Minor Transactions: 11/22/19
The hockey world may be talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs’ performance under new head coach Sheldon Keefe a lot today, but there was plenty of other action last night–some with real consequences. The Calgary Flames, who have struggled for an identity all season, were torn apart by the defending Stanley Cup champions and look like a team searching for answers in the wrong textbook. The Florida Panthers completed their second incredible comeback in just over a week and the New York Islanders stayed hot with another overtime victory. As teams take in some video sessions and examine what happened last night, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled J.C. Beaudin and Maxime Lajoie for their game tonight, as Vladislav Namestnikov is not expected to play. Beaudin is actually taking up residence as the fourth-line center, with Colin White moved over to the wing for the time being.
- Christian Djoos is back with the Washington Capitals, after starring with the Hershey Bears for the first month of the season. The 25-year old defenseman has played 108 games in the NHL over the last two seasons but due to cap restraints had to go down to start the year. Tyler Lewington has been returned to the AHL in his place.
- It is a day that ends in “Y” so Charles Hudon has been involved in a transaction once again. This time he’s back up with the Montreal Canadiens as they prepare for the weekend action.
- Matt Luff is heading back to the minor leagues, assigned to the Ontario Reign today by the Los Angeles Kings. The 22-year old forward played in four games during this most recent recall, after spending 33 games with the team last season.
- Givani Smith has been activated from injured reserve by the Detroit Red Wings, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to suit up for the NHL club. Smith was immediately reassigned to the minor leagues where he has played most of this season.
- The Nashville Predators have sent Steven Santini back to the minor leagues, as they prepare for a game tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues. Santini has played two games for the Predators this year after being acquired in the P.K. Subban this summer.
- Nicolas Roy has been moved to the AHL by the Vegas Golden Knights, who have been doing this consistently all season to save some cap space. The team is banking room by having fewer than 23 players on the roster on non-game days.
- With Scott Laughton activated from injured reserve, the Philadelphia Flyers have sent Andy Andreoff back to the AHL. Andreoff has played in six games for the Flyers this season.
- The Colorado Avalanche have returned Jayson Megna to the minors. He has played in eight NHL games this season but has averaged less than seven minutes per night. The move suggests that Tyson Jost may be nearing a return.
PHR Live Chat Transcript: 11/21/19
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
Justin Schultz, Nick Bjugstad Out Long-Term
The Pittsburgh Penguins can’t catch a break. The team has announced that Nick Bjugstad underwent core muscle surgery and will be out at least eight weeks, after head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters it would be “longer-term” earlier this week. That’s exactly the way he has now also described the injury to Justin Schultz, who suffered a lower-body injury and will be out “longer-term.” If there is a sliver of good news to be had, Patric Hornqvist has been activated from injured reserve.
It’s been a disastrous season so far for the Penguins, who have now lost Hornqvist, Bjugstad, Schultz, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang for long stretches. That’s the core of their group, but somehow they’ve still managed to put up a 11-7-3 record.
While losing Bjugstad hurts, it’s likely not nearly as painful as seeing Schultz go out for any length of time. The 29-year old was hoping for a big bounce-back season after missing a huge part of 2018-19, and he was off to a good start. Schultz had eight points in 21 games and was logging nearly 21 minutes a night for the Penguins.
T.J. Brodie Released From Hospital
November 21: Flames’ GM Brad Treliving issued an update on Brodie’s status:
TJ has been working out for the past several days and today skated on his own under the supervision of our medical staff. Over this past week he has had consultations with appropriate specialists in Calgary. To date all medical evaluations and testing have been reassuring. We still work to complete final testing and are optimistic he will re-join the team in the near future. TJ has been placed on injury reserve retroactive to November 14th.
November 15: After a scary incident at Calgary Flames practice, word has come down that T.J. Brodie is feeling better. Brodie collapsed and was convulsing on the ice before being taken to hospital, but today Dr. Ian Auld explained at a press conference that the incident was more likely related to fainting than to a significant brain issue. Several tests came back negative, though the team is still taking it slow and making sure he has fully recovered.
There is no timetable for Brodie’s return and in the meantime the Flames have recalled Oliver Kylington from the AHL. In order to fit him in, Juuso Valimaki has been moved to long-term injured reserve.
Brodie is an extremely important part of the Flames’ defense, but obviously everyone involved is concerned with his long-term health.
Edmonton Oilers Activate Adam Larsson
The Edmonton Oilers are playing like one of the best teams in the entire NHL, and today are getting back a huge part of their defense. Adam Larsson has been activated from injured reserve and will be back in the lineup tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. Matt Benning is in the concussion protocol and will come out.
This will be just the second game of the season for Larsson after he suffered a broken fibula in the season opener.
Though he’ll always be seen in a different light because of the trade that brought him to Edmonton, Larsson is undoubtedly one of the most important players on the roster. The 27-year old defenseman has logged more than 21 minutes a night since joining the Oilers and looked like he may get even more responsibility under new head coach Dave Tippett.
The Oilers sit in first place in the Pacific Division after 23 games with a 14-6-3 record. Though it has been the offense driving the ship so far, an improved defense could make them even more dangerous in the Western Conference playoff race.
Mario Kempe Signs In KHL
After recently seeing his NHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings terminated, Mario Kempe has found a new home. The Swedish forward has signed a contract with CSKA Moscow in the KHL that takes him through the 2020-21 season. Kempe cleared unconditional waivers yesterday and left the Kings organization after just 16 games with their minor league affiliate.
