Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Montreal Canadiens Recall Arber Xhekaj

at CDT | by 5 Comments

Though it was already expected, the Montreal Canadiens have officially placed Paul Byron on long-term injured reserve and recalled Arber Xhekaj from the minor leagues. Byron is now out for at least 24 days, though his actual return is still completely indefinite.

The 33-year-old has been crushed by injuries the last several seasons, an unfortunate end to what was a pretty impressive story. Selected in the sixth round in 2007, he was an undersized offensive player from the QMJHL that needed to revamp his game to make it in the NHL. After several years grinding through the minor leagues in the Calgary Flames organization, he found a home and quickly became an NHL regular.

In 2016-17, he reached a career-high with 22 goals and 43 points, becoming a reliable even-strength scoring threat for the Canadiens. Overall, he has 98 goals and 208 points in 521 games. His contract, which carries a $3.4MM cap hit, will expire at the end of the season.

Xhekaj, meanwhile, has been the talk of training camp with the Canadiens. The 21-year-old undrafted defenseman is a mean, physical presence on the ice that seems to have absolutely no fear. The 6’4″ bruiser may not ever be a Norris candidate but with excellent skating ability and NHL size and strength, he quickly became a fan favorite in Montreal.

With the team focused on the future, young players like Xhekaj will get a great opportunity with the Canadiens this season. Byron’s contract gives the team a little more flexibility to work with, at least until he finds a way to get back on the ice.

Hockey Canada Announces Leadership Changes

at CDT | by 3 Comments

After months of public pressure, parliamentary hearings, and sponsorship terminations, Hockey Canada has made a change at the head of the organization. Scott Smith, who only took over as CEO earlier this year, will depart effectively immediately. The entire board of directors will also step down, leaving an interim management committee to run things until a new board appoints a new CEO.

The national organization has come under fire for its handling of sexual assault cases, including an incident in 2018 that involved members of the World Junior team. Two different funds used, in part, for settling sexual assault complaints were discovered by investigative journalists this summer, leading the public, federal government, and businesses to call for the resignation of all senior leadership.

Over the last week, Hockey Canada lost all of its premier sponsors, including Tim Hortons, Scotiabank, Nike, Telus, Esso, and more. Today. equipment manufacturer Bauer announced that it would pause its affiliation with the Canadian men’s teams.

The new board is set to be selected by no later than December 17, 2022.

Carl Hagelin, Kody Clark Undergo Surgery

at CDT | by 4 Comments

It’s tough news for veteran forward Carl Hagelin, as the Washington Capitals announced today that he underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a chronic left hip injury. Hagelin is out indefinitely, after missing a chunk of last season with an eye injury.

That’s not all, though, as the Capitals also announced surgery for Kody Clark to address a chronic condition with his left quad tendon. The prospect will miss six to eight months following the procedure.

Hagelin, 34, has made a career out of his skating ability, bursting up and down the ice with ease to put pressure on opposing players. That speed, defensive awareness, and versatility has made him an outstanding role player for great teams, and helped take the Pittsburgh Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships.

While some players struggle to reach the postseason at all, Hagelin has played 141 playoff games in his career and was rewarded nicely for that experience with a four-year, $11MM contract in 2019. That deal will expire after this season, meaning a serious hip issue might be spelling the end for the Swedish speedster.

Clark, meanwhile, is just starting on his professional journey. The 22-year-old winger was the 47th overall pick in 2018 and played his first full season for the Hershey Bears last year. In 63 games he managed to score eight goals and 19 points while racking up 53 penalty minutes. Losing key development time like this is never a good sign for a prospect’s long-term outlook.

Tyler Myers Out 2-4 Weeks With Lower-Body Injury

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Vancouver Canucks will be without another one of their key players for the start of the season, as Tyler Myers has been ruled out for the next two to four weeks. Myers is dealing with a lower-body injury according to head coach Bruce Boudreau.

The Canucks are already without Brock Boeser and Ilya Mikheyev, though there was some optimism surrounding both players when Boudreau spoke with the media. Harman Dayal of The Athletic relays that both will be with the team on the season-opening road trip and that Boeser could practice in full contact as soon as Sunday.

While Myers continues to be a source of frustration for Canucks fans, given his performance since arriving in Vancouver, there’s no denying his place in the lineup. The 6’8″ defenseman carries a huge amount of responsibility, averaging 22 minutes a night including more short-handed time than anyone else.

Without him (and Travis Dermott, while he continues to work back from his own injury) the team is currently working with a less-than-ideal defense group that likely includes Quinn Hughes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Kyle Burroughs, Tucker Poolman, Luke Schenn, Christian Wolanin, and Jack Rathbone on opening day.

That is of course unless another move is made in the days ahead. If Myers were sure to miss four weeks, the team could place him on long-term injured reserve and gain some extra flexibility to add a defenseman off waivers – today’s group includes several interesting names – or the free agent market.

Either way, Myers won’t be in the lineup for a while.

