Dallas Stars Recall Scott Wedgewood
From a press release earlier this morning, the Dallas Stars announced they have recalled goaltender Scott Wedgewood from his conditioning assignment. In a corresponding move, the team has sent down Matt Murray to their AHL affiliate Texas Stars.
The return of Wedgewood will be an important one for the Stars. The team has been without him since their February 18th game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wedgewood will not be the primary starter in Dallas, but his presence allows their regular netminder, Jake Oettinger, to get more rest before the playoffs begin. Oettinger currently sits third amongst all goalies in games played, as Juuse Saros and Connor Hellebuyck have both played one more.
This season, Wedgewood has made 16 starts, going 7-8-3 in the process, posting a save percentage of .913% and a GAA of 2.92. As the season winds down for the Stars in the regular season, expect Wedgewood to make several more stars to allow for a fully rested Oettinger come playoff time.
In their last 10 games, the Stars are 5-4-1, moving back to 3rd place in the incredibly tight Central Division playoff race. Losing a big game last night to the Colorado Avalanche, the Stars only play one playoff team in their remaining six games.
AHL Shuffle: 3/31/23
The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled forward Radim Zohorna on an emergency recall, according to CapFriendly. Zohorna was acquired from the Calgary Flames for forward Dryden Hunt, having suited up for eight games with the Flames. He posted strong numbers in the AHL, with 31 points in 46 games between the Calgary Wranglers and Toronto Marlies.
Zohorna’s recall gives the leaves a hulking presence at center, as he stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds. He has 10 points in 33 career games at the NHL level.
- The Dallas Stars have loaned goaltender Scott Wedgewood to the Texas Stars on a conditioning assignment, the team announced on Twitter. Wedgewood has not played for Dallas since Feb. 18, and will likely play a few games in the AHL before joining the NHL squad as it gears up for a playoff run. In 18 games with Dallas this season, Wedgewood sports a .913 save percentage and 2.92 GAA.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent down defenseman Marcus Bjork to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, according to CapFriendly.Bjork, 25, has seen his first taste of NHL action with Columbus this season, recording 11 points (3G, 8A) in 28 games. He has actually been more productive in the NHL, as he has 13 points in 40 games at the AHL level. As Columbus has had a tough season from the get-go, the slight emergence of Bjork is a bright spot for a team that has not had much go its way this season.
Scott Wedgewood To Start Conditioning Stint In AHL
The Dallas Stars have their eyes set on more than just a playoff appearance. The club has the best goal differential in the Western Conference and hopes to go on a long postseason run, contending for the Stanley Cup. While their hopes rest on the shoulders of star goaltender Jake Oettinger, getting his backup healthy enough to contribute down the stretch is a priority.
Scott Wedgewood hasn’t played since February 18, leaving Oettinger to start nearly every game since, given the lack of NHL-level depth behind the two netminders. Now, Wedgewood appears to be on the brink of a return.
Team reporter Mike Heika reports that the veteran netminder will go on a conditioning stint to the AHL and start for the Texas Stars on Friday. He could be back up with the NHL club as early as next week, allowing Dallas to give Oettinger a couple of nights off before the playoffs begin.
The Stars finish the season with a home-and-home with the St. Louis Blues on consecutive nights, games that could have serious significance depending on how things go from here. They currently sit three points behind the Minnesota Wild for the Central Division lead, and are tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the other two division playoff spots.
Home ice advantage in the first round – or even avoiding a matchup with the defending champs entirely – may come down to how they perform in that back-to-back.
Dallas Stars Sign Matthew Seminoff
The Dallas Stars have inked another prospect, signing Matthew Seminoff to a three-year entry-level contract that begins in 2023-24. The young forward currently plays for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, where he will remain and participate in a Memorial Cup run as the host city.
Seminoff, 19, has 82 points for the Blazers this season, good enough for third on the team, 15 points behind fellow Stars prospect Logan Stankoven. The familiarity of the two will certainly benefit them as they enter professional hockey, though Seminoff has one more year of junior to play, given he won’t turn 20 until December.
He also has much lower expectations, given he was the 179th overall pick in 2022. Even earning an entry-level deal by this point is an impressive feat, and should bode well for his future in the Stars organization. The test will be whether he can keep up that production level once Stankoven leaves the WHL next season, now that Dallas has committed to him.
The Stars may have found a nice late-round steal to join their impressive group of young forwards if he can. With Wyatt Johnston leading the way as an NHL regular, plenty more talent could be on the way to Dallas.
Seguin Close To Returning, Wedgewood Making Progress
While the Stars are in a tight battle for seeding in the Central Division, they’re doing so without some key veterans in their lineup. Saad Yousuf of The Athletic provided (Twitter link) some updates on those injured players. Veteran center Tyler Seguin has resumed skating while his stitches have been removed with head coach Peter DeBoer indicating he could be an option to return later this week. The 31-year-old has been an important secondary scorer for Dallas this season, notching 42 points in 65 games so far.
Meanwhile, Mason Marchment isn’t as far along in his recovery although DeBoer hopes that they’ll be able to get him back before the playoffs. The winger has 31 points in 67 contests in his first season with the Stars and his grit would certainly be useful in the postseason when things get more physical. As for Scott Wedgewood, while his day-to-day injury has dragged on for more than a month, DeBoer noted that the goaltender is progressing and is expected to be back sooner than later. Wedgewood has posted a solid .913 SV% in 18 appearances as the second-stringer this season.
