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Morning Notes: Three Stars, Wildcats, Czechs

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The NHL has released their Three Stars for last week, with a new name gracing the top spot. Florida Panthers forward Noel Acciari has been given the honor after scoring back-to-back hat tricks and seven total goals in three games. The 28-year old had never scored a hat trick in the NHL previously, making this quite the week.

Second place went to a familiar name in Roman Josi after his six-goal week from the Nashville Predators blueline, but third was another new face. Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets put up the best week of his short career, going 4-0 with a .939 save percentage and showing that he may be capable of handling the starting role going forward. The 25-year old goaltender is 16-10-3 on the season after the Blue Jackets watched veteran starter Sergei Bobrovsky leave via free agency.

  • According to Mikael Lalancette of TVA Sports, the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL have a new head coach. Daniel Lacroix, a former enforcer and long time NHL assistant coach has taken the job, returning to the team that he worked with for several years after retirement. Lacroix actually served as head coach for a short time in the 2004-05 season but will now get a chance to really take control of the squad after they parted ways with John Torchetti earlier this month.
  • The Czech Republic World Junior team has been finalized, after they cut five players earlier today. Jaroslav Broz, Filip Koffer, Martin Lang, Miroslav Kukla, and Jan Bednar have all been sent home. Bednar is just 17 and will likely be back at the tournament next season, given his status as a top goaltending prospect for the 2020 draft.

Minor Transactions: 12/23/19

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Even though the NHL roster freeze is in effect, there are still a handful of transactions that will happen today. These are moves that are still allowed to maintain roster levels, as a huge chunk of the league will play today. Things kick off with an afternoon tilt between the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs, with Jake Gardiner returning to play his former team after signing a four-year deal in the offseason. As those few moves take place, we’ll keep track of them right here.

  • Mathieu Joseph is back with the Tampa Bay Lightning, recalled today after just a few days in the minor leagues. Joseph was a regular in the Lightning lineup for the last year and a half, but was struggling to really find his game of late and needed a reset in the AHL.
  • The San Jose Sharks, who don’t play again until Friday, returned three players to the minor leagues today. Noah Gregor, Joel Kellman and Jacob Middleton will all spend the break as part of the San Jose Barracuda, though it would come as no surprise to see at least one of them recalled again later in the week.
  • Jayce Hawryluk has been recalled by the Florida Panthers ahead of their game against the Lightning tonight. Hawryluk has three points in eight games with the Panthers this season but was injured earlier in the year. His conditioning stint has now come to an end, after six games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have sent Filip Zadina, Brian Lashoff and Calvin Pickard down to the minor leagues. With the Red Wings off until Saturday, they’ll have plenty of time to make the decision on who to bring back up after Christmas.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Jeremy Bracco from the minor leagues, while giving an ominous update on Trevor Moore. Moore will be out of today’s game with a mysterious injury, likely related to the issue he was dealing with recently after getting bumped in practice.
  • The Vancouver Canucks have returned Jalen Chatfield to the AHL over the break. Chatfield has been recalled several times by the Canucks this season, but has yet to actually play in an NHL game.

Sebastian Repo Placed On Unconditional Waivers

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Friday: Repo has cleared waivers and will be joining Lukko back in Finland.

Thursday: The Florida Panthers have placed Sebastian Repo on unconditional waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. This designation usually precedes a mutual contract termination.

Repo, 23, signed his entry-level contract with the Panthers in 2017 after being selected in the sixth round, but hasn’t made it out of the AHL. In fact, he has played just 17 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds this season.

Though this makes him an unrestricted free agent allowed to sign with anyone in the league, Repo will likely return to Europe for the time being. The winger had 26 points in 71 games for his AHL career, but was a much more efficient offensive weapon playing in Finland.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Florida Panthers

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads past the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Florida Panthers.

What are the Panthers most thankful for?

Firepower and plenty of it.  Very quietly, Florida sits fourth in the league in goals scored heading into Thursday’s action and already have five forwards in double digits for goals.  Brett Connolly, an offseason free agent signing, leads the way somewhat surprisingly.  There are teams that are built to have one dominant line and then hope that the other trios can break even.  The Panthers are not one of those squads and have multiple lines that are capable of producing on a regular basis.  Assuming other elements to their game come around (more on that shortly), this offense should easily be strong enough to get Florida back to the postseason.

Who are the Panthers most thankful for?

Aleksander Barkov.  In recent years, he has blossomed into an offensive star and it hasn’t come at the expense of his defensive game either.  At a time where not a lot of forwards log over 20 minutes a night, he’s over that mark for the third straight season.  Barkov isn’t always mentioned among the elite centers in the NHL but his presence in that discussion is certainly warranted.