Waivers: 10/07/22

at CDT | by 13 Comments

It’s an important day for waivers as the regular season approaches, and several potential targets are available. With the preseason wrapping up, teams will try to sneak players through at the last second and keep them in the organization for the time being.

Many of these placements are due to salary cap restrictions or LTIR machinations to give teams maximum flexibility as the season begins. Everyone from yesterday’s list cleared.

Here is today’s group of waiver additions:

Carolina Hurricanes

Jordan Martinook

Dallas Stars

Anton Khudobin

Edmonton Oilers

Mattias Janmark
Dmitri Samorukov

Minnesota Wild

Steven Fogarty

New Jersey Devils

Andreas Johnsson
Brian Pinho

Philadelphia Flyers

Kevin Connauton
Troy Grosenick

St. Louis Blues

Martin Frk
Klim Kostin
Matthew Highmore

Vancouver Canucks

Justin Dowling

Winnipeg Jets

Johnathan Kovacevic

MacKenzie Weegar Signs Extension With Calgary Flames

at CDT | by 9 Comments

The Calgary Flames have signed another one of their newcomers to a massive extension. The Flames and MacKenzie Weegar have agreed to an eight-year extension worth $50MM ($6.25MM AAV). Weegar was scheduled for unrestricted free agency after the upcoming season. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff adds that it has a full no-trade clause for the first four years of the deal and a partial no-trade for the final four. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic has the full breakdown:

  • 2023-24: $4.25MM salary + $2.0MM signing bonus
  • 2024-25: $4.25MM salary + $2.0MM signing bonus
  • 2025-26: $4.25MM salary + $2.0MM signing bonus
  • 2026-27: $4.25MM salary + $2.0MM signing bonus
  • 2027-28: $6.25MM salary
  • 2028-29: $6.25MM salary
  • 2029-30: $6.25MM salary
  • 2030-31: $6.25MM salary

Acquired along with Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Schwindt, and a first-round pick this summer in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk (and a fourth-rounder), Weegar immediately publicized his desire to stay in Calgary long-term. It makes sense that a player who has climbed from being a seventh-round afterthought to a first-pairing star would be looking for some security, and the Flames are happy to oblige.

Still, given that Weegar will turn 29 this season, an eight-year extension is a rather risky commitment. He’ll be 37 by the time the contract ends, not exactly in the traditional prime of an NHL defenseman.

There is a real possibility for surplus value in the first few years, given how well Weegar has played the last few seasons, but even then he’ll already be getting paid like a top-pairing option. A $6.25MM cap hit will tie him with Jeff Petry, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, and Josh Morrissey for the 34th highest-paid defenseman in the league.

A couple of those names should send a little bit of hesitation down the spine of Flames fans who don’t want to be stuck with an overpaid, underperforming veteran, but there are a few things in Calgary’s favor.

One, the salary cap is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, meaning Weegar’s contract will not be as significant as those other numbers have been. Second, the team is obviously focused on keeping their competitive window open right now, even after losing Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau in the offseason. Huberdeau’s massive eight-year, $84MM extension proves that. That contract will likely look terrible down the line but for now, the team has at least two years with this exceptional core in place.

Notably, both Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin, two of the most important players on the team, are scheduled for UFA status after 2023-24. They will both be looking for raises, and the Flames may have to make some tough decisions with the rest of their roster to keep them. If that means cutting talent elsewhere, they’ll at least have Huberdeau and Weegar (and Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, and Rasmus Andersson) locked in as leaders for the long term.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Tyler Pitlick Released From PTO

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

There was a time not so long ago when Tyler Pitlick was considered a solid bottom-six option in the NHL. The big, physical forward was even selected by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, and then netted them a fourth-round pick when the Calgary Flames wanted to add him to their squad.

Today, Pitlick was released from his PTO by the St. Louis Blues, meaning he’s without a job just a few days before the season begins. The 30-year-old forward played just 39 games last season split between the Flames and Montreal Canadiens, scoring just five points in the process. It appears as though his days in the NHL may be numbered, and a minor league landing spot may be next.

Selected 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010, Pitlick never did become the two-way center that some expected. In fact, he barely played in the middle at all at the NHL level, instead settling into a depth role on the wing, where he used his physicality more than anything else. His best season came in 2017-18 with the Dallas Stars, when he scored 14 goals and 27 points but otherwise he has just 62 other points in the remaining 245 games of his career.

What follows is unclear for Pitlick but with so few opportunities available around the league, the minor leagues or overseas may have to be an option. He hasn’t played in the AHL since the 2015-16 season when he had 21 points in 37 games for the Bakersfield Condors.

Training Camp Cuts: 10/07/22

at CDT | by 1 Comment

It’s hockey time! The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators will play regular season hockey this afternoon from Czechia, while the rest of the league finishes up their preseason schedule.

With the North American start just a few days away, teams will be cutting down their rosters to a final 23-man group. Importantly, some of these will be reversed as soon as the season begins and are just because of salary cap implications.

