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Colorado Avalanche “Trying To Move” Sven Andrighetto

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The Colorado Avalanche have had an incredibly turbulent season. At one point earlier in the year they looked like they were going to battle for the Presidents Trophy, sitting at 15-6-4 through 25 games and boasting one of the most dominant lines in hockey. Since then, the team has gone 9-18-7 and would have dropped completely out of the playoff race if the Western Conference wasn’t littered with struggling teams. A huge part of that slide for the Avalanche has been the lack of production from previously reliable options, perhaps most notably Sven Andrighetto.

The undersized winger was a find for the Avalanche in 2017, coming over from the Montreal Canadiens and scoring 16 points in 19 games down the stretch. He then added a 22-point season in just 50 games last year, but hasn’t been able to even come close to those numbers this time around. In 41 games this season Andrighetto has just seven points and has routinely seen fewer than ten minutes of ice time. Now, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet notes in his latest 31 Thoughts column that the Avalanche are trying to move the 25-year old forward before the deadline.

Andrighetto signed a two-year, $2.8MM contract after that solid end to the 2016-17 campaign and is earning $1.55MM in salary this year. While still a restricted free agent at the end of the year, the fact that he will be arbitration eligible may make the Avalanche hesitate to even advance a qualifying offer. That offer would have to be for $1.55MM once again.

Still, perhaps another team will think they can get the same kind of late-season production out of Andrighetto this year. Originally a third-round selection of the Montreal Canadiens back in 2013, the Swiss forward has at times looked like a dynamic offensive player in the NHL. It likely wouldn’t cost much to acquire him, and for a team with ample cap space and roster spots there could be some substantial upside.

In an interesting turn, Andrighetto played more than 18 minutes last night for the Avalanche, third most among Colorado forwards and easily his highest total of the season. If the team is trying to move him as Friedman suggests, perhaps it was a showcase of sorts.

Colorado’s Odds At The First Overall Pick

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Early this season, the Colorado Avalanche were in the most enviable position in sports. Their team was excelling and looking playoff-bound, but without any negative effect on their draft status. Because as the Avs won games, the Ottawa Senators were losing them and Colorado owned the Sens’ first-round pick this year as part of last season’s Matt Duchene trade. There was a real possibility that the Avalanche could be Stanley Cup contenders and also have the first overall pick in the draft. Lately, the Avs have looked less like a playoff team and more like the Senators. Colorado has four wins in their past 23 games dating back to mid-December and have slipped into a tie for tenth-place in the Western Conference, three points out of a playoff spot. The one silver lining: their odds at drafting No. 1 have improved and might end up being the best in several years.

Ahead of the 2014 NHL Draft, the NHL changed the draft lottery rules. Any team in the lottery could now move up into a top-three position and the odds would be more fairly distributed among all lottery teams. There have been slight variations in the odds for each draft, but the biggest shift came last year when the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights to the league added a fifteenth member of the lottery group and further split the odds. Yet, with 18.5% odds, the last-placed Buffalo Sabres still retained the first overall pick and drafted Rasmus Dahlin, a generational defenseman. This year’s prize, play-making forward Jack Hughes, is seen by most scouts as a guaranteed top-six center and power play wizard and the team with the worst record still stands the best chance of getting him by a significant margin.

Of course, the worst record looks like it will belong to Ottawa and thus the pick will belong to Colorado. The Senators are currently in 31st overall in the league standings, three points back of the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils. If those standings hold, based on last year’s odds Colorado will have a 18.5% chance that the Ottawa pick will be first overall, compared to 13.5% for L.A. and 11.5% for New Jersey. Then, Colorado’s own pick comes into play. Currently, the Avs are technically 23rd overall. If they remain in that spot, they would have 5% odds that their own pick would be No. 1. Combined, they would have a 23.5% shot at picking first. Since 2014, no team has come close to having odds that high at the top pick and Colorado could continue to struggle down the stretch and improve the odds on their own pick. If the Avs were to slip three more spots in the league standings, their odds would be greater than 25%, giving them better than a one-in-four shot at Hughes.

