Decisions Coming From Dante Fabbro, Shane Bowers
The talent on the Boston University roster this season didn’t quite match up with the regular season results this year and the Terriers needed to win the Hockey East Conference Tournament to keep their season alive with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. They faced the same scenario last season and were able to get in, but lightning didn’t strike twice. The Northeastern Huskies knocked off BU in the Hockey East semifinals tonight and now decisions await several of the teams stars.
The most notable decision will come from 2016 first-round pick Dante Fabbro. The 16th overall pick by the Nashville Predators that year, Fabbro was a superstar for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL and has only continued to progress at BU into a high-end two-way defenseman. Fabbro set a career high with 33 points in 37 games this season and was named a first-team all-conference selection for his efforts. Fabbro may not have much more growing to do at the college level, but does have another year of NCAA eligibility remaining. If he chooses to turn pro and surrender that final year, he would undoubtedly be a welcomed addition in Nashville. However, he does have some incentive to wait one more year. The Predators have one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL, armed with an elite top-four and seven veteran defenders already signed through next season. Fabbro could end up buried in the minors or at the very least outside top-four consideration for several years if he signs with the team that drafted him. If he instead opts to return to BU for his senior year, he could then wait until August 2020 and become an unrestricted free agent. The wait is now on to see what Fabbro decides to do. Ironically, teammate Patrick Harper finds himself in the same situation with the Predators. The talented forward had a down year after back-to-back point-per-game campaigns to begin his collegiate career. He may be looking to move on from the college game, but Nashville’s 2016 fifth-round pick could benefit from another year with the Terriers and also opens himself up to the possibility of free agency if he returns for a fourth NCAA season.
The clock may also be ticking for Fabbro’s teammate and fellow first-round pick Shane Bowers. A 2017 selection, Bowers actually has two years of eligibility remaining, but rumors surfaced earlier this season that Bowers was considering moving on from the NCAA ranks. In fact, there was some doubt that Bowers would return to BU after the World Juniors earlier this year, with some speculating he could sign with the Colorado Avalanche instead. Originally a pick of the Ottawa Senators, Bowers was one of the pieces moved to the Avs in the Matt Duchene trade and now finds himself with the opportunity to join a good team with a need for secondary scoring. Bowers certainly has room to improve before turning pro, but the former USHL standout would still likely step into an immediate role in Colorado. Bowers could potentially even join the Avalanche right away this season to help the team in their playoff push. Such a chance doesn’t come around very often and could persuade Bowers to cut his tenure in Boston short.
Elsewhere on the roster, starting goaltender Jake Oettinger, another 2017 first-round pick, may consider a move to the pros as well. The Dallas Stars top goalie prospect had another up-and-down year, but has undeniable talent and could choose to leave the college level behind him. However, after watching another talented, young Dallas keeper, Colton Point, see limited action and ample struggles in both the AHL and ECHL in his first pro season in the Stars’ system, Oettinger may not be in any rush. Most of the Terriers’ other NHL prospects have years of eligibility remaining and seem unlikely to jump ship. Among those who hypothetically could are Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Philadelphia Flyers first-rounder Joel Farabee, another Nashville Predators prospect in David Farrance, and intriguing Chicago Blackhawks defensive prospect Chad Krys.
Two players without any choice in the matter are Bobo Carpenter and Max Willman. Carpenter, who struggled with injuries this season, nevertheless will be a priority free agent now that BU’s season is over. The undrafted forward has NHL lineage, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic. At just 22, Carpenter brings four years of NCAA experience and consistent scoring numbers to whichever team is lucky to land him. There may not be the same press to sign Willman. A rare five-year college player, Willman is a 2014 selection of the Buffalo Sabres but may not be tendered by the team. In four years at Brown University and a graduate year at Boston University, Willman managed just 51 points in 134 games with just one breakout year as a junior at Brown. Buffalo may like how the 24-year-old’s mature game could translate to the pros, but his upside may not be worthy of an entry-level contract. Should Willman become a free agent, the Cape Cod native will have plenty of AHL teams close to home who could be willing to give him a chance.
Change is coming to Boston University one way or another, but just how much change will depend on how many of their top players decide to turn pro versus return for another year. Either the Terriers or the NHL will end up with a good amount of talent added to the mix next season.
