Lightning Waive Matt Tomkins, Prepared To Activate Andrei Vasilevskiy
11/24: CapFriendly is reporting that Tomkins has successfully cleared waivers and has been assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. Also, the Lightning will activate Vasilevskiy from LTIR, which effectively eliminates all salary cap space for the Lightning for the 2023-24 season.
11/23: The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed goaltender Matt Tomkins on waivers, which is the last logistical step needed to make room for Andrei Vasilevskiy‘s return. Vasilevskiy participated in team practices last week and head coach Jon Cooper said there was a “really good chance” that he plays on the team’s upcoming three-game road trip.
This is huge news, as the 9-6-5 Lightning – who currently sit in 10th-place league-wide – will now add a former Vezina Trophy winner back into their lineup. Vasilevskiy has been no short of tremendous in the NHL, recording a save percentage higher than .910 in all nine seasons of his career. This includes the .915 he set in 60 games last season. To add to it, only Juuse Saros and Connor Hellebuyck appeared in more games for their squads between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, speaking to the reliability that Vasilevskiy has added in recent years.
Tomkins managed to slot into three NHL games in Vasilevskiy’s absence, going 1-2-0 and recording a .889 save percentage. They were the first three NHL games for the former seventh-round pick, who has had a journeyman career since hearing his name in the 2012 NHL Draft. Tomkins was drafted out of the AJHL and played four years at The Ohio State University after his juniors career. He turned pro in the 2017-18 season and bounced between the ECHL and AHL, before moving to the SHL, Sweden’s top league, for the last two years. Tomkins performed admirably in the SHL, recording a .908 in 33 games in his first season in the league and a .911 in 32 games last year.
With teams like the Edmonton Oilers, and the injury-prone Carolina Hurricanes, currently facing questions about their goaltenders, there’s no guaranteeing that Tomkins will make it to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
Snapshots: Oilers, Corey Perry, Penguins Injuries
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug recently provided an inside look at the Edmonton Oilers’ trade market, reporting that the team is willing to move any prospects, roster players, or draft picks – the only untouchables are their first-round pick, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McDavid. Rishaug adds that other teams are undoubtedly aware of Edmonton’s dire situation, giving them a disadvantage in trade negotiations.
It’s no surprise to hear that Edmonton is open to dealing anything if it means an improvement to what they have right now. The Oilers are currently on a three-game losing streak, most recently falling 6-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes. They are 2-3-0 under new head coach Kris Knoblauch, who took over on November 12th after Jay Woodcroft led the team to a 3-9-1 start.
This is despite the team boasting six different players with 14 or more points through their first 18 games, including three players scoring at a point-per-game pace or better. But they’re also icing four forwards with three or fewer points, including Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark, who have both failed to appear on the scoresheet. The scoring inconsistency is coupled with abysmal goaltending. All three goaltenders that Edmonton has iced this year carry a save percentage below .900, with current starter Stuart Skinner boasting a .865 through 13 games.
Goaltending and depth scoring will be new major pieces to address as Edmonton gears up for trades.
Other notes from around the league:
- Corey Perry is mysteriously missing from the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday practice, after serving as a surprise healthy scratch on Wednesday for, “organizational decisions”, as put by The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus. Fellow alternate captain, Nick Foligno, told Lazerus that the players aren’t sure what the situation is, and head coach Luke Richardson declined to comment further. Perry has nine points in his first 16 games with the Blackhawks organization, joining via trade this summer.
- Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan shared that all of the team’s injured players are progressing as expected, and that top winger Bryan Rust is still considered day-to-day. Pittsburgh has been battered and bruised this year, currently facing injuries to Rust, Rickard Rakell, Chad Ruhwedel, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, and Will Butcher.
Maple Leafs Recall Bobby McMann, Simon Benoit
Nov. 22: The Maple Leafs brought both McMann and Benoit back to the NHL roster Thursday night, according to CapFriendly. Timmins will likely be activated off LTIR in a corresponding transaction.
