Lightning Reassign Simon Lundmark, Jakob Pelletier To AHL
This afternoon the Tampa Bay Lightning shared that defenseman Simon Lundmark and forward Jakob Pelletier have been reassigned to AHL Syracuse. The pair, both former notable prospects from the 2019 draft, each appeared in Saturday’s loss to Columbus.
No corresponding transaction was made, but today’s news suggests that Ryan McDonagh could be due to return this week. The 36-year-old has not played since late December due to a lower-body injury.
Pelletier was recalled three days ago, bringing a bit of intrigue as a former first-round pick (Calgary) who has lit up the AHL, leading the Crunch with 41 points in 35 games. Pelletier recorded no stats in 11:53 of ice time against the Blue Jackets. He was then scratched in last night’s win over Utah.
Once thought to be a safe choice due to his versatile two-way traits and enough skill for top-six upside, things have not materialized for Pelletier, who also made a stop in Philadelphia as part of the Andrei Kuzmenko trade. With 29 points across 88 total NHL games to this point, he was brought in by Tampa Bay with an opportunity to compete for a bottom six role. Still signed for two more seasons, the Quebec native will return to Syracuse as a top scorer and vie for another shot. Given the Lightning’s ability to get the most out of under-the-radar players, it’s not too late for the 24-year-old to carve out a role at some point.
Meanwhile, Lundmark, a second round selection of Winnipeg in 2019, notably made his NHL debut after spending the last 4 ½ seasons in the AHL. Unable to break through in the Jets organization, the Swede caught on with Tampa Bay on a two-year deal. With just five points in 27 games, the 6’2” righty has developed into a more stay-at-home blue liner after initial two-way upside.
The 25-year-old returns to the AHL after a memorable night in Columbus where he played 16:45, finishing a +1 despite the team surrendering eight goals.
Even with the two out of the fold, Tampa Bay still offers 13 forwards and six defensemen. An update on McDonagh could come as soon as Thursday, when the team hosts Winnipeg, the team continuing to roll in 2026, winning eight of their last ten contests.
Lightning Recall Curtis Douglas From AHL Conditioning Loan
1/26: Tampa Bay has recalled Douglas from his conditioning loan. He recorded no points, no penalties, and a zero plus-minus in six games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
1/12: Earlier this evening the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that Curtis Douglas has been assigned to AHL Syracuse for conditioning purposes. The forward has been a healthy scratch for each of Tampa’s last six games. Even when dressed, he has played very sparingly this season, averaging 5:58 a night.
Claimed off waivers from Utah in October, the 25-year-old may not make his mark in the stat sheet, but his road to the show has been impressive. Selected in the fourth round back in 2018 by Dallas, Douglas spent each of his past five seasons in the AHL across three different organizations, never getting a look at the highest level, and regularly recording over 100 penalty minutes each season. The 6’9″ center then caught the attention of Tampa Bay, who inherited the final year of his contract worth $775k at the NHL level, ending in unrestricted free agent status this summer.
In 27 games, Douglas has two assists and 75 penalty minutes. 25 years ago or so, this may be business as usual, but such output in today’s game is a testament to the Ontario native’s work ethic. He has managed to make an impact, on one of the league’s top teams, no less.
Although Douglas is back to the AHL for now, he will retain his full NHL salary, and the loan can last no longer than two weeks. Syracuse, currently 10th in the AHL, will enjoy having the hulking forward in their lineup for the time being. Tampa Bay won their 10th straight game tonight, as they won’t exactly miss a beat without their enforcer, but Douglas will get some game action and be ready to return when needed.
Injury Notes: Letang, Huberdeau, McTavish
Pittsburgh Penguins fixture Kris Letang is absent tonight in Calgary as reported by Josh Yohe, Penguins Beat Writer.
The 38-year-old was listed as questionable yesterday, due to an upper-body injury. It’s not immediately clear what caused the ailment, as Letang continues to play heavy minutes, his 22:01 average standing as second-most on the team, behind Erik Karlsson, who is also injured and out tonight. With 25 points in 48 games, it will be the first contest of 2025-26 the Pens will not have Letang in the lineup.
Winners of six out of their last 10, firmly in the playoff hunt, Pittsburgh must turn to Jack St. Ivany, who has served as a depth defenseman this year. Ryan Graves will also remain on the third pairing, the 30-year-old eager to get on track after his struggles resulted in demotion to the AHL. Still on the outside looking in with an unmovable contract, Graves has been called upon due to the numerous injuries on the back end.
