Minor Transactions: 01/07/24
It’s another busy day across the world of professional hockey, with four NHL games. Outside the NHL, the schedule is jam-packed with contests in the CHL and the various European professional leagues. Just as the schedule is packed with games, the transaction wire has had quite a bit of player movement activity. As always, we’ll keep track of those moves here.
- The AHL’s Rochester Americans have announced a procedural move that will allow defenseman Nicolas Savoie to pursue educational opportunities rather than continue with the team playing pro hockey. The 21-year-old defenseman is set to play for the University of New Brunswick in the Canadian university hockey circuit, according to CBC Sports’ Ben Steiner. Savoie is an undrafted left-shot blueliner who emerged as a strong QMJHL defenseman for the Quebec Ramparts in 2021-22. He scored at least 44 points in each of his last two seasons playing junior hockey, and took home a Memorial Cup with Quebec to cap off his QMJHL career. He played in 21 ECHL games for the Jacksonville Icemen and three AHL contests in Rochester, and will now head to University before potentially trying his hand at the pro game once again.
- Former Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael McNiven was released by the ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates today, ending a tenure with the team that began in early December. The former CHL goalie of the year was traded from the Wheeling Nailers to Savannah after posting an .859 save percentage with the Nailers. He didn’t do much better in Savannah (0-3-1 with an .899) and will now have to look elsewhere to continue his career. He does have a strong pro campaign on his resume, though, from 2018-19 when he put up a .902 save percentage in 30 games for the AHL’s Laval Rocket.
- 29-year-old Ross Olsson‘s time with the Worcester Railers has ended after one game played. The six-foot-four forward, who captained the Orlando Solar Bears last season, was released by the ECHL club today. He signed with the team yesterday and played in their loss that same day before now receiving his release. Olsson is currently working in an off-ice role at a nearby school, so he seemingly was signed for fill-in duty for that single game as the Railers were likely in need of a capable player to fill in for that short period. Olsson has been a quality ECHLer in his time in the league, scoring 28 goals and 47 points last season.
- The ECHL’s Maine Mariners have lost their second-leading scorer, Reid Stefanson, to Europe. The 26-year-old has signed with the ICEHL’s Vienna Capitals, according to a team announcement. Stefanson had a strong first campaign in pro hockey last year, as the UMass-Lowell product scored 22 goals and 47 points. He has 22 points in 22 games so far this season and will now begin his career in Europe in the Austrian capital.
- The ICEHL’s HC Bolzano have swapped goalies, releasing former NHLer Niklas Svedberg and signing 25-year-old Samuel Harvey. The 34-year-old Svedberg joined Bolzano this past summer but struggled through 24 games with the club, putting up an .895 save percentage. Bolzano is a club with high expectations after losing in the ICEHL’s finals last season, so they’ve turned to Harvey. Harvey played for Bolzano last season and was stellar, posting a .922 in 22 games. He led them in the playoffs as well, which earned him a shot in Liiga with Lukko Rauma. Now after 20 games in Liiga the former QMJHL star has elected to return to Italy where he’ll look to go on another deep playoff run with the Foxes.
This page may be updated throughout the day.
Latest On Vancouver Canucks Trade Deadline Strategy
Arguably the biggest surprise of this season has been the stunning success of the Vancouver Canucks. A team that once looked to be in a dire situation just a year ago is now 25-11-3, tied for fourth in the NHL in points.
The team’s pillars at each key position (forward, defenseman, goaltender) are playing to the absolute peak of their capabilities, with Quinn Hughes and Thatcher Demko each a candidate for the Norris and Vezina trophies, respectively. Center Elias Pettersson could very well be a candidate for the Hart Trophy as well, if the race for that award did not already figure to be a two-horse race between Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov.
The Canucks are in a position where they can legitimately consider treating 2023-24 as a “Stanley Cup or bust” sort of win-now campaign. The Athletic’s Thomas Drance wrote as much in a recent piece, positing that since “uncertainty looms beyond this year” regarding the futures of Petterson, Filip Hronek, other blueliners, and J.T. Miller, the Canucks could reasonably consider behaving like a true Stanley Cup contender at this year’s trade deadline. (subscription link)
If that ends up being the case, the Canucks have numerous trade possibilities in front of them. The team has already bolstered its defense with the acquisition of Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames, but it may not stop there. Drance specifically names Nashville Predator Dante Fabbro and former Canuck Chris Tanev as two of the team’s potential trade targets, with the two right-shot blueliners likely to replace either Noah Juulsen or Tyler Myers in the team’s regular lineup if acquired.
