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Rangers Recall Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Reassign Brett Berard

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The New York Rangers are making a small swap at the bottom of their forward core. The organization announced they’ve recalled Benoit-Olivier Groulx from their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, and reassigned Brett Berard in a corresponding roster move.

According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, the roster move should be short-lived. Walker shares that center Filip Chytil is a game-time decision for tomorrow night’s contest against the Vegas Golden Knights leaving the Rangers without any extra options down the middle.

Should Chytil’s injury prohibit him from playing tomorrow night, Groulx will likely make his debut with the Rangers. He had spent the first four years of his professional career with the Anaheim Ducks organization before signing a one-year, $775K contract with New York as an unrestricted free agent this past summer.

He’s quickly become the top AHL call-up option at center for the Rangers. Groulx has scored 11 goals and 29 points in 32 games for the Wolf Pack this season good for second on the team in scoring behind Alex Belzile.

Berard may suit up for Hartford given they have a few upcoming home games this weekend. He won’t be down in the AHL long given how he’s played for the Rangers this season. He’s scored three goals and seven points in 19 games averaging 11:20 of ice time in the team’s bottom six.

Despite playing nearly half as many games as the rest of his teammates in New York, Berard has already climbed to 13th on the team in hits with 27. He still has a few things to clean up defensively but Berard’s physicality and ability to stay out of the penalty box has made him a solid addition to the Rangers this season.

Minnesota Wild Recall David Jiříček

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Jan. 9: Shore is back up to the NHL today, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. His reassignment was part of optimizing the Wild’s cap space when transferring Jakub Lauko to long-term injured reserve yesterday. Shore is expected to play against the Avalanche on Thursday.

Jan. 8: The injury bug continues to affect the names and faces on the blue line for the Minnesota Wild. In another roster move to bring a defenseman to the NHL level, the Wild announced they’ve recalled defenseman David Jiříček to the active roster and sent forward Devin Shore to their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild.

The need for another defenseman was created last night when Brock Faber left the game due to an upper-body injury. Given that defensive prospect Carson Lambos was already filling in as a depth defenseman for the injured Jared Spurgeon, one of Lambos or Jiříček is expected to debut with the Wild tomorrow night against the Colorado Avalanche.

It’s more insult to injury for a Minnesota roster that has struggled through injuries this season. In just over a week, they’ve lost two out of their top three defensemen to injury and will have to navigate their upcoming schedule with a diminished blue line. Still, the Wild remain undefeated in the new year and are 6-4-0 in their last 10 contests.

Given that Jiříček is one of two healthy right-handed shooting defensemen on the roster he’ll likely get the nod over Lambos in tomorrow’s game. Still, it could be a toss-up between the two blue liners given their play in the AHL this season.

Before being acquired by the Wild from the Columbus Blue Jackets in one of this season’s biggest trades, Jiříček scored two goals and three points in four games for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters one year after registering seven goals and 19 points in 29 games with the same team.

His time in Iowa has not been as fruitful. Jiříček has only tallied two assists in 11 games with the AHL Wild. It’s likely more of a testament to Iowa’s playstyle rather than a step backward in Jiříček’s development given the team only has one defenseman with 10 or more points this year.

Returning to the AHL is Shore, who has been a bright spot for Iowa this year. He’s scored two goals and 10 points in 14 games as an assistant captain for AHL Iowa while tallying one assist in 21 games in Minnesota averaging 8:21 of ice time per game.

Anaheim Ducks Recall Sam Colangelo

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Sam Colangelo is receiving another opportunity to prove his worth at the NHL level. The Anaheim Ducks announced they’ve recalled Colangelo from their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.

Colangelo has already accrued eight games with Anaheim this season thanks to a lengthier call-up in mid-November. He was given a consistent role in the team’s bottom six and picked up 14 hits and 10 shots on goal but failed to find the scoresheet.

