Justin Bailey

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/15/21

January 15, 2021 at 4:10 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad, and although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day. The last five bullets are all courtesy of CapFriendly’s transactions log.

The Nashville Predators have placed Luca Sbisa on the active roster after being claimed off waivers earlier this week. To make room, Cole Smith has been moved to the taxi squad. Smith made his NHL debut last night but received just six shifts and failed to record a point. Sbisa, who signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets in October, has more than 500 games of NHL experience.
As it is an off day for the Calgary Flames, the team has moved Derek Ryan to the taxi squad in order to continue banking some cap space. Louis Domingue has also been placed there, suggesting that David Rittich will return from his family emergency in time for tomorrow’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Artyom Zagidulin, who had been recalled to the practice squad, has been reassigned back to the AHL.
As expected after the Winnipeg Jets claimed Anton Forsberg, the team has moved both Kristian Vesalainen and Logan Stanley to the taxi squad. The team must keep Forsberg on the active roster until he clears waivers, something that doesn’t seem possible at the moment with teams looking for goaltending depth.
The Canucks have recalled Loui Eriksson from the taxi squad and replaced him with Justin Bailey, the opposite of a move they made just yesterday. Though it may seem counterintuitive, keeping Eriksson on the active roster and Bailey on the taxi squad during off days actually saves the Canucks money. The team is already in LTIR relief meaning they can’t bank cap space and have to pay Eriksson his one-way NHL salary regardless of where he plays. Bailey on the other hand earns less on his two-way deal whenever he is assigned to the taxi squad or minor leagues.
The Bruins have made a trio of moves. Forward Karson Kuhlman has been assigned to AHL Providence while wingers Jack Studnicka and Trent Frederic were both sent to the taxi squad. Studnicka played just under 12 minutes in Boston’s season opener while Frederic saw just under 11 minutes of ice time. Chances are at least one will be recalled on Saturday.
With Cory Schneider being moved onto the Islanders’ roster giving them three goalies, they don’t have to carry one on the taxi squad. As a result, they’ve shifted Jakub Skarek to Bridgeport. He is their only other goaltender that isn’t currently up with the Isles. Defenseman Thomas Hickey has also been shifted to the taxi squad after being scratched for their opener.
The Sharks have shifted four players around. Defensemen Nicolas Meloche and Nikolai Knyzhov were both sent to the taxi squad after serving as their third pairing in their opener. Meanwhile, wingers Jeffrey Viel and Fredrik Handemark were both sent to AHL San Jose. With five healthy blueliners on the roster, at least one of the blueliners will soon be recalled again.
The Maple Leafs recalled Alexander Barabanov from their taxi squad prior to tonight’s game against Ottawa. Defenseman Mikko Lehtonen was sent to the taxi squad, making the swap a cap-neutral move as both players are receiving the maximum entry-level salary.
Tyler Johnson is back on the NHL roster after being recalled from the taxi squad, as is defenseman Luke Schenn and both are in their lineup against Chicago. Meanwhile, blueliner Andreas Borgman was loaned to the taxi squad. He cleared waivers back on Tuesday but had remained on the Lightning’s roster until now.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/14/21

January 14, 2021 at 5:11 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The Vancouver Canucks have sent Loui Eriksson to the taxi squad and recalled Justin Bailey. Given Eriksson didn’t play last night for the Canucks this doesn’t come as much of a surprise and it will allow the team to bank slightly more daily cap space. Eriksson previously cleared waivers and could also be assigned to the AHL once it gets started.
Stuart Skinner has been recalled from the Edmonton Oilers taxi squad under emergency conditions, giving the team an extra goaltender for tonight’s action. Evan Bouchard meanwhile has been sent to the taxi squad, while Tyler Benson, who had previously been there, has now been assigned to the AHL.
Staying in Western Canada, the Calgary Flames have activated Derek Ryan from the taxi squad as expected, but he’s coming with some company. The team has also activated Louis Domingue who will serve as backup this evening while David Rittich deals with a family issue. With the extra space, Artyom Zagidulin has been added to the taxi squad from the AHL roster.
The Nashville Predators have recalled Cole Smith from the taxi squad while sending Lukas Craggs to the AHL. Craggs already played in eight games for the Florida Everblades, recording nine points early in the season but will now compete for playing time with the Chicago Wolves. Smith, who also played a handful of games for the Everblades to start the year, is in his first season of professional hockey after being signed out of the University of North Dakota.
The Winnipeg Jets have brought up a pair of players as Mathieu Perreault and Logan Stanley were recalled from the taxi squad. Perreault cleared waivers earlier in the week so they will have the ability to shuffle him back and forth until he plays in 10 NHL games or is on the NHL roster for 30 days. Stanley, meanwhile, was a first-round pick back in 2016 but has yet to suit up with the Jets. Winnipeg also recalled defenseman Leon Gawanke from his loan to Berlin of the DEL.
The Montreal Canadiens assigned Jake Evans to the taxi squad. He played a little under nine minutes in last night’s season-opener but with them off until the weekend, they’ll shuffle him down and bank a little bit of cap space. The team has already announced its intent to recall him for their next game on Saturday.

Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Justin Bailey

December 17, 2020 at 3:56 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The Vancouver Canucks have signed another one of their restricted free agents, inking Justin Bailey to a new one-year, two-way contract. Bailey was eligible for salary arbitration this offseason but did not file. Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports that the deal will pay Bailey $750K at the NHL level and $225K in the AHL.

Though Drance also reports that Bailey had been holding out hope for a one-way deal, he’ll have to settle for a two-way deal in this depressed financial climate. A veteran of 65 NHL games, the 25-year-old power forward lit up the minor leagues last season, scoring 28 goals and 47 points in just 53 games for the Utica Comets. Standing 6’4″ and with a nose for the net, there’s a lot to like about Bailey’s game.

Given his relative lack of NHL experience, Bailey could qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency after this season if he fails to play in 15 games with the Canucks. It will be interesting to see how they handle him to start the year, as Bailey could be the perfect candidate for an NHL taxi squad, given he’s already proven himself in the minor leagues.

With the deal, the Canucks have now signed all of their eligible restricted free agents and are ready for the season to begin.

Pacific Notes: Oilers, Talbot, Suomela, Canucks

October 3, 2020 at 3:23 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

The Oilers intend to see what the free agent market looks like for goaltending before making a decision on Mike Smith, GM Ken Holland told NHL.com’s Tim Campbell. Smith had just a .902 SV% in 39 games this season which is below average for a backup, let alone someone that was brought in to push incumbent Mikko Koskinen for playing time. However, cap space is limited for Edmonton with less than $9MM in cap room and quite a few free agents to contend with beyond Smith. Accordingly, they may need to shop at the lower end of the market to save some money and the fact that the 38-year-old is eligible to sign an incentive-laden deal may be appealing to give them a bit more financial flexibility to work with. A decision on that appears as if it will occur on or after October 9th.

Canucks Expected To Recall Nine Players For Training Camp Next Month

June 23, 2020 at 2:41 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

With training camps set to start on July 10th, teams are in the process of determining what recalls they will be making to get their expanded rosters intact. As things stand, 30 skaters can attend training camp with 28 being allowed to be on the postseason roster while teams can carry an unlimited number of goaltenders. Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma reports that the Canucks have figured out their recall list which is as follows:

F Sven Baertschi
F Justin Bailey
D Guillaume Brisebois
D Jalen Chatfield
F Tyler Graovac
D Olli Juolevi
G Michael DiPietro
D Brogan Rafferty
D Ashton Sautner

Up front, Baertschi is the most notable among the group. He has plenty of NHL experience under his belt (and another year on his contract with an AAV of $3.36MM) but spent most of the year with AHL Utica where he averaged over a point per game. With his prior NHL action though, he’s someone that they could comfortably put in the lineup if injuries arise.

Defensively, Juolevi stands out and not because he’s the only one who hasn’t been recalled to the NHL in the past. The fifth-overall pick in 2016 battled some injury trouble again this season but is still viewed as one of their better prospects. The odds of him getting into a game are unlikely but this will at least be an opportunity to practice in an NHL environment which should help his development.

Vancouver is also likely to welcome back winger Micheal Ferland to the fold. While he has battled concussion troubles all season long, he has resumed skating and it appears that he should be in the mix for a spot in the lineup where he’d likely slot in on the fourth line after being off for so long.

