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Blue Jackets’ Kent Johnson Out For Season With Torn Labrum

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed sophomore forward Kent Johnson on injured reserve and announced he’s expected to miss the remainder of the season, set to undergo surgery to address a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The Blue Jackets also recalled goaltender Jet Greaves on an emergency basis, with Elvis Merzlikins out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Johnson suffered the injury in Columbus’ February 28th game against the New York Rangers but he didn’t miss any shifts, playing to the last minute and getting involved in the team’s only goal – though not getting credited with an assist. Johnson was on a 19-game streak without a goal prior to his injury, recording three assists and a -4 in that stretch. His season will now end with just six goals and 16 points in 42 games – a significant step down from the 16 goals and 40 points he managed in 79 games as a rookie last year.

The news of Johnson’s injury is a gut punch to a Blue Jackets lineup already down star rookie Adam Fantilli, who suffered a calf laceration in the team’s January 28th game against the Seattle Kraken. The 2023 third-overall pick will battle to return before the end of season, with his prognosis at the time designating an early April return.

Merzlikins will now miss even more ice time, after losing games to injury and a scratching earlier in the season. He’s served as the team’s de facto starter, recording 12 wins and a .904 save percentage in 35 games. The Blue Jackets will once again need to turn to Daniil Tarasov and Greaves to man the net. Tarasov has a modest .888 in 14 games, while Greaves saved 71 of the 76 shots he’s faced in just two games.

Trade Deadline Primer: Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite parting ways with Kyle Dubas and Jason Spezza this summer, bringing in multiple new faces including Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and John Klingberg, and receiving modest efforts from multiple goalies – the Leafs once again find themselves in a familiar spot, poised to add at the Trade Deadline to try and bring an oomph behind their star power. But unlike previous years, Toronto is getting hot at the right time, winning 13 of their last 16 games and outscoring opponents 66-to-43. Every piece of the lineup seems to be clicking, with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner paving history, Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll one-upping each other in net, and depth options like Calle Jarnkrok making big impacts coming off injured reserve. The Leafs could have enough chemistry to forgo any Deadline action, but they’ll be a favorite for top names if they do get involved.

Record

35-17-8, 3rd in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyers on a budget

Deadline Cap Space

$144,166 of cap space on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: TOR 1st, NYI 3rd, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, CGY 5th, VAN 5th, TOR 7th, OTT 7th
2025: TOR 5th, CHI 5th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th

Trade Chips

The Leafs are undeniably positioned as buyers ahead of the Deadline, and their trade chips match that. Leading the list is young winger Nicholas Robertson, who Toronto recently sent to the AHL to make room for Jarnkrok’s return. This season has marked Robertson’s first year in a full-time NHL role but he doesn’t have too much to show for it – managing a modest eight goals and 19 points in 41 games. Much of his ice time has come on the team’s third line, playing alongside either Jarnkrok or John Tavares at center. Robertson has yet to find his groove, despite strong linemates, but Toronto will need him to carry value – as the team has very little draft capital to work with. He joins a long list of promising, but so far unsuccessful, 22-year-olds on the trade market – including Philip Broberg, Arthur Kaliyev, and Kaapo Kakko – and like them, Robertson likely doesn’t yield a major return outright. But he’ll be a focal piece of any package the Leafs put together – with the team hoping his remaining potential is enough to swing a big trade.

If Robertson isn’t enough, it’s likely that Toronto turns towards their strong AHL pipeline before they sell off more draft capital. The Toronto Marlies are having a slow season overall – with a 23-18-11 record ranking them fifth in the AHL’s North Division – but they boast a long list of young talents that could draw interest from around the league. Headlining the list is 6’7” goaltender Dennis Hildeby, who’s managed 13 wins and a .912 save percentage in 28 games this season. It’s Hildeby’s first season in North American pros, though he played his first full pro season last year, when he recorded 11 wins and a .918 in 21 games with the SHL’s Färjestad BK. Hildeby has been a routine call-up this season, but has yet to make his NHL debut. He has loads of untapped potential and, with Woll returning strong from injury and Matt Murray progressing after double hip surgery, teams may be able to convince Toronto to, “sell high”, on the 22-year-old netminder.

