Three Players Clear Waivers

March 20: All three Michaels have cleared waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Amadio and Chaput can now be assigned to the taxi squad or minor leagues, while Houser remain with the Rochester Americans.

March 19: Bad day for Michael. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that Michael Houser (BUF), Michael Amadio (LAK) and Michael Chaput (ARI) have been placed on waivers today. Houser only just signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres today, meaning he needed to clear waivers to be assigned to the taxi squad or stay in the minor leagues.

Chaput has known these waters before, clearing waivers several times in his career so far. The most recent occasion was in January just before the season began, but now that he has played 10 games for the Arizona Coyotes, he’ll need to clear again to go back to the taxi squad. The 28-year-old forward hasn’t recorded an NHL goal since the 2016-17 season and has gone completely scoreless this season. He’ll likely go unclaimed once again, giving the Coyotes the ability to move him up and down.

It’s Amadio that may draw some interest out of this group, given his age and interesting history. The 24-year-old winger was the 90th overall pick in 2014 and played extremely well in the minor leagues, scoring at a near-point-per-game pace for the Ontario Reign. In 168 NHL contests, he has just 39 points, though 16 of those came last season in a limited role through 68 appearances. Unfortunately, Amadio has just two points on the season this time around and hasn’t even been able to generate many shots on net. Unless a rebuilding team sees him as a piece that could be salvaged, he will likely clear just like the others.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/19/21

There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

  • The San Jose Sharks have recalled Christian Jaros from the AHL, his first recall of the season. Jaros was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in January and has two points in ten games for the San Jose Barracuda this season.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have returned Josh Mahura to the AHL, while recalling Kodie Curran and Andrew Agozzino. The Ducks got quite the performance out of rookie Jamie Drysdale in his NHL debut, potentially launching him into the roster full-time.
  • The Los Angeles Kings have sent Matthew Villalta back to the Ontario Reign, leaving them with Troy Grosenick as the taxi squad goaltender.

Central Division

  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Dennis Cholowski from the minor leagues for the first time this season. The 23-year-old defenseman has played 11 games in the AHL, scoring eight points so far.
  • Detroit also recalled goaltender Calvin Pickard from Grand Rapids under emergency conditions. This would indicate that the injury suffered by Jonathan Bernier will leave him sidelined for at least a short amount of time.
  • In their daily move, the Nashville Predators have recalled Michael McCarron from the taxi squad, while moving Alexandre Carrier and Ben Harpur back to it. The Predators continue to flip players back and forth to save cap and salary on off days.

East Division

North Division

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/18/21

There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

North Division

Central Division

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Dan Renouf Clears Waivers

March 18: Renouf has cleared waivers according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. He can now be assigned to the taxi squad or minor leagues.

March 17: According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Colorado Avalanche have placed Dan Renouf on waivers for the second time this season after he cleared in early January. Since then he has played in ten games, meaning to return to the taxi squad he will have to clear again. The Avalanche have had massive injuries to their defense group lately but are getting closer to several returns, meaning Renouf’s time in the lineup is likely coming to an end.

The 26-year-old defenseman had three points and a fight in those ten games, impressing many along the way. The minor league veteran was never drafted and had played just a single NHL game before this season, spending the rest of the time in the AHL for various clubs. On a two-year, two-way deal with the Avalanche, he at least has shown he can hold his own at the highest level.

Still, he seems an unlikely claim given his overall lack of experience or upside. Perhaps if a team is dealing with several injuries to the back end they could take a flier on the pending free agent, but it seems much more likely that he’ll pass through and be assigned back to the taxi squad or minor leagues.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/17/21

There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

North Division

Central Division

  • After clearing waivers earlier today Mikhail Grigorenko has been moved to the taxi squad by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 26-year-old forward has seemingly lost his spot in the lineup, last playing on February 23.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have assigned Frans Nielsen and Evgeny Svechnikov back to the taxi squad, given they don’t play tonight. The team won yesterday against the Carolina Hurricanes, one of the more impressive results of the season.

East Division

  • The New Jersey Devils have returned Nicholas Merkley and Jesper Boqvist to the AHL for the time being. The Devils don’t play today after securing their ninth win of the season last night but have three in a row against the surging Pittsburgh Penguins coming up.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Andy Andreoff and Connor Bunnaman from the taxi squad, an interesting move on game day. It seems likely that at least one of them will be in the lineup tonight, though it’s not entirely clear who will be coming out.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/16/21

There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

North Division

Central Division

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/15/21

There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

North Division

West Division

  • With an injury to Kyle Rau, the Minnesota Wild have recalled Connor Dewar to the taxi squad. The 21-year-old forward has eight points in 12 games for the Iowa Wild this season, his second professional campaign after being a third-round pick in 2018.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have moved Dryden Hunt back to the taxi squad after he logged just nine minutes of ice time last night. Hunt, 25, has played in seven games so far for the Coyotes.

Central Division

  • The Carolina Hurricanes have returned both Joakim Ryan and Antoine Bibeau to the AHL, moving both off the taxi squad for now. The Hurricanes won another game last night and now sit at 20-6-1 on the season, the second-best winning percentage in the entire NHL.
  • The Dallas Stars have returned Colton Point and Jerad Rosburg to the AHL, while bringing up Landon Bow and Taylor Fedun to the taxi squad. Dallas has flipped their taxi squad players all season to keep them fresh and the Texas Stars will be in action tomorrow night.
  • The Nashville Predators have recalled Alexandre Carrier and Ben Harpur from the taxi squad, moving Frederic Allard back to it. The Predators are dealing with massive injury concerns at this point in the season and have lost three in a row.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have called up Evgeny Svechnikov and Kaden Fulcher to the taxi squad from the AHL, sending Calvin Pickard back in their place. Svechnikov has played in four games this season for Detroit, scoring four points.