Another element that Florida is certainly thankful for when it comes to Barkov is his price tag.  With a $5.9MM AAV, he’s making money that’s more at the level of a second line forward; they’re getting a lot of bang for their buck for this one.  Considering he’s signed through 2021-22, they’re going to enjoy his below-market deal for a while yet as well.

What would the Panthers be even more thankful for?

When the Panthers handed Sergei Bobrovsky the second-richest contract ever given to a goalie this summer, the expectation was that they’d now get top goaltending which would give them a big boost.  If he wasn’t at the top of his game, he’d at least be better than what they got last year out of Roberto Luongo and James Reimer.  Bobrovsky’s .903 SV% is well below expectations and only a few points ahead of last year’s tandem.  As a result, they’re in the bottom ten in goals allowed which is why they’re still hanging around the bubble in the Atlantic Division.  If he can get up to even an average level, they’ll be in good shape.  If he can get back to his top form, look out.

What should be on the Panthers’ Holiday Wish List?

Beyond Bobrovsky getting back to form, not much.  It’s not that there aren’t areas where they could still improve but rather the fact that with barely $500K in cap space at the moment per CapFriendly, there isn’t a whole lot they can do right now.  Finding a new home for Mark Pysyk (a pending UFA with a $2.73MM cap hit) would give them a bit of flexibility but that’s a high price tag for a depth defender.  Improving the bottom of their back end would certainly be beneficial for a postseason push.

Their backup goalie situation is likely a bit of concern for GM Dale Tallon.  Samuel Montembeault struggled at the start of the season and as a result, Chris Driedger, a veteran of three NHL appearances heading into this season, is currently the backup.  Finding someone with a bit more of a track record that can spell Bobrovsky a bit more often would be ideal but they’ll need to free up some extra cap space to do that.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pittsburgh, Florida Complete Minor Trade

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Kevin Roy from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Ryan Haggerty. Both players are currently in the minor leagues and will report to their respective new AHL organizations.

It’s not a major deal, though it is important to note that Roy not only has experience in the NHL, he’ll also be joining a former college teammate in the organization. The 26-year old played with Zach Aston-Reese at Northeastern University before turning pro, and has 28 games of NHL experience with the Anaheim Ducks. Roy has also found success in the minor leagues previously, though has just 14 points in 23 games this season with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Haggerty meanwhile is still waiting on his first NHL opportunity, but has been a consistent offensive weapon in the minor leagues the last several seasons. The 26-year old came into this year with 74 goals in 285 regular season AHL games, but has struggled to fill that role this season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The deal represents a chance for both players to get their seasons back on track before hitting unrestricted free agency in the summer. Each is on a two-way contract, though Haggerty’s guaranteed minimum is quite a bit lower than Roy’s so will cost a little less for the Panthers.

Snapshots: Three Stars, Hall, Kucherov

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The NHL has released their Three Stars for last week, handing out the top spot to Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty. In four games the former Montreal Canadiens’ captain had five goals and eight points last week and leads the Golden Knights in both categories on the season.

While Jack Eichel’s continued MVP-level performance has landed him the third star, a new face finds himself in the second spot. Anthony Duclair has risen from the ashes to become a star with the Ottawa Senators and now has 18 goals on the season. The 24-year old has scored 26 goals in 54 games since arriving in Ottawa and now looks ready to land a long-term deal as a restricted free agent this summer.

  • There is still no concrete news on New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall and where he’ll end up after the inevitable trade, but Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) is ruling out one team (for the time being). The Florida Panthers have pulled back their pursuit of the scoring winger according to LeBrun—though he notes that things can obviously change at any moment—because the winger doesn’t seem ready to sign an extension with whatever team acquires him. Hall hasn’t played in the Devils’ last two games as the team tries to protect their asset.
  • Nikita Kucherov has been listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury after blocking a John Carlson slapshot over the weekend. Kucherov was forced from the game but seems to have avoided major injury. Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters including Joe Smith of The Athletic that Kucherov will likely be back before Christmas.

Jayce Hawryluk Sent On Conditioning Stint

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The Florida Panthers have assigned Jayce Hawryluk to the minor leagues on a conditioning stint, likely signaling that he is finally ready to play again. The 23-year old hasn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury at the end of October, but had three points in his first eight games with the Panthers this season.

Not that the Panthers need much help as they sit third in the Atlantic Division with a 15-10-5 record, but Hawryluk is a proven option for their bottom-six that suited up 42 times last year. Originally drafted 32nd overall in 2014, he has found his way to being a top offensive option eventually at every level and still has time to develop into one for the Panthers.

Even if he never becomes that top-six player however, he’ll be welcomed back to the Panthers this season to play in a lesser role. In order to go to the minors under regular circumstances he would need to clear waivers, meaning he’ll be back up once the team feels he’s ready for NHL action.

