Following the conclusion of their regular season last night, the Blue Jackets wasted little time making some roster moves. Following that contest, they announced (Twitter link) that they’ve returned defensemen Samuel Knazko, Stanislav Svozil, and Billy Sweezey along with forwards Tyler Angle, Joona Luoto, and Mikael Pyyhtia to AHL Cleveland.
Knazko made his professional debut in North America this season and has suited up in 49 games with the Monsters this season, picking up a goal and 20 assists. He got into two contests with Columbus this month, averaging a little under 16 minutes per night of playing time.
Svozil spent most of this season with Regina of the WHL where he had a very productive season, picking up 11 goals and 67 assists in 56 games; his 78 points were the third-highest in the league. He actually has yet to play in the AHL but also has suited up twice for Columbus, recording an assist in his debut on Thursday while logging over 20 minutes a night.
As for Sweezey, he has had a bit more experience in Columbus, suiting up in nine games for them this season, picking up an assist along with 39 hits and 20 blocked shots in his first taste of NHL action. He has 11 assists in 55 contests in the minors this year.
Angle is nothing if not consistent. He has 11 goals with Cleveland this season, matching his output from 2020-21 and 2021-22 in the process. He also now has his first NHL tally in the books after scoring on Friday against Buffalo.
Luoto has been back and forth between the two clubs in recent weeks. He got into seven games with the Blue Jackets this year in his first NHL action since the 2019-20 campaign with Winnipeg while he has collected 14 goals and 11 assists in 45 games with the Monsters.
Lastly, Pyyhtia spent the bulk of the year playing in Finland with TPS Turku of the SM-liiga before being assigned to Cleveland last month. He has played in six games with the Monsters so far, scoring three times while he picked up an assist in his two games with Columbus.
All six players will have an opportunity to play in two more games this weekend as the Monsters wrap up their season. However, with none of them available to play for Cleveland last night, they lost to Utica, eliminating them from playoff contention.