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Ottawa Senators Reassign Arthur Kaliyev

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10/20/2025: The Senators announced Monday that they reassigned Kaliyev back to Belleville. He got into two games for the Senators during his recall, a victory over the Seattle Kraken and a loss to the New York Islanders.

Kaliyev lined up on the Senators’ fourth line for the first game of his recall, and ultimately saw himself elevated to the team’s first line for his second game. He registered an assist on David Perron’s power play marker against the Islanders, but it appears his performance was not enough for him to retain his spot on the team’s NHL roster. He’s been a difference-maker at the AHL level with Belleville so far this season, scoring two assists in two games played.

10/16/2025:  The Ottawa Senators have recalled forward Arthur Kaliyev from their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, the team announced today. The move comes as the team grapples with the loss of Brady Tkachuk, who will miss at least a month with a wrist injury. He’s landed on injured reserve as the corresponding transaction, per the league’s media site.

The Florida Panthers’ claim of defenseman Donovan Sebrango yesterday cleared a roster spot for Ottawa (something that would have also happened had Sebrango cleared waivers and been reassigned to Belleville, which was likely the team’s preferred outcome) and they’ve filled it with this recall of Kaliyev.

While Kaliyev certainly won’t be able to replace, or likely even come close to replacing, the on-ice and off-ice impact brought by Tkachuk, he does nonetheless bring quite a bit of NHL experience. The 24-year-old, who was signed to a one-year, two-way $775K/$425K contract this past summer, has played in over 200 NHL games and scored 38 goals and 75 points. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2019 draft, with most public-facing scouts rating him as a potential high-upside scorer with some very real risk to his projection.

Kaliyev scored goals at an extremely high rate in his junior hockey days in the OHL (where current Senators GM Steve Staios was his team’s president) but has not been able to translate that goal-scoring prowess to the pro ranks.

He started off pretty well, scoring 14 goals and 27 points in 80 games during his 2021-22 rookie season, and followed that up by scoring 13 goals and 28 points in just 56 games in 2022-23, which is a 19-goal, 41-point 82-game scoring pace.

But despite showing some signs of offensive proficiency, Kaliyev struggled to make an all-around impact. He managed just seven goals and 15 points in 2023-24, and got into just 14 NHL games last season, all coming with the New York Rangers after they claimed him off of waivers.

2025-26 has been widely viewed as a make-or-break year for Kaliyev’s hopes of having a long-term future as an NHL player, and while he didn’t make the Senators out of training camp and cleared waivers in the preseason, it appears this Tkachuk injury will give him the opportunity to play in NHL games once more. The Senators elevated forward Michael Amadio to the first-line left wing spot on Tim Stutzle’s line that Tkachuk vacated, but the team had a nightmare game falling 8-4 to the Buffalo Sabres, with Amadio failing to register a point.

While that doesn’t mean the team will give Kaliyev a run in that coveted lineup spot next to Stutzle, it does indicate that the team’s solution for managing Tkachuk’s absence is far from settled. In that, there is opportunity. Kaliyev may begin his NHL tenure with the Senators as a healthy scratch, but even if that’s the case, this recall still presents a major opportunity for Kaliyev.

Even if he fails to make the most of that opportunity, this recall will at the very least give him a nice financial boost, as he’ll make the pro-rated portion of his NHL salary of $775K for as long as he can spend on the Senators’ NHL roster.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Canucks Announce Multiple Roster Moves

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4:15 p.m.: The Canucks have announced additional roster moves, reassigning Schuldt to Abbotsford and recalling defenseman Tom Willander and forward Nils Aman. The move adds an experienced center to the Canucks’ roster to help fill in for the loss of Chytil. Aman isn’t the caliber of player Chytil is, and won’t be able to bring the same level of offense, but he nonetheless has 130 games of NHL experience and offers some size and defensive reliability to head coach Adam Foote.

Willander, 20, appears to be a replacement for Mancini, as he is also a young right-shot blueliner. Willander was the 11th overall pick at the 2023 NHL draft and made his pro debut earlier this month with Abbotsford. He has spent the last two seasons playing college hockey at Boston University (scoring 49 points across 77 games) and with this recall is now eliigible to be dressed for an NHL game and has a chance to make his NHL debut.

