What Your Team Is Thankful For: Arizona Coyotes
As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaches, PHR will be taking a look at what teams are thankful for in 2023-24. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Arizona Coyotes.
Who are the Coyotes thankful for?
Durzi is quickly looking like one of the more shrewd trade acquisitions of the offseason. The now-25-year-old defender had decent stock as a young prospect coming up through the Maple Leafs and Kings systems – he was one of the core pieces in the trade that brought Jake Muzzin to Toronto in 2019. Emerging into the NHL with the Kings two years later, Durzi showed promise as a capable puck-mover, notching 65 points in 136 games while playing over 19 minutes per game.
There were some defensive holes in his game, though. When the Coyotes picked him up for the price of a second-round pick last summer, most viewed him as a higher-ceiling, higher-risk project.
So far, he’s brought most of the ceiling with little of the risk. Durzi has taken the title of undisputed number-one defenseman in the desert and ran with it. He leads the team’s blueliners in average ice time (23:20), points (12 in 18 games played), and leads the team’s regular defenders with a 50.8% Corsi share at even strength. Quickly, he’s become a more well-rounded player than most expected at this stage, helping transform a long-lowly Coyotes squad into a team that looks likely to be playing competitive games late into the season.
What are the Coyotes thankful for?
An aggressive offseason from GM Bill Armstrong.
It’s not just Durzi. Armstrong’s moves this summer showed a willingness to believe in the core he’s constructed – spending significant short-term money to bring in players like Jason Zucker and Alexander Kerfoot up front and Mathew Dumba on the backend. Even if all the signings haven’t worked out wonderfully thus far, it does seem to have precipitated a bit of a culture shift that the squad sorely needed.
Combining that veteran leadership with a solid development coach in André Tourigny, as well as solid netminding from Connor Ingram, has positioned the Coyotes as one of the more entertaining squads this season.
Perhaps bringing in Nick Bjugstad for a second stint with the squad has been the best out of the team’s UFA additions. With 11 points in 18 games, he’s tied for sixth on the team in scoring and is logging nearly 17 minutes per night. He’s been far more consistent and productive than Kerfoot or Zucker while taking on a larger role.
What would the Coyotes be even more thankful for?
Arena certainty.
Things seem to be on a sustained, upward on-ice trajectory for the Coyotes for the first time in quite a while. The same still can’t be said off the ice, however, as concerns about an NHL-capacity home in the Phoenix area continue to grow as weeks go by without any update of real progress.
The timeline has been rather drawn out since voters in the City of Tempe struck down plans to build a multi-purpose entertainment district that would house a new arena for the Coyotes in a well-located area near Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo has continued to pursue potential sites in the Phoenix metro area, likely one that would not require public approval.
The local tide on the Coyotes may be turning, however, if their TV numbers are any indication. Moving to more public-access TV mediums and dropping the regional sports network model has increased their viewership an incredible amount over a year-to-year basis, although a much more exciting team headed up by a strong first line and a flashy rookie in Logan Cooley has piqued public interest. If the team truly has aspirations of being championship-caliber in the next few seasons, though, they’ll need to give their players certainty around a long-term home.
What should be on the Coyotes’ holiday wish list?
A true fit at center between Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.
The Coyotes will be in a bit of a bind over the next few weeks without Barrett Hayton due to injury. The team’s fifth-overall selection in 2018 appeared to have a breakout campaign in 2022-23, scoring 19 goals and 43 points, both by far career-highs. But so far this season Hayton has been almost entirely unable to find the scoresheet and has registered just four points in 16 games.
For a Coyotes team that could seriously contend for a Wild Card spot this season, that isn’t going to cut it from the first-line center role. In Hayton’s absence, the Coyotes are trying Cooley in the first-line center role.
While Cooley is undoubtedly the most gifted player, at least offensively, that they could have tapped for that job, it’s a lot to ask of a rookie to not only play center, but also play center on a team’s first line next to two star scorers.
