Injury Updates: Kakko, Lightning, Okposo, Murray
The upper-body injury that landed Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko on injured reserve is one that has been lingering for a little while and could keep him out for a while, reports Mollie Walker of the New York Post. It has been a disappointing third season for the 2019 second-overall selection who has managed just 14 points in 37 games although the fact he was playing through this could at least play a small role in his sluggish start. Head coach Gerard Gallant indicated that the 20-year-old is currently listed as out week-to-week.
Other injury notes from around the NHL:
- The Lightning will be without defensemen Zach Bogosian and Erik Cernak for the next three games, relays Joe Smith of The Athletic (Twitter link). Bogosian is dealing with a lower-body injury while Cernak’s hasn’t been disclosed yet. Both blueliners will be re-evaluated after that stretch which suggests they’ll be out at least a little longer beyond that point.
- Sabres winger Kyle Okposo has resumed skating but is not with the team on their road trip which begins tonight in Ottawa, notes Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald. The veteran is working his way back from an upper-body injury and has actually been one of Buffalo’s better offensive players this season as he ranks fourth in team scoring with 23 points in 37 games.
- Avalanche defenseman Ryan Murray skated in a non-contact jersey on Monday and is getting close to returning to the lineup, mentions Mike Chambers of the Denver Post. The veteran has missed five straight games with an upper-body injury and his return would be a welcome one with there being no timetable for Bowen Byram’s return.
Latest On Vancouver GM Search
7:10 PM: Allvin appears to be the frontrunner for the job at the moment, tweets TSN’s Darren Dreger. No deal is in place yet but it appears progress is being made on one.
4:16 PM: The Vancouver Canucks are expected to hire their next general manager in the coming days after conducting a search that included interviews with several candidates. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets that the final five candidates include Mathieu Darche, Patrik Allvin, Scott Mellanby, and Sean Burke–plus another name that has yet to be reported.
Darche, director of hockey operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and was recently linked to the GM search in Montreal before that job ultimately went to superagent Kent Hughes. The 45-year-old executive played 250 games in the NHL, ending his on-ice career in 2012 before being part of the NHLPA’s bargaining committee during the 2012-13 lockout.
Allvin, considered the frontrunner by many, was actually the one who took over as interim GM for the Pittsburgh Penguins when Jim Rutherford resigned last year. With Rutherford now in charge of the Canucks, Allvin’s candidacy certainly makes a lot of sense.
No matter who takes over, the Vancouver front office appears to be one that will have many new voices. Outside of the new GM and Rutherford, there’s also recently hired assistant GM Emilie Castonguay, who will be involved in all aspects of hockey operations and analytics hire Rachel Doerrie. As Rutherford explained when Doerrie was hired, there are “a lot of holes to fill” in the organization, not just at the senior executive level.
Keith Yandle Sets NHL Ironman Record
Last season, Patrick Marleau broke a record that some expected to withstand the test of time when he broke the all-time games played mark. Today, another record that had stood for a long time was broken when Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle suited up in the starting lineup against the Islanders, his 965th straight game played, surpassing Doug Jarvis who had held the record since 1986.
Yandle is in his 16th NHL season and hasn’t missed a game since March 26, 2009, back in his first full season. But getting to this point hasn’t been without its challenges as he was very nearly made a healthy scratch in Florida at the start of last season but managed to play in every game, albeit in a more limited role than he was accustomed to.
After the Panthers bought the 35-year-old out last summer, he signed a one-year, $900K contract with Philadelphia (that holds full no-trade protection) with the hopes that he could add some firepower to their back end. That hasn’t happened, however, as he has just 13 assists in 42 games while his playing time has dipped to just over 15 minutes a night, nearly six minutes below his career average.
While Yandle has the record, there’s definitely a chance that his benchmark – which should continue to grow in the coming weeks – won’t be the top one for as long as Jarvis held his record. Coyotes winger Phil Kessel is suiting up in his 941st career game tonight and while he obviously won’t make up any ground as long as both are playing every game, the veteran winger is a year younger and is still fairly productive which could give him a chance to catch Yandle at some point.
But that chase is for a later date. At this moment, Yandle stands alone with the ironman record and if he continues to play in every game for the Flyers this season, he’ll crack the 1,000 consecutive games played mark in April.
