Training Camp Cuts: 10/10/22
A very happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers who are celebrating! Today marks the deadline for NHL clubs to become cap compliant and submit their opening night rosters. More specifically, the 5:00 pm ET deadline is now less than six hours away. With that in mind, we expect to see plenty of players sent to the minor leagues, returned to juniors, or released from their PTOs today, and we’ll keep track of them here.
Arizona Coyotes (via team tweet)
D Cam Dineen (to Tucson, AHL)
G Jon Gillies (to Tucson, AHL)
F Laurent Dauphin (to Tucson, AHL)
F Bokondji Imama (to Tucson, AHL)
Buffalo Sabres (via team tweet)
D Lawrence Pilut (to Rochester, AHL)
G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (to Rochester, AHL)
F Olivier Nadeau (to Gatineau, QMJHL)
Carolina Hurricanes (via team release)
F Jack Drury (to Chicago, AHL)
F Jordan Martinook (to Chicago, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via team tweet)
D Wyatt Aamodt (to Colorado, AHL)
F Mikhail Maltsev (to Colorado, AHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets (per team release)
F Emil Bemstrom (to Cleveland, AHL)
D David Jiricek (to Cleveland, AHL)
Detroit Red Wings (per team release)
D Jeremie Biakabutuka (released from ATO)
F Kyle Criscuolo (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Taro Hirose (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
G Jussi Olkinuora (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Givani Smith (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (via team tweet)
D Jason Demers (released from PTO)
F James Hamblin (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Devin Shore (to Bakersfield, AHL)
Los Angeles Kings (per team release)
G Pheonix Copley (to Ontario, AHL)
F Rasmus Kupari (to Ontario, AHL)
F Andre Lee (to Ontario, AHL)
D Jacob Moverare (to Ontario, AHL)
Montreal Canadiens (via two team tweets)
F Rafael Harvey-Pinard (to Laval, AHL)
F Jesse Ylonen (to Laval, AHL)
D Justin Barron (to Laval, AHL)
D Otto Leskinen (to Laval, AHL)
G Cayden Primeau (to Laval, AHL)
D Arber Xhekaj (to Laval, AHL)
Nashville Predators (via team release)
F Jimmy Huntington (to Milwaukee, AHL)
F Mark Jankowski (to Milwaukee, AHL)
F Philip Tomasino (to Milwaukee, AHL)
D Kevin Gravel (to Milwaukee, AHL)
D Jordan Gross (to Milwaukee, AHL)
D Roland McKeown (to Milwaukee, AHL)
New York Rangers (via team release)
D Matt Bartkowski (released from PTO)
F Julien Gauthier (to Hartford, AHL)
Ottawa Senators (via team tweet)
F Ridly Greig (to Belleville, AHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (per Olivia Reiner, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
F Jackson Cates (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
Seattle Kraken (via team tweet)
F John Hayden (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
D Michal Kempny (to Coachella Valley, AHL)
St. Louis Blues (via team release)
F Josh Leivo (to Springfield, AHL)
F Jake Neighbours (to Springfield, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (via team tweet)
F Kyle Clifford (to Toronto, AHL)
F Adam Gaudette (to Toronto, AHL)
F Pontus Holmberg (to Toronto, AHL)
D Filip Kral (to Toronto, AHL)
D Victor Mete (to Toronto, AHL)
F Nick Robertson (to Toronto, AHL)
F Wayne Simmonds (to Toronto, AHL)
D William Villeneuve (to Toronto, AHL)
Vancouver Canucks (via team tweet)
F Linus Karlsson (to Abbotsford, AHL)
Vegas Golden Knights (via team release)
F Pavel Dorofeyev (to Henderson, AHL)
F Sakari Manninen (to Henderson, AHL)
F Jonas Rondbjerg (to Henderson, AHL)
D Jake Bischoff (to Henderson, AHL)
D Kaedan Korczak (to Henderson, AHL)
G Michael Hutchinson (to Henderson, AHL)
Washington Capitals (via team tweet)
F Henrik Borgstrom (to Hershey, AHL)
D Lucas Johansen (to Hershey, AHL)
Winnipeg Jets (via team tweet)
D Ville Heinola (to Manitoba, AHL)
This post will be kept updated throughout the day.
