Snapshots: Haydn Fleury, Olivier, Ponomarev
The Tampa Bay Lightning have sent defenseman Haydn Fleury to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch on a conditioning assignment. Fleury has only played in two NHL games this season, serving as a healthy scratch seven times.
Fleury has recorded one assist in his two games with Tampa this year, matching the scoring totals that he reached in 29 games with the club last year. In fact, Fleury has scored fewer than five points in each of the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 seasons despite playing in at least 29 games in each season. The low scoring has represented a fall from grace for the 2014 seventh-overall selection, who was taken one pick ahead of star winger William Nylander. This AHL assignment will provide Fleury with the first AHL games he’s played since the 2018-19 season when he scored 10 points in 28 minor league games with the Charlotte Checkers. The 27-year-old defender has totaled 246 career NHL games and 33 career points since making his NHL debut in 2017-18.
Other notes from around the league:
- The Columbus Blue Jackets are healthy-scratching forward Mathieu Olivier, replacing him with Kirill Marchenko. The duo are alternating nights in the lineup versus the press box, although Columbus will need to be mindful in icing Marchenko, as he loses his waiver exemption status with four more NHL games.
- The Carolina Hurricanes have removed Vasily Ponomarev from season-opening injured reserve and assigned him to the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners. Carolina remains without an AHL affiliate, meaning their assignments are scattered around the league. That’s why Ponomarev will join the Arizona Coyotes’ affiliate, after appearing in his rookie AHL season last year – scoring 46 points in 64 games with the Chicago Wolves, a mark that ranked second on the team. Ponomarev has looked strong in his North American play since coming over in 2021-22 and will look to continue working his way into the NHL lineup now that he’s healthy.
Morning Notes: Pysyk, Clifton, Zub
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL have signed defenseman Mark Pysyk to a professional try-out. Pysyk is a 521-game veteran of the NHL, most recently playing for the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021-22 season.
Pysyk scored 12 points in the 68 games he was awarded in 2021-22, six points shy of his career-high in scoring. He set that career-high with the 2019-20 Florida Panthers, reaching 18 points in 58 games. It speaks to the modest career that Pysyk had, with much of his value being provided on the defensive side of the puck. How Pysyk will be utilized on his newly-signed PTO is up in the air but if he plays AHL games, it will be his first experience in the league since 2015-16. It will also be his first time playing with a minor league club other than the Rochester Americans, whom Pysyk totaled 145 games with throughout the early stages of his career.
Other notes from around the league:
- Buffalo’s Connor Clifton is set to return from the two-game suspension that he was levied for a high hit on Nico Hischier. Hischier remains out with an upper-body injury as a result of the hit, with it being announced yesterday that he is likely to miss at least four games.
- Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub will not suit up for the team’s Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Kings. Zub has been battling a head injury for much of the early season, with a concussion holding the defender out now. Ottawa is also facing injuries to Thomas Chabot and Erik Brännström. Rookie defender Nikolas Matinpalo is operating as the Senators’ seventh defenseman and will likely slot into Zub’s place.
Panthers Recall Forward Rasmus Asplund
The Florida Panthers have recalled Rasmus Asplund from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. This transaction comes in the wake of injuries to Sam Bennett and Evan Rodrigues. Bennett is expected to miss some time with a lower-body injury, while Rodrigues is questionable for the team’s Thursday night game.
Asplund has played in seven games with Charlotte to start the year, scoring two goals and five points. This tally ties him for third on his minor league team in scoring. Asplund has totaled 183 career NHL games, most recently appearing with the Nashville Predators after the team traded a seventh-round pick to the Sabres for him. He appeared in 19 games with the Predators, failing to score any points and recording a -6. The team failed to extend him a qualifying offer before July 1st, making him an unrestricted free agent that Florida signed to a one-year, league-minimum, two-way contract.
The two-way deal is certainly not what a former 33rd-overall selection would hope for in their age-25 season but Asplund will get a chance to prove himself once more after a hot start in the AHL. The Panthers are likely to ask Asplund to suit up at some point during this recall. He is their only extra forward who’s both healthy enough to play and signed to an active contract, although Brett Ritchie remains on a professional try-out. Either way, it doesn’t seem Florida has many other places to turn until they’re able to get key pieces back from injury.
Minnesota Wild Recall Daemon Hunt
The Minnesota Wild have once again recalled Daemon Hunt to the NHL, in advance of a two-game homestand. Hunt has already been recalled once this season, playing in his first two NHL games before being sent back down to the minors on October 30th.
Hunt has emerged as a strong prospect for the Wild, after being drafted 65th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He made his professional debut during the 2020-21 season, playing in six AHL games thanks to an awkward Covid season, but his rookie AHL season didn’t come until 2022-23. Hunt played in 59 games last year, scoring 11 points and recording 14 penalty minutes. It was a relatively low-event year for the left defender, something that he’s continued into this season as he currently sits without a point through 4 AHL games and 2 NHL games.
