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Wild’s Tyler Pitlick, Flyers’ Adam Ginning Clear Waivers

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Dec. 1: Both Ginning and Pitlick have cleared waivers, per Friedman. Pitlick is expected to stay on Minnesota’s roster while Ginning is now eligible to return to Lehigh Valley.

Nov. 30: This afternoon, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet shared that Wild veteran Tyler Pitlick has been placed on waivers, along with Flyers defenseman Adam Ginning. 

Pitlick, 34, has been back-and-forth between the AHL and NHL so far this season, most recently being called back up two weeks ago. His status on waivers is mainly due to surpassing the 10-game threshold in the NHL, more than signifying a desire to move on. Signed to a two-year, two-way deal last summer, Pitlick provides depth since joining his hometown organization, as well as experience, as he was a regular NHLer from 2016-2022. Having cleared waivers already earlier in the season after not making the roster, it is most likely he will return to AHL Iowa, where he has scored three goals in five games, and vie for an NHL return again when needed, at a $775k cap hit. In 15 games with Minnesota so far, Pitlick has zero points, but has mixed it up with 22 penalty minutes. 

On the other hand, Ginning offers slightly more intrigue, soon to be 26, as a former second-round selection of Philadelphia in 2018. However, at this point, the 6’3” Swedish defenseman does not have much NHL upside, as he has been surpassed in the Flyers organization by Emil Andrae. This season is thought to likely be his last chance, especially under a new coach in Rick Tocchet, and with pending UFA status. Ginning has skated in five games for the Flyers so far, not recording any stats, and has one goal in 16 total NHL games.

While a team thin on the blueline could pick up Ginning for the short term, it is not likely he offers much more than their own internal options, and most likely, Ginning will rejoin AHL Lehigh Valley to continue his season.  At 11-6-1, the Phantoms would be eager to add such a player back to their lineup as a top defender. 

Injury Notes: Pesce, Jenner, Cooley

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Last night, Ryan Novozinsky of njdotcom asked Devils Head Coach Sheldon Keefe for an update on defenseman Brett Pesce. As shared by Novozinsky, while the key defenseman is progressing, he is still not close to a return, and remains considered week-to-week. 

The blueliner has now been absent for over a month after blocking a shot against the Avalanche and leaving mid-game. The initial thought was at least one month, so the update is not great, but it appears the veteran is on the right track for a return by January. While Pesce never jumps out on the stat sheet, anyone remotely familiar with his game knows his importance as a top shutdown defender. Prior to going down, he and Luke Hughes were a formidable pair, complementing each other’s games perfectly.

Impressively, New Jersey has battled through the adversity of losing Pesce, along with Jack Hughes and others, remaining atop the Metropolitan, especially thanks to a 9-1-1 home record. 21-year-old Simon Nemec has stepped up of late, being trusted with high minutes from Keefe, and starting to break through from his second-overall selection billing. However, Pesce’s absence is a major hole, and if the Devils are to hold off the Hurricanes along with the many other formidable teams in the division, they will need their steady leader back, placing their elite young defenders Hughes and Nemec back into more favorable roles. 

Elsewhere across the league:

  • Blue Jackets Head Coach Dean Evason told Jeff Svoboda, Columbus’ team reporter, that Boone Jenner is “close” to returning, but likely not tomorrow against the Devils. The captain practiced today but is being phased back gradually. Jenner landed on IR two weeks ago with an upper-body-injury, and it was thought to be longer term, so a return by early December is favorable. The 32-year-old career long Jacket has 10 points in 16 games, and while a Monday return seems out of the cards, Jenner could return on Thursday as Columbus hosts Detroit. 
  • Insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff confirmed that Utah forward Logan Cooley appears to have “dodged a bullet”, with an initial finding of a quad contusion. Although further testing will be done, it seems to confirm last night’s sentiment that a serious injury was avoided. Cooley’s knee-on-knee collision with Alexei Toropchenko immediately caught the concern of the league, as he had to be helped off the ice, earning Toropchenko a match penalty. In an update from Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Toropchenko will not face supplemental discipline for the hit. Thankfully it appears the dynamic young star Cooley, with 23 points in 26 games, will not be sidelined for long. 

Rangers Recall Spencer Martin, Assign Dylan Garand To AHL

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This morning the New York Rangers announced an organizational goaltender swap; as Spencer Martin has been called up, while Dylan Garand is headed back to AHL Hartford. The move is a natural one, as Jonathan Quick has landed on IR, with a lower-body injury sustained earlier this week. 

