- The Red Wings will likely be without a trio of veterans on Thursday night. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports (Twitter link) that defensemen Danny DeKeyser (mid-body injury) and Patrik Nemeth (illness) as well as winger Adam Erne (upper-body injury) are all doubtful to suit up against Calgary. While that would leave only six defensemen on the active roster, head coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged that they could dress seven which suggests a roster move or IR placement could be forthcoming.
Red Wings Rumors
Detroit Red Wings Activate Frans Nielsen, Trevor Daley
The Detroit Red Wings are getting some of their veterans back today, as they have activated both Frans Nielsen and Trevor Daley from injured reserve. To make room, the team sent Evgeny Svechnikov to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
Detroit is actually off to a nice 3-2 start so far this season on the backs of their young forward core, but will get some much needed help as they continue to try and surprise the Atlantic Division and earn a playoff spot. Even now at 35 years old, Nielsen can still lengthen out the forward group and add some secondary scoring for the group.
Daley too is nearing the end of his career, but will be an interesting player to keep an eye on at the trade deadline if he can stay healthy. He has just a 15-team no-trade clause and is making just $2.2MM in actual salary this season ($3.166MM cap hit). His playoff experience, which includes two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be considered valuable if he can still log a few minutes on the back end.
Minor Transactions: 10/08/19
After a relatively quiet Monday night around the NHL, things are ready to kick into high gear tonight with eight games on the schedule. Among those are some heavyweight matchups and upstart battles, but perhaps most interesting will be one between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames. Though the Kings may not be quite ready for playoff contention, don’t tell Drew Doughty that. The veteran defenseman has been in the news this week as he prepares to face his young rival in Matthew Tkachuk tonight.
As always we’ll keep track of all the minor moves teams make in preparation for tonight’s action.
- The Winnipeg Jets have officially recalled Sami Niku and Nelson Nogier from the AHL, while placing Bryan Little on injured reserve. The team has also given Dmitry Kulikov a personal leave, making their defense quite an inexperienced group for tonight’s game. Josh Morrissey will also not be back in the lineup even after returning to practice in full yesterday, meaning the team will have a tough test containing Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
- After using some deft roster management to get the full benefit of long-term injured reserve yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings have sent Oliwer Kaski and Ryan Kuffner back to the minor leagues. Andreas Athanasiou has also been activated and should be in the Red Wings’ lineup tonight against the Anaheim Ducks.
- Kevin Connauton has been recalled by the Colorado Avalanche, who were carrying just six defensemen while Ian Cole continues to recover from injury. The team will take on the Boston Bruins on Thursday, though it is not clear who exactly will be in the lineup at this point.
Red Wings Place Four On Injured Reserve
The Detroit Red Wings will undergo a massive roster overhaul before their next game, which is just their third of the season. Ansar Khan of MLive.com was the first to report that Detroit has placed four players on injured reserve and recalled four others to replace them. Forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Frans Nielsen and defensemen Jonathan Ericsson and Trevor Daley will all hit the shelf. In their stead, forwards Evgeny Svechnikov and Ryan Kuffner and defenseman Oliwer Kaski have been recalled from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins while recently-acquired defenseman Alex Biega will remain in Detroit rather than report to the minors.
The Red Wings will have a very different look when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, although not all that different. Athanasiou and Ericsson have yet to suit up for the team this season as they have both been fighting lingering injuries. In fact, Athanasiou’s IR placement is retroactive to September 20th, meaning he can be activated as soon as he is ready. Ericsson, Daley, and Nielsen will have to sit for at least seven days. Daley and Nielsen both left Detroit’s contest with the Dallas Stars on Sunday with injuries that apparently are more serious than originally thought.