The Ducks organization isn’t viewing Colangelo’s lack of production in the NHL as an indication of his talent level. The former 36th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft has been flat-out electric at the AHL level scoring 13 goals and 22 points in 24 games during his rookie campaign and is leading the Gulls in scoring.

While Colangelo may not be a top contender for the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award, which is given annually to the AHL’s most outstanding rookie, he is certainly in the running and could potentially earn a spot on the All-Rookie Team by the end of the season.

Unfortunately for Colangelo, unless another roster move is made before the team’s upcoming matchup against the St. Louis Blues tomorrow night, it’s unlikely he’ll crack the lineup given he’s the 14th forward on the active roster. Still, should Anaheim desire more offense in their bottom six, they could swap out Ross Johnston or Jansen Harkins on the team’s fourth line.

Columbus Blue Jackets Recall Luca Del Bel Belluz

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The American Hockey League’s highest-scoring player is headed to the NHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets announced they’ve recalled Luca Del Bel Belluz from their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.

Del Bel Belluz is 34 games through the second professional season of his career and is becoming quite the prospect in the Blue Jackets organization. He’s scored 17 goals and 20 assists in those games and although he doesn’t lead the AHL in either category he is leading in total production.

It’s a significant step forward for the 21-year-old drafted 44th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Draft. Del Bel Belluz has already blown past the final production of his rookie campaign last year when he scored nine goals and 31 points in 58 contests.

Given that AHL Cleveland only has a +8 goal differential through the first 34 games, it’s a testament to Del Bel Belluz’s development on the defensive side of the puck that he’s managed a +9 rating through this point in the regular season. He’ll likely play in the second game of his career with Columbus tomorrow night should Sean Monahan’s upper-body injury keep him out of the lineup.

Another bonus for Del Bel Belluz this year is that he’ll compete for a playoff spot no matter where he’s at. The Monsters are only one point back of the North Division-leading Rochester Americans while the Blue Jackets are holding on to the final wild-card spot in the tightly wound Eastern Conference.

Ottawa Senators Reassign Jan Jeník

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After playing in his first game since last April, and first with the Ottawa Senators, forward Jan Jeník is headed back to the American Hockey League. The Senators organization announced they’ve reassigned Jenik to their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators.

Jeník is best known for his time as a higher-end prospect in the Arizona Coyotes organization. The Coyotes drafted him with the 65th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft and he was quickly loaned to the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. He was a point-per-game player in his first year with the Bulldogs and wrapped up his OHL career with a 22-goal, 56-point performance in 27 games during the 2019-20 season.

He transitioned to professional hockey in 2020-21, when he first played for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. Jeník became an above-average scorer at the AHL level for the next four years but never seemed to find his next level in the NHL. He collected 46 goals and 120 points in 165 games for the Roadrunners from 2020 to 2024 but only had four goals and six points in 22 games for the Coyotes over the same timeline.

Since his future in Arizona was seemingly closing shut, he was traded to the Senators organization this past summer for Egor Sokolov. Jeník quickly signed a one-year, $775K contract with his new team but failed to crack the NHL roster out of training camp.

Due to injuries, he’s been limited to only 13 games with the AHL Senators this season. Still, when healthy, Jeník has been a quietly productive forward scoring four goals and seven points good for 14th on the team in scoring.

Canucks Assign Filip Hronek To AHL On Conditioning Loan

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The Vancouver Canucks announced they’ve loaned defenseman Filip Hronek to their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, on a conditioning loan. Should he suit up in Abbotsford’s next contest on January 10th, it’ll be Hronek’s first game since suffering a lower-body injury on November 27th.

Since Hronek has been on the long-term injured reserve the transaction won’t have the same requirements as the standard 14-day conditioning loan. Hronek’s loan will last for six days or three games, with an opportunity to extend the loan for another two games. His contract remains on LTIR until he’s activated and placed on the NHL roster.

