Taxi Squad

It’s a busy Thursday with 11 games on tap tonight. With that, you can bet that many teams will be shuffling their rosters and lining things up to be ready for when the puck drops. You can keep track of all of those roster moves right here.

Atlantic Division

• Per a team release, the Buffalo Sabres reassigned forward Ryan MacInnis to the taxi squad from the AHL’s Rochester Americans. MacInnis has yet to appear in a Sabres uniform, but he’s been bouncing up and down between the taxi squad and Rochester since the system was re-implemented last month.
  • The Sabres have now brought up MacInnis from the taxi squad, making him available for tonight’s game.
• As the team gets healthier on defense, the Ottawa Senators assigned defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the taxi squad from the active roster and moved Michael Del Zotto to the AHL’s Belleville Senators. Bernard-Docker was previously in COVID protocol, while Del Zotto was recalled out of necessity due to a lack of healthy defensemen.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning recalled forward Remi Elie from the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, assigning him to the taxi squad today. Elie got into one game with the Lightning earlier this season when the team was hit hard by COVID-related absences.
• Boston’s Urho Vaakanainen is back in the NHL on an emergency basis. One of the team’s top defense prospects, he has eight points in 23 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins this season.

Metropolitan Division

• The Philadelphia Flyers recalled forward Connor Bunnaman and defenseman Yegor Zamula from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, assigning them to the taxi squad as COVID-related absences are hitting their team hard at the moment. Bunnaman is pointless in four games this season, while Zamula could look to make his season debut if he’s elevated to the active roster.
• Goaltender Hunter Shepard is on his way up to the Washington Capitals’ taxi squad from the AHL’s Hershey Bears, according to a team release. The 26-year-old netminder does not require waivers and has split this season between the AHL and ECHL.
  • Shepard is back down just a few hours later. They’ve swapped him for Zachary Fucale as the third goalie on the taxi squad.

Central Division

• The Colorado Avalanche recalled forward Mikhail Maltsev and goaltender Hunter Miska to their taxi squad, per a team tweet. Maltsev has six NHL games under his belt already this season, while Miska has struggled in both the AHL and ECHL in 2021-22.
• Defenseman Calle Rosen is back on the St. Louis Blues taxi squad, recalled from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. The move comes after a pair of Blues defensemen entered COVID protocol this morning.
• The Minnesota Wild made a much-anticipated swap today, recalling forwards Marco Rossi, Matt Boldy, and Connor Dewar from the taxi squad while sending Victor Rask there in their places. It paves the way for the NHL debuts of Rossi and Boldy, the team’s two best forward prospects.
• The Nashville Predators have sent forward Thomas Novak to Milwaukee of the AHL while promoting Matt Luff from the taxi squad.  Novak had been scratched in four straight games and hasn’t played since December 17th so a stint with the Admirals should get him back in playing shape while Luff has an assist in four games with the Predators this season.

Pacific Division

• The Los Angeles Kings continue to shuffle Martin Frk and Jacob Moverare through their system, calling them up to the active roster from the taxi squad today. They also assigned defenseman Jordan Spence to the AHL’s Ontario Reign from the taxi squad.
• Sheldon Rempal is headed back to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, as the Vancouver Canucks moved him there from their taxi squad today. He has 20 points through 22 games in Abbotsford this year.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Just two games on the NHL schedule this evening after a full slate last night. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers will do battle in an all-Canadian matchup, while the St. Louis Blues travel to Pittsburgh to battle the Penguins. As those teams and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling:

Atlantic Division

• Ahead of their game, the Maple Leafs have sent Kyle Clifford to the taxi squad, a good sign that Auston Matthews will be ready to go. Matthews took the morning skate after initially receiving a positive COVID result on a rapid test earlier this week. After testing negative yesterday, his presence at the skate suggests that he has been cleared to return to action.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning have returned Darren Raddysh to the AHL, after making his NHL debut a few days ago. Raddysh played in two games for the Lightning and failed to record a point.
• The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Riley Barber, Luke Witkowski, and Kaden Fulcher from the AHL to the taxi squad, giving them some extra bodies as they head west. Detroit will take on the three California teams before returning home later this month.
• The Ottawa Senators have reassigned Max Guenette and Lassi Thomson to the AHL, while moving Logan Shaw to the taxi squad. Thomson, 21, has played in 12 games for the Senators this season and has three points.

