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Tucker Poolman

Minor Transactions: 3/10/18

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There are eleven games on the docket today, including action for each of the league’s top eight teams and a match-up with major wild card implications in Blues-Kings. As teams continue to push toward the playoffs and jockey for position, here are the roster transactions being made before a busy day:

  • Last night, the Colorado Avalanche recalled defenseman David Warsofsky from the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. The 27-year-old journeyman rearguard is in his fifth NHL season, but has seen less and less of the NHL ice as the years have gone on. Thus far in 2017-18, Warsofsky has suited up for just six games for the Avs and hasn’t done much to prove he deserves more, with zero points to his credit, zero hits, and just two shot attempts per game. Currently the eighth defenseman in Denver, don’t expect Warsofsky to be the spark that ignites a playoff-clinching stretch run for Colorado.
  • Ahead of their Original Six matinee match-ups today and tomorrow versus the Boston Bruins, the Chicago Blackhawks added some grit to their lineup in the form of John Hayden. The team announced this morning that they had called up Hayden from AHL Rockford and he will play this afternoon in Boston. The move was an emergency recall, with Vinnie Hinostroza dealing with family issues, but also a timely addition for Chicago. With Tommy Wingels gone, ironically to the Bruins, the ’Hawks could use a degree of toughness, which the 6’3″, 220-lb Hayden certainly brings. The Yale product has 11 points in 39 games with Chicago this year, as well as 103 hits and 43 penalty minutes.
  • Another Central Division moves comes from the Winnipeg Jets, who have brought back Tucker Poolman. It was a brief demotion for the young defenseman, who has spent much of the season as an extra man for the Jets. Poolman, playing in his first pro season out of the University of North Dakota, has played in 15 games with Winnipeg, recording just one point, and 17 games with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose crammed into several short trips, where he has posted 10 points.
  • The St. Louis Blues announced they have recalled journeyman defenseman Chris Butler from the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL today under emergency conditions. Butler has been up and down several times this season, but has only appeared in two games for the Blues. While there is no official word on who is out, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Tom Timmerman writes that defenseman Robert Bortuzzo did not practice Friday.

Minor Transactions: 02/22/18

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Another day, another few trades in the NHL. The Rangers, Canadiens, Coyotes and Kings were all involved in transactions yesterday, swapping expiring contracts and goaltenders as they get ready for the deadline. While some minor moves have been made over the last few days, we still haven’t seen the prime targets change sweaters. While we all wait for those moves, PHR will keep track of all the day’s minor transactions.

  • Tucker Poolman is back up with the Winnipeg Jets, after playing a single game with the Manitoba Moose last night. Poolman hadn’t gotten into the lineup in a while, so the Jets gave him a chance to suit up and try to shake off a bit of rust. Poolman was a +1 in the Moose victory, and will now return and try to get into the lineup for the Jets down the stretch.
  • After trading away backup goaltender Darcy Kuemper last night, the Los Angeles Kings have recalled Jack Campbell from the minor leagues, assigning Michael Mersch and Paul Ladue to the AHL in the process. Campbell has rediscovered his form in the Kings organization, and looks ready to take the next step to become an NHL goaltender.
  • The New York Rangers have recalled Vinni Lettieri from the minor leagues, which could indicate that a trade is brewing for the club. They were expected to get Chris Kreider back into the lineup this weekend, and with Pavel Buchnevich back from his concussion already had enough healthy forwards. Still, they had roster spots open and could just be using Lettieri as insurance for their game tonight against the Canadiens.

Minor Transactions: 02/21/18

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After a busy night in the NHL, the league has just three games on tap for today. Instead, teams might use their time off to cement their status for the trade deadline and make inquiries around the league. All the minor moves we’ll keep track of right here. Refresh the page throughout the day to make sure you stay up to date on all the comings and goings.

Minor Transactions: 01/24/18

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We’ve already seen a signing today that brought Nathan Gerbe back into the North American fold, but there will be several other minor moves around the league. Right here is where we’ll keep track of all of them.