11:11 a.m.: The Vancouver Canucks announced multiple roster moves, largely to maximize their LTIR capture. This morning, the Canucks shared that they’ve placed forwards Filip Chytil and Jonathan Lekkerimaki on the injured reserve (retroactive to October 19th), and have moved Nils Höglander to the LTIR (retroactive to October 7th).

Additionally, Vancouver has reassigned defenseman Victor Mancini to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, while recalling Joseph LaBate and Jimmy Schuldt in a corresponding roster move.

Unfortunately, the injury designation for Chytil was expected. The Canucks second-line center was on the receiving end of a massive hit from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson during yesterday’s contest, causing Chytil to leave the game prematurely. Although a major penalty was initally assessed, it was rescinded upon review, and no supplemental discipline is expected from the league’s Department of Player Safety.

Outside of losing a top-six center, there’s larger cause for concern with Chytil specifically. Throughout his time with the New York Rangers, Chytil suffered multiple concussions, limiting him to only 66 games from 2023 to 2025. Already dealing with a thin pool down the middle, Vancouver would struggle to put together a serviceable defensive core if Chytil is out long-term.

Meanwhile, Lekkerimaki also left last night’s game prematurely. Unlike Chytil, it was not as apparent what caused Lekkerimaki’s injury. Still, he was filling in for Brock Boeser, who missed the game for personal matters.

Lastly, Höglander’s move to the LTIR, as well as the roster moves, were purely based on financial reasons. The Canucks are already operating close to the upper limit of the salary cap, and they’ll maximize their LTIR capture via the move.

Hoglander is eligible to return after Vancouver’s October 26th matchup against the Edmonton Oilers, though it’s not apparent he’ll be ready to return at that point. Additionally, although he should be expected back on the roster relatively soon, Mancini must play in at least one AHL game before being eligible for recall, per the league’s new rules regarding paper transactions.

Oilers Activate Jake Walman From IR

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The Edmonton Oilers have activated defenseman Jake Walman from injured reserve. He missed the start of the season due to an undisclosed injury that landed him on injured reserve one day into the regular season.

Walman joined the Oilers at the 2025 Trade Deadline, with a 2026 first-round pick and forward prospect Carl Berglund headed back to the San Jose Sharks. He played through 15 games and racked up a productive eight points through the end of Edmonton’s regular season. That earned him a core role in the team’s postseason lineup, setting him up to deliver 10 points in 22 games through the Oilers’ push to a Stanley Cup Final loss.

Walman only managed to appear in one preseason game before sustaining his latest injury. That gives the Oilers a 38-game sample of what the puck-moving defender can offer the team. He averaged over 21 minutes of ice time in his limited sample with the Oilers last season – a light respite after he averaged 23 minutes of ice time through 50 games with San Jose to start the year. It was the first season that Walman averaged north of 20 minutes of ice time, though he came close to that mark with the Detroit Red Wings in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Small sample size aside, there seems to be little doubting that Walman will soon slot back into his role alongside Darnell Nurse. The duo outscored opponents eight-to-two through the end of the 2024-25 season. Nurse has spent the start of this season rotating between minutes with Troy Stecher, Alec Regula, and Brett Kulak. Despite the heap of change, none of Nurse’s pairings have been on the ice for an even-strength goal yet. That has left a heavy load for Edmonton’s other D-pairings – a load that the team should be able to mitigate with the return of Walman.

The Oilers have lose their last three games, after starting the year 2-0-1. Much of that struggle can be attributed to their measly 1.6 goals-for-per-60 average – fourth-worst in the NHL so far. With an average of 12 goals and 34 points per 82 games played since 2023, Walman could be the exact piece Edmonton needs to turn their fates around. Walman is expected to make his season debut in Tuesday’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators.

Marco Rossi, Zach Bogosian Out For The Wild

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The Minnesota Wild will be without forward Marco Rossi and defenseman Zach Bogosian in Monday night’s game against the New York Rangers, head coach John Hynes told Peter Baugh of The Athletic. Both players suffered lower-body injuries as the result of blocked shots – Bogosian sustaining his on Friday, and Rossi getting hurt on Saturday.

