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Submit Your Questions For The #PHRMailbag

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We’re now just over six weeks away from the trade deadline. As the season shifts past its halfway point and is quickly hurtling toward the All-Star Break, trade rumors are picking up on a wider scale after a news cycle that was focused on a select few names for most of the season.

With that in mind, it’s time to gear up for the impending transaction action with the next edition of our PHR Mailbag. Our last edition ran in three parts over the holiday break. Part one discussed the merits of buying for the upstart Red Wings and Flyers, part two discussed Alex Ovechkin’s chase of the all-time goals record and the potential of a Lindholm-for-Lindholm swap between Boston and Calgary, and part three discussed trade deadline plans for a handful of other squads.

You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter/X or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run on the weekend.

Brendan Gallagher To Have Player Safety Hearing

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Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher will have a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Friday for an illegal check to the head of Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, the department said in a statement. The hearing will take place over the phone, not in person, limiting a suspension to five games or less.

The incident occurred at 11:52 of the third period in Thursday’s 4-3 win for Montreal. Immediately after Pelech exited the New York zone with the puck and made an outlet pass through the neutral zone, Gallagher cut across the ice and raised his elbow to hit Pelech in the head, making no discernable attempt to lay a body check. Officials assessed Gallagher a five-minute major for a check to the head and a match penalty for intent to injure on the play.

Pelech skated off the ice under his own power and entered concussion protocol. He did not return to the game, which the Islanders tied on the ensuing five-minute power play after being down 3-1 but conceded a late tiebreaker from Sean Monahan at even strength.

Given the severity of the hit, many expected an in-person hearing for Gallagher today with the possibility of a six-plus-game ban.

The 31-year-old is in the third season of a six-year, $6.5MM contract, during which he’s produced only 54 points in 141 games. He’s slipped to a bottom-six role, skating third-line minutes alongside Jake Evans and Tanner Pearson in last night’s win, and his -21 rating is the worst on the team. His 48.9% Corsi share at even strength still ranks near the top of the team, though, and a horribly unlucky on-ice shooting percentage of 5.7 has likely had a decent effect on his point production this season.

In 48 games this year, Gallagher has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points while averaging 14:11 per game, the lowest since his rookie season.

Columbus Willing To Entertain Offers On Patrik Laine, Ivan Provorov

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In today’s issue of TSN’s Insider Trading, Darren Dreger reports that the Columbus Blue Jackets are willing to listen to offers on forward Patrik Laine and defenseman Ivan Provorov. Making high-impact additions in the last two summers, it appears the Blue Jackets are at least willing to entertain the idea of a major selloff.

To say that trading away either player is complicated would be an understatement. Laine’s $8.7MM salary over the next several years makes it near impossible for most teams to acquire, while Provorov is less than a year removed from being acquired by Columbus in the first place.

Nevertheless, the value that each player could bring to an organization is inherent. Although relatively streaky and bringing some health concerns to the table, Laine is one of the more well-respected goal scorers in the league, while Provorov has transitioned nicely to the Blue Jackets, on pace to tie his career-high in points with 41.

In Laine, although his goal-scoring ability is apparent, there have been questions surrounding his work ethic throughout his time with the Blue Jackets. Infamously, earlier in the season, Columbus’ head coach, Pascal Vincent made Laine a healthy scratch, reportedly creating a rift between Laine and the rookie head coach. Keeping this in mind, it could be a reasonable possibility that if Vincent is set to lead the Blue Jackets in the future, he may not envision Laine as a part of that plan.

Drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets back in the 2016 NHL Draft, Laine has a total of 204 goals and 388 points, currently putting him in fourth place in both categories among all players of his draft class. Having already been traded once in his career back during the 2020-21 season, Laine’s name being mentioned in trade rumors should put him in familiar territory.

Provorov, on the other hand, is much more known for his defensive attributes rather than his offense. Over a seven-year span with the Philadelphia Flyers, Provorov played in a total of 532 games for the Flyers, scoring 217 points in the process. A regular member of the top penalty kill unit for both Columbus and Philadelphia, although Provorov’s physical play has decreased over the last handful of years, he still regularly racks up nearly 180 blocked shots each season. An effective top-four option for any team throughout the NHL, Provorov’s $4.725MM salary over this season and next is much more palatable to most teams than the contract of Laine.

At the end of the day, given that both players are signed beyond this season to relatively large sums of money, it is unlikely that the Blue Jackets will be able to find a trading partner until the draft or the opening of the free-agent market next summer. Nevertheless, with plenty of competitive teams looking to make a significant upgrade in a wide-open playoff race, Laine and Provorov could quickly become some of the bigger names on the trade market leading up to the trade deadline.

Calgary Flames Activate Oliver Kylington Off LTIR

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After nearly a year and a half away from the NHL, the Calgary Flames are ready to welcome back defenseman Oliver Kylington back to their active roster. Staying all of last year in his native Sweden, Kylington is set to play in his first NHL game tonight since May 26, 2022.

