Penguins Call Up Forward Samuel Poulin
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Samuel Poulin from the AHL (Twitter link). This move reverses Poulin’s April 2nd assignment, bringing the winger back to Pittsburgh before he could return to the AHL lineup.
Poulin is continuing to find his footing this season, after missing all of November with a high-ankle sprain and most of February with a separate lower-body injury. He played in his first three NHL games of the season in late March, recording two penalty minutes, two shots on goal, and a -1. He’s been much more effective in the minors, boasting 13 goals and 27 points in 36 games. Poulin’s 2022-23 season came to a very early close, as he took a personal leave of absence from December to April, limiting his workload to just 15 AHL games and three NHL games.
Pittsburgh is plenty confident in Poulin, taking him in the first-round of the 2019 NHL Draft. But his string of absences has so far kept him from receiving consistent ice time. He’s had a healthy streak as of late and is scoring at the highest rate of his pro career, but if that can carry into the NHL level is yet to be seen. Poulin will likely battle with Jesse Puljujarvi for a spot on the team’s fourth-line. Puljujarvi has served in a very minimal role recently, averaging roughly seven minutes of ice time over the Penguins’ last four games. He’s recorded one assist in that stretch – but Pittsburgh will need much bigger of a spark, currently three points outside of the Eastern Conference’s second Wild Card.
Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad To Miss Remaining Regular Season
The Florida Panthers will be without star defenseman Aaron Ekblad until Game One of the postseason, head coach Paul Maurice shared at the team’s Wednesday practice (Twitter link). Ekblad exited the team’s Tuesday matchup against the Montreal Canadiens after just seven minutes of ice time, leaving with an injury that’s yet to be disclosed. Whatever it is, it will hold Ekblad out of the team’s final six games – limiting his season to just 51 games, after a shoulder injury delayed his season’s start to mid-November.
Ekblad posted his lowest scoring rate since the 2016-17 season, managing just four goals and 18 points, or a 0.35 point-per-game pace. The cold performance ends Ekblad’s three-year streak of scoring double-digit goals – a streak that kicked off when he tallied 11 goals in just 35 games during the 2020-21 season.
Florida has made up for the absence of their former first-overall pick largely thanks to Gustav Forsling, who has taken over Ekblad’s role as a double-digit scorer and top-line defenseman. Forsling has 10 goals and 35 points in 73 games this season, continuing his streak of strong scoring after netting 37 and 41 points over the last two seasons respectively. He also leads the NHL in +/-, with a +47 – no doubt thanks to playing alongside Florida’s loaded top line, but also a testament to Forsling’s strong impact across the season. With stepped-up performances from Josh Mahura, Niko Mikkola, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Florida has been bale to forge a blue-line capable of playing without Ekblad – though they’ll still eagerly anticipate his return after setting a 33-18 record when Ekblad is healthy.
Devils Expected To Sign Dylan Wendt
The New Jersey Devils are expected to sign Western Michigan University’s Dylan Wendt, per Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald (Twitter link). This deal would mark New Jersey’s first venture into the NCAA since signing Luke Hughes in 2022 and Brian Halonen, Aarne Talvitie, and Tyce Thompson in 2021.
Wendt exploded onto the scene this season, ranking second on Western Michigan with 23 goals and 44 points in 38 games. It was a tremendous jump in scoring, after Wendt tallied just 25 points in 73 games as an underclassman. And it came thanks to a boost in role, with Wendt moving into Western Michigan’s top-six and top power-play unit this season. He didn’t squander the opportunity – using a strong understanding of positioning, quick hands, and the ability to make sneaky passes to emerge as a key playmaker for the Broncos. Wendt was a key set-up man for top scorers Luke Grainger and Alex Bump, and always seemed to be in the right place to bury any second-chance opportunities.