The Marlies also boasts swiss-army-knife Alex Steeves, hard-nosed centerman Nicholas Abruzzese, or former seventh-round pick Ryan Tverberg. Steeves leads the bunch in scoring, with 43 points in 46 games, though Tverberg is the youngest of the trio at 22, while Steeves and Abruzzese are 24. The Leafs could even sell off top defensive prospect Topi Niemelä, who leads all Marlies defenders in scoring but hasn’t yet made his NHL debut.

While it’s never ideal to sell off talents before they get a shot at the NHL, it could be all Toronto can part with – with their NHL lineup looking fairly consistent. Backup goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones may end up expendable for the right price, though the Leafs would need to make sure they’ve found a confident starter before dealing away any goalies, including Hildeby. They similarly can’t spare much depth at forward, though the recent hot flashes of Bobby McMann or Pontus Holmberg could entice teams that need a little more certainty headed into the postseason.

Team Needs

1) An Answer On Defense – The Maple Leafs’ questions on defense are just getting tougher as time goes on, with veteran T.J. Brodie beginning to slow down and injuries catching the likes of Ilya Lyubushkin, Jake McCabe, and Timothy Liljegren at one point or another. While the Leafs have managed well through the challenges, they’ve had to rely on the likes of Maxime Lajoie and Marshall Rifai to get there. It’s clear that they’re missing key pieces on the blue line, and rumors have confirmed that they’re looking into the market’s top defenders. This includes top Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin, who seems near certain to move this Deadline. Hanifin has scored 11 goals – a career-high – and 35 points through 60 games this season. He’s on pace to narrowly fall short of his career-high in points as well, currently scoring at a 47-point pace through 82 games. Toronto is one of many teams involved in Hanifin trade talks – alongside the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers. But the Leafs may be in the best position to acquire the pending free agent, boasting a first-round pick unlike Florida, and a better short-term outlook than Arizona and Tampa. If the Leafs miss out on Hanifin, their best alternatives will likely be Philadelphia’s Sean Walker or Ottawa’s Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun was notably in trade talks at last year’s Deadline, moving from the Arizona Coyotes to the Ottawa Senators. He’s since managed 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games with the Senators, though their current situation makes him expendable to playoff teams looking for a defensive boost. Chychrun brings strong puck-moving skills, but may not have the defensive punch Toronto could use. That could be the factor that shifts them towards Walker, who’s offered a much more well-rounded skillset this season, while still scoring 22 points in 62 games.

2) Depth For The Playoffs – The Leafs have kicked off their Deadline early, sending a third-and-sixth-round draft pick away in exchange for Ilya Lyubushkin. While that acquisition has been debated, it leans into exactly what Toronto needs – more depth for the playoffs. They’ve boasted a strong minor-league system for many years but continue to fall flat in the postseason, thanks to an overreliance on star names or poorly timed injuries. While acquiring a big-name goaltender like Juuse Saros or Jacob Markstrom – or reeling in a star forward like Pavel Buchnevich or Jake Guentzel – would be certainly exciting, it’d undercut the fantastic talents that already lead Toronto’s lineup. They’d be better off focusing on less discussed Deadline names, like Jordan Eberle or Jack Roslovic – two players that could still manage big impacts in quaint roles. Nick Seeler and Andrew Peeke offer similar value on defense. These options would come at a significantly cheaper price, while still helping the Leafs build a lineup that can reliably drive them deep into the postseason. Toronto is having plenty of success with their current lineup, but any additions should be focused on patching the defense or solidifying their supporting cast – acquisitions that their limited assets will likely limit them to.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Afternoon Notes: Keller, Blackwood, Lyubushkin

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Star Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller could be back soon, per general manager Bill Armstrong, who designated Keller as day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered in the team’s February 25th game against the Winnipeg Jets. Keller will miss the team’s Sunday game against the Washington Capitals, marking his fourth absence with this injury.

