Philadelphia Flyers Place Rasmus Ristolainen On IR
The Philadelphia Flyers announced Tuesday night that they’ve placed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Ristolainen had struggled mightily offensively this season up to this point, his first in Philadelphia. He’s played just 11 points in 42 games, averaging 21:05 per game with a -12 rating. His +/- is second-worst among Flyers defensemen, exceeded only by power-play specialist Keith Yandle. His point production trails all of Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, and Yandle among Flyers defensemen.
One can’t just look at the points production for Ristolainen, though. Some better teammates have led to an improvement in his overall play-driving ability from his days in Buffalo, and his low point production is likely somewhat a result of bad luck, as it has been for much of the team. The same improvement can’t be said for his defensive game, however, as he continues to have one of the worst even-strength defensive impacts in the league.
It’s also tough news for the Flyers off the ice. Ristolainen is a pending unrestricted free agent, and potentially a solid piece of trade bait at the upcoming trade deadline. While Ristolainen was listed as day-to-day earlier this week, the injured reserve placement now is somewhat concerning. The team offered no further update on the severity of Ristolainen’s injury.
Latest On Claude Giroux
With the trade deadline approaching and the Philadelphia Flyers all but eliminated from playoff contention, trade rumours have spiked in recent weeks and days surrounding captain Claude Giroux.
Today, TSN’s latest edition of Insider Trading had plenty to do with the Flyers captain. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic had much to say on the topic, with the most important note being that there haven’t been any serious trade talks yet between the Flyers and other teams.
While the deadline is over a month away, teams are evidently looking to make moves early. Yesterday’s Tyler Toffoli trade began the cycle, and other names on the block (like Ben Chiarot) are rumoured to have already been involved in serious trade discussions.
It also appears as though the Flyers and general manager Chuck Fletcher have given Giroux and his agent some more leeway to seek out trade options themselves. They have clearance from the team to talk to potential fits and report back to the team with a shortlist of options, a solid courtesy. It’s also required, as Giroux has a full no-movement clause in his contract and has to approve any potential trade.
However, it likely won’t be just one team that Giroux approves a trade to. While the frontrunner (in the public sphere, at least) at the moment appears to be the Colorado Avalanche, there are a host of other teams in great contending positions who would likely be interested in a Giroux trade.
Poll: Which Player Will Fetch The Biggest Trade Deadline Return?
The trade deadline is almost within the next month, and as March 21st approaches, rumors continue to swirl about names that could be dealt. There’s a lot of big-name talent, and some high-end role players as well that teams are sure to value.
One player who truly encapsulates both of those terms is Claude Giroux. The longtime captain of the Philadelphia Flyers is in the last year of his deal, and as the Flyers skid further and further out of playoff contention, there’s continual chatter about them moving their captain out for assets, helping him get a chance to win a Stanley Cup. There are many teams who would line up to acquire his services, including the already powerhouse Colorado Avalanche, who have been linked to Giroux in recent days.
Another potential big-name center on the market is San Jose’s Tomas Hertl. Speculation about his future has ramped up rapidly. With the Sharks in a sort of “tweener” status as they look to exit their rebuild sooner than planned, Hertl is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season in the prime of his career. This will be the biggest payday of his life in all likelihood, and while Hertl does enjoy San Jose, if the Sharks feel it’s unlikely they’ll be able to reach a deal, he could be suiting up elsewhere next month.
Defenseman Jakob Chychrun is having a tough year in Arizona, but that doesn’t mean the young, cost-controlled blue-liner isn’t an attractive piece for teams looking at adding to their top-four. The rumoured asking price for him is large, but Chychrun has just 11 points in 37 games, a far cry from his torrid pace last season. He’s no rental, though, as if he rebounds, his $4.6MM cap hit until 2025 could be incredible value for an acquiring team.
One defenseman who is racking up points is Dallas’ John Klingberg. While injured right now, he has 26 points in 39 games. An unrestricted free agent this year, Klingberg reportedly requested a trade. With Dallas not guaranteed to make the playoffs at this point, they could make the choice to recoup assets on Klingberg while they can.
So, we ask you, PHR readers: who do you think will fetch the largest return at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline? Will it be someone other than the options mentioned? Make your voice heard here.
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Andreas Johnsson Suffers Lower-Body Injury
New Jersey Devils forward Andreas Johnsson suffered a lower-body injury during warmups today against the Pittsburgh Penguins, thereby holding him out of the game, per head coach Lindy Ruff.