Metropolitan Division

• The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent Cam Johnson from the taxi squad back to the minor leagues, though it’s still kind of a promotion for the netminder. Johnson had been playing in the ECHL when he got the call to the NHL taxi squad and will only be going back to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters for the time being. Meanwhile, the club has recalled Jake Christiansen and Liam Foudy from the AHL to the taxi squad.
• The Washington Capitals have recalled Michael Sgarbossa to the taxi squad once again, after sending him down just yesterday. The veteran minor leaguer has 14 points in 15 games this season for the Hershey Bears.

Central Division

• The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Nicolas Beaudin to the taxi squad while assigning Brett Connolly there from the active roster. Kurtis Gabriel and Alec Regula are headed back to the Rockford IceHogs, where they can take part in this weekend’s back-to-back matches.
• Matt Luff might not get a chance to play his former team tomorrow night, as the Nashville Predators have moved him back down to the taxi squad. Luff has played four games for the Predators this season after spending several years as a member of the Los Angeles Kings organization.
• After he cleared waivers, Zane McIntyre has been loaned back to the Iowa Wild. The Minnesota Wild meanwhile have recalled Andrew Hammond from the taxi squad under emergency conditions and moved Hunter Jones up to the taxi squad from the AHL.
• The Colorado Avalanche reassigned forwards Callahan Burke, Mikhail Maltsev, and goalie Hunter Miska to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles from the taxi squad today. Maltsev’s the only one of them that has NHL games under their belt this season.

Pacific Division

• The San Jose Sharks have recalled prospect Adam Raska, a 20-year-old forward that has impressed in his first year of North American pro hockey. A seventh-round pick in 2020, Raska has six points in 21 AHL games but plays a physical, bang-and-crash style that made him a preseason fan favorite.
• The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Jacob Larsson, while sending Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Bryce Kindopp, Danny O’Regan, and Greg Pateryn to the AHL from the taxi squad. Lukas Dostal will come up from the AHL to the taxi squad for the time being.

This page will be updated throughout the day

There are seven NHL games to be played this Sunday, post-Winter Classic and solidly into the New Year. Teams are slowly returning to business as usual as players return from COVID protocol and the number of additions to protocol and postponements begins to dwindle. There’s likely to be all sorts of roster moves today as teams take advantage of the newly-reintroduced taxi squads, and we’ll keep track of those right here.

Atlantic Division

• Per the AHL’s Rochester Americans, the Buffalo Sabres reassigned forward Ryan MacInnis to them this morning. MacInnis was the sole player on Buffalo’s taxi squad. In his first year with the Sabres organization, he has five goals and ten assists in 24 games with Rochester.
• The Ottawa Senators recalled defenseman Max Guenette from the AHL’s Belleville Senators and promptly reassigned him to the taxi squad, according to a team tweet. The Senators had no extra defensemen with the team after Jacob Bernard-Docker and others entered COVID protocol yesterday. Guenette has two goals and five assists in 16 games with Belleville in his first professional season.

Metropolitan Division

• According to a team tweet, the Pittsburgh Penguins made four recalls from their taxi squad today. Forwards Anthony Angello, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Radim Zohorna, and goalie Louis Domingue are now on the team’s active roster for their game against the San Jose Sharks today.
• Aliaksei Protas is heading back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears, per a team tweet from the Washington Capitals. Protas had six points in his first 22 NHL games this season, but as the Capitals start to look like themselves again, he’s headed back to Hershey where he has five points in eight games this season. The team also swapped Michael Sgarbossa and Lucas Johansen, sending Johansen to the taxi squad and recalling Sgarbossa to the active roster.