Alexander Kerfoot has slotted into the team’s top-line center role in Keller’s absence, scoring two points in his last three games. That brings Kerfoot’s totals up to 35 points in 60 games – the second-most he’s scored in the last five years. But it pales in comparison to Keller, who leads the Coyotes in scoring by nine points, with 22 goals and 52 points in 56 games. He and winger Matias Maccelli are the team’s only players to break 40 points so far this season, through Arizona’s first 60 games.

Keller’s upgrade to a day-to-day designation is exciting progression for a Coyotes team that’s lost 16 of their last 19 games, getting outscored 49-to-76. Keller continues to be a major piece of Arizona’s offense, averaging over 19 minutes of ice time this season, and will likely slot immediately back into their top forward role when he’s healthy.

Other notes from around the league:

  • San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood traveled with the team to face the Minnesota Wild and is trending towards making a return this week, per Sheng Peng with NBC Sports. Blackwood has been facing an undisclosed injury since the team’s Tuesday night loss to the New Jersey Devils, missing San Jose’s last two games. The injury earned Blackwood a spot on injured reserve on Wednesday, making San Jose’s upcoming Tuesday matchup against the Dallas Stars the earliest that he could return. He’s faced a string of injuries this season but has still operated as San Jose’s starter, recording nine wins and a .899 save percentage in 35 games.
  • Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin has a head injury, according to head coach Sheldon Keefe, after receiving a hit to the head from New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe. Keefe had some choice words for Rempe’s hit, slamming the rookie winger for leaving his feet and taking a player out of the game. There is currently no timetable for Lyubushkin’s return. He was in his first game with the Leafs this season, after joining the team via trade from the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the week.

Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov Clears Waivers, Loaned To AHL

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3/3: Kuznetsov has officially cleared waivers and been loaned to the AHL’s Hershey Bears, per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, who shares that Kuznetsov is one of the league’s highest-salaried players of all time.

3/2: Earlier today, Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov was cleared to resume practicing with the team and has entered the follow-up phase of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, per a league announcement.  However, he won’t be getting that opportunity as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Washington has placed the veteran on waivers.

Notably, Kuznetsov has not been cleared to return to game action through the program yet which makes the timing of this placement a little surprising.  The 31-year-old entered the Player Assistance Program last month and hadn’t been counting against Washington’s books since then; that will be changing and his $7.8MM AAV will soon be back on their books.

In his prime, Kuznetsov was a legitimate top-line center and even just two years ago, he was hanging around the point-per-game mark.  However, his production dipped from 78 points to 55 points last season and this year, the drop-off has been even sharper.  Despite seeing his average ice time go up from a year ago, Kuznetsov has been limited to just six goals and 11 assists in 43 games with Washington while logging a little under 19 minutes a night.  Those numbers won’t be going up anytime soon as a result of this placement.

Kuznetsov has one year left on his contract after this one at that $7.8MM price tag so it’s hard to envision a scenario where he gets claimed.  Assuming he clears waivers on Sunday at 1 PM CT, he can be assigned to AHL Hershey, a move that would free up a pro-rated $1.15MM in salary cap space.

Speaking with reporters following the placement including Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press (Twitter link), GM Brian MacLellan indicated that this move is about getting Kuznetsov a fresh start.  With a waiver claim being unlikely, that fresh start will either have to come through a trade or buyout.

Washington could look to move Kuznetsov where they could retain up to 50% of his cap hit and salary, a move that might get them some takers as a low-risk flyer.  If that doesn’t happen, buying Kuznetsov out would cost $3.8MM against the cap next season and $2MM in 2025-26.  With the buyout charge and cost at 50% retention being pretty much the same for 2024-25, it wouldn’t be surprising to see MacLellan push to get something done on the trade front with the buyout being a last resort.  Either way, it looks like Kuznetsov’s time with the Capitals is about to be over.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

New York Rangers Sign Jonathan Quick To Extension

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Mar. 4: Quick’s deal includes an additional $25K performance bonus, per CapFriendly. He’ll earn the bonus if he makes at least 20 starts in 2024-25 and ends the season with a save percentage of .915 or above.