It remains to be seen whether Cooley will mesh with Schmaltz and Keller, but regardless of if it’s Cooley or someone else Coyotes fans will have to hope that there will be a pivot that emerges as a consistent, lasting fit between Schmaltz and Keller.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Kings Place Tobias Björnfot On IR, Recall Jacob Moverare
The Los Angeles Kings moved defenseman Tobias Björnfot to injured reserve Wednesday night, according to CapFriendly. In a corresponding transaction, defenseman Jacob Moverare was once again recalled from AHL Ontario.
Björnfot, 22, had been playing in the minors with Ontario while on a conditioning stint, meaning he remained on the Kings’ 23-man roster for the time being despite suiting up for their AHL affiliate. The Swedish blueliner sustained an undisclosed injury on a hard hit from Kraken prospect Jacob Melanson in last night’s contest against Seattle’s affiliate, Coachella Valley, that required he be stretchered off the ice.
Moving Björnfot to IR keeps him out of action for a minimum of seven days. The Kings have not issued a timeline for his return to action.
Already in his fifth NHL season, the 2019 22nd overall pick has yet to truly establish himself as an everyday NHL player. He spent most of last season in the minors despite playing 70 contests with the Kings in 2021-22, and he’s appeared in just four total games this season – one in the NHL and three in the AHL.
While never drafted for his point-producing upside, his lack of production over the past few seasons is underwhelming for a first-round pick. He’s scored just once in 117 NHL games and had 12 points in 50 games with Ontario last season.
His possession numbers have failed to stand out, either. In his lone appearance this season, which came October 11 against the Avalanche, Björnfot controlled just 37.5% of Corsi events at even strength despite starting most of his shifts in the offensive zone. He logged just over 10 minutes of ice time and recorded one block.
Meanwhile, Moverare again finds himself on the Kings roster ahead of their next appearance, a Friday game against the Ducks. The 25-year-old has been recalled numerous times throughout this month to serve as an extra defenseman and injury insurance, although he’s yet to appear in an NHL game in 2023-24.
A fourth-round pick of the team in 2016, Moverare has four assists and a +2 rating in 14 contests with Ontario this season. He appeared in 21 NHL games with the Kings over the prior two seasons, recording two assists. He’s still looking for his first NHL goal.
Moverare will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer after completing a two-year, $1.525MM contract. He is owed a qualifying offer of $813,750.
Avalanche Recall Riley Tufte
8:41 p.m.: Depth winger Logan O’Connor is out of the lineup tonight, per Meghan Angley of DNVR Sports. That could pave the way for Tufte to enter the lineup against Vancouver.
8:24 p.m.: The Colorado Avalanche have once again summoned winger Riley Tufte from the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, per a team announcement Wednesday night.
This is Tufte’s fifth recall of the campaign after he cleared waivers on October 9. The rather massive 6-foot-6, 220-pound Minnesotan has made three NHL appearances in 2023-24, recording a -3 rating, five shots on goal and no points in 11:56 of average ice time.
A 2016 first-round pick of the Dallas Stars, Tufte is finally showing massive offensive capabilities in the minors as he begins his fifth professional season. The 25-year-old leads the Eagles in goals (nine), assists (eight) and points (17) while posting a +7 rating in 12 contests.
Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland signed Tufte to a one-year, two-way deal last July worth $775K in the NHL and $375K in the AHL. After reaching unrestricted free agency via Group VI status last summer, Tufte will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of the season. Per CapFriendly, his qualifying offer is $813,750.
It’s unclear whether Tufte will play in tonight’s contest against the Canucks. He’s losing his grip on a potential roster spot to Joel Kiviranta, who just recently signed an NHL deal with the Avalanche after joining the team on a professional tryout in training camp and beginning 2023-24 on an AHL deal with the Eagles. Kiviranta, also a former Dallas Star, has four points through his first four games with Colorado.
Keeping Tufte on the roster longer than necessary does inch him closer to requiring waivers once again to return to the Eagles. Players can stay on the NHL roster for up to ten games played or 30 days after clearing waivers before needing to clear a second time. Tufte has been on the Avalanche roster for a total of 11 days since clearing waivers in October after today’s recall.