Central Division

• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jim Thomas reports that after backing up Jordan Binnington in last night’s Winter Classic, the Blues assigned goalie Charlie Lindgren to the taxi squad today. It paves the way for Ville Husso to return from injury, who’s been out since December 7 with a lower-body injury.
  • Lindgren is now back with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, along with forward Alexei Toropchenko and defenseman Calle Rosen.
• The Chicago Blackhawks recalled forwards Josiah Slavin from the taxi squad today while sending Mackenzie Entwistle and Collin Delia there, per The Athletic’s Scott Powers. Slavin will get another shot in the Blackhawks lineup after nine games earlier this year.
• Per a team tweet, the Dallas Stars are bringing up defenseman Thomas Harley and goalie Adam Scheel from the AHL’s Texas Stars to their taxi squad. Harley, the 18th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, played his first seven NHL games with the Stars earlier this season but doesn’t have a point yet. Scheel has just a .886 save percentage with Texas this season, but due to salary restrictions, the team can’t recall Anton Khudobin to the taxi squad.
• The Nashville Predators re-assigned forward Michael McCarron to the taxi squad from the active roster, per a team tweet. McCarron has just a goal in ten games.

Pacific Division

This page will be updated throughout the day.

New year, new New Year’s Day lineup for the NHL. While the Winter Classic at Target Field in Minneapolis will still be the highlight, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues are just two of 18 teams on the ice today to open the calendar year. As a result, there will be fewer spectators and more move makers when it comes to roster transactions today, especially given the return of the taxi squad. Keep up with all of action here:

Atlantic Division

• The Buffalo Sabres have activated forwards Vinnie Hinostroza and Jeff Skinner from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. With both back in action, the team has reassigned forwards Brandon Biro, J.J. Peterka, and Arttu Ruotsalainen and defenseman Oskari Laaksonen to the AHL’s Rochester Americans.  They also revealed that head coach Don Granato is also out of the protocol and back behind the bench for Saturday’s game.
• Dan Renouf is on the move again, with the Detroit Red Wings sending the minor league veteran back to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins following a short stint on the taxi squad. Renouf has played in four games with Detroit this season though, proving to be a dependable depth option.
• As goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is back from COVID protocol, the Tampa Bay Lightning returned goalie Hugo Alnefelt as well as defenseman Sean Day and forward Remi Elie to the Syracuse Crunch from the taxi squad, per a team tweet. All three got into games recently as the Lightning were hit hard by COVID placements and injuries.

Metropolitan Division

• Returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup from the NHL’s COVID Protocol are defensemen John Marino and Michael Matheson and forward Dominik Simon, who also took part in practice today. While there are still several members of the Penguins remaining on the COVID list, this is positive news ahead of the team’s return to play on Sunday.
• Alexandar Georgiev has cleared COVID Protocol for the New York Rangers, causing a domino effect in net. With Georgiev back on the active roster, the team has announced that veteran Keith Kinkaid will move to the taxi squad while prospect Adam Huska will return to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
• The New Jersey Devils are adding two top prospects to the taxi squad in Alexander Holtz and Nolan Foote. Foote is merely a recall from AHL Utica, while Holtz has been away at the ill-fated 2022 World Junior Championships. While both are only on the taxi squad for now, both should get a chance to jump into the Devils’ lineup at some point shortly.
• Goaltender Jean-Francois Berube and forwards Joshua Dunne and Tyler Sikura are making their way back to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters from the Columbus Blue Jackets’ taxi squad, as Columbus empties their taxi squad entirely. Only a few players remain in protocol for the team and they’re mostly back to full health.

Central Division

• The Dallas Stars have recalled a trio of forwards from the minors to the taxi squad as they get set ready to return to action this week. The Stars have not played since December 20 and their next game is not until Thursday, January 6, so the team will be eager to hit the ice after a 16-day break. They will now be joined by Riley Damiani, Ty Dellandrea, and Rhett Gardner, all up from AHL Texas. The group has a combined 32 points in 63 AHL games this season, but just one point in two NHL games. Youngsters Damiani and Dellandrea are still good options for a boost of offensive energy anywhere in the lineup, while the veteran Gardner is a physical grinder who can step into a fourth-line role.
• Just in time for the Winter Classic, the St. Louis Blues have activated Ivan Barbashev, Oskar Sundqvist, and Ville Husso. To make room, Nathan Walker, Alexei Toropchenko, and Charlie Lindgren have been assigned to the taxi squad.

