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Gustav Nyquist Could Return This Weekend

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When Gustav Nyquist was shut down with a shoulder injury in late January, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that he was expected to miss the rest of the regular season. That was curious, given he wasn’t going to undergo surgery, and the veteran forward quickly came out to say that he would not give up on the chance to return before the end of the year.

Many speculated that he could potentially be an LTIR playoff addition for a contender, sitting out the whole regular season only to return at some point in the postseason. When the Minnesota Wild sent a fifth-round pick for him at the deadline, it seemed like that wasn’t even a guarantee, given the low cost.

Now, as Michael Russo of The Athletic reports, Nyquist could debut Saturday for the Wild after returning to full practice with the club. That’s quite an impressive addition for a fifth-round pick, given his long history of success in the NHL.

Nyquist, 33, had recorded at least 40 points in the previous eight seasons (save for one lost entirely to injury), including 53 last year. Given how much time he’s missed due to injury, he won’t reach that number this time around, but he’s still a solid middle-six player who can contribute on special teams.

In fact, his six shorthanded goals tie him for third in the league over the last two years, behind only Mitch Marner and Chris Kreider, who each have seven. For a Minnesota team still fighting for the top spot in the Central Division and in need of a little boost, it’s a perfect time for him to return.

Nashville Predators Recall Zach Sanford

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With just five games left in their season, the Nashville Predators are still in the race. They remain just three points behind the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames, with one and two games in hand, respectively.

They’ll try to make up some ground tonight with the Carolina Hurricanes in town and have recalled Zach Sanford to give them some reinforcements.

It would be quite the feat should the Predators pull it off, given how their trade deadline went. Tanner Jeannot, Nino Niederreiter, Mattias Ekholm, and Mikael Granlund were all moved, leaving Nashville with several young players in the lineup nightly.

They’ve also been without captain Roman Josi since the middle of March, and his return is still questionable. Despite that, the Jets and Flames have each failed to really grab hold of that final playoff spot, opening the door for some Juuse Saros-led magic in the final few weeks.

Sanford, 28, has played just 11 games in the NHL this season, the fewest total of his career. The big forward has scored two points with the Predators and 28 with the Milwaukee Admirals during his time in the AHL.

St. Louis Blues Recall Dmitri Samorukov

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The St. Louis Blues have made a roster swap this morning, recalling Dmitri Samorukov under emergency conditions. Matthew Kessel, who recently made his NHL debut, has been returned to the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Samorukov, 23, was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the deal that saw Klim Kostin sent out of town at the beginning of the season. Should he enter the Blues lineup, it would be his St. Louis debut and just the second game of the young defenseman’s career.

The 6’3″ Samorukov was a third-round pick in 2017 and is on a one-year, one-way contract worth $775K. He’ll be a restricted free agent this summer, so a late-season showcase might be valuable for his negotiations.

Kessel, meanwhile, signed last spring after his college career ended and had played well enough for the Thunderbirds that he earned a call-up. The 22-year-old averaged 15 minutes in his two NHL contests and recorded three shots on net.

Ottawa Senators Recall Egor Sokolov

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It’s been an impressive season for Ottawa Senators prospect Egor Sokolov, and he’s about to get a nice reward. The young forward has been recalled to the NHL for the first time this season.

Sokolov, 22, has scored 55 points in 67 games for the Belleville Senators, setting a new career mark at the professional level. The 2020 second-round pick may not be the fleetest of the foot, but he has continued to perform well at the minor league level, scoring in bunches and operating as a key member of the Belleville attack.

After receiving eight games of NHL action last year, Sokolov is still looking for his first point with Ottawa. Whether he gets a chance down the stretch this year isn’t clear, though if not, his recall is somewhat surprising.

Belleville is still within striking distance of a playoff spot, sitting three points behind the Laval Rocket with five games to play. They’ll be playing the Cleveland Monsters in a must-win matchup tomorrow night, before a rematch on Saturday. Given Ottawa is in Carolina tonight and heads to Florida for a game on Thursday, it would seem unlikely that Sokolov is being removed from the Belleville group just to sit in the press box.

Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Joseph Woll

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With Matt Murray’s latest injury, the decision on who will start for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs was effectively made. Ilya Samsonov is now the team’s undisputed starter, though someone will need to help get the team through the last few games of the season.

That someone is Joseph Woll, recalled again today under emergency conditions. Radim Zohorna has been returned to the AHL, while Bobby McMann was moved to long-term injured reserve.

Woll, 24, has had an outstanding season. In 21 appearances at the minor league level he is 16-4-1 with a .927 save percentage. In four games with the Maple Leafs, he is 3-1 with a .934. The 2016 third-round pick is finally rounding into form after several injury-laden professional seasons, and is now pushing for a full-time position with Toronto.

Murray left Sunday’s game after an awkward collision with Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond, appearing to hit his head on the ice. The team has not revealed any timeline for the veteran netminder, but it is just another disappointing outcome in a turbulent season.

In 26 appearances, spread out by several injuries, Murray has posted a .903 save percentage. Samsonov, meanwhile, is now 25-10-4 on the year with a .915, and looks poised to meet Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning in game one, should nothing else change for the Maple Leafs over the last part of the season.

Prospect Notes: 2024 Draft, Moore, Michkov

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The 2023 draft is just a few months away, but some teams have already moved their first-round picks and may be looking ahead to next year’s crop of talented youngsters. Today, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic looks at the 2024 draft class, putting Macklin Celebrini as the best prospect available.