The Canucks will take on Minnesota in the best-of-five play-in round which is tentatively slated to begin sometime in late July or early August assuming an agreement can be reached between the NHL and NHLPA on Return to Play protocols.

Minor Transactions: 03/01/20

March 1, 2020 at 9:27 am CDT | by Holger Stolzenberg 1 Comment

March 1st means one thing. The start of the Gagarin Cup in the KHL, the start of playoffs and playoff runs, which also will include the college playoffs. In the NHL, the Atlantic Division had a dominant day Saturday as the Tampa Bay Lightning broke a four-game losing streak, while the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up a key win over the Vancouver Canucks. However, those wins didn’t aid either team in the division as the Boston Bruins continued their dominance with a 4-0 shutout of the New York Islanders. Should be an interesting month coming up in that Atlantic Division. Teams will continue to make roster moves as we get closer to the playoffs, so keep an eye on these roster moves throughout the day.

The Ottawa Senators announced they have assigned prospect Joshua Norris to the Belleville Senators. The 20-year-old got his feet wet with significant minutes in three games for Ottawa, but failed to register a point in that span. However, with a full schedule this week in Belleville and the fact that they are the top seed in the North Division, it’s likely the Senators will want to develop their young forward as a leader of an AHL playoff team.
CapFriendly reports that the New Jersey Devils have assigned two players to the Binghamton Devils of the AHL. The team has sent forward Jesper Boqvist and also assigned defenseman Joshua Jacobs. Boqvist was recalled Saturday, but was not used and has been sent back already, while Jacobs was recalled Thursday, but still hasn’t made his season debut.
The Winnipeg Jets announced they also have sent two players to the AHL. The team has assigned defenseman Nelson Nogier and forward C.J. Suess to the Manitoba Moose. Nogier was recalled on Thursday, but still hasn’t made his season debut, while Suess was recalled Friday, but did not play either. Suess has appeared in one game for the Jets this season.
The Vancouver Canucks announced they he recalled forward Justin Bailey on an emergency basis from the Utica Comets of the AHL. The 24-year-old has been dominant in the AHL with 27 goals and 45 points in 49 games, but has appeared in just two games with the Canucks this season with no points. Bailey was recalled with the status of Jay Beagle considered questionable after blocking a shot Saturday.
The Dallas Stars announced they have recalled forward Justin Dowling from his conditioning loan with the Texas Stars of the AHL. Dowling has missed 15 straight games with an undisclosed injury, but fared well with the Texas squad, picking up three assists in three games. The 29-year-old has three goals and six points in 27 games with Dallas.
With Ryan Miller battling illness, the Anaheim Ducks announced the recall of goaltender Anthony Stolarz from AHL San Diego as well as blueliner Jani Hakanpaa. Stolarz ranks sixth in the AHL in save percentage this season with a .922 mark and will backup John Gibson in Miller’s absence. Meanwhile, Hakanpaa has yet to see any NHL action with Anaheim and has a goal and 12 assists in 47 minor league contests this season.

Sabres Sign Taylor Leier To NHL Contract

February 17, 2020 at 11:33 am CDT | by Zach Leach 1 Comment

Last January, the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers swapped prospects, with Justin Bailey heading to Philly and Taylor Leier going to Buffalo. The duo had remarkably similar numbers at both the NHL and AHL levels and were each headed to restricted free agency, but the teams hoped a change of scenery might help to push them into NHL roles. However, when the time came for qualifying offers, both players found themselves as free agents rather than sticking with their new teams. The reasons however were very different.

Bailey got an immediate tryout with Philadelphia last season, skating in 11 games with the Flyers down the stretch. Unfortunately for the big winger, he failed to impress with just one point in that span and was not much of a difference-maker in the AHL either. The Flyers let him walk and he signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Vancouver Canucks this summer, which has so far paid off with immense minor league production and even a pair of NHL appearances.