Kempe, 31, has played just three seasons in North America since coming back over (he spent some time as a junior in the QMJHL) but even after playing 52 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season failed to really establish himself as a full-time NHL option. Signing a one-year contract with the Kings and joining his brother Adrian Kempe, he spent the first quarter of this season in the minor leagues.
He’ll return to the KHL where he spent three seasons between 2014-2017 and could very well never return to the North American game. Though he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, he’ll also turn 33 before the 2021-22 season would get underway.
Nashville Predators To Scratch Kyle Turris Again
The Nashville Predators are one of a handful of teams in the NHL that were expected to be Stanley Cup contenders this season but are struggling to even string two wins together. The team is now on a five-game losing streak that includes blowout losses against the Colorado Avalanche (9-4) and Chicago Blackhawks (7-2), both division rivals ahead of them in the standings.
Just like the other teams making changes to try and spark their clubs, the Predators decided to make Kyle Turris and his $6MM cap hit a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. Turris will sit out again tonight when the Predators take on the Vancouver Canucks for the second time in four games, with Mathieu Olivier staying in the lineup on the fourth line.
It was Turris who was labeled as a potential difference maker for the Predators when they acquired him just two years ago. Nashville GM David Poile got involved in a three-way trade that saw Matt Duchene go from Colorado to Ottawa, flipping young defenseman Samuel Girard and forward prospect Vladislav Kamenev to the Avalanche in the process. Turris immediately signed a six-year, $36MM contract extension with the Predators and was set to become the team’s long-term answer in the middle of their second line.
Turris had after all just posted a 27-goal campaign with the Senators and was off to a quick start in the 2017-18 season. After arriving in Nashville things went well for a while—the veteran center had 17 points in his first 17 games as a Predator—but by the time the playoffs rolled around his ice time had already been reduced. Turris averaged fewer than 16 minutes a night in the 2018 postseason, a sign of things to come.
Last season was an absolute disaster, with just seven goals and 23 points to his name in an injury-shortened campaign. This season even when he does play, Turris’ ice time has been extremely limited and his responsibility almost completely removed.
Who has filled that second-line center role that Turris was penciled into when he arrived? Well it’s none other than Duchene, who arrived in Nashville through free agency less than two years after the Predators were involved in that three-way trade. Duchene was given a huge contract in the summer to be the running mate down the middle for Ryan Johansen, as Poile and head coach Peter Laviolette decided that Turris wasn’t cutting it.
Scratching such a hefty contract for two straight games is a clear sign that the Predators are ready to move on. Turris’ name has been out there in trade speculation for some time, but getting any sort of value back at this point seems impossible for Nashville. With four more years (after this one) at a $6MM cap hit, Turris is just too expensive for most teams to take on, especially not knowing exactly what he can offer them right now.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minor Transactions: 11/21/19
Even though a lot of hockey media will be closely monitoring Sheldon Keefe‘s debut as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, there are a number of other teams suiting up tonight for games just as important. 25 others in fact, as 13 games are scheduled for tonight including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl back in action against the Los Angeles Kings. As teams prepare for the big night, we’ll track all the minor moves right here.
- After last night’s game, the Montreal Canadiens sent Charles Hudon back to the AHL. The team seems likely to recall him again for their game on Saturday night, saving a few cap dollars in the process.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Zach Trotman from the minor leagues after Justin Schultz missed practice yesterday. It’s not clear if Schultz will miss any real time, but the team obviously needed an insurance plan.
- Matt Martin has been activated from injured reserve by the New York Islanders, who will have him back in the lineup tonight against the Penguins. Martin has been out for nearly a month but is expected back beside Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck.
- Kevin Rooney meanwhile has been moved to injured reserve by the New Jersey Devils. The move is retroactive to November 13th, meaning the team can activate him at any time.
Columbus Blue Jackets Hire Paul MacLean
The Columbus Blue Jackets have added another experienced hand to the coaching staff, hiring Paul MacLean as an assistant for the rest of the season. MacLean will join head coach John Tortorella‘s staff to help out the Blue Jackets’ special teams specifically. GM Jarmo Kekalainen released a statement on the hiring:
I’ve always said that we look at every opportunity to make our team better and adding a veteran coach with a winning pedigree like Paul MacLean to a staff that has led us to three-straight appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs does just that.
This isn’t the first time Kekalainen has added a coach during the season. In January of this year the team hired Martin St. Louis as a powerplay consultant, hoping to spark the Blue Jackets with the man advantage and add an extra set of eyes as they tried to compete in the Metropolitan Division. Bringing in MacLean is a similar move, even if he does come with quite a bit more experience.
A Jack Adams Award winner in 2013 with the Ottawa Senators, MacLean also won the Stanley Cup as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He has spent more than a decade behind NHL benches, though his last coaching position came in 2016-17.
The Blue Jackets, who are currently 8-8-4 on the season, lag far behind league average in both the powerplay (where they rank 24th) and penalty kill (22nd).
Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks Complete Minor Trade
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Graham Knott from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Joseph Cramarossa. Knott will be assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins immediately, while Cramarossa is headed to the Rockford IceHogs.
This move doesn’t look like it will have much of an impact at the NHL level, given that Knott has spent this season in the ECHL and Cramarossa hasn’t sniffed the NHL since the 2016-17 season. The pair of minor league forwards will get fresh starts in new organizations to try and keep their careers moving forward.
Pittsburgh does get the younger player, as Knott is still just 22. Selected in the second round of the 2015 draft he hasn’t been able to produce much at the minor league level and will likely go unqualified this summer at the expiry of his entry-level contract. Cramarossa meanwhile is also an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and is just minor league depth at this point.