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Snapshots: Soderholm, Maple Leafs, Chychrun

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One of the ongoing debates in the hockey world is when the NHL will start to broaden coaching searches outside of North America. The league has only really had two European head coaches in its history, and every summer there is talk about how someone like Rickard Gronborg could be an interesting candidate.

Well, take at least one name off the list for the time being, as Toni Soderholm has signed a contract to coach SC Bern in the Swiss National League until 2024. The 44-year-old Finn had been the head coach of the German national team for the last several years but used an out clause to terminate the deal and join Bern. Like most of the candidates that are brought up in this discussion, Soderholm has ties to North American hockey already, having played and even captained UMass.

  • While the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, the rest of the hockey world seems to be focused on finding them a new defenseman. Another piece came out today, this time from Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, detailing several candidates to replace Jake Muzzin. One name that is listed is Vladislav Gavrikov of the Columbus Blue Jackets, a name that has also been brought up by The Fourth Period in relation to the Maple Leafs. Toronto has some additional cap flexibility due to the injury to Jake Muzzin, which is keeping him out indefinitely and could end his career.
  • One of the names that is always brought up for defense-needy teams is Jakob Chychrun, and today he officially rejoined the Arizona Coyotes for practice. Speaking with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong once again implied that he will not drop the asking price for Chychrun, which – according to LeBrun – is a package including two first-round picks.

Mason Appleton Expected To Miss 8-12 Weeks

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12:05 pm: Head coach Rick Bowness has confirmed wrist surgery for Appleton, and said he is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.

10:40 am: Winnipeg Jets forward Mason Appleton was forced out of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Kraken early, and it sounds like he’s going to miss quite a while. Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports that Appleton will miss at least eight weeks with an upper-body injury that requires surgery.

Appleton, 26, has six points in 14 games and has actually seen time on the team’s first line this season, averaging more than 16 minutes a night. After losing him to Seattle for the first part of last season through the expansion draft, Winnipeg sent a fourth-round pick to get him back at the trade deadline. A versatile forward that can move up and down the lineup, he has ten points in 33 games since returning.

Now, with Appleton out for two months, the Jets would normally be in a bit of a pickle. Luckily, they had Nikolaj Ehlers back on the ice today, albeit in a solo session while donning a non-contact jersey. Ehlers’ return date is still unclear but when he does come back, he’ll be able to slot directly into the top six to give the team a bit more scoring punch.

The Jets still won that game against the Kraken, and now sit second in the Central Division with the best winning percentage in the group. Having only allowed 33 goals through 14 games, even a slight uptick in scoring would have them playing at an incredibly high level.

Colorado Avalanche Recall Andreas Englund, Jayson Megna

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The Colorado Avalanche are hitting the road, and they’re bringing some extra players with them. Andreas Englund and Jayson Megna have both been recalled today, joining Anton Blidh who was brought up last night. The team is heading to Carolina to play the Hurricanes tomorrow, with stops in Washington and Dallas before returning home.

Englund, 26, got into his first game with the Avalanche a few days ago in place of the injured Kurtis MacDermid and played just over 10 minutes. That was his first NHL appearance with any organization other than the Ottawa Senators, and the 6’3″ defenseman did rather well in his limited exposure. Whether he stays in the lineup is still to be determined but that long reach and physicality fit in nicely whenever he was put on the ice.

Megna, meanwhile, has already played five games for Colorado this season, but hasn’t cracked the eight-minute mark in any of them. The 32-year-old forward hasn’t scored an NHL goal since 2016-17, despite a handful of appearances every year. Given how little the team has played him even when he does dress, don’t expect much from the minor league veteran.

Sampo Ranta, who has been a regular call-up recently, was not included in this latest round. The youngster is still looking for his first NHL point and will have to wait for his next opportunity.

Montreal Canadiens Recall Rem Pitlick; Jonathan Drouin Out 4-6 Weeks

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The Montreal Canadiens will be without Jonathan Drouin for the next four to six weeks, as he continues to deal with an injury suffered earlier this month. The veteran forward has actually been playing through it, after first suffering it against the Vegas Golden Knights on November 5. In the three games since Drouin posted two points.

To take his place, the Canadiens have recalled Rem Pitlick, who recently cleared waivers and was with the Laval Rocket. The 25-year-old Pitlick had three points in three games with the AHL squad after going scoreless through seven NHL contests to start the year. A surprise last season when he had 26 points in 46 games for Montreal, Pitlick should get another chance to play, especially after the 5-1 teardown the Canadiens experienced last night.

