Atlantic Notes: Senators, Bergeron, Griffith, Girgensons, Green
Although the Senators were sellers at the trade deadline last month, TSN’s Darren Dreger cautioned in an appearance on TSN 1260 (audio link) that their actions shouldn’t be interpreted that they’re looking towards a long-term rebuild. Instead, he suggests that Ottawa is leaning more towards a renovation over a full-scale overhaul.
Of course, that could change depending on which direction their 2019 unrestricted free agents are looking to go. Not only is defenseman Erik Karlsson a UFA after next season, so too is top center Matt Duchene. If one or both of them give an indication that they’re not willing to re-sign, the Senators may be forced to reconsider that plan. If that indeed happens, Dreger expects winger Mike Hoffman, who the team became more and more hesitant to move leading up to the deadline, to be someone that they consider trading.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
- Bruins center Patrice Bergeron is set to meet with team doctors on Friday to reassess his fractured foot, notes Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe. He has been skating on his own and also a little bit with their AHL affiliate in Providence as of late and the team is hopeful that he will be cleared to join them on their current four-game road trip. The 32-year-old has missed the last 12 games with this injury but still sits third in scoring with 27 goals and 27 assists in 55 contests.
- After recalling him earlier in the day, the Sabres announced that they have returned winger Seth Griffith to Rochester of the AHL. He is no stranger to the minor league shuffle as this is now the fourth separate time he has been brought up and sent back down since March 15th. Griffith’s demotion suggests that forward Zemgus Girgensons is set to return after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury.
- The Red Wings announced (Twitter link) that defenseman Mike Green will undergo surgery on his cervical spine and will be out for the rest of the season. This ends what has been a rough campaign for the pending unrestricted free agent whose health concerns played a big role in him not being dealt by Detroit at the trade deadline. Green wraps up his 2017-18 season with 33 points (8-25-33) in 66 games. GM Ken Holland told Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News (Twitter link) that the procedure is scheduled for April 5th and carries a two-month timeframe for recovery.
Maple Leafs Re-Claim Seth Griffith On Waivers
For the third time this season, Seth Griffith has been claimed on waivers.
The Bruins lost him to the Maple Leafs in the pre-season, who lost him to the Panthers after just three games, and now the Maple Leafs have taken him back.
Griffith had five assists in 21 games with the Panthers, but was a healthy scratch in seven of Florida’s past eight games.
Though Griffith is small by NHL standards at 5’9, teams are clearly fascinated by his potential. Griffith has played in 58 NHL games with those three teams, recording six goals and 16 points. His production at the AHL level has been much better; he had 77 points in just 57 games with the Providence Bruins in 2015-16.
Panthers Waive Seth Griffith
The Florida Panthers have placed right winger Seth Griffith on waivers, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link). It’s the third roster move the team has made today after demoting center Denis Malgin and recalling goalie Reto Berra from Springfield of the AHL.
Griffith has played in 21 games with the Panthers this season, collecting five assists while averaging over 13 minutes a night in ice time. However, he has been a frequent healthy scratch lately, playing in just one of Florida’s last eight games.
The 24 year old is no stranger to the waiver wire this season as this is the third time he has been waived. After the Bruins waived him at the end of training camp, Toronto picked him up. He wasn’t there for too long though as after three games with the Leafs, he hit the wire again when the Panthers added him.
In his career, Griffith has played in 58 NHL games between Boston, Toronto, and Florida, recording six goals and ten assists. He has been much more of a producer at the minor league level though; he put up 77 points in just 57 games with the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in 2015-16. However, his size (just 5’9) could scare some potential suitors off.
On the other hand, he has been claimed twice already this season so there may be some teams who may still be interested in giving him a shot.
Snapshots: Duchene, Trouba, Waiver Activity
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba made his presence felt in his first game of the season. It wasn’t on the scoresheet, however. Just ask Matt Duchene.
Trouba caught Duchene with a high hit to the head, causing the speedy Avalanche center to leave the game. Adrian Dater reported that the NHL’s concussion spotters may have pulled Duchene from the game. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said post-game that he has no update on his star’s condition.
The two players have been linked before, with some speculation the Avalanche offered Duchene up in a trade for Trouba. With Trouba signing a two-year contract with the Jets before withdrawing his trade request and Duchene leading the Avalanche in scoring, it seems unlikely that anything will come to fruition soon.
- The Florida Panthers have claimed forward Seth Griffith on waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Chris Johnston. The Leafs had previously claimed Griffith on waivers from the Bruins just last month, but he was held off the scoresheet in just three games in blue and white. The Leafs needed to make a move with Matt Hunwick returning from IR and Josh Leivo coming back from a conditioning stint. As Johnston points out, the young forward will have a much better chance to make an impact in Florida, where the Panthers are dealing with a handful of injuries. Griffith won’t have to wait long to face his former team; the Panthers are in Toronto this Thursday.
- Defenseman Nicklas Grossmann is on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutually terminating his contract with the Calgary Flames. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggests Grossmann may have an offer to play overseas. He’s been in and out of the Flames lineup after a successful PTO. Shortly after the signing, Christian Roatis of Flames Nation broke down why the Flames signed the aging defenseman to a one-year, league-minimum contract: to boost their LTIR savings on the injured Ladislav Smid.
- Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jakub Nakladal cleared waivers and has been assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. The Hurricanes have called up Matt Tennyson to take his place on the roster. Nakladal is -4 in three games this season; Tennyson has 7 points in 9 AHL games so far. Also clearing waivers was Florida’s Shane Harper who was assigned to Springfield of the AHL. Harper has two goals and an assist in 14 games with the Panthers this season.