Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/12/21

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 St. Louis Blues have recalled Klim Kostin to the active roster and expect the young forward to make his season debut this evening. The team has also assigned Dakota Joshua to the taxi squad, while moving Nathan Walker to the AHL’s Utica Comets. According to the AHL transaction page, Joel Hofer has also been recalled to the taxi squad.
  • The Los Angeles Kings have sent Quinton Byfield to the AHL, where the Ontario Reign still have meaningful games to play this season. The Reign, along with the rest of the AHL’s Pacific Division, will begin a postseason tournament in a week’s time.

North Division

Central Division

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day

Maple Leafs Activate Frederik Andersen Off LTIR

The Maple Leafs will have a third option between the pipes when the playoffs come around.  CapFriendly reports (Twitter link) that Frederik Andersen has been activated off LTIR, paving the way for him to return to the lineup. He had been on a conditioning assignment with AHL Toronto, allowing six goals on 46 shots in a game and a half.

It has been a difficult season for the 31-year-old who has battled injuries over the second half of the season as well as some inconsistency.  The result has been a career-low .897 save percentage along with a 2.91 GAA, the highest of his career which is far from optimal considering he’s a pending unrestricted free agent.  As a result, Jack Campbell started to cut into his playing time and with the run he has been on lately, he likely will enter the playoffs as the starter.

Accordingly, Andersen’s goal at this point is likely to show that he’s ready to dress as the backup ahead of David Rittich who was brought in at the deadline as insurance with Andersen on the shelf.  The Maple Leafs have two games remaining in the regular season on Wednesday and Friday so he won’t have much time to show that he’s ready to go.

In corresponding moves to get back to cap compliance, Toronto has sent Rasmus Sandin back to the taxi squad and placed winger Zach Hyman on LTIR retroactive to April 18th.  While he technically is eligible to be activated at any time, their cap situation makes it quite unlikely that he’ll play in their final two regular season games.  However, with no salary cap in the playoffs, he should be available for the opener with the North Division playoffs expected to start on May 19th.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/11/21

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 sent Tristen Robins back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  In a corresponding move, Jacob Middleton was sent back to the minors.  Robins, a 2020 second-round pick, spent the season with Saskatoon of the WHL.

North Division

Central Division

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/10/21

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

  • Sam Carrick has been sent back to the AHL by the Anaheim Ducks, now that their season is over. Carrick can take part in the Pacific Division postseason, the only minor league playoffs that will be held this season.

North Division

  • The Winnipeg Jets have recalled Eric Comrie and Dominic Toninato from the taxi squad under emergency conditions. Comrie was just announced as the team’s Masterton Trophy nominee, after a season that saw him claimed and then reclaimed on waivers, with very little playing time to show for it.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have reassigned Denis Malgin to the taxi squad after his outstanding season in Switzerland. The 24-year-old scored 19 goals and 42 points in 45 games for Lausanne HC and is now back in North America to give the Maple Leafs a little more playoff depth.

Central Division

  • After clearing waivers, Calvin Pickard has been reassigned to the AHL by the Detroit Red Wings. Pickard has played six games for the Red Wings this season, posting an .874 save percentage.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Joey Keane from the AHL and expect him to make his NHL debut this evening. The 21-year-old defenseman has 12 points in 21 games with the Chicago Wolves this season.
  • With several players sitting out tonight, the Nashville Predators have recalled forwards Rem Pitlick and Michael McCarrondefenseman Tyler Lewingtonand goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo from the taxi squad.

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/09/21

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 Vancouver Canucks announced they have recalled forward Will Lockwood from the Utica Comets of the AHL. The 22-year-old forward spent his first professional season in the AHL after four years at the University of Michigan. He scored four goals and 11 points in 24 contests and now will likely get into a couple of games with the Canucks to finish out the regular season once he clears quarantine.
  • The Ottawa Senators announced they have assigned forward Vitaly Abramov to their taxi squad. The 23-year-old made two appearances for Ottawa this past week but failed to register a point or a shot on goal in either contest.
  • The Calgary Flames have recalled center Glenn Gawdin from the taxi squad, according to Flames reporter Ryan Pike. Gawdin is expected to center the team’s fourth line tonight.