Wendt was a critical part of the 2020-21 Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he worked alongside San Jose Sharks prospect Daniil Gushchin and New York Islanders prospect Cameron Berg to lead Muskegon to the league’s semi-finals. Again, Wendt’s strong understanding of the three lanes of the ice and his strong playmaking from the wings led to high scoring, with Wendt totaling 17 goals and 45 points in 53 games, and adding four assists in four playoff games. He’ll now look to become the third player from that lineup to play pro hockey, alongside Guschin and John Farinacci.
Blue Jackets Recall Trey Fix-Wolansky On Emergency Loan
The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled forward Trey Fix-Wolansky on an emergency loan (Twitter link). Head coach Pascal Vincent shared on Wednesday that the team would recall Fix-Wolansky if Justin Danforth was still feeling under the weather. Danforth missed the team’s Wednesday practice, but skated at an optional skate on Thursday, leaving him as a game-time decision per the Columbus Dispatch’s Brian Hedger (Twitter link).
Fix-Wolansky has been a force with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, with a team-leading 24 goals and 58 points in 54 games. He has an 18-point lead on the scoring title in Cleveland and is chasing the league title, now tied for sixth in points across the AHL. It’s been a continuation of his fantastic performance from last season, when he managed 29 goals and 71 points in 61 games. In fact, Fix-Wolansky has proven effective at nearly every level – putting up 197 points across 220 career AHL games after scoring 245 points in 206 games across three years in the WHL. But he is still searching for that scoring groove at the top level, with just four points in 24 career NHL games.
Fix-Wolansky will be playing in a career-high 10th game on Thursday, rejoining the Columbus roster after a March 23rd assignment. The Blue Jackets struggled last time Fix-Wolansky was in the lineup, posting a measly 1-5-2 record and getting outscored 14-to-30. He’ll now have to compete with rookies James Malatesta and Mikael Pyyhtia for a lineup spot. Both rookies are still looking for their first NHL point, through four and 10 games respectively.
Senators Recall Jiri Smejkal
The Ottawa Senators have recalled forward Jiri Smejkal from the Belleville Senators (Twitter link). Smejkal has been between rosters all season long, rejoining the AHL on March 13th and scoring three points in the five games since.
This move now marks Smejkal’s sixth call-up of the season, an impressive feat for the first-year North American pro. Smejkal signed a one-year, $950K entry-level deal with Ottawa this summer, moving to Canada after spending nine seasons across various European pro leagues. He’s quickly slotted into the role of de facto fill-in, despite just 22 points through his first 45 AHL games. His NHL performances haven’t been any more exciting, boasting just one assist in 12 games. He’s clearly still adjusting to North America, scoring significantly less than he did in the pair of 40-point seasons he posted in the SHL and Liiga over the last two years.
Even in the absence of scoring, Smejkal has brought a stout and professional frame – standing at a sturdy 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds. Ottawa will again lean on that frame to make an impact, as Angus Crookshank joins a long list of absent forwards with an undisclosed injury. Ottawa is also missing Joshua Norris, Zack MacEwen, Matthew Highmore, and Rourke Chartier. Their absences have tested Ottawa’s depth, but Smejkal isn’t their last line of defense – with top prospects Zack Ostapchuk and Roby Jarventie still in the AHL. Both players have received a half-dozen NHL games this season but Jarventie is the only one to make the scoresheet, managing one assist. Smejkal has averaged under nine minutes of ice time this season and is likely to manage a minimal role once again. But if he isn’t sharp, he could lose time to a top AHL prospect on a Senators team well out of the playoff picture.
