Injury Notes: Saros, Blues, Kings
Nashville Predators star goaltender Juuse Saros will remain out of the lineup as the Predators look to avoid a sweep tomorrow, per head coach John Hynes. The team will likely continue to roll with Connor Ingram in the net with veteran David Rittich backing him up.
Hynes noted during his availability this morning that Saros is skating now as he recovers from a lower-body injury, but his activities are still limited. Ingram has performed admirably in a tough situation, putting up a .919 save percentage in two starts (three appearances). While Saros could likely amass somewhat better numbers, the Avalanche have hemmed the Predators at every turn and look to be the only team to sweep their way into the Second Round.
- The St. Louis Blues are dealing with a triple threat in terms of defense injuries today. Head coach Craig Berube says Torey Krug, Nick Leddy, and Robert Bortuzzo are all out for Game 4 in just a few minutes against the Wild. While the outlook on Krug is not positive, the Blues hope Leddy and Bortuzzo can return to the lineup as soon as possible to help reinforce a weary and inexperienced blueline. However, young defenseman Scott Perunovich took warmups and could play his first game since January 15.
- Viktor Arvidsson remains out for the Los Angeles Kings tonight, and he could be joined by fellow forward Carl Grundstrom. Head coach Todd McLellan said the Swede is a game-time decision for Game 4 as the Kings look to get a home win to even the series at two games apiece. Grundstrom had no points in two games already in this series.
Kings Loan Carl Grundstrom To Allsvenskan
Just days after signing a two-year contract, there’s another transaction involving Kings winger Carl Grundstrom. The team announced that they’ve loaned him to IF Bjorkloven of the Allsvenskan, the second division in Sweden. (SHL teams aren’t permitted to bring in players on short-term loans.) As is the case with many of these loans, Grundstrom will be recalled once NHL training camps get underway.
The 22-year-old looked to have an inside track at a full-time roster spot this season following a strong stint in 2018-19 after he was acquired from Toronto as part of the Jake Muzzin trade. In that stretch, he picked up five goals in just 13 games. Instead, Grundstrom only had a few brief NHL stints this season, playing in just 13 games while collecting four assists. He spent most of the year with Ontario (AHL) where he fared much better offensively, picking up 12 goals and 16 assists in 40 games before the pandemic ended their season early.
Grundstrom is returning to a program that he has some familiarity with. While he was drafted out of MODO of the SHL, he did spend three years with Bjorkloven’s program from 2010-11 through 2012-13, playing on their U-16 and U-18 squads. As he’s now waiver-eligible, a good showing in Sweden could give Grundstrom a leg up on landing a full-time roster spot with the Kings for next season.
Carl Grundstrom Signs With Los Angeles Kings
After inking Austin Wagner to an extension earlier today, the Los Angeles Kings have reached an agreement with another one of their pending restricted free agents. Carl Grundstrom has a new two-year contract that carries a $725K cap hit. The contract is two-way next season and one-way in 2021-22.
Grundstrom, 22, is on the cusp of becoming a full-time member of the Kings, after arriving in Los Angeles by trade in 2019. A second-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was a key part of the return for Jake Muzzin and has played 28 games over the last two seasons with the Kings. In that time he’s scored ten points, mixing in a penchant for goal scoring with a strong physical presence.
With a new two-year, minimum-salary contract, Grundstrom becomes an attractive option for the Kings should they decide to spend cap space elsewhere. He could be a fourth-line player for the team as soon as the 2020-21 season, or serve as important depth as an extra forward.
It will be interesting to see if the team decides to try and sneak him through waivers, as Grundstrom will be eligible for the first time in 2020-21. That could secure him an NHL roster spot immediately, especially with this inexpensive contract.