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East Notes: Kane, Pacioretty, Highmore

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It was only a few months ago that we were talking about Patrick Kane’s free agency before he signed a one-year, $2.5MM contract with Detroit in late November.  Now less than three months out from testing the open market again, the veteran told reporters including MLive’s Ansar Khan that he’s not concerned about his next deal just yet:

Obviously, it’s in the back of your mind. Right now, it’s more about being in the moment, being here with this team and trying to get in the playoffs. I think just with the situation I was in and coming in and being here for maybe three-quarters of the season, it’s just this year and then we’ll see what happens. Hopefully all that stuff figures itself out.

The contract has worked out well for both sides.  Kane is averaging nearly a point per game, notching 20 goals and 26 assists in 48 appearances.  That’s a strong return on Detroit’s investment while Kane has demonstrated that he has fully recovered from his hip resurfacing surgery which should put him in a better position for a pricier multi-year deal in July.  Whether that deal comes with the Red Wings or not will have to wait a little while longer.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:

  • When Capitals winger Max Pacioretty didn’t move at the trade deadline, it came as somewhat of a surprise. Speaking with Sammi Silber of The Hockey News, the 35-year-old outlined his reasons for not waiving his NTC.  On top of staying close to his family, the veteran has enjoyed playing a notable role after missing so much time the last couple of years; it’s quite likely his role would have been more limited had he accepted a move.  Pacioretty has just four goals in 45 games this season but has added 19 assists while averaging over 14 minutes a night.  He’s certainly playing in meaningful games too with Washington in the thick of the race for the final playoff spots in the East.
  • After Saturday’s victory over Montreal, the Senators announced (Twitter link) that forward Matthew Highmore was assigned to AHL Belleville. The 28-year-old missed a little more than a month with an upper-body injury but returned to practice yesterday and has been given the green light to return.  Highmore has played in seven games with Ottawa this season, picking up two assists while adding 29 points in 40 appearances with Belleville, a team that is right in the thick of the playoff race in the AHL’s North Division.

Kraken Reassign Cale Fleury

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April 14: Fleury was returned to Coachella Valley before today’s loss to the Blues, CapFriendly indicates.

April 12: Earlier today, Seattle returned a trio of young forwards to AHL Coachella Valley so that they can get ready for a potentially long playoff run down there.  There weren’t any corresponding recalls announced at the time but the Kraken have indeed brought a player up from the Firebirds.  However, that move came on the back end as the team announced (Twitter link) that Cale Fleury has been recalled on an emergency basis.

The 25-year-old is no stranger to being brought up under these circumstances as it’s the fifth time he has been brought up on emergency recall since last month’s trade deadline, meaning they haven’t counted against Seattle’s four regular recall limit.  However, Fleury hasn’t seen much NHL action on those promotions, suiting up just once this season, coming last Friday.

Fleury has spent the bulk of the year with the Firebirds and has done quite well, notching seven goals and 27 assists while his plus-30 rating is tied for second-best in the AHL.  Most of the time, he has been returned quickly to Coachella Valley following these recalls; we’ll see this weekend if that recent history repeats itself.

Maple Leafs Sign Nicolas Mattinen To One-Year Contract

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Nicolas Mattinen to a one-year, two-way contract that’s set to begin in 2024-25 (Twitter link). The Leafs originally drafted Mattinen in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, though they lost his rights in 2018 after not signing him.

Mattinen has since had a bit of a journeyman career. After four years in the OHL, he moved to USports in the 2019-20 season, playing at the University of Ottawa until 2022, though he lost one season to COVID-19 cancellations. He played eight AHL games with the Laval Rocket at the end of the 2021-22 season, recording three goals in eight games, though he opted to move overseas for the last two years – playing in both Austria and Germany. He’s been incredibly productive in the new setting, recording 16 goals and 46 points in 52 DEL games this season – a mark that led all DEL defensemen in scoring and earned Mattinen the DEL’s Player of the Year award.