However, this sudden rash of injuries does allow for the Red Wings to take a closer look at some of their depth players. Most notable is Biega, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks late last night, likely with these injuries in mind. The 31-year old defender played in 41 games for the Canucks last year, recording a career-high 16 points. Detroit has good depth on the back end in Grand Rapids, but Biega is the most experienced option and could work his way into a regular role with Detroit. Kaski is also an interesting figure on the blue line. The talented 24-year-old Finn was a near point-per-game scorer in the Liiga last season and may already be NHL-ready. Up front, Svechnikov is a name known by many, even though he missed all of last season with an injury. The 2015 first-rounder was once considered a surefire future Red Wing and he is out to prove he can still reach that expectation. Kuffner is looking to do the same; he got a taste of the NHL last season after wrapping up a dominant college career at Princeton University and wants to show that he is a player that belongs at the top level. So, while injuries to core players are never a positive, this could be an exciting time for Red Wings fans to witness a group of players who all want to win a regular spot in the Detroit lineup well past when their fallen teammates return to action.
Vancouver Canucks Trade Alex Biega
After he failed to make the team and was sent to the minor leagues, Alex Biega is now on his way to a new team. The Vancouver Canucks have traded the veteran defenseman to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for David Pope. Biega cleared waivers earlier this month and can be assigned directly to the AHL.
There just wasn’t room for Biega on the Canucks this season, after adding Tyler Myers, Jordie Benn, Quinn Hughes and Oscar Fantenberg to the blueline. The 31-year old played 41 games for the team last season and actually set a career-high in point with 16, but needed a fresh start if he was ever going to get back to being a full-time NHL option. In Detroit, Biega will have to keep fighting for that opportunity as they too have some young players taking on bigger roles. On the final year of his current deal and earning $825K no matter where he plays, Biega could be kept with the NHL club as an extra defenseman or brought up if injuries occur.
Pope’s inclusion in the deal really only represents a way for the Red Wings to even out the contracts. The 25-year old winger split last season between the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL and Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, totaling seven points in 35 regular season games. A very strong playoffs with the Walleye is encouraging, but with just one year left on his entry-level deal it’s hard to imagine Pope ever plays a meaningful role for the Canucks.
Andreas Athanasiou Listed As Game-Time Decision For Tonight
- Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou is listed as a game-time decision for their season-opener tonight in Nashville, reports MLive’s Ansar Khan. He sustained an undisclosed injury early in the preseason and just returned to practice on Friday for the first time. Athanasiou is coming off his first career 30-goal season and is slated to become a restricted free agent with salary arbitration eligibility this summer.
Training Camp Cuts: 10/01/19
Even with the season starting tomorrow, teams still have some final cuts to make today. Rosters have to be cap compliant by the end of the day. though with so much talent on waivers there might still be some last-minute moves. We’ll keep track of those right here. Keep checking back throughout the day for updates.
Arizona Coyotes (per team release)
D Ilya Lyubushkin (to Tucson, AHL)
Buffalo Sabres (per team release)
F Remi Elie (to Rochester, AHL)
F Curtis Lazar (to Rochester, AHL)
F Scott Wilson (to Rochester, AHL)
D Casey Nelson (to Rochester, AHL)
Calgary Flames (per team release)
F Alan Quine (to Stockton, AHL)
F Zac Rinaldo (to Stockton, AHL)
F Dillon Dube (to Stockton, AHL)
D Andrew MacDonald (released from PTO)
Carolina Hurricanes (per team release)
F Clark Bishop (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Julien Gauthier (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Brian Gibbons (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Gustav Forsling (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Roland McKeown (to Charlotte, AHL)
G Anton Forsberg (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Max McCormick (placed on injured/non-roster)
D Trevor van Riemsdyk (placed on injured/non-roster)
Chicago Blackhawks (per team release)
G Collin Delia (to Rockford, AHL)
F Kirby Dach (placed on injured/non-roster)
Columbus Blue Jackets (per team release)
F Marko Dano (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Andrew Peeke (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Liam Foudy (placed on injured/non-roster)
Colorado Avalanche (per team release)
F Jayson Megna (to Colorado, AHL)
D Kevin Connauton (to Colorado, AHL)
D Calle Rosen (to Colorado, AHL)
D Ian Cole (placed on injured/non-roster)
Detroit Red Wings (per team release)
D Jared McIsaac (to Halifax, QMJHL)
F Chase Pearson (placed on injured/non-roster)
Edmonton Oilers (per team release)
F Sam Gagner (to Bakersfield, AHL)
Minnesota Wild (per team release)
F J.T. Brown (to Iowa, AHL)
Montreal Canadiens (per team release)
F Ryan Poehling (to Laval, AHL)
Nashville Predators (per team release)
F Miikka Salomaki (to Milwaukee, AHL)
D Steven Santini (to Milwaukee, AHL)
New Jersey Devils (per team release)
D Matt Tennyson (to Binghamton, AHL)
D Ty Smith (to Spokane, WHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (per team release)
D John Marino (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
G Casey DeSmith (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
Vegas Golden Knights (per team release)
F Nicolas Roy (to Chicago, AHL)
D Nicolas Hague (to Chicago, AHL)
Washington Capitals (per team release)
F Liam O’Brien (to Hershey, AHL)
F Michael Sgarbossa (to Hershey, AHL)
D Christian Djoos (to Hershey, AHL)
D Michal Kempny (placed on injured/non-roster)
Winnipeg Jets (per team release)
D Sami Niku (to Manitoba, AHL)
Poll: Who Will Win The Atlantic Division In 2019-20?