  • The Winnipeg Jets have recalled Tucker Poolman from the minor leagues, placing Shawn Matthias on injured reserve. The move could be due to Dmitry Kulikov’s injury, suffered after being hit by Tomas Hertl last night. Poolman has played 13 games this season for the Jets, recording a single point but showing that he could potentially be an answer on defense in the coming years. The 24-year old turned pro out of the University of North Dakota last March, and will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
  • Oscar Dansk has been loaned back to the Chicago Wolves, now that he is healthy enough to return to action. Dansk was moved off injured reserve this week and will continue his development in the AHL. The 23-year old played in four games with the Vegas Golden Knights this season, allowing just five goals and recording a .946 save percentage.
  • The Detroit Red Wings have indeed sent David Booth to the minor leagues now that he’s cleared waivers for the third time. The team recalled Dominic Turgeon, who had only just been sent down this week, to take his place.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent Tyler Motte back to the minor leagues, another good sign for Cam Atkinson who is close to returning. Atkinson had his foot broken by a Seth Jones shot just a month ago, but has been skating with the team recently.
  • With James Reimer dealing with a lower-body injury, the Florida Panthers have recalled goaltender Samuel Montembeault from the AHL. That puts the Panthers with a duo of Montembeault and Harri Sateri, who have a combined three NHL appearances (all Sateri). It’s not clear how serious Reimer’s injury is, but we’ll surely find out soon.
  • According to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the San Jose Sharks have brought Marcus Sorensen back up from the minor leagues after getting the news that Joe Thornton would be out at least a couple of weeks. Sorensen has played 15 games for the Sharks this season, scoring three goals.
  • The Penguins Penguins have sent goaltender Tristan Jarry to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  This will allow him to play in up to two games in the minors during the NHL All-Star break.  Jarry has lost playing time to Casey DeSmith in recent games so this will serve as an opportunity to keep him in playing shape before deciding whether or not to bring him back afterwards.

Trade Rumors Swirl Around Toronto

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It wasn’t long ago that the Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the worst franchises in the NHL, making the playoffs once in just eleven seasons and suffering an epic collapse in that one postseason appearance. Therefore, it was fittingly a surprising and exciting story line when the young 2016-17 Maple Leafs made the playoffs and even gave the President’s Trophy-winning Washington Capitals a run for their money in the conference quarterfinals. Toronto had finally turned it around.

This season however, expectations have changed. In an especially weak Atlantic Division, the Leafs have, for all intents and purposes, already locked up the third Atlantic playoff spot and are simply looking to strengthen their roster for what seems to be a collision course with the Boston Bruins in the first round, a rematch of their 2013 blunder. While much of that preparation will simply be maintaining a healthy roster and polishing their play through the rest of the regular season, there is also much anticipation that further additions to the team are in order to give the team a shot at the Stanley Cup this spring.

Trade speculation is natural for contenders, but it isn’t always rational. There has already been a notion among many sources that impending unrestricted free agents James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and Leo Komarov will be used as the team’s own “rentals” and that the Leafs could be unlikely to add a forward. There’s also the fact that Toronto has next to no cap space to make a typical picks/prospects-for-player rental deal. Yet, fans are still eager to grasp at any rumors of the Leafs adding a big-time defenseman or another depth piece up front.

Case in point: Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported earlier today that rookie defenseman Travis Dermott’s number was suddenly changed from #3 to #23 without his approval. The reaction from Toronto fans was overwhelmingly that the team was set to acquire a veteran player with the #3. Even SB Nation’s Maple Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets was quick to post a somewhat laughable list of potential former Leafs whose #3 could be saved for retirement alongside a more serious list of current #3’s throughout the league who could be future Leafs. The vast majority of that list are defenseman, which lends some credence to the theory, but many – Seth Jones, John Klingberg, Brayden McNabb, Tucker Poolman – are likely untouchable and others – Kevin Bieksa, Chris Bigras, Nick Jensen – are likely of no interest to Toronto. Could the Pittsburgh Penguins really be ready to move on from Olli Maatta? Would the Leafs really be willing to take on the Keith Yandle contract or the risk of uber-physical Radko Gudas? Or was the number change simply due to some other decision that carries far less weight than Toronto fans would like it to?

Only time will tell what moves the Maple Leafs make prior to the Trade Deadline, but the expectations are not going away any time soon. Toronto’s Stanley Cup window has only just opened, but the hockey-crazed city is ready for their first title since 1967 and fans will be eager to see the club add additional pieces to strengthen the roster. The Leafs will continue to be a team to watch through the next month and a half, but that doesn’t mean every little piece of information on the rumor mill is worth taking seriously.

Toby Enstrom Out Eight Weeks With Lower Body Injury

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According to Winnipeg Jets insider Jamie Thomas (rather nonchalantly), it appears as though the injury suffered by defenseman Toby Enstrom yesterday was much more severe than first imagined. Enstrom left Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils with a lower body injury and now it looks like he won’t be back on the ice for quite some time. Thomas reports that the injury will keep Enstrom sidelined for eight weeks. He will be placed on injured reserve.

