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Atlantic Injury Notes: Lyon, Motte, Tavares, Samuelsson

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The Red Wings are close to having netminder Alex Lyon back in the lineup, as head coach Todd McLellan told reporters Wednesday (including Daniella Bruce of the team’s official site) he’ll travel on their upcoming four-game road trip. They don’t have a specific date circled for his return, so he likely remains unavailable tonight against the Panthers, his former team. This is the third injury-related absence of the season for Lyon, who missed a combined 12 games with a lower-body injury before New Year’s and has now missed the last three games with an upper-body injury he sustained on Jan. 7 against the Senators. Lyon has a .902 SV% and 2.71 GAA in 16 appearances, translating to 1.4 goals saved above expected (per MoneyPuck). Struggling veteran Ville Husso will continue serving as Cam Talbot’s backup.

All-positions forward Tyler Motte is also dealing with an upper-body injury he sustained on Tuesday against the Sharks and won’t join the team to begin the road trip, McLellan said (via Carley Johnston of the team’s official site). The coach added that he hadn’t been ruled out for all four games and could fly out to meet the team later. After struggling with nine points in 69 games last year for the Lightning, Motte went pointless in his first four games of the year before missing significant time with a previous UBI. Upon returning, Motte was a frequent healthy scratch but has worked his way up into a more stable spot in the lineup, dressing in eight straight. His return to the lineup after a pair of scratches coincided with the beginning of the Wings’ seven-game winning streak that ended Tuesday, during which span he had a pair of assists and a minus-four rating.

More health news from around the Atlantic Division:

  • The Maple Leafs may be without center John Tavares for tonight’s game after the star sustained an apparent right leg injury during yesterday’s practice. Head coach Craig Berube told reporters, including David Alter of The Hockey News, that he didn’t see the play happen and that the former captain was still being evaluated. Tavares hasn’t been held out of action since a one-game absence due to illness in the third game of the campaign. The 34-year-old pivot has enjoyed a rebound from last year’s dip in production, clicking around a point per game once again with 42 in 44 contests.
  • Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson returned to the lineup in last night’s win over the Hurricanes after missing a pair of games due to illness. The still-developing shutdown man logged nearly 20 minutes. He posted a plus-one rating in the team’s narrow 4-2 victory, in which they managed to record a goal on no shots in the third period after Ryan McLeod was awarded an empty-netter on what otherwise would have been a penalty shot thanks to a Brent Burns slash. Samuelsson was again hamstrung by injuries in 2024-25, missing 12 games with a lower-body issue earlier in the year. When in the lineup, he has five points and a minus-seven rating while averaging 18:25 per game, his lowest usage since his rookie season.

Snapshots: Capitals, Bruins, Durzi, Fines

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The Capitals are believed to have held preliminary talks about contract extensions with pending UFA goaltenders Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson, reports Pierre LeBrun in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link).  The two have combined for a 2.42 GAA and a .912 SV% on the season despite having a combined cap hit of under $2MM, by far the NHL’s most economical tandem.  Both players are in line for substantial raises and could plausibly push for closer to $10MM combined on their next deals, a price tag Washington might not be able to afford.  LeBrun notes that the team is treading carefully in discussions, not wanting to risk disrupting chemistry if one gets an early deal and the other doesn’t while they also have defenseman Jakob Chychrun to contend with as a pending UFA who will need a considerable raise as well.  Knowing that, it might make more sense for them to prioritize getting Chychrun signed first and deal with the netminders later on.

Elsewhere around the NHL:

  • Bruins team president Cam Neely spoke with reporters today (video link) and acknowledged that it won’t be business as usual when it comes to the trade deadline. Often a strong buyer leading up to deadline day, Neely admitted that the team is going to have to consider two paths, one where they’re a buyer and another where they retool.  Boston has struggled this season but enters play today holding down the first Wild Card spot in the East.  But even if they hold onto that over the next little while, it might not make sense for them to make a big addition for a team that could be in tough to get through the first round.
  • After getting John Marino back last night, Utah will have to wait a while for their other key missing blueliner to return. Head coach Andre Tourigny told reporters including Cole Bagley of KSL Sports (Twitter link) that there’s a good chance that they’ll have defenseman Sean Durzi back for the last month of the season.  The 26-year-old had his best performance in 2023-24, notching 41 points in 76 games but he suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth game, keeping Utah without a key rearguard for most of the season.
  • The NHL announced that Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic has been fined just under $2K (his maximum allowable under the CBA relative to his salary) for a cross-checking incident in last night’s game against Florida. Meanwhile, the league also announced that Utah center Jack McBain was fined a little under $4.2K for a high-stick on Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher last night.  The fines go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Jason Zucker Interested In Signing Extension With Sabres

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Last summer, the market once again wasn’t favorable to Sabres winger Jason Zucker.  After playing on a one-year, $5.3MM deal last season, he ultimately had to settle for another one-year pact for this year with a small pay cut as well as he carries a $5MM price tag.

