Atlantic Notes: Nosek, Gaudette, Ostapchuk, Harvey-Pinard
All signs point to Panthers center Tomáš Nosek coming off long-term injured reserve tomorrow. The team will activate him prior to their Global Series matchup against the Stars in Finland “assuming he gets through the morning skate and feels good,” head coach Paul Maurice told reporters, including the team’s Jameson Olive.
It’s the expected outcome for Nosek. Maurice said earlier this month that the team had circled the overseas contests as his likely return date. The 32-year-old has not yet played in the regular season after sustaining an upper-body injury at the beginning of training camp. He was ruled week-to-week at the beginning of the season, an inauspicious start for a player who managed only 36 appearances last season due to injuries.
The Panthers must open up a roster spot to take Nosek off LTIR. That will likely mean assigning one of their waiver-exempt forwards, Patrick Giles or Mackie Samoskevich, to AHL Charlotte. It will likely be the former, who’s been serving as Florida’s fourth-line center in the early going but has yet to record a point and has gotten caved in at even strength. Tomorrow will mark the Czechia native’s Panthers debut after signing a one-year, league-minimum contract with the club this offseason.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Another day, another paper transaction for the Senators. Forwards Adam Gaudette and Zack Ostapchuk are back up with the team today after being sent down to bank cap space yesterday, the team announced. They’ll both be in the lineup tomorrow against the Rangers, with David Perron and Shane Pinto still unavailable.
- Canadiens winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard continues to inch closer to a return after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a broken leg. He’s practicing again today in a non-contact jersey and has traveled with the team on their two-game road swing, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. He’s eligible to come off long-term injured reserve at any time. If he does so in the next few days, it’ll be weeks ahead of schedule. He was given a four-month recovery timeline for his late July surgery, which would have put his estimated return around U.S. Thanksgiving. The Habs have an open roster spot and would not need to make a corresponding transaction to activate him.
Canadiens Notes: Guhle, Slafkovsky, Harvey-Pinard
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle was a full participant in today’s morning skate as he donned a regular jersey (as per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports). Guhle was officially placed on injured reserve two days ago, but the 22-year-old has been out of the lineup since October 17th with an upper-body injury. Guhle is eligible to come off of IR at any time.
Guhle started the season well offensively, posting four points and a +4 rating in his first five games. The start was a bit of a surprise given that he missed almost all of the Canadiens training camp due to his recovery from appendectomy surgery. However, despite his impressive offensive numbers, Guhle had some major struggles away from the puck and was buoyed by a 113.2 PDO (as per Hockey Reference).
In other Montreal Canadiens notes:
- Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky has dressed tonight after he declared himself pain-free and ready to play (as per Kenzie Lalonde of TSN). Slafkovsky clarified to the media that the issue plaguing him was in fact, not a shoulder injury but was a different issue that he called a “weird injury.” The 20-year-old missed three games with an upper-body injury and slotted in tonight on the second line alongside Alex Newhook and Joel Armia. The 2022 first-overall pick has had a strong start to the season with a goal and five assists in his first six games.
- Montreal forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard practiced today for the first time since having surgery in July to repair a broken leg (as per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports). The 25-year-old was wearing a non-contact jersey as he took to the ice with his teammates, Harvey-Pinard was originally ruled out until late November but could return to the lineup sooner than that, depending on the next few weeks of practice. Harvey-Pinard had a disappointing 2023-24, posting just two goals and eight assists in 45 games.
Canadiens’ Rafaël Harvey-Pinard Undergoes Leg Surgery
Canadiens winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair a broken leg, the team announced. He’s expected to miss four months, putting his return to action around American Thanksgiving.
It’s tough news for Harvey-Pinard, who was already coming off an injury-plagued 2023-24 campaign. Various lower-body injuries limited him to 45 appearances, posting just two goals, eight assists, 10 points, and a -2 rating while taking only 26 shots on goal and averaging 12:38 per game. That was a massive step back from his 2022-23 showing when he erupted for 14 goals and 20 points in 34 games after a midseason call-up from AHL Laval.
The 25-year-old was a seventh-round pick of the Habs back in 2019 and has spent the five years since working his way up the organizational ladder. The 5’9″, 183-lb winger has always been a good scoring threat, averaging 1.06 points per game across five seasons in juniors in the QMJHL. He also put up an average of 0.74 points per game in three years to date with Laval, leading them in scoring back in 2021-22 with 56 points in 69 games.
Montreal’s depth chart at left wing is full of question marks entering the season behind 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, who will reprise his first-line role alongside Cole Caufield and captain Nick Suzuki. But behind that, there was an opportunity for Harvey-Pinard to climb as far up as a second-line role on opening night with a strong preseason and training camp performance, competing with players like UFA signing Alex Barré-Boulet and veteran Brendan Gallagher. He’ll now have to work his way back into an everyday role upon returning from injury in late November.
