Montreal Sends Streit, Schlemko To AHL
UPDATE: TVA’s Renaud Lavoie confirms that Streit will not report to Laval and will take some time to evaluate his options. It seems the two sides are likely headed toward a mutual split, which is best for both.
12:00PM: The Montreal Canadiens have sent defensemen Mark Streit and David Schlemko to the AHL’s Laval Rocket, according to a pair of team releases. However, for those proponents of keeping Streit in Montreal, it is not just a clean-cut demotion for Schlemko. Schlemko is coming off an injury – the exact reason why Streit was placed on waivers yesterday and cleared today – but for now he will play with Laval on a conditioning stint. Once Schlemko is healthy, he will be back with the Habs and nine defenseman would be one too many to fit on the roster.
There will remain increased focus on the play of young Victor Mete and a fringe talent like Joe Morrow, but for now the easiest move was to waive 39-year-old Streit and subsequently loan him to Laval to make eventual room for Schlemko upon his return. On a one-year, 35+ deal, the entirety of Streit’s $700K contract can be buried in Laval for now, while the team further evaluates their blue line situation.
However, the question becomes what the next step is for Streit and the Habs. The nearly-40-year-old defenseman can’t be happy about being placed on waivers, nevertheless being assigned to the minors. Having cleared waivers, it will be easier for Streit to be traded now, but the market may not be there for his services. The most likely result is that Streit asks for his release and heads overseas, likely home to Switzerland and perhaps later Pyeongchang. Stay tuned.
Minnesota Wild Overwhelmed With Injuries
UPDATE: The team has confirmed the speculation, but things are in fact worse than anticipated. Coyle suffered a right fibula fracture, for which he underwent surgery today. His time frame is actually six-to-eight weeks, longer than estimated by Russo, and he has been placed on long-term injured reserve. The Wild needed that space, but it’s not quite over yet. Niederreiter too has been placed on IR, as he in fact did suffer a high ankle sprain, which was not expected, and will be out a minimum of three weeks. High ankle sprains can often be month-to-month injuries depending on the severity, so Niederreiter’s status will be worth constant monitoring. With now two roster spots freed up, Minnesota will be able to field a nearly-normal lineup tomorrow and in the near future, but at a steep cost. Finally, Foligno’s facial fracture is confirmed and he will miss a minimum of a week after undergoing facial reconstructive surgery tomorrow. It’s a dark day for Wild fans…
3:00PM: When the Minnesota Wild recalled first-year pro Luke Kunin from their AHL affiliate in Iowa today, it was clear that the injuries suffered in last night’s game versus the Chicago Blackhawks were potentially more serious than originally believed. The Wild were already without Mikael Granlund (ankle) and Zach Parise (back) heading into the contest, but had been making due with their deep veteran lineup. That was before disaster struck on Thursday, as Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, and Marcus Foligno joined their teammates on the injury report by the end of the night.
Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) was given some early injury updates that range in their severity. It is believed that Niederreiter only sustained a sprained ankle, which Russo specifically differentiated from the feared high ankle sprain, and may even be ready to go for Saturday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Foligno suffered what looked to be a broken cheekbone courtesy of a haymaker from John Hayden after the pair dropped the gloves. A facial injury, while painful, does not limit Foligno’s playing ability, but will almost certainly keep him out of the lineup for a week or so. Coyle is likely the worst case of the three; early indications are that a Jared Spurgeon slap shot may have fractured his fibula or tibia a.k.a a broken leg. If that is the case, Russo states that it is a four-to-six week recovery and Coyle will land on the injured reserve.
As bad as that sounds, an IR-worthy injury may be exactly what the Wild need right now. If all five of Coyle, Niederreiter, Foligno, Parise, and Granlund cannot play tomorrow – a distinct possibility – the Wild will be left with just nine forwards for the game. And that is including Kunin. Defenseman Mike Reilly, who was sent down today for Kunin, is one of only two waiver-exempt players on the team, the other being forward Joel Eriksson Ek, which of course is no help. Even if the Wild could move another defenseman or goalie to the minors for a forward, they wouldn’t; they have only two goalies and six defenseman on the roster too. So, if Coyle could be placed on IR, that would at least open up another roster spot to bring the healthy forward count to ten.
No official word has come in on the statuses of the three players injured last night, with only Niederreiter lookly like a remotely possible player for tomorrow night, while last word on Parise and Granlund were expectations they would return late next week. While awaiting more information, coach Bruce Boudreau and his staff must begin preparing to square off with the Blue Jackets with maybe only nine forwards and, given their luck, maybe even less by the end of the game.