But Hunt’s impact has never come on the offensive side of the puck. Instead, he’s a stout defender who uses great mobility to close gaps with puck handlers and force opponents to make decisions. Hunt said himself, “I think I’m at my best when I’m defending really hard — good gaps, good sticks, good box outs. I think just being really reliable, too.”
The Wild are turning to Hunt to operate as their seventh defenseman, with captain Jared Spurgeon and veteran Alex Goligoski both out with injuries. Spurgeon has returned to practice but won’t be eligible to return until at least November 7th, while Goligoski is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Both Hunt and Dakota Mermis have earned NHL games in the wake of these injuries, with Mermis scoring four points in seven games this season.
Penguins Injury Notes: Poulin, Puustinen, Sparks
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a rocky start to the season and were possibly eyeing some reinforcements for a fourth line that has been unable to generate anything thus far this season. Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey is reporting that the team received some unfortunate news today on the injury front as a couple of possible call-ups are hurt and will be out week to week.
Sam Poulin received an extended look at Penguins training camp and was likely one of the first players in line for an NHL call-up. But, unfortunately for the 22-year-old center, it appears he will be out of action week to week with a lower-body injury. Poulin missed a good portion of last season to focus on his mental health and came back this year looking stronger than ever. His positive play hasn’t translated to his offensive numbers as he has just a goal and an assist in five AHL games, but he remains one of the Penguins’ best call-up options in the AHL and could receive a promotion when he returns to action.
In other Penguins injury notes:
- Valtteri Puustinen is also out week to week for the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins according to Androckitis. The 24-year-old was another Penguins forward who had a strong showing at training camp and could have likely cracked the lineup if it weren’t for his contract status. Puustinen is out with an upper-body injury, which when added to Poulin’s injury could leave the Penguins with very few call-up options should they decide to make the move for fourth-line reinforcements from internally.
- Finally, Androckitis is reporting that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins netminder Garret Sparks will be out of action week to week after suffering a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old goaltender signed a one-year AHL contract with the Baby Penguins in the offseason and has dressed in just one game so far this year. The Penguins signed several goaltenders with NHL experience in the offseason to try and build up depth at the position for circumstances such as this. Sparks backstopped the Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup in 2018 on top of playing 40 career NHL games.
Evening Notes: Oilers, Faksa, Fabbri
Sam Gagner’s contract with the Edmonton Oilers has officially been registered today and the 34-year-old was called up by the team to their NHL roster (CapFriendly). The move coincided with winger Adam Erne clearing waivers and being assigned to the club’s AHL affiliate the Bakersfield Condors. Gagner will begin his third stint with the Oilers after missing the end of last season and training camp with a hip injury.
The former sixth overall pick played three AHL games last week picking up a goal and four assists while driving a lot of the offense for the Condors. The Oilers will be looking for him to provide depth scoring for a lineup that has appeared top-heavy this season. Gagner has been a solid offensive contributor throughout his career despite bouncing around the league to seven different teams during his 16-year NHL career.
For Erne, he returns to the AHL after going scoreless in six games for the Oilers this season. The 28-year-old split last season between the NHL and AHL in the Detroit Red Wings organization. He posted five points in nine AHL games last season while registering eight goals and 10 assists in 61 NHL games.
In other evening notes:
- Dallas Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine is reporting that Stars forward Radek Faksa will miss tonight’s game with what is being described as an upper-body injury. Faksa skated with the team yesterday before leaving on their road trip and by all accounts seemed fine. No word yet on what has changed between then and now or any specifics on the ailment. Faksa is off to a slow start offensively this season with no points in seven games, however the Stars are off to a torrid 5-1-1 start thanks in part to Faksa’s penalty killing and defensive acumen.
- Detroit Hockey Now writer Kevin Allen is reporting that Robby Fabbri of the Detroit Red Wings returned to practice today and could be coming off the injured reserve sooner rather than later. Fabbri is ahead of schedule according to Allen but will still miss the Red Wings next two games. The 27-year-old has dressed in just a single game this season and has one goal thus far. He has been sidelined with a lower-body issue but could return next week against the New York Rangers or Montreal Canadiens.
Flyers’ Carter Hart Leaves Game And Will Not Return
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart left tonight’s game with an apparent mid-body injury and will not return. The Flyers tweeted the news just moments ago after Carter left the game in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres. Hart allowed two goals on five shots to start the game after he appeared to injure himself early in the first period. He stayed in the game and looked as though he would try to gut it out, but ultimately decided better of it and exited around the ten-minute mark.
It’s always hard to pinpoint exactly when an injury occurred but the likeliest event in this case was when Sabres forward Kyle Okposo appeared to fall on Hart. The 25-year-old received a visit from the trainer but remained in net and was slow to get up off the ice on several occasions before he was removed from the game.
Sam Ersson took over duties in the Flyers net and could end up seeing a lot more playing time if Carter is out for any length of time. Ersson has struggled in back-to-back starts after winning the backup job in training camp. The 24-year-old is currently sporting a .760 save percentage and 5.91 goals against average entering action tonight. If the Hart injury is of the serious variety, the Flyers could also call up Felix Sandstrom from his conditioning stint with AHL Lehigh Valley and have Cal Petersen stashed in the AHL as well.
