Minor Transactions: 11/25/19
A new week is upon us in the NHL and nine games will kick things off tonight. That schedule includes the struggling Calgary Flames heading to Pittsburgh to try and get another win to slow the bleeding, while the super-hot Dallas Stars welcome the Vegas Golden Knights into their arena. With plenty of action on the schedule we’ll keep track of all the minor moves teams make to prepare.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Matthew Highmore from the minor leagues, his first opportunity at the NHL level since the 2017-18 season. That year Highmore played in 13 games for the Blackhawks and scored two goals, but missed most of last season with a shoulder injury.
- Riley Stillman has been sent back to the AHL by the Florida Panthers, while the team takes a few days off. Florida doesn’t play again until Wednesday, when they will try to stop their short two-game losing streak in its tracks.
- After just a couple of days in the minors for cap reasons, Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee have been recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers. Both players were in the lineup when the Flyers took on the Calgary Flames on Saturday and were sent down just to bank some cap space on the off day.
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Jean-Sebastien Dea from the AHL, giving them another option with Evan Rodrigues unavailable for tonight. While Dea gives the Sabres a fine option, the team is really testing their organizational depth with all the recent injuries.
- Daniel Carr has been recalled by the Nashville Predators, a little more than a month after he cleared waivers and was sent down. Carr absolutely tore up the AHL during that time, posting 21 points in 16 games. The 28-year old is an elite AHL offensive weapon, but has just 103 NHL games under his belt.
- Jack Studnicka and Brendan Gaunce have both been recalled by the Boston Bruins. The team will not have Patrice Bergeron, Brett Ritchie or Par Lindholm for their two-game road trip that starts tomorrow in Montreal.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Michael Hutchinson, sending Kasimir Kaskisuo back to the minor leagues. The backup goaltender usage under new head coach Sheldon Keefe isn’t clear, but the Maple Leafs do have a back-to-back situation coming up this weekend.
Philadelphia Flyers Recall Morgan Frost
On a three-game losing streak, the Philadelphia Flyers have decided it is time to inject a little youth into their lineup. The team has recalled top prospect Morgan Frost from the minor leagues, giving him his first chance at the NHL level.
Frost, 20, was selected 27th overall in the 2017 draft but quickly became one of the most interesting prospects in the entire league. The year after his draft he recorded 141 points in 81 games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL and followed it up with another outstanding season in 2018-19. In his first year of professional hockey he has 12 points in 16 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms but will now get his chance to perform at the highest level.
There are few players in the Flyers organization with the kind of offensive upside that Frost represents, but there are still questions about his ability to hold down the center ice position at the NHL level. What better way to test that than to throw him into the fire during a short road trip.
Philadelphia plays tomorrow night in Florida against the Panthers and will then travel to a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Though there has been no confirmation that Frost will be in the lineup, it would be an odd move to recall him with no intention of getting him into any action.
The team has also recalled Joel Farabee and Andy Andreoff, sending Carsen Twarynski to the minor leagues.