Both Letang and Karlsson figure to be back by Sunday as the group travels to Vancouver.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Shortly before tonight’s game against the shorthanded Penguins, the Calgary Flames shared that Jonathan Huberdeau is day-to-day with a lower body injury, and will not play. Missing in warm-ups, it was briefly speculated that the $10.5MM man could have been scratched, not entirely out of the realm of possibility, but instead he will miss his sixth of the campaign due to an injury. After a step forward last season where he recorded 62 points, good for second best on the team, this year has not been kind to the 32-year-old. He has just 21 points in 44 games, but as the Flames rank second-to-last in offense, Huberdeau still ranks sixth on team scoring totals. Martin Pospisil, recalled yesterday, will make his season debut, coming back from an upper-body injury sustained in the preseason. Huberdeau will look to be healthy by Friday, as the Flames host the Capitals.
- Ahead of tonight’s game at Colorado, the Anaheim Ducks updated that Mason McTavish won’t play due to an upper-body injury, while Jansen Harkins enters the lineup. The news was unexpected, as McTavish has not yet missed a game all year, finding the back of the net in each of his last two games. The 22-year-old has 30 points in 49 games, somewhat surpassed in a group of dynamic young forwards, but still a key contributor. Having won four in a row, Anaheim’s center depth has taken a major hit as star Leo Carlsson is out three to five weeks. The group will hope to have McTavish back by Friday in Seattle, but tonight is a tough test against the top team in the league.
Evening Notes: Ekman-Larsson, Abols, Whitecloud
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced mid-game that Oliver Ekman-Larsson won’t return due to a lower-body injury.
Ekman-Larsson did not come out to start the second period against Detroit. He was seen battling with Lucas Raymond for a loose puck, where the defenseman seemed to catch an edge awkwardly.
Dealing with health issues over the last few years, the 34-year-old has been durable this year, not yet missing a game, a distinction shared only with teammate John Tavares. With 31 points in 50 games, Ekman-Larsson has had his best output since 2018-19, although seasons since then were shortened from injury. He has averaged 20:54 a night, leaned on in all situations, as a top pairing defender on both the power play and penalty kill.
He had another lower-body injury scare in December, but avoided missing any time.
The veteran of 1,108 games is expected to help lead Team Sweden in the upcoming Olympic Games, but such could be in jeopardy with tonight’s news. The Swedes are already dealing with a shake up, as just yesterday, it became apparent that Jonas Brodin, another left-handed defender, would likely miss the Olympics along with forward Leo Carlsson.
Options such as Mattias Ekholm, Hampus Lindholm, and Simon Edvisson are thought to be replacements for Brodin if needed, and possibly, another of the trio could come along to Milan if Ekman-Larsson will miss time. Both Sweden and the Maple Leafs will hope such is not the case. Toronto is back in action on Friday, hosting Vegas.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Kevin Kurz of The Athletic shared additional details on Philadelphia Flyers forward Rodrigo Abols’ injury. The 30-year-old suffered a fractured right ankle, and according to Kurz, there is a chance he could make a return by the “final month or so of the regular season”. Abols landed on injured reserve on Sunday, with what was considered a lower-body injury, but the incident against the Rangers last Saturday appeared to be a gruesome leg injury, immediately serious. With the Flyers still in the Wild Card hunt, losing their steady fourth line center was a tough blow. 28-year-old Lane Pederson was recalled in a corresponding transaction, and figures to fill in for now. Also with Olympics implications, Abols unfortunately will not get to appear for Team Latvia next month.
- New Calgary Flames blueliner Zach Whitecloud could have a short stay in Calgary, as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period wrote that “several teams” reached out. Acquired from Vegas in Sunday’s Rasmus Andersson deal, Pagnotta emphasized Whitecloud’s very manageable $2.75MM cap hit, which runs through 2027-28. The longtime Golden Knight played 22:33 in his Calgary debut in a top pairing role, evident that he is valuable to the retooling club as a solid stop-gap capable of eating minutes. GM Craig Conroy has no reason to rush into such a move, but strong offers later in the spring may bring intrigue, especially with top prospect righty Zayne Parekh in waiting.
Canucks Activate Teddy Blueger, Reassign Arshdeep Bains
Set to host Washington tonight, the Vancouver Canucks announced that Arshdeep Bains has been reassigned to AHL Abbotsford. The transaction aligns with word that Teddy Blueger is set to return from injured reserve, as Head Coach Adam Foote told reporters today, including Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet650.
Blueger is expected to return as third line center tonight not having played since October. Listed at the time with an undisclosed injury, it was not necessarily expected back then for the 31-year-old to miss half the campaign.
A pending unrestricted free agent, Blueger has been listed as a possible trade candidate, especially considering such a thin center market. Currently last in the league by a considerable margin, things have obviously soured since the last time Blueger was in action, where his Canucks were 4-2-0 out of the gate. Now finally healthy, he may make his case for a deal to a contender.