The possibilities are even more intriguing when you consider the odds of both picks winning the lottery instead of just one. Currently, there is about a 0.9% chance that Colorado could pick first and second, not dissimilar odds to those that the final lottery team has of picking first. The addition of both Hughes and the presumptive No. 2 pick, Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko, would be an enormous influx of elite draft talent unseen since the Sedin twins landed with the Vancouver Canucks at second and third overall in 1999. There is a whopping 58% chance that both of their picks land in the top four, which would also be an unbelievable boost for the Avalanche with a number of impact forwards available in this class. And again, these odds can only improve if the Avalanche continue on this downward spiral. If the current standings hold, the worst that Colorado could do is to pick fourth and twelfth – which would still be a better first-round combination than any team in recent years – and the odds of that happening are approximately 18x less likely than picking both first and second; the best case is greater reality than the worst-case.

The moral of the story is that, while it’s disappointing for Avalanche fans to see a talented team plummeting down the standings, there is some upside as well. The team is young and built for the future and are in better shape than any team in recent memory to add the best player in the draft and perhaps two of the best available. So whether you’re a Colorado fan soley focused on Hughes or holding out for another top prospect as well, the team’s current slump is only helping in that pursuit. The ping pong balls will ultimately decide the Avs’ fate, but the future is bright.

Ottawa Senators Plan To Trade Matt Duchene

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A “decision” on the trade plans of the Ottawa Senators for impending free agent forwards Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel has been anticipated all week long. With a week left before deadline day, the Senators have to be listening to offers for all three at this point, but there had been no word of extension talks ending with any of the standout out UFA’s. That is until now. According to several sources, for one reason or another the Senators have made the decision to trade Duchene.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman got the ball rolling late last night, when he reported that Ottawa had shifted their focus from re-signing Duchene to re-signing Stone. Friedman wrote that the Senators and Stone had re-engaged in extension talks over the last few days after abandoning talks with Duchene. He stated that Duchene is now available to all interested teams. This morning, TSN’s Darren Dreger reiterated the point by stating that unless there is an unexpected change in the mindset from Duchene’s camp, the center will be traded. He continued that Stone has bought himself another day or two, but that a decision should be made on the star winger soon as well. Colleague Pierre LeBrun followed that up by stating that several teams have already checked in on Duchene. LeBrun believes that the Nashville Predators, who have been interested in Duchene for several years, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are expected to target the Senators’ rentals as Artemi Panarin replacement options, are the early leaders in trade talks.

Of the three Ottawa free agents, many expected Duchene to be the most likely to re-sign, due to family ties to the area. It has also been speculated that there is a chance Duchene could be traded and still sign with the Senators as a free agent, giving him a chance to win a title this year and giving Ottawa some nice pieces to help jump-start their rebuild. However, the reason Duchene originally wanted to be traded by the Colorado Avalanche last year was so that he did not have to endure a rebuild. With that in mind, it was always a strong possibility that Duchene’s days in Ottawa were numbered. Now that he is officially on the trade block, the dominoes could begin to fall. If Duchene is available due to a breakdown in contract talks, that could also hurt the chances that Stone would opt for an extension in Ottawa. Additionally, Dzingel continues to be an afterthought compared to Duchene and Stone, which could result in his departure, unless talks with Stone end soon as well and he becomes the priority. Outside of the Senators organization, Duchene’s market will also dictate the price and interested teams for centers like Kevin Hayes, Eric Staal, and Derick Brassard, while the Blue Jackets’ involvement could heat up trade talks surrounding Panarin and set the market for all rentals. With a week to go, things are finally starting to heat up on the rumor mill.

Minor Transactions: 02/17/2019

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Yesterday saw the Hurricanes move into the Eastern playoff picture at the expense of the Penguins, the Bruins pass the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic, and the Blues win their ninth straight as they pull away from the Western wild card race entirely. With another six games on the docket today, featuring eight teams still jockeying for playoff position, we could see more movement in the standings. Meanwhile, there will definitely be some movement across NHL rosters, as teams prepare for the week ahead. Keep up with all the action here:

