Oilers Recall Eight Players
May 6: Forward Xavier Bourgault has also been added to the Oilers’ playoff roster, the team said Monday. Bourgault, 21, was the 22nd overall pick of the 2021 draft. He’s yet to make his NHL debut and struggled in his sophomore season with Bakersfield, limited to eight goals and 20 points in 55 games. He has one year remaining on his entry-level contract
May 4: After bringing up goaltender Jack Campbell and defenseman Philip Broberg earlier, the Oilers have finalized the rest of their ‘Black Ace’ recalls. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled forwards Adam Erne, Raphael Lavoie, and Lane Pederson, defensemen Philip Kemp, Cam Dineen, and Ben Gleason, and goaltender Olivier Rodrigue from AHL Bakersfield.
Among the forwards, Erne played the most with Edmonton this season, getting into 24 games but was limited to just two points and less than eight minutes a night of ice time but did average nearly three hits per game. The 29-year-old didn’t light it up with the Condors either, recording six goals and six helpers in 36 minor league appearances. However, if the Oilers decide they want some extra physicality on the fourth line here and there, the pending UFA could get into the lineup.
Lavoie cleared waivers at the end of training camp but that didn’t deter him. Instead, the 23-year-old had his best AHL campaign, notching 28 goals and 22 assists in 68 games while also making his first seven NHL appearances. That should have him in the mix for a roster spot with Edmonton against next season although it would be surprising to see him get into the lineup now.
Pederson, meanwhile, failed to make an NHL appearance for the first time since 2019-20. He did, however, have a strong year with Bakersfield, collecting 22 goals and 30 helpers in 66 contests. He’s under contract for one more year at the league minimum on a one-way deal.
As for the blueliners, only Kemp saw NHL action this season, making his first (and only) appearance at the top level. The 25-year-old played in 64 games with the Condors this year, recording a pair of goals and 13 assists. He’s signed through next season on a two-way contract.
Dineen has the most NHL experience among the blueliners brought up today, having gotten into 34 games with Arizona back in 2021-22. He had his first full year in Bakersfield this season after being acquired last year, picking up five goals and 20 assists in 58 games. The 25-year-old will be eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency for the second straight year this summer.
Gleason’s last taste of NHL action came back in 2018-19 in his first professional season back when he was with Dallas. Since then, the 26-year-old has been one of the more consistent offensive producers from the back end in the AHL and this year was no exception as he put up 10 goals and 22 assists in 62 appearances. His contract converts to a one-way agreement next season for the league minimum.
Rodrigue was expected to split time with Calvin Pickard this season with Bakersfield but those plans changed with Campbell struggling and Pickard taking over as the backup in Edmonton. Still, the 23-year-old posted a 2.73 GAA with a .916 SV% in 37 games with the Condors this season, earning himself a one-year extension along the way.
Most, if not all of these players won’t see any action during the rest of Edmonton’s postseason action but will be staying ready in case injuries warrant them suiting up.
Evening Notes: Penguins, Henrique, Matthews
The Pittsburgh Penguins could be set for a flashy end to an era, with NHL insider Kevin Weekes sharing that the team’s departure from head coach Mike Sullivan could come via a coach-trade (Twitter link). Pittsburgh hasn’t yet granted Sullivan, who is set to begin a three-year extension next season, permission to talk with any other clubs. That control is invaluable in the current NHL, with four teams currently without a coach and plenty more questioning their bench-leader. Pittsburgh has been no stranger to coaching drama in the early offseason, recently relieving two AHL coaches and one NHL assistant of their duties. These moves came despite Sullivan being “vehemently opposed” to changing his staff, says Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli (Twitter link).
Sullivan took over Pittsburgh’s head coach role midway through the 2015-16 season and quickly carried the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins. He’s held onto the role despite three changes in general manager and one change in ownership – ultimately becoming the second-longest tenured active coach in the NHL, behind Tampa’s Jon Cooper.