Minor Transactions: 12/11/19

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After last night’s busy schedule in the NHL only three games are on the docket for this evening. That includes a powerhouse Eastern Conference matchup between the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals however, perhaps a preview of a playoff matchup down the road. Boston and Washington easily lead their respective divisions with 46 and 49 points respectively, making them the best two teams in the NHL at the moment. As they and the rest of the league prepares for tonight, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.

  • With a date against the Ottawa Senators tonight, the Montreal Canadiens have made several transactions. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been placed on injured reserve, while Ryan Poehling and Christian Folin have been recalled from the AHL. Folin had been on a conditioning stint but could soon make his return to the Montreal lineup. Poehling meanwhile has been on fire for the Laval Rocket and will try to establish himself full-time at the NHL level.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled David Kase from the AHL for the first time in his short professional career. The 22-year old winger had six points in 21 games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms but is defensively responsible and can potentially add another bottom-six option to the Flyers lineup.
  • Filip Zadina has been sent back to the Grand Rapids Griffins, perhaps to get him away from the constant losing with the Detroit Red Wings. While he could be getting sent down just for the day to play tonight for the Griffins, their game is in San Diego while the Red Wings are headed home to play in Detroit tomorrow night. The team has also sent Dennis Cholowski and Dylan McIlrath to the AHL.
  • Aleksi Saarela has been returned to the minor leagues by the Florida Panthers, after making his NHL debut and playing in three games total. The 22-year old prospect is still looking for his first point at the highest level, but is an intriguing player to keep an eye on in the Panthers’ system.
  • After Micheal Ferland was knocked out of last night’s game with an upper-body injury, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled Zack MacEwen from the AHL. MacEwen has played in seven games earlier this year with Vancouver, recording two points.
  • Adam Werner is back up with the Colorado Avalanche and will backup Pavel Francouz tonight, as Philipp Grubauer isn’t quite ready. It looked like the Avalanche would get their starter back for tonight’s action against the Philadelphia Flyers, but it appears as though they’ll have to wait a little longer.
  • Gerry Mayhew is back with the Minnesota Wild, who have recently seen several top players go down to injury. Michael Russo of The Athletic believes the top three centers will be Viktor Rask, Ryan Donato and Joel Eriksson Ek tomorrow night, not exactly what the Wild had in mind at the beginning of the year.

Minor Transactions: 12/06/19

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The NHL has just five games on the schedule for this evening, including Phil Kessel’s return to Pittsburgh and a matchup of two last place teams in New Jersey. As teams prepare for a big weekend, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.

  • The Florida Panthers have recalled Aleksi Saarela for the first time since acquiring him from the Chicago Blackhawks in late-October. Saarela has now amazingly been traded three times in his short career but is still waiting for his first NHL opportunity. The 22-year old was picked in the third round by the New York Rangers and was originally part of the deal for Eric Staal in 2016.
  • Jonathan Davidsson, another one of the Ottawa Senators’ top prospects, has been recalled to the NHL once again. The 22-year old forward was part of the return for Matt Duchene last season and made his debut for the club earlier this year.
  • Because the Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t playing today, they’ve sent Cory Conacher back to the minor leagues. Conacher has served as injury insurance the last while for the Lightning, but Alex Killorn was healthy enough to suit up last night.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Filip Zadina as expected, after giving him the week with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Red Wings had several days off between games, during which Zadina played another AHL game to stay fresh.
  • Boo Nieves is on his way back to the AHL, assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers today. Nieves has played four games in the NHL this season but is still more of a minor league depth option at this point.
  • Cameron Schilling has been returned to the Manitoba Moose without playing in a single game for the Winnipeg Jets. The 31-year old defenseman has just ten NHL games over his career, four of which came last season with the Jets.
  • Otto Koivula has been returned to the AHL after playing fewer than five minutes in his last game for the New York Islanders. The young forward is an interesting prospect, but was seeing so little ice time in his first NHL season that the minor leagues may still be best for his development.
  • Nikolay Goldobin has been returned to the AHL after playing just a single game for the Vancouver Canucks since his recall two weeks ago. The 24-year old has been great at the minor league level once again, but can’t seem to get himself a chance at the NHL.

MacKenzie Weegar To Return From Upper-Body Injury On Saturday

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  • Florida is set to welcome MacKenzie Weegar back into their lineup on Saturday. Head coach Joel Quenneville told Jameson Olive of the Panthers’ website (Twitter link) that the defenseman has been cleared to return from his upper-body injury, one that caused him to miss the last eight games.  The 25-year-old was off to a hot start offensively before getting injured; his 10 points through 17 games was two-thirds of the way to his career-high that was set last season.

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