This is an important season for Hart as he looks to bounce back from three consecutive disappointing seasons after starting his career with such promise. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native has been terrific for the Flyers in this young season posting a 4-3 record with 2.30 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. He has been largely responsible for the Flyers surprising, albeit unspectacular start to the season.
Metropolitan Division Notes: Hischier, Gudbranson, Hurricanes
New Jersey Devils reporter Amanda Stein tweeted today that Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald doesn’t think that center Nico Hischier will be travelling with the team on their upcoming four-game road trip. Fitzgerald has reportedly talked with New Jersey’s medical staff and Hischier is being evaluated on a day-to-day basis. The ailment is being called an upper-body issue at this time and could it keep Hischier out of action for the next four games. That would mean that his earliest return date would be November 10th against the Washington Capitals.
The former first-overall pick is off to a slow start this season with just two goals in his first seven games after putting up 31 goals and 49 assists in 81 games last season. His lack of offense hasn’t hurt the Devils thus far as the team is off to a 5-2-1 start and currently sits third in the Metropolitan Division. If Hischier is sidelined for some time it is possible that former NHL regular Chris Tierney could fill in during his absence.
In other Metropolitan notes:
- Columbus Dispatch reporter Brian Hedger tweeted today that Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson has again missed practice. This is the second day in a row that the Ottawa, Ontario native did not skate after playing in Monday night’s game against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old was questionable for that game after taking a puck to the foot against the New York Islanders on Saturday night but did play in the 5-3 loss. Gudbranson has no points in nine games thus far this season but has averaged over three blocked shots a game.
- Carolina Hurricanes reporter Walt Ruff tweeted today that Vasily Ponomarev and Ryan Suzuki are both very close to returning to action and will likely be assigned to the AHL shortly after they do. Ponomarev suffered a knee injury in September and started the season on the injured reserve. Last season he played for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL posting 24 goals and 22 assists in 64 games. Suzuki on the other hand has been dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him off the ice. He also spent last year with the Wolves in the AHL posting 13 goals and 19 assists in 50 games. Carolina doesn’t currently have an AHL affiliate now meaning that both players could find themselves on different teams once they are assigned to the AHL.
Panthers Injury Notes: Bennett, Ekman-Larsson, Rodrigues
The Florida Panthers have shared injury updates to three recently hurt players, announcing that Oliver Ekman-Larsson is likely to play, Evan Rodrigues is hopeful, and Sam Bennett is likely out for the team’s Thursday night matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.
More specifically, head coach Paul Maurice said that Bennett will miss a little more time than a typical day-to-day designation would suggest, although the injury isn’t as severe as the one that delayed Bennett’s start to the season.
Bennett’s injury is a tough one to stomach. The 27-year-old centerman was in his first game back from injury but hurt his left leg – seemingly his left ankle – in a net-front scrum with Boston’s Hampus Lindholm. He is now set to miss even more time, making this season the sixth time that Bennett has appeared in fewer than 75 of his team’s games through his nine-year NHL career.
The injury is especially tough given how successful Bennett has been with the Panthers. He tallied a modest 40 points in 63 games last season but exploded for 15 points and 60 penalty minutes in 20 playoff games – operating as a key piece of Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals. He set his career-high in scoring in the 2021-22 season – his first full year with the Panthers – when he scored 28 goals and 49 points in 71 games.
Luckily, it doesn’t seem like Florida will be missing any other key pieces. Ekman-Larsson, who has three points in eight games this season, is good-to-go after taking a sucker punch from Charlie McAvoy. The punch earned McAvoy a four-game suspension that he’s in the process of serving. As for Rodrigues, Maurice said that the team was taking precaution in holding him out of Wednesday’s practice, and he should be good for Thursday night’s game.
Nicolas Hague Out With Injury Through The Weekend
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy shared that defenseman Nicolas Hague will be out with a lower-body injury until at least next week. Hague was slow to get up after a collision in the team’s October 30th game. He seemed fine in the moment but is now set to miss at least three games, with Vegas playing on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
While Hague’s absence is certainly not ideal, the Golden Knights are certainly not strangers to injured defensemen. Hague joined Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb as the only Vegas defenders to play in all of the team’s games this season – a streak that now belongs solely to Theodore and McNabb. As a result of the slew of injuries, the team has already cycled through eight different defenders this season. They also have Zach Whitecloud and Daniil Miromanov on injured reserve, adding to their list of NHL defensemen to keep in mind.
And while Vegas is certainly capable of filling his role, the loss of Hague is still tough to swallow. He ranks fourth on the blue line in scoring, with three points through 10 games so far this season. He’s managed those numbers while operating comfortably on Vegas’ second pair, averaging 19 minutes of ice time through the early season. Hague, 24, is in his fifth season of NHL action. He was the fourth prospect that Vegas ever drafted, going 34th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Hague is one of eight players from Vegas’ 2017 draft class to play NHL games – an impressive feat for the franchise’s inaugural draft.