Mar. 3: The New York Rangers announced they have signed goaltender Jonathan Quick to a one-year contract extension. Signing a one-year deal with his hometown team this past offseason, Quick became eligible to sign an extension with the Rangers on January 1st of this year. Arthur Staple of The Athletic is reporting that New York will give Quick a slight increase on his current $825K salary, now paying the goaltender $1.275MM for the 2024-25 NHL season.  CapFriendly adds that Quick will receive a $775K base salary with a $500K signing bonus along with a 20-team no-trade clause.

Spending 15 and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Kings organization, Quick went on to become one of the top United States-born goaltenders in league history. Aside from Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014, Quick would win two William M. Jennings Trophies, earn three top-five finishes in Vezina Trophy voting, and one Conn Smythe Trophy.

In the last season of a 10-year, $58MM contract extension signed with the Kings on July 1st, 2012, Quick was soon made expendable by the only franchise he had ever known. Amid a poor season, Los Angeles sent Quick to the Columbus Blue Jackets as a part of a deal that brought Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov to California.

Without having much to compete for last season, the Blue Jackets were adamant about sending Quick to a playoff contender. Before even having the opportunity to suit up for Columbus, the organization sent Quick to the Vegas Golden Knights only one day later.

Quick performed mildly better for the Golden Knights, producing a 5-2-2 record in 10 games down the stretch, earning a .901 SV% and a 3.13 GAA. Even without having played a game for the team throughout the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Quick had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for a third time after Vegas hoisted the trophy for the first time in franchise history.

Becoming an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, the Milford, Connecticut native quickly signed with the Rangers on the first day of free agency. Carrying low expectations after a disappointing season last year, Quick has rebounded exceptionally well in the Big Apple.

Serving in the backup role behind Igor Shesterkin, Quick has arguably been the Rangers’ best goaltender this season. In 21 games played, Quick has accrued a 13-5-2 record, maintaining a .916 SV% and 2.45 GAA in the process.

With no serious contenders for the backup role making their way up the organizational depth chart, the strong play of Quick throughout this season led to today’s contract extension. Not only will Quick continue to play for his favorite team growing up, but earned himself a raise to boot.

Kevin Weekes of ESPN was the first to report that Quick had signed an extension in New York. 

Trade Deadline Notes: Hanifin, Markstrom, Guentzel

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On yesterday evening’s rendition of ’Saturday Headlines’ on Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman spoke at length about several rumblings across the league leading up to the trade deadline. One of the major discoveries presented by Friedman is that the Tampa Bay Lightning are the preferred landing spot for Calgary Flames’ defenseman Noah Hanifin and that he would be willing to discuss an extension.

The news comes shortly after a report suggested that the Florida Panthers were making a concerted push for Hanifin, which could simply be some rivalry gamesmanship on their part. At any rate, this report confirms that the Lightning are making a strong effort to fill in the void left by the injury to Mikhail Sergachev, and are not ready to cede the Atlantic Division to other up-and-coming teams in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

An extension in Tampa Bay would be the most difficult part of any hypothetical transaction to acquire Hanifin, due to the Lightning only having around $10.85MM available to them in cap space this offseason, even with the salary cap set to rise to $87.7MM. If Tampa Bay is amicable to signing Hanifin at a deal they believe gives them solid value, General Manager Julien BriseBois may have to make a difficult choice between Hanifin, and pending unrestricted free agent forward Steven Stamkos this summer.

