Injury Notes: Stars, Avalanche, Martinez, Savoie
Saad Yousuf of The Athletic relayed several injury updates from the Head Coach of the Dallas Stars, Peter DeBoer this morning. All of the injury reports being on the milder side, the Stars could reasonably expect most of the players to be ready for opening night next week.
Being two of the more high-profile players on the list forwards Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston are both working their way back from injuries. Hintz has returned to skating following an upper-body injury, while Johnston had a non-surgical procedure performed, and is expected back skating this weekend.
Following those two, Yousuf reports that Radek Faksa has received stitches, but is not in concussion protocol after receiving a solid check in Tuesday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. Not playing in Tuesday night’s game, DeBoer also mentions that defenseman Jani Hakanpaa is out with an undisclosed injury, and is currently being evaluated by the team’s medical staff.
It goes without saying that injury news of any kind is negative news, but luckily for Dallas, a team that could very well win the NHL’s Central Division this season, all should be back in due time.
Other injury notes:
- Staying in the Central Division, Corey Masisak of the Denver Post similarly relayed injury news from the Head Coach of the Avalanche, Jared Bednar. Bednar expects both Mikko Rantanen and Josh Manson to be ready for opening night but is unsure in regards to the status of Andrew Cogliano. For the entirety of this year’s preseason, Rantanen and Manson have each only suited up in one game, while Cogliano is still working his way back from a fractured neck in last year’s opening-round playoff matchup against the Seattle Kraken.
- Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that three-time Cup champion defenseman, Alec Martinez, will not participate in any team activities for the next few days due to a lower-body injury. Losing a step since his time with the Los Angeles Kings, the Vegas Golden Knights will surely use the next few days to make sure Martinez is ready for opening night, as he was a part of the defensive core that was fundamental in the Knights winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history last season.
- With his eligibility still up in the air for the AHL this season, Buffalo Sabres’ prospect, Matthew Savoie is progressing nicely in recovery of an upper-body injury, and will likely be rejoining the team tomorrow morning. Having the talent to crack Buffalo’s roster out of the gates this upcoming season, Savoie’s play to finish up training camp may resolve any questions the Sabres had regarding his eligibility.
Anaheim Ducks Re-Sign Jamie Drysdale
The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have agreed to a three-year, $6.9MM contract with defenseman Jamie Drysdale. Projected to be one of the team’s top two defensemen headed into the 2023-24 NHL season, Drysdale would only play eight games last year, before shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum would keep him out of the lineup the rest of the season.
Rated as the third-best North American skater prior to the 2020 NHL Draft, Drysdale would be the second defenseman off the board, going sixth overall to the Ducks. Capping off an impressive two-year run with the Erie Otters of the OHL, Drysdale would finish off with a nine-goal, 38-assist performance in 49 games heading into his draft year.
Turning pro immediately, Drysdale would split his time during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 NHL season between Anaheim, and their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. Showing some signs of growing pains at the NHL level, Drysdale would score three goals and five assists in 24 games for the Ducks in 2020-21.
Earning more playing time in his first full NHL season, Drysdale’s numbers dramatically improved during the 2021-22 season, scoring four goals and 28 assists in 81 games. Acquiring minutes on Anaheim’s powerplay unit as well, Drysdale would produce a total of 12 assists with the man advantage. 
Throughout much of his career in the OHL, as well as a modest amount of NHL experience, there is no doubt that Drysdale has the capabilities to be a solid offensive contributor from the blue line. However, the Ducks will certainly be looking for Drysdale to grow his defensive attributes over the life of this contract, to become a more complete defenseman.
Over his 113 games at the NHL level, Drysdale has a commendable 101 blocked shots but also carries a 25/71 ratio in terms of takeaways/giveaways, as well as a career CF% of 49.1% and a oiSV% of 89.7%. Much of this could be attributed to the lack of talent surrounding Drysdale on Anaheim’s roster, but he will need to improve on this production nonetheless to become the defenseman the Ducks are hoping he can be.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Darren Dreger of TSN was the first to report Anaheim had signed Drysdale.