Penguins Place Rickard Rakell, Chad Ruhwedel On IR
1:16 p.m.: Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review relays that Rakell and Ruhwedel have been placed on injured reserve.
12:43 p.m.: Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan issued multiple injury updates Tuesday morning, the most pressing being that forward Rickard Rakell is out “longer-term” with an upper-body injury. Sullivan also relayed that defenseman Chad Ruhwedel is sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury. At the same time, winger Bryan Rust missed practice today to be evaluated for a lower-body injury.
It’s unclear when Rakell sustained the injury, but if his performance is any indication, he’s been playing through it for a while. The Swedish winger has struggled mightily this season, posting just four assists through 17 games despite playing top-six minutes, frequently alongside Evgeni Malkin on the team’s second line. Rakell has been somewhat inconsistent throughout his 668-game NHL career, but a dry spell like this is quite rare for him – especially after hitting the 60-point mark last season for the second time in his career.
The Penguins acquired Rakell from the Ducks in a March 2022 trade, giving up a rather significant haul of depth forwards Dominik Simon and Zach Aston-Reese, high-end goalie prospect Calle Clang, and a 2022 second-round pick that the Ducks used on defenseman Tristan Luneau, who managed to crack Anaheim’s roster out of camp just one season post-draft. After impressing with 13 points in 19 games down the stretch for the Penguins in 2021-22, then-GM Ron Hextall inked him to a six-year, $30MM deal with a $5MM cap hit. Rakell’s production as a Penguin has largely been worth the contract – 32 goals, 45 assists and 77 points in 118 games – but the team hopes his recent dry spell isn’t a sign of things to come for the life of the deal.
It is worth noting that despite Rakell’s lack of goal-scoring, his possession numbers have been strong. His -2 rating is a testament to his lack of offense, not defense – his 56.6% Corsi share at even strength is third among Penguins forwards behind Sidney Crosby and Radim Zohorna.
Ruhwedel has been a member of the Penguins organization since signing during free agency in 2016, and he’s remained a valuable depth option at the bottom of their defensive lineup. A nagging injury to Pierre-Olivier Joseph has meant extended playing time for Ruhwedel this season, and he’s been a healthy scratch just twice throughout their 17-game schedule. The 33-year-old is in the final season of a two-year, $1.6MM deal and has one assist and a -3 rating.
His absence leaves the Penguins with only five healthy defensemen on the active roster and will necessitate a roster move, which will likely be activating defenseman John Ludvig off LTIR. The early-season waiver claim sustained a concussion in his first NHL appearance against the Stars on October 24 but has been on a conditioning loan to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton since last Thursday, making two appearances and recording a shot on goal. Multiple reports indicate Ludvig was on the ice for practice Tuesday morning and will likely return to the Penguins’ lineup Wednesday against the Rangers.
Sullivan did not issue any timeline on Rust’s injury, which likely occurred during game action against the Golden Knights on Sunday. He did not leave the game, however. The 31-year-old has seen top-line duties alongside Crosby and Jake Guentzel this season and is amidst a rebound year, posting nine goals and 16 points through 17 contests after scoring 46 points in 81 games last season.
Missing both Rakell and Rust will create a domino effect throughout the Penguins’ forward lineup, an unfortunate blow for a team that’s 6-4-0 in their last ten games after a lagging start to the season. Sullivan told reporters today, including Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that Jansen Harkins, Vinnie Hinostroza and Alexander Nylander will be in discussions to ride shotgun with Crosby and Malkin in Rakell’s and Rust’s absences. Only Hinostroza, who is day-to-day himself with a lower-body injury, is currently on the active roster. Harkins and Nylander are currently on assignment to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and the team would need to place Rakell and/or Rust on LTIR to accommodate a recall.
Canadiens’ Jordan Harris Out Indefinitely, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard Out 6-8 Weeks
Canadiens defenseman Jordan Harris will be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, per a team announcement Tuesday. Harris has left the team’s California road trip and has returned to Montreal for “further testing and a thorough evaluation of his condition,” and the team will make a corresponding recall from AHL Laval later today. Additionally, after placing him on IR yesterday, the Canadiens confirmed that winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will be out of the lineup for six to eight weeks.
