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Devils’ Simon Nemec Frustrated To Be In The AHL

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New Jersey Devils top prospect, Simon Nemec, made some comments earlier this week when discussing his future with the Devils and his current status in the AHL (as per Tomáš Prokop of Dennik Sports). The defenseman stated that he was not happy with his current position in the AHL and voiced his displeasure, saying that he feels he has proven that he belongs in the NHL. He also added that it is too early to request a trade but at some point, the situation would need to be addressed.

The 2022 second-overall pick is in his third professional season, most of which he has spent with the Utica Comets of the AHL. However, last season the 20-year-old did dress in 60 NHL games with New Jersey and was effective, tallying three goals and 16 assists and garnering some Calder Trophy consideration for top rookie.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now reached out to the Devils organization to see if they were aware of any frustrations with Nemec and said they weren’t aware of that but knew that he was disappointed to be playing outside the NHL.

Nemec did mention in his interview that he felt he was moving on from one of the toughest times he’s had in hockey, as he dealt with an upper-body injury earlier this season that he suffered at the 2026 Olympic qualifiers. Nemec was able to make the team out of training camp but had a very slow start in the NHL, posting just a single assist in nine games before he was demoted to Utica.

He’s been good in the AHL, posting 16 points in 23 games. However, the tricky part for Nemec is that the Devils’ defense is deep, and they are playing some great hockey this season, which adds to the challenge of getting back to the NHL.

Devils Looking To Add A Center

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Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic sat down with New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald to discuss what the team is looking to do before the NHL Trade Deadline. Fitzgerald mentioned that he has an open mind at this point, but that the pro scouting department has identified the center position as an area of need. The news isn’t all that surprising, given that the Devils were linked to Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans just a week ago.

Fitzgerald has been looking at potential trade options and has reportedly already started calling teams to see who might be available. Centers are always in demand, and as Fitzgerald points out in the interview, you can never have enough of them. The Devils could certainly use some depth scoring in their forward group as it remains one of their few weaknesses, and if they can’t acquire a center, they may need to settle for a winger.

LeBrun points out that possible targets include Ryan O’Reilly, Yanni Gourde, and Scott Laughton. Gourde would be a rental as his contract expires at the end of the season, while O’Reilly has two years remaining on his deal at a cap hit of $4.5MM, and Laughton has one year left on his deal. Fitzgerald said he was open to acquiring either a rental or a player with term and would look at both options in his hunt for a center.

The Devils have made many changes over the last year, addressing their goaltending and defense last summer while tinkering with other parts of their roster. They are certainly one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference and could very well put themselves over the top in the next few weeks if they can address their depth scoring and add the center they desire.

Multiple Teams Calling The Blackhawks About Seth Jones

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Teams are reportedly calling the Chicago Blackhawks to check on the availability of veteran defenseman Seth Jones (as per TSN’s Darren Dreger). Dreger revealed the information on today’s segment of Insider Trading and noted that the Blackhawks aren’t proactively shopping the 30-year-old.

Facilitating a trade of that magnitude would not be easy given that Jones carries a $9.5MM cap hit for an additional four seasons after this one. Jones also carries a full no-movement clause as part of his contract, meaning that he would have full control of where he goes which would further complicate an already difficult move.

Chicago’s trade to acquire Jones was a bit of a headscratcher when it was made back in July 2021. The Blackhawks were mired in mediocrity at the time and gave up a package that included defenseman Adam Boqvist, the 12th and 44th overall picks in 2021, and a 2022 first-round pick that eventually turned into the sixth overall pick. Chicago then handed Jones an ill-advised eight-year, $76MM contract extension right before setting out on a full rebuild.

Jones’s offensive numbers have been okay since joining the Blackhawks, as he has posted 28 goals and 106 assists in 245 games. However, his defensive work has left a lot to be desired as he’s posted a -103 plus/minus rating in four seasons, which is among the worst in the NHL during that time. Jones’s net clearing ability and rush defense continue to be a major issue that hasn’t improved over time, with no better example than in a 5-2 loss to Calgary earlier this week.