Raanta Out, Langhamer Recalled On Emergency Basis
It’s been a bumpy start to Antti Raanta‘s tenure in Arizona. The performance of the former New York Rangers backup hasn’t been bad, but after missing the season opener and failing to pick up a win in his three starts since, Raanta is sidelined once again. The new Coyotes starter did not return to last night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings after the first period and after the game, coach Rick Tocchet told AZ Central’s Sarah McLellan that Raanta was not struggling with the same issues that plagued him in the preseason and kept him out of Game 1, but instead has suffered a new injury.
In response, the Coyotes today have made an emergency recall of Marek Langhamer from the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners. Arizona has to be ready to host the Boston Bruins tomorrow night and it seems that time table was too soon for Raanta. Louis Domingue is expected to start, as he did the season opening 5-4 loss, with Langhamer as the backup. Raanta’s absence is indefinite as of now, so the Coyotes will have to roll with that duo for the time being. Domingue, who struggled most of last season and has been worse in a small sample size thus far in 2017-18, and Langhamer, who has just 16 minutes of NHL experience, do not make the most threatening duo.
Meanwhile, the team also demoted forward Emerson Etem as they continue to look for the right mix on the roster. If Raanta is in net and performing to his potential, the Coyotes have more wiggle room in their pace of play. However, Raanta has either been absent or dealing with lingering injuries so far and nine goals in four games is not going to cut it while Raanta remains off the ice or off his game. Arizona needs more from a revamped defense that has combined for one goal and six points thus far and needs to find secondary scoring up front beyond Max Domi and rookie Clayton Keller. If the ‘Yotes can’t pick up their scoring, the current goaltending woes could extend their winless streak further and further into the new season.
Minor Transactions: 10/13/17
Today’s minor news and notes from around the league:
- The Florida Panthers have loaned forward Denis Malgin to the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, per a team release. Malgin, 20, was not expected to play much of a role for the Panthers in 2016-17, but ended up skating in 47 games and recording 10 points. This year, however, Malgin has yet to play to suit up for any of Florida’s first three games. With 2017 first-round pick Owen Tippett in the same boat, the Panthers needed to free up some opportunity and sending Malgin back to Springfield is no surprise. The Swiss forward was nearly a point-per-game player in the minors last season and can continue honing his skills while waiting for another opportunity to arise in Florida.
- Luc Snuggerud remains sidelined after a preseason upper-body injury, but now he’ll be sitting on the sidelines in Rockford rather than Chicago. The Blackhawks announced today that the young, offensive defenseman has been reassigned to the AHL Ice Hogs. Snuggerud is no good to the ‘Hawks injured, but even if he is ready to go by the end of his original three-week prognosis, Chicago has no space in the lineup for him to play next week or any time in the near future. The Nebraska-Omaha product is in his first full pro season, but if he can produce at a similar rate in the AHL as he did in the NCAA, then Chicago will have him back up sooner rather than later.
- After clearing waivers today, Calgary Flames beat reporter Wes Gilbertson says that Marek Hrivik is on his way to the AHL. The free agent addition will join the Stockton Heat, a squad already full of talented young forwards such as Hunter Shinkaruk, Mark Jankowksi, and Spencer Foo. Hrivek will not only have to find his place on the new club, but also show that he is more worthy of the next Calgary call-up than some of his younger, more exciting new teammates.
- With the Minnesota Wild facing some major injury questions up front. Marcus Foligno suffered a serious blow to the face in a fight with Chicago’s John Hayden last night, while Zach Parise and Mikael Granlund are day-to-day with lingering issues and the conditions of Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter are also drawing some interest. There’s no easy solution is all five of those forwards are beyond playing condition, but for now the team has announced the call-up of rookie Luke Kunin from the AHL. Defenseman Mike Reilly was demoted to AHL Iowa to make room. Kunin, Minnesota’s 2016 first-round pick, decided to leave the University of Wisconsin after just two years to pursue his pro career and will almost certainly be rewarded with his NHL debut tomorrow. An intelligent, well-rounded center, it should come as no surprise if Kunin impresses in his role as an injury replacement and manages to keep a spot on the team going forward.
- Another Central Division team has swapped a pair of players, as the St. Louis Blues announced that forward Tage Thompson has been reassigned to the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, with fellow forward Sammy Blais getting the call-up. The two players are about as different as can be. Thompson is a 6’5″ center from Phoenix, Arizona who was drafted by the Blues in the first round in 2016 and played the past two seasons at the University of Connecticut before jumping right into the NHL this year. Blais is a 5’10” winger from Quebec who was drafted in the sixth round in 2014 and put up outstanding numbers in the QMJHL before playing a full AHL season last year. Yet, it’s Blais getting the call after an impressive preseason and a largely invisible first four games for Thompson. As the season goes on, watch for these two to be switched in and out depending on the personnel and style needs of St. Louis.