  • The Vancouver Canucks recalled a newly-acquired player before last night’s game, but it wasn’t Ryan Spooner. Luke Schenn, acquired in the Michael Del Zotto trade in January, was given his first Canucks promotion the team announced, although he did not suit up last night. The veteran blue liner has played well since joining the AHL’s Utica Comets and the Canucks could use some solid play on the back end while dealing with several injuries.
  • The Ottawa Senators announced the return of young goaltender Filip Gustavsson to the AHL, as well as veteran forward Darren Archibald, who has become a fixture of the team’s the daily transactions. Gustavsson, 20, was given his first recall on Tuesday to serve as the backup to Anders Nilsson while Craig Anderson was sidelined. Gustavsson did not see any action and will now head back to the Belleville Senators. Meanwhile, his reassignment implies that Anderson has been cleared to return to action.
  • CapFriendly reports the Colorado Avalanche have sent Sheldon Dries and Dominic Toninato back to the minors. Dries has skated in three times as many games with the Avs this season than the AHL’s Colorado Eagles and has never been down for too long, whereas Toninato has only gotten into two NHL games as opposed to 37 AHL games and has been more productive at the lower level. Neither player has been any help in solving the Avalanche’s secondary scoring problem, so for now they’ll get some work in with the Eagles. BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater reports the Avalanche have recalled Andrew Agozzino. The 28-year-old veteran hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2015-16 season. He currently has 22 goals and 50 points in 48 games with the Eagles.
  • No sooner than he was called up is Tucker Poolman being sent back down. The Winnipeg Jets announced that the 25-year-old defenseman has been reassigned to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose after he was recalled just yesterday, only to watch the Jets’ game from the press box. Poolman has yet to play in the NHL this season after getting into 24 contests last year. Poolman is signed for two more years and is hoping to earn a role in Winnipeg sooner rather than later.
  • The Athletic’s George Richards relays from head coach Bob Boughner that the Florida Panthers have placed Roberto Luongo on the bereavement list due to a death in the family. He will be unavailable through at least tonight’s game. As such, the team will call up young Samuel Montembeault from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds to back up James Reimer for the time being. The team has since confirmed the move.
  • Casey Nelson has finished his own conditioning stint and has been recalled by the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced. Nelson has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since early December, but after a five-game stint with the AHL’s Rochester Americans he looks ready for a return.
  • The Arizona Coyotes announced they have recalled Michael Bunting from the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL just a two days after the team put him on waivers and sent him to the AHL. The 23-year-old Bunting has appeared in just five games for Arizona, but has flashed some potential in Tucson as he has posted 11 goals and 27 points in 31 games.
  • The St. Louis Blues announced they have assigned forward Sammy Blais to the San Antonio Rampage after being recalled Saturday. He was recalled to fill in as an emergency forward for Sunday’s game. He didn’t play and now will return to San Antonio. Blais has 18 points in 25 games for the Rampage.

Injury Notes: Koivu, Wilson, Tanev

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Mikko Koivu’s season is over and it’s already had a massive impact on his team. However, the Minnesota Wild captain wants everyone to know that next year is not in doubt. The Associate Press report on Koivu’s major knee injury was actually overwhelmingly positive. Less than a week after reconstructive surgery to repair a torn ACL, Koivu said the following yesterday about his potential return for 2019-20 training camp:

 I’m totally confident… I think it’s about your effort, the way you take care of yourself on and off the ice, and at the end, it’s going to be a battle. But if you’re strong enough, you’re going to be able to do it… It’s a fact that this knee will be stronger than I’ve ever experienced. The rest of it is up to me.

The typical recovery time for this injury is six to nine months and especially for a soon-to-be-36-year-old, the latter end of that timeline seems more likely. However, Koivu has never given anyone a reason to doubt his dedication and work ethic, so his own optimism means a lot. Some thought that this could be a career-ending injury for the respected veteran; he merely sees it as a minor setback.

  • The Colorado Avalanche have all but confirmed that they won’t be major buyers at the trade deadline, but they might have a hard time being sellers too. The young team is not looking to move their long-term investments nor the players needed to win down the stretch and few good other rental options exist on the roster. The one player that does stand out as a valuable rental target is forward Colin Wilson, who has redeemed himself this season after an abysmal first year in Colorado. Wilson is a versatile, veteran forward who can be a major boost to a contender’s bottom-six. However, he’s also now on the injured reserve. CapFriendly reports that Wilson has been moved to the IR by the Avs with an undisclosed upper-body injury. The requisite ten days on the IR will give Wilson at most two games to show that he is healthy, if he is even ready to play by then. This could make it hard to the Avalanche to shop their most prized impending free agent.
  • The injuries continue to pile on for the Vancouver Canucks, as Chris Tanev has also joined the injured reserve. While the Canucks were happy to get starting goalie Jacob Markstrom back last night, Tanev is the latest in a long list of injuries, including Sven Baertschi, Alexander Edler, Thatcher Demko, Brandon Sutter, and Jake Virtanen. Of that group, only Virtanen has managed to stay off the IR.

