Marc Staal Placed In COVID Protocol
It appears as though Marc Staal‘s season is over, as today the Detroit Red Wings announced that the veteran defenseman has been placed in the COVID protocol. Staal would have had to test to travel with the team to Toronto for tonight’s game against the Maple Leafs. The team recalled Riley Barber and Kyle Criscuolo under emergency conditions earlier today.
Staal, 35, played just nine minutes in a game on Monday against the New Jersey Devils, his 71st appearance of the season. He actually recorded 16 points in those games, his highest single-season total since 2014-15. Never much of an offensive presence, he was relied on in Detroit to provide stable defensive minutes while the team sheltered younger options, but will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Recently nominated for the Masterton Trophy, it will be interesting to see if the Red Wings decide to bring him back on another one-year deal, given the influx of younger talent. Simon Edvinsson recently signed his entry-level deal, while deadline acquisition Jake Walman has played regularly since arriving. With Staal and Danny DeKeyser both on expiring deals, the team’s blue line could lose quite a bit of its “veteran presence” in the offseason.
For now, hopefully, Staal is not presenting with any serious symptoms and he can get back to normal in the coming days. He will be held out for a minimum of five though, meaning tonight’s game and Friday’s finale are out of the question.
Anaheim Ducks Extend Sam Carrick
The Anaheim Ducks have announced a two-year contract extension for Sam Carrick, keeping him from unrestricted free agency this summer. PuckPedia reports that the deal carries an NHL cap hit of $850K.
Carrick, 30, finally established himself as an NHL regular this season after a long career in the minor leagues, playing 64 games for the Ducks. The bang-and-crash forward racked up 122 hits and 85 penalty minutes, but also added 11 goals, a strong performance for a bottom-six option that was averaging just over 11 minutes a night. That performance has been rewarded, as the Ducks obviously see him as a useful depth piece to keep around for the next two seasons.
It’s not like Carrick is completely unfamiliar with scoring, despite having just four NHL goals before this season. He has routinely been a strong contributor at the minor league level, racking up 138 goals and 309 points in 467 career AHL games. For the last three seasons, he has been the captain of the San Diego Gulls, though it doesn’t really seem like he’ll be reprising that role next season with this new deal and his breakthrough campaign.
One has to wonder whether a signing like this is in response to some of the things that have happened to the Ducks over the last month, namely the incident between Jay Beagle and Troy Terry. When the team traded Nicolas Deslauriers and Josh Manson at the deadline, they got rid of a lot of the tough, physical players that could help “protect” their young stars. Carrick, who has 11 fighting majors this season, tied for third in the league behind only Deslauriers and Tanner Jeannot of the Minnesota Wild, can fill that type of physical role in the bottom six while also adding a bit of offense.
For the player, this is obviously a huge win. Carrick hasn’t had a multi-year contract since a two-year deal he signed with the Ducks in 2017, and that contract was a two-way deal that saw him earn only a handful of days of NHL pay. This new two-year, one-way contract represents the biggest payday of his career, and a nice reward for one of the organization’s heart-and-soul players.
Michael Hage Headed To USHL
The USHL’s Chicago Steel landed a top CHL prospect when they signed a tender agreement with Macklin Celebrini earlier this month, and now they’ve done it again. Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald reports that Michael Hage has also signed a tender with the Steel, and will pass on the chance to play in the OHL.
Hage, 16, was expected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming OHL draft after his incredible performance at the 2022 OHL Cup, a tournament for the best U16 teams from Ontario and the United States. The young forward registered seven goals and 16 points for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, only trailing Michael Misa–the latest player to be granted exceptional status into the CHL–in both categories.
While Misa is a top prospect for the 2025 draft, Hage is eligible for the 2024 event and figures to be a potential first-round selection at this point. While there’s still lots of time for that to change, joining the powerhouse Steel program should certainly help his development. It also means that Hage will retain his NCAA eligibility, perhaps leading to an opportunity to play college hockey in the future–something that disappears when a player suits up in the OHL.
At any rate, Hage will still likely be selected at some point in the OHL draft later this week and a team will hold his rights to try and convince him down the road. Fans in Chicago will be lucky enough to see him as he takes the next steps toward NHL relevance.
New Jersey Devils Recall Reilly Walsh
The New Jersey Devils could have another player make his NHL debut in the coming days, as prospect Reilly Walsh has been recalled from the Utica Comets. The young defenseman has joined the team in Ottawa and is available for tonight’s game.
It wasn’t always even clear if the Devils would be able to sign Walsh at all before he reached unrestricted free agency but in 2020 when it became clear that Harvard may not even play the 2020-21 season, the college standout signed his entry-level deal. That brought him into the Devils system after three outstanding years in the NCAA, and Walsh picked up right where he left off.
In 33 games last season he registered five goals and 15 points, numbers that are now dwarfed by his production this year. Walsh has 42 points in 69 games with Utica in 2021-22, good for fifth among all AHL defensemen. The right-shooting puck-mover will now likely get a chance to dip his toes into the NHL waters before competing for a full-time role with the team next season.