Ducks Place Ondrej Kase On IR
According to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register, the Anaheim Ducks are going to be without yet another key player for the time being. Stephens reports that the Ducks placed young forward Ondrej Kase on the injured reserve on Thursday. The move is retroactive to Tuesday, indicating that the ongoing issue stems from the head injury suffered in Monday night’s game against the Calgary Flames. Kase left the contest in the first period after taking a check to the face from Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
Kase had gotten off to a strong start to the new season, recording a goal and an assist in the team’s first three games. As a rookie last season, the quick Czech winger posted 15 points in 52 games and added a pair of goals in the playoffs. Kase was expected to take on a larger role for Anaheim in 2017-18 after a promising first year and still should despite his current predicament. By making the IR placement retroactive to Tuesday, the Ducks will be able to put Kase back in the lineup after only two more games.
Kase will certainly be gunning to get back on the ice as soon as possible, assuming he is able. Anaheim has one of the deepest forward groups in the league and any missed time can mean lost opportunities and a lower spot on the totem poll. With star two-way center Ryan Kesler currently sidelined, the Ducks are more top heavy than usual and Kase looked like the star of the third line through the first few games. He wants to get back to that role as quickly as he can so as to continue carving out his place on the team. The 2014 seventh-round pick has already exceeded expectations, but a permanent top-nine job in Anaheim going forward is next on the agenda.
In the meantime, the Ducks are expected to roll out a third line of Chris Wagner–Antoine Vermette–Logan Shaw for their upcoming games. The team recently sent high-scoring QMJHL-product Giovanni Fiore to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls following his NHL debut, but still have young power forward Nick Ritchie, free agent addition Dennis Rasmussen, and recent call-up Nic Kerdiles as other top-nine options if need be.
Devils’ Michael McLeod Out Four To Six Weeks
The New Jersey Devils announced this evening that rookie forward Michael McLeod has undergone arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The injury occurred during a Devils-Islanders preseason game back on September 25th, with McLeod limping off the ice in the first period. While the original prognosis was that McLeod would be back on the ice within a matter of days, a closer looks revealed that the meniscus in his right knee had in fact suffered a tear. The procedure performed today is the first step in getting the 19-year-old back on the ice.
When McLeod does return to full health, he is expected to compete for a regular role in New Jersey. The 2016 12th-overall pick notched 73 points in 57 games with OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads last season and tacked on another 27 points in a 20-game playoff run that ended in a loss to the Erie Otters in the league championship. The talented center has a lethal combination of size and skill; the checking ability and offensive instincts to one day be a top power forward in the NHL. The Devils would like to see McLeod reach that goal sooner rather than later, but luckily they have the flexibility to send the Steelheads captain back to juniors this season if need be. Both his recovery time, the success of the team, and the depth up front, including the eventual return of veteran center Travis Zajac who also has yet to play this season, will impact that decision in the next month or two.
Should McLeod stick in New Jersey, he would join a forward corps that is already sporting an impressive pair of rookies. Nico Hischier, the #1 overall pick this past June, isn’t going anywhere any time soon, but it’s upstart Jesper Bratt that’s turning heads. The 2016 sixth-rounder leads the team with six points through three games. Undersized and inexperienced, nothing was expected of the 19-year-old Swede, but if he keeps it up, he, Hischier, and potentially McLeod would be quite the rookie trio for the Devils and may help the team exceed expectations in 2017-18 and beyond.
East Notes: Schroeder, Paquette, Kronwall
Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward Jordan Schroeder has been activated from injured reserve and sent to the AHL on a conditioning stint, as he continues to work his way back from an upper-body injury. Schroeder was acquired this summer from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Dante Salituro, but has yet to get into a game with the Blue Jackets this season.
A first-round pick in 2009, Schroeder never did quite fulfill his potential and has just 40 points in 144 career games. Once recovered, his presence will further complicate things in the bottom-six for Columbus, who are already carrying 13 forwards and are due back Boone Jenner at some point.
- Cedric Paquette will be held out of the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup tonight with an undisclosed injury, though head coach Jon Cooper doesn’t believe it is a long-term problem. Paquette has been a fixture in Tampa Bay for several years, and had previously served as a primary penalty killer. This year however that job has at least partially gone to newcomer Chris Kunitz and young Brayden Point, making this injury a little easier to handle. Paquette is seeing the fewest minutes of his career, but could still be a useful depth option when he eventually returns.
- Detroit Red Wings editor Dana Wakiji fills us in from practice today with one important note: Niklas Kronwall is skating with the main group and looks ready to make his season debut. Kronwall, a Red Wings legend, was skating with Mike Green and could debut tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. While the Red Wings start to move away from their previous core, Kronwall remains as one of the last members of the 2008 Stanley Cup team. He’ll try to find some of that magic again this season at age-36, in the sixth year of his seven-year extension.