The Canadiens’ 23-man roster is full, so Harris will need to be moved to either IR or LTIR to facilitate a recall.
Harris, 23, is among the group of promising young Canadiens defenders, seeing his stock rise after a strong collegiate showing through four years at Northeastern. His rookie season in 2022-23 was solid, seeing him post 17 points and a relative Corsi share of 2.4% at even strength in 65 contests. The natural puck-mover has struggled to make as much of an impact this season, however, logging just three assists in 16 contests while seeing his possession numbers dip.
This is Harris’ second injury-related absence of the season. He’d missed two out of the Canadiens’ last three games with an upper-body injury but returned to play over 21 minutes in the Canadiens’ loss to the Bruins last Saturday. The Massachusetts-born defender is in the first season of a two-year, $2.8MM extension signed in February.
The news solidifies that Jayden Struble will enter the lineup tomorrow against the Ducks and make his NHL debut. A second-round pick of the team in 2019, Struble has six points in 12 games with AHL Laval this season and will slot in on the third pairing alongside Gustav Lindström.
A lengthy absence is a tough break for Harvey-Pinard, who’s struggled to find his footing in the Habs’ lineup this season. After ending last season hot with 14 goals and 20 points in 34 contests, the 2019 seventh-round pick has failed to light the lamp this year and has four assists in 13 games.
What Your Team Is Thankful For: Anaheim Ducks
As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaches, PHR will be taking a look at what teams are thankful for in 2023-24. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Anaheim Ducks.
Who are the Ducks thankful for?
Greg Cronin.
An improved defensive structure is the largest reason the Ducks have been among the more surprising teams to kick off the 2023-24 campaign. A 9-9-0 start may not be much to write home about for some, but it’s a stark improvement for a team that finished last in the league last season. Consider that a .500 points percentage currently ties them for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with the Coyotes, and the Ducks’ rebuild looks right on track.
The offseason parting of ways with Dallas Eakins and the hiring of Cronin, a first-year NHL head coach, as his replacement looks to be the right call early on. Higher-ups in the organization preached Cronin as someone who could mold a group of young players into a more well-rounded style – a shift that’s played out in front of fans quickly this year.
Luck has certainly been on the Ducks’ side. After all, Frank Vatrano‘s 12 goals in 18 games (and his sky-high 19.4% shooting percentage) seem unsustainable. Their tandem of young Lukáš Dostál and John Gibson in the crease is providing them with truly above-average netminding for the first time in years, as well.
However, that shouldn’t take away from the mindset Cronin has instilled. The numbers back Cronin’s impact up – at even strength, their 47.1% Corsi share, 47.3% share of scoring chances, and 47.5% share of high-danger chances are all significant improvements over last season’s numbers, which resided in the low 40s. Their 56 goals allowed sits right in the middle of the NHL as Thanksgiving rolls around, and while they likely won’t be one of the 16 teams to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Cronin’s coaching has 2025 looking like a realistic bet.
What are the Ducks thankful for?
Their scouts.
The Ducks have one of the better prospect pools in the league, especially on defense. While they’ve had some high-value picks, the majority of their pool is coming from strong choices outside the top five.
19-year-old Pavel Mintyukov earns an obvious shout here. The tenth overall pick in 2022, he already looks right at home on an increasingly competent NHL defense and had ten points through 18 games. 2022 second-round pick Tristan Luneau has earned an earlier-than-expected NHL look and remains on the active roster, while 2021 second-round pick Olen Zellweger just wrapped up a stellar junior career and has eight points in 12 games with AHL San Diego this season.
And while it will take years to settle the debate between Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson as the second-best player behind Connor Bedard in the 2023 class, Carlsson is looking right at home in the NHL thus far and has six goals through his first 12 NHL games, good enough for third on the team. He’s logging heavy usage for a rookie at over 18 minutes per game and is posting positive possession numbers in the process.
What would the Ducks be even more thankful for?
A happy and healthy holiday season for Trevor Zegras.