Remember, the Devils have P.K. Subban coming off the books at the end of the season and will need someone to replace him. While Walsh likely isn’t the top candidate, a good showing in the last few games could certainly move him a spot or two up the depth chart. During his time in college he was seen as almost a can’t-miss prospect, and his performance at the AHL shouldn’t really dull that shine.
Notably, he also is still signed to his entry-level deal for next season, meaning these games pose no risk of affecting summer negotiations. He’ll also still be waiver-exempt next season, meaning he can pop up and down when needed. While there is no playoff chase for the Devils, they’ve at least made the last few games more interesting.
AHL Shuffle: 04/26/22
After a quiet Monday in the NHL, things are back up and running with a 13-game slate this evening. That includes the game that most eyes will be watching, when the Vegas Golden Knights fight for their season when they take on the Dallas Stars. Vegas can’t lose this game if they have any hope of making the playoffs, though it still would only give them a glimmer of hope. Other matchups, like the St. Louis Blues taking on the Colorado Avalanche or Carolina Hurricanes taking on the New York Rangers, should give fans a nice preview of playoff hockey as good teams try to tune up before the postseason.
As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent Carl Dahlstrom back to the AHL, recalling Nick Robertson in his place under emergency conditions. With Michael Bunting out with an injury, Robertson could get a look in the top six for the Maple Leafs as the playoffs approach.
- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Riley Barber and Kyle Criscuolo under emergency conditions, giving them another pair of bodies for tonight’s game against Toronto. The Red Wings are well out of the playoff chase, but still have some time to give the fans a bit of excitement for next season.
- As expected, the Ottawa Senators have recalled Scott Sabourin and Mark Kastelic once again. The team is not expecting to see Colin White or Connor Brown over the last few games, meaning they needed their depth players back from Belleville.
Metropolitan Division
- The New York Islanders recalled defenseman Robin Salo today under emergency conditions. The 23-year-old defenseman has four points in 18 games with the Islanders this year, and with no extra healthy defenseman on the Islanders roster, he’ll draw in for the team tonight with an unknown injury occurring.
Central Division
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled prospect Victor Soderstrom once again, as he continues to look for his first point at the NHL level this season. The 21-year-old defenseman has played in 13 games so far, 17 for his whole career.
- The Nashville Predators have recalled Mathieu Olivier from the AHL, giving them an extra player for tonight’s matchup against the Calgary Flames. The 25-year-old Olivier has played in just eight games for Nashville this season and is still looking for his first goal. Overall, he has seven points in 46 games and represents more of a physical presence than an offensive one.
Pacific Division
- The San Jose Sharks have recalled Lane Pederson, with the Barracuda eliminated from postseason contention. Pederson, 24, has split time between the two levels this season, playing 28 games for the Sharks and 22 for the Barracuda. The results have been very different, with just two assists during his time in the NHL.
- The Calgary Flames have announced that goaltender Dustin Wolf, who was with the team on an emergency recall, has been re-assigned to the AHL’s Stockton Heat. Wolf, 21, has been brilliant this season for Stockton, with a .924 save percentage in 46 starts. He’s widely considered to be the Flames’ best goalie prospect and among the best netminder prospects in hockey.
This page is updated throughout the day
IIHF Withdraws 2023 World Championship From Russia
The IIHF has imposed another sanction on the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, this time removing the 2023 World Championship from St. Petersburg. The event will be held at a different location, one that will be confirmed next month at the IIHF Annual Congress in Finland, during the final week of this year’s tournament.
In a press release, they explained:
The decision to relocate the event was taken primarily out of concern for the safety and well-being of all participating players, officials, media, and fans. As was the case with Council’s earlier decision to withdraw the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship that was to be held in Omsk and Novosibirsk, Russia, the Council expressed significant concerns over the safe freedom of movement of players and officials to, from, and within Russia.
The IIHF has now imposed several negative measures on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including the removal of the Russian and Belarusian teams from several international tournaments altogether. The 2023 World Juniors had already been withdrawn from the country.
Originally scheduled for St. Petersberg from May 5-21, the 2023 event will now have a new home. As Gord Miller of TSN tweets, the city had built a new rink that was meant to be the “centerpiece” of the 2023 championship.
PHF Announces Reagan Carey As Next Commissioner
The PHF will have a new commissioner moving forward, as Reagan Carey has been introduced as the replacement for the outgoing Tyler Tumminia. Carey will take over the position full-time on May 10. Tobin Kelly, who chaired the search committee, released the following statement:
The search committee had the opportunity to speak with many exceptional candidates who were considered for the role of PHF Commissioner over the course of this process. What stands out about Reagan Carey is not only her incredible depth of experience in the world of women’s hockey but the collaborative approach she brings to the position. In all of our many conversations, Reagan’s commitment to communication and her values that advocate for what is right and put players first, make her the perfect leader for the next phase of growth in the PHF. We are all excited about welcoming Reagan as she takes the lead in moving the PHF forward.
