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Dallas Stars Reassign Fredrik Olofsson

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After a relatively successful stint with the NHL club, Fredrik Olofsson is headed back to the minor leagues. The Dallas Stars have loaned him back to Texas as they try to accrue some cap space for the trade deadline.

Olofsson, 26, recorded four points in 13 games for the Stars while averaging fewer than ten minutes per night. With Roope Hintz healthy and back in the lineup, Olofsson was left in the press box last night against the Buffalo Sabres.

If that’s his fate, the team might as well take advantage of his waiver-exempt status to send him to the minor leagues. Olofsson can continue to stay fresh with game action, and the Stars can save a little bit more for a mid-season addition.

The club isn’t playing on the road until February 17, meaning they can afford to have a short roster for the time being.

Ian White Signs With Norfolk Admirals

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Some people just love the game. Former NHL defenseman Ian White has signed a contract with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL, after starting the season in the FPHL.

The 38-year-old White made a comeback last season, when he joined the Columbus River Dragons after a six-year absence from professional hockey. He scored 23 points in 37 games and returned to the FPHL with the Motor City Rockers this time around.

It’s been a long road for White, who has openly talked about his struggles with addiction. His wife Tess has lobbied the NHLPA for better treatment and support of their athletes, and the two were subjects of a mini-documentary from CTV/TSN’s Rick Westhead called “Left Behind.”

Returning to professional hockey is an achievement on its own, but climbing the ranks at age 38 is even more impressive. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising, though, given how solid White was at the highest level. A silver medalist at both the World Juniors and World Championship, he played more than 500 games in the league and racked up 179 points.

Pavel Buchnevich Undergoes Minor Surgery

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The St. Louis Blues made the expected moves of activating Torey Krug and Vladimir Tarasenko today, but it came with some bad news. Pavel Buchnevich has been moved to injured reserve after a minor surgical procedure to address an ankle infection. Buchnevich will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.

Some would argue that there is no more important player to the Blues than Buchnevich, who leads all forwards in ice time and has registered 38 points in 38 games this season. Losing him for any length of time will be difficult, though the team did stress the minor nature of the procedure.

On the bright side, Krug and Tarasenko will return after missing long stretches, helping to cover Buchnevich’s absence. It’s the latter that will be so interesting to watch as the trade deadline approaches and his time in St. Louis potentially comes to an end.

Tarasenko has only ever played for the Blues, and has reached the 30-goal plateau in six of his seven full seasons. This year, when healthy, he has still been excellent, racking up 10 goals and 29 points in 34 games. While he may not be the dynamic, game-changing power forward of a few years ago, Tarasenko would still be an impressive pickup for a contender at the deadline.

Of course, the Blues still have eyes on the playoffs themselves. Sitting at 23-21-3 on the year, they aren’t out of the Central Division race by any means. Getting two key veterans back should only help that chase, starting tonight with a game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Sammy Blais Sent On AHL Conditioning Loan

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The New York Rangers have recalled Will Cuylle from the AHL, while sending Sammy Blais back on a conditioning stint. Blais hasn’t played in a week and was receiving just a handful of shifts in the games he did play.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post wrote about Blais’ situation yesterday, suggesting that his NHL future is in jeopardy as he continues to try to contribute in any way he can. The 26-year-old is still finding his way after a serious knee injury that required surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL. He has just five points through 38 games this season, failing to score a single goal.

Blais has registered over 100 hits, his calling card during more successful days in St. Louis, but hasn’t really been making the same kind of impact with his physicality. Averaging fewer than ten minutes of ice time when he does get into the lineup, it’s unclear where his role really lies in the New York forward group.

Cuylle, meanwhile, represents the next generation for the Rangers. A 20-year-old forward that is just scratching the surface of his professional career, Cuylle has 13 goals and 20 points in 39 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack. The second-round pick offers a good deal of physicality (even if it doesn’t quite stand up to the level of Blais), and possesses a hard, accurate shot.

Given the Rangers’ recent success, it’s not clear if Cuylle will get much of an opportunity. But Blais wasn’t giving them much of anything at the moment, and will try to find that next gear with some games in the minor leagues.

Kyle Palmieri, Adam Pelech Activated From Injured Reserve

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The New York Islanders are getting a huge boost ahead of their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, activating Kyle Palmieri and Adam Pelech from injured reserve. Hudson Fasching has been moved to IR and Dennis Cholowski loaned to the AHL to make room.

Palmieri, 31, has played just a single game since November, spending the rest of the time on the shelf. The veteran forward has six goals and nine points in 21 appearances this season, averaging more than 16 minutes a night. Given his $5MM cap hit (Palmieri is in the second season of a four-year deal), his absence was a significant blow to the forward group that has struggled of late.

In their last nine games, the Islanders have scored more than two goals just a single time, and that still resulted in a loss. They have been held to just a single goal in four of those games, and overall have fallen to sixth in the Metropolitan Division, just four points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Perhaps more important, however, is the return of Pelech, who hasn’t played since December 6. The 28-year-old defenseman tilts the ice so significantly in his 21 minutes a night that the team has outscored opponents 27-16 despite Pelech playing against top competition and receiving more defensive deployment.

Even though he isn’t considered an offensive defenseman, his ability to break up cycles, stop rushes at the line, and turn over the puck results in much better opportunities for his teammates.

With them back, it will be a lot closer to the lineup that the Islanders though they would have heading into the season (even if Cal Clutterbuck and Oliver Wahlstrom are on IR).

