Flames Recall Connor Zary
The Calgary Flames have recalled top prospect Connor Zary from the AHL. Zary is currently on a six-game point streak in the minors, with 10 points through six games to start the season. That scoring has been mostly made up of assists, with Zary ranked third in the AHL with nine assists. But he made sure to make a statement with his sole goal on the year, scoring the game-winning goal in the Calgary Wranglers’ home-opener.
Zary has emerged as an exciting prospect since being drafted 24th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He made his professional debut during the 2020-21 season, playing in nine AHL games and scoring seven points after the end of the Kamloops Blazers season. He fulfilled his rookie season in the league in 2021-22, netting 25 points in 53 games, and experienced a massive jump in scoring last year when he tallied 58 points in 72 games. It’s been a gradual climb to success for Zary, who is now on fire to start the season. He’s been rewarded with an NHL call-up, where he’ll potentially get a chance to make his NHL debut.
Zary could vie for a lineup spot quickly, as Adam Ružička has been announced as day-to-day with a shoulder injury. Dryden Hunt has slotted into the lineup as a result but has gone without a point and a -3 in the three games that he’s played in. Changing over to the red-hot Zary could be the spark the Calgary needs to get their offense going, as the Flames currently have the fifth-fewest goals on the season.
Bruins Announce Matthew Poitras Is Staying In NHL
The Boston Bruins have announced that Matthew Poitras is staying in the NHL. The team was faced with the decision of whether or not to send Poitras back to the Guelph Storm of the OHL, as he’ll spend a year of his contract if he plays in one more NHL game. The rookie is currently tied for sixth on the team in scoring, with five points in his nine games on the season.
Matt Poitras has emerged as one of the most exciting parts of Boston’s early season, establishing himself as a standout during training camp and earning an NHL role over 190 NHL game veteran Jesper Boqvist or top prospects John Farinacci and Fabian Lysell. And Poitras has certainly run away with the opportunity, scoring consistently and recording a 52.76 CF% and 55.23 xGF% – both strong underlying statistics, especially for a rookie.
Poitras is one of two rookies on the current Bruins lineup, with fourth-line man John Beecher playing in his inaugural year as well. Beecher hasn’t found the same stride that Poitras has, rocking a sole assist, nine penalty minutes, and a -3 through his first nine NHL games. Beecher has held onto his role in light of injuries to other depth forwards, including Milan Lucic and Jakub Lauko. The underscoring of top AHL options has also helped Beecher out – as Farinacci only has five points and Lysell only four in their first seven AHL games this season.
Boston making a firm decision on Poitras is exciting to see, especially as they’re faced with a slew of questions about their defense. Matt Grzelcyk went down with an injury of his own, and Charlie McAvoy is facing suspension, effectively removing the team’s top defense pairing. They’ll need to make call-ups from the AHL to ice a full blue line for their next game.
Buffalo Sabres Zach Benson Out Week-To-Week With Injury
The Buffalo Sabres have announced that rookie forward Zach Benson is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Benson has played six games so far this season, recording two points and a -1.
Zach Benson has become a name to follow through the early season, wowing at training camp after going 14th overall in the most recent NHL Draft. His early jump to the NHL has surprised many, and Benson’s statistical profile may speak to the need for a little more time in the oven. He’s currently carrying a 43.44 CF% and 50.0 xGF% – modest numbers that certainly aren’t bad for an 18-year-old but are enough to make an NHL team look in another direction. The Sabres have three more free games of Benson before they’re faced with the decision of spending a contract year or not. If they decide he’s better off getting some more development time, he’ll be sent back to the Wenatchee Wild of the WHL, where teammate Matthew Savoie will play after his AHL conditioning stint.
The Sabres recalled undrafted forward Brandon Biro to the NHL in response to Benson’s injury. Biro will likely become the team’s extra forward, as Tyson Jost slots in to fill Benson’s role. Jost has played in six games so far this season, tallying two points, split evenly. Jost is in his first full season with the Sabres, after joining them partway through the 2022-23 campaign. He netted 22 points in 59 games with Buffalo last year.
The news of Benson’s injury is a tough blow for a Sabres lineup looking to elevate their young talent. It could also have negative implications on Benson’s case to stay in the NHL, as he’ll be fighting to both return to form after injury and keep an NHL roster spot when he returns to play.
Sabres Recall Brandon Biro
11:30 AM: Buffalo head coach Don Granato has announced that Biro will play in the team’s Wednesday matchup. This announcement comes in light of Zach Benson‘s week-to-week injury.
9:30 AM: The Buffalo Sabres have recalled winger Brandon Biro to the NHL. Biro has spent the beginning of the season in the AHL, where he’s scored six points in five games. He’s one of six Rochester Americans currently scoring above a point-per-game pace, with top U20 prospects Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich co-leading the team in scoring, both sat with nine points in seven games.