Jones isn’t likely to be traded given all the hurdles that would need to be cleared to make a move, but right-handed defensemen are always at a premium and Jones eats up a ton of ice time, having averaged 25:19 per game since he joined the Blackhawks (third in NHL behind Drew Doughty and Cale Makar). At the end of the day, the decision will be up to Jones as he holds the no-movement clause and can decide his own destination should he want to leave Chicago.

Jets May Not Prioritize Acquiring A Second Line Center

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The Winnipeg Jets may not prioritize a center at the NHL Trade Deadline if team captain Adam Lowry can continue his strong play at the position (as per Darren Dreger of TSN). Winnipeg has needed a second-line pivot for multiple seasons in a row now and was certainly prioritizing it before Lowry slid into the role out of necessity when Vladislav Namestnikov went down with a lower-body injury.

Now, Lowry’s sample size at the position is tiny at this point, having moved up for the previous two games. However, the early returns are terrific as Lowry, Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo trio have been difficult to play against and have been offensive threats anytime they’ve been deployed as a unit. Lowry has a single assist in the two games since the move, but his overall play has benefitted both Ehlers and Iafallo.

It’s hard to envision Lowry becoming an offensive center at the age of 31, but his offensive game has been trending upward over the past few seasons. The St. Louis, Missouri native has enjoyed the two finest offensive seasons in the previous two years and appears poised to shatter his career high of 36 points this season.

It looks like Lowry and company will be allowed to see if they can put a stretch of play together that convinces Jets management to shift their hunt from a second-line center to perhaps the best overall forward that they can acquire. Or perhaps a third-line center to replace Lowry.

Winnipeg is in the conversation for the President’s Trophy and will likely be as aggressive as they were at last year’s Trade Deadline when they brought in center Sean Monahan from Montreal as well as Tyler Toffoli from New Jersey. The Jets have an aging core and with Ehlers contract status, they may only have one shot with a team as good as this one.

Blue Jackets Have Plenty To Gain At NHL Trade Deadline

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have been the unheralded star of the 2024-25 NHL season. They’re fully entrenched in the race for the Eastern Conference Wild Cards, battling with the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens for a clear path to the playoffs. Much of that success can be credited to new head coach Dean Evason, who replaced rookie Pascal Vincent over the summer after Vincent himself replaced Mike Babcock just weeks ahead of the 2023-24 season. Evason’s seasoned and veteran presence behind the bench has brought the best out of Columbus’ stars, including Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson, with a bill of health for defender Zach Werenski serving as the cherry on top. Even better, the Blue Jackets are red-hot in the new year – with a 5-1-0 record since January 1st giving them the fifth-best standing in the league in 2025.

On top of all of that, the Blue Jackets sit with the most projected cap space in the league – $18.75MM to be exact. That’s $1MM more than the second-richest team, the Calgary Flames, and a staggering $16.25MM more than the next-highest playoff contender, the Winnipeg Jets. That budget places Columbus in unprecedented territory as buyers, stamped by their pair of first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. They will head to the Trade Deadline with the ability to spend to nearly any price, and build out their lineup into one that can truly challenge the league’s top teams.

Even two months out, there are plenty of talented names headed to the trade block. Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz has shared he expects former Selke Trophy-winner Ryan O’Reilly to receive plenty of interest, though the team could also be pried away from depth center Thomas Novak. The Vancouver Canucks have also fallen into unforeseen trade talks, after a rift between top forward J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson landed both in rumors.

Those four forwards represent a wide array of options already. Columbus could afford to acquire the majority of them, while still remaining under the salary cap. While O’Reilly would likely command a role at center, any of the remaining trio could be pushed off to the wing – where Columbus’ depth is most glaring. Dmitri Voronkov has earned his role as the top-line left-wing with 30 points in 35 games, but the same can’t be said for James van Riemsdyk, Zach Aston-Reese, or Mikael Pyyhtia behind him. Van Riemsdyk leads the trio scoring with 15 points – serviceable enough to support Columbus’ push into playoff contention but hardly enough to support them through the Spring.