East Division

  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Oskar Steen, Karson Kuhlman, and Jack Ahcan to the taxi squad as they prepare for action tonight. The Providence Bruins are actually going with just 16 skaters today because of the call-ups as they take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
  • Rasmus Asplund has been recalled from the Buffalo Sabres taxi squad and will slot into the lineup tonight. Cody Eakin will be made a healthy scratch, while Brandon Davidson has been loaned back to the taxi squad. The Sabres still don’t have access to their AHL players who are quarantining thanks to a positive coronavirus test among the Rochester Americans.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Alex Lyon and Nate Prosser from the taxi squad. The goaltender will serve as the backup tonight as the Flyers will give Brian Elliott the full night off. Lyon, 28, has been in the Flyers organization for years, but mostly gets minor league action. In three appearances last season in the NHL, he posted an .890 save percentage.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/14/21

There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

Central Division

  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Mathias Brome from the taxi squad as they prepare for their early evening game against the Hurricanes. Detroit actually won their last game against the Lightning, scoring six goals in the process. Brome wasn’t part of that game, but it looks like he will draw back in today.  Following the game, he was sent back to the taxi squad.
  • Alexander Radulov is back with the Dallas Stars. The team announced that the big scoring forward has been activated from the Injured Reserve. To make room for Radulov’s addition on the active roster, fellow forward Joel L’Esperance has been reassigned to the taxi squad.
  • After clearing waivers, the Carolina Hurricanes sent defenseman Jake Gardiner to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly, while recalling forward Morgan Geekie and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.  Both Geekie and Nedeljkovic have been making near-daily appearances on these lists this season.
  • The Nashville Predators returned defensemen Ben Harpur and Alexandre Carrier to the taxi squad.  Carrier scored his first career NHL goal on Saturday while Harpur has played in nine games so far this season.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning sent defenseman Luke Schenn to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The move doesn’t bank them any extra cap space since they’re already in LTIR but it extends Schenn’s waiver exemption.

East Division

North Division

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Clark Bishop and Matthew Peca from the taxi squad.  Bishop made his season and Ottawa debut on Friday against Edmonton while Peca has an assist in five games so far this season.
  • The Calgary Flames recalled Dominik Simon from the taxi squad while sending forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Oliver Kylington to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Both Ryan and Kylington were in the lineup in Saturday’s victory over Montreal.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs sent forward Kenny Agostino back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The 28-year-old made his Toronto debut on Thursday, playing just over four minutes against Winnipeg.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/13/21

There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

North Division

  • The Maple Leafs announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled Scott Sabourin to the taxi squad. The winger was recently converted to an NHL two-way deal and made his season debut in the minors last night.  It was a short-lived one, however, as he was ejected in the first shift of the game after instigating a fight following a goalie interference penalty.
  • The Senators announced (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned Clark Bishop back to their taxi squad.  Bishop made his Ottawa debut last night against Edmonton, picking up a pair of shots on goal in just under nine minutes of work.
  • The Calgary Flames have announced a one-for-one swap, recalling defenseman Oliver Kylington from the taxi squad and replacing him with the demotion of forward Zac RinaldoKylington is expected to draw into the lineup tonight for the Flames.

East Division

Central Division

  • The Stars announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled Rhett Gardner and Joel L’Esperance from the taxi squad while sending Ty Dellandrea to the taxi squad.  Gardner and L’Esperance have been held off the scoresheet in four games each this season while Dellandrea has a goal and two assists in 15 contests.
  • The Panthers announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled Riley Stillman from the taxi squad.  The 23-year-old played in 34 games for Florida last season but has only gotten into one NHL game so far this season.

West Division

  • Jamie Drysdale‘s time on Anaheim’s taxi squad has ended again without the blueliner getting into his first NHL game as the Ducks have sent him back to AHL San Diego, per the AHL’s transactions log.  The 18-year-old defenseman has played quite well in his first taste of the pros, picking up nine points in a dozen games with the Gulls this season as he waits to see if the OHL will get up and running this season.  Goaltender Olle Eriksson Ek was also recalled to the taxi squad.
  • The Sharks have flipped taxi squad goaltenders as Alexei Melnichuk has been recalled from AHL San Jose while Josef Korenar has been sent from the taxi squad to the Barracuda, per the AHL’s transactions log.  Melnichuk played in five games while on this particular assignment, allowing 16 goals on 119 shots.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

AHL Players Currently Unavailable To Buffalo Sabres

Yesterday, the AHL announced that due to COVID-19 protocols affecting the Rochester Americans, their game today against the Cleveland Monsters would be rescheduled for a month from now. Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports that the Americans have one confirmed case of COVID-19 and there is fear that there could be more. John Vogl of The Athletic meanwhile reports that while the team is in the protocol, the AHL players are currently unavailable to the Buffalo Sabres, Rochester’s NHL affiliate.

That puts a lot of pressure on the group at the NHL level, especially when dealing with injuries. Jack Eichel has left the Sabres for a second opinion on his neck injury and now Dylan Cozens is being evaluated for the injury he sustained last night. Riley Sheahan was back between Taylor Hall and Sam Reinhart on the Buffalo top line. Rasmus Ristolainen was also absent, though that is believed to be a maintenance day after he logged more than 23 minutes in each of the Sabres last two games.

Situations like this are part of the reason why a taxi squad was created this season, but it’s not like the Sabres are overflowing with NHL options. Their taxi squad already included only three skaters and one of them–C.J. Smith–was rotating in at practice. Buffalo lost again last night and will play tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If they don’t win, it would be a 10-game losing skid.

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