Leier, on the other hand, spent the remainder of last season with the AHL’s Rochester Americans and was a valuable asset. By all accounts, the Sabres had planned to re-sign him. However, the young forward suffered a freak accident while training in May that completely changed the status quo. While practicing his stickhandling on rollerblades at a local tennis court near his Saksatoon home, Leier fell and put his arm out to break his fall. His shoulder popped out, tearing his labrum. Suddenly, his future was in doubt. With a long road ahead of him, including surgery and rehab, Leier knew that an extension with Buffalo was likely no longer an option. Yet, finding employment anywhere else was likely even more unlikely. The team and player agreed that staying where he was, that being AHL Rochester, was the best course of action, and so Leier signed a one-year AHL deal with the Americans.

Leier returned to game action in late December, finally having healed from his accident. In the 17 games since, the skilled forward has recorded seven goals and eight points, among the team’s scoring leaders. Regardless of whether they need him this season or not, the Sabres have decided to reward Leier’s hard work and dedication. The team announced today that they have signed him to an NHL contract for the remainder of the season. While it is a two-way deal worth the minimum $700K, the move is more of a symbolic gesture anyhow that shows Leier that the club continues to support him. It will also keep him under team control into next season as a restricted free agent.

Of course, Leier will have to clear waivers today before he can be re-added to the Rochester roster. If he continues to produce in the AHL, the Sabres could finally give him an NHL look down the stretch as well, especially if they move out current roster pieces at the trade deadline. Leier has 55 NHL games and seven points under his belt and after working hard to return from injury and earn an NHL contract, the hope is that the young forward will have the chance to build upon those totals moving forward.

Waivers: 09/20/19

September 20, 2019 at 11:41 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 3 Comments

The waiver period for the 2019-20 season opened today, and teams all around the league started clearing spots on their rosters. These players are all on waivers:

Dallas Stars

F Michael Mersch
D Reece Scarlett

Edmonton Oilers

F Josh Currie
F Joseph Gambardella
F Brad Malone
D Keegan Lowe

Florida Panthers

F Joel Lowry
F Paul Thompson
F Kevin Roy
D Tommy Cross

New York Rangers

F Matt Beleskey

St. Louis Blues

F Jordan Nolan
F Mike Vecchione
F Nick Lappin
D Joey Laleggia
D Jake Dotchin

Tampa Bay Lightning

G Louis Domingue
G Mike Condon

Vancouver Canucks

F Justin Bailey

Vegas Golden Knights

F Tyrell Goulbourne
D Brett Lernout
D Jaycob Megna

Justin Bailey Signs With Vancouver Canucks

July 4, 2019 at 12:19 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 1 Comment

The Vancouver Canucks have picked up another depth forward, signing Justin Bailey to a one-year two-way contract. Bailey failed to receive a qualifying offer from the Philadelphia Flyers last month and became an unrestricted free agent.

Bailey, 24, was originally selected in the second round of the 2013 draft but has failed to establish himself in the NHL to this point. Playing 63 games for the Flyers and Buffalo Sabres, the 6’4″ forward has just nine points. If given a bigger opportunity in Vancouver there is a possibility he can produce a little more offensively, but the likelihood of him becoming an impact player seems low at this point.

Still, adding more depth for the bottom-six at a reasonable price is never a bad thing and Bailey has shown he can clear waivers in the past. That means he might end up ticketed for the Utica Comets if he can’t carve out a role in training camp. The Canucks do already have a huge number of forwards that will be competing for the final few spots, making Bailey’s chances even more slim. Not many of them have the size he brings however, something that head coach Travis Green might appreciate on his roster.

List Of Players Not Receiving A 2019 Qualifying Offer

June 25, 2019 at 5:40 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 13 Comments

The deadline to issue a qualifying offer to pending restricted free agents comes down at 4pm today, making any player who has not received one eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. It does not stop them from re-signing with the team for a different amount. Below are the players who will not be issued a qualifying offer:

Anaheim Ducks

D Jake Dotchin, D Trevor Murphy, D Keaton Thompson

Arizona Coyotes

G Hunter Miska, F Nick Cousins, F Josh Archibald

Boston Bruins

F Gemel Smith

Buffalo Sabres

F Eric Cornel, D Jack Dougherty, D Brycen Martin, F Sean Malone* (Signed to AHL deal)

Calgary Flames

F Curtis Lazar, F Brett Pollock, F Kerby Rychel, D Josh Healey, G Mason McDonald

Carolina Hurricanes

D Josh Wesley