Given that AHL Abbotsford has three games, with the final coming on January 14th, Hronek will trigger the eligibility requirements on the same day. Vancouver has the option of activating Hronek at any point during the conditioning loan meaning he could feature at any point during the Canucks’ upcoming road trip.

Ultimately, he’ll likely return to game action on January 16th against the Los Angeles Kings should he not suffer any setbacks during the loan. His return to the lineup will help alleviate many of Vancouver’s defensive woes over the last few weeks.

Although the Canucks have the luxury of deploying Quinn Hughes on most nights the team has looked completely different during Hronek’s absence. Vancouver has managed an 11-7-3 record with Hronek in the lineup this year but has struggled through a 7-5-6 run after he suffered the injury.

Hronek should reprise his role on the team’s top-pairing next to Hughes and look to build upon his one goal and nine points already scored this season. He’s coming off a career-year last season in which he scored five goals and 48 points in 81 games and will look to near that 0.60 point-per-game average upon his return.

Florida Panthers To Host Winter Classic, Tampa Bay Lightning To Host Stadium Series

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The Commissioner of the National Hockey League has followed through with his vague promise from the 2025 NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. The Florida Panthers announced they would host the New York Rangers in the 2026 Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park, home of the MLB’s Miami Marlins. Their intra-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced they would host the Boston Bruins in the 2026 NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It’ll be the southernmost outdoor event the NHL has attempted since successfully pulling off the 2020 NHL Winter Classic in Dallas, Texas. Unlike the Cotton Bowl Stadium, LoanDepot Park has some flexibility with the weather thanks to a retractable roof. There’s a high chance the roof will be used for a hockey event given that the temperature in Miami on January 1st, 2025 reached a high of 81°F (27°C ).

The Panthers organization will take part in their first Winter Classic and outdoor event. This is quite different from their opponent, the Rangers, who have already participated in two Winter Classics and three Stadium Series games.

Traveling northwest to Tampa Bay, the Lightning will play in their second Stadium Series contest in franchise history after defeating the Nashville Predators in 2022 at Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Like their in-state counterpart, it’ll be the first time the Lightning have hosted an outdoor event in franchise history.

Unfortunately, unlike the stadium amenities at LoanDepot Park, Raymond James Stadium does not have a roof and is exposed to the elements. Tampa is relatively milder than Miami in terms of heat, but still recorded a high of 64°F (18°C) in February of 2024 which could make the ice conditions more unpleasant.

Minnesota Wild Place Jared Spurgeon On IR, Recall Three

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As expected, the Minnesota Wild have placed defenseman and captain Jared Spurgeon on injured reserve considering he’s likely to miss the next two to three weeks with a lower-body injury. Filling Spurgeon’s spot on the roster, and the two additional openings will be Travis Boyd, Brendan Gaunce, and Carson Lambos after being recalled from their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild.

Whether anticipated or not, Spurgeon’s time on injured reserve has significantly impacted the Wild over the past two seasons. Minnesota’s all-time highest-scoring defenseman played 79 games during the 2022-23 season but was limited to just 16 games last year due to back and hip problems that ultimately required surgery. This year, due to lingering issues from last season’s surgeries, and other injuries including the current one, Spurgeon has been limited to 32 of the Wild’s 40 games.

As the highest-paid defenseman on the roster this season with a salary of $7.575MM until 2026-27, Spurgeon could become a major drain on the Wild’s salary cap picture should he not be able to put together a full season. Spurgeon has recorded four goals and 13 points averaging 20:43 of ice time for the Wild this season.

Boyd and Gaunce’s recall may result in a spot in the lineup but they’re valuable forward depth regardless. The two haven’t combined for any points with the Wild this season over eight games but are one in two in scoring for the AHL Wild with 20 points and 17 points, respectively.

Lambos again earns a call-up rather than new high-end defensive prospect David Jiříček. The former 26th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft has struggled immensely since transitioning to professional hockey last year. The Winnipeg native didn’t achieve his NHL debut during his first recall from January 1st to January 5th and has only recorded six goals and 19 points in 96 career games for the AHL Wild.