This news will bring an end to Rossi’s team-leading iron-man streak. He has played in a consecutive 173 games, dating back to April 2023. That tally is the 30th-longest streak in the NHL, and the fourth-longest among players 24 or younger. With Rossi’s streak ending, Minnesota’s new team-leader will be Matt Boldy, who has played in 161 consecutive games – 33rd-most in the league and sixth among U24 players.

More than ending a team-leading streak, Minnesota will be losing one of their top forwards with Rossi’s absence. He has served as the team’s top-line center between star wingers Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov. That trio is one of only two Wild lines to score multiple even-strength goals this season – though they’ve still been outscored by opponents two-to-three, despite winning the expected-goals race with 2.1-to-1.7. Rossi himself has scored five points in six games, putting him on pace to exceed the career-high 60 points he potted in 82 games last year.

Joel Eriksson Ek will move to the top-line in Rossi’s place, while Ben Jones steps into a fourth-line center role. This swap will also promote rookie Danila Yurov into the top-nine, providing a stronger platform for him to find his first career point after going scoreless in his first four NHL games.

Minnesota will also lose the reliable Bogosian, who has served as a stout veteran presence on the team’s bottom-pair for the last three seasons. His ice time has dwindled every year in Minnesota, falling to just 14 minutes on average through five games this season. He’s posted a plus-three in the muted role, but otherwise has yet to manage any notable stat changes this season. David Jiříček will stick in the lineup in Bogosian’s absence. Jiříček recorded one shot on goal in a relief role on Saturday. It was his second NHL game of the season.

Rangers Assign Scott Morrow To AHL

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According to a team announcement, the New York Rangers have reassigned Scott Morrow to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The news indirectly confirms that defenseman Carson Soucy will be activated from the injured reserve this evening against the Minnesota Wild.

Despite being on the roster for the last five days, Morrow never drew into a game with the Rangers. Considering the strong play of Matthew Robertson who’s scored one goal in the last four games with a 93.1% on-ice save percentage at even strength while averaging 17:17 of ice time, there was no reason to get Morrow into the lineup.

New York acquired Morrow this past summer in the trade that sent K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes. Unfortunately, he didn’t crack the team’s lineup out of training camp, and has already skated in one game for the Wolf Pack this season.

Prior to his time in the Rangers organization, Morrow spent the last two years with the Hurricanes after his finishing his collegiate career at the University of Massachussetts. Througout his time with Carolina, he scored one goal and six points in 16 NHL contests, with another 13 goals and 39 points in 52 games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

Although he’s playing in all seven games for the Rangers up to this point in the season, Robertson’s strong play of late likely spells the end of Urho Vaakanainen’s tenure in the lineup for the time being. Per line rushes at this morning’s practice, Soucy is expected to play on the left side next to Braden Schneider on the team’s second defensive unit, while Robertson will retain his role next to William Borgen on the team’s bottom pairing.

Monday Night Hockey Broadcasts EXCLUSIVELY on Amazon Prime! (Sponsored)

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With hockey season in full swing, there’s no better way to experience the thrill of the game than with Amazon Prime’s exclusive Monday Night Hockey broadcasts. If you’re a fan of fast-paced action, nail-biting moments, and electrifying goals, you won’t want to miss what Prime has lined up this season.

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Premier Matchups (all times EST):

Oct. 20 – Sabres vs. Canadiens (7:30 p.m.)
Two of the league’s youngest rosters clash in an early-season measuring stick. Buffalo’s high-flying offense takes on Montreal’s disciplined rebuild, making this a showcase of future Eastern Conference stars.

Oct. 27 – Bruins vs. Senators (7:30 p.m.)
A fierce Atlantic Division rivalry renewed — Boston’s veteran core against Ottawa’s talented youth. Expect intensity as the Senators try to prove they can finally hang with the perennial
powerhouse Bruins.

Nov. 3 – Penguins vs. Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m.)
Sidney Crosby and Auston Matthews headline a marquee matchup between two elite offenses. It’s a battle of eras — Pittsburgh’s seasoned stars versus Toronto’s prime-age scoring machine.