But while defense is an area that the Canucks might stand to improve, Drance writes that “a top-six forward is seen as an area of greater need” for Vancouver. Up front, much of the conversations regarding what the Canucks might do centers around forward Andrei Kuzmenko.
Although the 27-year-old had a stellar rookie season with 39 goals and 74 points in 2022-23, he’s lost his spot next to Pettersson this season and has been at times a healthy scratch.
While he’s still managed 19 points in 33 games and does factor in on the power play when in the lineup, head coach Rick Tocchet’s demands of his players away from the puck has led to Kuzmenko’s overall role eroding.
For what it’s worth, Drance notes that Kuzmenko’s agent, Dan Milstein, told The Athletic that “he and his client remain committed to making it work for Kuzmenko in Vancouver.” But although this isn’t a situation where a player is responding negatively to a reduced role and is seeking an exit, an exit could still very well be in store.
Moving Kuzmenko could clear as much as $5.5MM off of the Canucks’ books, which would open up significant new avenues for external additions. NHL teams are making calls on Kuzmenko’s availability, according to Drance, and one team reportedly is reportedly “showing real interest” in acquiring the Russian forward. His will be a name to look out for among fans of clubs in need of skilled additions up front.
In terms of who the Canucks could potentially acquire, Drance names two specific forward trade targets as he did on defense: Pittsburgh Penguins star Jake Guentzel and Buffalo Sabres winger Jordan Greenway. Guentzel, who the Canucks’ front office has familiarity with from their time in Pittsburgh, would be an absolutely massive addition. The pending unrestricted free agent would likely only be moved if its clear the Penguins are out of the playoff hunt by the deadline, and if he’s available he’d likely be the top name on the trade market. He’s scored 18 goals and 43 points this season and has two 40-goal seasons on his resume.
As for Greenway, the 26-year-old was traded to Buffalo just last season. The big six-foot-six power forward would add some size and snarl to the Canucks’ forward corps, something the team does not have in abundance. His acquisition cost would likely be far less steep than Guentzel’s, though he does come with an additional year on his contract at a $3MM cap hit.
Regardless of which particular player the Canucks ultimately target in earnest, one thing is clear: Vancouver is unlikely to sit this deadline out. They’re a team whose stellar form so far this season has inspired legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations, and with dreams of a championship come dreams of the game-changing deadline acquisition that pushes a team over the top.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Injury Updates: Sandin Pellikka, Bennett, Ovechkin
Axel Sandin Pellikka, one of the Detroit Red Wings’ top prospects, played the gold medal game of the recent IIHF World Junior Championship through an injury. Additionally, Sandin Pellikka will at the very least miss this full next week as he awaits further information on the injury, which could have a “longer recovery period” according to Swedish outlet Sportbladet.
Although Sandin Pellikka couldn’t quite manage to lead Sweden to the gold medal, he nonetheless had an extremely strong tournament with six points in seven games. He’s played club hockey this year for Skellefteå AIK, one of the SHL’s better teams. Playing as the team’s number-two defenseman, Sandin Pellikka has had a strong start to the season with nine goals and 13 points in 25 games.
Some other injury notes from around the NHL:
- Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett sustained an upper-body injury, according to head coach Paul Maurice. (via AP’s Colby Guy) Maurice added that they’re “not too concerned” about the injury, indicating that it’s likely his injury will not keep him out for much longer than a day-to-day timeline. Bennett is currently slotted in as the Panthers’ second-line center in between Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe, and he has scored seven goals and 14 points in 27 games this season.
- The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber reports that Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is a game-time decision for today’s contest against the Los Angeles Kings. Ovechkin played in the Capitals’ most recent game but was held out of yesterday’s practice as a maintenance day. Ovechkin’s absence would leave a hole on the Capitals’ first line to be filled, with healthy scratch Matthew Phillips potentially taking up his role next to Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson.
