Colorado’s Matt Nieto Out 6-8 Weeks
What was originally considered to be a minor injury has turned out to be anything but for Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Nieto. Just days after stating Nieto was “dinged up” and would miss Saturday night’s game, BSN Denver’s AJ Haefele relays news from GM Joe Sakic tonight that Nieto is expected to miss six to eight weeks with an undisclosed lower-body injury.
The timeline leaves little to no chance that Nieto will return in the regular season. If the Avalanche make the playoffs, his availability would be in question through at least the first round, if not longer. It’s a tough blow for both the team and the player in what has been a career year for Nieto. The 2011 second-round pick has been nothing if not consistent over his NHL career as a bottom-six forward. Including this season, Nieto has recorded at least double-digit points in 58 or more games in each of his six seasons. His best year to date came in his sophomore campaign with the San Jose Sharks, when he registered 27 points in 72 games, although he nearly matched that total last season in Colorado. However, with 22 points already through 58 games this year, Nieto was on pace to finish the 2017-18 season with 30 points. This injury ensures that won’t happen, robbing Nieto of a new career best and the Avalanche of one of their top-nine scoring forwards.
Fortunately, Sakic and company did manage to add Derick Brassard from the Florida Panthers at the deadline at a relative bargain rate and he will be in the lineup right away tonight when the Avs face those same Panthers. Even amidst a miserable season for the veteran forward, Brassard is a major addition for Colorado and should arguably be considered the best non-first line forward on the club the rest of the way. If he plays up to that expectation, he will more than make up for Nieto’s absence and could be the key to the Avalanche winning a playoff spot and Nieto seeing the ice again this season. Beyond Brassard, Tyson Jost, Sven Andrighetto, and Sheldon Dries are among the others who could be asked to step up in Nieto’s stead. The fate of the Avs’ season may rest in their ability to emulate their fallen teammate’s work ethic and tenacity on the ice.
Minor Transactions: 12/22/18
After just three games yesterday, the NHL has a full slate of 14 contests today. Bruins-Predators and Blue Jackets-Flyers begin the day as matinee match-ups, with several more afternoon games on the docket and even more teams squaring off later tonight. The league may be on a roster freeze, but teams are still busy preparing for a loaded weekend ahead of the holiday break. As they do, those minor moves not prevented by the freeze are bound to happen throughout the day:
- A day after going back to the minors, CapFriendly reports that the Colorado Avalanche have recalled Sheldon Dries from the AHL. Dries, 24, has been frequently reassigned back and forth between the Avs and Colorado Eagles this season. The undersized forward has four points in 16 NHL games and only two points in ten AHL games. He’s set to take the place of Colin Wilson who sustained a shoulder injury on Friday night against Chicago and has been placed on IR. In addition, the Avs have brought up winger A.J. Greer and goalie Pavel Francouz, per the AHL’s Transactions Page. Greer has averaged a point per game in 21 contests with the Eagles but is scoreless in four NHL contests. Meanwhile, this will be Francouz’s first NHL recall after signing with Colorado in May. The 28-year-old has fared well in the minors, posting a 2.61 GAA and a .921 SV% in 21 games.
- The San Jose Sharks sent forward Rourke Chartier back to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda late yesterday, the team announced. Chartier has spent much of the season up with the Sharks but has been very productive in limited action with the Barracuda. in nine AHL games, the 22-year-old has logged eight points and a +8 rating. However, he has just one lone goal and no assists through 13 NHL games. Chartier has had no problem scoring in the minors so far in his pro career but needs to work on translating that ability to the next level.
- With Jake McCabe and Lawrence Pilut back to full health, the Buffalo Sabres announced that they have returned defenseman Brendan Guhle to the AHL. Guhle, 21, has been a major asset for the Rochester Americans this season with 13 points in 25 games and has especially stepped up alongside vet Zach Redmond since Pilut took on a full-time role in Buffalo. However, in two brief NHL appearances, Guhle has been a non-factor and still seems in need of seasoning in the minors.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have flipped forwards, announcing that they have recalled winger Jacob Nilsson from AHL Rockford while assigning center Luke Johnson to the IceHogs. Nilsson signed with Chicago back in May following a decent season in the SHL but he has yet to make much of a mark, collecting just 14 points in 31 minor league games this season. Meanwhile, Johnson has split the season between the Blackhawks and IceHogs. He has been productive in the minors with seven points in ten games but has just a single assist in 15 NHL contests.