However, after last year didn’t go so well, this season has gone much better for the soon-to-be 33-year-old.  A strong first half has him third in team scoring heading into tonight’s game and he’s within striking distance of scoring leader Tage Thompson.  Accordingly, instead of being viewed as a short-term stopgap option as he seemingly was back in July, some are wondering if Zucker’s stint with Buffalo should be extended.

Sticking around with the Sabres is something that Zucker certainly appears to be open to.  Speaking with Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic (subscription link), the veteran indicated that a new deal is something he would be very interested in and that when the time comes, they can have that conversation which suggests substantive discussions about a new deal have yet to begin.

Early in his career, Zucker was a reliable secondary scorer, notching at least 20 goals in five of his first six NHL seasons.  However, injuries and inconsistency have hurt him since then as he has only reached that mark once in the last four seasons, that coming in 2022-23, his final year with Pittsburgh.

Last season, Zucker started the year with Arizona but struggled, collecting 25 points in 51 games.  With the Coyotes needing to clear the rest of his contract, they were only able to secure a sixth-round pick for his services at the trade deadline.  However, Zucker entered tonight’s action with 15 goals and 16 assists in his first 43 outings and is on pace for one of the best seasons of his career.

Assuming Buffalo remains out of the playoff picture, GM Kevyn Adams will have a decision to make.  On the one hand, Zucker’s performance will make his market much stronger this time around.  Assuming they’re willing to retain salary (something Arizona wouldn’t), the price to acquire him should even go higher.  Getting a solid future asset out of a one-year investment would certainly be a strong piece of business for the Sabres.

On the other hand, Buffalo is the youngest team in the NHL and certainly benefits from Zucker’s presence.  Knowing that they’ll need some solid veterans as they look to emerge from their extended rebuild, this could be a case where it makes more sense to try to keep him in the fold.

With his recent year-to-year inconsistency and the market not going his way the last couple of years, Zucker might not be in a position to command considerably more than he’s making now.  Instead, term might be the focus, getting some much-desired stability security after playing for four teams over the past couple of calendar years.  If a modest raise coupled with a few years on the contract is on the table, that might be enough to keep a good thing going between Zucker and the Sabres in the weeks to come.

Photo courtesy of Imagn Images.

Injury Updates: Doughty, Laferierre, Drouin, Joshua

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There could be some good news on the horizon for Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.  Darren Dreger reported in TSN’s latest Insider Trading segment that the blueliner could practice in a non-contact capacity next week.  At this point, the team is hoping that the 35-year-old could return to the lineup before next month’s 4 Nations Face-Off.  Doughty has yet to play this season due to an ankle injury, causing a big blow to Los Angeles’ back end.  The Kings are currently using LTIR and haven’t banked much cap space so when Doughty does return, their cap flexibility will take a hit but their blueline will get a significant boost as they look to move up in the Pacific Division.

Other injury news from around the NHL:

  • Still with the Kings, Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider relays that winger Alex Laferriere won’t play on Thursday due to an upper-body injury with a further update on his status expected later in the week. The 23-year-old is having a strong sophomore year, notching 13 goals and 13 assists through his first 41 games, already besting his numbers from last season.  His absence should open up a spot for Samuel Helenius – just recalled today – to get into the lineup.
  • Avalanche winger Jonathan Drouin has battled injury issues this season and it appears that the injury is something he’s going to be battling for a while yet. He told reporters including Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette that this is something that’s likely to linger for the next little while and is hoping that the long break for the 4 Nations Face-Off will allow the injury – Rawal indicates that it’s a rib issue – to properly heal.  When healthy, Drouin has fared quite well with 10 points in 12 games but it’s fair to say that this hasn’t been the best first half in what is another contract year for him.
  • Canucks forward Dakota Joshua has skated a couple of times as he starts to work his way back from a leg injury suffered earlier this month, notes Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston. However, they’ve been light skates and he’s still not particularly close to returning as he remains listed as week-to-week.  After a breakout showing last season, this year hasn’t gone as well for Joshua (who missed the start of it while recovering from testicular cancer) as he has just four points along with 83 hits in 24 games.

