Max Pacioretty Suffers Setback; Brett Howden Avoids Serious Injury
The Vegas Golden Knights have been ravaged by injury this season and now find themselves at risk of missing the playoffs entirely. One hope they had for the near future was Max Pacioretty, who appeared to be closing in on a return from his latest issue. Not anymore, as Pacioretty has suffered a setback according to head coach Peter DeBoer, who spoke with reporters including Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Pacioretty, 33, left yesterday’s morning skate and will now not be available for the “near future” according to DeBoer. It’s been a brutal year for the veteran forward, who has appeared in just 29 games–though he has recorded 15 goals and 29 points in those contests.
The Golden Knights head coach also gave an update on Brett Howden, who was stretchered off last night. Howden is out of the hospital and was actually at the practice facility today, with DeBoer confirming nothing is broken.
While an injury is obviously never a good thing, Pacioretty’s absence may actually have something of a silver lining for the Golden Knights, who were going to be in a tough salary cap situation after Evgenii Dadonov‘s trade was canceled. Pacioretty is currently only on regular injured reserve, meaning if he’s going to miss an extensive period of time, he could be moved to long-term injured reserve, essentially swapping places with someone like Alec Martinez.
If the Golden Knights were in a better position, one might wonder if this was just a case of resting a veteran player while providing some cap benefit. But even after last night’s win, Vegas is far from a lock for the postseason. In fact, the team currently sits outside of the playoff picture, one point behind Dallas despite having played four more games.
Morning Notes: Monahan, Maple Leafs, Gallagher
Sean Monahan appears to be headed for the press box. The Calgary Flames center was skating as an extra at yesterday’s practice according to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet and might end up a healthy scratch for tonight’s matchup against the Arizona Coyotes. Monahan, 27, had played in all 63 games this season but has seen his ice time continually drop, to the point where he was used for fewer than ten minutes earlier this week.
Under contract through the 2022-23 season and carrying a cap hit of $6.375MM, Monahan has basically seen his role with the Flames completely disappear. Whether an offseason trade (or buyout) takes him out of Calgary still remains to be seen, but unless something drastic changes down the stretch, it appears as though he is on the outside looking in following the additions of Tyler Toffoli, Calle Jarnkrok, and Ryan Carpenter.
- Jake Muzzin was at Toronto Maple Leafs practice in a red no-contact jersey, but Ondrej Kase was nowhere to be found, after the forward suffered another head injury a few days ago. As Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star writes, Muzzin–who is also working his way back from a concussion–may end up out until Jack Campbell, dealing with a rib injury, is ready to return. That’s because of a tricky cap situation in Toronto, though the team has found creative ways around their obstacles in the past. With Rasmus Sandin now out and Travis Dermott traded to Vancouver, the Maple Leafs could certainly use Muzzin’s help, even after acquiring Mark Giordano at the deadline.
- More bad news for the Montreal Canadiens, as Brendan Gallagher is out for a week with a lower-body injury. Like most Montreal players, this season has been a dreadful one for the 29-year-old Gallagher, who has just five goals and 14 points in 43 games. Those are both easily career-lows, and numbers that certainly aren’t good enough for a player carrying a $6.5MM cap hit. Gallagher is signed through 2026-27 and will hopefully bounce back in 2022-23.
Mark Borowiecki Out Week-To-Week
Just as he was getting healthy again, another injury has sidelined Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki. The team announced that he won’t be in the lineup tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights and that he’s week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
Borowiecki returned to the lineup on March 21st against Anaheim after missing over two weeks with a lower-body injury. However, he suffered a second injury the following night against Los Angeles, limiting him to just eight shifts and 5:53 of ice time in that contest.
With Borowiecki out of the lineup, expect the hulking Ben Harpur to draw back into the lineup. He’s only gotten 18 NHL games this season, but he has some experience in the Nashville organization now and his size is an asset.
Now, Nashville hopes Borowiecki, a vocal presence in the locker room, can get healthy for the playoffs. ‘Boro Cop’ has two assists in 44 games this season and signed an extension last month to remain with the team through 2022-23. The team is also dealing with injuries to Matt Benning and Dante Fabbro on defense as their depth on the back end thins at the worst possible time.
Tyler Bozak Out At Least A Month
March 24: Bozak has officially been moved to injured reserve, the team announced today. The move created roster space for the team to recall defenseman Calle Rosen from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, giving them an extra defenseman on the roster while Torey Krug is out with injury. Rosen has two assists in six games with the Blues already this season.
March 16: The St. Louis Blues will be without center Tyler Bozak for at least four weeks after he suffered a lower-body injury. The veteran forward will be re-evaluated in a month, suggesting he could miss even more time.