Waivers: 10/07/22
It’s an important day for waivers as the regular season approaches, and several potential targets are available. With the preseason wrapping up, teams will try to sneak players through at the last second and keep them in the organization for the time being.
Many of these placements are due to salary cap restrictions or LTIR machinations to give teams maximum flexibility as the season begins. Everyone from yesterday’s list cleared.
Here is today’s group of waiver additions:
Carolina Hurricanes
Dallas Stars
Edmonton Oilers
Mattias Janmark
Dmitri Samorukov
Minnesota Wild
New Jersey Devils
Philadelphia Flyers
Kevin Connauton
Troy Grosenick
St. Louis Blues
Martin Frk
Klim Kostin
Matthew Highmore
Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets
Hurricanes Expect To Sign Derek Stepan
Stepan, 32, is a veteran of over 800 NHL games and spent last season with the Hurricanes. In 58 games for Carolina, he scored 19 points and is likely being signed to function as a depth center in case any member of their current center corps faces injury issues. While Stepan isn’t the reliable 55-point top-six center he once was, he’s a capable veteran who provides the Hurricanes with the sort of depth contending clubs need to survive the rigors of the NHL season.
Carolina Hurricanes Part Ways With Grigori Dronov
October 5: The rollercoaster summer for Dronov continues, as this time the Hurricanes have announced the young defenseman will not be joining the organization after all. Both sides have “agreed to mutually part ways,” suggesting his contract was not (and will not be) filed.
October 3: Another player has converted his PTO into an NHL contract today. The Carolina Hurricanes announced via a team release that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way deal with defenseman Grigori Dronov. He has subsequently been assigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
According to the team, Dronov’s two-way deal carries a $770,000 cap hit and pays him $70,000 at the AHL level.
Team president and general manager Don Waddell spoke on the deal:
Grigori possesses a nice blend of skill and physicality, which stood out to us in camp. He is a young but experienced player coming off an impressive postseason in the KHL, and we’re excited to see how he performs in North America.
That impressive postseason is what earned Dronov a professional tryout in the first place, as injuries limited him to just one assist in six KHL games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk last season. He did come alive in the postseason, though, scoring five goals, nine assists, and 14 points in 24 games for Magnitogorsk.
Dronov, 24, was never drafted. He originally came to North America this offseason on a PTO with the Arizona Coyotes, which ended even prior to rookie camp. There, he joined the Hurricanes and had an impressive performance.
Dronov is expected to report to Chicago and serve a top-four role there to begin the season.
Waivers: 10/05/22
Another large group of players finds themselves on waivers today, hoping to get picked up by an NHL roster. The AHL awaits most that clear, though placement on the wire doesn’t necessarily indicate assignment to the minor leagues. Some players will clear just to give their team a little more roster flexibility over the next few weeks. Everyone from yesterday has cleared, and waivers today include:
Carolina Hurricanes
Ryan Dzingel
Maxime Lajoie
Lane Pederson
Stelio Mattheos
Mackenzie MacEachern
Minnesota Wild
New York Islanders
Dennis Cholowski
Cory Schneider
Parker Wotherspoon
Hudson Fasching
Arnaud Durandeau
Cole Bardreau
Andy Andreoff
Philadelphia Flyers
Adam Brooks
Max Willman
Louis Belpedio
This page will be updated as more reports come in
Dylan Coghlan Leaves Game With Injury
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dylan Coghlan will not return to tonight’s preseason matchup against the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury, according to Hurricanes PR.
Coghlan, 24, is entering his first season in the Hurricanes organization. Carolina acquired him, along with the currently-injured Max Pacioretty, from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for future considerations when free agency opened on July 13, 2022.
Last season, Coghlan set career highs in games played (59), assists (10), and points (13) while playing his first season as a full-time NHLer. He was a member of the Golden Knights organization from 2017 onwards when he signed there as an undrafted free agent after putting together 15 goals, 38 assists, and 53 points in 71 games with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans in 2016-17. Coghlan turned pro in 2018-19, joining the AHL’s Chicago Wolves – Vegas’ affiliate at the time – where he led all rookie defensemen in goals with 15.