College Free Agent Signings: Gosselin, McLaughlin, Canisius
As the next round of NCAA conference tournaments get underway tonight, the stars of those college squads already eliminated from postseason contention continue to find new homes in the pros. To date, 17 undrafted free agents out of Division I have signed their first pro deal, not including tryout offers. While the majority have been with ECHL clubs, after the flurry of activity in the past 24 hours there have been four players to ink AHL contracts and six to sign NHL entry-level deals. While the big league contracts garner the most attention, there is a fair bit of intrigue with minor league deals as well. The decisions to sign free agents to minor league contracts or tryouts often comes from the top, with the NHL parent club having interest in seeing how those players can develop. Oftentimes college free agents will even sign one-year deals for the remainder of the season in hopes of proving themselves worthy of a better contract in the coming off-season. So while the minor league deals may not seem as exciting, don’t sleep on their potential meaning.
- Kurt Gosselin, four-year mainstay on the blue line for the enigmatic University of Alabama – Hunstsville, is headed to the pros. The AHL’s Rochester Americans announced that they have signed Gosselin to a one-year, two-way AHL contract for next season and that he will play out the rest of the season on an amateur tryout with their ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones. Gosselin, 24, plays a mature, well-rounded game on the back end. He has led all Chargers defensemen in scoring in each of the past two seasons, posting a career-high in per-game production this year with 15 points in 25 games. He also led the team in assists and plus/minus this season. At 6’1″, 201 lbs., Gosselin can hold his own in the checking game as well. Gosselin earned recognition for his solid defensive game and offensive contributions by being named the first ever all-conference selection out of Alabama-Huntsville in 2016-17. An accomplished collegiate defenseman, the Americans hope that he can adjust to the pro level and play a valuable role for them next season. The Buffalo Sabres will undoubtedly keep an eye on him as well.
- While Gosselin moves from Alabama to upstate New York next season, the top player from Canisius College in Buffalo will make his way to Illinois. Dylan McLaughlin, a top-ten goal scorer in the NCAA this year, has signed a two-year AHL contract with the Rockford Ice Hogs, per a team release. McLaughlin, 23, was Hobey Baker candidate last season when he posted 48 points in 37 games for the Golden Griffins. While his point total fell to 40 this year, he tallied two more goals for 19 on the year and further asserted himself as a natural scorer. A top-ten pick in the USHL Draft in 2011, McLaughlin’s offensive ability has always been apparent and now the next step will be to take the game that he has polished over four years at Canisius and adapt it to the AHL. The Chicago Blackhawks have been known to get the most out of players with strong offensive instincts and should have a keen interest in McLaughlin’s development in Rockford.
- The Atlantic Hockey Conference may be the weakest in the NCAA and Canisius finished dead last in their standings this season, but that hasn’t stopped several pro teams from jumping at their top players. Following an early exit from the conference tournament, McLaughlin signed in the AHL and defensemen Ian Edmondson and Jimmy Mazza were right behind him with ECHL deals. Mazza, 24, has signed with the Reading Royals for the remainder of the season. Mazza led all Golden Griffins defenders with a career-high 24 points this season. Mazza has good size and awareness and will look to show down the stretch and in the ECHL postseason that he is perhaps worthy of an AHL deal next season. Edmondson, 24, has signed for the rest of the season as well, but with the Wichita Thunder. Less of an offensive threat than Mazza, but a dependable defender for four seasons with Canisius, Edmondson will be a nice option on the back end in the ECHL. While obviously a function of some of the lesser teams in college hockey having their seasons end first, no one could have expected that at any point in the college free agent market that Ferris State University and Canisius College would lead the way in pro signings, but such is the case so far.
Snapshots: Draft Ranking, NTDP, Gendron
Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino has a new top prospect for the 2019 draft, as Kaapo Kakko has overtaken Jack Hughes in his latest ranking. The Finnish forward has found success this season everywhere he has played including the top league in his home country, and has plenty of upside as a franchise-changing talent at the top of the draft. Hughes still slots into the second spot, though Cosentino admits he is still unlikely to fall that far in the actual draft.
An interesting placement on this list is Philip Broberg, who is all the way down at 18. The Swedish defenseman has been considered a potential top ten pick by some scouts, but Cosentino questions the offensive upside in his game. Broberg did not make a huge impact at the World Juniors and has just nine points in 41 games for AIK in the Swedish second league.