The team is now 8-7-1 on the year, and really only has a few players to count on for offensive contributions. If Pitlick can add a bit of scoring punch, he’ll likely find his way into the lineup on a regular basis.

Drouin has officially been placed on injured reserve to bring the roster back down to 23.

Toronto Maple Leafs Activate Matt Murray

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As expected, the Toronto Maple Leafs have activated Matt Murray from long-term injured reserve ahead of their matchup tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In a pair of corresponding moves, Wayne Simmonds and Keith Petruzzelli have been returned to the minor leagues, according to CapFriendly.

Murray, 28, has played in just one game this season, allowing four goals on 23 shots. In his absence, the team had been running a duo of Ilya Samsonov and Erik Kalllgren until the former suffered an injury of his own, leaving the latter to handle the entire load. Petruzzelli, who earned an NHL contract just so the team would have two eligible goaltenders, did not see any action during his recall.

The Maple Leafs took a big gamble acquiring Murray this year, after injuries have ravaged his performance the last few years. When he takes the ice tonight he will be appearing in just his second NHL game since March 5, when he last played for the Ottawa Senators (and allowed eight goals on 31 shots).

It should, at least, be a familiar spot for him to try and get back on track. Murray spent the first five seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, posting a .914 save percentage over 199 regular season games and leading the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. It’s easy to forget just how well he played during those playoff runs, including posting three shutouts and a .937 save percentage in 11 games after returning from injury in 2017.

If the Maple Leafs could get that Murray back they might be one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but he hasn’t existed in recent years. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Murray has a .898 save percentage in 86 games.

Snapshots: 2024 Draft, Joseph, Dorion

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There’s a lot of focus on the 2023 draft and for good reason. Connor Bedard leads an impressive group that could seriously shift the balance of power in the NHL depending on who goes where, and there are several teams tanking for the opportunity to pick as high as possible. But 2024 isn’t that far away, and Craig Button of TSN is already talking up the top name. Button believes Cole Eiserman from the USNTDP is the clear number one, and that he would go in the top five this year if he were eligible.

The 16-year-old left-shot forward absolutely dominated the World U17 Hockey Challenge with 12 goals and 20 points in just seven games, and is committed to play for the University of Minnesota in 2024-25. His older brother Shane Eiserman was a fourth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2014, who played in the ECHL for a few years. So remember, if your team fails to secure the top spot – there’s always next year.

  • Mathieu Joseph of the Ottawa Senators has received a $5,000 fine for high-sticking Sebastian Aho last night, avoiding any suspension. The 25-year-old forward hasn’t had quite the impact that some expected after his brilliant end to last season and has been held scoreless in his last six games. The Senators as a group aren’t doing much, losing eight of their last ten and sitting 29th in the league. Joseph has three points in 15 games so far.
  • Speaking of the Senators, Pierre Dorion has been a busy man at the general manager meetings going on in Toronto. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports that Dorion admitted to having a lot of trade talks so far, though there were no specifics given. He certainly hasn’t been shy about pulling the trigger in recent months; the Senators have completed nine trades since March 20.

Sean Kuraly Activated From Injured Reserve; Jack Roslovic To Be Scratched

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have officially placed Zach Werenski on injured reserve after announcing recently that he is out for the remainder of the regular season. It’s not all bad news though, as Sean Kuraly has been activated to take his spot on the roster.

Kuraly, 29, ended up missing only two games thanks to a five-day break the Blue Jackets had last week, and will likely assume his regular place in the lineup immediately. The veteran forward was great for the team last season with 14 goals and 30 points in 77 games and had been off to a nice start this year too, with four points in his first 11.

Still, Kuraly’s return won’t spark much excitement in Columbus where the season is quickly falling apart. Werenski is out for the year, Patrik Laine is out for a month, and Jakub Voracek, Justin Danforth, Nick Blankenburg, and Adam Boqvist all remain on injured reserve.

Even with that many injuries, the team is making a rather bold statement for tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that Jack Roslovic will be a healthy scratch, with Kuraly and Kent Johnson drawing back into the lineup. A request for Roslovic to meet with the media was declined.