Columbus Blue Jackets Reassign Jake Christiansen
The Columbus Blue Jackets have reassigned defenseman Jake Christiansen to their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.
With defenseman Adam Boqvist cleared to return to the ice tomorrow for the team’s game against the Minnesota Wild, Christiansen no longer has his spot on the team’s NHL roster. He got into three total games in his most recent stretch in the NHL, and he registered one assist.
The 24-year-old undrafted WHL product has developed nicely since his rookie AHL campaign with Cleveland. He has a career-high of 45 points and has so far managed 22 points in 28 games this season. That production ranks him inside the top-10 in scoring by a defenseman in the AHL so far in 2023-24, and over the past few years, he has made it clear that he is a high-end offensive defenseman at the AHL level.
In the NHL, Christiansen has largely played in a sheltered role. With this reassignment, he’ll return to the top end of Cleveland’s lineup, while the Blue Jackets will shift focus to Boqvist. Boqvist, 23, has played in 13 games this season and has scored three points.
Minnesota Wild Reassign Sammy Walker, Recall Adam Raška
The Minnesota Wild have reassigned forward Sammy Walker to their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. In a corresponding move, they have recalled forward Adam Raška to fill his spot on their NHL roster.
Walker featured in the Wild’s game yesterday, but after the team lost a difficult 4-1 decision the Wild have opted to swap fourth-line wingers. Walker played alongside Jake Lucchini and Connor Dewar, but the line did not have a great game.
In four NHL games this season, Walker has not yet registered a point and has a minus-three rating. He’s been solid in the AHL though with 19 points in 28 games for the Iowa Wild. The former University of Minnesota star has been like that ever since beginning his pro career in 2022-23: a strong AHL performer who struggles to make the same kind of impact against NHL competition.
Replacing him on the roster is Raška, a 22-year-old former depth forward in the San Jose Sharks organization. He’s played in eight career NHL games and doesn’t yet have his first NHL point. The five-foot-ten Czech forward has struggled to put together offense at the AHL level, with a career high of 14 points there.
But despite his size he does play a relentless, physical game and already has 61 penalty minutes in 20 games this season. Seeing as Minnesota’s fourth line already has some offensively-oriented players in Lucchini and Dewar, swapping out Walker for Raška gives the Wild a touch of physicality and aggression on that trio.
Zach Sanford Placed On Waivers
The Arizona Coyotes have placed forward Zach Sanford on waivers, according to PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan.
The 29-year-old veteran winger played in has played in 316 career NHL games. He won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues and has a career-high of 16 goals and 30 points. He’s bounced around a bit over the last few years, and is now set to be available to all 31 other teams, at just an $800k cap hit.
Sanford was originally recalled in December and skated in 11 games for the Coyotes, including yesterday’s loss ot the New York Islanders. He has played in a fourth-line capacity, and has scored two points to go alongside eight blocked shots and four hits. He has averaged 9:15 time-on-ice per game this season, but has not skated on any special teams units.
Now, with today’s waiver placement, he’ll be available in case any other NHL team needs a plug-and-play winger who can handle fourth-line minutes in the NHL.
Injury Updates: Kakko, Zuccarello, Brodin, Foligno
New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko joined the team’s skate this morning in a red no-contact jersey, according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple. This is believed to be the first instance of Kakko at Rangers practice since the forward suffered a leg injury in November.
While Kakko is likely still a decent way off from a full-on return to the Rangers, this is undeniably encouraging news. The 22-year-old’s injury has left the Rangers thinner at their right wing position compared to just about any other position on their roster, and despite his slow start to the year, Kakko had a career year last season with 18 goals and 40 points.
Some other injury updates from across the NHL:
- Minnesota Wild forward Mats Zuccarello continues to skate as he pursues a return to the ice, and The Athletic’s Joe Smith reports that Zuccarello could return before the Wild make their trip to Tampa to play the Lightning in the middle of January. Zuccarello has been out since December 16th and has 28 points in 28 games this season.
- Smith also relayed an update on defenseman Jonas Brodin, who has been out since December 8th due to injury. A key defensive defenseman for Minnesota, Brodin skated for the first time since his injury and could be inching closer to a full return. He’s averaging just under 24 minutes of ice time per game this season, including three minutes short-handed.