Martin, 30, signed to a two-year deal earlier this month after starting the season in the KHL with CSKA Moscow. The Ontario native carved out a respectable career over the last nine professional seasons between the AHL and NHL, notching 66 games in the NHL, but it appeared he had run out of opportunities and was set to finish his career abroad. Instead, after 14 games with Moscow, his KHL contract was terminated. Now, even if temporarily, Martin finds himself back in the NHL with an Original Six franchise, proving to be quite a change of events in just one month. 

On the other hand, Garand, 23, is a prospect with potential to be a legit NHL backup. Even if not the absolute highest upside, he was a nice find in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, and the Rangers are making sure to develop Garand properly. Naturally he emerges as the likely next man up whenever Quick retires, but in the meantime, the British Columbia native has yet to debut in the NHL, and the organization prefers he continues to play at the AHL level, than sit behind Igor Shesterkin. The team opted to start their star Shesterkin in a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, rather than give Garand his debut yet. 

Therefore, with Garand needing proper seasoning, and Quick approaching age 40 despite his late career resurgence, Martin is a needed buffer between the two. The hope is that Quick will return soon, with his tremendous performance so far this season, to the tune of a .944 SV% and 1.69 GAA, but at his age such injuries are unfortunately not so surprising. Martin, an AHL All Star last season, is a real asset capable of serving as a viable NHL backup, or AHL star, needing no additional development at this point in his career. 

Kyle Palmieri Exits Due To Injury

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The New York Islanders announced mid-game that forward Kyle Palmieri will not return, due to a lower body injury. Early in the second period, the veteran hit Jamie Drysdale in the corner along the boards, and as Drysdale went down, he tripped Palmieri, who immediately favored his leg in pain after going down awkwardly. 

In a remarkable effort, despite it looking serious and potentially warranting a stoppage of play, Palmieri picked up his stick and limped to the bench, sneaking up behind Emil Andrae, and catching him completely off guard, stripping the puck and setting up an Emil Heineman goal, where Palmieri rightfully earned an assist. Making it a 3-1 game, the gutsy play sparked a comeback from the Islanders, who managed to tie the game and force overtime. 

At 34, Palmieri remains from a previous era for New York, but as an assistant captain, his presence in the lineup is undeniable. So far this season he has 17 points in 24 games, continuing to produce in a top line role, and currently averaging a career high in ice time, showing the trust Patrick Roy has in the local native. 

Noteworthy is Palmieri’s current consecutive games played streak, 223, good for 19th-best among active players, which is now in jeopardy. With New York having a strong start to the season, they’re already missing Alexander Romanov for several months, and J.G. Pageau is week-to-week. Therefore, updates on Palmieri will be closely watched in the next 24 hours. The Islanders are back in action on Sunday afternoon, hosting the Capitals. 

Afternoon Notes: Nylander Out, Domi Scratched, Schaefer

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This afternoon, Mark Masters of TSN shared that Maple Leafs star William Nylander will not play due to illness. Nylander was absent from practice yesterday in what was considered a maintenance day, but the Leafs will have to take on Washington without him, and hope for a return tomorrow versus Pittsburgh. 

Notably, even with the open spot, Max Domi will be a healthy scratch. It has not been a fun year so far for the 30-year-old, who has experienced a gradual decline in production from a strong first season with his hometown club. In 23 games this season Domi has just six points, is a -13, and is starting to face an uncertain future with the Leafs. Despite being signed until 2027-28 at a $3.75MM cap hit, it is his first healthy scratch as a Maple Leaf, with potentially more on the horizon. 

Winger Mattias Maccelli will re-enter the lineup today, after he was scratched on Wednesday. 

Elsewhere across the league:

  • The Nashville Predators recalled forward prospect Reid Schaefer from AHL Milwaukee, and the 22-year-old is expected to make his NHL debut tonight in Chicago. Schaefer, a 2022 first round selection of his hometown Edmonton Oilers, before being traded to Nashville in the Mattias Ekholm deal, has been a top performer for Milwaukee with 14 points in 15 games. Despite the first round pedigree, and current output, Schaefer likely has a third line ceiling. Nashville hopes their prospect can pan out in a Lawson Crouse-type mold, but at the least, the 6’4” forward could become a fixture in the Predators’ new era in a bottom six role.