Nov. 21: The Toronto Maple Leafs assigned Bobby McMann and Simon Benoit to the AHL on Monday. Both players had been with the club through much of November, with Benoit being recalled on November 4th and McMann joining the team on November 11th. Benoit appeared in five games during his recall, while McMann slotted into three.
McMann was the only one of the pair to score any points during his action, netting two assists in the few games he received. The scoring brings his career totals up to three points in 13 games, although McMann is still looking for his first NHL goal. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Leafs after the conclusion of Colgate University’s 2019-20 season. He joined the ECHL’s Witchita Thunder for the shortened 2020-21 season, before climbing his way into the AHL and ultimately earning his NHL debut by 2022-23. The 27-year-old centerman has also appeared in six AHL games this season, netting three points, six penalty minutes, and a -3.
Benoit was also signed as an undrafted free agent, joining the Anaheim Ducks as a training camp invite ahead of the 2018-19 season and signing with the Leafs as a UFA this summer. He’s spent the bulk of the last two seasons in the NHL, playing in 78 games last season and 53 games the year before. He managed 10 points last season, setting a career-high in scoring, but also recorded a -29, a career-low. In addition to his five games with the Maple Leafs, he’s also played two games in the AHL this season, going without a point and a -2.
This move opens up just enough space for the Leafs to activate Conor Timmins off of injured reserve, if they feel he’s healthy.
Morning Notes: Blue Jackets, Hoglander, Foote and Halonen
The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline recently sat down with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ President of Hockey Operations, John Davidson, to discuss the team’s early season woes. But despite the nine-game losing streak, which has seen Johnny Gaudreau get benched and Patrik Laine get scratched, Davidson says no rash changes are inbound for the Blue Jackets. “Woe is me does not work. It’s an emotional game, a hard game,” Davidson told Portzline, “but we need the improvements we’re seeing with some of our younger players — Alexandre Texier, Kirill Marchenko, Adam Fantilli, these guys — to continue, and we need our best players to start playing like they’re capable of playing.”
Davidson went on to support the hard decisions being made by first-time NHL head coach Pascal Vincent, who has benched and scratched players at will through his first two months on the job. Davidson said, “Coach is the coach. Coach works tightly with Jarmo. They discuss things daily, and Jarmo fills me in. The bold moves that Pazzy has made … you have to make bold moves sometimes.”
The topic of Columbus’ slide was also discussed by Elliotte Friedman in the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast. Friedman disagreed with the decision to scratch Laine but did speak optimism about the impact that significant struggles can have on a young star like Fantilli, calling back to his days covering former NBA rookie of the year Damon Stoudamire. The 32 Thoughts team closed the conversation by acknowledging that, while no rash decisions were inbound, heavy losing can still weigh on the team’s veterans. Columbus will be looking to avoid their 10th loss in a row on Wednesday. If they can’t, they could change their tune on what decisions are looming.
Other morning notes:
- The Department of Player Safety will be reviewing a slewfoot from Vancouver’s Nils Hoglander and some form of discipline is expected. Hoglander was kicked out of the team’s Monday night matchup against the San Jose Sharks after tripping Kevin Labanc in front of the team’s bench. Whether he will be receiving a fine, or a suspension, for the incident is the looming question. Hoglander has no prior history with the DOPS.
- Utica Comets head coach Kevin Dineen shared that Nolan Foote and Brian Halonen are going to continue missing time and that the team is hoping to have a clearer timetable around American Thanksgiving. Neither player has made an appearance in the 2023-24 season so far.
Snapshots: Oilers, Nylander, Three Stars
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman spoke about the Edmonton Oilers goaltending situation on the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, sharing that the team is in search for a new netminder with Jack Campbell struggling in the AHL. Specifically, Friedman reported that the Oilers recently got a good look at the three goalies with the Montreal Canadiens and could be interested in acquiring either Cayden Primeau or Sam Montembeault.
Montembeault has yet to sign his anticipated contract extension with the Canadiens, and Friedman adds that this extension could be a barrier for Montreal in any trade talks. The 27-year-old goaltender is in his third season with Montreal, joining the team via waivers ahead of the 2021-22 season. He’s performed well for the team since, recording a .908 save percentage through eight games this season and a .901 save percentage in 40 games last year. Edmonton is looking for a goaltender to support sophomore Stuart Skinner, rather than finding one to replace him, per Friedman. Montembeault could be a budget-friendly option if Montreal is willing to part with him.