The Blue Jackets could also seek out a new option in net. Both starter Elvis Merzlikins and backup Daniil Tarasov have posted save percentages below .900 this season – sat at .889 through 28 games, and .862 through 11 games, respectively. Those numbers are far from the heights of Columbus’ peers for the postseason, with Jeremy Swayman, Linus Ullmark, and a red-hot Jakub Dobes supporting their competition. Longtime Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson has been on the trade block for the better half of the last two seasons, and seems to be back to his old successes with a .908 in 18 games this season. Gibson would be far from a glamorizing addition, but he could come at a relatively cheap price given Columbus wouldn’t need the Ducks to retain any salary. The Blue Jackets could also turn towards a team like the Utah Hockey Club, who have two serviceable starters in Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka – and don’t seem within punching distance of their own Wild Card race.

Columbus seems to be in a golden spot. They’re well within reach of a postseason berth, carry the thickest wallet in the league, and have an incredibly rich supply of prospects and picks to entice failing teams with. It’s a dream situation for first-year Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell to walk into – and his aggression at the Trade Deadline will speak volumes to his confidence in the team’s red-hot first-half. The trade market will be Waddell’s oyster – leaving the question for what moves will put Columbus over the edge.

Wild Place Kirill Kaprizov On LTIR, Marcus Johansson On IR

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5:30 PM: Minnesota has additionally placed Kirill Kaprizov on retroactive long-term injured reserve. He will be eligible to return as soon as he’s back to full health. In addition, Minnesota has recalled forwards Liam Ohgren and Brendan Gaunce – bringing them to a full roster ahead of Saturday’s game against Nashville.

4:00 PM: The Minnesota Wild have placed forward Marcus Johansson on injured reserve with an upper-body injury believed to be a concussion, per Michael Russo of The Athletic. Johansson suffered the injury when Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid discretely elbowed him in the head in the two sides’ Wednesday night matchup. The infraction did not result in a penalty during the game, nor any response from NHL Player Safety afterward. Johansson was helped off the ice following the hit, ending his night late in the second period. Tensions flared in response to the incident, not helped along by the fact that referee Chris Lee told Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek – who didn’t see the initial hit – that Johansson struck himself in the face with his own stick, per Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News.

Johansson will now head to IR for the first time this season. He’s been one of the few regulars in Minnesota’s injury-strewn year, and even then still missed one of the team’s 45 games this season with an upper-body injury in October. Consistency hasn’t meant high scoring for Johansson, who sits with just five goals and 16 points on the season. That puts him on pace for 30 points through 82 games this season, which would tie Johansson’s scoring total from last year. Johansson has continued to fill a serviceable middle-six role for the Wild, averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time.

This will be yet another injury for the Minnesota Wild to bear through. They’re already missing a chunk of the top of their lineup, including going without Kirill Kaprizov, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, and Brock Faber for at least the last four games. Their silver lining is the return of winger Jakub Lauko, who was activated off of long-term injured reserve earlier on Thursday after missing Minnesota’s last 15 games with a lower-body injury. Lauko’s injury, suffered on December 15th, came just over a week after he was activated off of IR from a previous injury, which had him on the shelf from November 26th to December 9th.

Lauko has only appeared in 24 games this season as a result of the back-to-back injuries. He has two goals, six points, and 16 penalty minutes in that span – continuing his lack of scoring from his 10-point season last year. He’s been a true fourth-line forward for the Wild, but might be called upon to help support the middle-six in Johansson’s absence.

After Johansson’s IR placement, Minnesota will move forward down two forwards. The Athletic’s Russo shares that he’s expecting the team to make a call-up in response, but their cap situation will make even that process stressful. Russo points out that Minnesota would exceed the salary cap by recalling two forwards, and may need to retroactively place Kaprizov on LTIR to open their finances. Minnesota could also turn towards an emergency call-up, but would first need to play a game without a full roster. The former option certainly seems more feasible, with Minnesota then likely to turn towards their cheaper options in the minor leagues. Travis Boyd, Ben Jones, Michael Milne, Brendan Gaunce, and Devin Shore all carry league-minimum ($775K) cap hits and have been previously called up at some point this season. They could make up the list of top options this week, while players like Liam Ohgren and Riley Heidt will be pricier, but more high-upside, bets.