We’ve finally reached the end of the offseason and things kick off this week around the NHL. Exhibition games are underway in Europe and final cuts have come down all around the league. The excitement for the upcoming season is palpable, with even the most minor transactions generating plenty of interest among hockey fans.
With that in mind we’re going to ask you, the PHR reader, to give us your thoughts on the upcoming season. We start with the Atlantic Division, which last season gave us just three playoff teams but each of them recorded at least 100 points. The Tampa Bay Lightning led the way—just as our community predicted at this time last year—taking home the Presidents Trophy as the league’s best regular season team. Tampa Bay recorded 128 points but were stunned in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets and will be looking for revenge.
Tampa Bay is the odds-on favorite to win the division once again in 2019-20, but both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins don’t trail far behind. Not only will those three powerhouses battle it out for positioning at the top of the group, but the Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers are both expected to compete for playoff spots and potentially improve on their respective 96 and 86-point seasons. The Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators will all have to make large improvements to get into that playoff race, but as we saw last season with the St. Louis Blues, nothing is impossible in the NHL.
Who do you think will come out on top of the Atlantic Division in the regular season? Can Toronto really come out on top after handing so much of their salary cap to a handful of forwards? Will Boston reach the same level even with Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron another year older? Does the feisty young forward group in Montreal have what it takes to dethrone one of the top three? Cast your vote below and explain how you think the season will play out in the comments!
Who will win the Atlantic Division?
Tampa Bay Lightning
44.48%
(738 votes)
Boston Bruins
17.66%
(293 votes)
Toronto Maple Leafs
17.00%
(282 votes)
Montreal Canadiens
5.55%
(92 votes)
Detroit Red Wings
4.82%
(80 votes)
Buffalo Sabres
4.76%
(79 votes)
Florida Panthers
3.68%
(61 votes)
Ottawa Senators
2.05%
(34 votes)
Total Votes: 1,659
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Training Camp Cuts: 9/29/19
Teams will continue to be cutting players still in training camp in order to get to their final opening day rosters. Keep an eye throughout the day on this story as teams continue to make roster moves:
Buffalo Sabres (via team report)
D William Borgen (to Rochester, AHL)
Carolina Hurricanes (via team report)
D Chase Priskie (to Charlotte, AHL)
Chicago Blackhawks (via team tweet)
F Aleksi Saarela (to Rockford, AHL)
Colorado Avalanche (via The Athletic’s Ryan S. Clark)
F Shane Bowers (to Colorado, AHL)
D Kevin Connauton (to Colorado, AHL, pending waivers)
F A.J. Greer (to Colorado, AHL, pending waivers)
F T.J. Tynan (to Colorado, AHL, pending waivers)
Detroit Red Wings (via team tweet)
F Turner Elson (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Joe Hicketts (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
G Filip Larsson (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Brian Lashoff (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Dylan McIlrath (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
G Calvin Pickard (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Matt Puempel (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Michael Rasmussen (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Moritz Seider (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Dominic Turgeon (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Chris Terry (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
Florida Panthers (via team report)
F Anthony Greco (to Springfield, AHL)
D Riley Stillman (to Springfield, AHL)
F Owen Tippett (to Springfield, AHL)
F Dominic Toninato (to Springfield, AHL)
Nashville Predators (via team report)
F Frederick Gaudreau (to Milwaukee, AHL)
