Metropolitan Notes: Santini, Ho-Sang, Hunwick, Niskanen, Vesey
The New Jersey Devils got back into the win column Saturday after failing to win their previous four games. Despite that fact, New Jersey remains in first place with a 10-4-2 record in a tough Metropolitan Division. Yet, the team’s 2-1 victory Saturday against the Florida Panthers was a defensive effort in which many players praised the play of unheralded defenseman Steven Santini, according to The Record’s Andrew Gross.
The physical 22-year-old defenseman only played in 38 games a year ago, but is a mainstay on the team’s defense this year. The former second-round pick from 2013, showed off his physicality against Florida with big hits, most notably a hit in which he dumped the Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov into his team’s own bench in the second period. Santini got plenty of ice time with 23:42, was credited with four hits and was smart enough to avoid a penalty when challenged by Panthers’ enforcer Micheal Haley in the third period.
- New York Islanders Joshua Ho-Sang made the most of his emergency recall Saturday when he scored a goal against the St. Louis Blues last night, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday. Ho-Sang, the team’s first-round pick in 2014, had played six games with the Islanders to start the season, but was sent down to work on improving his in-game mentality — knowing when to drive to the net and when to dump the puck. Ho-Sang had put up two goals and four assists in six games during that span with the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers, but with Anthony Beauvillier day-to-day, Ho-Sang got his chance to redeem himself. He can stay up on an emergency basis for 30 days or 10 games, but the team could always officially recall him as well.
- Jonathan Bombulie of The Trib Live writes that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Hunwick, who has already missed 12 games due to a concussion diagnosed on Oct. 17, has hit a plateau in his recovery and will be held off the ice for a few more days. “He’s been having a tough time getting over that last hurdle, and so they want to take a little bit of a different approach to try to get him over that last hump,” coach Mike Sullivan said.
- NBC Sports Tarik El-Bashir writes that Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen will travel on the team’s upcoming road trip to Nashville and Colorado, according to head coach Barry Trotz. Niskanen, who has been on LTIR since Oct. 14 due to an upper-body injury, will not suit up tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, but could be ready to suit up for one or both of the away games this week. The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan tweets that Niskanen has been cleared for contact, but is not “full go” and may or may not be ready for games this week. A key veteran defender, the team’s defense would get a big boost upon his return.
- New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey went straight to the dentist after Saturday’s victory over the Edmonton Oilers, according to Newsday’s Steve Zipay. The 24-year-old wing took a Zack Kassian skate to the mouth in the second period. Two of Vesey’s teeth had to be removed from his lip. Despite the injury, Vesey returned for a shift in the third period and wore a protective plastic cage attached to the lower part of his helmet. He is day-to-day.
Zack Smith Dislocates Thumb, Out Three Weeks
The Senators will be without center Zack Smith for the next three weeks as a result of a dislocated thumb, Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports (Twitter link). The injury was sustained on Friday against Colorado in the first of their two games in Sweden.
This will mark the second time this season already that he has been out of the lineup after Smith missed three games back in October due to an upper-body injury. He had played on Ottawa’s new-look top line on Friday alongside recent acquisition Matt Duchene and winger Mike Hoffman but that line will have to change for a few weeks yet. Smith has played in a dozen games with the Sens this season and while he has yet to score, he has collected six assists along with 11 penalty minutes.
As a result of the injury, Nick Paul is set to make his season debut after being recalled earlier in the week. It was recently noted that teams have been calling about his potential availability so it will certainly be interesting to see how he is deployed.
While their winger depth is weakened for the time being, they should get some good news in the near future as winger Bobby Ryan is expected to return within the next week or so and he could be a candidate to skate in Smith’s spot alongside Duchene and Hoffman when he gets the green light to return.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Snapshots: 2019 Draft, Kase, Price
Craig Button of TSN takes an early look at the top prospects for the 2019 draft, and leading the pack is Jack Hughes. We’ve mentioned Hughes before at PHR, but his name continues to come up as a potential first-overall pick in the 2019 discussion. The son of former NHL assistant coach and Toronto Maple Leafs Director of Player Development Jim Hughes, the 16-year old is dominating in the US Development Program after an eye-opening season in Toronto midget hockey.
