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Panthers Recall Tobias Bjornfot

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The Florida Panthers have recalled defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from the AHL. This move comes after Dmitry Kulikov was injured in the first period of the team’s Sunday loss to the New York Islanders, after getting wrapped up on Islanders forward Anthony Duclair. This marks Bjornfot’s second call-up as a member of the Panthers organization, after spending 20 days on the NHL roster in January. He stepped into eight NHL games on the recall and managed no scoring.

Bjornfot has otherwise spent the rest of the season in the minors. He’s amassed 16 points, 22 penalty minutes, and a plus-one in 43 games with the Charlotte Checkers, good for third on the team’s blue-line in scoring. It’s just his third full season in the NHL since making his professional debut in the 2019-20 season. He spent the bulk of that year with the AHL’s Ontario Reign where he recorded 19 points, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-13 in 44 games. Bjornfot received the first three games of his NHL career in the mix of those minor league minutes, and earned a hardier shot at the Los Angeles Kings lineup over the next two years. But he only managed 14 points through the first 106 games of his NHL career, prompting a return to the minors for the start of the 2022-23 campaign. Bjornfot scored 12 points in 50 AHL games that year.

Bjornfot followed another middling year in the minors with a winding journey last season. He appeared in games for Los Angeles, Vegas, and Florida throughout the 2023-24 season – and moved between each team through two separate waiver claims. Ultimately, Bjornfot couldn’t find his footing in any of his new destinations – and managed no scoring through 11 NHL games or five AHL games on the season. He’s returned to the scoresheet through the first half of this year, but still hasn’t found a consistent stride.

There’s been no indication as to whether Kulikov will be available for Florida’s Thursday matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’ll vacate a top-pair role if he does have to sit out, opening the door for Bjornfot to earn modest ice time as Florida mends an already-weakened blue-line.  Bjornfot has averaged 13:24 in ice time through his eight NHL appearances this season. A lineup nod would give Bjornfot another chance to earn his first point as a member of the Florida Panthers – and his first NHL point outside of the Los Angeles Kings organization.

Stars Expecting Tyler Seguin Back, Miro Heiskanen Out For First Round

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The postseason availability of two pillars of the Dallas Stars’ lineup became clearer at Tuesday’s practice. Winger Tyler Seguin is continuing to improve and could be healthy before the end of the regular season, head coach Pete DeBoer shared with Brian Rea of Bally Sports Southwest. Seguin has missed Dallas’ last 43 games with a hip injury sustained on December 1st. In more negative news, DeBoer also told Rea that there’s a realistic chance Dallas plays the First Round without star defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Heiskanen has missed Dallas’ last 16 games after sustaining a knee injury on January 28th.

The injury updates bring highs and lows. Adding Seguin back to the lineup will go a long way towards giving Dallas one of the most complete forward groups in the NHL. The 33-year-old Stars legend has continued to produce into the golden years of his career, netting nine goals and 20 points in 19 games before his injury. That’s an 82-game pace of 39 goals and 86 points, which would both stand as career-highs – though the likelihood of Seguin maintaining his point-per-game scoring through an entire season aren’t sky-high. Even then, he’s remained a consistent scorer down the lineup – surpassing the 20 goal and 50 point mark in each of the last two seasons. He fell one point short of 50 in 2021-22.

Seguin sits 12 games back from his 1,000th career game in the NHL. Nearly all of those appearances – 785 over the course of 12 seasons, to be exact – have come with the Dallas Stars. Over that time, Seguin has amassed the fifth-most goals (304), assists (383), and points (687) in franchise history. He’s consistently maintained his hot scoring into the postseason, with 71 points in 133 career playoff games and 13 points in 19 games just last season. Seguin averaged just 16 minutes of playing time prior to his injury – marking a career low, save for his rookie season. But his ability to continue producing in those minutes is invaluable, and should give Dallas a major boost as they near the final games of their season.

Unfortunately, they’ll need all the boost they can get with potential Norris Trophy candidate Heiskanen set for a continued absence. Heiskanen was scoring at a modest pace this season – netting 25 points in 50 games prior to injury – but he made up for it with fantastic impacts in all three zones. The 25-year-old was averaging 25:10 in ice time prior to his injury, marking the fifth-straight season that he’s played more than 24:30 each night. He’s averaged more ice time than any other Star, and performed well enough to support the struggling right-shot defenders like Cody Ceci, Matt Dumba, and Ilya Lyubushkin.