Snapshots: Three Stars, Canucks, Knight

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The NHL released its Three Stars for last week, with Zach Hyman leading the way. The Edmonton Oilers swiss army knife had four goals and nine points in three games. Hyman has already flown past the 54 points he had last season and with every point is setting a new career high. It’s been an incredible run for the 30, who has been everything the Oilers hoped for (and more) when they signed him to a seven-year, $38.5MM deal in 2021.

Second and third place went to Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks, two players in very different stages of their careers. Stamkos reached the 500-goal mark last week, joining just 46 other players in the history of the NHL and essentially sealing his future in the Hall of Fame (if it was ever in doubt). Zegras, meanwhile, put up eight points in four games, taking his career total to 114. He’s got quite a way to catch the Lightning captain, but Zegras continues to excite fans every time he touches the puck.

  • The Vancouver Canucks now have three head coaches on the books, as they are still paying Travis Green, the bench boss that preceded the recently-fired Bruce Boudreau. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that Tocchet’s deal is for two years and carries a $2.75MM salary, meaning altogether, the team is forking out $7.5MM this season for head coaches.
  • The Florida Panthers have swapped Mack Guzda and Spencer Knight once again, with the latter coming back up to the NHL. Knight hasn’t played in the NHL since January 8, but did quite well in his two-game conditioning stint, recording a 23-save shutout for the Charlotte Checkers in his first AHL game since last season.

Rourke Chartier, Nikita Zaitsev Activated From Injured Reserve

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It’s been an up-and-down (mostly down) day for the Ottawa Senators. First they recalled prospect Ridly Greig, but then followed it up with news that Josh Norris would be out for the rest of the season. Now, the team has activated two other players from injured reserve.

Rourke Chartier and Nikita Zaitsev are both active again, though the former was sent immediately to the minor leagues.

The return of Zaitsev gives the team six healthy defensemen again, after yesterday’s demotion of Jacob Bernard-Docker. The veteran was skating next to Erik Brannstrom on the third pairing today, and is expected to return to action on Wednesday. Zaitsev hasn’t played since December and has been rather ineffective when in the lineup. Through 19 appearances he has just three points (all assists) and is averaging fewer than 17 minutes a night.

For Chartier, it’s been even longer since he appeared in a game with Ottawa, last playing on December 22. The 26-year-old minor leaguer has six games under his belt this season but is still looking for his first point of the year. His previous 13 NHL appearances, all with the San Jose Sharks in 2018-19, resulted in one goal.

Chicago Blackhawks Make Several Roster Moves

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The Chicago Blackhawks have placed Tyler Johnson on injured reserve, and sent Isaak Phillips to the AHL. In their place, Luke Philp and Filip Roos have been recalled.

Johnson played just five shifts last night before exiting with an ankle injury, and was seen in a walking boot after the game. It’s just the latest in a long list of setbacks this season, derailing what has looked like a strong bounce-back whenever Johnson is in the lineup.

Through 22 appearances, the 32-year-old forward has five goals and 14 points, already doubling his point total from last year. He just can’t seem to stay healthy, leading to multiple stints on injured reserve. One thing in his favor is his contract, which will ensure his financial stability for another year. Johnson is signed through 2023-24 at a $5MM cap hit.

Phillips, 21, has played in 11 games for the Blackhawks this season and recorded his fourth point of the year on Saturday. The young defenseman has seen inconsistent ice time and has looked overmatched at times, but generally showed that he will soon be ready for NHL action.

He’ll be replaced on the roster by Roos, who skated in 15 games earlier this year before a recent stint in the minor leagues. The 24-year-old undrafted defenseman has three NHL points to his name in this, his rookie season.

Should Philp enter the lineup, it will be his first taste of NHL action. Undrafted, the 27-year-old has battled through three years at the University of Alberta and parts of four minor league seasons before getting this opportunity. This year with the Rockford IceHogs he has been outstanding, scoring 30 points in 31 games so far.

Boston Bruins Recall Marc McLaughlin

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It’s time for the hometown kid to get another chance. Marc McLaughlin has been recalled by the Boston Bruins, after some strong play in the minor leagues.

McLaughlin, 23, was signed last season as an undrafted NCAA free agent after captaining Boston College and suiting up at the Olympics for Team USA. The North Billerica native played in 11 games down the stretch for the Bruins, scoring his first three NHL goals in the process.

This year, he’s been with the Providence Bruins for the entire season, recording seven goals and 17 points in 39 games. Seven of those points have come in the last five games, as his game has hit a new level of late.

Boston is hitting the road for five straight, starting in Montreal tomorrow night before stopping to play Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina, and Toronto before the All-Star break. Having another forward was necessary for the long road trip, meaning McLaughlin’s strong play came at the perfect time.

Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Pontus Holmberg

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With Dryden Hunt on waivers, the Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Pontus Holmberg from the minor leagues. The young forward was sent there to get his legs back after a recent illness, and ended up registering two points in three games.

After a rather embarrassing loss to their rivals on Saturday night, the Maple Leafs will try to get things moving back in the right direction with a game against the New York Islanders tonight. Holmberg will likely be back in the lineup, given how well he has stabilized the bottom six this year.

The sixth-round pick looks like he is a classic late-bloomer, who became a star in Sweden before quickly making an impact for Toronto this year. In 28 games he has 11 points and has been excellent defensively.

With Hunt ticketed for the minors (or another team), the group may also be getting some reinforcements back on defense. T.J. Brodie is set to stay out with the main group for morning skate, according to Mark Masters of TSN. Brodie is working his way back from a rib injury and is currently on injured reserve.

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