- Looking even further into the future, USA Hockey has released their 52-man roster for the National Team Development Program evaluation camp today. The list includes quite a few familiar names, including Luke Hughes (younger brother of Jack and Quinn Hughes) and Luke Mittelstadt (younger brother of Casey Mittelstadt). This camp will provide the roster for the National U17 team this season and will be held at the end of March in Plymouth, Michigan.
- While the Ottawa Senators wait for the above players to become available, they have added another prospect of their own to the organization. The Belleville Senators have signed Miles Gendron to an AHL contract for 2019-20, while he’ll join the Brampton Beast on an ECHL deal for the rest of this season. Gendron played four seasons at the University of Connecticut, serving as captain this year.
Dallas Stars Ink Justin Dowling To Two-Year Extension
The Dallas Stars have signed forward Justin Dowling to a two-year, two-way contract extension, according to NHL.com’s Mark Stepneski. The 28-year-old, who is the captain of the Texas Stars of the AHL, will get $750K in the NHL, while getting $375K in the AHL.
Dowling, who has played 398 games with the Texas Stars in the AHL so far in his career, was a member of the 2014 Calder Cup Champion team as well as the team that went to the Calder Cup finals last season. Considered to be a hard-worker, Dowling went undrafted in 2011 and had trouble early getting a job, spending a lot of time proving himself in the ECHL before finally getting a shot with the Texas Stars where he’s been a workhorse and leader for the franchise, receiving the captain status at the start of this season after Texas lost Curtis McKenzie to the Vegas Golden Knights in free agency.
Dowling then signed his first NHL deal two years ago, back in 2017, where he is making $650K and $250K this season in the minors. The AHL veteran has scored 13 goals and tallied 47 points in 54 games with Texas this season, but also has gotten some NHL time as well as he has appeared in six games for Dallas.
New York Rangers Sign Goaltender Adam Huska
The New York Rangers sure work quickly. The collegiate season of prospect goalie Adam Huska came to an end last night with an impressive (albeit meaningless) win for the University of Connecticut over the No. 2-ranked University of Massachusetts. Less than 12 hours since the final horn, Huska is now a pro. The Rangers have announced that they have signed the young keeper to a an entry-level contract. CapFriendly reports it is a two-year deal beginning next season, but financial terms are not yet available.
Huska, 21, has forfeited the final year of his NCAA eligibility to go pro, as the junior goaltender leaves UConn after three years and 69 games with the Huskies. The move comes as somewhat of a surprise considering the drop off in Huska’s play this season. After posting a .912 save percentage and 2.59 GAA in 27 games last year, Huska’s save percentage fell to .896 this season while his goals against average ballooned to 3.34, resulting in just 21 games played as he lost starts to impressive freshman and Nashville Predators draft pick Tomas Vomacka. In fact, it was Vomacka in net last night for the big win. Most likely, the Rangers’ brass saw Huska losing the starting job to Vomacka next season and agreed to sign him to his first pro contract and thus control his usage at the ECHL level next season. If instead he does push for AHL time right away next season, he will ironically be right back in the same arena he played at with UConn, also shared by the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Despite some struggles, there is still reason to believe that Huska is an encouraging prospect for New York. A seventh-round draft pick out of Slovakia in 2015, Huska went on to be one of best goalies in the USHL the following season, being named Goaltender of the Year. He has also represented Slovakia several times at the World Junior Championships, gaining that invaluable experience against some of the best young players in the world. At 6’4″, 227 lbs., Huska has great size and athleticism. The fundamentals of his game need improvement and he will almost certainly spend several years in the minors before becoming an option in the NHL, but under the tutelage of the Rangers’ staff, Huska could see immediate improvement. He will have to work hard to earn recognition among a mountain of young goalies in the pipeline, including current backup Alexandar Georgiev, KHL star Igor Shestyorkin, UMass-Lowell standout Tyler Wall, and recent second-round pick Olof Lindbom, but it says a lot that the Rangers were willing to rush Huska out of the NCAA and into the pros.