Nov. 10 – Blue Jackets vs. Oilers (8:30 p.m.)
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl face off against a scrappy Columbus squad eager to upset one of the NHL’s most explosive teams. It’s a true test of whether the Blue Jackets’ youth can
slow down Edmonton’s superstars.

Nov. 17 – Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets (7:30 p.m.)
Two rebuilding teams with promising young cores meet in a game that could be more competitive than the records suggest. Both Montreal and Columbus are hungry to establish momentum before the season’s midpoint.

Nov. 24 – Senators vs. Kings (9 p.m.)
A cross-conference matchup featuring two teams on the rise — Ottawa’s offensive flair versus Los Angeles’ structured, veteran-heavy approach. It’s a showcase of East-West contrasts and
playoff potential.

Dec. 1 – Jets vs. Sabres (7:30 p.m.)
High-paced hockey is guaranteed when Winnipeg’s elite goaltending meets Buffalo’s dynamic attack. Both teams boast game-breaking forwards and could be jockeying for playoff position by
December.

Dec. 8 – Lightning vs. Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m.)
A modern rivalry that always delivers drama — these Atlantic foes have met in multiple playoff thrillers. With both teams loaded with offensive stars, expect end-to-end action and playoff-
caliber intensity.

Dec. 15 – Senators vs. Jets (7:30 p.m.)
The Senators’ young guns face off against Winnipeg’s balanced, veteran-led lineup. Ottawa’s speed and skill will be tested by the Jets’ physicality and goaltending strength.

Dec. 22 – Canucks vs. Flyers (7:30 p.m.)
Vancouver’s West Coast talent collides with Philadelphia’s blue-collar identity. Both teams are unpredictable, which makes this late-December matchup a potential sleeper hit.

Dec. 29 – Oilers vs. Jets (7:30 p.m.)
An all-Canadian showdown featuring some of the league’s biggest names. Edmonton’s offensive firepower goes head-to-head with Winnipeg’s elite goaltending — a possible playoff preview and
a perfect way to close out 2025’s Prime Mondays.

Throughout the remainder of 2025, Prime Video will showcase a lineup of games that are not only crucial for playoff standings but also highlight fierce rivalries and thrilling storylines.

Exclusive Features for Prime Members

In addition to the thrilling matchups, Amazon Prime offers features that enhance your viewing experience. Prime members can enjoy:

  • Multiple Camera Angles: Choose your perspective with various camera views, giving you control over how you watch the game.
  • Real-Time Stats and Insights: Stay informed with up-to-the-minute statistics and expert commentary that bring context to the action on the ice.
  • Post-Game Analysis: Dive deeper into the game with post-match breakdowns and highlights that analyze the key moments and decisions.

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Metro Injury Notes: Romanov, Gudbranson, Soucy

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Alexander Romanov missed the New York Islanders most recent game against the Ottawa Senators due to an upper-body injury. He’s not expected to miss any more time. According to Andrew Gross of Newsday, Romanov is fully particpating in this morning’s practice, indicating he’ll return tomorrow.

After the Islanders traded Noah Dobson this summer, they were expecting Romanov to shoulder more responsibility on the blueline. The team showed that expectation financially, signing Romanov to an eight-year, $50MM extension, making him their highest-paid defenseman.

Unfortunately, even before the injury, Romanov hasn’t looked like the defensemen the Islanders need him to be. He’s gone scoreless through his first four contests with a -3 rating, averaging 18:12 of ice time per game. He’s shown some early progression in his possession metrics, though his isolated defensive play has been subpar at best with a 85.7% on-ice save percentage at even strength. Still, there’s plenty of time left in the season for Romanov to correct his play, and hopefully being healthy will aid in that effort.

Other injury notes from the Metropolitan Division:

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets could be returning a veteran presence to their blueline relatively soon. Team reporter Jeff Svoboda reported this morning that defenseman Erik Gudbranson is skating with the team this morning, the first time he’s skated since going down with an concussion on October 11th. Still, there may not be much hope he’ll have a lot of staying power in the Blue Jackets lineup. Gudbranson has faced numerous injuries recently, playing only 16 games with Columbus last season.
  • According to Vince Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic, defenseman Carson Soucy shed his no-contact jersey at the New York Rangers’ practice this morning, indicating he’ll be activated off the IR relatively soon. Although he’s eligible to be activated from the IR today, Mercogliano wouldn’t go as far to confirm those are the Rangers intentions. Soucy suffered his injury in the team’s October 11th game against the Pittsburgh Penguins as he awkwardly flew into the boards after attempting to hit Rickard Rakell.