Last summer’s drawn-out contract negotiations between the Ducks and the face of their franchise were one of the more surprising storylines. It was even more surprising that Zegras settled for a relatively tame three-year, $17.25MM deal after posting back-to-back 60-point seasons, even if he did have his struggles defensively.
In a small sample size this season, it seems the Ducks’ hesitation around a rich long-term commitment was justified. Zegras has just two points through 12 games and is now dealing with a nagging lower-body injury that’s kept him out of the lineup for the past two weeks. There’s no clear timetable for his return, certainly a concerning development.
What should be on the Ducks’ holiday wish list?
Consistency from John Gibson.
Quietly, the Ducks’ netminder with a former all-world reputation is playing some of his best hockey in years. In six appearances in the month of November, Gibson has posted a .942 SV% and has not posted a save percentage under .900 in a single game since leaving an October 30 contest against the Penguins with an injury.
Dostál is looking like the future in the crease for Anaheim, making Gibson more expendable than ever. That timing lines up well with a resurgence for the American netminder, who is quickly rebuilding his trade value and could earn the Ducks quite a haul if the team does end up moving him after years of trade rumors.
Gibson does have a ten-team no-trade list and four seasons left at a $6.4MM cap hit, but that’s similar to what he would earn on the open market should he hit free agency next summer if he keeps this level of play up for the rest of the season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Damon Severson Out 6 Weeks With Oblique Injury
Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson sustained an oblique injury in Sunday’s game against the Flyers and is set to miss approximately six weeks, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a release. Severson has not been placed on IR, but nevertheless, the team reassigned forward Trey Fix-Wolansky to AHL Cleveland in a corresponding transaction.
This is the second major injury for the Blue Jackets in the early going of 2023-24, as Severson joins forward Jack Roslovic (ankle) on the injured list. Both were given a six-week recovery timeline from their initial injuries. It’s still a far cry from the injuries that decimated Columbus last season, especially among their defense corps.
Severson sustained the oblique injury in a failed dive attempt to keep the puck in the offensive zone, which led to a shorthanded goal by the Flyers’ Ryan Poehling. Set to be an unrestricted free agent last summer, the Blue Jackets acquired Severson in a sign-and-trade with the Devils that saw the 29-year-old earn an eight-year, $50MM deal.
He was off to a decent start in Columbus, recording eight points through 19 games, averaging nearly 21 minutes per game and leading Blue Jackets defenders with a +1 rating. He’d posted an incredibly strong relative Corsi share of 5.6%, meaning the Blue Jackets’ already poor possession stats are likely to dip even further without Severson in the lineup.
In a small silver lining, Severson’s absence should provide more opportunity for a pair of young right-shot defenders to get some more ice time from now until the New Year. 23-year-old Adam Boqvist and 19-year-old David Jiříček moved up to the first and second pairings, respectively, in practice today, according to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch. Both have averaged under 14 minutes per game, and appearances have been limited – especially for Boqvist, who’s been a scratch in 14 out of 19 games for Columbus this season.
Meanwhile, Fix-Wolansky heads back to the minors after making just one appearance during his recall, logging zeros across the scoresheet in 12:32 of ice time against the Coyotes last Thursday. He’d been a healthy scratch in two straight contests. The diminutive winger is off to a scorching hot start in the minors, leading the team with four goals, 12 assists and 16 points through 11 games.
Flyers Activate Marc Staal
The Flyers have activated defenseman Marc Staal from IR, the team announced Tuesday. In a corresponding transaction, netminder Felix Sandström was assigned to AHL Lehigh Valley after clearing waivers yesterday. Staal is expected to return to the lineup when the Flyers take on the Islanders tomorrow.
The 36-year-old Staal has regained some value after being viewed as one of the worst defenders in the league a few seasons ago. His possession numbers and advanced defensive metrics had long been subpar after his peak with the Rangers in the mid-2010s, but they’ve rebounded to a level closer to average since joining the Panthers in the 2022 offseason.
His lone season in Florida was effective, playing in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in over a decade and logging over 20 minutes per game in their run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. While never a hallmark of his game, Staal’s offensive contributions have dried up, though – he posted no points in 21 playoff contests and had three goals, 12 assists and 15 points in the regular season. Still, that decent showing with Florida earned him a one-year, $1.1MM deal with the Flyers in free agency last summer to extend his NHL career.