The NHL hasn’t seen a coach-for-coach trade, though there have been coach-for-picks trades. This includes the Quebec Nordiques’ trading of head coach Michel Bergeron to the New York Rangers in 1987. Quebec received what would end up as the fifth-overall pick in 1988 in return, using it to select winger Daniel Dore. The Toronto Maple Leafs also traded Quebec exclusive rights to negotiate with then-AHL head coach Marc Crawford as a part of the 1994 trade that sent Mats Sundin to Toronto. Crawford went on to serve four seasons as Quebec/Colorado’s head coach, even leading the Avalanche to the 1996 Stanley Cup.
While it’s hard to imagine what a coach-trade would look like in modern day, there’s no doubting that Mike Sullivan would carry significant value on the open market. He’s been an NHL head coach for parts of 11 seasons, and has Stanley Cup pedigree on his resume. He becomes one of the many talented, and long-tenured, coaches to monitor as NHL teams shake things up this summer.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique has suffered an lower-body injury but isn’t expected to miss time, shares Sports 1440’s Jason Gregor (Twitter link). Gregor adds that the injury was suffered in Game 5 and forced Henrique out of practice on Friday. The Oilers won’t begin the Second Round until early next week, giving injured players a chance to heal up. Henrique has served in a top-six role since being acquired at the Deadline, recording two points in five games this postseason and nine points in 22 regular-season games with Edmonton.
- Superstar forward Auston Matthews was present at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Friday practice after missing the last two games with an undisclosed ailment, shares Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press (Twitter link). Head coach Sheldon Keefe told Whyno that Matthews is progressing, though the team still isn’t sure if he’ll be available for Game 7. The Maple Leafs have come back from the brink of elimination in Matthews’ absence, forcing a Game 7 after being down 3-1 in the series. They’ll look to finish the comeback on Saturday, with or without their historical scorer.
Edmonton Oilers Recall Jack Campbell And Philip Broberg
The Edmonton Oilers have recalled goaltender Jack Campbell and defenseman Philip Broberg from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL after the affiliate was eliminated from the AHL playoffs last night. The Condors were swept in the first round, losing in two games to the Ontario Reign.
Campbell hasn’t dressed in an NHL since giving up five goals on 34 shots back on November 4th. The 32-year-old played in just five NHL games this season going 1-4 with a 4.50 goals-against average and a .873 save percentage. After being demoted to the AHL, Campbell put up respectable numbers in 33 games, going 18-13-1 with three shutouts, and a .918 save percentage. He has struggled in two seasons since joining the Oilers as a free agent after signing a five-year $25MM contract.
Broberg returns to the NHL after recording two assists in 12 games with the Oilers this season. The 22-year-old spent the bulk of the year in the AHL, dressing in 49 games and tallying five goals and 33 assists. The former eighth-overall pick has been recalled three times in the past three weeks and will likely serve as depth for the Oilers going forward unless injuries force him into the lineup.
Broberg does have NHL playoff experience having dressed in nine games last spring for the Oilers and one game during the 2021-22 post-season. While he’s never registered an NHL playoff point, he does remain a strong depth option for the Oilers as many pundits feel he’s an NHL defenseman who has been stuck in the AHL for much of this season.
11 Teams Face Cap Overage Penalties Next Season
With the salary cap largely being flat the last few years, more teams have had to dip into LTIR when injuries have come up. Accordingly, the number of teams facing bonus overage penalties has also risen. This year is no exception as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports in collaboration with CapFriendly that 11 teams are currently facing cap overage penalties for 2024-25 as a result of bonuses achieved this season.
When a team finishes up the season using LTIR to stay cap-compliant, they don’t have any regular cap space to which bonuses can be applied against. Accordingly, that results in LTIR teams that have incentives that are met finishing over the cap, yielding overage penalties. Whatever amount they finished 2023-24 over by is then deducted off the Upper Limit for next season.