In his place, Marian Studenic drew into the lineup for the 16th time this season. The Devils lost the game to Pittsburgh 4-2.
Johnsson’s been one of the Devils’ best forwards in what’s been an overall tough season for the team and their offense. Always a good playmaker, he’s improved his overall offensive game this season and is on an 82-game pace of 20 goals.
This was Johnsson’s third missed game of the season. Through 46 contests, he has 11 goals and 26 points in 46 games.
The team has yet to issue a further status update on Johnsson or the severity of his injury.
Ben Chiarot Out One Week With Lower-Body Injury
After being moved to injured reserve earlier today, the Montreal Canadiens announced that defenseman Ben Chiarot will miss one week with a lower-body injury.
Chiarot is expected to be one of the top targets available at this year’s Trade Deadline. The 30-year-old left-shot defenseman has nine points through 44 games this season in a top-pairing role, averaging a healthy 23:17 per game. Multiple reports suggest that many teams are interested in the veteran of 459 NHL games, noting that it’s likely he’ll fetch a first-round pick.
He joins David Savard, Joel Edmundson, and captain Shea Weber on the list of injured Canadiens defensemen. Corey Schueneman was recalled from the AHL’s Laval Rocket this morning and played for the team in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Chiarot’s place.
Chiarot is in the final season of a three-year, $10.5MM contract he signed with Montreal during free agency in 2019 after spending a decade in the Winnipeg Jets organization. He was originally one of the last draft selections of the Atlanta Thrashers, selected 120th overall in 2009.
Injury Notes: Hamilton, Red Wings, Hayton
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton isn’t returning to the ice for the team’s Super Bowl Sunday matchup against Pittsburgh, but Devils team reporter Amanda Stein says he’s getting closer to returning to the lineup from a jaw injury that’s kept him out of the lineup since the beginning of January. Hamilton has been practicing with the team but is still getting comfortable with the helmet protection required for him to safely play as his jaw continues to recover. New Jersey has won just four out of 15 games with Hamilton out of the lineup. They undoubtedly miss his production and play-driving ability from the back end.
Some more injury notes from around the NHL:
- Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill says forward Vladislav Namestnikov is questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Minnesota Wild, meaning that brothers Givani Smith and Gemel Smith could both draw in and play their first game together in the NHL. Defenseman Nick Leddy is also probable to return after sitting out with an upper-body injury for the past two weeks. Namestnikov has provided good value this season on his $2MM cap hit, proving to be an important depth piece for Detroit with 13 goals, 10 assists, and 23 points in 49 games. Detroit has played Gemel Smith in just one game since claiming him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning almost a month ago.
- Per PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan, Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong says that young center Barrett Hayton could return to the team’s lineup this coming week, potentially as soon as February 19th against the Los Angeles Kings. Hayton, selected fifth overall in 2018, had six points in 26 games this season prior to suffering a hand injury in early January. He’d been getting chances in a top-six role prior to the injury, something that’s likely to continue with his return.
Avalanche “Giving Space” To Bowen Byram During Concussion Recovery
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram remains on personal leave after continuing to suffer from post-concussion symptoms, and general manager Joe Sakic doesn’t seem intent on rushing the prized young player back into the lineup anytime soon. Speaking today, as reported by The Denver Post’s Mike Chambers, Sakic had the following to say:
We’re giving him his space. He needs some time. He’s a great young hockey player (who) is going to have a long career… we want to make sure that when he does come back, there’s no lingering issues. And it’ll be on his time timetable.
Byram suffered a concussion in mid-November 2021 after already missing considerable time in during the 2020-21 season due to a concussion. After roughly two weeks, Byram came back to the team and played two games, but then remained out of the lineup for another month with symptoms. He returned to the team in the new year and played five games in early January, but hasn’t suited up since January 10th against Seattle. He took a personal leave from the team the following day.
Just 20 years old, the fourth-overall selection in 2019 had 11 points in 18 games this year, all the while playing 19:34 per game. The future is exceedingly bright for Byram, and many would agree that the team and Byram are both making the best choice here for his long-term health.
It’s not like the Avalanche are starving for point production from their back end. Cale Makar has 44 points in 40 games, Devon Toews has 32 in 33, Samuel Girard has 26 in 42, and even the veteran Erik Johnson is chipping in with 15 points.