Assuming that Kylington can return to his previous level of play relatively quickly for the Flames, it should create an immense opportunity for the organization on multiple fronts. Having already moved on from defenseman Nikita Zadorov earlier in the season, Calgary is famously carrying two of the most oft-rumored defensive trade candidates in Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin. If Kylington can return to his previous capabilities, that should allow the Flames to feel more comfortable in moving one of their more veteran pieces.

As a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Kylington rose through the ranks of the Flames organization relatively quickly, earning a full-time spot on the roster as soon as the 2018-19 season. Unfortunately, it would take several years for Kylington to make his mark in the NHL, scoring a career-high nine goals and 31 points in 73 games. Being the third-highest-scoring defenseman on the team at the time, Calgary rewarded Kylington’s effort with a two-year, $5MM contract extension.

Now almost two years past the contract extension, Kylington is an upcoming unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and his play over the next couple of months will dictate his future with the Flames. Nevertheless, after a lengthy amount of time away from the game, Kylington is now ready to return, which is a tremendous positive for both the player and the organization.

Blue Jackets Activate Zach Werenski Off IR, Reassign David Jiricek

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After missing a total of 10 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team has announced defenseman Zach Werenski has been activated from the team’s injured reserve. To clear a spot on the active roster, the team has reassigned defenseman David Jiricek to their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.

Even though Werenski will likely not save the Blue Jackets from another disappointing season, seeing the return of a defenseman of his stature is a victory for the organization nonetheless. Leading the team in average time on ice at 24 minutes, Werenski has scored one goal and 25 points in 34 games for Columbus so far this season, putting him third on the team in scoring.

Not only the best defenseman but arguably the best player on the Blue Jackets, Werenski is rather unique in the sense that he is tasked with leading the team’s primary powerplay unit, as well as seeing a fair amount of usage on the team’s penalty kill. In Werenski’s absence over the last 10 games, the team’s powerplay has only been able to execute 12.9% of the time, with the penalty kill only achieving a 70.9% success rate, both marketable drop-offs compared to the team’s current averages.

Nevertheless, even with Werenski being one of the most important players in Columbus, there are very legitimate concerns surrounding his ability to stay healthy. Out of a potential 266 games since the beginning of the 2020-21 NHL season, Werenski has only played in 150 of those contests, meaning he has missed nearly 44% of games over the last several years.

Originally recalled back from assignment on January 21st, Jiricek will return to Cleveland to continue to regain confidence in his game. Since his initial reassignment on January 18th, Jiricek was able to suit up in two games for the Monsters, assisting on all three goals scored for the team in their January 20th matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Minnesota Wild Acquire Will Butcher

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In a minor-league swap, the Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins connected on a trade sending forward Maxim Cajkovic east to Pennsylvania, and defenseman Will Butcher to the State of Hockey. Both teams have officially confirmed the trade.

Brought into the Penguins organization over the summer to serve as defensive depth, Butcher suffered an undisclosed injury during training camp and was not cleared to play until late November. Spending the entirety of his Penguins tenure playing for their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Butcher would only suit up in 14 games, scoring seven points total.

Coming into the league as a college free agent back in the 2017-18 season, Butcher got off to a solid pace with the New Jersey Devils, scoring five goals and 44 points in 81 games. The next season, although watching his offensive production dipped considerably, Butcher put together a solid 30-point performance over 78 games. Scoring 74 points in his first two seasons in New Jersey, the Devils opted to extend Butcher by way of a three-year, $11.2MM contract.

Unfortunately, injuries would take their toll on Butcher, limiting him to only 79 games over the next two seasons in New Jersey, before finally being dished to the Buffalo Sabres in 2021. Wholly unable to get his offensive production back on track, Butcher spent last season a part of the Dallas Stars organization, putting together a respectable 43-point performance over 66 games with their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars.

Cajkovic was originally acquired by the Wild from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the same deal that brought veteran winger Pat Maroon up north. Spending last year as an effective offensive presence for the Lightning’s ECHL affiliate, Cajkovic has continued to increase his production in the same capacity for the Iowa Heartlanders this season. Being plausible that Cajkovic may join on with the Penguins’ ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers, it would not all be surprising to see him end up in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, due to the offensive troubles the team has experienced this season.

San Jose Sharks Recall Shakir Mukhamadullin

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The San Jose Sharks have recalled top defensive prospect Shakir Mukhamadullin to the top league, marking the first call-up of the 22-year-old’s career. Mukhamadullin currently ranks fourth in scoring among U22-defenseman in the AHL, with 26 points in 39 games. It’s Mukhamadullin’s first full season in North American pros, though he played in 12 minor league games and scored 10 points at the end of last season.

