Zack MacEwen Suspended One Game
The Department of Player Safety has handed out another suspension, this time giving Vancouver Canucks forward Zack MacEwen a one-game ban for kneeing Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. The incident occurred partway through the second period in last night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. As the accompanying video explains:
It is important to note that while we agree with MacEwen’s assertion that the contact is not excessively forceful, the concept of intentionally kneeing a vulnerable player in the head is simply unacceptable. This is not a hockey play. It is only because the impact of this play is so light that MacEwen is not facing a substantial suspension for this action.
Nurse did not suffer a serious injury on the play and MacEwen has never been fined or suspended previously in his short NHL career. Both things would have helped the suspension stay at just one game, though couldn’t help him avoid the supplementary discipline entirely.
The Canucks and Oilers are set to play a rematch tomorrow night, which MacEwen will not be eligible to participate in. The two teams do have one other game on the schedule for Saturday, May 15. This is the second kneeing suspension the Canucks have received this season after Alexander Edler was given a two-game ban for his hit on Zach Hyman.
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 05/07/21
Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is today’s list:
Colorado – Devan Dubnyk
Washington – Evgeny Kuznetsov
As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol
Players removed today: Josh Leivo, Calgary Flames
No new names today, but it was confirmed that Ilya Samsonov is also in the COVID protocol with Kuznetsov. The Capitals goaltender is technically on the taxi squad, so doesn’t need to be listed here. Leivo finally gets cleared and can rejoin the Flames for the last few games of the season, after spending nearly two weeks in the protocol.
*denotes new addition
AHL Announces Pacific Division Playoff Format
The AHL will only have a postseason in one of the five divisions this season, meaning the Calder Cup will not be awarded. Instead, the Pacific Division will be battling to take home the John D. Chick Trophy in an interesting tournament-style playoff.
All seven teams in the Pacific will compete, but the bottom four—likely the San Jose Barracuda, Colorado Eagles, Ontario Reign and Tucson Roadrunners—will play a single-elimination play-in to determine which one team joins the top three for the best-of-three semifinals. The finals will also be a best-of-three format. The play-in will be held May 18-19, with the semi-final round concluding by May 24. The division finals will conclude by May 29, meaning the trophy is going to be handed out this month. The full breakdown looks like this:
Play-In Series (May 18-19)
Game 1 – Tue., May 18 – #4 vs. #7, 1:00 PT (at Irvine, Calif.)
Game 2 – Tue., May 18 – #5 vs. #6, 7:30 PT (at Irvine, Calif.)
Game 3 – Wed., May 19 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7:00 PT (at Irvine, Calif.)
Semifinal “A” (best-of-3; to conclude by May 24)
Game 1 – #1 vs. Play-In winner (at higher seed)
Game 2 – #1 vs. Play-In winner (at higher seed)
*Game 3 – #1 vs. Play-In winner (at higher seed)
Semifinal “B” (best-of-3; to conclude by May 24)
Game 1 – #2 vs. #3 (at higher seed)
Game 2 – #2 vs. #3 (at higher seed)
*Game 3 – #2 vs. #3 (at higher seed)
Pacific Division Finals (best-of-3; to conclude by May 29)
Game 1 – Semifinal winners (at higher seed)
Game 2 – Semifinal winners (at higher seed)
*Game 3 – Semifinal winners (at higher seed)
*if necessary
The other four divisions decided not to hold playoffs this season, meaning their schedules are coming to an end soon (if not already). The AHL plans on holding a full schedule in 2021-22, starting on October 15.
Philadelphia Flyers Recall Cam York, Felix Sandstrom
May 7: York has been elevated from the taxi squad to the active roster as expected. He will wear No. 45 and make his NHL debut this evening.
May 6: The Philadelphia Flyers may not have much to play for over the last few days, but don’t tell Cam York that. The 20-year-old defenseman has been recalled to the taxi squad and is expected to make his NHL debut on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The team recalled goaltender Felix Sandstrom to the taxi squad as well, meaning another NHL debut could be in the works.