Pacific Division

• The Winnipeg Jets are adding some security in net, promoting goaltender Arvid Holm from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose to the taxi squad. In the event of a positive COVID test for a netminder, Holm will be ready to step in. The 23-year-old is actually in his first season in North America and the backup in the AHL to promising prospect Mikhail Berdin, but has slightly outplayed him this season albeit in half as many appearances. The Jets likely feel that they can support the NHL squad without disrupting the AHL roster and Berdin’s development by placing Holm into the taxi squad role instead, at least for now.
• In an effort to get the promising prospect play time, the Edmonton Oilers announced that defenseman Philip Broberg has been moved from the taxi squad back to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Broberg has actually played in eight NHL games so far this season, but with only one point to show for it the Oilers know he can use some more seasoning in the minors. In an unrelated move, the team has recalled goaltender Ilya Konovalov from the taxi squad under emergency circumstances. There are no specifics yet on what prompted the move, but it is Mike Smith who is unavailable; the veteran just returned from injury (perhaps too early again).

This post will be updated throughout the day.

The final day of 2021 originally featured seven games on the schedule today but that has been trimmed down to four due to some postponements.  Nevertheless, it should once again be a busy day on the transaction and taxi squad fronts and we’ll keep track of those moves here.

Atlantic Division

• The Senators announced (Twitter link) that forwards Clark Bishop and Logan Shaw have been added to the taxi squad. Those moves are likely linked to the placement of Joshua Norris and Tyler Ennis in COVID protocol earlier today.
• The Bruins have recalled John Moore to the taxi squad, per the AHL’s transactions log. The veteran has played in just four games with Boston this season while chipping in with six points in ten games with Providence.
• The Maple Leafs announced (Twitter link) that they’ve returned defenseman Chad Krys from the taxi squad to AHL Toronto. The 23-year-old was acquired from Chicago three weeks ago and has played in ten AHL contests between the two teams this season.
• The Panthers have recalled defenseman Matt Kiersted to the taxi squad, per the AHL’s transactions log.  The 23-year-old has a dozen points in 23 games with AHL Charlotte this season plus two points in five NHL contests with Florida.  Later in the day, they announced (Twitter link) that defenseman Chase Priskie was also recalled to the taxi squad while goaltender Spencer Knight was sent back to the taxi squad.

Metropolitan Division

• The Penguins announced the recalls of wingers Anthony Angello and Radim Zohorna to the taxi squad. Both players had NHL time with Pittsburgh last season (19 games for Angello, nine for Zohorna) but both have played exclusively with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.
• The Capitals announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defenseman Lucas Johansen from the taxi squad while sending Alexander Alexeyev to the taxi squad.  Johansen, a 2016 first-rounder, has yet to make his NHL debut but may get that opportunity now with this promotion.
• The Hurricanes have assigned defenseman Jalen Chatfield to the taxi squad, per a team release.  The 25-year-old has an assist in seven games this season while averaging a little under 17 minutes per game.
• The Blue Jackets announced the recall of defenseman Scott Harrington from AHL Cleveland.  He takes the place of forward Justin Danforth on the roster as the rookie will miss six weeks with a sprained MCL.  Harrington has an assist in six games with Columbus this season while Danforth has two goals and two assists in 13 contests.

Central Division

• With the World Juniors ending earlier than expected, the Jets are taking advantage of it, announcing (Twitter link) the recall of winger Cole Perfetti to the taxi squad. The 19-year-old had six points in two games for Canada while picking up 15 in 17 contests with AHL Manitoba.
• The Nashville Predators have recalled Mathieu Olivier from the taxi squad while sending Matt Luff and Michael McCarron back in their place. The moves come ahead of tomorrow’s afternoon match against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Pacific Division

