Tyler Motte Out At Least Four Weeks
It wasn’t clear how long Tyler Motte would be out when he ended up on injured reserve recently, but Vancouver Canucks Travis Green cleared things up today. Green indicated that Motte will miss “at least four weeks,” while Micheal Ferland is still in the concussion protocol.
Motte, 24, was a constant in the Canucks lineup last season, recording 16 points in 74 games as an energy player in the bottom six. His 200 hits easily led all Vancouver players while also contributing on the penalty kill.
That energy will be missed, but the Canucks are rolling right now with a 9-3-2 record good for third in the Western Conference. They’ve found more than enough capable forwards to fill out a lineup, even without Motte and Ferland for the next little while.
Radim Simek Recalled From Conditioning Assignment
The San Jose Sharks will get an important defenseman back soon, as Radim Simek has been recalled from his AHL conditioning stint. Simek hasn’t played an NHL game since he suffered a major knee injury in March when his leg was caught under Winnipeg Jets forward Andrew Copp. The team has also recalled Lean Bergmann from the AHL, while sending Jonny Brodzinski back down.
Simek, 27, played a bigger role than some may remember for the Sharks last season, offering a stabilizing presence to a group that has so many talented offensive weapons. His absence was felt most in the playoffs when the team missed his physical style and this year has been no different.
The Czech defender recorded just nine points in 41 games with the Sharks, but was still named the team’s Rookie of the Year thanks. He’ll be welcomed back as the Sharks try to somehow right the ship this season.
Through the first 15 games of 2019-20, San Jose sits with a 4-10-1 record and look like one of the worst teams in the entire NHL. That record includes the five-game losing streak that they are currently on and has them sitting ahead of only the Ottawa Senators in the standings. Though Simek can’t be the entire answer, getting him back in the lineup will at least help things move in a more positive direction.
Morning Notes: Three Stars, Sabourin, Gusev
The NHL has released their Three Stars for last week and at the top of the heap is the reigning Calder Trophy winner. Elias Pettersson had nine points in four games for the Vancouver Canucks—one of which he was held scoreless entirely—and now sits sixth in the entire league in scoring. The 21-year old is a huge part of the turnaround in Vancouver that has the Canucks sitting in third place in the Western Conference with a 9-3-2 record.
Second and third went to Jakub Vrana and Mike Smith respectively, an impressive resurgence for the 37-year old goaltender especially. Smith struggled last season with the Calgary Flames but has found new life with their rival Edmonton Oilers, posting a .931 save percentage through his first nine games. The Oilers are one of the only teams ahead of the Canucks in the west, thanks in large part to the goaltending tandem that has been excellent so far.
- There is more good news for Scott Sabourin, who has been released from hospital and is now back in Ottawa recuperating. The 27-year old appears to have avoided major injury after a scary collision with Boston Bruins’ forward David Backes on Saturday night that left him unconscious for several minutes on the ice.
- Nikita Gusev is expected to return to the lineup for the New Jersey Devils when they take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight, but is still someone to keep an eye on as the season progresses. Gusev was made a healthy scratch the last three games by head coach John Hynes, but will now get a chance to play thanks to an injury to Jesper Bratt. Bratt will not be traveling with the team to Winnipeg according to team reporter Amanda Stein, but could join them later on their Western Canada road trip.
Scott Darling, Scottie Upshall Sign In Europe
A pair of veteran NHL players have decided to take offers overseas, as Scott Darling has signed with HC Innsbruck of the Austrian EBEL and Scottie Upshall has inked a deal with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss NLA. Darling’s contract is for the rest of the season, while Upshall is only inked until Christmas.
Once a Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Darling’s career quickly unravelled over the last few seasons. A big contract with the Carolina Hurricanes put pressure on him to finally become a starting goaltender in the league, a position he was unable to hold for very long. By the second year of the deal Darling was already buried in the minor leagues, only to see his contract bought out this summer.
The 30-year old should be able to find success in Austria and is still young enough to potentially convince an NHL team he can be a backup again at some point in the future. For now though he’ll have to focus on getting his game back on track.
For Upshall, things are very different. Now 36, he will just try to keep his playing career going for another season after failing to earn a contract despite attending training camp with the Dallas Stars. The sixth-overall pick from 2002 never became a top player in the league, but did suit up for 759 regular season NHL contests. It’s hard to imagine he’ll ever be back, but Upshall has proven his doubters wrong before.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minor Transactions: 11/04/19
Though it was a relatively quiet night in the NHL, Sunday’s action still brought some big moments for young players. Adam Boqvist scored the first goal of his NHL career for the Chicago Blackhawks, while Jakub Vrana recorded his first career hat trick for the Washington Capitals. With four more games on the docket you can bet more fireworks will follow, and we’ll be here keeping track of all the minor moves leading up to this evening’s action.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled both Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague as they prepare for a four-game road trip that starts tomorrow in Columbus. Hague remains one of the team’s top defensive prospects and played eight games earlier this season for the team. The 20-year old was selected 34th overall in 2017 and had 32 points in 75 games for the Chicago Wolves last season.