Since he’s projected to miss more than 10 games and 24 days to open the season, Harvey-Pinard is a candidate to land on long-term injured reserve. His absence should mean more early playing time for those like enforcer Michael Pezzetta, and it indicates prospects such as Owen Beck, Filip Mesar and Joshua Roy should have a greater chance at making the opening night roster.
Atlantic Notes: Harvey-Pinard, Lyubushkin, Marchand, Barkov
Canadiens winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard is no longer waiver-exempt after playing in his 70th career NHL game in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Canucks, per CapFriendly. The 25-year-old has had his 2023-24 season plagued with injuries, only skating in 32 of Montreal’s 69 contests, although he hasn’t been particularly effective in the lineup, either. His 14 goals in 34 games after being called up from AHL Laval last season hasn’t managed to carry over, and he’s only scored once in 32 contests this season while adding seven assists. Logging 12:49 per game, the 2019 seventh-round pick has been one of the Habs’ worst offensive forwards. He has produced some value with decent possession metrics, logging a 45.8 CF% at even strength that’s above average relative to his teammates, but there hasn’t been much to suggest he can stick in a top-nine role long-term. The 5-foot-9 forward has one season left on a contract carrying a $1.1MM cap hit and will be an RFA with arbitration rights in 2025.
Other updates from the Atlantic Division:
- Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin isn’t quite recovered from his illness and will miss his third straight game Saturday when Toronto hosts the Oilers, head coach Sheldon Keefe said today. Recently picked up via trade from the Ducks for his second go-around with the Leafs, Lyubushkin did skate today for the first time since his last appearance, Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Hurricanes. The 29-year-old has been solid since re-joining Toronto, recording two assists and a 51.5 CF% in seven games, mainly skating alongside Morgan Rielly while averaging 16:07 per game.
- Bruins captain Brad Marchand is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Flyers after he was absent from today’s practice for maintenance purposes, head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters. The 35-year-old had been on a hot streak, picking up eight points in his last seven games. He’s on pace to finish below a point per game for a second straight season after doing so every year from 2016-17 to 2021-22, and his possession metrics have also dipped considerably without the now-retired Patrice Bergeron centering his line. He remains the Bruins’ top secondary talent to David Pastrňák, though, and is the team’s second-leading scorer with 27 goals and 62 points in 71 games.
- Panthers first-line mainstay Aleksander Barkov traveled with the team on their road trip but is unlikely to draw in Saturday against the Rangers, head coach Paul Maurice said. The perennial Selke Trophy candidate missed yesterday’s loss to the Predators with an undisclosed injury and hasn’t been completely ruled out against New York. The 28-year-old Finn is having another elite campaign, notching 48 assists, 66 points, and a +23 rating in 62 games while helping facilitate linemate Sam Reinhart‘s breakout season.
Atlantic Notes: White, Harvey-Pinard, Lindholm, Kampf, Timmins
Eric Engels of Sportsnet is reporting that the Montreal Canadiens have placed forward Colin White on the injured reserve, and have activated forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard from it. Earlier reporting suggested that White suffered an upper-body injury in practice, and is only considered day-to-day.
White originally joined the Canadiens organization via waiver claim on February 22nd, coming over from the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 16 games this season, five of which have been in Montreal, White has been unable to register any points so far. He has received more ice time with the Canadiens but is still receiving playing time in the bottom six nonetheless.
Harvey-Pinard, on the other hand, has had his season mired by injuries. With injury concerns limiting him to 24 games on the year, Harvey-Pinard has scored one goal and seven points for the Canadiens this season. Hoping for health moving forward, Montreal will be waiting to see if they can get back last year’s version of Harvey-Pinard, who scored 14 goals and 20 points in 36 games.
Other Atlantic notes:
- There is still no official timeline on the return of Boston Bruins’ defenseman Hampus Lindholm, but Conor Ryan of the Boston Globe is reporting that Lindholm is close to a return. Lindholm has been out for a little over a week with an upper-body injury which has marked his first significant injury since the 2021-22 season. Seeing a marketable decrease in his production this season, Lindholm has put up one goal and 19 points in 56 games for the Bruins this year.
- Absent from the team’s practice today, Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kampf is reportedly out with an illness (X Link). The Maple Leafs do play against the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow night, and Kampf’s status is currently up in the air. In 47 games for Toronto this season, Kampf has produced at a respectable level, scoring five goals and 11 points overall.