Snapshots: Expansion, Ingram, Schenn
The Vegas Golden Knights will not be taking part in the upcoming Seattle expansion payout that the other 30 teams will receive, and because of this will not be required to give up a player in the expansion draft. That has raised plenty of questions over whether the Golden Knights will be involved in other ways, perhaps even as some sort of extra protection list for teams to use just through the draft process by trading players there, only to get them back later. That kind of circumvention isn’t going to happen under the watchful eye of Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, as he told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) that you won’t be able to “park” a player on Vegas during the process.
LeBrun pressed on just how the league might avoid such scenarios without clearly laying out rules, but Daly channeled his inner Justice Stewart by telling the insider “I’ll know it when I see it.”
- Tampa Bay Lightning goaltending prospect Connor Ingram has been demoted to the ECHL despite apparently being healthy enough to continue playing. Ingram hasn’t suited up for the Syracuse Crunch since February 26th, but still leads the entire AHL in save percentage and shutouts, while carrying the second best goals against average in the league. Joe Smith of The Athletic tweets a response from Lightning GM Julian BriseBois who called it an “internal matter,” while Mark Divver of the Providence Journal notes that he had heard Ingram was available at the deadline for a draft pick. The 21-year old goaltender was selected 88th overall in 2016.
- Brayden Schenn has been activated from injured reserve by the St. Louis Blues, giving the team another weapon for their game tonight with the Anaheim Ducks. The Blues are currently in third place in the Central Division but with several teams hot on their heels they can’t afford to drop many more games down the stretch. Schenn has 39 points in 55 games this season but is in danger of failing to reach the 20-goal mark for the first time since 2014-15.
Negotiation Notes: Kravtsov, Killins, Signing Deadline
The New York Rangers are closing in on a contract with one of their top prospects. According to Sportsnet’s Mike Johnston, who relays a report from KHL insider Aivis Kalnins, Russian forward Vitali Kravtsov is expected to sign an entry-level contract with the Rangers sooner rather than later. It’s unclear if Kravtsov, whose current club Traktor Chelyabinsk has been knocked out of the KHL playoffs, intends to play immediately this season or if the contract would begin next season. Either way, Rangers fans will be excited to have the talented teenager pushing for a roster spot. Kravtsov, the ninth overall pick in last year’s NHL Draft, stands 6’4″ and plays a physical game, but also has great speed and high-end skill. A total package on the wing, Kravtsov recorded 21 points in 50 games this season, rare production from a teenager in the KHL, as younger players typically receive little ice time. His size and skill set should translate well to the North American game and Kravtsov should find his way to New York without spending much time in the minors. If Kalnin’s report is accurate and Kravtsov signs in the coming days, he may even make his NHL debut this season.
- Ryker Killins today became the first NCAA free agent to sign a contract this season. The one caveat is that he signed not in the NHL or AHL, but the ECHL. The South Carolina Stingrays, affiliate of the Washington Capitals, have announced a contract for the remainder of the season with the Ferris State defenseman. Killins, 22, just wrapped up an injury-plagued senior season and, now healthy, is hoping to show what he can do at the pro level before he hits free agency again this summer. Killins enjoyed a breakout season last year for the Bulldogs, leading all defensemen with 22 points in 36 games. In a program that features just one NHL prospect – Boston Bruins selection Cam Clarke – Killins was able to shine. At the pro level, it remains to be seen whether Killins can impress the Capitals or another NHL squad enough to earn a contract or if he’ll instead settle for an AHL or ECHL deal this off-season. One thing that is certain, Killins won’t be the last college player signed this year. The free agent market is full of interesting names, including many who could be available sooner rather than later.