Other notes:

  • Friedman also noted some specifics regarding the trade speculation surrounding Flames’ goaltender Jacob Markstrom, and the details behind his public frustration with the organization. Markstrom was originally displeased with the front office due to them indicating they had a deal in place to send him to the New Jersey Devils but then reversed course due to the solid play of the team in recent weeks. Friedman reports that even if the Devils are unable to acquire Markstrom before March 8th, New Jersey would be more than happy to reignite trade talks with Calgary at the 2025 NHL Draft.
  • Lastly, Friedman confirmed that the Pittsburgh Penguins had set the asking price for forward Jake Guentzel at two prospects; not one prospect and a first-round pick. Friedman’s report comes a few days after President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas said to reporters that the Penguins’ primary focus at this year’s trade deadline would be to get younger overall. With several buyers not interested in parting with a first-round pick at this year’s trade deadline, the asking price for Guentzel may lead to a larger market for Pittsburgh to choose from.

Florida Panthers Making Push For Noah Hanifin

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ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is reporting that the Florida Panthers are making a solid push to acquire defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames. It is important to note that the Panthers do not have a first-round pick to offer in either the 2024 NHL Draft or the 2025 NHL Draft.

Even with the Panthers now involving themselves in the fray; the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs have all had reported interest in Hanifin’s services. Already carrying an impressive defensive unit, Florida may be trying to drive up the price for their rival in the Lightning.

If Hanifin does make his way to Sunrise by March 8th, it would immediately create a very good problem to have for the Panthers. By acquiring Hanifin, the organization would now have four top-four defensemen set to hit unrestricted free agency including Brandon Montour, Gustav Forsling, and the resurgent Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

The team would create some long-term flexibility on their back end, especially if one of Montour or Forsling left for greener pastures this summer. However, as all of them will no longer be a part of the Panthers organization on July 1st, 2024, there is no guarantee that any of them will decide to re-up in Florida.

The inclusion of the Panthers in the race for Hanifin is very reminiscent of the Boston Bruins’ acquisition of Dmitry Orlov last spring from the Washington Capitals. Now on pace to win the President’s Trophy with their current defensive core, Florida may be looking to put themselves over the top in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs after falling three games short last year.

In now his sixth season with the Flames organization, Hanifin is once again putting together a solid year, making him the most popular trade deadline rental option this season. In 59 games so far, Hanifin has scored 11 goals and 34 points overall, averaging 23:44 minutes of ice time per night.

The looming question surrounding any acquisition of Hanifin is how receptive he will be in discussing a contract extension with the acquiring organization. Earlier in the year, Calgary reportedly offered an eight-year, $60MM extension to Hanfin and his camp, but that was evidently not enough to convince Hanifin to stay in Alberta long-term.

Vancouver Canucks Recall Vasily Podkolzin, Matt Irwin

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The Vancouver Canucks have recalled forward Vasily Podkolzin and defenseman Matt Irwin from their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, per a team announcement. The news comes shortly after the team reassigned Arshdeep Bains down to the AHL, and announced that Tyler Myers would be out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

Neither Podkolzin nor Irwin have suited up for a game in Vancouver yet this year, with both having only played in Abbotsford. In now his third season with the Canucks organization since being drafted by the team with the 10th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, Podkolzin has yet to make any serious headway in climbing the ladder of the organizational depth chart.

This season, Podkolzin has played in 44 games for Abbotsford, scoring 15 goals and 28 points throughout the year. In his complete tenure in the Canucks organization at the AHL level, Podkolzin has played in a total of 72 games, scoring 22 goals and 46 points overall.

Irwin, on the other hand, is in his first year with the Canucks organization, coming over as an unrestricted free agent from a two-year stint with the Washington Capitals. Primarily used as a bottom-pairing defenseman throughout much of his career, Irwin has scored three goals and 10 points through 46 games in Abbotsford this season.

It is unlikely that either player will get much playing time at the NHL level, but there is an avenue for both of them. If Vancouver is looking to give any top-nine players a rest, Podkolzin could certainly fill that role for a short period. With Myers also out, the team will now have Irwin and Mark Friedman to choose from to fill in the void.