Bozak, 35, hasn’t been very effective this season in his limited role, recording just three goals and 11 points in 47 games. While he was never expected to drive a ton of offense at this point in his career, the Blues are being absolutely caved in with him on the ice, allowing 23 goals against to just nine for at even strength. Those struggles mean that an injury–as tough as it is to hear–could actually be a positive thing for the team at this point, as a change at the bottom of the lineup may be long overdue.
If Bozak is out through the end of the regular season–about six weeks from now–it would actually give the team a tiny bit more cap flexibility, with his $750K hit going on long-term injured reserve. He could then come back for the playoffs when the cap doesn’t matter to bring his experience, leadership, and versatility to the room.
Whether it changes St. Louis’ deadline strategy isn’t really clear, though adding a right-handed center could be in order. The team has Robert Thomas for that when he’s healthy, but the rest of their regular centers (or even those players who regularly take draws) are lefties.
Snapshots: Drouin, Laughton, Lindenwood
The Montreal Canadiens won’t have forward Jonathan Drouin in the lineup tonight, as he’s returned home due to a close COVID-19 contact, the team announced. Drouin’s battled through injury this year, missing around two months with a wrist injury, but has been fairly productive with 20 points in 34 games when in the lineup. It’s another tough break for Drouin, who’s put up points over the past few seasons but can’t stay in the lineup. Waiver claim Rem Pitlick could get an elevated role in the Montreal lineup while Drouin is out.
More from around hockey on this Thursday night:
- Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton “didn’t get great news” during his latest doctors’ appointment, said head coach Mike Yeo today. The forward has been out with a concussion for roughly two weeks, and it’s looking increasingly likely that he won’t return this season. The team has shut him down for the time being as he focuses on his recovery. If it is the end of the year for him, he finished 2021-22 with 28 points in 54 games.
- Division I college hockey is officially coming to the St. Louis area. Lindenwood University officially unveiled its program today, after more than a year of rumors surrounding the school. In its first season, the school will be coached by former St. Louis Blue Rick Zombo.
Matthew Peca Signs Two-Year Extension
Late last night, CapFriendly reported that the St. Louis Blues signed Matthew Peca to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal comes with an NHL cap hit of $762.5K and will keep him in the organization through the 2023-24 season. The Springfield Thunderbirds, who Peca is currently playing for, have now officially announced the contract.
Peca, 28, is having a fantastic season for the Thunderbirds, scoring 20 goals and 51 points in 53 games so far. He’s added just five NHL contests and one point, meaning this is a lot more about organizational depth than making a real impact for the Blues moving forward.
Still, the contract represents some stability for the pending free agent forward and keeps their AHL affiliate happy with a star player in the system. Peca meanwhile is a perfect injury replacement, as he has actually scored 21 points in 83 career NHL games–not bad for someone who has averaged fewer than 11 minutes in those games.
Joonas Korpisalo To Undergo Hip Surgery
When Joonas Korpisalo wasn’t moved at the deadline, a few eyebrows were raised around the league, given his status as a pending unrestricted free agent. The Columbus Blue Jackets have essentially explained why, announcing that Korpisalo will undergo hip surgery and is expected to miss the next six months. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen released a statement:
This is an injury that Joonas has been dealing with for some time and it has now gotten to the point where surgery is the best option. We are disappointed for him as he has worked extremely hard to be able to play, but this is the best course of action.
Korpisalo, 27, now heads into the offseason with an uncertain future. A six-month timeline would suggest he could be ready for the start of next season but he now will be without a contract, unless he re-ups with the Blue Jackets at some point before hitting the open market. In just 22 appearances this season, Korpisalo has registered a career-worst .877 save percentage and 4.15 goals-against average. He is among the worst in the league at goals saved above average, ahead of only Philipp Grubauer in that category. While this injury explains at least part of that, it also complicates his future, as a return to his previous form is anything but a guarantee.
This isn’t even the first goaltender to require hip surgery for the Blue Jackets this season. Daniil Tarasov, essentially the team’s third-string option, also underwent surgery and was given a six-month timeline in February. That leaves Elvis Merzlikins and Jean-Francois Berube as the NHL options for the rest of the season, while Jet Greaves and Cam Johnson continue in the minor leagues.
Cal Clutterbuck Out Rest Of Season
The New York Islanders rewarded Cal Clutterbuck with a recent contract extension, something that certainly came at the right time for the veteran forward. The team announced today that Clutterbuck will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Additionally, Scott Mayfield will miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury.
Clutterbuck, 34, last played on March 19, two days before the trade deadline when he inked a new two-year, $3.5MM extension that keeps him with the Islanders through the 2023-24 season. While his name had surfaced in trade speculation, it seems likely that it was never really in the cards given this injury and the timing of his extension.