- While college and junior free agents are the popular signings to watch for at this time of year, NHL teams are also on a deadline to get certain draft picks signed to their entry-level contracts. As of June 1st, all 2017 selections out of Canadian major juniors – the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL – must be tendered an entry-level contract or else the drafting team will lose the rights to those players, who can then re-enter the draft. That list of those names, including several notable young players, is below:
- F Kyle Olson (ANA)
- D Noel Hoefenmayer (ARI)
- D Daniel Bukac (BOS)
- F Cedric Pare (BOS)
- F Zach Fischer (CGY)
- F D’Artagnan Joly (CGY)
- F Adam Ruzicka (CGY)
- D Brendan De Jong (CAR)
- F Stelio Mattheos (CAR)
- F Brett Davis (DAL)
- F Liam Hawel (DAL)
- D Cole Fraser (DET)
- F Zach Gallant (DET)
- F Brady Gilmour (DET)
- D Reilly Webb (DET)
- F Lane Zablocki (DET)
- D Markus Phillips (LAK)
- D Jacob Golden (MIN)
- D Jarrett Tyszka (MTL)
- D Scott Walford (MTL)
- F Pavel Koltygin (NSH)
- D Jacob Paquette (NSH)
- D Jocktan Chainey (NJD)
- F Arnaud Durandeau (NYI)
- F Dominik Lakatos (NYR)
- G Jordan Hollett (OTT)
- D Zachary Lauzon (PIT)
- D Trenton Bourque (STL)
- D David Noel (STL)
- D Fedor Gordeev (TOR)
- F Ryan McGregor (TOR)
- D Matt Brassard (VAN)
- D Kristoffer Gunnarsson (VAN)
- G Maxim Zhukov (VGK)
- D Leon Gawanke (WIN)
Winnipeg Jets Sign Ken Appleby
One minor move that slipped through the cracks yesterday was the signing of minor league goaltender Ken Appleby. With the Winnipeg Jets busy making more trades on deadline day than any other team, the club opted not to issue a press release solely of Appleby’s signing, but to merely include it among other announcements until it garnered more attention today with the fireworks of the trade deadline now passed. The two-way contract is for the remainder of the season at the minimum $650K. As the deal was processed yesterday though, Appleby is eligible to compete in the postseason for the Jets if need be.
Appleby, 23, joins Evan Cormier, Jeremy Smith, Adam Wilcox, and Chris Driedger as minor league goaltenders who have earned NHL contracts in the past few days to serve as emergency depth for their parent clubs. Appleby has split his time between the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and the ECHL’s Jacksonville Ice Men and has missed some time with injuries as well. While his AHL numbers this year – an .865 save percentage and 4.59 GAA in eight appearances – are unseemly, Appleby is just one year removed from a strong season with the AHL’s Binghamton Devils and three stellar appearances with the New Jersey Devils. In fact, it was a surprise this past off-season that Appleby first was not issued a qualifying offer from New Jersey and then was unable to find an NHL contract. At the very least, Appleby’s brief NHL experience and strong ECHL stats this year make him a passable depth option for the Jets.
The question that Appleby faces that the aforementioned newly-signed keepers didn’t is whether he is even the fourth-string goaltender for the team. Appleby will glady take the contract either way, but he face extremely long odds at seeing NHL ice this season. With starter Connor Hellebuyck and backup Laurent Brossoit both young and healthy and playing well enough this season, chances are that Winnipeg won’t have to dive into their reserves in net. However, if injury did strike one goalie, well-regarded prospect Eric Comrie would be the clear-cut replacement. Comrie has some NHL experience as well and has been the starter for Manitoba all year. If somehow the Jets were down two goalies, it would stand to reason that first year-pro Mikhail Berdin could be the next man up. The 20-year-old Russian netminder has been phenomenal this season, posting a .931 save percentage and 2.31 GAA in ten AHL games to date. While Appleby has the slightly better ECHL numbers of the two this year, as well as the brief NHL experience, who would get the call is a toss up. The Jets certainly hope it doesn’t come to that, but it never hurts to add some extra insurance in net anyway.
Islanders, Panthers, Sabres Sign Minor League Goaltenders
Several teams have fortified their depth in net before the NHL Trade Deadline, which also acts as a deadline for players to sign and be postseason-eligible. The New York Islanders have signed Jeremy Smith, the Florida Panthers have signed Chris Driedger, and the Buffalo Sabres have signed Adam Wilcox. All three deals are identical: two-way contracts worth the minimum $650K at the NHL level for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. The trio of keepers will need to clear waivers today.
Smith’s signing is the most significant, as the Islanders have all but clinched a playoff spot this season. The 29-year-old journeyman played in ten games for the Colorado Avalanche just two years ago and previous stops also include the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes. Smith has had several strong seasons in the AHL, including a two-year stretch with the Providence Bruins a few years back in which he was among the best keepers in the league. While the Islanders have hit the jackpot this season with outstanding performances from Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner, there was a significant lack of depth in net with third-string goalie Christopher Gibson struggling immensely this season in the AHL and having a poor track record in the NHL. With Smith signed, he is likely the new third-string should anything happen to Greiss or Lehner.