Central Notes: Klingberg, Hall, McBain

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According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, a few more teams have entered the growing market for defenseman John Klingberg. Dreger mentions that the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars have inquired about Klingberg’s market, but he believes the Edmonton Oilers remain the favorites to sign him.

If Klingberg eventually signs with the Avalanche or Stars it’ll likely be with the latter. Dallas is weak on the right-hand side of their defensive core and while it’s difficult to call Klingberg an upgrade on their options given his lengthy absence, he has a positive history with the Stars. In his eight years in Dallas from 2015 to 2022, Klingberg scored 71 goals and 303 assists in 552 games and was an effective powerplay quarterback for many of those years.

Colorado could use some help on the right side with Josh Manson dealing with a recurring injury but Klingberg doesn’t project as the right option for the Avalanche. The team already gets plenty of offense from their top defensive pairing and Klingberg was never a solid shutdown threat even during his prime years with the Stars. The Avalanche will surely inquire about nearly any defenseman making close to or at the league minimum salary but it would be surprising to see them ultimately sign Klingberg.

Other Central notes:

  • Despite his public desire to sign an extension with the Chicago Blackhawks, veteran forward Taylor Hall is readying for a breakup. Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports Hall believes he’ll be traded before the deadline saying, “I came into this year wanting to be a Blackhawk for years to come. I don’t know if that’s going to be the case anymore.” It won’t be the first time the former MVP has been involved in a mid-season swap having been acquired in the 2020-21 season by the Boston Bruins and the 2018-19 season by the Arizona Coyotes.
  • Utah Hockey Club forward Jack McBain will have more than just a minor penalty for high-sticking in last night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced they’ve fined McBain $4,166.67, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for high-sticking Brendan Gallagher. This is the first time the DoPS has fined McBain in his brief four-year career.

Winnipeg Jets Loan Dylan Coghlan To AHL

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It is becoming clear after today’s transactions that the Winnipeg Jets’ defensive roster is undergoing some refreshing changes. The team acquired defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier today and subsequently announced that they have loaned defenseman Dylan Coghlan to their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

The move indicates defensemen Colin Miller and Haydn Fleury are nearing a return to full health giving Winnipeg eight healthy defensemen on the active roster. Factoring in today’s acquisition of Phillips, the moves have likely pushed Coghlan into a full-time AHL role unless injuries pile up in the NHL.

Coghlan cleared waivers on December 19th and given that he didn’t suit up in 10 games nor spend 30 days on the NHL roster he was waiver-exempt from today’s transaction. Winnipeg will maintain this flexibility with Coghlan assuming he spends the foreseeable future with AHL Manitoba.

He’s no stranger to AHL hockey, either. Coghlan nearly spent the entire 2023-24 campaign (aside from one game) in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds and had the best professional season of his career. He scored 16 goals and 41 points in 61 games for the Thunderbirds tying for second in scoring on the team.

The Moose could certainly use his expertise. They’re on the outside looking in for a position in the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs sitting last in the Central Division with an 11-19-1-1 record through the first 32 games. Additionally, Manitoba’s offense is the worst in the league with a 2.28 GF/G making Coghlan’s offensive capabilities all the more important.

Los Angeles Kings Recall Samuel Helenius

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Jan. 15th: Helenius is expected to suit up in his 22nd-career game tomorrow night against the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings organization announced they’ve recalled Helenius from AHL Ontario one day after reassigning him in a paper transaction.

Jan. 14th: The Kings loaned center Samuel Helenius to AHL Ontario on Tuesday, per a team announcement. They now have an open roster spot, allowing them to activate star defender Drew Doughty from long-term injured reserve whenever he’s ready to return.

Helenius, 22, has been a scratch in Los Angeles’ last four games. He last played on New Year’s Day against the Devils.

Selected out of Finland’s JYP in the second round of the 2021 draft, the 6’6″, 201-lb Helenius follows in the very large shoes of his father, former Stars defenseman Sami Helenius. The hulking pivot is in his fourth season stateside and has gotten his first cup of coffee in the NHL over the past few months.

Appearing in 21 of 41 games for the Kings, Helenius has a pair of assists and a minus-three rating, although he’s still looking for his first NHL goal. He’s averaged 8:33 of ice time per game, won 45.3% of his draws, and leads the team with 23.4 hits per 60 minutes.