With the Golden Knights’ bevy of injuries last season, Coghlan had an extended opportunity to get into games in Vegas, serving mostly a bottom-pairing role. He had solid possession numbers in his first full showing, posting a 53.1% Corsi for at five-on-five. He’s a candidate to get some potential power-play minutes, potentially filling some of the offensive void left by Tony DeAngelo‘s departure, although the majority of that responsibility will fall on Brent Burns.
Needless to say, with Coghlan battling from the bottom of the lineup, missed time during camp is never a great thing for someone in that position. He’s still likely penciled in for a bottom-pairing role, even if he misses time, but it does hamper his adjustment period to his new team. Hopefully, for Coghlan and the Hurricanes, he hasn’t suffered a longer-term issue.
Brett Pesce Injured In Monday's Preseason Game
- There’s some reason for concern for the Carolina Hurricanes with the team announcing defenseman Brett Pesce would not return to tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after suffering a lower-body injury. It’s unclear what caused the injury or how severe it is, but losing a key piece such as Pesce for any stretch of time surely puts Carolina in a difficult position.
Waivers: 10/2/22
It’s expected to be another busy day on the waiver wire today as teams continue to trim down their rosters. We’ll keep track of the players being placed on waivers here.
Buffalo Sabres (via NorthStar Bets’ Chris Johnston, awaiting team announcement)
Calgary Flames (via team release)
F Clark Bishop
F Ben Jones
F Matthew Phillips
D Colton Poolman
D Nick DeSimone
G Oscar Dansk
Carolina Hurricanes (via NorthStar Bets’ Chris Johnston, awaiting team announcement)
Dallas Stars (via PuckPedia)
F Riley Tufte
F Marian Studenic
D Alexander Petrovic
Edmonton Oilers (via team release)
Florida Panthers (via Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards, awaiting team announcement)
Los Angeles Kings (via PuckPedia)
Ottawa Senators (via team release)
F Rourke Chartier
F Jake Luccini
D Dillon Heatherington
Pittsburgh Penguins (via team release)
F Alexander Nylander
F Radim Zohorna
F Drake Caggiula
D Xavier Ouellet
G Dustin Tokarski
Seattle Kraken (via team release)
F Jesper Froden
F Cameron Hughes
F Kole Lind
F Max McCormick
F Austin Poganski
F Andrew Poturalski
F Brogan Rafferty
F Carsen Twarynski
D Gustav Olofsson
G Magnus Hellberg
St. Louis Blues (via team release, PuckPedia)
F Nathan Todd
F Will Bitten
D Luke Witkowski
D Steven Santini
Washington Capitals (via team release)
F Beck Malenstyn
F Garrett Pilon
D Gabriel Carlsson
D Dylan McIlrath
D Bobby Nardella
G Zachary Fucale
Hurricanes Sign Calvin De Haan
It was a successful tryout for defenseman Calvin de Haan as the Hurricanes announced that they’ve signed the veteran to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $850K. GM Don Waddell released the following statement on the move:
We obviously knew Calvin from his previous time in Carolina. We like what we’ve seen from him in camp and saw this as an opportunity to increase our depth on the back end.
That time that Waddell speaks of is from the 2018-19 season when he played in 74 games for Carolina, primarily in a shutdown role. It’s a role that the 32-year-old is quite familiar with as it’s the one that he has had for most of his 10-year NHL career which also featured time with the Islanders and Blackhawks. Last season, de Haan played in 69 games for Chicago, picking up four goals and four assists while logging just shy of 19 minutes a game. He also led the Blackhawks in blocked shots (172) and placed second in hits with 146.
With Jake Gardiner not being able to return this season, it opens up a spot for de Haan on the roster although it seems quite likely that he will have a smaller role than he’s accustomed to. Carolina’s top four is fully established with all four of those players being fully capable of logging over 20 minutes a night. That will leave de Haan fighting for ice time on the third pairing and perhaps even being in a seventh defenseman role at times. Even so, he extends his NHL career with this deal and becomes the second defender in as many days to convert a PTO agreement into a full contract.
Hurricanes Cut Three From Training Camp
Carolina Hurricanes (via team release)