When Byram does return to the lineup, though, hopefully with a sparkling clean bill of health, it’ll be an exciting moment for him and Avalanche fans. For the best, however, it seems as though that moment won’t come for a while yet.
Snapshots: Laine, Bozak, Giroux
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Carson Meyer was supposed to make his NHL debut tonight, but it’ll have to wait for another day. Patrik Laine took warmups with the team and is playing for Columbus in tonight’s game against Buffalo, per team reporter Jeff Svoboda. Laine was dealing with an undisclosed issue in between games, but it turned out that he wouldn’t miss any time. That’s good for the team, as he’s already missed plenty this season. Through just 25 games, he’s still having a very good season in Columbus, posting 12 goals and 24 points. The pending restricted free agent is quietly producing at the highest rate of his NHL career.
More notes from around the league on this Thursday night:
- Tyler Bozak isn’t a go tonight for the St. Louis Blues, per NHL.com’s Lou Korac. He wasn’t at morning skate, either, so it’s likely an undisclosed injury keeping Bozak out of the lineup. Returning to the Blues on a one-year deal this offseason, the veteran center has three goals and nine points in 37 games while taking on a fourth-line center role. Dakota Joshua will draw in against the New Jersey Devils.
- Ahead of the trade deadline, rumours around Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux will continue to swirl. Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater reports that Flyers scouts are present at tonight’s game between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning, fuelling the fire that the Avalanche have interest in the prized forward. Giroux is in the final year of his contract and tied for the lead in points among Flyers with 36 points. His leadership and all-around acumen would become immediately invaluable to the Avalanche, presumably back as a winger in the top-six. It would give the already stacked Avalanche forward core options galore, potentially allowing head coach Jared Bednar to have Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog on separate lines.
Tuukka Rask Announces His Retirement
Feb 9: Rask has officially announced his retirement, explaining that his body just wasn’t responding the way he hoped. In a long statement, he thanked the organization, fans, and his many teammates for all of the support over a long career.
Feb 8: Two sources reported to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa today that the Boston Bruins don’t expect legendary goaltender Tuukka Rask to come back and play again this season, adding that Rask may finalize a retirement decision within the next few days.
Rask has not played since January 24th, allowing five goals on 27 shots to the Anaheim Ducks. He backed up the team’s next game but has been on injured reserve since that time, reporting discomfort in his hip after having surgery on it this past offseason.
While it’s not a certainty that Rask will retire, it certainly seems like the most likely option for the 34-year-old goalie. His hip surgery required extensive rehabilitation, missing nearly six months with the injury before returning to Boston in early-mid January. He hasn’t been his usual self, posting just a .844 save percentage and 4.28 goals-against average in four starts this year.
If this does end up being the end of Tuukka Time in Boston, he leaves as undoubtedly the best goaltender in franchise history. He’s first among all Bruins goalies all-time in wins (308), games played (564), and tied with Tim Thomas for best save percentage with a minimum of 100 games played (.921).
There was only one thing missing from his resume with a Vezina and Jennings Trophy already under his belt — a Stanley Cup of his own. He was the team’s backup during the 2011 Stanley Cup victory but never played a game on the playoff run behind Thomas. That was the goal he’d hoped to achieve this season, forming a formidable goalie trio with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
With that, though, the team should still be set in goal for the rest of the season. Both Ullmark and Swayman — especially Swayman — have played like legitimate starters in Boston and continue to do so. While it’ll certainly be an emotional day if Rask does announce his retirement, the team’s solidified there for the near future.
Photo from USA Today Sports Images
Nic Hague Activated By Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights removed defenseman Nicolas Hague from the injured reserve list today, and he’ll likely be back in the lineup when Vegas plays tonight on the road in Edmonton. To make room on the active roster, the team moved Zach Whitecloud, who’s out with a broken foot, to injured reserve in his place.
Hague’s been injured on and off this season, but this past injury kept him out since the team’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 29th. The team never disclosed the nature of Hague’s most recent injury.
With Whitecloud, Alec Martinez, and Dylan Coghlan out of the Vegas lineup, Hague’s return is a giant boost for the team’s depth on defense. The 23-year-old defenseman, a member of Vegas’ inaugural 2017 NHL Draft class, is a skilled play-driver who can play on any pairing.
Hague has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points through 36 games this season.