Minnesota’s next game will come on Saturday, when they travel to Nashville to take on the struggling Predators. The Wild have set a 2-3-0 in their last five games while grappling with major injuries.

Avalanche To Reassign John Ludvig

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Jan. 16: Ludvig has cleared waivers and will be on his way to the AHL, Seravalli reports.

Jan. 15: The Avalanche placed defenseman John Ludvig on waivers Wednesday to assign him to AHL Colorado, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports.

Ludvig, 24, has made just eight appearances for the Avs since they claimed him off waivers from the Penguins at the end of training camp. He recently spent two weeks in the minors on a conditioning stint that didn’t require waivers, and Colorado’s decided he didn’t show enough to keep a spot on the NHL roster.

His last NHL appearance came on Dec. 5 against the Hurricanes, ending a three-game stretch where he was in the lineup each game but posted a minus-four rating. The 6’1″, 214-lb lefty had one assist and a minus-three rating in five AHL appearances over the past few weeks, and he now appears destined for more time there.

A third-round pick by the Panthers in 2019, Ludvig got his first crack at NHL minutes when Pittsburgh claimed him off waivers at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. He missed time due to concussions but managed 33 appearances, posting five points and a -12 rating, averaging 11:48 per game.

Ludvig has provided little upside thus far in his professional career outside of being a physical bottom-pairing piece, not enough to stick around on the Avs. He managed two points and a minus-four rating in his eight total appearances for the club.

Assuming he clears waivers, the Avalanche will hold onto Ludvig for the rest of the season. He’s in the back half of a two-year, two-way deal and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in July, although he risks being non-tendered.

Penguins’ Tristan Jarry Clears Waivers

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Jan. 16: As expected, the Penguins announced Blomqvist has been recalled from WBS while Jarry has been assigned there after clearing waivers.

Jan. 15: The Penguins will place goaltender Tristan Jarry on waivers later Wednesday, the team announced. It’s unclear if he’ll be assigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton if he clears or if he’ll remain on the roster, but Pittsburgh will give other teams a chance to take him off their hands for free before they decide how to move forward with the struggling netminder.

Jarry, who allowed three goals on 17 shots in last night’s loss to Seattle, is now down to an abysmal .886 SV% on the season with a 3.31 GAA and an 8-8-4 record in 21 starts and one relief appearance. He posted a .926 SV% in five AHL appearances earlier this year on a conditioning stint that didn’t require waivers, although that hasn’t changed his confidence or level of play at the NHL level.

Now 29, Jarry finished seventh in Vezina Trophy voting in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 campaigns. Those highs led the Pens to sign him to a five-year, $26.88MM deal minutes before he was set to reach unrestricted free agency in 2023.

Just a year and a half in, they’re already trying to find ways to get out of the deal. If they can’t trade him or convince another club to snag his $5.375MM cap hit off waivers, he could be headed for a buyout this summer.

Notwithstanding this year’s struggles, Jarry’s career numbers are still quite good. The 2013 second-round pick has suited up 278 times for the Pens since debuting in the 2016-17 season, posting a 144-92-29 record with 19 shutouts, a 2.74 GAA, and a .910 SV%. He’s stopped 14.2 goals above average throughout his nine-year career and tied for the league lead in shutouts with six as recently as the 2023-24 campaign.

Without the risk of his contract hamstringing an acquiring team, Jarry would likely be snapped up on the waiver wire and would have even generated significant interest on the trade market considering his past resume. But more than three seasons remaining at a steep cap hit will likely be too much to swallow for even the most financially flexible teams if he can’t rebound from this year’s regression.

Unfortunately, backup Alex Nedeljkovic hasn’t been any better, with a matching .886 SV% in his 19 showings this season. Their best option has been 23-year-old Joel Blomqvist, who’s been in the minors for the last two months but seems ticketed for a recall after Jarry’s waiver period ends Thursday.