Several impact defensemen, including a handful of familiar names, highlight the rest of the group. David Jiricek’s younger brother will be available, as will Lane Hutson’s. Celebrini, meanwhile, will be one to watch as he makes the jump to college hockey next season with Boston University.

  • Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News reports that William Moore has signed on with the U.S. National Team Development Program after recently forgoing part of its development camp. The Mississauga-born dual citizen could have potentially been the first-overall pick in the upcoming OHL draft. Instead, he appears to be maintaining his college eligibility by going the USNTDP route for his hockey development.
  • In a stunning and saddening story from this morning, reports have emerged that the father of top 2023 draft prospect Matvei Michkov was found dead. An investigation into the situation is ongoing, and little information has been confirmed to this point.

Logan Hutsko Linked To SHL

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When the Florida Panthers signed Logan Hutsko in 2021, he looked like an interesting forward addition who could quickly rise through the ranks and provide some NHL value. The third-round pick had played well at Boston College and, despite his small stature, seemed to fit in Florida’s fast, creative, and versatile system.

General manager Bill Zito said he had “dynamic skill” and “unmatched determination,” noting how his pace and compete level would serve him well.

Now, two years later, it appears he might be off to Europe. A Swedish report from Johan Svensson suggests that Hutsko will sign with IK Oskarshamn for next season. As a restricted free agent this summer, he is allowed to sign overseas. The Panthers can temporarily retain his exclusive NHL rights by extending a qualifying offer, though it is unclear if he has any future in the organization.

The 24-year-old has done rather well through his first two years of AHL action, scoring 38 points as a rookie last year and 26 this season in just 39 games.

Through his time in Florida, he has not received a single call-up, and it now looks like he’ll chase a new opportunity elsewhere. Whether he ever makes an impact at the NHL level—or even suits up for a single game—still remains to be seen.

Marco Kasper Coming To North America

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March 31: Late last night, the Red Wings officially recalled Kasper from Rogle, meaning he’ll immediately join the NHL team instead of reporting to the minors.

March 29: The Detroit Red Wings organization is getting a little stronger in the coming days, as Marco Kasper is set to come over from Europe now that his SHL season has ended. His club, Rogle, reports that Kasper will join the Red Wings “as early as this week,” though he didn’t specify whether he’ll go to Detroit or report to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.

Kasper, 18, was the eighth overall pick in the 2022 draft and scored 23 points in 52 regular season games for Rogle this season. In nine playoff games, he added three points, and will now get a chance to make his professional debut on this side of the pond.

Since he already signed his entry-level contract, Kasper is eligible to play at either level – and since the Red Wings only have nine games remaining, there’s no threat of burning the first year of his deal. The young forward can get his feet wet and then play full-time in North America next season, if the Red Wings deem him ready.

Otherwise, his contract with Rogle extends through 2024-25, and he could return to Sweden for another year of development. Either way, he has done nothing but impress since being drafted so high, and looks like another future star for the Red Wings to bring along.

Scott Wedgewood To Start Conditioning Stint In AHL

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The Dallas Stars have their eyes set on more than just a playoff appearance. The club has the best goal differential in the Western Conference and hopes to go on a long postseason run, contending for the Stanley Cup. While their hopes rest on the shoulders of star goaltender Jake Oettinger, getting his backup healthy enough to contribute down the stretch is a priority.

Scott Wedgewood hasn’t played since February 18, leaving Oettinger to start nearly every game since, given the lack of NHL-level depth behind the two netminders. Now, Wedgewood appears to be on the brink of a return.

Team reporter Mike Heika reports that the veteran netminder will go on a conditioning stint to the AHL and start for the Texas Stars on Friday. He could be back up with the NHL club as early as next week, allowing Dallas to give Oettinger a couple of nights off before the playoffs begin.

The Stars finish the season with a home-and-home with the St. Louis Blues on consecutive nights, games that could have serious significance depending on how things go from here. They currently sit three points behind the Minnesota Wild for the Central Division lead, and are tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the other two division playoff spots.

Home ice advantage in the first round – or even avoiding a matchup with the defending champs entirely – may come down to how they perform in that back-to-back.

Calle Clang Assigned To San Diego Gulls

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The Anaheim Ducks have one young netminder in Lukas Dostal, who looks ready to make an impact, and they’re hoping another isn’t far away. Calle Clang has been reassigned to the San Diego Gulls after his SHL season ended recently, giving him a chance to start his North American pro career over the next few weeks.

Clang, selected 77th overall in the 2020 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, was included in the Rickard Rakell trade last year, coming to Anaheim along with Dominik Simon, Zach Aston-Reese, and a second-round pick that turned into Tristan Luneau.

The 20-year-old netminder struggled through a rather disappointing season this year, posting a .900 save percentage in 25 games for Rogle, but has shown a ton of potential as a young player. He posted a .944 in two World Junior games last year and even saw a bit of SHL playoff action in 2022.

Even if he is still years away, the Ducks can afford to be patient with his development. The team is rebuilding, John Gibson is still signed for several more years, and Dostal is next in line to replace him. Clang can focus on AHL action for the stretch run before he and the Ducks determine his future. Under contract through 2024-25 in Sweden, he’ll likely return to Rogle for more development back home next season.

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