Other notes from around the league:
- The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun has shared that the Toronto Maple Leafs are being deliberately tight-lipped about star winger William Nylander‘s looming contract extension, but that both sides remain committed to finding a deal before he hits free agency. One exec that LeBrun spoke with compared the negotiations to David Pastrnak‘s extension negotiations, and another estimated that the winger could make $10.5 to $11 million on his next deal. Nylander recently forced his way into the spotlight again by scoring five points in Toronto’s pair of Global Series matchups.
- The NHL has announced its Three Stars of the Week, with Sidney Crosby taking Third Star, Nylander winning Second Star, and Cale Makar being awarded First Star. Crosby won on the back of a five goal, seven point performance through four games this week; Nylander’s Global Series performance earned him a nomination despite playing just two games; and Makar amassed an impressive eight points in three games this week to top the list.
Wild Send Nic Petan, Daemon Hunt, Jesper Wallstedt To AHL
The Minnesota Wild have announced a trio of roster moves, sending Nic Petan, Daemon Hunt, and Jesper Wallstedt to the Iowa Wild of the AHL. Wallstedt served as an emergency backup for the team during their trip to Sweden and wasn’t an official call-up, while Petan and Hunt were recalled prior to the trip. Dakota Mermis has also cleared waivers but remains assigned to the NHL club.
Petan was the only one of the group to slot into the lineup during his recall, appearing in the team’s Saturday loss against the Ottawa Senators. He failed to record a point, penalty, or change in his +/- in the matchup while playing just over eight-and-a-half minutes. He did record two shots and one faceoff win in the game, though.
While Hunt didn’t make an appearance on this recall, he has slotted into five NHL games earlier this season. The 21-year-old defenseman has gone without a point through those contests, a stat line that he’s matched in the AHL, going without a score in five games there as well. It’s Hunt’s second full season of professional hockey after he played in 59 AHL games last season, recording 11 points and 14 penalty minutes.
The duo return to Iowa alongside the AHL club’s starting goalie in Wallstedt. The top goalie prospect has played in eight AHL games so far this season, earning a .932 save percentage and a 6-2-0 record. Now 21 years old, Wallstedt was drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft and has yet to play in his first NHL game.
Injury Notes: Harpur, Hollowell, Lizotte
The Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers, shared a pair of updates on injured defensemen. The team most notably shared that Ben Harpur will be out for the remainder of the season after undergoing pectoral surgery. Hartford head coach Steve Smith also shared that Mac Hollowell is also out with injury, but the team is hopeful he’ll be able to return this week.
This is a heavy blow to a Rangers’ depth chart that extended Harpur to a two-year, one-way contract in January of last season. The contract carries an annual cap hit of $787.5K and provided a reward in the midst of Harpur’s first year in New York. He finished last season with 42 NHL games played, two points, and 20 penalty minutes. The defender has started this year in the minors, playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. He’s recorded three points, two penalty minutes, and a -1 through seven games with the team this season.
Hollowell is another blow to the Rangers’ options, if he’s out for longer than this week. The 25-year-old is in his first year with the Rangers organization, after spending the last five with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hollowell has proven productive in his AHL experience this year, netting 10 points in 10 games and recording a +5. It’s a continuation off of his productive 2022-23 season, which saw him score 13 points in 18 AHL games and two points in six NHL games. His season was, however, cut short by a fractured kneecap that required surgery.
Other injury news:
- The Los Angeles Kings have announced that Blake Lizotte will miss the team’s Monday night game with an undisclosed injury. The forward left the team’s most recent matchup against the St. Louis Blues in the third period and didn’t travel with the team on their two-game road trip to Arizona and Anaheim. No official timetable for his return has been provided.