Hurricanes Sign Scott Morrow To Entry-Level Contract
The Carolina Hurricanes have signed top prospect Scott Morrow to a three-year, entry-level contract (Twitter link). The deal is set to begin immediately, with Morrow able to earn an $807.5K cap hit at the NHL level this season. He also has the potential to earn upwards of $277.5K in signing bonuses across the course of the deal. Morrow was set to become a free agent in August, if the Hurricanes didn’t sign him, after being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Morrow has emerged as a top collegiate defenseman over the last three seasons, spending each season with the University of Massachusetts. Playing on the blue-line, Morrow has managed 94 points in 109 games. He earned a Hobey Baker Award nomination this season and a Hockey East All-Rookie Team nod in 2022. Morrow is at his best with the puck on his stick, capable of embarrassing opponents with flashy puckmoves and great finesse-skating. He rotates around the offensive zone seamlessly, showing a great understanding of how to find and exploit openings in the defense. Skeptics have called his off-puck play into question since his draft year – and while his collegiate play hasn’t fully put those worries to rest, Morrow has proven his high-tempo offense is effective enough to mitigate any other concerns. His all-out offense matches up well with how Carolina has utilized players like Brent Burns and Brady Skjei. Morrow could get a chance to test that match soon, with his first pro deal set to start immediately and placing Morrow on Carolina’s NHL roster.
Rangers, Kalle Väisänen Agree To Entry-Level Contract
The New York Rangers have signed 2021 fourth-round draft pick Kalle Väisänen to a three-year, entry-level contract (Twitter link). Väisänen moves to the Rangers after spending the last three seasons in the Liiga, Finland’s top league, playing for TPS’ top club after growing through their youth program. He becomes the second Rangers prospect to sign his first NHL deal on Tuesday, alongside defenseman Victor Mancini.
In signing Väisänen, New York is adding yet another big-frame to an increasingly growing roster. The Finnish winger stands at 6-foot-5, 200-pounds and knows how to use it, showing a strong skating ability for his size and not shying away from physical play. He’s proven effective in the gritty areas of the ice, capable of winning battles in the low slot or corners. But Väisänen has yet to find his scoring groove at the top level, with just 24 points across 137 Liiga games. He’s proven a bit more effective when facing his peers, scoring 50 points in 45 games in Finland’s U20 league. He also managed four points in 12 World Junior Championship games, across two tournaments with Finland.
While Väisänen can certainly play physically, he’s not much of a bruiser, with his most penalized season coming in 2018-19 when a 16-year-old Väisänen managed 38 penalty minutes in 17 U16 games. That’s far from the track record of his new peers – including Matt Rempe, who already has 54 penalty minutes through his first 13 NHL games. But the Rangers have shown they know how to develop big-frames into heavy-hitting pros through players like Rempe, Adam Edstrom, and Brandon Scanlin. They’ll begin another project with Väisänen now set to join North American pros next season.
College Hockey Notes: Salminen, Graf, Sergeyev
New Jersey Devils forward prospect Samu Salminen is set to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now (Web link). Salminen has spent the last two seasons at the University of Connecticut, joining the school after six years in Jokerit’s youth program. Salminen has scored 17 points in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, playing in 27 games last year and 35 this year. He’s managed the scoring while serving in UConn’s middle six, averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time this season.
The Devils drafted Salminen in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, after a strong year with Jokerit’s U20 club. He’s praised as a smooth-moving playmaker, with the ability to fill his role in the middle lane of the ice, making an impact from slot to slot. And while he’s continued to show strong puck skills at UConn, Salminen could improve how he works into dangerous areas of the ice. He’ll look to build those skills as he adjusts to a new offense.
Salminen was originally committed to the University of Denver, swapping his commitment just a couple of months before his debut with UConn after reportedly facing challenges with Denver’s admissions. No schools have been linked to Salminen now that he’s returned to the open market, but it’s hard not to think previous connections could drive a move out West.
Other notes out of the NCAA:
- The Boston Bruins are reportedly not in on prolific winger Collin Graf, says NHL.com’s Mark Divver (Twitter link). Graf is now on the open market after a strong collegiate career, managing 130 points across 112 collegiate games. The Bruins are always popular names in NCAA free agency – already signing Drew Bavaro, Ryan Bischel, Riley Duran, and Jaxon Nelson this Spring. But they’ll stray away from leading-scorer Graf, who is receiving plenty of interest from the rest of the league – with Divver adding that Graf has narrowed his list to six teams. He’s expected to sign in the coming days.