Injury Updates: Karlsson, Cole, Bogosian, Kronwall
While the Senators were hoping that defenseman Erik Karlsson would be able to return to the lineup this weekend, GM Pierre Dorion told reporters, including Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, that he will not be able to do so and that they’re hopeful that he will be able to suit up at some point next week. Dorion was quick to add that Karlsson had not suffered any setback.
The 27-year-old has yet to play this season after undergoing tendon surgery on his foot back in June on an injury he sustained in the Senators’ postseason run. Garrioch adds that Ottawa could get one of their other defenders back this weekend as Johnny Oduya may be ready to play on Saturday in Calgary. He suffered a lower-body injury in the season opener last Thursday.
More injury notes from around the league:
- Penguins defenseman Ian Cole is making progress as he recovers after taking a shot to the mouth against the Predators over the weekend, notes Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Head coach Mike Sullivan wouldn’t estimate how much longer Cole will be out of the lineup but added that he is improving quicker than expected.
- Although he has missed nearly two weeks now due a lower-body injury sustained at the end of the preseason, the Sabres continue to classify blueliner Zach Bogosian as out day-to-day, reports Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald. However, he’s not expected to accompany the team on their four-game Western road trip which would suggest he’ll be out for at least another week.
- Red Wings blueliner Niklas Kronwall is very close to returning to the lineup and could receive the green light to play on Thursday, notes Dana Wakiji on the Wings’ team site. Kronwall has been battling back spasms and a groin pull since late in training camp and has yet to play this season. Even if he receives clearance to return, it’s possible that Detroit may hold him out another game as they have a back-to-back coming up and it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll ask Kronwall to play in both just coming off of injury.
Morning Notes: Bergeron, Girard, Honka
The Boston Bruins will be without top center Patrice Bergeron for at least one more game, according to head coach Bruce Cassidy. Bergeron hasn’t played yet this season, but is “aiming for the weekend” to return to a struggling Boston lineup. The team could use him, as they looked sluggish in their 4-0 loss at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche yesterday.
Danton Heinen, recalled today to help out the offense was practicing on the wing of Sean Kuraly today, while Riley Nash moved up to Bergeron’s spot on the first line. That also meant the much maligned trio of Matt Beleskey, Ryan Spooner and Frank Vatrano were back together as the team’s third line. While things aren’t set in stone, the team could use Bergeron back as quickly as possible to help push some depth options back into the positions that suit them best.
- The Nashville Predators, dealing with injuries of their own will have game-time decisions on captain Roman Josi and Colton Sissons. That means youngster Samuel Girard is expected to make his debut according to Adam Vingan of the Tennessean. The 19-year old defenseman dominated the QMJHL to the tune of 75 points in 59 games last season, before jumping to the AHL for the stretch run. He is a dynamic skater and playmaker, but comes in at just 162-lbs. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact he can have right away, especially if the team is without Josi’s minute-munching presence.
- Another debut—this time of the seasonal variety—is here in Dallas, as Julius Honka will get his campaign underway. Not only was Honka expected to have a full-time role on this team, but some even considered him a potential Calder Trophy contender as one of the league’s best rookies. Honka possesses an excellent two-way game, and will be in the lineup in Dan Hamhuis‘ stead tonight. Hamhuis is dealing with a groin injury.
Snapshots: Matheson, Harpur, Three Stars
Michael Matheson might not be the definition of a household name, but the Florida Panthers clearly understand what he can bring to the table. The team inked him to an eight-year extension yesterday, which was officially announced earlier today. Panthers’ GM Dale Tallon was complimentary of the young defenseman, and how he went about the negotiating process.
He’s going to skate, carry the puck and log a lot of minutes for us for a long time. The fact that he wanted to be a Panther for life, for us, was really impressive.
Matheson is an elite skater, but hasn’t yet take the next step to being an offensive force for the Panthers. They’ll hope he can find that next level after registering 17 points last season. The 23-year old will see his eight-year, $39MM contract ($4.88MM AAV) kick in next year.
- Ottawa Senators defenseman Ben Harpur has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. The Senators have nine defensemen on the roster after the call-up of Thomas Chabot, but both Erik Karlsson and Johnny Oduya are still not locks to get back into the lineup. The team may have to go with seven defensemen anyway in their next game, as they look to rebound from consecutive shootout losses to open the season.
- The NHL released its first “Three Stars of the Week” for the 2017-18 season, and who else but Alex Ovechkin could be number one. Ovechkin scored an incredible seven goals in his first two games, almost as a direct response to all those who doubted his place on the Capitals going forward. After so much was written about how the Capitals may have to break up their core in order to win, Ovechkin came storming out of the gate and helped the club to two wins to start the season. Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, and Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds were the second and third stars respectively.