Dallas Stars Recall Remi Poirier
Just a year after signing his entry-level contract, Remi Poirier is headed to the NHL. The young goaltender has been recalled today by the Dallas Stars, replacing Matt Murray on the roster as the backup for Jake Oettinger as Scott Wedgewood deals with an injury.
Poirier, 21, is in his first season as a professional, splitting time between the Texas Stars of the AHL and Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. In ten appearances with the former, he has posted a 5-3-2 record with a .913 save percentage. That number is better than any of the seasons he put up in the QMJHL, and suggests that the Stars might have found a bit of a diamond in the sixth round of the 2020 draft.
This recall will not likely result in any playing time, but it’s a bit of a financial bonus for the young goaltender after a strong season. Dallas is in action tonight against the Seattle Kraken, where Oettinger is expected to make his 54th appearance of the season. Texas, meanwhile, has a game of their own against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, where Murray can get back into game action.
Stars Sign Chase Wheatcroft
The Stars have dipped their toes into the undrafted free agent waters to add to their prospect pool as they announced the signing of forward Chase Wheatcroft to a three-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but the contract will begin in the 2023-24 season.
The 20-year-old has had a breakout campaign in the WHL this season, to put it lightly. Over his first three seasons at the major junior level, Wheatcroft had 82 points in 137 games, numbers that weren’t bad but not really at the level to attract NHL attention which played a role in him getting passed over at the draft.
However, in 2022-23, following an offseason trade to Prince George, Wheatcroft has dominated to the tune of 47 goals and 57 assists in 65 games. His 104 points put him second in the league, only behind a certain player who’s projected to go first overall in June. Wheatcroft was named the WHL’s top player in February when he recorded 28 points in just a dozen games.
Dallas has drafted fewer than seven players (every team’s original allotment of selections) in three of the last four seasons which has resulted in a prospect pool that isn’t the deepest. Accordingly, Wheatcroft’s addition makes plenty of sense for Dallas who will now get to see if his breakout is a sign of things to come.
EP Rinkside’s Sean Shapiro was the first to report Wheatcroft had signed with Dallas.
Dallas Stars Notes: Seguin, Marchment
Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill gave an update on two injury situations for the team, according to Mike Heika, senior staff writer for dallasstars.com. Forward Tyler Seguin is recovering from the leg laceration he sustained on March 9 against the Buffalo Sabres, as he was skating on his own at the team’s practice facility. He is expected to practice with the team on Monday before being re-evaluated.
Seguin is an important cog in the Stars offensive machine, despite seeing his production drop off in recent seasons. Seguin has 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 65 games, and will be important to the Stars’ hopes of making a deep playoff run.
- Nill also announced forward Mason Marchment will be out around 3-4 weeks with a knee injury. Marchment last played March 13 against the Seattle Kraken, but flew back to Dallas on his own while the team continues its road trip. Marchment enjoyed a breakout performance last season for the Florida Panthers, with 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points in 54 games. He had just 11 points total in his first 37 games in the NHL, and signed a four-year contract worth an AAV of $4.5MM with Dallas last summer. He has 12 goals and 19 assists in 67 games this season for the Stars.
Mason Marchment To Sit Out For Dallas Stars
Saad Yousuf of The Athletic reports that Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment will be out of tonight’s game against the Vancouver Canucks with an upper-body injury. Yousuf also mentions that Marchment has been flown back to Dallas, which likely means he will not play in the team’s upcoming games against the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
After signing a 4-year, $18MM with Dallas this past summer, Marchment has been primarily playing on a line with Tyler Seguin. One of the major themes heading into the trade deadline was that the Stars were looking for another top-six forward to play on that line. After addressing the issue by acquiring Max Domi from the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas is now back to square one after losing Marchment.
After scoring a career-high 47 points in 54 games last season for the Florida Panthers, Marchment has become a valuable piece of the Stars’ forward unit, producing 31 points in 67 games so far this year. Enjoying a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games, the Stars have lengthened their lead as the top team in the Central Division. Heading into play Tuesday night, they sit three points ahead of the second-place Minnesota Wild, with the same amount of games played.
Luke Glendening Returns For Stars
Mike Heika, a Senior Staff Writer for the Dallas Stars reports that forward Luke Glendening has been activated from injured reserve, and will play in tonight’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Glendening has been out of the lineup since the Stars’ game against the Minnesota Wild on February 17th.
Scheduled to hit free agency at the conclusion of this season, Glendening is in the midst of a year to forget. Playing in a total of 56 games for the Stars, Glendening has only managed to put up four points this year. The saving grace of the matter is that Glendening has still thrived in the faceoff dot in Dallas, winning faceoffs at a 58.8% clip for the team.
After adding both Evgenii Dadonov and Max Domi since Glendening has been out of the lineup, it will be interesting to see how the Stars employ him throughout the rest of the year. Averaging over 12 minutes so far this season, the Stars may feel they will only need to use Glendening in important faceoff situations. However, Domi is also enjoying the best faceoff percentage of his career with a 53.7% rate between the Stars and Chicago Blackhawks.