The 25-year-old center has just one goal in 14 games this season after signing a two-year, $8MM contract in June. The deal will walk him directly to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024, but it seemed after last season like Roslovic had established himself as a core piece in Columbus. With 22 goals and 45 points in 81 games, he finished fifth among Blue Jackets forwards in 2021-22 despite still rather limited minutes. Averaging just over 14 minutes a night, nearly all of his production was at even strength.

While one scratch doesn’t guarantee a player’s time in a market is over, it is rather stunning to see a $4MM player in the press box while the Blue Jackets have so many other injuries. Message sent.

Artem Anisimov Signs AHL PTO; Wade Allison Moved To IR

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It appeared as though Artem Anisimov had the inside track for a roster spot with the Philadelphia Flyers as training camp progressed, but the veteran forward suffered a broken foot while blocking a shot and ultimately didn’t earn a contract. Now, after recovering, Anisimov will try again. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have signed him to an AHL professional tryout to see what he can do.

Now 34, Anisimov spent last season playing in the KHL after a long NHL career. In 27 games with Lokomotiv, he racked up 19 points, but decided he still had more to give on the North American rink. A history with John Tortorella and tons of experience made him a good bet to earn a deal before the injury and he’ll now get a chance to ramp up to NHL speed in the minor leagues. Once there, the Flyers will have to make a decision on whether they want to sign him to a contract or use other internal options to fill out the lineup.

Given how many injuries the team is dealing with, it seems a good bet that Anisimov will succeed in his return. The team moved Wade Allison to injured reserve with an oblique muscle strain and hip pointer, telling reporters including Giana Han of the Philadelphia Inquirer that he’ll miss three weeks. He joins Sean Couturier, James van Riemsdyk, Ryan Ellis, Bobby Brink, and Patrick Brown on injured reserve (though the latter is on a conditioning stint and nearing a return).

If Anisimov does earn a deal, he’ll have a chance to reach the 800-game mark in the NHL, along with some other milestones. He currently sits at 180 goals, and 196 assists for 376 points in 771 career games.

Jack Studnicka Placed On Injured Reserve

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The Vancouver Canucks, fresh off another defeat on Sunday, have moved Jack Studnicka to injured reserve and recalled William Lockwood from the minor leagues. Studnicka joins Tanner Pearson, Curtis Lazar, Tucker Poolman, and Travis Dermott (and Micheal Ferland) on various types of IR for the Canucks, who can’t even stay healthy enough to have a chance of turning their season around.

Studnicka, 23, was acquired from the Boston Bruins earlier this season and inserted directly into the lineup, but certainly hasn’t turned out to be much of a difference-maker. The young forward has two points in seven games, while averaging just over ten minutes a game. On Sunday against his former team, he took a minor penalty and failed to register a shot on goal in 11:14 of ice time.

It’s hard to build any momentum with a new team if you are on the sideline just a few games into your new opportunity. This injury comes at a bad time for Studnicka, though it is not clear how long he’ll be out.

In his place comes Lockwood, a player that has had his own trouble taking advantage of NHL opportunities. Through 15 career games, he has failed to register a single point. The 24-year-old was selected in the third round in 2016 and has five goals in ten AHL games this season.

Buffalo Sabres Recall Riley Sheahan, Anders Bjork

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With Jack Quinn sidelined, the Buffalo Sabres needed to make at least one recall. They’ve made two, bringing up Riley Sheahan and Anders Bjork from the minor leagues. That doesn’t bode well for Kyle Okposo who was also listed as day-to-day with general soreness and missed the last game.

Sheahan, 30, has been playing regularly in the minor leagues for the first time in nearly a decade this season, registering three points in six games for the Rochester Americans. Other than the four games he spent in the AHL last year, he hadn’t played at that level since the 2013-14 season. A veteran of more than 600 NHL games, Sheahan is a nice depth piece to be able to insert into the fourth line and feel confident in.

Bjork, on the other hand, has just 211 NHL games under his belt but had much higher expectations when he arrived in Buffalo. Part of the return for Taylor Hall, he. has just 14 points in 73 games since being acquired by the Sabres. This year he’s seen game action in the AHL, where he has six points in 11 games. The 26-year-old made a solid impression in 2017-18 after an outstanding college career but has struggled to establish himself ever since.

The Sabres take on the Vancouver Canucks this evening, looking to finally end their five-game losing streak and start climbing back up the Atlantic Division standings.

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