Snapshots: Murray, Boudreau, Stone, Stewart

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There was more than a bit of scrutiny and criticism when Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray named himself interim head coach despite not having any coaching experience. Yet, Murray’s first game behind the bench last night was the Ducks’ first win in weeks. A shutout performance by Kevin Boyle played a major role, but USA Today’s Mike Brehm writes that Murray’s presence made an obvious impact. Anaheim came out hot, scored early, and played with energy and aggression that they haven’t displayed during this disappointing stretch. Brehm advocates that all NHL GM’s consider spending time as a coach following a coaching change, as he feels the pressure and seriousness that Murray brought to the Ducks’ locker room was the reason for their sudden change of spirit. The next question, of course, is how long Murray’s role as coach can maintain this level of play.

  • Another coach is trying to motivate his team a different way, one that required some boldness. Appearing on KFAN radio in Minnesota today, Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau guaranteed his team to make the playoffs. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s not often that anyone on a team offers up such a prediction, never mind the head coach, but the veteran Boudreau apparently feels confident and surely wanted to energize his players. “I can tell you right now”, Boudreau proclaimed, “we’re going to make the playoffs. And we’re going to be somebody hard to deal with.” It’s big talk from the Minnesota bench boss, but can he back it up? The Wild are currently clinging to the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, having picked up just one win in the past seven games, but still hold a two point lead over the Vancouver Canucks with a game in hand, with several more teams right behind. Minnesota also stands little chance of climbing further up the standings, as the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues have played their way to solid leads over the Wild. Boudreau has consistently qualified for the postseason during his long career as a head coach, but with one seed up for grabs and arguably seven teams within striking distance, it could be a tall task for the Mikko Koivu-less Wild to hold on.
  • BSN Denver’s A.J. Haefele reports that the Colorado Avalanche have had discussions with the Ottawa Senators about impending UFA trade target Mark Stone. It’s unclear how far back these talks were, but it seems very unlikely that the two sides are still talking given that GM Joe Sakic has made it clear that his first-round picks and top prospects are off the table at the deadline. Haefele himself even doubts that a deal is made. However, if Stone doesn’t end up re-signing in Ottawa, the Avs could circle back on their interest this summer when the world-class winger likely hits free agency. With Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog signed long-term to below-market deals, Colorado could more than afford to bring in Stone while also extending Mikko Rantanen. Stone may be eager to join the Avs, who have top young offensive talent and a treasure trove of promising prospects still to come. It’s an interesting possibility to consider in a few months time.
  • A journeyman forward who has suited up for the Ducks, Wild, Avalanche, and several other NHL teams in his career is hoping to make a comeback. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman hears from brother Anthony that Chris Stewart is gearing up for another try at an NHL contract this off-season. A veteran of 652 NHL games, Stewart played for the Wild and Calgary Flames last year, recording 16 points in 54 games. The physical winger has tallied 321 points to go with 729 penalty minutes in the NHL, but is looking to add more. Although he had PTO offers from the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs this off-season, per Friedman, Stewart instead chose to spend the year training in England and has played a handful of games with the Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL. Stewart, still just 31, could have a chance to land a contract, or at least a PTO, next season due to his reputation for physicality, his work ethic, and his ability to be a difference maker along the boards.

Minor Transactions: 02/14/2019

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Although there were only two games yesterday, it was a notable night as the Ducks got back in the win column for the first time in almost a month. The Canucks have the unfortunate designation of being the team on the other side of that result and are right back in action tonight against the Kings as one of eleven games on the schedule. Valentine’s Day or not, there will be no love lost between several competitors tonight, as the surging Blue Jackets host the Metro Division-leading Islanders, Shea Weber and the Canadiens visit P.K. Subban and the Predators, and the Avalanche look to right the ship versus the Jets, who are now atop the Western Conference. With 22 teams in play, including many impact match-ups, today should be another busy day for minor moves. Keep track right here:

  • The Colorado Avalanche announced that they have recalled forward Dominic Toninato from the AHL. After skating in 37 games with the Avs as a first-year pro last season, Toninato has yet to see NHL ice this year through several call-ups. He continues to be an effective two-way forward for the Colorado Eagles, but his production at both levels simply hasn’t justified further play time on an Avalanche team that is desperate for secondary scoring. Perhaps he will finally get another look on this recall opportunity.
  • Connor Brickley has earned his first call-up of the season, now on his second team of the campaign. Brickley, a veteran of 67 games with the Florida Panthers over the past three seasons, signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators this off-season. However, the Preds flipped him to the New York Rangers last month for Cole Schneider before Brickley ever played a game for the club. Now, the Rangers have announced that they are willing to give the center a shot to get back to the top level, promoting him from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Brickley has six points in 13 games since joining Hartford and the Rangers hope he can bring more of a spark to their offense than frequent recall Vinni Lettieri has been able to this season.
  • Another day, another Darren Archibald transaction. The veteran grinder has again been recalled by the Ottawa Senators, the team announced. This time he’s joined by defenseman Cody Goloubef, acquired from the Boston Bruins earlier this season. Head coach Guy Boucher stated that both Archibald and Goloubef are being considered for a spot in the lineup tonight when the Sens visit the Detroit Red Wings.
  • The Los Angeles Kings have assigned forward Jonny Brodzinski to the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the purpose of a conditioning stint. Brodzinski was hurt in training camp and has been on the season-opening injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Brodzinski played in 35 games as a rookie last year and recorded six points, but the Kings hope he can show more of the offensive touch he displayed in the minors and at the college level once he is fully healthy.
  • Similarly, the Philadelphia Flyers have activated forward Pascal Laberge from the season-opening injured reserve and have assigned him to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Laberge was injured in training camp and underwent hip surgery this fall, delaying the start to his first pro season. A second-round pick in 2016, Laberge is a hard-working two-way center who should challenge for a bottom-six role for the Flyers down the line.

Colorado Avalanche Could Be Ideal Destination For Andre Burakovsky

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After another loss last night, the Colorado Avalanche are win-less in their last eight games. Normally, this would send a team plummeting down the standings, but in this season’s Western Conference “turtle derby”, the Avs are tied for tenth-place in the West and just four points back of a wild card spot with a game in hand on the Minnesota Wild. Colorado doesn’t have the best odds of making the playoffs – The Athletic model puts them at 32% – but they certainly still have a chance. It puts GM Joe Sakic in a difficult position as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches; he knows that his team, which held a playoff spot for much of the first half, has the talent to make the postseason, but he also lacks the confidence in the current standings to be a true buyer. Sakic stated last week that he would not move first-round picks or top prospects at the deadline, but without a win since then, he may have ruled out giving up any trade capital of value for a rental.

Where a move does still make sense for the Avalanche is in acquiring a forward with term or team control. The lack of secondary scoring that has plagued the team this season is not going to magically correct itself next year, so it makes sense for Sakic to target forwards that could help down the stretch this year and moving forward. The best case scenario would be a deal where the Colorado does not have to give up futures to acquire such a player. Few of these opportunities exist, but the Avs are reportedly looking into one of them. Appearing on TSN 1050 in Toronto yesterday, Pierre LeBrun reported that the Avalanche are in on young Washington Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky. Burakovsky, 24, has fallen out of favor in Washington and has been on the trade block for much of the season. The talented winger is an impending restricted free agent this summer and due a qualifying offer of $3.25MM, but Colorado has both the cap space and the need for depth to accommodate a contract extension. Burakovsky, who is on pace for 24 points this season behind a drop-off in ice time and shooting percentage, has otherwise scored at a half point-per-game clip and logged strong possession numbers in his previous four years with the Caps. He could be the exact type of buy-low, high upside forwards that Sakic and company need. With a change of scenery, Burakovsky could make an impact this year and become a core piece for the Avs next season and beyond.

Yet, what makes Colorado and Washington ideal trade partners is what the Capitals want in return. Like many contenders who are willing to move a young roster player, Washington will need a replacement. According to The Athletic’s Scott Burnside, the asking price for Burakovsky is another top-nine forward who can out-perform him in his stead this season. Washington GM Brian MacLellan has very little cap room to work with at the deadline – approximately $1.1MM in salary – and is almost exclusively looking to upgrade via hockey trade as a result. The Capitals’ best chance of improving at the deadline is likely in their return for Burakovsky. So what do the Avalanche have to offer as the centerpiece of a package for Burakovsky? Colin Wilson, an impending free agent with a cap hit just under $4MM, makes a lot of sense. Wilson has out-produced Burakovsky this season and brings an added element of experience and a hard-working style that would be a major boost to the Capitals’ bottom six. Matthew Nieto is another option; the 26-year-old has similar numbers to Burakovsky albeit with less potential, but does carry a team-friendly $1.975MM hit through next season. If the Avs are really high on Burakovsky, they may even consider swapping out one of their own RFA scorers in Alexander Kerfoot or J.T. Compher. Perhaps the most intriguing option though, and one that could likely up the price on the Capitals’ side, is veteran forward Carl Soderberg. After two down years, Soderberg is again on pace for a 50-point season and would be a major addition for the Caps. He does have a $4.75MM cap hit through next season that would require some retention on the part of the Avalanche, but if MacLellan is willing to sweeten the offer beyond just Burakovsky, Sodeberg could be a difference maker for the team. With good potential fits on both sides and rumored mutual interest, a Burakovksy-to-the-Avs trade could be coming down the line in the next twelve days.