Here are today’s cuts:

Chicago Blackhawks (via team release)

F Colton Dach (to Kelowna, WHL)
G Mitchell Weeks (released from ATO)

Edmonton Oilers (via team release)

F Mattias Janmark (to Bakersfield, AHL)*
D Dmitri Samorukov (to Bakersfield, AHL)*

Los Angeles Kings (via team release)

F Lias Andersson (to Ontario, AHL)
F T.J. Tynan (to Ontario, AHL)
D Jordan Spence (to Ontario, AHL)
D Tobias Bjornfot (to Ontario, AHL)
G David Hrenak (to Ontario, AHL)
F Jacob Doty (released from PTO)

Minnesota Wild (via team release)

F Steven Fogarty (to Iowa, AHL)*

New Jersey Devils (via team release)

F Graeme Clarke (to Utica, AHL)
F Nolan Foote (to Utica, AHL)
F Brian Halonen (to Utica, AHL)
F Aarne Talvitie (to Utica, AHL)
D Reilly Walsh (to Utica, AHL)
D Nikita Okhotiuk (to Utica, AHL)
G Nico Daws (to Utica, AHL)
D Akira Schmid (to Utica, AHL)
F Brian Pinho (to Utica, AHL)*

New York Rangers (via team release)

F Jonny Brodzinski (to Hartford, AHL)

Philadelphia Flyers (via Olivia Reiner, Philadelphia Inquirer)

D Kevin Connauton (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)*
G Troy Grosenick (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)*

St. Louis Blues (via team release)

F Will Bitten (to Springfield, AHL)
F Mathias Laferriere (to Springfield, AHL)
F Hugh McGing (to Springfield, AHL)
D Matthew Kessel (to Springfield, AHL)
D Brady Lyle (to Springfield, AHL)
D Steven Santini (to Springfield, AHL)
D Tyler Tucker (to Springfield, AHL)
G Joel Hofer (to Springfield, AHL)
F Tyler Pitlick (released from PTO)

Tampa Bay Lightning (via team release)

D Nick Perbix (to Syracuse, AHL)

Winnipeg Jets (via team release)

F Brad Lambert (to Manitoba, AHL)
D Johnathan Kovacevic (to Manitoba, AHL)*

*Pending waivers

This page will be updated throughout the day

Buffalo Sabres Recall Sean Malone

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Buffalo Sabres are going with a mix of youth and experience for tonight’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Players like Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, and Jack Quinn are all in the lineup, but so are Zemgus Girgensons and Alex Tuch. Another veteran name that will be joining the group is minor league forward Sean Malone, who has been recalled to appear in tonight’s match after being cut earlier this month.

Malone, 27, has spent nearly his entire professional career with the hometown organization, as the Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres in 2013 and has played parts of five seasons with the club. In 2020-21 he tried to go a different way by joining the Nashville Predators but after seeing just a single NHL appearance with them, came back to play for Rochester in 2021-22.

It’s good that he did, as the Americans enjoyed a 20-goal, 37-point campaign from Malone, in just 39 regular season appearances. He was good in the playoffs too with seven points in ten games, and should be a leader for the club this season. While he likely won’t play much in the NHL, getting him into a preseason match is a nice reward for the minor league star, and will get him used to the group in case he needs to fill in at any point this year.

Malone will likely be sent back to the minors in the coming days, as this is Buffalo’s final preseason match.

Mikhail Berdin To Spend 2022-23 In KHL

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

It was interesting, earlier this week, when the Winnipeg Jets recalled Arvid Holm from the minor leagues to serve as an extra goaltender. That third-string spot would have presumably gone to Mikhail Berdin under normal circumstances but he was away from the team.

Now, the Jets have explained where Berdin is. In a release, the team has indicated that per a recommendation from the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, the young goaltender will not be with the organization this season. His agent Dan Milstein tweets that Berdin will return to Russia to be closer to his family and will play in the KHL this season.

The Jets will not incur a cap charge and Berdin will not be paid by the team. Instead, he will be allowed to sign a one-year deal in the KHL for this season. His NHL rights will stay with Winnipeg for the time being.

Now 24, Berdin was a sixth-round pick of the Jets back in 2016 and has been away from Russia for years. He spent two full seasons in the USHL following his draft, and has been in the minor league system for the past four. There was a short 14-game stint with St. Petersburg SKA in 2020-21 when the AHL season was postponed, but beyond that, he has been competing in North America for six years.

Hopefully, whatever has caused him to need this split from the organization will be resolved and he can continue his pro career here in the future. The young netminder has a lot of upside and posted a .902 save percentage in 32 games with the Manitoba Moose last season.

Interestingly, because of his age and contract status, Berdin should actually qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency next summer. That means the two sides could be parting ways permanently, though since this is a special circumstance there could be other factors at play. Even if he does qualify for UFA status, the Jets would be free to sign him to another contract next offseason.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top