Chicago Blackhawks Reassign Mike Hardman
After a two-week-long recall, the Chicago Blackhawks have returned forward Mike Hardman to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, per NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis.
Hardman, a 23-year-old in his third NHL season, played in eight games with the Blackhawks on this recall, his first of the season. He failed to record a point in eight games and is still looking to score his first goal since the 2020-21 campaign.
A free agent signing out of Boston College in 2021, this year has been a trying one for Hardman. After promising offensive production last year with Rockford, his offense has regressed significantly. In 2022-23, Hardman has managed just four goals and 16 points in 49 games, down from 32 points in 43 games last season.
There’s still some development time left for Hardman, though, and he has one season remaining on his current contract. Set to become a restricted free agent in 2024, he returns to Rockford for the end of the season, looking to gain confidence for a big contract year next campaign.
Chicago returning Hardman to the minors could also be an indication that Jujhar Khaira, currently day-to-day with an illness, is ready to return.
Colorado Avalanche Sign Jason Polin
The Colorado Avalanche have announced the signing of free-agent forward Jason Polin to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2023-24 season. The team noted that Polin will report to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on a professional tryout for the remainder of 2022-23.
CapFriendly reports Polin’s deal carries a cap hit of $870,000, broken down into $775,000 in NHL salary, a $95,000 signing bonus, and an $80,000 games played bonus.
Polin, a 23-year-old from Holt, Michigan, just completed his senior year at Western Michigan University and served as captain this season. He tallied 30 goals (leading the entire NCAA) and 17 assists for 47 points in 39 games, marking a serious offensive breakout for the 6-foot, 198-pound forward.
Western Michigan’s season ended last week when they lost 5-1 to Boston University in the quarterfinals of the NCAA men’s tournament. Polin’s efforts this season guided Western Michigan to a ninth-place ranking in the nation to end the season.
With Polin not seeing major offensive success until his age-23 college season, expectations should be tempered for his NHL future. Set to turn 24 this offseason, Polin will likely play a middle-six role on the Eagles next year and attempt to adjust to the pro ranks.
East Injury Notes: Lindgren, Lauko, Bastian
New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant gave an update on the status of defenseman Ryan Lindgren on Wednesday, stating he believes Lindgren’s return is at least two weeks away, but emphasized that he does not want to rush him back too soon. The New York Post’s Mollie Walker also speculated that the team is hopeful for Lindgren’s return before the playoffs start on April 17.
Lindgren has been sidelined with an upper-body injury for the most part since February 26, playing in one game on March 21 before exiting the lineup again. He’s missed 14 of the team’s past 15 games as a result. He’s been an important player again for the Rangers this season, recording 18 points in 58 games played, along with a +28 rating in a top-pairing role. Having already clinched a playoff spot and practically locked into a divisional playoff matchup with the New Jersey Devils, the team won’t rush his return back to the lineup.
- Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters Wednesday that forward Jakub Lauko is a possibility to play in tomorrow’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lauko missed yesterday’s game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. The 23-year-old Czech winger has four goals in 18 games for Boston this season.
- New Jersey Devils forward Nathan Bastian is again on the shelf, and NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky reports it’s the same upper-body injury that kept Bastian out for nearly two months earlier this season. Despite the setback, Bastian stated that he’s feeling better and hoping to return to the ice before the end of the season. It’s noted that Bastian wasn’t completely healthy when originally returning from the injury, explaining what some viewed as a dip in his play.
Robby Fabbri Shut Down For Remainder Of Season
Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde announced on Wednesday that forward Robby Fabbri is officially out for the rest of 2022-23 due to a lower-body injury.
In addition to the announcement about Fabbri, the Red Wings also announced that forward Taro Hirose has been reassigned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Hirose, 26, made his season debut in last night’s 7-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing 7:57. He’s continued to be one of Grand Rapids’ best players this season, leading the team in scoring with 15 goals, 39 assists, and 54 points in 64 games.
Fabbri has been dealing with a lower-body injury since March 8, and Lalonde said Fabbri will require a four-to-six-week recovery period from this point forward. However, he is expected to fully recover in time for the 2023-24 NHL season.
It’s an unfortunate break for Fabbri, who’s no stranger to significant injuries. He missed the entirety of the 2017-18 season and most of the 2018-19 season with a torn ACL and upper-body injury, respectively. Fabbri also missed the end of 2021-22 with another ACL injury, and an MCL injury cost him the first few months of the 2022-23 campaign.
Fabbri, 27, still managed to produce when healthy this season, scoring seven goals and nine assists in 28 games. He was acquired by the team in a trade with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
Chicago Blackhawks Extend Brett Seney
The Chicago Blackhawks have signed forward Brett Seney to a one-year, two-way contract extension, per a team tweet Wednesday.
Seney’s two-way deal will pay him the league-minimum $775,000 at the NHL level. The team did not disclose his AHL salary.
Seney, 27, was acquired by the Blackhawks when free agency opened last July. He’s appeared in seven games for Chicago this season, recording one goal.
The 5-foot-9, 157-pound forward has played in 62 career NHL games, registering six goals and eight assists. He’s a much more seasoned veteran in the AHL, where he’s recorded 188 points in 241 games across six seasons. He sits second in scoring on the Rockford IceHogs this season with 48 points in 50 games.
Born in London, Ontario, Seney is a skilled puck handler who’s had back-to-back elite seasons in the minors after a rough COVID-laced 2020-21 season. While the rebuilding Blackhawks will likely give most of their roster spots to younger talent next season for development purposes, Seney could easily challenge for a roster spot and immediately become one of the more seasoned pros among Chicago’s forward core. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024 upon the expiration of his contract extension.