Red Wings’ Emmitt Finnie Off To Impressive Start

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Missing the playoffs for the last nine years, the Detroit Red Wings have had several top-15 overall picks in the first round and have several above-average prospects remaining in their pipeline. That’s what has made Emmitt Finnie’s emergence all the more inspiring.

Given that the team has had so many higher-end selections in the first round, Finnie had been treated somewhat as an afterthought in Detroit’s system, since he was drafted in the seventh round only two years ago. He had a relatively unimpressive year with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, scoring nine goals and 35 points in 64 games with a +11 rating.

He followed up his draft year with a productive campaign, scoring 19 goals and 59 points in 62 games. Still, it wasn’t enough at the time for Finnie to even chart on most Red Wings’ prospect boards, given that forwards scoring lower than a point-per-game average in the Canadian Major Junior system aren’t usually close to being NHL-caliber talents.

In his final year with the Blazers, and as the team’s captain, Finnie put it together on offense. Unfortunately, the team didn’t qualify for the WHL playoffs, but Finnie led the way on offense, scoring 37 goals and 84 points in 55 games. He finished the campaign with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring one goal and five points in 10 games with a -4 rating.

At the beginning of training camp, few would have believed that he had a legitimate opportunity to crack the Red Wings’ roster. Still, as the team continued their search for a linemate next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, Finnie’s work ethic stood out amongst the pack. General Manager Steve Yzerman has been criticized in recent years for not promoting more youngsters to the roster from camp. However, many Detroit fans recognize this as being the mantra of the franchise for the past several generations.

As the preseason progressed, Finnie remained on the roster, leading to unexpected optimism that he might stay with the team for the regular season. He finished Detroit’s preseason action with two goals and four points in seven games with a 16.7% shooting percentage, averaging 14:28 of action per game.

He has already surpassed those scoring totals in fewer games in the regular season.

At the time of writing, the 20-year-old is tied for third on the Red Wings in scoring, with two goals and five points in six games with a +7 rating, with both of those goals coming in yesterday’s win over the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. Still, there’s an argument to be made that anybody with a pulse may be able to engineer points at a relatively easy pace next to Larkin and Raymond.

That’s true to some degree, with Finnie only averaging a 43.4% CorsiFor% at even strength and his -0.7 Expected +/-. However, he’s tied for first on the team in hits (21), and has an excellent 96.7% on-ice save percentage at even strength, which is even more remarkable considering he begins nearly 2/3 of his shifts in the defensive zone.

There are few arguments this early in the season that Finnie is a bona fide top-six winger, nor is there any hope of him driving his own line anytime soon. However, he’s showing a degree of fearlessness that hasn’t been seen from a Detroit prospect in some time, and the team is better off for it.

Five Key Stories: 10/13/25 – 10/19/25

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With the regular season now in full swing, injuries are starting to take their toll around the league.  Several significant injuries around the NHL are highlighted in our key stories.

Tkachuk Has Surgery: The Senators won’t have their captain available to them for a while as Brady Tkachuk underwent wrist surgery that will keep him out of the lineup for six to seven weeks.  The 26-year-old went for a second opinion in the hopes that surgery could be avoided which could have cut down the recovery timeline by a few weeks but that’s not the case.  One of the premier power forwards in the NHL, Tkachuk was off to a decent start before the injury with three assists in his first three games but Ottawa will now be looking to find someone to fill his spot on the top line until around December.

Rangers Fielding Calls On Othmann: When the Rangers drafted forward Brennan Othmann with the 16th pick in 2021, they were hoping to get a power forward who would be part of their core for the long term.  However, he has spent the bulk of his professional career in the minors and was an early cut in training camp, resulting in New York receiving some calls about his potential availability.  The 22-year-old has just two assists in 25 NHL games while notching 49 hits in a little under 10 minutes a night of playing time.  He’s been productive with AHL Hartford though, picking up 70 points in 97 games.  If the Rangers do decide to move him, it could be a trade that winds up being a swap of similar prospects in need of a change of scenery.