Blomqvist, who the Pens selected 52nd overall in 2020 and earned a spot on the AHL’s All-Rookie Team last season, had a .904 SV% and saved 2.1 goals above expected in eight games early this season while Jarry was on his conditioning loan, per MoneyPuck. He also has a .912 mark and a 6-4-2 record in 12 showings with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Maple Leafs Reassign Marshall Rifai, Activate Jake McCabe

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Jan. 16: The Leafs announced they’ve activated McCabe as expected. Their active roster is full once again.

Jan. 15: The Maple Leafs reassigned defenseman Marshall Rifai to AHL Toronto on Wednesday, according to an announcement from the club. Toronto now has an open roster spot, which could be used to activate fellow blue-liner Jake McCabe from injured reserve before Thursday’s game against the Devils.

Rifai, 26, had been on Toronto’s roster since Jan. 6. Serving as an extra defender in McCabe’s absence, he was scratched for all four games on his recall.

The 6’2″, 213-lb lefty has been recalled from the AHL three times since clearing waivers during training camp, but they haven’t resulted in any game action. His only two career NHL appearances came with the Leafs last season, recording a plus-one rating and a shot on goal with four hits while averaging 11:40 of ice time.

Signed as an undrafted free agent to an AHL contract out of Harvard in 22, Rifai has slowly but surely worked his way up the organizational ladder over the past three years. The feisty defender’s continued development in the minors and strong training camp performances earned him a two-year, one-way extension worth $1.55MM in September, so while he hasn’t gotten any looks yet this season, the Leafs still envision him playing contests for them in the future.

Between call-ups, Rifai has two goals, two assists, four points, 24 PIMs, and a plus-eight rating in 26 AHL games. He’s serving as an alternate captain for the first time.

McCabe, 31, has missed four games with an upper-body injury he sustained on Jan. 5 against the Flyers when he hit his head on the ice following a fight with Garnet Hathaway. It’s his second upper-body injury, both suspected concussions, since the beginning of December.

Head coach Craig Berube told reporters Monday that McCabe is “doing really well” after he skated on his own before practice (via Nick Barden of The Hockey News). The stalwart lefty has missed nine games in total due to injury this season but is averaging a career-high 20:52 per game when in the lineup.

Senators Reassign Zack MacEwen

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The Senators announced that winger Zack MacEwen has been returned to AHL Belleville. After recalling defenseman Donovan Sebrango this morning, they’re back to having an open spot on the active roster. That spot will likely go to IR-bound forward Michael Amadio, who Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports will return to the lineup for the first time since sustaining a concussion against the Canucks on Dec. 21.

It’s the second time MacEwen has been demoted this season after clearing waivers and heading to the B-Sens in November. Now in the second season of a three-year, $2.33MM contract, he doesn’t count against the cap when in the minors, but he earns the league minimum of $775K salary no matter where he plays. MacEwen doesn’t need waivers today because he’s only been rostered for six days and played twice since he was recalled on Jan. 10, his first summons since clearing waivers.

MacEwen was scratched for the first game of his recall but got into game action for the last two, posting a minus-one rating with three shots on goal and fighting Islanders veteran enforcer Matt Martin in Tuesday’s win. The 28-year-old hasn’t been a factor outside of his penchant for dropping the gloves since arriving in Ottawa in free agency in 2023, posting six points and 78 PIMs in 51 games since signing that three-year commitment. He’s been a solid offensive contributor in the minors, though, posting 16 points in 24 games for the B-Sens over the past two years.

All signs point toward Amadio replacing MacEwen as the club’s fourth-line right wing as he eases back into action. The 28-year-old has been a decent depth scoring presence for Ottawa this season, posting a pair of goals and eight assists for 10 points in 33 appearances. However, it’s not quite the production they expected after he notched 30 goals and 54 points in 140 games for the Golden Knights over the prior two campaigns, prompting the Sens to sign him to a three-year, $7.8MM deal over the summer.

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