Boston Bruins Sign Trevor Kuntar To Entry-Level Contract
The Boston Bruins have signed forward Trevor Kuntar to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced on Wednesday. The contract begins in the 2023-24 season and carries a cap hit of $867,500.
Kuntar, 21, was drafted by the Bruins in the third round (89th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He recently completed his junior season at Boston College, where he tallied 13 goals and 16 assists in 34 games.
Kuntar was a key contributor for Boston College this season, helping the Eagles reach the quarterfinals of the 2023 Hockey East men’s tournament as the eighth seed, forcing second-ranked Merrimack to double overtime before ultimately losing 1-0. He finished third on the team in scoring behind Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick Cutter Gauthier and Anaheim Ducks prospect Nikita Nesterenko, who’s already signed his entry-level contract and played NHL games after the conclusion of the Eagles’ season. Kuntar also won a Hockey East championship with Boston College during his freshman season in 2021.
The 6-foot, 196-pound forward is known for his scoring ability combined with his physical game, which makes him an effective net-front presence. He’s expected to add some needed depth to the Bruins’ weak prospect pool and could play NHL games before his contract expires in 2025, with Boston looking for cheap, young talent.
The team did not say whether Kuntar would sign an amateur tryout with Boston’s AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, and make his professional debut there before the end of the 2022-23 season.
Jordan Gross Clears Waivers; Reassigned To AHL
March 28: Gross has cleared waivers and was reassigned to the minor leagues.
March 27: The Nashville Predators have waived defenseman Jordan Gross, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Monday afternoon.
The move could signal that Roman Josi, who’s been out of the lineup since March 18, is close to returning. He’s listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Players returning from injuries is one of the few reasons why a player would land on waivers post-trade deadline, given the absence of the normal 23-player roster limit. But with their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, near the top of their division, Nashville is carrying a trim roster in an effort to bolster their minor league club.
Gross, a 27-year-old product of Minnesota, has three goals in 15 games with the Predators this season. In Milwaukee, he leads the team’s defensemen in scoring despite seeing many days on the NHL roster, recording eight goals and 23 assists in 45 games.
Gross is expected to clear waivers, as he would be ineligible to play for any team in the playoffs or during the brief remainder of the regular season.
Coyotes Notes: Ritchie, Imama, Injuries
PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan reported Monday afternoon that Arizona Coyotes forward Brett Ritchie‘s status for tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers is uncertain for a second straight night due to illness. He will be a game-time decision after missing yesterday’s shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Ritchie has scored two goals and added two assists in eight games since being acquired in a swap with the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline. The 29-year-old winger is having his best offensive season since he recorded seven goals and 14 points in 71 games with the Dallas Stars in 2017-18.
More from the Coyotes beat today:
- With Ritchie’s availability up in the air, Bokondji Imama is back up with the Coyotes on emergency loan from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. Defenseman Michael Kesselring was papered back to the Roadrunners to satisfy the emergency loan requirements. With Josh Brown ready to return to the lineup, this allows the Coyotes to play 12 forwards and six defensemen tonight, no matter what. Imama is still looking for his first point of the year in five games with the Coyotes.
- Also per Morgan, forwards Laurent Dauphin and Zack Kassian will remain out of the lineup with upper-body injuries. Kassian, who has just two goals in 51 games this season, has been absent from the lineup since March 21. Dauphin, who has no points in 16 games since being recalled from Tucson, has been out for three days.
Detroit Red Wings Sign William Wallinder
The Detroit Red Wings have announced the signing of defenseman William Wallinder to a three-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2023-24 season. Financial details will be added as they become available.
Wallinder will immediately report to North America. The Red Wings also revealed that he will report to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
The 20-year-old Wallinder, born in Sweden, was the Red Wings’ second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, taken 32nd overall. He has spent the past two seasons playing for Rögle BK in the SHL, recording 45 points in 97 games.
Wallinder is a highly-touted prospect for the Red Wings and is known for his exceptional skating ability and offensive confidence. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 190 pounds, he’s got a pro-ready size that could help ease his transition to North American ice.
Wallinder appeared in seven games for Sweden at the 2022 World Junior Championship, recording three assists and a +3 rating in seven games. He also recorded the most points among all junior-aged SHL players in 2021-22 and was named the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year.
Philadelphia Flyers Sign Emil Andrae
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed defenseman Emil Andrae to a three-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2023-24 season, according to a team release Monday.
The Flyers did not announce the financial specifics of the contract. However, they did note that Andrae is on an amateur tryout with their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, for the remainder of the season. There, Andrae has recorded two assists in two games, building on what’s been a successful 2022-23 campaign for the young defender.
Andrae, 21, who hails from Västervik, Sweden, played tough minutes for HV71 in the SHL this season, back in Sweden’s top league after a one-year demotion to the second-tier Allsvenskan. In 51 games, Andrae recorded six goals, 20 assists, and a -3 rating, sitting tied for fourth in scoring on the team.
Drafted 54th overall in 2020, Andrae stood out at the 2022 World Junior Championship, captaining Team Sweden and recording four goals and eight points in seven games en route to a bronze medal and an All-Star Team nod. The main knock against Andrae is his smaller stature, standing at 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds, but he plays with the confidence and strength of a bulkier player.
He has the playing mentality that Flyers head coach John Tortorella is known to appreciate and reward. Although he likely requires a bit more development time before he’s ready for a full-time NHL role, Andrae could be one of the key blueliners on next year’s Phantoms team. The possibility remains that Andrae could be loaned back to HV71 next season if he doesn’t make the NHL squad, especially considering he has one season remaining on his contract there. The transfer agreement between the two leagues allows the Flyers to buy Andrae out of his contract in Sweden.