York was the 14th overall pick in 2019 and is coming off an outstanding season with the University of Michigan, where he tallied 20 points in 24 games. There was no slowing him down in the AHL, where he immediately found success with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring five points in six games and earning the call-up. There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to York, who will quarterback the second powerplay unit on Friday as well.
An offensive threat every time he touches the puck, York will still need some time before he becomes a top option for the Flyers. Still, he’ll get a chance to dip his toe into the NHL waters here with an eye on cracking the roster out of 2021-22 training camp. With Shayne Gostisbehere suspended for his hit the other night, there is lots of opportunity for York to show what he can do over the last few games.
Sandstrom meanwhile is an interesting prospect in his own right, selected 70th overall in 2015. The Swedish goaltender played in the SHL through the 2018-19 season and spent last year in the ECHL acclimating to the North American game. This year, in nine appearances for Lehigh Valley, he has an .897 save percentage and 3.45 goals-against average. Now 24, Sandstrom is a restricted free agent this summer.
Dustin Brown Out Rest Of Season
The Los Angeles Kings are technically still alive in the West Division playoff race, but will have to complete the final five games of the season without Dustin Brown. The veteran forward has been ruled out for the rest of the year with an upper-body injury he suffered earlier in the year. The Kings released a statement indicating that he will “continue to undergo treatment and rehabilitation.”
Brown, 36, has had a very strong season for the Kings, scoring 17 goals and 31 points in 49 games. That matches the goal total he had last year in 66 games and actually leads the kings, three ahead of Adrian Kempe. He was part of both wins against the Arizona Coyotes this week that kept the Kings’ playoff hopes alive, playing 17:41 on Wednesday. That will end up being his last appearance of at least the regular season.
The Kings, who sit at 21-24-6 on the season, are eight points back of the St. Louis Blues with five games left, meaning they likely won’t make the playoffs for a third consecutive season. The team hasn’t had a winning record since 2017-18, John Stevens‘ only full year as head coach. Brown has been effective but will turn 37 in November and has just one year left on his current contract, meaning the end of his time in Los Angeles is coming soon, one way or another.
Zack MacEwen To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety
For the second time in a few weeks, a Vancouver Canucks player is having a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for kneeing. Zack MacEwen has a hearing today after a hit that occurred in last night’s game against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
This one is a little different than the incident with Alexander Edler earlier this season (which resulted in a two-game suspension) as Nurse was already down on the ice when MacEwen appeared to extend his leg to hit him again. The two were battling all night, even dropping the mitts and fighting in the third period.
Nurse did not suffer a serious injury from the knee, but MacEwen will likely be sat down for at least one game. The Canucks play the Oilers again tomorrow night, meaning the two will not be able to continue their war right away. The two teams do play again on May 15 however, meaning there could be some more shenanigans on the horizon.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/07/21
There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:
West Division
- The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Jiri Patera, sending Dylan Sikura and Logan Thompson back to the AHL. Patera, 22, has an .888 save percentage in seven appearances with the Henderson Silver Knights.
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled both Michael Chaput and Jan Jenik from the taxi squad, with the latter expected to make his NHL debut tonight. The 20-year-old forward was the 65th overall pick in 2018 and has 11 points in 27 games with the Tucson Roadrunners this season.
- The Colorado Avalanche have returned Kyle Burroughs to the AHL, per the AHL’s transactions log. Burroughs has an assist in five games with the Avs this season but only has played once in the last four weeks.
- The Los Angeles Kings have brought up Jacob Ingham, Matthew Villalta, and Rasmus Kupari to the taxi squad, per the AHL’s transactions log. Jonathan Quick left Monday’s game due to injury which likely has played a role in Ingham and Villalta’s recalls while Kupari, a 2018 first-rounder, has played in three games with the Kings this season.
- The San Jose Sharks have recalled Jacob Middleton to the taxi squad, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 25-year-old has had 11 separate stints on the taxi squad this season but has only suited up once with the Sharks. Ivan Chekhovich, Greg Pateryn, and Brinson Pasichnuk were all recalled to the active roster, per CapFriendly.