Without Heiskanen in the lineup, Dallas has been forced to turn to 23-year-old Thomas Harley with their top-pair role. Harley has taken full advantage of the opportunity, netting 16 points in 16 games and playing as much as 27 minutes a night since Heiskanen’s injury. It’s been a welcome breakout performance – and one that should supplant Heiskanen’s impact until he’s back to full health. Dallas will certainly hope that’s the case, as they eye a potential best-of-seven series without their clear top defender. If Harley can help push the team through and Heiskanen’s timeline holds true, Dallas could enter the second round with one of the best left-defense corps in the NHL.

Rangers, Noah Laba Agree To Entry-Level Contract

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The Rangers announced they’ve agreed to terms with center Noah Laba on a two-year entry-level contract beginning next season. Financial terms were not disclosed. He will finish the 2024-25 season on a tryout with AHL Hartford.

Laba, 21, was the Blueshirts’ fourth-round pick (No. 111) overall in the 2022 draft. An engaged, well-rounded offensive center with a 6’2″ frame, he was coming off a 39-point campaign in 50 games with the United States Hockey League’s Lincoln Stars in his draft year, adding 115 PIMs to boot.

After being selected by the Rangers, Laba jumped to the NCAA with Colorado College. He’s stayed in Colorado Springs for the last three seasons, reining in the penalty trouble and dialing up the offense. A breakout sophomore campaign in 2023-24 saw him take home NCHC Best Defensive Forward honors, leading the Tigers with 20 goals, 37 points, and a +20 rating in 36 games.

Laba didn’t manage to crack the point-per-game threshold for a second season in a row in 2024-25 but still had a respectable 10-16–26 scoring line in 29 games for CC. With his season over following their loss to Denver last weekend in the NCHC semifinals, he’ll get his first taste of professional hockey in Hartford over the next few weeks.

Laba’s collegiate resume makes it a probable bet that he’ll see NHL ice at some point before his rookie deal expires in the summer of 2027. Whether that means a full-time role for the Michigan native in the next two years remains to be seen, but he’s one of the brighter spots in a pedestrian New York prospect pool. He ranked No. 7 in the system in Scott Wheeler of The Athletic’s 2025 rankings.

Canucks Recall Linus Karlsson Under Emergency Conditions

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The Canucks announced today they’ve recalled forward Linus Karlsson from AHL Abbotsford under emergency conditions. Neither Filip Chytil nor Conor Garland are expected to play tonight against the Jets after missing the morning skate, per Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650, so Karlsson’s presence is necessary for them to have 12 healthy forwards.

Chytil’s absence is clear after the center entered concussion protocol over the weekend, but Garland didn’t miss a shift in Sunday’s outing against Utah. He hasn’t missed a game since the 2022-23 campaign. Head coach Rick Tocchet adds he’ll be a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury (via Harman Dayal of The Athletic).

Karlsson, fresh off a one-year extension, comes up to fill the void and will skate on the third line with Drew O’Connor and Teddy Blueger. The 25-year-old has nine NHL games under his belt this year, but tonight will be his first appearance since Feb. 4. He has one goal during that stretch – his first NHL point – while recording eight shots on net and averaging 9:59 per game.

The 6’1″ Swede continues to be a productive minor-leaguer for the Canucks. His 1.13 points per game (21-13–34 in 30 GP) rank third among AHL skaters with at least 25 games played, trailing only vets Vinnie Hinostroza and Andrew Poturalski. Outright, his 21 goals are tied for 15th in the league.

Karlsson remains waivers-exempt for the rest of the season, but that status will disappear in 2025-26. If he doesn’t make Vancouver’s opening night roster next season, he’ll be offered to the rest of the league before he can be returned to Abbotsford.

Blue Jackets Sign Evan Gardner To Entry-Level Deal

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Goaltender prospect Evan Gardner has signed his entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets, per a team release. It’s a three-year deal that begins next season.

The 19-year-old netminder has spent this season with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, from where he was drafted in the second round by Columbus last year. The 6’1″, 176-lb goalie has a 2.83 GAA, .911 SV%, three shutouts, and a 22-12-4 record in 41 games for the Blades.

It’s a step down from what Gardner flashed in 2023-24 when he led the WHL in GAA (1.91) and SV% (.927) in 30 appearances. He still checked in at No. 8 in the Blue Jackets’ system and first among goalies in The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler’s 2025 prospect pool rankings, ahead of current Columbus third-stringer Jet Greaves.

Since Gardner doesn’t turn 20 until January 2026, he’s ineligible for a full-time AHL assignment next season. He must be on the NHL roster or returned to the Blades – the latter standing as the far more likely scenario. If that’s the case and he plays fewer than 10 NHL games, his deal will slide to the 2026-27 campaign and instead expire in the 2029 offseason. Any signing bonuses owed to him for 2025-26 will still be paid out.