Mattinen has now earned his way back into the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, inking a deal that makes him eligible for an NHL call-up, should he earn it. The Leafs have certainly shown no shyness towards their minor-league defenders this season, awarding each of Simon Benoit, Conor Timmins, Marshall Rifai, and Maxime Lajoie a chance at routine ice time. Benoit has proven the proudest of the bunch, with his stout defense and play along the boards earning him a daily lineup role. Mattinen will fight to join their ranks next season, playing in his first full year of North American pros.

Sharks Recall Daniil Gushchin, Jack Thompson, Georgi Romanov

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The San Jose Sharks have recalled forward Daniil Gushchin, defenseman Jack Thompson, and goaltender Georgi Romanov for the final two games of the season (Twitter link). These moves come after San Jose officially clinched last place in the league yesterday, following a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

Both Gushchin and Thompson have played in NHL games this season, but this is the first call-up of Romanov’s career. The 24-year-old netminder is in his first North American season after spending the majority of the last two years with Gornyak-UGMK of the VHL, Russia’s second-tier league. He posted a .916 save percentage across 80 VHL games, performing well enough to earn an undrafted free-agent contract with San Jose last May. Romanov has since spent most of this season in the AHL, recording nine wins and a .904 save percentage in 29 games, though he’s also played in seven ECHL games. A start in the NHL would make him the second Sharks goalie this season to play in all three leagues, joining Magnus Chrona, who’s managed a .859 in nine NHL games.

The trio of Gushchin, Thompson, and Romanov could each be poised for strong ice time in San Jose’s final games, as the team gets a look at prospects on the fringe of the lineup. That could mean less ice time for the few 30-year-olds on the roster, including Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Jan Rutta, and Ryan Carpenter. Gushchin has appeared in four NHL games across the last two seasons, recording three points, while Thompson’s has only managed his NHL debut, playing with the Tampa Bay Lightning in January. Both players will be searching for their first NHL goal of the season.

Kings Assign Carl Grundstrom To AHL On LTI Conditioning Loan

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It has been two months since Kings winger Carl Grundstrom was able to see game action.  That’s about to change as the team announced today (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned Grundstrom to AHL Ontario on an LTI Conditioning Loan.

Grundstrom has been working his way back from a lower-body injury sustained back on February 13th against Buffalo, one that landed him on LTIR two days later.  He’s the second Kings forward to be sent down on one of these loans this week as Alex Turcotte was sent to the Reign back on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old has played in 50 games with Los Angeles this season, notching eight goals and four assists.  Grundstrom has also chipped in with 115 hits while logging a little under 11 minutes a night.  That’s not a great return on a $1.3MM price tag and Grundstrom will be RFA-eligible for the final time this summer while having arbitration rights.  With the cap situation the Kings have, Grundstrom could be a candidate to be moved out if they want to open up a little more cap room.

LTI conditioning assignments can last for a maximum of three games and six days although Los Angeles can ask for a one-time two-game extension if it’s determined that Grundstrom needs a bit more game action.  Either way, it appears that the Kings will have the gritty winger available to them when the playoffs get underway next week barring a setback while on assignment.

Maple Leafs Assign Matt Murray To AHL On Conditioning Loan

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For the last several weeks, Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray has been skating with the team as he works his way back from bilateral hip surgery performed back in October.  He’s now taking the next step in the rehab process as the team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned Murray to AHL Toronto on an LTI Conditioning Loan.

At the time Murray had the surgery, the expected recovery timeline was six to eight months and it appears the 29-year-old will be on the shorter end of that.  Last season, Murray was limited to just 26 games where he posted a 3.01 GAA and a .903 SV% and didn’t play at all in the playoffs after suffering a late-season concussion; he was relegated to third-string status upon his return.

That had the veteran as a speculative buyout candidate but the hip injury would have taken that option off the table had the team tried to pursue it.  Instead, they elected to do with surgery, delaying that procedure until the start of the season which helped the Maple Leafs from a salary cap perspective as they were able to spend his $4.6875MM AAV in full on replacement players rather than having to keep it available for a midseason return.

