Minor Transactions: 12/2/2017
In minor moves today:
- The floundering Buffalo Sabres have made a move, calling up forward Hudson Fasching from the AHL’s Rochester Americans, per a team report. The Sabres have failed to score a goal in each of their past three games and face the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, again today as the second half of a home-and-home. Buffalo could use all the help they can get and Fasching is tied for the team lead in goals in Rochester and uses his big frame to create opportunities around the net. The former University of Minnesota star has not proven himself in the pros quite yet, but could earn a regular role in the NHL if he jump starts the Sabres’ season (or at least scores a goal).
- The Dallas Stars announced that they have recalled forward Curtis McKenzie from AHL Texas. McKenzie has been back and forth multiple times already in 2017-18, but hasn’t had the opportunity to play for Dallas despite leading the Texas Stars with 10 goals and 68 shots in 19 games. The 2009 draft pick hasn’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut at the next level though; he recorded only five points in his first 39 NHL games, but at least took a step forward last season with 16 points in 53 games. Many expected McKenzie to have a full-time role after gaining so much experience last year, but it hasn’t happened for him just yet. Perhaps a strong showing – should he get the opportunity – on this latest recall could keep him in Dallas for a longer, more involved stay.
- The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have recalled defenseman Mark Alt from Lehigh Valley of the AHL. He sits second on the Phantoms in points by a defenseman with nine through 16 games. He’s also no stranger to being with the big club as this is his third recall already this season. He has played in six games with the Flyers, being held off the scoresheet while averaging just over 13 minutes per night.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have promoted defenseman Jamie McBain to the big club, per a team release. The veteran has yet to play with the Lightning this season but has picked up 11 points in 21 minor league contests. He has plenty of NHL experience under his belt though with 348 career games split between Carolina, Buffalo, Los Angeles, and Arizona. His promotion was needed with fellow blueliner Braydon Coburn being listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Snapshots: Pastrnak, Sabres, Keenan, Wideman
The Bruins and representatives for winger David Pastrnak are interested in getting a long-term contract done instead of pursuing a bridge deal in the summer, reports CSN New England’s DJ Bean. Pastrnak is slated to become a restricted free agent in July and is poised to land a significant raise from the $925K he is receiving this season in the final year of his entry level deal.
Bean adds that Pastrnak’s agent, J.P. Barry, is viewing Sean Monahan (Calgary), Filip Forsberg (Nashville), and Mark Scheifele as suitable comparable players for negotiations. All of those players landed new deals worth at least $6MM last summer. The Bruins should have the room to accommodate a long-term deal on their cap moving forward as well; they have a little over $61MM already committed next year to 17 players per CapFriendly.
Other news from around the hockey world:
- The Sabres are planning to recall defenseman Taylor Fedun from Rochester of the AHL in time for Thursday’s game in Los Angeles, reports Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. He’s expected to take the place of Justin Falk, who has been ruled out of the lineup for at least the next two games. Buffalo is also likely to have winger Hudson Fasching back in their lineup for the first time since late October. The 21 year old has spent the last two months in the AHL after recovering from a groin injury, collecting seven points in 23 games in that span.
- It appears Mike Keenan’s coaching career isn’t over just yet. The 67 year old is slated to become the new head coach of Kunlun of the KHL pending league approval of the contract, notes TSN’s Darren Dreger (Twitter link). The veteran of 1,440 career NHL games as a bench boss last coached back in 2015 with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL and won a Gagarin Cup with them back in 2014. Keenan will have plenty of familiar with his team as he is currently serving as an advisor for them.
- The NHL lost its appeal in New York court to vacate an arbitrators’ ruling that dropped Dennis Wideman’s suspension from last season from 20 to 10 games, reports TSN’s Rick Westhead (Twitter link). The league had made its case back in June to try to have the remainder of his suspension reinstated. Wideman was suspended for hitting linesman Don Henderson but it was cut in half by arbitrator James Oldham last March. The NHL dismissed Oldham back in July.