Jets Announce Several Roster Moves
Prior to their game tonight against Florida, the Jets announced (Twitter link) quite a few roster moves. Defensemen Dylan DeMelo and Logan Stanley were both placed on injured reserve while fellow blueliner Josh Morrissey entered COVID protocol. That resulted in the recalls of rearguards Ville Heinola and Johnny Kovacevic from the taxi squad as well as forward Kristian Reichel. In order to get cap-compliant to make those moves, goaltender Mikhail Berdin was sent back to the taxi squad while center David Gustafsson was transferred to LTIR.
DeMelo suffered an upper-body injury back on Saturday against Boston and has been listed as day-to-day since then; if the IR placement was backdated, he will be eligible to return as soon as this weekend. As for Stanley, he was injured back on Thursday with interim head coach Dave Lowry telling reporters, including Sportsnet’s Ken Wiebe (Twitter link) that Stanley’s designation is longer than day-to-day. At this point, the fact that they didn’t see fit to place him on LTIR should at least be considered as some cause for optimism as that would have forced him to miss 10 games and 24 days. That’s what will happen for Gustafsson although he last played nearly three weeks ago and assuming his placement was backdated, he could be back as soon as next week.
The loss of Morrissey will certainly be a big loss for the Jets in the short term as he logs just shy of 23 minutes a game on the back end, the most of anyone on the team. He’ll be out for at least five days as a result of this placement as long as it’s for a confirmed positive test.
As for the recalls, Heinola is the most experienced with 13 career games under his belt although none of them have come this season as Winnipeg has opted to have the 2019 first-rounder develop with a consistent role in the AHL where he has chipped in with 16 points in 24 games. Reichel made his NHL debut last month and has played in five games overall this season, picking up his first career NHL goal in the process. Meanwhile, Kovacevic is in his fourth season in Winnipeg’s system and this is his first career recall to the big club. He has 14 points in 32 games with AHL Manitoba so far in 2021-22.
Snapshots: Power, Maple Leafs, Dorion
The Buffalo Sabres are going to be watching the upcoming Beijing Olympics very closely, as Owen Power helps lead Canada in the men’s hockey tournament before ever playing a professional game. The first-overall pick from 2021 went back to the University of Michigan to try for a national championship but could be in a Sabres sweater before the season is over should he sign his entry-level contract after his NCAA season ends.
Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams has already started those conversations with Power and his adviser Pat Brisson and tells Tom Gulitti of NHL.com that he’s “excited” about the idea of the big defenseman joining the Sabres. There’s little doubt that he could have played in the NHL this season, given his performance at the World Championship last summer–Power started as the seventh defenseman but was on the first pairing by the end of the tournament–but he returned to Michigan along with several other top picks after the program was forced out of last year’s NCAA tournament due to COVID restrictions.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs spent several draft picks last trade deadline to add rentals to the group, acquiring the likes of Nick Foligno, David Rittich, Riley Nash, and Ben Hutton, all players that left in the offseason. This year they might be looking more at players with some term, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston on the latest edition of Insider Trading. Darren Dreger added that the Maple Leafs are even one of the many teams that have kicked the tires on Jakob Chychrun of the Arizona Coyotes, who has three years left on his current contract, though they are not considered among those who have shown strong interest.
- Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion was at the Minnesota Wild-Montreal Canadiens game yesterday, but it apparently wasn’t really to watch the Canadiens. On Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun explained that Dorion was there to watch the Wild and speak with GM Bill Guerin. Nothing is imminent, according to LeBrun, but he notes that Dorion is expected to be pop up at other games that do not involve the Senators between now and the deadline as they prepare their strategy.
Jason Zucker Undergoes Surgery
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost Teddy Blueger to surgery yesterday and now they’ve announced another forward will be out long-term. Jason Zucker underwent successful core muscle surgery today at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.
Zucker, who had played just one game since December 19, is listed out week-to-week at this time, but the Penguins say that they will have a more accurate timeframe for his recovery in the coming days.
It’s another blow that the red-hot Penguins will need to sidestep as they continue their march up the Metropolitan Division standings, but one that isn’t exactly as devastating as it would have been in Zucker’s early career. In Pittsburgh, he hasn’t really ever been healthy or productive, save for the short stretch after being acquired in 2020, before the original COVID shutdown. In the two seasons since, Zucker has recorded just 31 points in 69 games. Just 13 of those have coming in 2021-22, meaning this isn’t really a key offensive player being pulled from the lineup.