- Sticking in Toronto, Mark Masters of TSN is reporting that defenseman Conor Timmins is back at practice for the first time since his mononucleosis diagnosis back in early February. It is undetermined when Timmins will be able to re-enter the lineup for the Maple Leafs, but he has scored one goal and six points in 16 games for Toronto already this season.
Canadiens Issue Multiple Injury Updates
The Canadiens announced Sunday that winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury after placing him on injured reserve earlier in the day. The team also said that defenseman Jordan Harris is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and Kaiden Guhle is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury. Both Guhle and Harris were injured during Sunday’s 7-2 loss to the Blues.
It’s been a trying campaign for the 5-foot-9 Harvey-Pinard. He’s already missed over half the season with multiple lower-body injuries – sidelined for 27 of Montreal’s 51 games – and will miss another 12 to 18 contests if his recovery timeline holds true.
He’s also scored just once in 24 games this season after scoring 14 in only 34 games in 2022-23. The 25-year-old’s limited showing in a top-six role in the absence of Cole Caufield in the back half of last season earned him some All-Rookie Team consideration, but he hasn’t been able to carry that momentum into his first full NHL campaign.
Harvey-Pinard’s extended absence could translate to a long look at rookie Joshua Roy in the team’s top nine. Roy, who was recalled Saturday for the second time this season, suited up in a third-line role against the Blues today and has a goal and an assist through his first six NHL contests. The 20-year-old was a fifth-round pick less than three years ago and has been one of the best players at the minor-league level for Montreal, notching 32 points in 40 games with AHL Laval.
Harris left today’s game early on, while Guhle was injured late after a collision with Blues defenseman Marco Scandella. If both are not cleared to play in Tuesday’s game against the Ducks, Montreal will need to make at least one recall from Laval. Arber Xhekaj is the only extra defenseman on the Canadiens’ roster.
East Notes: Grzelcyk, van Riemsdyk, Harvey-Pinard
Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk has been fined $5K for spearing Capitals winger Max Pacioretty late in the first period of Saturday’s game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Sunday. The fine is the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and comes after Grzelcyk was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct on the play, sidelining him for the last two periods of the game.
The incident occurring in the first period is likely why DoPS opted for a fine rather than a one-game suspension, given that Grzelcyk missed just over two full periods as part of the penalties assessed at the time. This is the first time Grzlecyk has received supplemental discipline of any kind in his eight-year, 420-game NHL career.
It’s been a trying season for Grzelcyk, whose 0.18 points-per-game pace is the lowest of his NHL career (excluding his two-game showing in 2016-17). The 30-year-old is still logging top-pairing minutes at even strength alongside Charlie McAvoy, controlling 55.3% of expected goals when on the ice together, per MoneyPuck. A lack of any notable special teams time has kept his average ice time below 19 minutes per game for the third straight season.
Other updates from the Eastern Conference:
- Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk will remain sidelined due to illness Sunday against the Canucks, head coach Spencer Carbery said (via Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network). The 32-year-old also missed yesterday’s win over Boston and has only appeared in four out of Washington’s last nine games due to illness and a handful of healthy scratches. Now in the first year of a hefty three-year, $9MM extension that makes him a UFA in 2026, van Riemsdyk has eight assists and a -11 rating in 40 games and has seen his possession metrics nosedive from last season’s strong two-way performance. His average ice time (18:30) is also down from last season’s 19:04, and although he should have a more regular role in the lineup if the Capitals move out Joel Edmundson by the deadline as rumored, this year hasn’t been a strong indication that van Riemsdyk will provide much value for his $3MM cap hit as he enters his mid-30s.
- The Canadiens moved winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard to injured reserve Sunday, according to the NHL’s media portal. The 25-year-old left Saturday’s game against the Stars with a lower-body injury and will now miss a minimum of seven days, ruling him out of Montreal’s next four games. The diminutive winger has seen his ice time dip to exclusively bottom-six minutes since the middle of January and has missed a combined 27 games this season with previous lower-body injuries. A seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft, Harvey-Pinard has one goal and seven points in his 24 showings this season.
Afternoon Notes: Perron, Harvey-Pinard, Athanasiou
The Edmonton Oilers could be interested in trading for Detroit Red Wings winger David Perron, per team reporter Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. Matheson shares that Oiler general manager Ken Holland has long been a fan of Perron, though the Red Wings would need to retain half of Perron’s $4.75MM cap hit if any deal were to go through. The Oilers have proven their interest in veteran wingers already, signing free agent Corey Perry to a one-year, $1MM contract. Perry managed his first point as an Oiler on Friday, recording an assist on Evander Kane’s second-period goal.