San Jose Sharks Sign Jake Furlong To Entry-Level Contract
After signing forward Quentin Musty to an entry-level contract yesterday, the San Jose Sharks have inked another prospect to an entry-level deal as well. According to a team release, the organization has signed defenseman Jake Furlong to a standard three-year entry-level contract.
Coming to San Jose as the 140th overall selection of the 2022 NHL Draft, Furlong has recently begun his fourth season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, earning the captaincy just before the start of the year.
In back-to-back solid point-scoring seasons for the Mooseheads, Furlong has racked up 11 goals and 81 assists in 134 games over his sophomore and junior campaigns. In last year’s playoff race, playing in 21 total postseason games, Furlong scored one goal and 11 assists, nearly helping his team to the Memorial Cup Tournament before being ousted in the QMJHL Finals to the Quebec City Remparts in six games.
Clearly showing leadership capabilities, as well as solid on-ice play, Furlong has a legitimate shot to make San Jose’s roster over the next couple of seasons. With a willingness to join the play on offense, and being of adequate size for an NHL blue line, Furlong will have every opportunity to earn a spot on the Sharks in their rebuilding efforts.
Waivers: 10/05/23
Another set of familiar and intriguing players are set to hit the waiver wire this afternoon, with the Seattle Kraken containing the most quantity of any organization. Per James Mirtle of The Athletic, the entire list is as follows:
Calgary Flames
D Nick DeSimone
F Mathias Emilio Pettersen
F Martin Pospisil
Pittsburgh Penguins
F Andreas Johnsson
F Joona Koppanen
F Alexander Nylander
Seattle Kraken
D Connor Carrick
F Cameron Hughes
F Kole Lind
F Max McCormick
D Gustav Olofsson
F Andrew Poturalski
D Mitch Reinke
D Jimmy Schuldt
F Devin Shore
F Marian Studenic
Training Camp Cuts: 10/05/23
Less than a week away from the opening night of the 2023-24 NHL season, teams continue to make roster cuts in an effort to finalize their official roster heading into the year. As always, we’ll track roster moves here.
Calgary Flames (via a team release)
F Lucas Ciona (to Calgary, AHL)
D Yan Kuznetsov (to Calgary, AHL)
D Jeremie Poirier (to Calgary, AHL)
G Dustin Wolf (to Calgary, AHL)
F Connor Zary (to Calgary, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via a team release)
F Brandon Kozun (released from PTO)
F Joel Kiviranta (released from PTO)
F Jason Polin (to Colorado, AHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets (via Aaron Portzline/The Athletic)
D Tim Berni (released from PTO)
G Pavel Cajan (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Corson Ceulemans (to Cleveland, AHL)
G Aaron Dell (released from PTO)
D Stanislav Svozil (to Cleveland, AHL)
Minnesota Wild (via a team release)
D Daemon Hunt (to Iowa, AHL)
Nashville Predators (via a team release)
F Mark Jankowski (to Milwaukee, AHL)
New Jersey Devils (via a team release)
G Jeremy Brodeur (to Utica, AHL)
Ottawa Senators (via a team release)
F Tyler Boucher (to Belleville, AHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (via a team release)
F Avery Hayes (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
F Rem Pitlick (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
F Samuel Poulin (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
F Valtteri Puustinen (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
D Xavier Ouellet (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
D Ty Smith (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
Seattle Kraken (via a team release)
D Connor Carrick (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Luke Henman (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Cameron Hughes (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Kole Lind (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Max McCormick (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Gustav Olofsson (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Ville Petman (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Andrew Poturalski (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Mitch Reinke (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Jimmy Schuldt (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Peetro Seppala (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Devin Shore (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
G Ales Stezka (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
F Marian Studenic (to Coachella Valley, AHL) pending waiver clearance
Winnipeg Jets (via a team release)
F Henri Nikkanen (to Manitoba, AHL)
D Elias Salomonsson (to Skelleftea, SHL)
This page will be updated throughout the day
Edmonton Oilers Sign Brady Stonehouse To Entry-Level Contract
According to a team release, the Edmonton Oilers announce that the organization has come to a three-year, entry-level contract agreement with forward Brady Stonehouse. An undrafted free agent before the contract, Stonehouse had recently spent the last two seasons with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League.
