Carolina Hurricanes Activate Teuvo Teravainen
As first reported by Walt Ruff of the Carolina Hurricanes’ team website, Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen has been activated off of injured reserve. Per Ruff, Teravainen’s status regarding tomorrow’s game against the Los Angeles Kings is still to be determined.
Teravainen, 28, has missed the Hurricanes’ last ten games recovering from an upper-body injury. The veteran Finnish forward has no goals and just seven assists in 14 games so far this year, but as recently as last season Teravainen was scoring at a high level.
In 2021-22, Teravainen scored 65 points in 77 games, a total that ranked third on a strong Hurricanes team. With Andrei Svechnikov locking down the Hurricanes’ second-line left winger spot next to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Teravainen’s return would slot him in as the team’s first-line left winger next to Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas.
Should head coach Rod Brind’Amour choose to deploy Teravainen there, it would likely shift Seth Jarvis out of that first-line left winger spot and into the second-line right winger spot, a role currently occupied by Stefan Noesen. While Noesen has impressed this year with 10 points in 23 games, it’s likely that Brind’Amour would rather find room for Jarvis, one of the team’s top up-and-coming talents, in their top-six over Noesen.
Another option would be for this activation to shift Jack Drury out of the team’s lineup, as Drury has been playing in a fourth-line left winger role. Drury doesn’t have a point in the NHL this season, and the Hurricanes could opt to give him some more time to marinate in the AHL.
Regardless of what Brind’Amour ultimately chooses to do with his lines, the return of Teravainen is undoubtedly a win for Carolina. They add a strong top-six playmaker back to their lineup who should be able to help them as they attempt to catch up with the New Jersey Devils in the race for the Metropolitan Division crown.
Minnesota Wild Recall Joseph Cramarossa
The Minnesota Wild have announced that forward Joseph Cramarossa has been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild.
The move fills a lone vacant spot on the team’s roster, giving them some additional reinforcements as they prepare for a four-game road trip that begins Sunday in Dallas.
Cramarossa, 30, has played in four games for the Wild so far this year and spent most of the season in Iowa. The winger bounced around a bit after a 2017 waiver claim but seems to have found a home in the Wild organization. This will be Cramarossa’s third straight season as a depth forward in Minnesota/Iowa, and he’s clearly valued for that role by Wild brass.
In 15 AHL games so far this year Cramarossa has seven points to go along with 47 penalty minutes. Overall, he has 68 NHL games on his resume and 13 points. While it’s unlikely that Cramarossa sees any major minutes for the Wild, his recall underscores the team’s desire to play with more physicality and grit.
The Wild added some major muscle when they acquired Ryan Reaves from the New York Rangers, and Cramarossa’s recall helps the Wild in the same areas Reaves was acquired to address.
New Jersey Devils Recall Andreas Johnsson
The New Jersey Devils have announced that forward Andreas Johnsson has been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.
The move puts Johnsson, 28, in the position to make his season debut in New Jersey. Despite scoring 13 goals and 35 points in the NHL last season, the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward didn’t make the Devils’ roster out of camp and was placed on waivers near the start of the season.
His placement on waivers may have been partially financially motivated, though, as it’s likely that Johnsson’s $3.4MM cap hit played a role in the Devils making him available for every other NHL team to claim.
Likely due to his contract, Johnsson went unclaimed on waivers, something that has greatly benefitted the Comets. In 12 AHL games, Johnsson has 13 points, production that supports the idea that despite losing his NHL job in New Jersey he’s still a capable offensive producer.
With Ondrej Palat, Nathan Bastian, and Miles Wood all dealing with injuries, the Devils’ recall of Johnsson gives them a spare forward to work with on their roster. While we don’t yet know if head coach Lindy Ruff will dress Johnsson for games, this recall is certainly an opportunity for Johnsson to re-establish himself as an NHL talent.
Snapshots: Caufield, Dunn, Kindl
After finishing last in the NHL in 2021-22, the Montreal Canadiens have gotten off to a surprisingly strong start this season. Martin St. Louis has his squad sitting above .500 with a 12-10-1 record, and that early success has come in large part thanks to his team’s dynamic top line. Captain Nick Suzuki is leading the way with 25 points in 23 games, while offseason acquisition Kirby Dach looks like he could be beginning a breakout year with 17 points in 23 games. Leading the Canadiens in goals is 21-year-old sniper Cole Caufield, who happens to be playing in the final year of his entry-level contract.
Caufield’s agent, Pat Brisson, confirmed to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that “preliminary” conversations with the Canadiens on a contract extension have begun. (subscription link) LeBrun writes that his “sense is that [the Canadiens] have entered this negotiation willing to be flexible and do whatever ends up being the best combination of cap hit and term.” Seeing as Caufield has played like an elite scorer since the moment St. Louis stepped behind Montreal’s bench, it seems like pulling the trigger on a long-term pact might be in the Canadiens’ best interests.