East Division

  • The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned defenseman Wyatte Wylie from the taxi squad to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, according to the AHL transaction page. Wylie has yet to make an NHL appearance but has appeared in 20 games in the AHL with a goal and six points.
  • The New Jersey Devils have assigned goaltender Gilles Senn from the taxi squad to the Binghamton Devils of the AHL, according to the AHL transaction page. The 25-year-old Senn has struggled in Binghamton with a .893 save percentage and a 3.66 GAA in 16 appearances.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they have recalled several players from the taxi squad to the NHL roster now that rosters have been expanded and taxi squads have been eliminated for playoff teams. The team recalled goaltender Emil Larmi as well as defensemen Juuso Riikola and Yannick Weber. The team has also converted the emergency recalls of goaltenders Alex D’Orio and Maxime Lagace into regular recalls. Defenseman Josh Maniscalco has also been assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL.

West Division

Central Division

  • The Chicago Blackhawks recalled forward Evan Barratt from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL and have put him on the Hawks’ taxi squad, according to NHL.com’s Brandon Cain. The 22-year-old Barratt has five goals and 14 points in 27 games with Rockford this year and likely will get a chance to make his NHL debut before the regular season ends.
  • The Dallas Stars announced they have recalled forward Joel L’Esperance from the taxi squad. He has two goals in 12 games with Dallas this season.

Max McCormick Clears Waivers

Saturday: As expected given the lack of upside to making a claim, McCormick has safely cleared waivers, reports Hurricanes beat writer Michael Smith. The Central Division leaders will get some cap relief in the final days of the regular season while retaining the depth forward for their playoff run.

Friday: You don’t often see players placed on waivers after the trade deadline, as roster limits are lifted and teams can carry everyone they need. In today’s cap world though, there are sometimes situations that require a team to move a player down even after the deadline has passed. That’s what has happened with the Carolina Hurricanes today, who have placed Max McCormick on waivers to create some roster flexibility.

As CapFriendly points out, the rules for waiver claims after the deadline are slightly adjusted, meaning McCormick could not play for a team that claims him. If someone did claim him, it would essentially end his season, which doesn’t benefit his new team very much. Still, there is at least a slight possibility that a team would claim McCormick simply to remove him as an option for the Hurricanes as they head into the postseason. An unrestricted free agent at season’s end, there would be no real risk other than upsetting a fellow management team.

It’s a tough spot for McCormick, 29, who has played in ten games this season for Carolina. The former Ottawa Senators forward has two goals in those appearances, spending more time on the taxi squad than on any active roster.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/08/21

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

  • With a back-to-back lined up this weekend, the Ottawa Senators have recalled Filip Gustavsson to get one last look at the young netminder before their season comes to a close. The Senators face a difficult decision of which of their five (yes, five) Expansion Draft-eligible goalies to protect this summer, but the 22-year-old Gustavsson may just be the pick given his phenomenal numbers in six appearances this season. Perhaps one final strong start will tip the scales his way and lead to the exposure of starter Matt Murray and fellow backups Marcus Hogberg, Anton Forsbergand Joey Daccord to the Seattle Kraken.

Central Division

  • Ahead of their season finale on Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings announced that a pair of promising young players will not take part and rather have been reassigned to the taxi squad. It’s a curious decision to bench Joseph Veleno and Givani Smithseeing as the duo are part of the Red Wings’ future, which is all the 27th-place team should be focused on right now. The team has made one recall, bringing goaltender Calvin Pickard up to the active roster.
  • Despite playing in nine straight games, including his first goal as a Blue Jacket in his most recent outing, defenseman Gavin Bayreuther has been reassigned to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. The prevailing theory: at this point in their respective seasons, wins are worth more to Cleveland chasing a division title than to Columbus chasing top lottery odds.

East Division

  • The New Jersey Devils have brought back wingers Nolan Foote and Tyce Thompson, per a team announcement. Foote made an impact in his first four NHL games, picking up a goal and an assist while Thompson has been held without a point in seven contests.  Both players are at today’s morning skate.
  • The Washington Capitals have shuffled up their roster, announcing that they have sent Daniel Carr down to the taxi squad while recalling Garrett Pilon to the active roster.  Carr has an assist in six games this season while Pilon has yet to play in the NHL but has 16 points in 14 games with AHL Hershey this season.