Still, with Zucker earning $5.5MM against the cap, there was hope he would still find the level that made him a 33-goal scorer in 2017-18 with the Minnesota Wild and help the Penguins over the hump. He’s now on long-term injured reserve which opens up some cap space until he returns, but Pittsburgh certainly isn’t getting the kind of production they hoped for when they traded Calen Addison and a first-round pick (and Alex Galchenyuk) to the Wild.
It will be interesting to see what the timeline for Zucker is in the coming days, and when exactly he is expected back in the lineup. Core muscle surgeries are notorious for having negative effects on performance well after a player has been medically cleared to return, meaning the Penguins could probably use that $5.5MM more effectively as the trade deadline approaches should Zucker face a months-long recovery.
J.T. Miller Removed From Protocol As Trade Rumors Swirl
There has been a lot of speculation about J.T. Miller‘s future over the last few days and during that time he wasn’t even with the Canucks. Miller was placed in isolation after a positive COVID test five days ago, but has now rejoined his teammates after exiting the protocol. He was on the ice for Vancouver today and based on jersey color, Thomas Drance of The Athletic tweets that it looks like he’ll be reunited with Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson on the “Lotto Line” for tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Miller, 28, hasn’t played in a week, but every time he does step on the ice for Vancouver this season he only improves his trade value. With 39 points through 39 games, he’s on pace for his best offensive season yet and the second point-per-game campaign since arriving in Vancouver in 2019. The veteran forward has been linked to the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Minnesota Wild in recent days, with Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff discussing his future again today:
I think the Rangers stand out a bit as the team that has been ‘next level’ in terms of interest. They have a fit there, he knows what it’s like, he’s comfortable with the organization having already played there. That makes sense.
It’s not just a simple rental in the case of Miller either, as his contract extends through next season at a reasonable $5.25MM cap hit. He does not hold any trade protection, as the Canucks voided the modified no-trade clause that was originally included in the contract when he signed it with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Because the clause had not kicked in yet, Vancouver was allowed to do so after acquiring him in trade.
The Canucks made a few other moves today as well. Spencer Martin has been cleared to play again, after he too was put in the protocol just two days ago. He at least will give Vancouver another professional goaltender until Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak exit the protocol. The team played with an emergency backup on Sunday, giving Michael DiPietro the start. The team has also recalled Ashton Sautner to the taxi squad while moving Sheldon Dries to the taxi squad in order to open a spot for Miller.
Unfortunately, Tanner Pearson tested positive this morning according to Ben Kuzma of Postmedia, and the Canucks have now officially announced that he is in the protocol. He’ll be unavailable for the team tonight.
Erik Karlsson Undergoes Surgery
The San Jose Sharks will be without their $11.5MM man for the next few months, as Erik Karlsson underwent surgery yesterday to repair a small muscle tear in his left forearm. The team explained that though recovery time can vary in injuries like this, Karlsson is expected to be re-evaluated partway through March.
It’s a brutal blow for Karlsson particularly, given his bounce-back season so far. The 31-year-old had already passed his 2020-21 points total by registering 26 in 33 games this season, good enough for 15th among all NHL defensemen (even higher when looking at points-per-game). His possession numbers had rebounded, solid reports were coming out about his defensive play, and even though he’s still overpaid as the fourth-highest cap hit in the league, his contract didn’t seem as devastating.
Now, with an absence of at least two months, he’ll have to once again rededicate himself to a recovering from injury instead of helping the Sharks.
Karlsson’s career thus far has been a wild ride, with some suggesting that for a time he was the best hockey player in the world. It certainly seemed that way when he carried the Senators to within a goal of reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, averaging more than 28 minutes a night. A two-time Norris Trophy winner, and four-time Hart Trophy nominee, injuries have negatively affected what is still likely to be a Hall of Fame career. Karlsson already ranks 31st all-time in points by a defenseman, and he’s racked up those 651 in just 821 regular season games. Among defensemen who have played at least 500 games, his 0.79 points-per-game rate is 12th all-time.