The Sabers signed Biro as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of Penn State’s 2019-20 season, making his professional debut in the following year. He scored five points in 15 games in his first AHL season, following it up with a more prominent 41 points in 48 games in 2021-22. That was the same year that Biro received his first NHL recall, making his NHL debut but failing to appear in any more games. Biro was sent back to the minor leagues and continued to establish himself as one of Rochester’s top scorers.
Buffalo has operated with a relatively consistent forward group, with only two players – Zach Benson and Victor Olofsson – not appearing in all nine of the team’s games so far. The former was held out by injury and the latter by a healthy scratching, with Tyson Jost cycling in when either has missed time. Biro joins Jost as the only extra skaters that Buffalo is carrying while Connor Clifton serves a two-game suspension. With such a consistent forward group, it’s more likely that Biro’s recall is to provide additional depth rather than looking for an additional roster player. But if Biro does get to slot in, he’ll have a chance to play in just his second NHL game and search for his first NHL point.
Predators Place Cody Glass On IR, Recall Marc Del Gaizo
The Nashville Predators have placed centerman Cody Glass on injured reserve, announcing that he’s likely to miss another one to two weeks of action with a lower-body injury. Glass has been sidelined since he exited the team’s October 19th game early. In response to the IR move, Nashville has recalled defender Marc Del Gaizo from the AHL.
Glass has managed five games this season, going without a point and recording a +2 +/-. It’s his third year in Nashville, with last season being the first time he played in more than 40 games in a single season. The former sixth-overall picked tallied 35 points in 72 games over the course of the year while averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time each game. His ice time has increased through the early going this year, averaging roughly 15-and-a-half minutes each game.
Nashville has cycled in a slew of forwards in response to Glass’ absence, with Liam Foudy, Michael McCarron, and Samuel Fagemo all playing in a handful of games through the season’s early going. The former of the three players is the only one to go without a point in the ice time he’s received.
Del Gaizo has played in five AHL games so far this season, recording a single assist. He’ll be playing in his NHL debut if he’s able to slot into the lineup, after playing in 152 career AHL games. As it stands, Del Gaizo slots into the team’s seventh-defender role – a spot that’s been left vacant since Luke Schenn was moved to injured reserve.
Boston Bruins Sign Danton Heinen To One-Year Deal
The Boston Bruins have signed Danton Heinen to a one-year contract with a league-minimum $775K cap hit.
The status of Heinen was the final decision that Boston needed to make during their training camp, with the forward signed to a professional try-out and working with the team for as long as he could. The Bruins surprisingly left Heinen unsigned, but are now circling back after starting the season with a scorching 7-0-1 record.
Heinen played the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, netting 22 points in 65 games last year and 33 points in 76 games in 2021-22. It was two modest seasons, with Heinen struggling to reach the career-high 47-point mark he set in 2017-18. Despite low scoring output, Heinen did record strong underlying statistics in Pittsburgh, tallying a 72.69 xGF% and 52.80 CF% over his two years with the club. Now 28 years old, Heinen has found a comfortable role in the NHL as a depth forward; a role he’s sure to find in Boston as well.
The Bruins recently recalled Oskar Steen to the NHL, suiting him up in their most recent match against the Detroit Red Wings. Steen went without a point in the four-goal outing, although he did record a +1, two shots, and two hits. With Milan Lucic now on injured reserve, Boston is only carrying one extra forward, Jakub Lauko, who is battling an injury of his own. Heinen’s signing gives Boston another forward option to work with. And while he doesn’t have a precedent of high-scoring, Heinen could also bring a needed spark to a Bruins fourth-line that’s only combined for one goal – John Beecher’s first NHL goal – through eight games this season.
Snapshots: Matheson, Schneider, Andersson
Head coach of the Montreal Canadiens Martin St. Louis has announced that Mike Matheson is a game-time decision for the team’s Monday night matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. The defenseman has been battling a minor lower-body injury that drew his availability into question.
Matheson has become a top defender in Montreal, with a blue line-leading six points through eight games on the season. The tally brings him to 40 points in 56 games since joining the Habs last season, making him the second-fastest Habs defender to reach the 40-point mark. The milestone speaks to Matheson’s scoring ability – something that’s come to the surface in recent years, with Matheson setting career-highs in scoring in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, despite being limited by injury in both years. His presence on Montreal’s back end is a necessity, given the team’s string of defenseman injuries. Matheson will look to avoid that list on Monday night.
Other notes from around the league:
- Standout New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider is one game removed from losing his waiver exemption status. This means that the Rangers are facing the decision of whether Schneider is a full-time NHL player or not, although he’s appeared in all eight of the Rangers’ games so far this season, netting two points. There’s no expectation that Schneider will lose his roster spot as a result of this news.
- Top Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is returning from a four-game suspension received for a charging call against Columbus’ Patrik Laine. Andersson has three points in five games so far this season and scored 49 in 79 games last year, operating as Calgary’s top defender.