Hughes scored 159 points in 80 games as the captain of the Toronto Marlboros, and is an elite center ice prospect. Amazingly the Hughes family even has a chance to go top-5 in back to back drafts, as eldest brother Quinton Hughes is an outstanding defenseman eligible to be selected in 2018. He’s playing at the University of Michigan already, where he’s put up five points in eight games.
- The Anaheim Ducks have placed Ondrej Kase on injured reserve to join the rest of their injuries, which brings to mind an interesting case going into next summer. Kase is a pending restricted free agent, and has looked early on this season like he’s about to breakout. As a rookie last year he scored just 15 points, but he already has five goals and eight points in 12 games for the injury-ravaged Ducks. Anaheim has over $60MM owed next season to just 13 players, which is going to make things tough in the summer. Kase, Nick Ritchie and Brandon Montour (among others) are all RFAs, and with the injuries all three have been given more opportunity. That could cost the Ducks as the trio heads into the summer with higher counting stats. Too many good players is never a bad thing, but Anaheim will need to be careful with how they distribute their funds.
- Speaking of injured reserve stints, the Montreal Canadiens have moved Carey Price to their IR list. Price hasn’t played since November 2nd so he won’t be kept out any longer than he needs to recover, as the stint will be backdated to cover the seven-day minimum. While you never wish for injury, perhaps this break will be exactly what Price needs to get his season back on track. In his first 11 games, Price registered a save percentage above .900 just three times. For a goaltender who averaged a .928 mark over the last four seasons, his performance so far this year was shockingly unfamiliar.
Canucks’ Chris Tanev Expected Out 2-3 Weeks
Earlier today, Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green revealed a fact too familiar to Canucks fans: Chris Tanev is injured. Green told the press that Tanev had been sent back to Vancouver from the team’s current road trip due to an upper body injury. Canucks beat writer Iain MacIntyre has since added that early indications are that Tanev, Vancouver’s top defenseman, could be out two to three weeks with his newest ailment. The specifics of Tanev’s injury remain unknown, but given this relatively lengthy timeline, more should be known soon.
Durability continues to be a major concern for the 27-year-old Tanev. The reliable two-way defender is as solid in his own end as they come, but as the old adage goes “the best ability is availability”. Now playing in his eighth season, Tanev has never played in more than 70 games in a season. Over the past four years, since Tanev truly became a regular blue liner in Vancouver, he has missed 72 games – nearly a whole season – due to injury. In fact, the 2016-17 campaign was his worst yet, as Tanev only managed to skate in 58 games and recorded a total of only 10 points.
Fortunately for Vancouver, the blue line has not suffered the same injury bug (so far) this year as they did last year. Tanev’s absence was felt in a major way in 2016-17, as Erik Gudbranson missed all but 30 games and both Alexander Edler and Ben Hutton were sidelined for 10+ games. Edler has been out of the Canucks lineup recently, but is ready to return, alongside a healthy Hutton and Gudbranson and newcomers Michael Del Zotto, Derrick Pouliot, and Patrick Wiercioch. That grouping isn’t without issue, but stands a better chance of surviving the loss of Tanev, as well as young Troy Stecher, than they did last season.
Injury Notes: Devils, Sabres, Maple Leafs
The New Jersey Devils have activated Kyle Palmieri from injured reserve, and could get him back in the lineup for the first time since October 20th. Palmieri had been dealing with a lower-body injury, which derailed what was an excellent start to the season. The 26-year old had seven points in his first seven games, and looked well on his way to a third straight 50-point season.
To make room, the Devils have moved Marcus Johansson to IR with his concussion issues. His stint is retroactive to November 1st when he last played, meaning he is eligible to come off as soon as he’s ready to play. Johansson left after crashing hard into the boards on his first shift of a game against the Vancouver Canucks, and hasn’t played since.
- Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley has updated Rasmus Ristolainen‘s injury, now calling the defender week-to-week in his recovery. The team should get Nathan Beaulieu and Josh Gorges back soon, but missing Ristolainen for any length of time is a big hit to the Sabres defense corps. The 23-year old was originally day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but it’s unclear now when he’ll return to the team. With Buffalo sitting at 5-8-2 on the season, a loss of their best defenseman for very long could put them in an impossible hole.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t have Auston Matthews at practice again as he continues to deal with his upper-body injury, but there were also two conspicuous absences. Jake Gardiner and Frederik Andersen were both given what have been called maintenance days according to Kristen Shilton of TSN. Andersen took a blow to his blocking hand in last night’s game that was reminiscent of the injury to Roberto Luongo earlier this year, but stayed in the game to earn the Maple Leafs the win. For a team that was so injury-free last season, any lengthy absence from a single member of that trio would be something new to overcome. They’ll be careful not to aggravate any minor injury.
Marc-Andre Fleury Nearing Return
The Vegas Golden Knights have been one of the most interesting stories of the year, with their goaltending situation being right at the forefront. While the Vegas net has seen the first NHL win of Malcolm Subban, Oscar Dansk and Maxime Lagace, it’s also been cursed with three goalies going down to injury in rapid succession. With Lagace now trying to shoulder the entire load on his own, cracks have started to form with losses in five out of six.
Fans won’t have to wait long before they see help arrive though, as today Marc-Andre Fleury hit the ice at their practice rink and could return within the next few days. Lending credence to that idea is a report from Marty Hastings of Kamloops This Week (h/t SinBin.vegas), who says that the Kamloops Blazers are expecting Dylan Ferguson back with the team this weekend. Ferguson, a WHL player, has been on the Vegas bench for several games backing up Lagace.
Fleury hasn’t played since taking a blow to the head in mid-October, but would provide an instant spark to a Golden Knights team that has cooled off considerably since their fast start. The team is still 9-5-1 and in second place in the wide open Pacific Division, but needs to get back to the grinding defensive wins that they started the year with. In seven of their first nine games they allowed two or fewer goals, but have accomplished that just once in their last six.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Morning Notes: Matthews, Waivers, Kulemin
Auston Matthews will miss the first game of his career tonight when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Minnesota Wild. Matthews was a game-time decision on Monday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, but ended up playing (and playing well). Today, coach Mike Babcock confirmed that his upper-body injury will keep him out of the match, which sparked an interesting take from former TSN radio host Matt Cauz.
Glad Leafs are resting Auston Matthews. If stars rest the odd game in the less physical NBA than why not in the NHL? Rather have a fresh Matthews in back-to-back vs. Boston.
While Matthews’ injury has been described as “soreness” by Babcock and the team doesn’t seem too concerned about it, it does raise the question about playing through injury or resting to remain healthy all year. Goaltenders are already treated this way due to the demand on their bodies, and perhaps teams should consider it more for their star players. The Maple Leafs though aren’t in the same situation as some basketball teams who decide to give their stars a night off. In the NHL, playoff spots are far from guaranteed throughout the year and any team can surprise on a given night. It’s unlikely that Matthews is sitting just to be fresh for the weekend series against Boston.
- Erik Condra and Brian Ferlin have cleared waivers and will be assigned to their respective AHL teams. Both players started the year injured, and had to clear to be sent to their minor league affiliates. Condra is headed to the Syracuse Crunch where will be welcomed back with open arms as he continues his role of team captain, while Ferlin will be assigned to the Bakersfield Condors to try and get his professional career back on track. The 25-year old Ferlin has been limited by injuries since leaving Cornell University for the pros, playing in just 28 games (playoffs included) over the past two seasons.
- Nikolai Kulemin has been placed on injured reserve by the New York Islanders, giving them one additional roster spot to call up a forward. Alan Quine came back from his minor league conditioning stint, but many expect Joshua Ho-Sang to get another chance with the big club. Ho-Sang has five points in five games since being sent down, and is a key part of the Islanders’ future up front. New York plays the Dallas Stars on Friday night.
Snapshots: Flames, Hammond, Ekman-Larsson
Tanner Glass has cleared waivers and been assigned to Stockton of the AHL, leaving room for the Calgary Flames to activate Jaromir Jagr prior to their game tonight. Glass signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Flames this summer but is at best a 13th forward used in especially physical matchups. It won’t surprise if the 33-year old is back up before long to serve in that role.