- The Boston Bruins have recalled Cameron Hughes from the minor leagues and expect him to make his NHL debut tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. To make room, Peter Cehlarik has been sent to the AHL’s Providence Bruins after just two NHL games.
- Another recent NHL debut was C.J. Suess with the Winnipeg Jets, but that’s all he’ll get on this recall. The 25-year old played his first game with the Jets on Friday, but was sent back to the AHL today.
- Max Jones has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks after just a few days in the minor leagues. Jones has spent the vast majority of the season in the NHL, suiting up 12 times so far for the Ducks.
- Joel Hanley is back once again with the Dallas Stars, a trip he’s used to at this point. The Stars are using his waiver-exempt status (after clearing just before the season began) as a way to save some cap space on off days. It also keeps Hanley’s waiver clock from ticking—players have to clear again after 30 days or 10 games played in the NHL.
Minor Transactions: 11/03/19
Only a few NHL markets will compete with football this Sunday as just two games are on the schedule for tonight. The Calgary Flames will try to continue their recent resurgence in a game against the Washington Capitals, while the Chicago Blackhawks attempt to get anything going against the Anaheim Ducks. As teams prepare for the action, we’ll be here to keep track of all the minor moves.
- The New Jersey Devils have sent Matt Tennyson to the minor leagues once again, already the fifth transaction of the young season for the veteran defenseman. The Devils don’t have another game until Tuesday, giving them some time to make another move.
- Joel Hanley is also on his way back to the AHL, with the Dallas Stars also off until Tuesday evening. Hanley played just 11 minutes last night for Dallas and has one point in five games this season.
- That’s more than Otto Koivula, who didn’t get into a single game with the New York Islanders before being sent back to the AHL today. The 6’4″ winger is still waiting to make his NHL debut, but will be welcomed back to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers where he is a big part of the offense.
- The Vegas Golden Knights announced they have assigned goaltender Garret Sparks to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Sparks was brought up as an emergency recall as Marc-Andre Fleury was out sick. However, with the demotion of Sparks, that would suggest that Fleury is expected to be well enough to play against Columbus on Tuesday.
- The Arizona Coyotes announced they have recalled Michael Chaput from the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL. The 27-year-old AHL veteran will take the place of Brad Richardson, who isn’t expected to join the team for their two-game road trip to Edmonton and Calgary. Chaput has put up five goals and six points in nine AHL games this season. He had five assists in 32 games for Montreal last season.
- The San Jose Sharks announced they have assigned defenseman Trevor Carrick to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. The blueliner has been up and down, but has played the most of his season with the Sharks, having appeared in three games for them, as opposed to one for the Barracuda. It could also suggest that Carrick is heading to the AHL to make room for Radim Simek, who is expected to be activated off of injured reserve.
- The Buffalo Sabres made a few moves in anticipation of their trip to Sweden. The team announced they have recalled defenseman Lawrence Pilut from the Rochester Americans of the AHL, while the team placed defenseman Marco Scandella on injured reserve. Pilut has fared quite well in Rochester, posting a goal and six points in eight games this year. Scandella suffered a lower-body injury during Thursday’s game against the Rangers. He is expected to miss two to three weeks. The team also announced that Rochester goaltender Andrew Hammond will be accompanying Buffalo on its trip as an emergency third goaltender.
Latest On Jesse Puljujarvi
It’s hard to know exactly how the Jesse Puljujarvi situation will play out with regards to the Edmonton Oilers, after the young forward requested a trade and refused to sign a contract with the team this summer. Puljujarvi instead returned to Finland where he is off to a great start, scoring 11 goals and 20 points in 18 games with Karpat and recently being named to the national team for the Karjala Cup.
Oilers GM Ken Holland will attend the international tournament to see Puljujarvi, which has led to more speculation about a potential trade back on North American soil. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported last night on Headlines that interest in Puljujarvi has increased again, noting that the New York Rangers in particular have continued to shown “persistent interest.”
There is now less than a month left to get Puljujarvi signed to a contract. The restricted free agent must have a deal registered with the NHL by December 1st in order to be eligible to play at all this season. That NHL future is entirely in the hands of Holland, who isn’t forced to move Puljujarvi’s rights at all.