Through 59 games this season, Clutterbuck has racked up six goals and 15 points, actually eclipsing the totals from each of the last two years. The last time he posted double-digit goals was 2015-16, and he hasn’t broken 25 points in a single season since he was still with the Minnesota Wild. Despite that lack of offensive output, Clutterbuck has been an important part of the smothering defensive system in New York, racking up almost countless hits in a bottom-six role. This season he sits fourth in the entire league with 229 collisions, trailing only Radko Gudas, Ryan Reaves, and Tanner Jeannot.
Set to turn 35 in November and now coming off shoulder surgery, it’s easy to wonder what kind of impact Clutterbuck can really have moving forward. His $1.75MM cap hit is half of what he’s earned for the last five years, but still seems like a relative overpay, given how uncertain his future contributions are.
Mayfield, who also was included in some pre-deadline speculation, was injured when he blocked a shot on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators and will now miss a good chunk of what’s left in the regular season. The depth defenseman is already signed through next season and has taken another step forward this season, adding 18 points in 61 games to his already stalwart defensive play. While he’s not a top-pairing option, some believed Mayfield could have been a sought-after addition for contenders at the deadline had he been made available by the Islanders.
With the team sitting 17 points behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild card spot, with the Columbus Blue Jackets in between, it was always going to be an extreme longshot for the Islanders to make a playoff push. Losing two more pieces from their lineup will only make that climb more difficult and could potentially end up giving them some better lottery odds instead.
Ryan Murray Out Indefinitely
The Colorado Avalanche added Josh Manson ahead of the deadline, but weren’t able to secure any more defensive additions yesterday. Unfortunately, just a few hours later, one of their regulars went down and is now out indefinitely. Ryan Murray, who blocked a shot just 31 seconds into his first shift, is out “weeks not days” according to head coach Jared Bednar, who confirmed it was a fracture but did not specify if it was a hand or an arm injury, according to Peter Baugh of The Athletic.
The Avalanche were playing with seven defensemen last night, though one of those was Kurtis MacDermid, who is a hybrid for them usually lining up at forward when the entire group is healthy. In Murray’s absence, and with Manson still just getting started with the team, Cale Makar went over 30 minutes and Devon Toews racked up 27:38–the only two defensemen to even crack the 20-minute mark.
While the Avalanche do have quite a bit of defensive depth, Samuel Girard is also out with an injury and Bowen Byram is still a question mark because of his ongoing concussion issues. The young Byram is back on the ice with the team–in a regular jersey even–but it’s not clear when he will actually re-enter the Avalanche lineup.
Of note, Justin Barron, who has played two games for the team this season, was traded to the Montreal Canadiens as part of the Artturi Lehkonen deal.
Murray, 28, has dealt with injuries his entire career, only once completing a full season unscathed. Through 37 appearances this year, he had just four points, but was still a useful depth piece for a team looking to go on a long playoff run. Now sidelined for the next while, it will be interesting to see if Murray ends up losing his spot in the lineup, should Colorado get comfortable with a new deployment of defensemen.
Ryan Ellis Out For Rest Of Season
The Philadelphia Flyers received less than 100 minutes of ice time from Ryan Ellis this season. The veteran defenseman has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher told reporters including Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic. Though he still wouldn’t reveal details on the injury, Fletcher noted that they are still making a decision on whether Ellis needs surgery.
While this should come as no surprise, given how the year has gone for Philadelphia, Ellis’ first season with the team is now completely lost. The 31-year-old appeared in just four games, the last coming on November 13. He actually recorded points in each of those appearances, exactly the kind of frustrating teaser that Flyers fans don’t want to think about after a season that has been marred by injury after injury, and is ending with the captain and face of their franchise traded to an Eastern Conference rival.
Acquired for Nolan Patrick and Philippe Myers in the offseason–two players who have also disappointed–Ellis was supposed to be the right-handed answer in Philadelphia, finally replacing the two-way play that they had lacked on that side since Matt Niskanen‘s unexpected retirement. He had, after all, played that role to perfection for many seasons in Nashville, offering 40-point upside while contributing in all situations.
Unfortunately, the Flyers are now looking at a player on the wrong side of 30, signed for five more seasons, that carries a $6.25MM cap hit and has missed essentially an entire year due to injury. It’s not at all clear what level of play Ellis will be able to provide next season, especially should they decide on surgery.
Still, the Flyers aren’t really looking at a rebuild, despite moving on from Claude Giroux and some other expiring pieces. The team re-signed Rasmus Ristolainen to a long-term deal and have talked about how Fletcher will be given a “blank check” to fix the team. Should Ellis return to his previous form, it will be a huge boost to the lineup, though at this point even a recovery timeline is not certain.