Staal’s return supplements a Flyers defense that’s inexplicably been playoff-caliber through the first several weeks of the season. The team is sitting with a 10-7-1 record and a .583 points percentage that would put them in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Much of that has been because of the underrated play of offseason trade addition Sean Walker, who Staal is projected to pair with in his return to the lineup. Viewed as a throw-in for cap purposes in the Ivan Provorov three-way deal this summer between the Flyers, Blue Jackets and Kings, the 29-year-old has ten points through 18 games while averaging over 21 minutes a night.
Staal had missed the last 14 games with an upper-body injury sustained on October 19 against the Oilers. A return to action seemed imminent at the tail end of last week, with multiple reports indicating he’d been cleared to return ahead of Saturday’s contest against the Golden Knights, but he remained out of action through the weekend.
West Notes: Vilardi, Harley, Benning
Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is nearing a return to action from an MCL sprain that’s cost him the last 14 games. Associate coach Scott Arniel said today that Vilardi will travel with the team on their upcoming three-game road swing through Tampa Bay, Florida and Nashville and is an option to play during the trip.
The 24-year-old has played in just two full games this season, sustaining the injury early in the team’s third contest of the year against his former team, the Kings, on October 17. Vilardi was the main aspect of the trade return from Los Angeles in exchange for center Pierre-Luc Dubois this summer. After a strong camp, Vilardi had earned himself a spot in the team’s top six, registering an assist through his first two contests while playing over 20 minutes per game. A first-round pick of the Kings in 2017, injuries have largely delayed Vilardi’s development, but he still managed a career-high 23 goals and 41 points in 63 games last season. He remains on injured reserve, and the Jets will need to open a spot on the 23-man roster to activate him.
Other notes out of the Western Conference to open the holiday week:
- Stars defenseman Thomas Harley will remain out of the lineup tonight when they host the Rangers, Brien Rea of Bally Sports Southwest reports. The 22-year-old is sidelined with an upper-body injury sustained November 12 against the Wild on a hit from forward Brandon Duhaime and is listed as day-to-day. This will be Harley’s third straight absence after playing in 14 straight games to start the season. The team’s 2019 first-round pick is looking quite at home in the NHL, posting five points and a +2 rating while averaging 17:24 per game.
- After getting Jacob MacDonald back in the fold earlier today, another injured Sharks veteran is on the precipice of a return to the lineup. Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports defenseman Matt Benning could come off IR before Wednesday’s game against the Kraken. Benning will miss his ninth straight contest tonight against Vancouver with an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old has played in eight games this season, recording an assist and a -6 rating in 18:29 of average ice time.
Sharks To Activate Jacob MacDonald From IR
The Sharks will activate defenseman-turned-forward Jacob MacDonald off injured reserve before today’s game against the Canucks, head coach David Quinn told Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News.
MacDonald, 30, has missed the last five games with an undisclosed injury and has not played since the Sharks’ back-to-back ten-goal concessions against the Canucks and Penguins earlier this month. Those are his only two appearances this season, posting a goal, an assist and a -5 rating.
The Oregon-born journeyman will slot in on the fourth line alongside a pair of similarly seasoned veterans, Ryan Carpenter and Givani Smith. MacDonald, in the second season of a two-year, $1.525MM contract, came to the Bay Area via trade from the Avalanche last season. He appeared in 25 contests for the Sharks after the trade in 2022-23, notching a goal, five assists, and a -11 rating.
An undrafted free agent signed by the Panthers back in 2018, MacDonald played three full pro seasons in the AHL and ECHL after graduating from Cornell University before finally earning an NHL deal. Since then, he’s played in 103 games, including a career-high 58 split between the Sharks and Avalanche last year.
Standing at 6 feet and over 200 pounds, MacDonald will likely remain on the roster for the time being as a solid supplementary veteran presence. He will need waivers to head to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda if the team chooses to demote him to the minors, where he hasn’t played since 2021-22.