- Marcus Foligno was classified as a game-time decision for the Wild’s January 2nd contest due to a lingering undisclosed injury, but now The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that he’s considered out on a day-to-day timeline. Foligno, 32, is a respected defensive forward and the Wild benefit when he’s on the ice rather than off it, especially considering his $3.1MM cap hit is even more meaningful due to the Wild’s existing cap constraints.
Vegas Golden Knights Claim Tobias Björnfot
The Vegas Golden Knights have claimed blueliner Tobias Björnfot off of waivers, the team has announced. In addition, forward Grigori Denisenko and defenseman Lukas Cormier have been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.
This claim of Björnfot ends the defenseman’s time in Los Angeles, at least for the time being. The Kings will have the chance to re-claim Björnfot should he find himself on waivers again this season (just as the Ottawa Senators claimed Lassi Thomson earlier this season after he was originally nabbed by the Anaheim Ducks) but for now he’s off to Nevada.
The 22-year-old was selected 22nd overall by the Kings in 2019, and although he made a name for himself in North America rather quickly, his development never quite took off. The six-foot-one Swedish blueliner plays a solid defensive game and is capable of logging heavy minutes at the AHL level. He’s been more of a bottom-pairing defenseman at the NHL level,
Since Vegas is currently dealing with quite a few injuries to their defense, Björnfot figures to slot into the team’s seventh defenseman role.
The recalls of Cormier and Denisenko place both players in a position to potentially make their Golden Knights debuts. Denisenko, 23, was a waiver claim by Vegas earlier this season and already has 26 games on his NHL resume, exclusively coming during his time with the Florida Panthers. He’s done really well in the AHL so far this season, leading Henderson in scoring with 30 points in 31 games.
As for Cormier, the 21-year-old 2020 third-round pick hasn’t yet played in the NHL. He had a solid start to his pro career last season when he registered 35 points in his rookie AHL campaign, and he’s followed that up with a healthy 12 points in 27 games this season.
Matt Nieto Out Six To Eight Weeks After Knee Surgery
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that forward Matt Nieto underwent successful laparoscopic surgery on his right knee, and is expected to be out of commission on a six to eight-week timeline.
Nieto, 31, has not played since November 30th. Initially, the timeline for his injury was not fully clear, but the Penguins’ eventual placement of Nieto on injured reserve was seen by some as an indication that he’d be out for a more substantial duration of time.
When healthy, Nieto is a key defensive specialist in the Penguins’ forward lineup. Signed as part of the team’s offseason overhaul of its bottom six, Nieto averages nearly two and a half minutes per game on the penalty kill. That ranks him among the most heavily utilized forwards in Pittsburgh when the opponent is on the man advantage.
His work there has helped Pittsburgh’s short-handed units rank 10th in the NHL in kill rate, which to this point is an improvement over last season’s 16th-place finish. Now they’ll need to rely on other players in Nieto’s absence, though they’ve had the past month to get acquainted with how to manage that and have been decently successful, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
Matt Benning Undergoes Hip Surgery, Out For Season
The San Jose Sharks have announced that defenseman Matt Benning has undergone successful hip surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the 2023-24 season. Benning’s estimated recovery time is about five months, meaning he’s anticipated to be ready in time for the Sharks’ training camp later in 2024.
Benning had not played since December 3rd, and no firm indication of a return timeline was ever given out in that span. This is a difficult development for both the Sharks and Benning. Seeing as Benning is under contract at $1.25MM through 2025-26, this injury does not pose a serious risk to Benning’s financial future, as he’s already secured a long-term deal as a free agent. That being said, this injury deals a blow to Benning’s personal goals for the 2023-24 campaign.
When healthy, Benning plays as the Sharks’ number-four defenseman, averaging 18:28 time-on-ice per game. He’s also a leading penalty killer for the club, averaging nearly three minutes of ice time short-handed per game.
In Benning’s absence, the Sharks have leaned more heavily on 23-year-old Ty Emberson, who they claimed off of waivers from the New York Rangers. He doesn’t offer the experience Benning does, but his play has begun to seriously improve in this most recent stretch of games, including in each of the team’s last three games, where Emberson has cleared 20 minutes of ice time with ease.