He officially joins a Blue Jackets organization that has its future solidified at nearly every position aside from the net. With current backup Daniil Tarasov underwhelming and set to be a restricted free agent this summer, there’s an opportunity for the aforementioned Greaves to graduate from a fringe roster role to a full-time backup job next season. Elvis Merzļikins, who’s largely struggled since his current extension with a $5.4MM cap hit came into effect in 2022-23, is having a rebound campaign with a 3.04 GAA and a 22-18-4 record in 44 starts and now seems likely to at least finish out his deal in Columbus, which runs through 2026-27.

Sharks Recall Luca Cagnoni For NHL Debut

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The Sharks announced they’ve recalled defenseman Luca Cagnoni from AHL San Jose. The 20-year-old will make his NHL debut when San Jose faces the Hurricanes on Thursday since the team reassigned Jimmy Schuldt to the minors in a corresponding move.

It’s a quick ascension for Cagnoni, whom the Sharks nabbed in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. The pick was almost universally lauded as a steal – while some were concerned about how projectable the lefty’s 5’9″, 181-lb frame was to the professional level, his offensive dominance with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks had some public scouting outfits tout him as high as an early second-round talent.

Cagnoni returned to the Winterhawks for his post-draft season but signed his entry-level deal last May, paving the way for the December-born defender to jump to the pros with the Barracuda for 2024-25. The British Columbia native has dominated out of the gate, posting 13-34–47 in 56 games to rank second in scoring among AHL defensemen behind veteran Derrick Pouliot. While by no means defensively dominant – his minus-six rating is tied for fifth-worst on the club – he’s been a major part of the Barracuda’s resurgence as San Jose’s farm team looks to finish above .500 for the first time since 2018-19.

He’ll presumably take Schuldt’s third-pairing spot in his debut later this week, meaning hulking 6’7″ righty Vincent Desharnais should serve as quite the insular partner for Cagnoni’s first taste of top-level hockey. Schuldt, 29, has no points and a minus-one rating in four games for the Sharks this year in his first taste of NHL hockey since debuting with the Golden Knights in 2019.

In the interim, the Sharks hope Cagnoni can replace some of the puck-moving ability they lost when second-year defenseman Henry Thrun exited the lineup earlier this month with an upper-body injury. Cagnoni, whose recall amounts to the third of San Jose’s four allotted post-deadline recalls, is under contract through the 2026-27 season at a cap hit of $895K.

Cagnoni checked in as the No. 5 prospect in the Sharks’ league-leading system in this year’s midseason rankings by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Oilers Recall Derek Ryan

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The Oilers have recalled forward Derek Ryan from AHL Bakersfield, according to a team announcement. They’ll add the 38-year-old back to their roster for the first time since he cleared waivers in January.

Ryan has played four seasons for Edmonton after signing there as a free agent in 2021. His role has steadily declined since leaving the Flames for the more northern Alberta team, however, leading to his first AHL assignment since 2016.

The 5’10” center/winger scored 1-4–5 in 33 showings for the Oilers earlier this season, averaging just 9:25 per game but winning a career-high 60.3% of his draws. Since clearing waivers, he has 3-5–8 with a -10 rating in 13 games with the Condors.

Despite not making his NHL debut until age 29 after a lengthy career overseas, he’s managed to parlay his defensively responsible game and once-valuable depth scoring into a 603-game NHL career in parts of 10 seasons. Before breaking into the league with Carolina a decade ago, Ryan had already won MVP awards in two overseas leagues (ICEHL, SHL) and was a USports All-Star with the University of Alberta.

After recalling Ryan, the Oilers have 24 players on their roster with 14 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. They’ve yet to make a recall since the trade deadline, so assuming Ryan’s summons isn’t under emergency conditions, he counts as their first of four post-deadline standard recalls.

Ryan is set for unrestricted free agency this summer after completing the two-year, $1.8MM extension he signed in 2023.

Bruins Recall Fabian Lysell, Michael Callahan

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The Bruins announced they’ve recalled 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell from AHL Providence. Depth defenseman Michael Callahan is joining him on the track up to Boston, both under emergency conditions, Conor Ryan of the Boston Globe reports.

The Bruins weren’t carrying any extra skaters on their roster, so they wouldn’t have had available players to enter the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Golden Knights if injuries struck. It’s clear Boston anticipates there being a couple of questionable players, but it’s unclear who those are. No player departed yesterday’s overtime loss to the Sabres early.

Amid a disappointing season in the minors, Lysell remains the best winger prospect in one of the league’s worst pools, as opined by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. He’s likely dropped to the No. 3 talent in Boston’s system overall, with Matthew Poitras still splitting time between the NHL and AHL and 2022 second-rounder Fraser Minten posting four points in three games for Providence since they acquired him from the Maple Leafs in the Brandon Carlo deadline trade, though.