Canadiens Signings: While Lane Hutson didn’t get a contract extension in place before the season started, he didn’t have to wait too long to get one as he signed an eight-year, $70.8MM pact that begins next season.  The 21-year-old had a great rookie season, picking up 66 points in 82 regular season games, earning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.  He and Noah Dobson will now be Montreal’s top two defenders for the foreseeable future.  Notably, two elements of this deal will soon be illegal when the new CBA begins next September.  First, the eight-year term will be outlawed while Hutson received $55MM in signing bonus money, or 77.6% of the contract.  Signing bonus money will be capped at 60% of the contract next year.

Meanwhile, the other person who signed the contract also received a new deal as well as Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton inked five-year extensions.  Hughes, a former agent before being hired, has been GM in Montreal since January 2022 and has overseen a rebuilding process that saw Montreal turn over a significant chunk of its roster while becoming the youngest team in the league this season.  Meanwhile, Gorton, who was promoted to President of Hockey Operations as well with this signing, has been in place since November 2021.  While he didn’t get a chance to see his rebuilding efforts conclude with the Rangers, it looks like he’ll get that opportunity now.

More Injuries: There were more injuries of note across the NHL.  The Mammoth will be without blueliner Sean Durzi for the next four weeks due to an upper-body injury.  The 26-year-old had a breakout year two years ago in Arizona but he missed 52 games due to injuries last season and now this year is off to a tough start.  Meanwhile, the Panthers won’t have Dmitry Kulikov anytime soon as he’ll miss five months due to a torn labrum.  He’s a capable veteran depth piece for Florida as their infirmary continues to grow.  His $1.15MM AAV will become LTIR-eligible when needed.  Lastly, the Kings, who have struggled considerably out of the gate, will now be without one of their top players for a while as Anze Kopitar is listed as week-to-week with a foot injury.  The captain, who is in his final NHL season, is a key two-way center and was averaging a point per game in the early going before being injured.

Hart To Vegas: The Golden Knights will be adding some goaltending depth as unrestricted free agent Carter Hart has joined the Golden Knights on a PTO deal.  It’s expected he’ll spend some time with AHL Henderson and he could sign a two-year contract when he becomes eligible to play in December.  Hart was Philadelphia’s number one goalie for several years before being charged with sexual assault, a charge he was acquitted of this summer.  If he can get back to form, he could be an intriguing addition for the Golden Knights who currently have a relatively inexperienced backup goaltender in Akira Schmid playing behind Adin Hill.

Photo courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images.

PHR Mailbag: Early Surprises, Karlsson, Sabres, Blackhawks, $20MM Player

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Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include some early-season surprises, what’s next for the Sabres, and more.  If your question doesn’t appear here, check for it in next weekend’s mailbag.

Schwa: What do you think the biggest surprises have been over the first week or two? Perhaps a positive and a negative.

On the positive side, it has to be Detroit.  Yes, they had a rough opener at the hands of Montreal but since then, they’ve beat Toronto twice plus Florida and Tampa Bay in their division plus Edmonton today.  That’s five wins against legitimate playoff teams which is particularly notable.  Along the way, Cam Talbot is off to a great start in goal, providing a level of goaltending that they added John Gibson to give them.  Meanwhile, they’re integrating three rookies into regular roles, including Emmett Finnie, a player taken in the seventh round two years ago.  Few would have expected him to be on the team a month ago let alone the top line.  There’s a lot to like so far for the Red Wings.

On the not-so-good side, I’m a bit concerned about how the Kings have started.  I wasn’t down on their summer as much as some were as while there were some veteran overpayments, their depth was still pretty good.  Now, they lost five of six to start and have had a hard time scoring and keeping pucks out of the net.  That’s not a good combination.  Now, they’re without Anze Kopitar for a while which isn’t going to help things.  They look more vulnerable than I thought they’d be.  Dustin Wolf’s start in Calgary isn’t particularly confidence-inspiring either.  He was a big reason they were more competitive than expected last season; if he can’t perform at a similar level this year, they’re in a lot of trouble.

random comment guy: I was reading on here that the Sharks would like to obtain younger D-men. The Hawks have a fair amount of younger D-men. Do you see any type of trade in the future and who would be involved?