- The Ottawa Senators revealed that have recalled goaltender Marcus Hogberg from AHL Belleville. Craig Anderson took a hard hit on Friday and didn’t finish the game so this appears to be some insurance if he’s unable to dress tonight. Hogberg has been the backup with Belleville this season, posting a 2.55 GAA with a .906 SV% in seven appearances. The Sens had an extra roster spot available so they don’t have to designate this as one of their two allowable 48-hour emergency recalls that would have allowed them to exceed the roster limit.
- When the Los Angeles Kings activated Ilya Kovalchuk today, the team had to free up a roster spot. The team announced they have placed defenseman Dion Phaneuf on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 11, with an upper-body injury that he suffered during the team’s game against the Buffalo Sabres on that date. The veteran defenseman has struggled mightily this season after being a significant addition when the team acquired him in a midseason trade from Ottawa. Phaneuf has just one assist in 32 games this season and averages just 14:58 per game this season, well under his career averages.
- The Nashville Predators announced that they have returned forward Tyler Gaudet to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. Gaudet was recalled Thursday and was a healthy scratch today against Boston.
Minor Transactions: 10/14/18
It’s Sunday in the NHL and that means there are only a few games on tap for today, but not that there won’t be much movement. We’re here to keep track of all the day’s minor moves. Keep refreshing this page to see if your favorite team has swapped anyone from the minor leagues.
- The Washington Capitals have assigned Jayson Megna to the AHL, giving him a chance to get some playing time after being a healthy scratch through the first part of the season. Megna cleared waivers earlier this month meaning he could be sent directly to the minors, and with the Capitals off until Wednesday they can save some cap space by carrying fewer players on the roster. The team will likely make another move to bring up an extra player early in the week.
- The Toronto Marlies announced they have signed defenseman Ryan Sproul to a PTO. Sproul has been with the Marlies for much of training camp, but didn’t make their opening day roster and now has signed a a PTO with the hopes of eventually working his way onto the Calder Cup champions’ roster. Sproul tried to make the Calgary Flames NHL roster early in training camp, but was let go. The 25-year-old blueliner has appeared in 44 NHL games over his career, but the Detroit Red Wings traded him to the New York Rangers a few weeks into the season last year due to his defensive deficiencies. He played 49 games between the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Hartford Wolfpack last season, posting 11 goals and 29 points and was then called up to the Rangers, where he played 16 games for the rebuilding Rangers.
- Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that the Vancouver Canucks have recalled center Adam Gaudette after the team lost fourth-line center Jay Beagle to a broken hand or wrist in Saturday’s game. While there is no official word of Beagle’s injury, the team knew it needed to replace him. Gaudette signed with the Canucks after he finished his junior year at Northeastern University and played five games for Vancouver. He was one of the team’s last cuts during training camp and returns after posting two goals and four points in four games with the Utica Comets of the AHL.
- With a rash of injuries to multiple players, the Anaheim Ducks have recalled Joseph Blandisi from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, according to CapFriendly. The team is expected to scratch center Carter Rowney with an upper-body injury, which means the team needs Blandisi. The 24-year-old center was part of the Sami Vatanen – Adam Henrique trade last season, but he hasn’t been able to crack the rotation with the Ducks yet. He had two assists in three games with the Gulls so far this year.
- The Colorado Avalanche announced they have recalled forward Sheldon Dries from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. The 24-year-old was sent down just two days ago, but was brought back for their road trip while the team awaits the return of Sven Andrighetto. Dries has already played in three games for the Avalanche, but hasn’t put up any points. Dries scored 19 goals for the Texas Stars last season, who were the Calder Cup runners-up, but opted to find a better opportunity as a free agent this summer.
- After a pair of games in the minors, defenseman Jake Bischoff is on his way back to Vegas, their AHL affiliate in Chicago announced. The 24-year-old earned a spot on the Golden Knights roster to start the season but hasn’t gotten into any games with the big club just yet so they sent him down for the weekend to stay in playing shape.