- Top Calgary Flames goalie prospect Arsenii Sergeyev has entered the transfer portal and quickly decided on a new school – confirming a move from UConn to Pennsylvania State University through a social media post (Twitter link). Sergeyev will hope to step into Penn State’s starting role, after splitting starts in both of his seasons with UConn. He’s been fantastic in his underclassmen starts, managing 19 wins and a .913 save percentage in 35 appearances. It’s a continuation of Sergeyev’s strong USHL career, where he posted 30 wins and a .913 save percentage in 43 games. The Flames drafted Sergeyev in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft. His early return has been incredibly positive, though Calgary will hold their breath as he moves to a highly competitive Big Ten conference.
Lightning Recall Goalie Matt Tomkins On Emergency Loan
The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled goaltender Matt Tomkins on an emergency loan (Twitter link). Tomkins will fill-in for Jonas Johansson, who missed the team’s Monday game with a lower-body injury. Tampa had to utilize an emergency back-up goalie in his absence, dressing former NA3HL goalie Kyle Konin. It was the second time that Konin has suited up for an NHL team, having served as an EBUG for the St. Louis Blues in 2021.
This is Tomkins’ first call-up of the season, after making the Lightning roster out of training camp. He played in just three games through the first two months of the season, while the Lightning awaited the return of an injured Andrei Vasilevskiy. The appearances were Tomkins’ first NHL games and he performed modestly, allowing 10 goals on 90 shots (.889 save percentage) en route to one win. Tampa placed Tomkins on waivers and assigned him to the AHL in late November. He’s since rediscovered his groove, recording 15 wins and a .904 save percentage in 29 games with the Syracuse Crunch. He’s served as the team’s starting goaltender, though closely paced by Hugo Alnefelt, who has a .902 save percentage in 27 games of his own.
Tomkins returned to North America ahead of this season, after spending the last two seasons in Sweden’s SHL. He played with both Frölunda HC and Färjestad BK, managing an impressive 39 wins and .910 save percentage in a combined 65 games. The Swedish performance was a strong show of strength for Tomkins, who had previously spent four seasons bouncing between the minor leagues in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Tampa has Tomkins under contract through the end of next season, on a league-minimum $775K salary. And while call-ups like this one certainly present opportunity, it’s likely that the 29-year-old netminder continues to serve as Tampa’s de facto injury fill-in.
Rangers Sign Victor Mancini To Entry-Level Contract
The New York Rangers have announced that they’ve signed defenseman Victor Mancini to a two-year, entry-level contract (Web link). Mancini signs after his junior season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, having spent all three years of college with the Mavericks. New York originally drafted the 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenseman in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, his final season of draft eligibility.
Mancini is the son of Robert Mancini, who has served in roles across the hockey world – including a long career of NCAA coaching, three years as the general manager and head coach of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, multiple years in the Edmonton Oilers’ scout and development room, representing USA Hockey internationally, and serving as the head coach of South Africa and Romania’s World Championship team. Robert most recently served as the head coach of USA’s U17 team in 2021.
Maybe because of his father’s own journeyman career, Mancini has played across the hockey world. His youth hockey career ended with the Little Caesars program in Detroit, where he also played in a handful of games with the U.S. National Team Development Program. Rather than continue in U.S. junior hockey in the subsequent season, Mancini instead took his talents to Sweden, playing two seasons with Frölunda HC’s affiliate teams and even serving as captain of their U20 team in 2020-21. Mancini returned to America at the tail end of that season, playing in 33 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers, and moving to Nebraska in 2021-22.
Mancini, 21, is a rangy, right-shot defenseman with the powerful skating, hard passing, and vision needed to push his team up the ice. His long reach also keeps him effective on the defensive side of the puck, with Mancini doing well at keeping opponents to the outside. He served in a top role for Nebraska-Omaha this season, averaging nearly 21 minutes each game and serving on both special teams. He showed great prowess as a play-driver, though high-scoring has never been his groove – with Mancini managing just 23 points in 110 collegiate games. He’ll now move to the pro scene for the first time in his career, bolstering an already-deep Rangers defense room and returning the Mancini family back to the NHL level.