Carey, 43, has a long career in professional and amateur sports, including nearly a decade with USA Hockey as the general manager of the women’s program. She won gold medals at the U18 World Juniors, World Championship, and the Olympics, and has already worked with many of the athletes, coaches and staff members around the league.
The PHF has already introduced a huge increase in salary cap and benefits for next season, which will essentially begin on May 1 when unrestricted free agency opens for 2022-23.
Metropolitan Notes: Andersen, Snively, Rangers
After the Hurricanes got some good news when it came to goaltender Antti Raanta today, it appears things may be looking up even more on the injury front in Carolina. Sara Civian of The Athletic reports (subscription link) that goaltender Frederik Andersen should be good to go for the playoffs as well. The 32-year-old suffered an undisclosed injury a week and a half ago with little information revealed from there. While Civian notes that Andersen isn’t expected to dress for any of Carolina’s games this week, having both him and Raanta available for the postseason will certainly help their chances of a lengthy playoff run.
More from the Metropolitan:
- Capitals winger Joe Snively skated for the first time on Sunday after undergoing wrist surgery last month, relays Samantha Pell of the Washington Post. The 26-year-old did well in his first career NHL recall, picking up four goals and three assists before being injured in his 12th game at the end of February. Nevertheless, Snively did well enough to earn a two-year, one-way extension which he inked last month. It’s unlikely that Snively will be in Washington’s lineup to start the playoffs but if some injuries strike, he could be an option to suit up.
- The Rangers have listed forwards Andrew Copp, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil as game-time decisions for their game on Tuesday against Carolina as they look to stay in the mix for the top spot in the division, notes Ethan Sears of the New York Post. Copp (lower body) and Chytil (undisclosed) were both injured on Thursday while Kakko has been out for a week and a half with a lower-body injury and received a week-to-week designation at the time. Even if they don’t play on Tuesday, all three were full participants in practice which bodes well for their availability when the playoffs start next week.
Central Notes: DeBrincat, O’Brien, Spurgeon
Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat will be eligible to sign a contract extension in July and indicated to reporters, including Ben Pope of the Chicago-Sun Times, that he’s open to having those discussions whenever the team is. The 24-year-old has been one of the few bright spots for Chicago this season, notching 40 goals and 36 assists in 79 games. DeBrincat will be owed a $9MM qualifying offer in the 2023 offseason so it stands to reason that any discussion of an early extension will have that number as a starting point. Pope adds that DeBrincat isn’t expected to suit up at the World Championships next month with him and his wife expecting their first child.
Elsewhere in the Central:
- Coyotes winger Liam O’Brien may be able to return to the lineup on Wednesday against Dallas, relays Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). The 27-year-old has missed the last two months with an upper-body injury. O’Brien has had a quiet year with three points and 106 penalty minutes in 37 games but was rewarded with a two-year contract extension last month, the first one-way deal of his career.
- Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon left last night’s game early in the first period. While some were hoping he was being held out as a precautionary measure, head coach Dean Evason told reporters postgame, including Michael Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link), that the blueliner suffered an upper-body injury and will undergo testing to learn how much time he’ll miss. The timing is hardly optimal for Minnesota as Spurgeon is one of their top defensemen (he leads their back end in points with 39 while sitting third in ATOI at just over 21 minutes a night) and their first-round series against St. Louis starting early next week.
Injury Notes: Nurse, Raanta, Blackhawks
The Edmonton Oilers are still hoping that Darnell Nurse will be ready for game one of the playoffs, though that isn’t a guarantee. Jason Gregor of TSN tweets that Nurse will not play this week and the team won’t know until Friday if he’s going to be able to suit up to start their first-round series.
It is very likely that the Oilers will take on the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, and having their 25-minute-a-night defensive leader in the lineup would certainly be a positive. Edmonton has won just one playoff series since 2006, and certainly isn’t a heavy favorite at this point despite their strong second half. The team sits just two points ahead of Los Angeles, meaning home-ice advantage is still up for grabs this week as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins (tomorrow), San Jose Sharks (Thursday, and Vancouver Canucks (Friday). If he isn’t playing again in the regular season, Nurse finishes with 35 points in 71 games.
- Good news for the Carolina Hurricanes, who are crossing their fingers hoping for some health in goal as the playoffs arrive. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet tweets that Antti Raanta, who was pulled from last night’s game, should be ready to go tomorrow. It was apparently a “cramping issue” that Raanta was dealing with when the team was forced to put Pyotr Kochetkov into the net. With no clear timeline at this point for Frederik Andersen, Raanta is obviously of huge importance to the Hurricanes at the moment.
- Though they were on the ice today (in non-contact jerseys), Kirby Dach and Connor Murphy are not expected to play again for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, according to Charlie Roumeliotis of NBCS Chicago. It’s a predictable end to a terribly disappointing season for Dach especially, who registered just nine goals and 26 points in 70 games. The third-overall pick from 2019 has scored just 19 times in his 152 regular season games so far.