• The Sharks have recalled defenseman Jaycob Megna, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 29-year-old has played in six games with San Jose this season and will be needed as depth with Mario Ferraro currently in COVID protocol.
• The Kings announced (Twitter link) that they’ve sent winger Vladimir Tkachev and defenseman Jacob Moverare back to AHL Ontario. Both players were recalled yesterday but didn’t play for Los Angeles in their win over Vancouver.
• After Dustin Wolf served as the backup for the Flames last night, the team announced (Twitter link) that the goaltender has been sent back to AHL Abbotsford. That suggests that backup Daniel Vladar will be cleared to return for Sunday’s game against Chicago.
• The Ducks announced (Twitter link) that winger Bryce Kindopp has been sent back to AHL San Diego.  He had been brought up on an emergency recall on Wednesday after putting up 10 points in 22 games with the Gulls.  Taking his place on Anaheim’s roster is Sam Steel who was activated from COVID protocol.
• The Golden Knights have sent defenseman Daniil Miromanov and center Jake Leschyshyn back to Henderson of the AHL, per their team Twitter account. Miromanov has played in four games with Vegas this season, picking up an assist while Leschyshyn has a goal and three assists in 19 NHL games.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

Seven, count ’em seven games on the NHL schedule this evening as the league starts to get back to a full slate. That includes a battle between Mark Giordano and the team he captained for so long, Bruce Boudreau looking to stay undefeated as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, and an important Atlantic Division matchup between two Florida-based teams. As they and the rest of the league prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling right here.

Atlantic Division

• The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Teemu Kivihalme and Chad Krys to the taxi squad, giving them some extra bodies on defense while they continue to deal with COVID absences. The team actually had a defenseman from Ryerson University–Gregory DiTomaso–take part in practice today, while Krys, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season, also joined the big club for the first time.
• The Buffalo Sabres have assigned Oskari Laaksonen, Brandon Biro, and Ryan MacInnis to the taxi squad. Laaksonen especially is an interesting prospect for the Sabres, given how well he has scored at the AHL level so far. The 22-year-old defenseman has 32 points in 51 games since joining the Rochester Americans last season. A third-round pick in 2017, he has yet to make his NHL debut.
• The Florida Panthers have recalled Chase Priskie to the taxi squad. Priskie has played twice for the Panthers this season but is still looking for his first NHL point. The 25-year-old has 12 points in 22 games for the Charlotte Checkers.
• John Moore has been removed from the Boston Bruins taxi squad and sent back to the AHL. The 31-year-old defenseman has spent more time in Providence than Boston this season, scoring six points in 10 games for the P-Bruins.

Metropolitan Division

• The Philadelphia Flyers have made a small swap, sending Gerald Mayhew to the taxi squad while recalling Jackson Cates.  Mayhew made his Flyers debut on Wednesday while Cates has a goal in two games with Philadelphia this season.

Central Division

• Ahead of the Winter Classic, the Minnesota Wild have recalled Connor Dewar and Dakota Mermis to the taxi squad, adding some extra insurance as they deal with uncertain COVID cases and injuries. Dewar, 22, has played in four games for Minnesota this season but is still looking for his first NHL point.
• The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Vladislav Kolyachonok from the AHL to the taxi squad, where the young defenseman will get the chance to practice with the NHL club. Kolyachonok, 20, has five points in 15 games for the Tucson Roadrunners after being acquired as part of the Anton Stralman trade last summer.
• The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled defenseman Alec Regula and forward Josiah Slavin from AHL Rockford, assigning them to the taxi squad.  Regula got into three games with Chicago last season while Slavin has an assist in nine NHL games this season.

Pacific Division

• The Edmonton Oilers have loaned Dmitri Samorukov back to the AHL, as Darnell Nurse and William Lagesson return to practice. The 22-year-old Samorukov has played just one NHL game but looks like he could be a part of the Oilers blueline down the road. For now, he’ll return to the Bakersfield Condors where he has three points in 15 games this season.
• The Los Angeles Kings have recalled Vladimir Tkachev and Jacob Moverare from the AHL. Quinton Byfield has been activated from the COVID protocol and loaned back to the Ontario Reign. Moverare, 23, is still waiting to make his NHL debut, despite several recalls in the last few weeks.
• The Arizona Coyotes have brought up goaltender David Tendeck to the taxi squad.  The 22-year-old has played in 12 games with Rapid City of the ECHL this season, posting a 3.21 GAA with a .912 SV%.

This page will be updated throughout the day