Mukhamadullin moved over to the AHL at the end of Ufa’s KHL season last year. He recorded 25 points in 67 games with the club last season, a mark that led the team’s defensemen in scoring. Mukhamadullin grew up through Ufa’s system and totaled 167 games and 43 points with the club across four seasons.

Mukhamadullin was a focal piece of the trade that sent Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils, with the former first-round selection joined by two first-round picks, as well as forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson, as well as fellow Russian defenseman Nikita Okhotyuk, who has already played in 35 games with the Sharks this season.

Mukhamadullin is one of three remaining players from the 2020 NHL Draft’s first round to not yet play his NHL debut, alongside Dallas’ Mavrik Bourque and fellow Sharks teammate Ozzy Wiesblatt. Wiesblatt has appeared in 25 games with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda this year, netting two goals, seven points, and 25 penalty minutes in what is his second full AHL season.

New Jersey Devils Move Jack Hughes To IR, Dougie Hamilton To LTIR

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The New Jersey Devils have moved star forward Jack Hughes to injured reserve, retroactive to his last game on January 5th, and moved star defenseman Dougie Hamilton to long-term injured reserve, per team reporter James Nichols. Hughes will be eligible to return as soon as he’s healthy, which isn’t expected to come until after the All-Star break, but Hamilton will now be set to miss at least 24 days of action. The top defender is recovering from a pectoral injury that required surgery earlier in the season.

The Devils have missed both Hughes and Hamilton for prolonged periods this season. Hamilton appeared in the team’s first 20 games before being knocked out of the lineup. He scored admirably in those games, netting 16 points – a mark that still ranks second among Devils defensemen in scoring.

Hughes has managed a bit more ice time, appearing in 32 games and ranking second on the team with 45 points. The 22-year-old centerman is scoring at a 115-point pace across 82 games, which would mark the most points any Devils player has ever recorded. It’s a record Hughes already set last season, with his 99 points in 78 games beating out the 96 points Patrik Elias scored in 2000-01. While injuries have clouded his red-hot season, Hughes is working hard to solidify himself as New Jersey’s next franchise centerman and is already outplaying the eight-year, $64MM contract extension he was signed to midway through the 2021-22 season.

New Jersey Devils Claim Nick DeSimone Off Waivers From Calgary

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The New Jersey Devils have claimed defenseman Nick DeSimone off of waivers from the Calgary Flames. The 29-year-old has appeared in 23 games with the Flames this season, netting five points and a -4. He’s also appeared in 10 AHL games, recording eight assists and a +7.

DeSimone is in his eighth professional season since making his AHL debut at the end of the 2016-17 season – signing a two-year contract as an undrafted free agent with the San Jose Sharks. DeSimone served as a locked-in lineup piece for the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda for five seasons, before moving to the New York Rangers organization in the three-team trade that sent Mattias Janmark and Brett Howden to Vegas. DeSimone signed with the Calgary Flames soon after this move, continuing to serve as a minor league option for a variety of AHL clubs.

The Flames finally rewarded DeSimone’s long tenure in the minors with four NHL games last season. The defender went without a point, adding two penalty minutes and a -4. He’s gotten a chance at a much bigger NHL role this season, finally playing a majority of the year in the top league. He will look to continue carving out an NHL role on a Devils team that’s currently missing top defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler, as well as depth option Brendan Smith. The Devils also granted defenseman Callan Foote a leave of absence on Wednesday, effectively sliding DeSimone into the role of seventh defenseman.

Arizona Coyotes Claim Adam Ružička Off Waivers From Calgary

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The Arizona Coyotes have claimed Calgary Flames forward Adam Ružička off of waivers. Ružička has appeared in 39 of Calgary’s 47 games this season, netting three goals and nine points. He’s also recorded six penalty minutes and a -8.

Ružička has slowly established his place in the NHL over the last four seasons, making his debut with the Flames in 2020-21. He’s since totaled 114 career NHL games and 40 career points, adding 26 penalty minutes. He is one of seven players from the 2017 NHL Draft’s fourth round to play in at least 100 NHL games, alongside players like Ottawa’s Drake Batherson and Buffalo’s Jacob Bryson. Ružička has also appeared in 98 AHL games across three seasons, totaling 68 points.

Ružička provides much-needed center depth to a Coyotes team that currently has Barrett Hayton and Travis Boyd on injured reserve. The team has turned towards Dylan Guenther in light of their injuries, with the 20-year-old winger managing six points in nine games this season. Guenther also leads the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in scoring with 28 points in 29 games – despite the team playing in nine more games since the winger’s call-up.

Now without Ružička, the Flames will need to turn towards one of Cole Schwindt, Adam Klapka, or Walker Duehr to takeover the open bottom-line role. Schwindt and Klapka have only played in one and two games respectively, while Duehr has seen 19 appearances and scored four points. Calgary also has Matthew Coronato currently in the NHL lineup. The former first-round pick is 13 games into his rookie NHL season, boasting just two points, four penalty minutes, and a -9.

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