Western Conference Notes: Eichel, Myers, Vilardi, Stankoven

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Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel won’t make his return from injury on Saturday, says head coach Bruce Cassidy. His next chance to return will come when Vegas visits the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Eichel has been out since January 11th, missing the team’s last 18 games with a knee injury that required surgery. He made his return to the team’s practices on Wednesday, quickly upgrading to a full-contact jersey and nearing a return.

Eichel’s return will offer major relief to a Vegas lineup that’s gone 2-5-1 in their last eight games – with opponents outscoring the Golden Knights 31-to-27. Eichel is the only Golden Knight scoring above a point-per-game pace this season, with 44 points in 42 games. Vegas has set a much more commanding 24-13-5 record in games Eichel has been healthy for.

Other notes from around the league:

  • Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers has been designated as week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. Mark Friedman will slot into his spot in the lineup. That will bring Friedman up to 21 NHL games this season, spending much of the year as an injury fill-in. He’s managed just one assist alongside 21 penalty minutes and a +5. Myers has so far appeared in all 62 Canucks games this season – a feat that, impressively, eight different Canucks have managed, including three defensemen.
  • Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi has returned to Winnipeg to seek further evaluation for an upper-body injury suffered in the team’s Thursday night loss to the Dallas Stars. Vilardi left the game after just 10 minutes of ice time. He missed Winnipeg’s Saturday morning win over the Carolina Hurricanes and will now miss one more game as the Jets round out their road trip on Sunday. Vilardi has scored 16 goals and 30 points in 38 games this season, though he’s been heavily limited by a string of injuries. The Jets have gone 26-10-2 in games Vilardi has appeared in this season.
  • The Dallas Stars have recalled impressive rookie Logan Stankoven, who was briefly sent down to the minors after the team’s Thursday night game. But with this recall, Dallas shows that move was purely transactional, and that Stankoven will indeed continue in an NHL role after recording three goals and four points in his first four career games. Stankoven has also recorded 57 points in 47 games this season, battling for the league’s top scorer title all season long.

Atlantic Notes: Tkachuk, Gadjovich, Johnson, Liljegren

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The Ottawa Senators have announced that team captain Brady Tkachuk will miss the team’s Saturday night game with an upper-body injury. This announcement came just over 20 minutes before game time. The nature of the injury isn’t clear, though Tkachuk did leave the team’s Friday night game early after colliding with Arizona Coyotes forward Liam O’Brien early in the third period. He managed roughly 19 minutes of ice time, six hits, and a +2 before exiting.

Tkachuk has been a major contributor this season, leading the team in goals with 26 and ranked third in points with 50. He’s also recorded 104 penalty minutes on the year – one of just three NHL players to cross the century mark in penalty minutes, with O’Brien leading the league in that category. Ottawa is not currently carrying an extra forward, likely meaning they’ll play Saturday down a player – which would make them eligible for an emergency call-up after the game. Rourke Chartier has served as the team’s de facto recall this season, playing in 34 NHL games and scoring three points, though he’s one of five different Belleville Senators forwards to play with Ottawa this season.

Other notes around the Division:

  • Florida Panthers forward Jonah Gadjovich is expected to return when the team visits the New York Rangers on Monday, per the team’s Senior Digital Content Manager Jameson Olive. Olive describes Gadjovich’s injury as “minor”. Gadjovich also sat out of Florida’s Thursday night win over the Montreal Canadiens. He’s recorded four points, split evenly, and 90 penalty minutes in 31 games this season.
  • Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson will continue to sit out of the lineup with illness, per Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News. Johnson also missed Buffalo’s Thursday night game, after being a surprise absentee from the team’s practice. He’s appeared in 50 games this season, with three goals marking his only scoring. Johnson is in the 16th season of his career, totaling 970 games and 340 points in the league.
  • Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren will be a game-time decision on Saturday, per TSN’s Mark Masters. The 24-year-old defenseman took part in the team’s practice on Saturday, making progress from an undisclosed injury that’s held him out of the team’s last two games. He has 16 points in 40 games this season.

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