Some other notes from across the NHL:
- As part of his larger piece looking at potential RFAs, LeBrun also dove into the contract situation regarding Vince Dunn and the Seattle Kraken. The 26-year-old blueliner is currently scoring at a 57-point pace and is playing over 23 minutes per night. Dunn is currently playing on a $4MM cap hit, and will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent before being able to hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024. While the Kraken already have significant dollars pledged to their 2023-24 team, they should have the room on their books to be able to sign Dunn to the sort of major extension his play warrants.
- Former NHL defenseman Jakub Kindl has found a team for the 2022-23 season. Per a team announcement, the 35-year-old veteran of over 33o NHL games has signed with Storhamar, a club in Norway. Kindl spent last season captaining HC Plzen in the Czech league, scoring 10 points in 43 games.
Kieffer Bellows Clears Waivers; Travis Konecny Activated
Dec 2: In what should be considered a win for the Flyers, Bellows has cleared and can now be assigned to the minor leagues. The team can take a longer look at him there, hoping to turn some of that potential into production.
Dec 1: The Philadelphia Flyers took a chance when claiming Kieffer Bellows off waivers earlier this season but it didn’t pay off. After 11 scoreless games with the team, Bellows is back on waivers today, available for claim by the rest of the league. The team has activated Travis Konecny in his place.
Bellows, 24, doesn’t have a point all season after playing in 45 rather promising games last year. The 2016 first-round pick seemed to find a bit of a niche as a physical option that could contribute lower down in the lineup but all of that has disappeared this time around. Even with a strong opportunity in Philadelphia – he saw more than 19 minutes last week against the Pittsburgh Penguins – he couldn’t generate much of anything, and now finds himself on the edge of the minor leagues once again.
The difficult part now is Bellows’ contract situation. The one-year, $1.2MM deal he signed in the offseason could end up leading to him being cut loose at the end of this season by the Flyers, or New York Islanders, if they reclaim him. As an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent due a qualifying offer of the same $1.2MM, he will likely end up non-qualified if his season continues like this. It would be hard for any team to justify another deal at that price for a player that can’t contribute at the NHL level.
In his place comes Konecny, though he is still a game-time decision for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old forward is still the team’s second-leading scorer, despite leaving a game on November 17 early. His 19 points in 17 games represent a pace that would have him setting career highs, and head coach John Tortorella obviously sees him as a top option.
Konecny has played more than 19 minutes in 12 of the 16 games he finished, contributing on both the powerplay and penalty kill. If the Flyers are going to turn things around, he’ll be a big part of it.
Jakub Voracek Out Indefinitely Due To Concussion
The Columbus Blue Jackets have issued updates on several players, the most concerning of which has to do with Jakub Voracek. The veteran forward has not been medically cleared to resume hockey activities and is out indefinitely following a concussion last month. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen released the following:
Jake has had a number of head injuries during his career, and after the most recent was advised by doctors to take some time off to see if his ongoing symptoms subside to the point that will allow him to come back and play. We don’t expect a resolution in the near future and will give Jake as much time as he needs as his long-term health is the most important factor here.
Meanwhile, Jake Bean underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and will miss four to six months. Zach Werenski, who had already been ruled out for the season, also underwent surgery on a torn labrum.
It’s scary news for Voracek, who despite declining goal totals has remained one of the best powerplay passers in the league. Last season he had six goals and 56 assists for 62 points in 79 games, 23 of those helpers with the man advantage. He also crossed the 1,000-game threshold last year, and reached 800 points for his career.
Now 33, it sounds like the team won’t rush him back this season even if he does start seeing some improvement over the next few months. The team is unlikely to challenge for the playoffs thanks to a long list of injuries, meaning there’s not much for the veteran forward to fight for. He’s already signed through next season and will earn $7.5MM ($8.25MM cap hit), meaning he can just focus on his day-to-day quality of life at this point.
For Bean this surgery likely means his season is also over. Despite the suggestion that a four-month recovery is possible, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to rush him back either. The Blue Jackets signed him to a three-year contract in 2021, which takes him through the 2023-24 season at a $2.33MM cap hit. He’ll be an arbitration-eligible RFA after that, so returning to pile up some counting stats may be beneficial for his future negotiation, but if there is any risk of re-injury they might as well wait until the summer to ramp things up.
Columbus has been ravaged by injuries and sit dead last in the Eastern Conference, only ahead of the Anaheim Ducks league-wide. They have a real chance at landing the first-overall pick or at least being one of the two lottery winners, adding another top offensive talent to the pipeline.