Red Wings Activate Michael Rasmussen, Reassign Erik Gustafsson to AHL

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Earlier today before their matinee game versus Tampa Bay, the Detroit Red Wings updated that forward Michael Rasmussen was activated from injured reserve, while defenseman Erik Gustafsson was sent back down to Grand Rapids (AHL). 

Rasmussen was placed on IR just two days ago, having missed three games before his return today. The former high draft pick has managed to establish himself as a solid bottom six forward capable of reaching the 30-point mark, earning himself a four-year extension worth $3.2MM per year. Since inking the deal in 2024, the British Columbia native has not performed at such a level, with only seven points in 20 games this year, but still just 26, he figures to be a useful depth forward capable of filling roles across the lineup for the near future. Sure enough, Rasmussen found the back of the net today, although the Wings fell to Tampa Bay, 6-3. 

On the other hand, Gustafsson’s fall from grace has been well documented to this point, once a 60-point getter, and in more recent years still a valuable powerplay specialist. Now at 33, in the final year of his two-year contract worth $2MM at the NHL level, Gustafsson’s NHL days are likely numbered as he has been surpassed by the Wings’ many talented young blueliners. The veteran appears to be a quick call-up for Detroit when needed, but otherwise is set to spend most of the season with the Griffins. Having a player as capable as Gustafsson in the AHL is certainly beneficial, as the Grand Rapids boasts a remarkable 14-1-1 record to-date, and the Swedish defenseman will likely continue elite AHL production, as he has eight points in 10 games. 

With December approaching, the Red Wings remain in the Wild Card mix, but as losers of three in a row, and another decisive loss today, Rasmussen will need to help drive Todd McLellan’s bottom six with possible reinforcements on the way as Steve Yzerman tries to end the team’s nine year playoff drought. 

Lukáš Dostál Out Two To Three Weeks

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Prior to this afternoon’s tilt vs Los Angeles, the Anaheim Ducks announced that goaltender Lukáš Dostál will miss two to three weeks due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old’s ailment led to the recall of Ville Husso on Wednesday, and now the upstart Ducks, currently atop the Pacific Division, must move forward without their #1 goalie, who has played a big part in their resurgence so far this season. 

Without Dostál, the team turns primarily to Petr Mrázek, a highly experienced backup, but in six games so far as a Duck, the 33-year-old has not been great, at least up to Anaheim’s current standards, posting a 3-3 record and a 3.69 GAA. In their first game without Dostál earlier this week, Mrázek allowed four goals in a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Canucks. 

On the other hand, Husso played well in a small sample size when called upon last season, with a .925 save percentage. The once more-promising goaltender was, interestingly, signed to a two-year extension worth $2.2MM per season, highly unusual for a third goalie set to play in the AHL, but now is the time for the Finn to prove his value to the organization. Whether necessary or not, any team with a third netminder having a pedigree such as Husso’s is impressive and needed in times such as this. 

Sure enough, Husso is set to start today, thrown into action for his first NHL appearance since last April.

As Anaheim has exceeded expectations so far this season despite unfavorable defensive metrics, losing Dostál, an emerging young star, is a real test to see how sustainable their success under Joel Quenneville can be. After the tough news, the team is right back into action this afternoon against their in-state rivals, and it will be up to Mrázek and Husso, two familiar names, to backstop the team as 2025 winds down. 

Injury Notes: Roslovic, Hartman, Foegele

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Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch shared several updates, as reported by Jason Gregor of Sports 1440; most notably, Jack Roslovic is set to miss multiple weeks. Kasperi Kapanen will be out at least one week, possibly longer, and Jake Walman is making progress, in time for a possible return next week. 

Just yesterday it was thought that Roslovic could be just questionable for Saturday’s game, so the week-to-week diagnosis is a surprise. The forward has been a tremendous fit in Edmonton, with 10 goals and 18 points in 23 games, and will be sorely missed as the team faces mounting pressure to get on track. 21-year-old Matthew Savoie will have an opportunity to step up offensively, as the Oilers will desperately fight for a strong December. Roslovic left last Tuesday against Dallas after blocking a shot. 

Meanwhile, Kapanen was back in practice yesterday after a five-week absence, but appeared to re-aggravate the injury, and was visibly frustrated leaving the ice. Walman has been out since November 20th, avoiding the IR, and will be eager to return to the lineup to prove his worth after inking a major long-term extension in October. 