North Division
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Cody Goloubef from the AHL, adding him to the taxi squad. Goloubef hasn’t gotten into a single NHL game this season but has played 160 in the past, picking up a handful of appearances each season. The 31-year-old has five points in 25 games for the Belleville Senators this year.
- The Edmonton Oilers have assigned Patrick Russell to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The 28-year-old saw his first NHL action in nearly two months on Thursday, logging 10:31 in Edmonton’s loss to Vancouver.
Central Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Givani Smith from the AHL to the taxi squad after spending nearly a month in the minor leagues. Smith, 23, has played 15 games for the Red Wings this season, collecting one goal and four points. A few hours later, the Red Wings recalled Smith, Mathias Brome and Joseph Veleno from the taxi squad to the active roster.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Matiss Kivlenieks to the active roster under emergency conditions, giving them another goaltender for the game tonight against Detroit. Kivlenieks has yet to appear in an NHL game this season.
- The Carolina Hurricanes returned Morgan Geekie to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The 22-year-old has been a regular for large chunks of the season and has played in 34 games, picking up two goals and an assist.
East Division
- The New York Rangers have returned Jonny Brodzinski to the AHL from the taxi squad, even though Hartford’s season ended yesterday. Armed with a cannon of a shot, Brodzinski has always scored at a high rate in the minor leagues. In the NHL though, he has just 13 points in 62 career games.
- After the Pittsburgh Penguins ruled out both Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith today with injuries, Alex D’Orio was recalled from the AHL under emergency conditions. Maxime Lagace is expected to make the start in the final game of the season, while Jarry and DeSmith are both expected to be ready for the playoffs.
- The New Jersey Devils have assigned Brett Seney and Colton White to Binghamton of the AHL from the taxi squad, per the AHL’s transactions log. White has placed twice for New Jersey this season while Seney hasn’t seen any NHL action. Their demotions were to make room for Matt Tennyson and Marian Studenic who were both sent down to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
- With the Boston Bruins off tonight, they’ve returned Jeremy Swayman to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Swayman has been dominant in his first taste of NHL action, winning seven of nine games while posting a 1.44 GAA with a .946 SV%. Cameron Hughes was also sent to the minors.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
PHR Live Chat Transcript: 05/06/21
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Valtteri Puustinen
The Pittsburgh Penguins have inked a very interesting prospect, signing Valtteri Puustinen to a two-year entry-level contract. The deal will kick in for the 2021-22 campaign and keeps Puustinen from becoming an unrestricted free agent next month. Penguins assistant GM Patrik Allvin released a short statement on his newest player:
Valtteri is a skilled forward with a great shot who utilizes his speed to play the style of game that we want to play here in Pittsburgh. He’s really matured as a player over the last couple of years playing with HPK and the Finnish national team, which is really exciting for us.
You wouldn’t expect Puustinen to be a seventh-round pick if you’d watched him this season, racking up goals and points for HPK in Finland’s Liiga. The 21-year-old scored 21 goals in 51 games, good enough for eighth in the league. That performance followed his breakout 2019-20 campaign when he scored 40 points in 54 games, a number he topped by one this time around.
If there is anything that will continue to hold Puustinen back it’s his size, as he comes in at just 5’9″. That has become less of a concern in recent seasons but there’s no overlooking the fact that he will be outmatched physically at the NHL level. If he’s to make it, he’ll likely have to first prove that his strong offensive awareness can lead to production at the AHL level.
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 05/06/21
Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is today’s list so far:
Calgary – Josh Leivo
Colorado – Devan Dubnyk
Washington – Evgeny Kuznetsov
As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol
Players removed today: None
No new players hit the list, but Kuznetsov remains out for the Capitals. This is his third day in the protocol and certainly makes his status for tomorrow’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers uncertain. Still, this can be considered something of a win for the NHL as they try to get as close to clear as possible before the playoffs begin.
*denotes new addition