The teams that are confirmed to have bonus overage penalties are as follows:
Edmonton Oilers: $3.45MM*
Dallas Stars: $2,595,407
Washington Capitals: $2.2525MM
Los Angeles Kings: $1.85MM
New Jersey Devils: $1,538,897
Montreal Canadiens: $1.0225MM
Ottawa Senators: $850K
New York Rangers: $512.5K*
Minnesota Wild: $425K*
Philadelphia Flyers: $245K
Boston Bruins $50K*
Teams denoted with an asterisk could see their bonus overage increase if the following happens:
Edmonton: Corey Perry’s contract calls for $50K if the Oilers make the Western Conference Final and another $50K if they reach the Stanley Cup Final.
New York: Theirs would increase by $25K if they win the Stanley Cup, a bonus in Jonathan Quick’s deal.
Minnesota: Marco Rossi can make $212.5K if he makes the All-Rookie Team which would then be added to the Wild’s carryover penalty.
Boston: Milan Lucic will receive $200K if the Bruins win the Stanley Cup as part of his contract.
In addition to the above, Carolina and Florida also have the potential for an overage contingent on the playoffs. The Hurricanes would have a $50.45K penalty if Jackson Blake plays in 20 games between the regular season and playoffs. Meanwhile, the Panthers would take a $500K hit if they win the Stanley Cup to cover that bonus in Kyle Okposo’s contract.
Team-by-team details with specifics on how each one got to the point of an overage were covered separately by PuckPedia.
It’s the first time that multiple teams will carry overage penalties of more than $2MM into the following season. With the cap expected to go up by closer to $4MM this summer, that could in theory take some pressure off from the bonus overage perspective but only if teams leave themselves a bit more wiggle room to work with. There’s a good chance that won’t happen so we’re quite likely to see these penalties again next season though with perhaps fewer teams getting the hit next time around.
Edmonton Oilers Return Philip Broberg To AHL
- After being recalled earlier today by the Edmonton Oilers, defenseman Philip Broberg was able to skate with the team in practice as they prepare to take a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow night. Unfortunately, it does not appear as if Broberg will get to have that opportunity with the team, as Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports Broberg has been loaned back to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Fortunately for Broberg, he should not miss playoff action entirely, as the Condors begin their opening-round matchup against the Ontario Reign tomorrow evening.
[SOURCE LINK]
Edmonton Oilers Recall Philip Broberg
The Edmonton Oilers have recalled defenseman Philip Broberg from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. The recall was expected by many as the Oilers had a bit of a gap between the end of the regular season and their first game of the playoffs. Broberg has been on a rollercoaster the last few weeks as he has been back and forth from California to the Oilers several times. The 22-year-old was called up from the AHL early last week and dressed in the Oilers’ final two regular season games. He was then sent back to Bakersfield for the Condors’ final games over the weekend and will now make his way back up to the Oilers.
Broberg reportedly sought a trade in December, but nothing ever materialized, and he remained in the Oilers organization. His play on the ice likely was a factor in the lack of movement as Broberg has tallied just two goals and 11 assists in 81 career NHL games, including two assists in 12 NHL games this season. While he tallied just two points this year, both assists came in his last two games during his most recent recall. The native of Orebro, Sweden does have previous NHL playoff experience, dressing in 10 career games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, nine of which were last spring.
While the former eighth-overall pick hasn’t established himself as a full-time NHL blueliner, he’s shown he can fill in for the team in a third-pairing role. He hasn’t found his offensive game in his short NHL sample size but did have a terrific season in the AHL posting five goals and 33 assists in 49 AHL games.
Oilers Recall Ryan Fanti As EBUG
- The Oilers will carry netminder Ryan Fanti as their emergency backup for tonight’s Game 1 of their first-round series against the Kings, the team announced. While not on the game roster, he could enter the game for Edmonton if Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard leave the game with injuries. They’ll allow the more experienced Jack Campbell to continue getting game action at the top minor-league level as AHL Bakersfield begins its playoff run. Fanti, 24, has played sparingly this season with ECHL Fort Wayne and missed the first few months of the season with an injury, going 9-6-1 with a .915 SV% in 17 outings since his return. He has no NHL experience and only nine games of AHL experience.