West Division

  • The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Hudson Fasching and Aaron Ness from the taxi squad, sending Michael Chaput back in the process. The Coyotes will finish their season tonight against the San Jose Sharks.
  • The Los Angeles Kings have recalled Rasmus Kupari from the taxi squad, while moving Quinton Byfield off the roster. Byfield took a painful shot off the foot last night against the Avalanche but managed to stay in the game. By playing in one more match, Byfield would burn the first year of his entry-level contract.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Philadelphia Flyers Recall Cam York, Felix Sandstrom

May 7: York has been elevated from the taxi squad to the active roster as expected. He will wear No. 45 and make his NHL debut this evening.

May 6: The Philadelphia Flyers may not have much to play for over the last few days, but don’t tell Cam York that. The 20-year-old defenseman has been recalled to the taxi squad and is expected to make his NHL debut on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The team recalled goaltender Felix Sandstrom to the taxi squad as well, meaning another NHL debut could be in the works.

York was the 14th overall pick in 2019 and is coming off an outstanding season with the University of Michigan, where he tallied 20 points in 24 games. There was no slowing him down in the AHL, where he immediately found success with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring five points in six games and earning the call-up. There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to York, who will quarterback the second powerplay unit on Friday as well.

An offensive threat every time he touches the puck, York will still need some time before he becomes a top option for the Flyers. Still, he’ll get a chance to dip his toe into the NHL waters here with an eye on cracking the roster out of 2021-22 training camp. With Shayne Gostisbehere suspended for his hit the other night, there is lots of opportunity for York to show what he can do over the last few games.

Sandstrom meanwhile is an interesting prospect in his own right, selected 70th overall in 2015. The Swedish goaltender played in the SHL through the 2018-19 season and spent last year in the ECHL acclimating to the North American game. This year, in nine appearances for Lehigh Valley, he has an .897 save percentage and 3.45 goals-against average. Now 24, Sandstrom is a restricted free agent this summer.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/07/21

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

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Cody Goloubef from the AHL, adding him to the taxi squad. Goloubef hasn’t gotten into a single NHL game this season but has played 160 in the past, picking up a handful of appearances each season. The 31-year-old has five points in 25 games for the Belleville Senators this year.
  • The Edmonton Oilers have assigned Patrick Russell to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The 28-year-old saw his first NHL action in nearly two months on Thursday, logging 10:31 in Edmonton’s loss to Vancouver.

Central Division

  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Givani Smith from the AHL to the taxi squad after spending nearly a month in the minor leagues. Smith, 23, has played 15 games for the Red Wings this season, collecting one goal and four points. A few hours later, the Red Wings recalled Smith, Mathias Brome and Joseph Veleno from the taxi squad to the active roster.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Matiss Kivlenieks to the active roster under emergency conditions, giving them another goaltender for the game tonight against Detroit. Kivlenieks has yet to appear in an NHL game this season.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes returned Morgan Geekie to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The 22-year-old has been a regular for large chunks of the season and has played in 34 games, picking up two goals and an assist.

East Division

  • The New York Rangers have returned Jonny Brodzinski to the AHL from the taxi squad, even though Hartford’s season ended yesterday. Armed with a cannon of a shot, Brodzinski has always scored at a high rate in the minor leagues. In the NHL though, he has just 13 points in 62 career games.
  • After the Pittsburgh Penguins ruled out both Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith today with injuries, Alex D’Orio was recalled from the AHL under emergency conditions. Maxime Lagace is expected to make the start in the final game of the season, while Jarry and DeSmith are both expected to be ready for the playoffs.
  • The New Jersey Devils have assigned Brett Seney and Colton White to Binghamton of the AHL from the taxi squad, per the AHL’s transactions log.  White has placed twice for New Jersey this season while Seney hasn’t seen any NHL action.  Their demotions were to make room for Matt Tennyson and Marian Studenic who were both sent down to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
  • With the Boston Bruins off tonight, they’ve returned Jeremy Swayman to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Swayman has been dominant in his first taste of NHL action, winning seven of nine games while posting a 1.44 GAA with a .946 SV%.  Cameron Hughes was also sent to the minors.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 05/06/21

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

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent Frederik Andersen to the AHL on a conditioning loan, where he is expected to play half a game for the Toronto Marlies. Meanwhile, they’ve returned Mac Hollowell to the AHL while recalling Semyon Der-Arguchintsev to the taxi squad.

Central Division

  • The Detroit Red Wings have completed their usual goalie swap, sending Kevin Boyle to the AHL and recalling Kaden Fulcher to the taxi squad. The team has bounced the two back and forth for the last several weeks.

East Division

This page will be updated throughout the day

Show all