Vancouver Canucks Recall Collin Delia
Things are going from bad to worse for the Vancouver Canucks. After Thatcher Demko suffered an injury in last night’s game, the team recalled Collin Delia from the AHL. The recall is under emergency conditions, meaning there is an injury of some sort preventing the team from icing two healthy goaltenders.
So far, no update has been given on Demko’s status. But he was helped off the ice last night holding his right leg and was ruled out soon after.
While Demko hasn’t been good this season, losing him won’t help the Canucks turn things around. Spencer Martin hasn’t been much better and Delia has an .884 save percentage in the minor leagues this season.
The Canucks are now 9-12-3 on the year and it’s hard to imagine them getting back into the race without elite goaltending. Demko is their best chance at that, even with his struggles so far.
St. Louis Blues Return Jake Neighbours To AHL
The St. Louis Blues have sent Jake Neighbours back to the AHL after his most recent call-up. The young forward played in two games, recording two shots, two blocks, and a hit while failing to record a point.
Neighbours, 20, like so many other prospects, needs to play. He wasn’t going to see much ice time with the big club, getting just 13 shifts in last night’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. At the AHL level, he can touch the puck a lot more and get his confidence up, something that must be waning after so many scoreless appearances as a pro. Neighbours has two goals and three points in 22 career NHL games and has yet to score an AHL goal in seven games.
There’s still plenty of optimism about the 2020 first-round pick, but it’s hard to see how playing fewer than ten minutes a night on an NHL fourth line is the right development path. He may be up again at some point but the focus should be on getting him rolling in the minor leagues.
The struggle of course is that the Blues aren’t winning, either, so head coach Craig Berube needs to do anything he can to turn the ship around. The club is 11-12 on the year and has lost their last two after a strong stretch. Balancing Neighbours’ long-term development with the short-term team needs is a difficult task, especially if they believe he is one of the 12 best forwards in the organization.
Calle Jarnkrok Out At Least Two Weeks
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without Calle Jarnkrok for the next two weeks at least, head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters including Luke Fox of Sportsnet. The utility forward is dealing with a groin injury suffered on Wednesday night. T.J. Brodie, who is also out with an injury, will accompany the team on their upcoming road trip but is not expected to play.
Jarnkrok, 31, signed a four-year deal with the Maple Leafs in the offseason and has done a little bit of everything for them this season. Recently, he had been lining up on his off-wing next to John Tavares and Mitch Marner, benefiting from the talented forwards for a handful of points. He likely hasn’t been quite the presence that the front office was hoping for, though, as through 25 games he has scored just nine points.
A two-week absence will open the door for someone else like Nicholas Robertson to play with the Tavares line, as the Maple Leafs try to keep their winning streak alive. The team has won five in a row and is now 8-0-2 in their last ten, one of the hottest groups in the league. Even so, they sit three points behind the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division chase, despite having played three more games.
With Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly both on long-term injured reserve, the team has plenty of cap flexibility to recall a player in Jarnkrok’s absence if they choose.
Detroit Red Wings Place Tyler Bertuzzi On Injured Reserve
Dec 2: Bertuzzi underwent successful surgery this morning and will be out for six weeks.
Dec 1: Despite being activated less than a month ago, Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi is headed back to the injured reserve list. Detroit announced today that they have placed their star forward on injured reserve.
In a corresponding move, they have recalled forward Austin Czarnik from their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
This is not Bertuzzi’s first run-in with injury struggles. A back injury caused Bertuzzi to miss most of the 2020-21 season. Earlier this year, Bertuzzi was sidelined with a broken hand, one that he sustained after just two games played.
During Wednesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, Bertuzzi’s left hand was struck by a point shot from teammate Ben Chiarot. It’s another moment of poor luck for the 27-year-old power forward, and one that will come as bad news for the Red Wings overall.
When healthy, Bertuzzi is an important part of Detroit’s offensive attack. He scored 30 goals and 62 points in 68 games last season and has four points in nine games so far this year.
Bertuzzi’s replacement on the roster, Czarnik, is also a centerpiece offensive contributor, albeit for AHL Grand Rapids. So far this year Czarnik has 14 points in 12 AHL games, and he has 46 points in 146 career NHL games.
With Bertuzzi out of the picture, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde will have to decide whether to deploy Czarnik in Bertuzzi’s vacated spot on Michael Rasmussen and David Perron‘s line or to give that opportunity to someone lower on the depth chart.
Despite their injury troubles, the Red Wings are off to a strong start this season and will look to weather Bertuzzi’s absence as they build toward a possible playoff berth.