Evander Kane Diagnosed With Sports Hernia
Oilers winger Evander Kane‘s up-and-down regular season ended on a low note, missing the final three games with an undisclosed injury. Meeting with reporters ahead of tomorrow’s Game 1 against the Kings, he told reporters he was diagnosed with a sports hernia but will likely return to play (via Sportsnet’s Gene Principe).
Sports hernias don’t always require immediate surgery. In less severe cases, rest and cortisone injections may relieve pain and restore range of motion in the groin area, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It’s a playable injury for now, but surgery could be on the table for Kane this summer if it doesn’t fully heal with other treatments throughout the postseason.
Kane, 32, is in the second season of a four-year, $20.5MM contract. He hasn’t been as advertised, playing at a 50-point pace over the life of the deal after producing at a 60-point pace or better in each of the previous four seasons. This season was his healthiest as an Oiler, playing in 77 games, but his 44 points and poor relative possession numbers led to him averaging 16:47 per game, his lowest usage since his rookie season.
He’s seen his usage dwindle down the stretch, playing less than 10 minutes in a game against the Flames a few weeks back and being scratched against the Senators in late March. The Oilers’ secondary scoring has been buoyed by the emergence of Warren Foegele, who had a career-high 20 goals and 41 points with far superior possession metrics to Kane. He’ll likely slot in on Edmonton’s second line with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins‘ regardless of Kane’s availability. If he can go, it would presumably be in a third-line role with Ryan McLeod and Corey Perry.
Kane is still a more offensively consistent player than other bottom-six options like youngster Dylan Holloway, who’s been limited to six goals and nine points in 38 games this year. If he can recapture even some of his form from the 2022 postseason when he had 13 goals and 17 points in only 15 games, he could be key in canceling out a balanced L.A. forward lineup.
Evander Kane, Mattias Jamark Hopeful For Game One
- Both Evander Kane and Mattias Janmark are expected to return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup for their Monday Game One against the Los Angeles Kings, per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kane sat out of the team’s final three games of the season with injury, capping his year off at 24 goals and 44 points in 77 appearances. Meanwhile, Janmark was able to finish out the season but missed the team’s Saturday practice. Neither injuries have been disclosed.
AHL Shuffle: 4/19/24
Half the league has played their last games for the 2023-24 campaign, while the other half is gearing up for postseason action starting tomorrow. Either way, squads are making roster adjustments today, whether it’s assigning players back to the minors after their NHL seasons came to a close or recalling reinforcements for their playoff runs. We’ll keep track of all of today’s moves here:
- The Bruins have recalled center John Beecher and defenseman Mason Lohrei from AHL Providence. Both will be available for tomorrow’s Game 1 of Boston’s first-round series against the Maple Leafs. The pair of youngsters were assigned to the minors throughout the last week for playing time down the stretch after spending most of the campaign on the NHL roster. They’ll likely be scratches for tomorrow’s contest, but after combining for 93 games played in the regular season, head coach Jim Montgomery won’t hesitate to plug them into the playoff lineup.
- The Flames have assigned forwards Matthew Coronato and Adam Klapka, defenseman Ilya Solovyov, and goaltender Dustin Wolf to AHL Calgary. The NHL club’s regular season came to an end last night in a 5-1 win over the Sharks, a game all four players involved in today’s transaction played in. Wolf, one of the league’s top goaltending prospects, ended his season on a high note with 16 saves on 17 shots after putting up underwhelming numbers down the stretch for the Flames. All four will play major roles for the Wranglers over the next couple of weeks, at the very least, as they’ve clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
- The Capitals have recalled goaltender Mitchell Gibson from ECHL South Carolina. The 24-year-old, who has no NHL experience, is in his first full season of pro hockey after spending the last four seasons in collegiate hockey at Harvard. He’ll serve as a Black Ace and emergency backup as their first-round matchup against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers gets underway. A fourth-round pick of the Caps back in 2018, he has a .899 SV%, 2.56 GAA, three shutouts, and a 22-14-3 record in 42 appearances with South Carolina this year, as well as a .915 SV% and a perfect record in two showings with AHL Hershey.