Elsewhere across the league:

  • Ahead of their hosting of Colorado this afternoon, the Minnesota Wild announced that Ryan Hartman has been activated from injured reserve, and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel has been reassigned to AHL Iowa in a corresponding move. Hartman, thought to be week-to-week with a lower-body injury earlier in the month, is a welcome addition especially with Marcus Foligno set to miss time. Hartman, 31, has seven points in 20 games, a far cry from his 34-goal output four years ago, but the South Carolina native remains a solid third line center for the club. Meanwhile, Aubé-Kubel was called up just yesterday, but is headed back to Iowa without yet appearing for Minnesota this season. 
  • Zach Dooley, Manager of Editorial Content for the Los Angeles Kings, shared that forward Warren Foegele will not play this afternoon in Anaheim. Foegele, a fixture of the Kings’ bottom six, left practice yesterday with an apparent injury. The 29-year-old has four goals in 18 games this year, after setting a career high 24 in his first season with the black and silver in 2024-25. In his absence, fellow 29-year-old Jeff Malott enters the lineup, bringing major size and physicality in a fourth line role. 

Lightning Re-Assign Maxim Groshev to AHL

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The Tampa Bay Lightning announced this afternoon that defenseman Maxim Groshev is being sent back to the AHL Syracuse Crunch. The 23-year-old was called up three days ago due to Erik Černák’s week-to-week injury, but he was unable to draw into the lineup, and is set to continue his development in the AHL. 

Along with Černák’s injury, the Bolts also are missing Ryan McDonagh and Victor Hedman, their defense corps ravaged for the time being. Darren Raddysh and J.J. Moser have had to step up and play big minutes. After a slower start to the season, the injuries to their blue line could have sunk the team, but impressively, the opposite has happened. Tampa Bay has won five in a row, and eight of their last 10, a sign of the franchise’s endless resilience and sustained success. 

Groshev, interestingly, has made the rare professional transition from a forward to a defenseman, which occurred late last season in the AHL. Drafted in the third round back in 2020, the Russian spent time in the KHL before coming over in 2023-24, playing for Syracuse ever since. At 6’2” Groshev never showcased enough offense as a forward to suggest a next step into the NHL, but has looked comfortable on the back end so far this season, with six points in 17 games with the Crunch. 

Although Jon Cooper has opted for Steven Santini and Declan Carlile for now, Groshev will be especially motivated to earn his way back to an NHL debut this season, as his contract expires this summer. 

Montreal Canadiens Claim Sammy Blais

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Sammy Blais is headed back to Montreal, as insider Elliotte Friedman has shared that the Canadiens claimed the forward this afternoon. 

The 29-year-old forward, signed to a one-year deal with the Habs last July, was lost on waivers to Toronto in October, before finding himself back on the wire yesterday. Given the current injuries affecting their forward corps, Blais provides needed depth, and perhaps the Quebec native will appear with Montreal at some point after all, although for now he will join AHL Laval. 

GM Kent Hughes picks up Blais’ manageable one-year contract worth $775k at the NHL level. Marco D’Amico of Research Ground Media updated that the Canadiens were the only team to submit such a claim, meaning they can send Blais directly to the AHL without waiver clearance. Blais will likely finish 2025-26 with the Canadiens organization, one way or another. 

Although becoming a bit of a journeyman, Blais has carved out a very respectable career for a former sixth-round pick (2014). After winning a Stanley Cup with St. Louis, the forward was eventually a key piece sent to New York in the Pavel Buchnevich trade. Blais suffered a torn ACL 14 games into his Rangers tenure, an injury which certainly changed the trajectory of his career. Although he returned in the 2022-23 season, Blais had just five assists and no goals in 40 games, landing in the AHL, and eventually returning to the Blues as a spare part in the Vladimir Tarasenko deal.

Clearly more comfortable back with his original team, Blais had a resurgence, with 20 points in 31 games to conclude 2022-23, which also earned an extension. However, he did not maintain such performance in 2023-24, and landed in the AHL last year. Blais helped lead the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup title, catching the attention of Montreal last summer who took a flyer on the 29-year-old. Unable to make the team, Blais rejoined his former coach Craig Berube in October as a depth option for Toronto. After posting three points in eight games, the Leafs are set to welcome back Auston Matthews and Nicholas Roy from IR. Blais became expendable, and now, finds himself back where he started the season.

With Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and Patrik Laine all missing time, Montreal has had to call upon the likes of Florian Xhekaj and Jared Davidson to fill in. Although both have been respectable players in the AHL, and the team has continued to win games, adding a familiar face with 265 games of NHL experience from their rivals appealed to the club.

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