During his first year in Ottawa, at 17 years of age, Stonehouse would go on to have a relatively quiet year as a rookie in the league, scoring 18 goals and 17 assists in 68 games. Managing only four games as an organization in the postseason of the 2021-22 season, Stonehouse would chip in with only one goal.
In his sophomore campaign during the 2022-23 OHL season, Stonehouse would break out as one of the better goal-scorers in the 67’s lineup. Playing a full 68 regular season games once again, Stonehouse tallied a total of 37 goals and 20 assists, leading the entire organization in goal scoring.
A persistent fore-checker on offense, Stonehouse has the capabilities to be quite a nuisance in the Oilers lineup in the future. Having already played one game for Ottawa in the current year, Stonehouse will continue to grow his abilities at the OHL level, before finally making the jump to professional hockey.
Waivers: 10/03/23
Oct. 4: All players have cleared waivers, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. This means a pair of rather highly-touted Senators, Bernard-Docker and Sokolov, will remain with the organization.
Oct. 3: Following a large list of players hitting the waiver wire this time yesterday, today’s list is quite a bit smaller, but there is some solid talent that could potentially be claimed by a different organization. Today’s full list of players hitting the waiver wire comes courtesy of TSN’s Chris Johnston:
Boston Bruins
D Alec Regula
D Dan Renouf
F Anthony Richard
D Reilly Walsh
D Parker Wotherspoon
Edmonton Oilers
New Jersey Devils
Ottawa Senators
D Jacob Bernard-Docker
F Matthew Highmore
D Jacob Larsson
F Egor Sokolov
Philadelphia Flyers
Pierre-Olivier Joseph Considered Day-To-Day; Xavier Ouellet Recalled
In preparation for the team’s game tomorrow night against the Detroit Red Wings, Shelly Anderson of The Hockey News reports that defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Taking his place in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup will be defenseman Xavier Ouellet, who had been previously cut from Pittsburgh’s training camp roster on September 29th (X Link).
In three exhibition games up to this point in the preseason, Joseph has scored one goal, averaging a whopping 23 minutes of ice time per night. Receiving plenty of time on ice during training camp, it is largely expected that his ATOI will dramatically decrease during the regular season, projecting as a bottom-pairing defenseman on the Penguins this year.
Last year, Joseph averaged just over 15 minutes a night, the lowest on the team among defensemen with at least 50 games played. Production-wise, having far and away the best statistical season of his young career, Joseph would score five goals and 16 assists in 75 games.
Carrying solid top-four options with the additions of Ryan Graves and Erik Karlsson over the summer, Joseph will likely slot up next to Chad Ruhwedel in the bottom-pairing. Unfortunately for Joseph, with a healthy Kris Letang heading into the season, and Karlsson taking over the first powerplay unit, Joseph’s powerplay availability from last year will likely diminish as well.
All in all, Joseph is undoubtedly expected to be on the opening night roster against the Chicago Blackhawks next week, and Ouellet will get another game or two before making his way back down to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Training Camp Cuts: 10/03/23
Now exactly one week away from the first game of the 2023-24 NHL season, teams are working overtime to get their roster down to 23 players. As always, we’ll keep track of those roster moves here.
