Additionally, any idea the Kings may have entertained about acquiring a veteran backstop at the trade deadline can be shelved and the club can instead focus their efforts and resources on upgrading other areas of the roster.
In addition to Quick, forward Jordan Nolan was also activated from IR by the team, according to Helene Elliot of the LA Times. Nolan, who has missed the last three weeks due to a lower-body injury, has four goals and eight points in 41 contests this season. While not much of an offensive threat, the gritty pivot adds size and physicality to the team’s fourth line.
With Quick’s return, the Kings have reassigned Jeff Zatkoff to Ontario of the AHL. Zatkoff, who cleared waivers earlier this week, has struggled between the pipes for L.A., winning just two of eight starts and compiling a Save % of just 0.879 and a GAA of nearly three.
Mike Smith Sick; Coyotes Recall Adin Hill
Ahead of their match-up tonight with the Dallas Stars, the Arizona Coyotes announced that they had called up goaltender Adin Hill on an emergency basis. Starter Mike Smith is reportedly sick and the team must not have believed he was even in condition to serve as Louis Domingue‘s backup tonight. It’s the first career promotion for 20-year-old Hill, a 2015 third-round pick who is in his first full pro season.
Don’t worry Coyotes fans, Smith doesn’t have the mumps. It’s unclear what Smith does have, but the sickness isn’t considered serious. The All-Star keeper should be healthy and back in net shortly; he’s posted a .915 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average in 40 appearances thus far this season.
However, his short absence will give the Coyotes a chance to take a look at Hill, who is possibly the best goalie prospect in the system. Hill was a third-round pick from the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks (could he return to Portland with his NHL franchise in the near future?) and is in his first full pro season, playing mostly with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners. Hill has a .916 save percentage and 2.84 goals against average in 26 AHL games and has out-shined Marek Langhamer, who was recently demoted by the Coyotes. Getting the young Hill a look at NHL action, even if it just from the bench, can only serve to benefit his development at this point. With Domingue struggling mightily this season and Smith still under-performing relative to his contract, the net may be Hill’s for the taking sooner rather than later.
Stanislav Galiev On The Trade Block
As predicted in our Washington Capitals Deadline Primer, the team is indeed ready to move on from young forward Stanislav Galiev. The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan reports that the Russian winger is likely to be moved ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline this Wednesday. Galiev has 15 goals and 11 assists in 33 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears this season, but has yet to earn a call-up to the Caps in 2016-17.
No one is doubting that Galiev is a skilled hockey player. The 25-year-old had 45 points in 67 games in the AHL in his first pro season in 2014-15 and then spent the entire season in Washington last year. However, he recorded just three assists in 24 NHL games in 2016-17. The Capitals did not want to use a roster spot on that production again this season and opted again to send Galiev back to Hersey, by way of clearing waivers. With the likes of Zachary Sanford and Jakub Vrana getting the bulk of the recalls this season, along with Washington’s astonishing streak of being healthy, Galiev has not had any opportunity to earn NHL minutes again.
Rather than frustrate the young forward any further and force him back to Russia, it sounds as if the Capitals’ brass had decided to move on from Galiev and get what they can for him. Unlike the Ottawa Senators and Curtis Lazar, it seems likely that Washington could simply settle on their best offer rather than wait to be blown away. Whether they trade Galiev straight up for a pick or prospect or throw him into a deal for a veteran forward or third-string goalie, it seems as if the young winger’s time with the Capitals is soon coming to a close.
Minor Transactions: 02/24/17
Just like always, we’ll keep you up to date with all the minor moves around the league in one thread. The NHL has just four games on tap for this Friday night, as teams get ready for the last weekend before the trade deadline.
- It was a fleeting call up for Cory Conacher, who has been sent back to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL this morning. Brought up to replace Jonathan Drouin last night in the Tampa lineup against the Calgary Flames, he will head back to the minors now. The diminutive forward has again shown his scoring ability at the lower level, with 44 points in 42 games this season.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch tells us that the Blue Jackets have brought Markus Hannikainen and Joonas Korpisalo back up from the Cleveland Monsters, and assigned Anton Forsberg to the AHL. Korpisalo and Forsberg have been ping-ponging back and forth between the two leagues since the team let Curtis McElhinney hit waivers, but Hannikainen hasn’t played with the NHL club since the beginning of the month.
- The Jackets have also placed Lukas Sedlak on injured reserve retroactive to February 17th. They add that Hannikainen is on an emergency recall.
- The Buffalo Sabres recalled Justin Bailey and Evan Rodrigues from the AHL and flipped Derek Grant back down. Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News wonders what that means for Zemgus Girgensons on the health front.
- The Anaheim Ducks have sent Nicolas Kerdiles back down to the AHL after making his NHL debut on Wednesday night. The acquisition of Patrick Eaves likely leaves no room for him on the wing.
- Arizona has recalled goaltender Adin Hill on an emergency basis from the AHL, and will have him back up Louis Domingue tonight in Dallas. Mike Smith will be not be dressed for the Coyotes as he battles an illness.
Maxim Shalunov Could Join Blackhawks This Year
The Blackhawks may have their depth winger already in the system, if Maxim Shalunov’s agent can just convince his KHL team to let the Blackhawks sign him. The fourth-round pick from 2011 is still under contract in Russia, but The Athletic’s Scott Powers spoke to agent Shumi Babaev on Thursday evening and was told there is a chance—even if it is just 10%.
Shalunov left for the KHL after struggling in the AHL and spending most of 2013-14 in the East Coast Hockey League, but has found much more success in his native Russia. The leading scorer on Novosibirsk Sibir, the 24-year old has 19 goals and 37 points in just 49 games. While the KHL is not a perfect predictor for NHL success, it seems as though he’s developed nicely from his days with the Rockford IceHogs.
It’s not a given that he’ll come over to the NHL at all, as his team currently has him under contract until April 30th, and he has said he wants a trade to CSKA Moscow after that if he’s to stay in the KHL. That team can recruit just as well as any NHL squad, as it has with Minnesota Wild prospect Kirill Kaprizov recently. Shalunov’s agent still puts it at 90% that they stay in Russia, but he’ll discuss it with the team and see what he can do to bring him to North America. The Hawks may have just found their top-6 rental winger for the playoffs.