While sound physically and decent defensively, Helenius unsurprisingly grades out as the Kings’ worst offensive player. The team averages just one goal per 60 minutes with Helenius on the ice at even strength.

Considering the Kings haven’t been using Helenius, it’s unlikely his demotion is a paper transaction. He’s still young with some development track ahead of him, so the reassignment comes to give him more playing time in Ontario.

In eight games with the Reign earlier this season, Helenius had a pair of goals and an assist with a whopping 22 PIMs and a minus-three rating. He has 37 points in 150 games with Ontario dating back to the 2021-22 season.

Doughty, 35, has yet to play in the regular season after sustaining a fractured ankle in exhibition play in September. He resumed skating two weeks ago and shouldn’t be out of the lineup for too much longer.

While the Kings have the roster space to activate Doughty, they don’t have the cap space. They’re $38K above the limit when Doughty comes off LTIR as things stand, so they’ll need to send another player on a cheap contract down to the minors to make things work.

New York Islanders Return Marc Gatcomb To AHL

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Jan. 15th: Eric Rosner of The Hockey News reports that Gatcomb has been returned to AHL Bridgeport, meaning the illness afflicting many of the Islanders’ players has passed. Gatcomb skated in 7:27 of ice time in his NHL debut yesterday evening, racking up four hits and one blocked shot.

Jan. 14th: The New York Islanders have used an emergency recall on forward Marc Gatcomb in advance of Tuesday’s game against Ottawa. The Islanders have been eligible for the move since placing Simon Holmstrom on injured reserve on January 7th, but opted to carry 12 forwards on their recent three-game road trip. They won all three games.

Gatcomb will join the Islanders upon their return home, though it’s not clear if he’ll get a crack at the NHL lineup. Gatcomb has a stout nine goals and 17 points in 34 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders – ranking him as the fifth-highest scorer on the team. He’s also recorded 18 penalty minutes and, surprisingly, no fighting majors. He was much quicker to drop the mitts with the Abbotsford Canucks, who signed him as an undrafted college free agent in 2021. He spent the bulk of the last three seasons in Abbotsford, filling a bottom-six role and ultimately totaling 28 points and 76 penalty minutes in 122 games with the club.

Gatcomb is a product of New England Prep hockey. He spent his high school years with The Frederick Gunn School, otherwise known as The Gunnery, and moved to the University of Connecticut in 2018. Gatcomb found his role of diligent, middle-six forward with the UConn Huskies. He climbed the lineup over the course of his four years and combined for 46 points in 124 games. He’ll stand as a responsible, right-shot bruiser who could step into the lineup for Pierre Engvall or Matt Martin, should head coach Patrick Roy want a different type of physical presence.

Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Jack Finley

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Jan 15th: According to a team announcement, Tampa Bay has reassigned Finley to AHL Syracuse after making his NHL debut last night. He skated in 8:25 of yesterday’s contest and managed a +1 rating but failed to score his first point.

Jan. 14th: The Lightning recalled 6’6″ forward prospect Jack Finley from AHL Syracuse on Tuesday, per a team announcement. Forward Gage Goncalves headed back to Syracuse in a corresponding transaction after clearing waivers.

Finley, 22, is an option to make his NHL debut tonight against the Bruins. He’s currently projected as a healthy scratch and didn’t participate in morning skate, per the team’s Gabby Shirley, but he’s the only extra skater on the roster should an injury arise between now and game time.

Selected 57th overall in the 2020 draft, Finley didn’t participate in training the camp and started the year on the non-roster list after sustaining an undisclosed injury over the offseason. He was cleared to play and assigned to Syracuse one month ago to the day, and he’s posted a pair of goals and four assists for six points in 10 games since.

The hulking 220-lb center is developing nicely offensively. Now in his third professional campaign, he skated in 52 contests with Syracuse last season, recording a career-high 13 goals and 32 points – tied for fifth on the team.

Finley has long been projected as a likely bottom-six NHL piece, and his solid offensive production only reinforces that he won’t be too much of a liability with the puck to make it at the next level. It’s hard to see Finley sticking around long-term, but he’s done enough to at least warrant a trial and a chance at his first NHL game.

The Bolts still have a pair of open roster spots after swapping Finley and Goncalves for each other. Finley is waiver-exempt and won’t need them to return to Syracuse when his call-up is done.

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