Boston Bruins (via a team release)
D Mike Callahan (to Providence, AHL)
F Fabian Lysell (to Providence, AHL)
D Alec Regula (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Dan Renouf (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F Anthony Richard (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Reilly Walsh (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
D Parker Wotherspoon (to Providence, AHL) pending waiver clearance
Calgary Flames (via a team release)
F Clark Bishop (to Calgary, AHL)
D Colton Poolman (to Calgary, AHL)
G Oscar Dansk (to Calgary, AHL)
F Ben Jones (to Calgary, AHL)
D Brady Lyle (to Calgary, AHL)
D Yan Kuznetsov (to Calgary, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via X)(via Peter Baugh/The Athletic)
D Wyatt Aamodt (to Colorado, AHL)
F Peter Holland (to Colorado, AHL)
D Corey Schueneman (to Colorado, AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (via Mark Spector/Sportsnet)
F Xavier Bourgault (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Seth Griffith (to Bakersfield, AHL) pending waiver clearance
F James Hamblin (to Bakersfield, AHL)
New Jersey Devils (via X)
F Graeme Clarke (to Utica, AHL)
F Kyle Criscuolo (to Utica, AHL)
D Daniil Misyul (to Utica, AHL)
F Chase Stillman (to Utica, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (via X)
D Spencer Sova (to Erie, OHL)
Winnipeg Jets (via X)
F Brad Lambert (to Manitoba, AHL)
F Jeff Malott (to Manitoba, AHL)
D Ashton Sautner (to Manitoba, AHL)
F Dominic Toninato (to Manitoba, AHL)
This page will be updated throughout the day
Derek Stepan Announces Retirement
A veteran of nearly 900 games at the NHL level, the NHLPA reports that forward Derek Stepan has officially hung up his skates. A veteran of 13 seasons, Stepan spent his career with the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, and the Carolina Hurricanes.
A product of the University of Wisconsin Badgers of the NCAA, Stepan had a solid collegiate career, scoring 12 goals and 42 assists in 41 games in his final year, taking his team to the National Championship in 2010, eventually losing to the Boston College Eagles. Two years prior to his career in Wisconsin, the Rangers had drafted Stepan with the 51st overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft.
After his collegiate career came to an end, Stepan would join New York for the 2010-11 season, playing in all 82 games, scoring 21 goals and 24 assists, finishing 13th in Calder Trophy voting at season’s end. He would continue his streak of playing in every regular season game, never missing a minute of action throughout the 2013-14 season. Having already established himself as one of the best center options for the Rangers, he would help lead the team to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, losing in five games to the Los Angeles Kings.
Separating himself as both a leader and a solid contributor on offense, New York rewarded Stepan financially, signing him to a six-year, $39MM extension in the summer before the 2015-16 campaign. Unfortunately for both him and the organization, he would only last two years under that deal with the Rangers, as the team entered a rebuilding phase shortly thereafter. In the offseason after the 2016-17 season, New York traded Stepan, along with goaltender Antti Raanta, to the Coyotes for Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall selection in that year’s draft (used to select Lias Andersson).
Quickly becoming one of the better players on Arizona’s roster, Stepan rewarded the summer acquisition, scoring 14 goals and 42 assists with the Coyotes in his first season. During his three-year stay in the Desert, Stepan would play a total of 154 games, scoring 29 goals and 62 assists overall, leading the Coyotes to the playoffs only once in the 2019-20 campaign. With only one more season remaining on his contract extension, Arizona sent Stepan packing again to Ottawa for a second-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft.
His time with the Senators was underwhelming, as Stepan struggled mightily in the pandemic-shortened season, citing the difficulties of being away from family in such a tumultuous world climate. Well outside the playoff picture, Ottawa explored trade ideas for Stepan at the deadline, but his season would be ended completely in late February due to a shoulder injury.
Hitting the unrestricted free agent market for the first time in his career, Stepan would sign back-to-back one-year deals with the Hurricanes, hoping to compete for a Stanley Cup to conclude his career. Spending a majority of his time in a bottom-six role, Carolina relied heavily on Stepan’s leadership and experience to help grow the young crop of Hurricanes coming into the league.
In the entirety of his career, Stepan will finish with 890 regular season games played, scoring 182 goals and 333 assists, earning several votes for the Lady Byng as well as the Selke Trophy throughout his career. Aside from the regular season, Stepan would play in 120 playoff games, scoring 20 goals and 35 assists overall, including one trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.
We at Pro Hockey Rumors congratulate Stepan on a respectable career, and we wish him the best as he moves into the next chapter of his life.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images