Now 22, the 5’11” Lysell has taken a considerable step back in his third season with Providence. His 11-23–34 scoring line through 51 games is a lower rate of production than his rookie AHL season in 2022-23 and a sharp decline from last year’s 50-point breakout in 56 games. It’s not for a lack of offensive support, either. Providence has had multiple forwards show up and show out this year, namely Vinni Lettieri (48 points in 46 GP), Georgii Merkulov (48 points in 52 GP), and Patrick Brown (44 points in 52 GP). That makes Lysell’s regression all the more disappointing.

Nonetheless, he’ll now get another look on the NHL roster after recording a plus-one rating in his debut against the Blue Jackets on Dec. 28. How long his stint in Boston lasts remains to be seen – if his presence isn’t necessary for the B’s to have 12 healthy forwards against Vegas this week, they’ll need to either send him back to Providence or convert his emergency recall into a standard one and burn one of their four post-deadline recalls.

Callahan, 25, returns to the roster after spending most of January and February up with the big club. The 6’2″ lefty had a minus-two rating with four shots and four hits during 11 games over those recalls, the first of his NHL career. He averaged 13:08 per game as he remains in search of his first NHL point.

A standout defensive presence with the P-Bruins, the Massachusetts native has 1-7–8 in 43 appearances in what’s now his fourth season in Providence. He’s set to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer.

Rangers’ Arthur Kaliyev Out For Season With Upper-Body Injury

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March 18: Kaliyev will not play again this season, even if the Rangers make the playoffs, Walker reports today. The focus now turns toward whether he did enough in his brief stint in the New York lineup to earn a qualifying offer this summer.

March 13: Rangers winger Arthur Kaliyev has left the team’s road trip to undergo further evaluation and testing on an upper-body injury, the team told reporters Thursday (including Mollie Walker of the New York Post). He’ll miss at least the next two games but likely more after leaving Tuesday night’s loss to the Jets late in the third period.

The Blueshirts claimed Kaliyev off waivers from the Kings in January. While the 23-year-old hoped for a more regular role in New York after being buried on L.A.’s depth chart and missing the first few months of the season with a broken clavicle, that hasn’t happened. He played in 10 straight games to begin his Rangers tenure but has suited up just four times since the beginning of February, serving as a healthy scratch 11 times in that span.

Kaliyev didn’t suit up for L.A. before the waiver placement, although he did have a goal and an assist in five AHL games with the Ontario Reign on a conditioning stint. Since the coast-to-coast move, the Uzbekistan-born winger has 3-1–4 in 14 games with a plus-two rating while averaging a career-low 11:13 per game. The 6’2″, 210-lb forward has seven hits and average possession metrics (49.1 CF%, 46.1 xGF%) at even strength.

The 2019 second-rounder will lose most of the campaign due to injury. He signed a one-year, $825K deal with the Kings in training camp after spending the offseason as a restricted free agent amid a trade request, so his deal is up this summer. He’ll be an RFA again with arbitration rights, but given his minimal usage over the past six weeks, it’s unclear whether the Rangers plan on giving him a qualifying offer.

Now in his fifth NHL season, Kaliyev has 38-37–75 over 202 career games. That’s a respectable 15-15–30 average over 82 games, but he hasn’t developed the rest of his game enough to earn consistent top-nine deployment from a pair of organizations now.

Blue Jackets Loan Jet Greaves To The AHL

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have loaned goaltender Jet Greaves to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The Cambridge, Ontario native has made appearances in six NHL games this season for Columbus, posting a 2-2-2 record with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. Greaves has seen limited NHL action this season but is the only Blue Jackets goaltender to post a goals saved above expected in the positive at +0.9 (as per Money Puck). The 23-year-old played last night against New Jersey and made 18 saves in a 2-1 loss.

Greaves made his NHL debut back in April 2023 and in his brief NHL career, he has dressed in 16 career games and owns a 5-9-2 record with a .910 save percentage and a 3.21 goals-against average. His AHL career is a much larger sample size as he has appeared in 152 career games and has a 77-50-17 record with a 2.93 goals-against average and a .907 career save percentage.

This season in the AHL, Greaves ranks sixth in the league in save percentage at .915 and is 12th in wins, sporting a 16-10-6 record in 34 games. He was named the AHL player of the week in the first week of the year and was solid in his only NHL appearance in January making 31 saves in a win over St. Louis. However, he followed that up with a bit of a mini-slump from mid to late January before settling back in around the middle of February. Since then, Greaves has allowed just 11 goals in his last six AHL games.

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