With this being an LTI loan, there are some more stringent rules than a typical conditioning assignment.  Murray can be with the Marlies for up to three games and six days and if he needs more time, the team can request a one-time two-game extension.  That should be ample time to assess if Murray has indeed fully recovered and the original allotment is enough to get through the end of the regular season with him still on LTIR, removing any salary cap concerns.

Even if Murray does well in that stint, it would be surprising to see him see any action with the Maple Leafs in the postseason who are set with Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll as their tandem with veteran Martin Jones waiting in the wings as well.  But a decent showing there could certainly help his cause as he’ll test unrestricted free agency for the first time this summer.

Central Notes: Rantanen, Wood, Krug, Niederreiter, Levis

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It appears as if the Avalanche will get their top winger back in the lineup for a key divisional matchup on Saturday against Winnipeg.  NHL.com’s Ryan Boulding relays (Twitter link) that Mikko Rantanen is listed as probable for that contest after missing the last week while being in concussion protocol.  The 27-year-old is within striking distance of setting a new career-high in points as he has 102 through 77 games so far; he had 105 in 2022-23.

Meanwhile, Boulding added that winger Miles Wood is listed as doubtful for tomorrow’s contest.  The 28-year-old is dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out for the last week.  In his first season with Colorado after inking a six-year, $15MM contract in free agency, Wood has nine goals and 15 assists in 72 games while averaging a little under 14 minutes a night.

More from the Central:

  • Blues defenseman Torey Krug left Wednesday’s game versus Chicago with an undisclosed injury and it caused him to miss tonight’s game against Carolina at a minimum.  Per NHL.com’s Lou Korac (Twitter link), he’s listed as out day-to-day and the team will assess on Saturday if he’ll be available to suit up on Sunday.  The 33-year-old has put up 39 points through 77 games and with St. Louis still battling for the final playoff spot, they’d certainly like to have the veteran back as soon as possible.
  • Jets winger Nino Niederreiter will miss his fifth straight game on Saturday as he works his way back from a cut, notes team reporter Mitchell Clinton. The 31-year-old has been a capable secondary scorer in his first full season with Winnipeg, collecting 18 goals and 15 assists through 75 games.  Head coach Rick Bowness indicated that they’re just being cautious with Niederreiter and that they’re planning on him suiting up on Tuesday.
  • Still with the Jets, their AHL affiliate announced that they’ve signed Connor Levis to an ATO deal. The 19-year-old center was a seventh-round pick last year (210th overall).  Levis split this season between WHL Kamloops and Vancouver, tallying 21 goals and 34 assists in 55 games while adding three assists in five playoff contests.  With the Giants now eliminated, Levis is now free to finish the season in the minors.

Golden Knights Reassign Brendan Brisson

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April 12: Brisson was returned to AHL Henderson on Friday with Stephenson rejoining the team for tonight’s match against the Wild. He logged 11:52 in Wednesday’s loss to the Oilers and put up zeros across the board.

April 9: The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled forward Brendan Brisson from the minor leagues. Brisson will serve as a fill-in option for Chandler Stephenson, who left the team’s trip to Edmonton for the expected birth of his child, per Sin Bin Vegas (Twitter link). Stephenson’s absence would qualify this recall for an emergency loan, preserving Vegas’ few remaining recalls this season.

This move marks Brisson’s eighth call-up of the season after he was sent down on Monday, giving Vegas the cap space needed to activate Tomas Hertl off of injured reserve. Brisson made his NHL debut on January 15th and has since totaled 14 games in the Vegas lineup, scoring two goals and eight points. He’s managed the production while serving in a third-line role, averaging just under 12-and-a-half minutes of ice time each game. And while he’s bounced between the major and minor leagues, the former first-round pick has most recently played in the NHL, recording an assist in Vegas’ Friday night loss to the Arizona Coyotes. The game was Brisson’s reward for recording eight points across his last eight AHL games, including three nights of two or more points. The scoring brought him up to 17 goals and 36 points in 50 AHL games – an impressive mark for the first-year pro.

Stephenson’s absence would likely open the door for Hertl to take on a full role in the offense, with Brisson slotting into the team’s bottom six. Hertl recorded an assist in his Vegas debut and will need to stay productive as the Golden Knights look to claw their way back into the top three of the Pacific Division.