Blackhawks Activate Nikita Zaitsev, Send Filip Roos To AHL
The Chicago Blackhawks have activated Nikita Zaitsev from the non-roster status and reassigned Filip Roos to the AHL. Zaitsev has been out of action since Thursday, stepping away from the team for personal reasons. He missed two games in that span. The rookie defenseman Roos was a healthy scratch for both games, serving as the team’s seventh defenseman.
Zaitsev has only appeared in five games this season, serving as a healthy scratch for the other eight games that he was active for. He’s scored a lone goal in those appearances, adding two penalty minutes and a +4. It’s Zaitsev’s first full season in Chicago, after joining the Hawks via trade last February. He had previously spent four seasons with the Ottawa Senators, appearing in 203 games, scoring 45 points, and recording a -33 with the club. The 32-year-old defenseman originally moved to the NHL in 2016, when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had previously played in 317 games in the KHL, Russia’s top league, including 136 games with CSKA Moscow. Zaitsev scored 36 points in his rookie season, a mark that remains his career-high.
The Hawks will likely bump Zaitsev right back into the lineup, as their third pairing is currently comprised of two left-shot rookie defenders in Isaak Phillips and Wyatt Kaiser. The duo were two of four rookies on the Hawks’ blue line this weekend, alongside Kevin Korchinski and extra-man Filip Roos. The team also iced the 22-year-old Alex Vlasic, giving their defense an average age of 23.8 over their last two games. Zaitsev will bring some veteran experience back into the fold for the team’s Sunday night matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.
Sabres Undecided On Zach Benson Past Nine Game Trial
Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Granato recently spoke on the team’s plans with rookie forward Zach Benson, who is nearing a return from injury after dealing with a lower-body injury that earned him a spot on injured reserve a couple of weeks ago. Granato shared that the team has yet to decide whether to keep Benson with the NHL club or not and that his first three games back from injury will be “huge” in informing that decision. Benson currently sits at six NHL games played this season and will burn a year of his entry-level contract if he plays in a 10th game. If he doesn’t stick in the NHL lineup, Benson will be returned to the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild, where Sabres teammate Matthew Savoie was just assigned.
Benson has been a surprise going back to last summer when he fell to the Sabres at 13th overall despite many public scouting outlets touting him as a top 10, or even top five, pick in the draft class. He continued to raise eyebrows with a stellar showcase at the Sabres’ training camp, earning an immediate spot on the NHL roster as a 5’9″ 18-year-old. But he’s only managed two points in the six NHL games he’s appeared in while averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time. It’s been a slow start in terms of production but the Sabres are clearly fans of how Benson is adjusting, with Granato adding that there’s a “clear comfort level there.” They will have a small sample of games, coming off an injury, to get a final assessment of Benson before they’ll need to decide if they want to keep him for the season.
The Sabres are expecting Benson, as well as Alex Tuch and Eric Comrie, to return to the lineup on Friday.
Avalanche Recall Jack Ahcan
The Colorado Avalanche have recalled defenseman Jack Ahcan to the NHL lineup, as the team is uncertain of whether Josh Manson will be able to travel with the team on their upcoming two-game road trip. Head coach Jared Bednar shared that Ahcan provides an additional body in the event that Manson can’t go. Manson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The team returns to Colorado next Wednesday.
Ahcan has played in 14 games with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles to start the season, netting one goal and six points, 16 penalty mintues, and a -3. His scoring is tied for second among the team’s defensemen, with Caleb Jones also netting six points – all assists – through 12 games. Ahcan is in his first year in the Colorado organization, after spending the last three years in the Bruins’ depth charts. Boston signed the undrafted Ahcan following the close of St. Cloud State’s 2019-20 season. The defenseman would go on to play in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL in his first season as a pro: the shorted 2020-21 campaign. He went without a point in the three NHL games he received that season, recording a -3.
Boston would give Ahcan six more NHL games in the 2021-22 season. He scored his first NHL goal during that stretch but still found himself on the wrong side of the scoresheet, again recording a -3. He spent all of last season in the AHL, netting 36 points, 24 penalty minutes, and a +5 in 68 games. The performance was enough to earn a two-year, two-way contract carrying a total value of $1.6MM from the Avalanche this summer.