Chicago feels like a good fit if San Jose decides it wants to add some other young defensemen to the mix in the hopes of seeing if one or two pan out.  The idea is basically to take a few dart throws and see what happens but when they’re not going to be going anywhere this season in the standings, I like the idea in principle.

As you correctly noted, the Blackhawks have a surplus of blueliners.  Of the six NHL-contracted blueliners they have in the minors, three have seen action at the top level and not just a token game; they’ve all played at least 27 NHL contests.  Kevin Korchinski is the most prominent of the trio but I don’t get the sense that Chicago is willing to sell low on him.  Instead, they’d rather have him play big minutes in Rockford and then have him full-time on the NHL roster next season when he’s waiver-eligible.  I don’t think they want to move Ethan Del Mastro just yet either.

The other one is Nolan Allan and I could see Chicago GM Kyle Davidson look to salvage something.  While he played 43 NHL games last season, he struggled in a limited role and has likely slipped behind those two on the prospect depth chart, not to mention Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser being ahead of him in Chicago as well.  In a best-case scenario then, he might be their eighth defender next season.  That’s a terrible spot for a prospect to be in and their value typically drops quickly after that.  If San Jose wants to get a look at him, it won’t be overly cheap (I could see the cost being a second-round pick or equivalent prospect value) but if they feel he has some upside and staying power, it’d be a move worth attempting.

gowings2008: Any rumors of Erik Karlsson to the Wings? Or are the summer rumors dead?

Speaking of those Red Wings…  There aren’t any credible rumors linking Karlsson to Detroit at the moment or anywhere really.  We’re still in the early goings of the season when teams are still trying to establish what they have, what they need, and what they could possibly get rid of.  While Pittsburgh is in a spot where they know that moving Karlsson is likely the desired long-term outcome, a $10MM cap charge is still something they’re going to have to navigate.

For Detroit, they still need to evaluate their young back end.  Can they rely on Axel Sandin Pellikka all season?  Can they count on more from Albert Johansson?  Could Jacob Bernard-Docker be a regular after bouncing in and out of the lineup in Ottawa?  The answers to those questions will help determine if they want to pursue him, as will their position in the standings.

If the Red Wings find themselves in the mix in the second half, I could see them taking a run at this, assuming Karlsson is amenable to going there.  Slotting him on the second pairing behind Moritz Seider could allow Sandin Pellikka to play on the third pair and get eased in a bit more, or even return to the minors if they want to maximize his playing time.  Notably, they also have the cap space to take on the full freight of the contract, something that can’t be said for a lot of teams.  But for now, they need to see what they have and see if this hot start can be sustained before looking into a big splash on the trade front.

Black Ace57: How many times will history be allowed to repeat itself with the Sabres with no real change? I mean more than trading the next Cozens. I know it’s early, but it feels different this year with the losing already becoming an issue.

It feels like there’s a little more urgency this season as at some point, the status quo can’t just keep happening.  At this point, a decision needs to be made about GM Kevyn Adams.  Considering the Dylan Cozens trade looks like a tough loss already, is he the one you’re going to trust to make the type of shakeup move(s) needed?  That could entail yet another coaching change, a big core trade, or starting over (I’ll look at each of those options shortly).  If Adams gets the vote of confidence, let him take the big swing or two.

But if not, they do have a ‘kick the can down the road’ card to play in Jarmo Kekalainen.  The former Columbus GM is now a senior advisor and if it’s decided a change needs to be made, put him in as a caretaker, assess, make some minor moves where needed, and then determine in the spring if he’s the guy to go with moving forward or conduct a more thorough search.  That’s the safe route to play.  Frankly, it’s the route I think they’ll take if they decide to let Adams go.  It’s probably not the best route to take but I think they’re going to be risk-averse at this point, for better or worse (and likely the latter).

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