D Jarred Tinordi (to Milwaukee, AHL)
Ottawa Senators (via team report)
F Vitaly Abramov (to Belleville, AHL)
F Logan Brown (to Belleville, AHL)
D Christian Jaros (to Belleville, AHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (via team report)
F Adam Johnson (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
St. Louis Blues (via team report)
D Andreas Borgman (to San Antonio, AHL)
D Niko Mikkola (to San Antonio, AHL)
D Mitch Reinke (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Tanner Kaspick (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Klim Kostin (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Jordan Nolan (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Ryan Olsen (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Austin Poganski (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Nathan Walker (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Jordan Kyrou (to injured non-roster list)
G Ville Husso (to San Antonio, AHL)
G Adam Wilcox (to San Antonio, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (via team tweet)
F Pontus Aberg (to Toronto, AHL)
F Tyler Gaudet (to Toronto, AHL)
D Ben Harpur (to Toronto, AHL)
D Jordan Schmaltz (to Toronto, AHL)
Training Camp Cuts: 09/28/19
The final weekend of the preseason is upon us with the regular season getting underway next week. Final training camp cuts will be coming in with regularity over the next 48 hours or so. We’ll keep track of all of today’s right here. Keep up with the news, as the page will be updated throughout the day:
Arizona Coyotes (per team release)
F Michael Bunting (to Tucson, AHL)
F Michael Chaput (to Tucson, AHL)
F Hudson Fasching (to Tucson, AHL)
D Aaron Ness (to Tucson, AHL)
Calgary Flames (per team release)
F Devante Smith-Pelly (released from PTO)
Dallas Stars (per team releases)
D Joseph Cecconi (to Texas, AHL)
D Joel Hanley (to Texas, AHL)
Detroit Red Wings (per team release)
D Oliwer Kaski (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Ryan Kuffner (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Gustav Lindstrom (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Jarid Lukosevicius (released from ATO)
F Gregor MacLeod (released from ATO)
F David Pope (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Vili Saarijarvi (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Dominik Shine (released from PTO)
F Givani Smith (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Evgeny Svechnikov (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Joe Veleno (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Filip Zadina (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (per team release)
F Anton Burdasov (released from PTO)
Los Angeles Kings (per team release)
F Nikolai Prokhorkin (to Ontario, AHL)
New York Islanders (per team release)
F Travis St. Denis (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Matthew Lorito (to Bridgeport, AHL)
F Cole Bardreau (to Bridgeport, AHL)
D Kyle Burroughs (to Bridgeport, AHL)
D Seth Helgeson (to Bridgeport, AHL)
G Christopher Gibson (to Bridgeport, AHL)
G Jared Coreau (to Bridgeport, AHL)
San Jose Sharks (per team release)
D Jacob Middleton (to San Jose, AHL)
F Antti Suomela (to San Jose, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (per team releases)
F Pontus Aberg (to waivers for purpose of assignment to Toronto, AHL)
F Tyler Gaudet (to waivers for purpose of assignment to Toronto, AHL)
D Ben Harpur (to waivers for purpose of assignment to Toronto, AHL)
D Jordan Schmaltz (to waivers for purpose of assignment to Toronto, AHL)
F Darren Archibald (to Toronto, AHL)
F Jeremy Bracco (to Toronto, AHL)
F Adam Brooks (to Toronto, AHL)
F Rich Clune (to Toronto, AHL)
F Hudson Elynuik (to Toronto, AHL)
F Pierre Engvall (to Toronto, AHL)
D Teemu Kivihalme (to Toronto, AHL)
G Joseph Woll (to Toronto, AHL)
Vegas Golden Knights (per team tweet)
G Dylan Ferguson (to Fort Wayne, ECHL)
Washington Capitals (per team release)
F Shane Gersich (to Hershey, AHL)
D Lucas Johansen (to Hershey, AHL)
F Beck Malenstyn (to Hershey, AHL)
F Brian Pinho (to Hershey, AHL)
G Vitek Vanecek (to Hershey, AHL)
D Colby Williams (to Hershey, AHL)