Unfortunately for the Sharks, he just can’t seem to stay healthy. Karlsson still has five years left on the massive, eight-year, $92MM contract he signed in 2019 and will carry an $11.5MM cap hit through 2026-27. Hopefully, this most recent injury will not have any lasting effects and he can get back to playing good hockey for the team later this season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Philadelphia Flyers Hire John Torchetti
The Philadelphia Flyers have added an assistant coach to the staff, filling a vacancy left behind by the firings earlier this season. John Torchetti has been hired and will join Mike Yeo‘s staff, along with Nick Schultz and Darryl Williams. Notably, the Flyers also announced that Yeo will remain interim head coach for the remainder of the season, despite the team losing their last 12 in a row and 14 of 19 since he took over.
If there wasn’t so much frustration surrounding the Flyers at the moment, Torchetti joining Yeo’s staff might bring a few laughs. After all, he was the coach who took over in Minnesota when Chuck Fletcher–then the Minnesota GM, now Philadelphia’s–fired Yeo in 2016. Torchetti has also served as an interim coach for the Florida Panthers and Los Angeles Kings, seemingly always coming in to clean up and add structure to a bad situation.
He actually had a winning record for Minnesota down the stretch and took that team to the playoffs, something that certainly doesn’t seem likely in Philadelphia this year. The team now sits dead last in the Metropolitan Division, tied with the New York Islanders despite playing eight more games. It’s been a dreadful stretch and the Flyers now own the third-worst goal differential in the entire NHL, only ahead of the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens.
Torchetti has been a head coach in the IHL, AHL, KHL, and QMJHL as well, most recently with the Moncton Wildcats in 2019-20.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/25/22
Eight games are on the slate tonight in the NHL, but all eyes will be on UBS Arena where the New York Islanders will welcome in the Philadelphia Flyers. A mid-week match between two struggling teams may not normally draw much attention but when Keith Yandle steps on the ice, he’ll pass Doug Jarvis and become the NHL’s all-time iron man. Yandle has played in his 964th consecutive match last night, failing to miss a game since starting his streak on March 26, 2009. Phil Kessel, who has his own streak going, will also be in action tonight in his 941st consecutive game. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- Erik Brannstrom has entered the COVID protocol today, meaning Lassi Thomson is back up from the AHL for the Ottawa Senators. Thomson, 21, has played in 12 games for Ottawa this season and another 15 for the Belleville Senators of the AHL. The 19th overall pick in 2019, he’s one of several high-end defense prospects in the Senators organization that will soon be fighting for full-time minutes at the NHL level.
- The Boston Bruins have recalled Jesper Froden to the taxi squad, giving them an extra forward as they hit the road for a game in Colorado tomorrow. Froden, an undrafted signing out of Sweden, has 21 points in 30 games for the Providence Bruins and made his NHL debut last month.
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Linus Sandin and Connor Bunnaman to the active roster, loaning Jackson Cates back to the taxi squad. Sandin is expected to make his NHL debut this evening when the Flyers take on the Islanders.
Central Division
- The St. Louis Blues have assigned Dakota Joshua, Alexei Toropchenko, and Calle Rosen to the AHL after returning from their road trip. The team hosts the Calgary Flames on Thursday in a rematch of last night’s 7-1 thrashing.
- Riley Tufte has been assigned to the AHL by the Dallas Stars, where he can play tomorrow night for the Texas Stars. Tufte, 23, has played in five games for Dallas this season and has 13 points in 24 minor league games.
- The Arizona Coyotes have assigned Hudson Fasching to the AHL from the taxi squad, allowing the forward to continue his minor league season. Fasching has 16 points in 19 games for the Tucson Roadrunners so far.
- The Nashville Predators have recalled defenseman Matt Tennyson and center Cole Smith from the taxi squad. Tennyson has three assists in two games with the Preds so far this season while Smith has suited in five games without recording a point.
Pacific Division
- The Los Angeles Kings have made their usual long list of moves on an off day. Samuel Fagemo, Alex Turcotte, Christian Wolanin, and Matt Villalta have all been sent from the taxi squad to the minor leagues. Austin Strand has been moved from the Kings’ active roster to the taxi squad, while Jacob Ingham and Jacob Moverare have been brought up from Ontario to the taxi squad. Expect more movement before Thursday’s game against the Islanders as the Kings continue to juggle the salary cap and development of young players.
This page will be updated throughout the day