- In a similar move, the Predators have brought up netminder Gustavs Grigals from ECHL Atlanta. Undrafted, the Latvian had spent the season in the Nashville organization on a minor-league contract before receiving a two-way deal from the Preds on deadline day. The 25-year-old was excellent last year for UMass-Lowell after transferring from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, posting a .924 SV% in 24 games and earning Hockey East Third All-Star Team honors. He’s adjusted decently well to the pro ranks, posting a .900 SV% and three shutouts behind a defensively challenged Atlanta squad in 34 appearances with an 11-19-0 record.
- The Blackhawks have assigned forward prospect Lukas Reichel to AHL Rockford to finish his season. Chicago expected the 21-year-old to take a major step forward in his development this season and supplant himself as a top-six fixture for the future along with Connor Bedard, but it didn’t work out that way. The 2020 first-round pick was arguably among the worst players in the league this season, limited to five goals and 16 points in 65 games with a -29 rating despite seeing second-line looks for much of the season. His average ice time dipped to almost 14 minutes per game by the end of the campaign, however.
- The Jets have assigned forwards Nikita Chibrikov, Parker Ford, Brad Lambert, and goaltender Collin Delia to AHL Manitoba. Winnipeg recalled the foursome yesterday to provide reinforcements for yesterday’s regular-season finale against the Canucks. Chibrikov and Lambert made their NHL debuts, with the former notching his first NHL goal in the process. Delia backed up Laurent Brossoit while Jennings Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck was given the night off entirely, while Ford was a healthy scratch. Delia was again recalled under emergency conditions later Friday, suggesting he’ll be available as a Black Ace/emergency backup for Game 1 against the Avalanche on Sunday.
- The Coyotes have made likely the final group of transactions in franchise history, returning forwards Dylan Guenther, Josh Doan, Aku Raty, and defensemen Michael Kesselring and Vladislav Kolyachonok to AHL Tucson. The sale of the team’s hockey operations to Salt Lake City-based Smith Entertainment Group was approved by the NHL’s Board of Governors yesterday, rendering the Coyotes franchise inactive and establishing a new franchise in Utah. The five youngsters will finish the season in the Calder Cup Playoffs with the Roadrunners. Some of these players, likely Guenther and Doan at a minimum, will travel to Salt Lake City and will be a part of that team’s opening-night squad next season. The others may remain in Tucson, which is expected to serve as the Utah franchise’s minor-league affiliate.
- The Oilers have assigned defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Adam Erne to AHL Bakersfield. The pair were recalled earlier in the week to allow the Oilers to rest stars like Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard before kicking off their first-round playoff series against the Kings in a few days. They’ll return to playoff-bound Bakersfield for now but will be among the first in line for recalls if necessary.
- The Kings have assigned forward Alex Turcotte to AHL Ontario. He’d spent most of the last week in the minors on an LTI conditioning loan, but was activated off LTIR and reinstated to the NHL roster on Tuesday. He didn’t play in the Kings’ final game of the regular season last night, though. The 23-year-old presumably won’t be in their Game 1 lineup against the Oilers and will report for playoff action with the Reign.
- The Islanders have summoned goaltender Jakub Skarek from AHL Bridgeport, per the league’s media site. The 23-year-old comes up to serve as the extra/reserve netminder as the Islanders begin their first-round series with Bridgeport eliminated from playoff contention. The 2018 third-round pick has again struggled in the third-string spot, posting a .888 SV% and 7-22-6 record in 36 appearances for the AHL Isles this year. He was passed over for recalls earlier in the regular season in favor of veteran Kenneth Appleby.
This page will be updated throughout the day.