Meanwhile, it has been an eventful last two months for Bains, as the 25-year-old cleared waivers and was sent down in December, only to be recalled on January 2 after netting six points in five AHL games. The call up corresponded with Marco Rossi’s placement on injured reserve.
Bains managed to skate in two games last week, hovering around the 10:00 mark between each, and finishing a -3 combined. Across his 28 total games on the year, the winger has five points. Undrafted, the British Columbia native figures to be organizational depth, currently in his fourth year with the Canucks, and signed through 2026-27. At the AHL level, Bains is considerably more productive, nearly reaching the point-per-game mark in the last two seasons, and helping lead Abbotsford to a Calder Cup title last year.
Mammoth Recall Cameron Hebig
Ahead of their home tilt tonight the Utah Mammoth updated that Cameron Hebig has been recalled from AHL Tucson. No corresponding transaction was made, as the club sent Kevin Rooney back down two days ago.
On his 29th birthday, no less, it’s a call up which has been years in the making for Hebig who is midway through his eighth consecutive season in the AHL, including stints in the ECHL from 2019-2021. Although he’s a depth forward for now, if Hebig is able to get into a game, it would be a great story, becoming his first NHL action after 419 games in the AHL, including six years of duty with the Roadrunners. Hebig has made his mark in Tucson, standing as the franchise’s leader for games played as well as goals.
The undrafted center has had steady production throughout the years, managing to earn a two-way deal last March, and has continued to contribute. Through 35 games this season, the 5’10” WHL alum has 33 points, his best output as a pro. Hebig ranks second in team scoring, just behind Ben McCartney, the two proving to be a formidable duo, although the Roadrunners rank 19th in the league.
Hebig is not expected to appear tonight against the Flyers, but the transaction is a well-deserved call up for a respected longtime AHLer. Signed through next season, he will hope to debut for the Mammoth at some point, enjoying a nice pay bump while at the highest level.
Evening Notes: Cirelli, Doughty, Merzlikins
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli sustained an undisclosed injury in tonight’s win over San Jose, and after the game, Head Coach Jon Cooper had no further updates, as reported by Eduardo A. Encina of The Tampa Bay Times. Cooper went on to say “we’ll see tomorrow”, but avoided more details.
Despite just one shift in the entire third period, Cirelli still recorded 13:22 of ice time, indicative of the extent of which the team has had to lean on him during Brayden Point’s absence. Impressively, the wins keep coming for the Bolts, thin not only down the middle but also on the blueline. They’ve vaulted themselves into second place in the league after tremendous play, including a franchise best-tying 11-game winning streak recently.
Tampa Bay is back at it on Friday in Chicago, and Cirelli’s status until then will be closely watched. The 28-year-old has 30 points in 44 games this season, and with a center group which is missing their #1 in Point, the Lightning have had to rely on Dominic James as a 2C, a 23-year-old in his first professional season. Already down Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh along with Point, losing Cirelli for any considerable time would be another major hurdle.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Ahead of their game against the Rangers, the Los Angeles Kings announced that Drew Doughty would not play due to illness. The stalwart had appeared in 41 of the team’s 48 games prior to tonight, and will need just two more to hit the 1,250 mark, all with his original club. With the game faster than ever, naturally it has not come so easy for Doughty, who turned 36 in December. The veteran continues to play heavy minutes, as his 22:51 average is good for most on the team, but he has just 13 points in 41 games, production not seen since his rookie campaign in 2008-09. Doughty was activated from injured reserve in early December from a leg/foot injury, and is still working to find his stride. He will look to return by Saturday against the Blues, but as for tonight, depth lefty Jacob Moverare has slotted in on the third pairing.
- Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins left tonight’s game after the first period due to illness, per the team, and did not return. The 31-year-old had allowed two goals on seven shots, leaving Jet Greaves to take over in a 2-1 game. The Jackets ended up losing 4-1 to Ottawa. Now in his seventh year with Columbus, Merzlikins has lost the crease to Greaves full time this season, as he continues to struggle to find consistency. The Latvia native has an .882 save percentage along with a 3.81 goals-against-average so far on the year, with an 8-8-1 record. Unfortunately, such numbers are more of the same over his last few seasons. Merzlikins will look to be healthy again by Thursday, as the group hosts Dallas.
Snapshots: Texier, Soucy, Dube
The Montreal Canadiens shared earlier today that Alexandre Texier is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. As expected, the forward was not in the lineup tonight against Minnesota, as Kirby Dach, activated earlier today from LTIR, is back in the fold.