Jagr though will jump back into the lineup after a long layoff, and will look to recapture the early success he had found with his new team. The legendary winger’s already exquisite possession numbers were off the charts in his first five games for Calgary, and he should help the team continue their current win streak. Jagr is just 51 games behind Gordie Howe for the most all-time, a record he could break should he stay relatively healthy for the rest of the year.
- Andrew Hammond was clearly a salary dump by the Ottawa Senators in their recent trade, to help even out the salary difference between Matt Duchene and Kyle Turris. Now, James Gordon of The Athletic reports that Colorado will look to flip Hammond somewhere else around the league. Hammond will remain with the Belleville Senators on loan until that happens, but it may not be so easy. “The Hamburgler” as he is so affectionately nicknamed, is owed $1.5MM this season and carries a $1.35MM cap hit. Though last year was a struggle for him before going down to injury, he’s played well early on for Belleville.
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson has somehow become the center of much trade speculation, but Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka wants to put an end to that. Speaking with Craig Morgan of AZ Sports, Chayka again said he won’t trade the All-Star defenseman, and revealed “I haven’t had a single conversation about Oilver that has lasted more than five seconds.” Ekman-Larsson is a free agent after next season and would be one of the top names on the market.
Cam Atkinson Activated From Injured Reserve
The Columbus Blue Jackets will get some help up front tonight as they take on the Nashville Predators, as Cam Atkinson has been activated from injured reserve. Atkinson had missed the last few games with a lower-body injury, but will join the team to try and right the ship after a tough loss to the New York Rangers last night.
The Blue Jackets have had their forward depth tested this season, with Matt Calvert heading to IR yesterday and Lukas Sedlak already out long-term. Still, the team finds itself at 9-5-1 and tied for first in the Metropolitan Division. Atkinson’s return will only help their cause, as they open a short two-game homestand before hitting the road once again.
Columbus is carrying 13 healthy forwards now, and you’d think it would be Zac Dalpe that comes out to make room for Atkinson. Dalpe took a bad elbowing penalty late last night that helped the Rangers climb back into the game. The Blue Jackets will take on Nashville tonight.
Snapshots: Three Stars, Calvert, Matthews
The NHL has named its three stars for the previous week, with goaltender Corey Crawford taking top honors. Crawford earned two shutouts for the Chicago Blackhawks last week, and recorded a .919 save percentage. Unfortunately, Chicago is still just 7-6-2 on the season after dropping last night’s game against Montreal 2-0. They’ll need more solid performances from Crawford going forward if they’re to really climb towards the top of the standings.
Josh Bailey and Martin Jones took home second and third respectively, after impressive weeks of their own. Bailey had an incredible seven assists last week and now has 15 on the season, and Jones led the Sharks to three straight wins. Both the Sharks and Islanders have climbed out of early holes to establish themselves as relevant playoff possibilities once again.
- Matt Calvert will be out three to four weeks with an upper-body injury according to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ GM Jarmo Kekalainen. Calvert was injured in Saturday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and has been placed on injured reserve. Losing Calvert will test the Blue Jackets’ forward depth even more, as they’re already without Lukas Sedlak and Cam Atkinson for the time being. The team has not made a corresponding move yet, and will take on the New York Rangers tonight.
- Auston Matthews is a game-time decision for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight as he deals with “soreness” according to head coach Mike Babcock. If Matthews does miss the game, it would be the first time in his career he failed to suit up. In 97 career regular season games, Matthews now has 50 goals and is showing he could be even more dominant than anyone expected when he was selected first overall. The Maple Leafs can’t afford to lose him for very long though, as their slide continued with a 6-4 loss at the hands of the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.
- Unfortunately for the fans in Stockholm, Carl Soderberg may not be in the lineup when the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators play NHL regular season games in Sweden later this week. The Swedish-born forward did not travel with the team, instead staying at home in Denver with his pregnant wife. Since the couple is expecting the baby on Tuesday, he hasn’t yet been ruled out for the back-to-back games.