Panthers Sign Oliver Okuliar, Wilmer Skoog To One-Year Deals

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The Florida Panthers have signed Czech centerman Oliver Okuliar to a one-year, one-way, entry-level contract (Web link). They have also signed Boston University winger Wilmer Skoog to a one-year, two-way contract (Web link). Both deals are set to begin next season.

Okuliar, 23, has spent the last four seasons journeying around European pro leagues, playing in the Tipsport Extraliga, Liiga, and Czechia Extraliga. He’s proven very productive despite the moves, recording 24 goals and 45 points in 52 Czechia Extraliga games this season, adding two assists in eight playoff games. His scoring ranked second among all U24 skaters in Czechia, behind Jakub Rychlovsky, who tallied one more point in one fewer appearance.

Okuliar will now move to North American pros, after going undrafted in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 NHL Drafts. He’s a flashy winger, showing great puck control and a strong ability to work in tight spaces and keep play alive. The Panthers certainly seem convinced by his play, awarding him a one-way contract that could earn him NHL starts next season. The deal closely mirrors Florida’s signing of Latvian defenseman Uvis Balinskis last summer – and Balinskis has certainly received plenty of opportunity, playing in 24 NHL games and 37 AHL games this season. Florida has a knack for awarding strong European play with a chance at the NHL, and it seems Okuliar is their latest test subject.

Meanwhile, Skoog stands out for more than just his distinct name. He’s a grizzled forward that knows how to fight for space in front of the net – made evident by his 19 goals and 27 points in 44 AHL games this season. Skoog also has plenty of flash, pulling off the Michigan goal (or Lacrosse goal) four different times at Boston University. While he likely has a longer path to the NHL lineup than the pro-proven Okuliar, Skoog’s tenacity has already earned him a promotion – signing his first NHL deal after spending his rookie professional season on an AHL contract.

Pacific Notes: Coleman, Honzek, Lipinski, McDavid, Carrick

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The Calgary Flames will be without forward Blake Coleman, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, per Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg (Twitter link). Coleman suffered the injury on a hard hit from San Jose Sharks defenseman Kyle Burroughs, though he finished out the game.

Coleman has found a new layer to his game on the struggling Flames roster, posting an impressive 29 goals, 23 assists, and 52 points in 77 games. Each of those represents a career-high for the 32-year-old, who hasn’t topped even 40 points in any of his seven seasons up to this point. He and winger Yegor Sharangovich—who’s posted 30 goals of his own—have been pivotal to the Flames this season, setting the pace for the team’s limited offense.

The Flames are well outside of a playoff spot, removing some of the stress of finding a fill-in for Coleman. Kevin Rooney is expected to slot into the lineup for the short term. Calgary has five games left in its season.

One player who won’t be filling in is 2023 first-round pick Samuel Hoznek, who is in Calgary after the end of his WHL season, though he’s nursing an injury that could hold him out, per Ryan Pike of Flames Nation (Twitter link). Calgary signed Honzek last summer, loaning him to the WHL’s Vancouver Giants for the season. He returns to the Calgary organization alongside WHL teammate Jaden Lipinski, who has signed an amateur try-out contract with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. Honzek will also close out the season with the Wranglers once he’s cleared to play.

Elsewhere in the Pacific:

  • The Edmonton Oilers haven’t received any positive news about superstar Connor McDavid, who remains day-to-day and questionable for the team’s next game, per TSN’s Ryan Rishaug (Twitter link). McDavid will be poised to miss his second game with a lower-body injury. He’s been filled in for by Dylan Holloway, who was recalled ahead of the team’s Wednesday matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Holloway scored his first NHL goal since February 13th in the spot start.
  • The Oilers will also be without forward Sam Carrick, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during the team’s Wednesday night matchup, per NHL Network’s Tom Gazzola (Twitter link). Carrick, who moved to Edmonton alongside Adam Henrique at the Trade Deadline, has recorded four points and 12 penalty minutes in his first 12 games with the Oilers. He’ll likely be replaced by Connor Brown.

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