It is not immediately clear where the injury came from, as Texier finished last Saturday’s win over Ottawa without apparent issue. Since coming over to Montreal in November, Texier has found new life, with 16 points in 27 games as he’s enjoying a top six role. Although still a small sample size, such production is the best in his career, as his best campaign to this point was a 30-point effort as a Blue Jacket in 2023-24. The 26-year-old could be back as soon as Thursday, as the Habs host Buffalo.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The New York Rangers will welcome back Carson Soucy tonight in Los Angeles, as Head Coach Mike Sullivan told reporters, including Peter Baugh of The Athletic. Soucy missed the team’s last two games, a win and loss split, due to personal reasons (maternity). The 31-year-old has skated in 44 games so far this season, averaging 17:18 per night in a second-pairing role. With the team on the brink of another shake-up, Soucy, a pending unrestricted free agent, has been speculated as a trade candidate at some point. In the meantime, Urho Vaakanainen is expected to drop out of the lineup for Soucy.
- Former Washington Capitals forward Pierrick Dube is headed back to North America, as first reported by Patrick Williams of TheAHL.com. Dube has signed with the Bridgeport Islanders to a standard player contract, as announced by the team. The 25-year-old left the AHL for the KHL this season, spending time with Chelyabinsk Traktor and St. Petersburg SKA, posting 16 points across 28 total games. While abroad on the two teams, Dube played alongside fellow former NHLers including Josh Leivo and Rocco Grimaldi. A Calder Cup Champion with three NHL games under his belt, Dube will join the 24th-ranked Islanders, in need of forward help. The France native is an accomplished AHL player, with a career-best 48 points in 66 games with the Hershey Bears in 2023-24.
Nashville Predators Activate Ozzy Wiesblatt From Injured Reserve
Ahead of tonight’s game against Buffalo, the Nashville Predators announced that Ozzy Wiesblatt has been activated off injured reserve. The forward had missed the team’s last 21 games due to an upper-body injury. As they reassigned Reid Schaefer to AHL Milwaukee earlier today, no corresponding transaction is required.
A first round selection of San Jose in 2020 (31st overall), Wiesblatt returns to the lineup with the Predators unexpectedly back into the playoff hunt, having found their game in the last month. With it becoming apparent that his offensive upside was not panning out with the San Jose Barracuda, Wiesblatt was loaned to the Predators’ affiliate in Milwaukee, where he caught their attention, and was subsequently traded to Nashville in exchange for Egor Afanaseyev in June 2024.
After his best season as a pro in 2024-25, where he recorded 40 points in 64 AHL contests, Wiesblatt broke through with the Predators. Since then, he’s brought energy to the team’s fourth line, a nice fit alongside tall grinders Cole Smith and Michael McCarron. Wiesblatt was actually injured by his own center in McCarron, as they collided against Florida on December 4, costing him action for the last month and a half.
Before going down, Wiesblatt notched four points in 24 games, output actually surpassed by Schaefer in his absence, but the smaller winger offers more speed and skill, while Schaefer goes back down for now.
Signed through next season, the 23-year-old could be a mainstay on the Preds’ bottom six for years to come. Despite their success without him, the Alberta native is back into the lineup tonight as the Predators continue to push for Wild Card territory.
Central Notes: Rantanen, Nichushkin, Predators
The Dallas Stars are the latest team struck by the flu, as Mikko Rantanen will not play tonight as a result of the illness, as first reported by Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas News. In a skid of late where they’ve dropped six of their last 10, including three in a row, the Stars will host the surging Bruins without their leading scorer, who has 63 points in 48 games.
Rantanen will look ahead to later in the week, as his Stars are in action Thursday and Friday, but do not play in the upcoming weekend. For now, Nathan Bastian will slot into the lineup, the 28-year-old posting three goals in 22 games this season in limited fourth line duty.
Elsewhere across the division:
- Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin also missed action for abnormal reasons; he was involved in a car accident while heading to the rink before last night’s contest, Head Coach Jared Bednar told reporters including Corey Masisak of The Denver Post. Unfortunately, Nichushkin came away with minor injuries, and is considered questionable for tomorrow against Anaheim. The Russian has continued to be a valuable secondary scorer for the Avs with 27 points in 38 games, and could return as soon as tomorrow against Anaheim. Even without him, Colorado handled business last night, defeating Washington 5-2.
- Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz told reporters, including Nick Kieser of Lower Broad Pucks, that he has yet to speak to pending unrestricted free agents Michael Bunting, Michael McCarron, and Cole Smith. All aged 30 as the Predators build for the future, Bunting especially could bring intrigue to contenders, although he has a $4.5MM cap hit. The agitating winger has continued his steady offensive output this season, on pace for 20 goals. Bunting has also stayed out of the penalty box, an improvement from previous seasons. On the other hand, McCarron and Smith are both pillars on Nashville’s fourth line, and could be candidates for reasonable extensions rather than Trotz taking limited trade returns for his towering role players.