Perron, 35, has been in the NHL since 2007 – jumping straight into the league after getting selected 26th overall in the 2007 NHL Draft. His 27 points in 62 games as a rookie is the lowest that Perron has scored in his career when he appeared in 50 or more games in a season. He’s proven incredibly productive, even into his glory years – tallying 58, 57, and 56 points respectively across the last three seasons. He has 10 goals and 23 points in 44 games this year, currently on his lowest scoring pace since the 2015-16 season when he managed just 16 points in 43 games.
Perry and Perron aren’t just 1000-game veterans of the NHL, they’re both Stanley Cup champions – with Perry winning with the 2007 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Perron winning with the 2019 St. Louis Blues. The pair has nearly 300 playoff games under their belt – with Perron making up 104 of those games – bringing a much-needed playoff poise to an Oilers team that has made the Conference Finals just once since 2006.
The Red Wings would have the upper hand in any trade negotiations for Perron, especially since they’ll need to retain salary. The Oilers own their first-round selection in each of the next three drafts, as well as their second-round pick this year. They may need to be ready to part with some of those picks if they want to bring in a 17-year veteran in Perron.
Other notes from around the league:
- Montreal Canadiens forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard exited the team’s Saturday afternoon game against the Dallas Stars with a lower-body injury suffered on a collision with teammate Joel Armia. Harvy-Pinard previously missed seven weeks of the season with a lower-body injury, limiting the 25-year-old to just 23 games on the season. He’s scored one goal and seven points in those outings, adding six penalty minutes.
- The Chicago Blackhawks saw Andreas Athanasiou return to practice on Saturday, marking his first skate since suffering a groin injury in early November. Athanasiou, 29, has played in just 11 games this season, recording four assists but still searching for his first goal of the year. His return will be a breath of fresh air for a Blackhawks offense that’s scored just 10 goals over their last eight games, going 1-6-1 in the matchups. Athanasiou scored 20 goals and 40 points last season, his highest productivity since scoring 30 goals and 54 points in the 2018-19 season.
Canadiens’ Jordan Harris Out Indefinitely, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard Out 6-8 Weeks
Canadiens defenseman Jordan Harris will be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, per a team announcement Tuesday. Harris has left the team’s California road trip and has returned to Montreal for “further testing and a thorough evaluation of his condition,” and the team will make a corresponding recall from AHL Laval later today. Additionally, after placing him on IR yesterday, the Canadiens confirmed that winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will be out of the lineup for six to eight weeks.
The Canadiens’ 23-man roster is full, so Harris will need to be moved to either IR or LTIR to facilitate a recall.
Harris, 23, is among the group of promising young Canadiens defenders, seeing his stock rise after a strong collegiate showing through four years at Northeastern. His rookie season in 2022-23 was solid, seeing him post 17 points and a relative Corsi share of 2.4% at even strength in 65 contests. The natural puck-mover has struggled to make as much of an impact this season, however, logging just three assists in 16 contests while seeing his possession numbers dip.
This is Harris’ second injury-related absence of the season. He’d missed two out of the Canadiens’ last three games with an upper-body injury but returned to play over 21 minutes in the Canadiens’ loss to the Bruins last Saturday. The Massachusetts-born defender is in the first season of a two-year, $2.8MM extension signed in February.
The news solidifies that Jayden Struble will enter the lineup tomorrow against the Ducks and make his NHL debut. A second-round pick of the team in 2019, Struble has six points in 12 games with AHL Laval this season and will slot in on the third pairing alongside Gustav Lindström.
A lengthy absence is a tough break for Harvey-Pinard, who’s struggled to find his footing in the Habs’ lineup this season. After ending last season hot with 14 goals and 20 points in 34 contests, the 2019 seventh-round pick has failed to light the lamp this year and has four assists in 13 games.
Canadiens Place Rafael Harvey-Pinard On IR; Recall Jayden Struble
Unable to play in the team’s last two games due to a lower-body injury, the Montreal Canadiens announced they have placed forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard on the injured reserve. In a corresponding move, in the same announcement, the Canadiens have recalled defenseman Jayden Struble from their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
This is not the first time Harvey-Pinard has been injured this season, as he missed several games earlier this month, also with a lower-body injury. Only playing in 13 games for Montreal up to this point, Harvey-Pinard has tallied four assists while averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time per game.
Last year, Harvey-Pinard split time between the Canadiens and the Rocket, playing in 34 games and 40 games for each team, respectively. After a 14-goal and six-assist performance for Montreal last year, the team rewarded him with a two-year, $2.2MM contract, offering him a full-time spot on the roster.
Struble came over to the Canadiens as the 46th overall selection of the 2019 NHL Draft, playing for Northeastern University of the NCAA before joining Laval at the end of last season. In 12 games played for the Rocket this season, Struble has scored one goal and five assists up to this point.