The 21-year old will be waiver eligible, meaning that any team deciding to acquire Puljujarvi will have to keep him on their NHL roster—or risk losing him to someone else. That’s a tough ask even with his overseas success, at least for teams expecting to contend for a playoff spot this season.
Doug Gilmour Leaves Kingston, Joins Maple Leafs
One of the most celebrated Toronto Maple Leafs forwards of all-time is returning to the organization, as Doug Gilmour announced today that he is leaving the Kingston Frontenacs after more than a decade. Gilmour will leave his position as president of the OHL franchise to join the Maple Leafs as a community ambassador.
Serving in several different roles for Kingston over the last decade including head coach, general manager and president of hockey operations, Gilmour explained his decision to leave in a piece with Dan Robson of The Athletic (subscription required):
Now it’s time for a new opportunity, back in my other home — Toronto. I’m excited to spend more time with my family because they mean more to me than the game ever could. I’m proud to watch my two sons, Tyson and Jake, grow into incredible young men. I’m thrilled to be close to my eldest daughter Maddison, who lives with her beautiful family in the Niagara region. And I’m so fortunate to be able to spend more family time with Sonya and Victoria, who both amaze me every day.
Gilmour leaves the Frontenacs just as they enter an extremely exciting time, headlined by forward Shane Wright. The 15-year old Wright follows Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, John Tavares and Sean Day as an exceptional status player allowed to enter the OHL a year early, and already has 11 points in 14 games for Kingston.
Though he actually played only 393 of his 1,474 career games with the Maple Leafs, Gilmour is revered in Toronto as one of the greatest players in franchise history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011, and his number 93 was retired by the Maple Leafs in 2016.
Sven Baertschi Recalled By Vancouver Canucks
After being a surprise demotion at the end of training camp, Sven Baertschi is on his way back to the NHL. Rick Dhaliwal of TSN reports that Baertschi has been recalled by the Vancouver Canucks, but had a delayed flight making his status for tonight’s game in Anaheim unclear. Micheal Ferland has been placed on injured reserve to make room.
The 27-year old Baertschi has been riddled with injuries the last several years, but always produced at a high level whenever in the lineup for the Canucks. In fact, he has 56 goals over his last 216 games, a 21-goal full-season pace.
Vancouver has been on a heater to start the season and now sit at 8-3-1 through their first 12 games, good enough for second place in the Pacific Division. While it’s not clear exactly where Baertschi will fit in the lineup at this point, being able to recall a player with that much NHL success is a luxury.
Minor Transactions: 11/01/19
The ghouls and goblins are finished their annual haunt and we’re on to November in the NHL regular season. With the new month comes eight games, including a prime matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals for first place in the Eastern Conference. It has been a long time since Buffalo fans could say that about their team, but after a 9-2-2 start they sit among the elite in the NHL.
As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves leading up to tonight’s action:
- The Capitals have recalled Liam O’Brien from the minor leagues, with Nic Dowd and Evgeny Kuznetsov dealing with minor injuries. O’Brien has three points in nine AHL games this season but hasn’t suited up for an NHL contest since 2017-18.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent Nic Petan to the minor leagues, perhaps in preparation for John Tavares‘ return. Petan actually cleared waivers just before the season started, meaning he can be one of the players Toronto removes from the roster without risking him to the rest of the league. The team had been trying to find a landing spot for Petan to give him a better opportunity, but that doesn’t appear to have worked so far.
- C.J. Suess has been recalled by the Winnipeg Jets, giving them another forward option as they start the weekend. Suess has one goal in eight games for the Manitoba Moose this year, and would be making his NHL debut if he gets into any game action with the Jets.
- The Edmonton Oilers have flipped William Lagesson to the minor leagues while bringing up Colby Cave, who previously cleared waivers and has spent the last few weeks with the Bakersfield Condors.
- The Buffalo Sabres’ top goalie prospect is ready to return to action. After beginning the season on the injured reserve, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has finally been cleared to play and has been reassigned to the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones by the AHL’s Rochester Americans. The first-year pro will have to work his way up from the “AA” level, but given his dominance of both the OHL and World Junior Championship last year, that likely won’t be a problem.
- Also returning to action is Carolina Hurricanes prospect Stelio Mattheos. After helping the Charlotte Checkers capture the Calder Cup last year, Mattheos was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent treatment this summer. The Checkers announced that he will officially return to the lineup on Friday night.
- The AHL lists the Boston Bruins as recalling forward Peter Cehlarik from AHL Providence, although the team has not formally announced the move. This could be because of some doubts as to whether Brett Ritchie will be able to go on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. If he can, the Bruins would quietly return Cehlarik to the minors. If not, Providence’s leading scorer would be a candidate to replace Ritchie in the lineup, competing with David Backes and Par Lindholm.