Maple Leafs Place Jake McCabe On IR, Recall Marshall Rifai

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Jake McCabe’s fight with Philadelphia Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway from Sunday night will have some lasting effects. McCabe won’t be in the lineup for the rematch tomorrow night as the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they’ve placed him on injured reserve and recalled defenseman Marshall Rifai in his stead.

The fight between McCabe and Hathaway ended with a scary sequence. As the pair were falling to the ice as the fight ended, Hathaway landed on McCabe’s head causing the injury. Toronto hasn’t offered an official diagnosis for McCabe’s injury but he did not return to game action.

It’ll be a sizeable loss for the Maple Leafs should McCabe miss significant time. He’s been a more than effective blue liner for Toronto since the organization acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2022-23 NHL season.

He has consistently averaged over 20 minutes per game in Toronto and was one of the team’s most physically imposing defensemen before they signed Chris Tanev this past summer. McCabe arguably had the best season of his career last year scoring eight goals and 28 points in 73 games while finishing second on the team with 219 hits.

The transaction is the second call-up this week for Rifai. He was originally recalled on New Year’s Eve to take the roster spot of the then-injured Auston Matthews and will now take the place of McCabe on the active roster.

He’ll likely become the team’s seventh defenseman giving the recently-extended Philippe Myers more time in the lineup. Despite the two call-ups, Rifai has only played for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this year, recording two goals and four points in 26 contests.

Al MacNeil Passes Away At Age 89

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A legendary member of the Calgary Flames organization, Al MacNeil, has passed away at the age of 89 as announced by the Flames.

Before starting his coaching and executive career in the National Hockey League, MacNeil spent 11 years as a player. He suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins from 1955 to 1968 recording 17 goals and 92 points in 524 games with another four assists in 37 postseason contests.

After a brief hiatus in the CHL and AHL, MacNeil was named assistant coach for the Canadiens ahead of the 1970-71 season. After starting the season with an 11-8-4 record through 23 games, then-head coach Claude Ruel resigned leaving the keys to MacNeil for the remainder of the season.

Montreal rebounded immensely under MacNeil’s stewardship, finishing the regular season on a 31-15-9 tear with a +58 goal differential. After knocking off the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, the Canadiens defeated the Minnesota North Stars and Chicago Blackhawks to win the organization’s 15th Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Despite coaching the team to a Stanley Cup championship, Montreal hired fifth-year head coach Scotty Bowman after leading the St. Louis Blues to three out of the last four Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens had no intentions of MacNeil leaving the organization, naming him head coach of the AHL’s Nova Scotia Voyageurs. He enjoyed success with the Voyageurs, winning three Calder Cup championships in six seasons behind the bench.

After finishing as Director of Player Personnel for the Canadiens in the 1978-79 season, MacNeil became the head coach of the NHL’s Atlanta Flames for the 1979-80 season. He would spend the next two decades with the Flames organization.

MacNeil became the last head coach for the Atlanta Flames while being the first head coach for the Calgary Flames. He finished with a record of 105-93-44 in 240 games but failed to coach the Flames beyond the Conference Finals.

He was promoted to Calgary’s front office after the 1981-82 campaign and became the team’s assistant general manager in 1985. Despite a brief 11-game return as the Flames’ head coach in 2002-03, MacNeil held the role of the assistant general manager until his retirement after the 2005-06 season. MacNeil won the fourth Stanley Cup ring of his career when Calgary dispatched his former employer, the Canadiens, in the 1989 Stanley Cup Final.

Although many will think of franchise icons such as Jarome Iginla, Theo Fleury, Al MacInnis, or Lanny McDonald when pondering the Flames’ success since moving to Alberta, MacNeil remains one of the most historical figures in franchise history. PHR extends our condolences to Al’s friends, family, and the organizations he’s been a part of for the last 70 years.

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