Colorado Avalanche Recall Tyson Jost

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If something doesn’t change soon, the Colorado Avalanche could be out of the playoff conversation by the time the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around in two weeks. The team is on a seven-game win-less streak and have only won three of their past 20 games dating back to before Christmas. The Avs are currently in tenth in the Western Conference, four points back of the Minnesota Wild for the final wild card spot. The team that looked early on like a safe bet to earn a Central Division slot is now in real danger of missing the postseason completely.

With this struggle also comes an increased risk of being a buyer at the deadline. While the young Avalanche were not expected to be a heavy presence on the market regardless, they may be scared away from moving trade capital at all with their postseason hopes in a downward spiral. As such, if Colorado wants to improve their play and try to get back into playoff position, that help will likely have to come internally. The first move in that direction may have come today, as the Avalanche have announced the recall of young forward Tyson Jost from the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.

Jost, 20, was the tenth overall pick in 2016 by the Avs after scoring more than 100 points for the BCHL’s Penticton Vees the season prior. He was then a point-per-game player in his first and only season with the University of North Dakota. However, Jost has been unable to find that kind of production and consistency in the NHL. Last season, Jost recorded 22 points in 65 games for the Avalanche, which was not terrible for a rookie, but was underwhelming considering the ice time and situations Jost found himself with. The young center then landed in the AHL last month after registering just six goals and 15 points in his first 43 games.

Rather than let the demotion affect his play, Jost has put together four goals and an assist through eight games with the Eagles and has even fought back from an injury earlier this month that was expected to keep him out an “extended period”. All signs point to Jost being determined to get back to the NHL and be a difference-maker, which is exactly what the Avs need. Colorado is still a top ten team in goals per game, but drastically needs improved secondary scoring behind their dominant top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog. If Jost can be the spark that gets some offense going in the bottom-nine, that could be enough to get the Avalanche back to their winning ways. The team’s next five games are against current playoff teams, so we’ll soon see whether the talented young forward can be an x-factor for Colorado down the stretch.

Minor Transactions: 02/11/19

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After a busy weekend in the NHL things have slowed down to just a trio of games on the schedule for tonight. Things will kick off with a Pittsburgh-Philadelphia matchup that will be a lot more interesting than it was a few weeks ago. Always a heated rivalry, the two teams are headed in opposite directions and now sit just six points apart in the Metropolitan standings. As teams prepare for the week’s action, we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.

  • The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Dylan Sikura from the minor leagues, giving them an extra healthy forward while David Kampf is out. Sikura has played well in the minor leagues this season recording 30 points in 40 games, but is still waiting for his first NHL goal. The 23-year old forward was a standout at Northeastern University but has just six points in 16 games with the Blackhawks so far in his young career.
  • Patrick Brown has been recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes, giving the team a 13th forward as they prepare to play the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night. Brown has 18 points in 46 games for the Charlotte Checkers and last played in the NHL during the 2016-17 season.
  • Eric Robinson is on his way back up to the Columbus Blue Jackets, taking the place of Mark Letestu who has been sent back to the Cleveland Monsters. Robinson, 23, has recorded 24 points in 45 games with the Monsters but is still looking for his first NHL point. Letestu meanwhile played in just two games with the Blue Jackets during his recent recall, and failed to get on the score sheet.
  • The Colorado Avalanche have returned defenseman Anton Lindholm to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, the minor league affiliate announced. Lindholm has split his time between the two teams this season, but has only played in two games with the Avs versus 34 with the Eagles. While Lindholm would prefer to be up with the NHL squad, where he spent the entirety of last season, but the depth of the Avalanche on the blue line paired with his own meager production has limited his opportunity at the top level.

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