Injury Notes: Maple Leafs, Hischier, Lindgren, Flames
The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing opposing injury news, with defender Timothy Liljegren returning to the team’s practice but Jake McCabe still sitting out. Liljegren took practice reps alongside Mark Giordano, although no update about his availability was provided. Liljegren was announced as “doubtful” for the team’s October 28th game before missing the match; a tag that may carry over to their Tuesday night game.
Liljegren is playing more than ever through eight games this season, averaging over 19 minutes of ice time a game – a step up from the 18 minutes he averaged last season. It’s a continuation of the gradual increase in ice time that Liljegren has seen in each of the last three seasons, speaking to his growing prowess. But despite the increased role, Liljegren has only managed one point through his eight games this year. Scoring has never been his forte, with Liljegren only netting 18 points through 67 games last year.
Liljegren will look to add to those scoring totals with an eventual return to action, while Toronto continues to wait for news of McCabe’s outlook.
Other injury news:
- Nico Hischier remains day-by-day with an upper-body injury after taking a high hit from Connor Clifton in New Jersey’s Friday night game. Clifton would receive a two-game suspension for the blindside hit. The team put added emphasis on calling Hischier, “day-by-day”, emphasizing their goal of staying patient with the recovery.
- Charlie Lindgren had an apparent injury during the Washington Capitals practice, leaving the ice to speak with a trainer after going down. Lindgren was assigned to injured reserve earlier in the season with an upper-body injury. Hunter Shepard operated as the team’s backup in Lindgren’s absence
- The Calgary Flames have sent Ilya Solovyov to the AHL. Solovyov appeared in two games for Calgary, going without a point and recording a -3. He’s appeared in four AHL games this season, netting two points and two penalty minutes.
Sam Bennett A Game-Time Decision, Removed From IR
Update 5:54pm: David Dwork of The Hockey News tweeted that Bennett will indeed make his season debut tonight against the Boston Bruins.
1:42pm: The Florida Panthers have removed Sam Bennett from injured reserve and dubbed him as a game-time decision for their Monday night matchup against the Boston Bruins. Bennett has missed the entirety of the season up to this point with a lower-body injury. He has been on the fringe of returning to play since the team’s October 27th matchup and, with an official removal from IR, seems poised to finally make his season debut.
Bennett tallied 16 goals and 40 points in 63 games with Florida last season, adding 15 points in 20 playoff games. He set his career-high in scoring in the year prior, netting 28 goals and 49 points. The former fourth-overall pick is entering his third full season with the Panthers. His career has been marked by limitations due to injury, with Bennett only playing 75 or more games in a season three times through his nine-year career. He has the potential to add a fourth season to that marker this year if he manages to play in all of Florida’s games for the rest of the year. Now 27, Bennett has accrued 546 career NHL games, tallying 244 career points and 480 penalty minutes.
Who steps out of the lineup to make way for Bennett will be interesting to see. The Panthers have had a relatively unproductive fourth line, with Kevin Stenlund‘s two goals being the only points scored by the line. Each of Stenlund, Steven Lorentz, and William Lockwood can be deployed flexibly, which should work well for the returning centerman. The return could also impact Eetu Luostarinen, who has served as the centerman between Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe – the line that Bennett manned for over 300 minutes of last season. With Bennett’s return, Florida will be one step closer to icing the lineup that willed them to the Stanley Cup Finals last season.
Snapshots: Granlund, Red Wings, Blackhawks
10/29: The San Jose Sharks have activated Granlund from injured reserve and assigned Jacob Peterson and Thomas Bordeleau to the AHL.
10/29: San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn shared that he expects Mikael Granlund to be available for the team’s Sunday evening contest, although it will seemingly be a game-time decision. Granlund was placed on injured reserve on October 13th with a lower-body injury.
Granlund only managed one game with the Sharks before his move to injured reserve. He went without a point, playing in 15-and-a-half minutes in the matchup. It was his debut in San Jose, officially making the Sharks the fourth team he’s played for throughout his career. The forward missed much of the 2022-23 season with injury but netted 36 points in 58 games during the 2021-22 season; a 50-point pace through 82 games. The 31-year-old has accrued 751 career NHL games, scoring 484 points. He’ll look to climb his way to the 500-point mark with the Sharks this season, set to return from injury soon.
Other notes from around the league:
- The Detroit Red Wings have sent Jonatan Berggren to the AHL. The winger has played two games this season, going without a point. He played his rookie season last year, totaling 67 games and 28 points.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled defenseman Isaak Phillips to the NHL. This move likely signals that Alex Vlasic, who was injured in the Hawks recent game against Vegas, is likely set to miss at least one game. Phillips has appeared in five AHL games this season, scoring one goal and three points. He has 20 NHL games under his belt, with five career points. Vlasic has been a major bright spot through the early going, making his absence a stinger for the Hawks.