Driedger, 24, spent several years with the Ottawa Senators before signing an AHL contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds this off-season. Before the Panthers traded Michael Hutchinson away, Driedger was relegated to the ECHL with Hutchinson and Samuel Montembeault taking the AHL starts. However, he has gotten into 16 games with the Thunderbirds since and has outperformed Montembeault. The promising prospect likely remains Florida’s next man up in net, but given the injury histories of Roberto Luongo and James Reimer, it is certainly possible that both Montembeault and Driedger could see NHL action this season.
The Sabres’ signing of Wilcox is likely in response to a recent rash of injuries in net. Both Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark have had injury scares lately, while young Jonas Johansson recently underwent season-ending surgery. While their postseason hopes are dwindling, it still remains a possibility for Buffalo and adding Wilcox gives them depth behind Hutton, Ullmark, and Scott Wedgewood. Wilcox, 26, is no stranger to being an emergency option; the Sabres were forced to call him up last season – again as the fourth-string option – and were pleased by a shutout performance in his lone appearance.
Minor Transactions: 02/13/2019
It’s a quiet lineup for the NHL tonight, with just two games on the docket. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers visit Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, while the Anaheim Ducks look to snap a seven-game losing streak against the division rival Vancouver Canucks. However, more than just these four teams will be busy. With the NHL Trade Deadline just twelve days away, look for another flurry of activity today:
- Patrick Brown was promoted by the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday and just as soon demoted to the AHL on Tuesday night. The ‘Canes announced after last night’s game that they have reassigned Brown to the Charlotte Checkers. The AHL captain did not suit up for Carolina in their win over the Ottawa Senators and still has not seen any NHL action since 2016-17. Yet, he remains a dependable producer in Charlotte and a capable depth option for the Hurricanes down the stretch.
- Also yesterday, the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda signed veteran forward T.J. Hensick to a contract for the remainder of the season, per a league release. Hensick, 33, had been playing in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye, affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, and was leading the league with 58 points in 47 games. Hensick now brings that ability and experience back to the AHL as one of the more accomplished active players in the league’s history. It’s unlikely that Hensick – who has over 100 NHL games to his credit as well as a member of the Colorado Avalanche – will end up with a contract from the Sharks, but should be a positive locker room and on-ice presence for the Barracuda the rest of the way.
- The Boston Bruins have opted to fill David Pastrnak‘s roster spot by giving a first-year pro his first NHL call-up. The team announced that Karson Kuhlman has been recalled from the AHL’s Providence Bruins and will join the team on their upcoming five-game west coast road trip. Kuhlman captained the University of Minnesota – Duluth to an NCAA Championship last year, was a standout in the preseason, and has been one of Providence’s most consistent contributors, so it was only a matter of time before the two-way winger earned an NHL recall. As the Bruins continue their pursuit for secondary scoring, Kuhlman is the latest to get a shot at earning a spot in Boston.
- Vinni Lettieri is headed back down to the minors. The New York Rangers announced that their most frequent recall has again been reassigned to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Lettieri should not be surprised; while he’s been close to a point-per-game scorer for the Wolf Pack, he’s now been held scoreless in 18 games with the Rangers this season.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have flipped their transaction from yesterday, calling up forward Mathieu Joseph – who never really left – and sending defenseman Jan Rutta back to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Rutta, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last month, was brought up to be the extra defenseman with Erik Cernak sidelined, so this move would suggest Cernak is ready to go tomorrow against the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile, Joseph should return to his role as a capable bottom-six contributor.
- The Ottawa Senators have returned veteran grinder Darren Archibald to the AHL’s Belleville Senators. Archibald, acquired from the Vancouver Canucks alongside Anders Nilsson, has been sent back in forth by the Sens several times, but still has one lone appearance with the team back in January.
- CapFriendly reports that the Anaheim Ducks have swapped out a veteran defenseman for a young forward. Max Jones has been recalled by the team, while Korbinian Holzer has been reassigned. Neither player has had much of a role for the Ducks this season; Jones was held scoreless through four games earlier in the year, while Holzer has one point in two games since coming off season-opening injured reserve. However, it’s Jones who has a future in Anaheim and should compete for a starting job next season, so better to see him get some NHL minutes down the stretch. The big winger is a 2016 first-round pick who has 28 points in 40 games for the AHL’s San Diego Gulls in his first pro season.