The loss of Enstrom is a tough blow for Winnipeg, albeit not shocking. Enstrom has played in 60 games, 72 games, and 60 games in each of the past three seasons respectively, only 78% of the possible contests. The 33-year-old has gotten used to being banged up and the Jets have gotten used to dealing with it. Thomas already indicated that Tucker Poolman is likely to be called up and given a regular role on the Winnipeg blue line in Enstrom’s stead.

With that said, it’s still a difficult situation for a club that has the fourth-most points in the NHL and finally have the look of the playoff team that many have speculated over the past few seasons. Enstrom may not bring much offense – in fact he has only two assists this season – but is very reliable in his own end and has been a mainstay for the Jets/Thrashers organization throughout his 11-year career. Enstrom’s offense and ice time may be down in 2017-18, but his absence will still be apparent over the next two months.

Injury Updates: Gaunce, Bonino, Slepyshev, Poolman

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Canucks center Brendan Gaunce will miss at least the first month of the season as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, GM Jim Benning told TSN 1040 (audio link).  The 2012 first rounder recently signed a two-year, $1.5MM contract with one-way salaries in both years.  Last season, Gaunce played in 57 games with the Canucks, collecting five assists and was expected to battle for a fourth line spot with the team in training camp.

That could provide an opportunity for one of the veterans that Vancouver has brought in on tryouts to crack the opening roster.  So far, center Ryan White and winger Scottie Upshall have been announced as PTO players that will be attending camp with the Canucks.

More injury notes from around the league:

  • The Predators will have to wait a bit longer to see offseason signing Nick Bonino suit up in a Nashville jersey. GM David Poile told reporters, including Adam Vingan of The Tennessean, that the center isn’t expected to play at all in the preseason as he continues to recover from a broken left tibia, one that he elected to not have surgery on.  The team is hopeful that he will be ready for the season opener on October 5th.
  • While Oilers winger Anton Slepyshev is set to miss at least part of training camp after sustaining an ankle injury in offseason training, GM Peter Chiarelli noted to Postmedia’s Jim Matheson that the injury is not particularly serious. Slepyshev split the regular season between the NHL and AHL but was a regular for the Oilers in the playoffs so this shouldn’t represent too much of a setback for him in his quest to land a roster spot.
  • After undergoing separate surgeries on both shoulders shortly after signing his entry-level contract, the Jets are hopeful that defensive prospect Tucker Poolman will be ready to participate in training camp, notes Postmedia’s Paul Friesen. Poolman is coming off his best season at the college level where he had 30 points (7-23-30) in 38 games and could have elected free agency in August to become part of the group of prospects that tested the market after the 15th.

NCAA All-American Teams Named

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Prior to the reveal of University of Denver defenseman Will Butcher as the 2017 Hobey Baker Award-winner and ahead of the NCAA championship game tomorrow night, the American Hockey Coaches Association released the rosters of this year’s collegiate All-American Teams. The teams, first and second squads from either side of the country, are listed below with their NCAA teams as well as NHL-drafted or signed organization, if applicable:

East All-Americans

First Team:

RW Zach Aston-Reese, Northeastern (Pittsburgh Penguins)

RW Spencer Foo, Union

C Mike Vecchione, Union (Philadelphia Flyers)

D Adam Fox, Harvard (Calgary Flames)

D Charlie McAvoy, Boston University (Boston Bruins)

G Charles Williams, Canisius

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Winnipeg Jets Sign Tucker Poolman To Entry-Level Deal

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Winnipeg Jets fans can relax now, as the team has come to an agreement with University of North Dakota standout Tucker Poolman. Recently a wrench was thrown into his future in Winnipeg as he suffered a shoulder injury that requires surgery and will keep him out for the next four to six months. Bob McKenzie of TSN wondered if that could jeopardize a contract with the Jets, as he would become a free agent this summer and would be free to sign with any team.

The deal will be a one-year entry-level contract worth $1.775 million (salary+bonuses) for next season. Because Poolman will turn 24 this summer, this was the longest deal the Jets could give him, and he will become a restricted free agent come 2018. It will be interesting to see where Poolman plays next season, as McKenzie seemed to hint that the Jets would be willing to put him in the NHL right now. With Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba and Dustin Byfuglien all installed long-term on the right side for the Jets, someone will have to play their off side. For what it’s worth, Poolman spent much of this season of the left side at UND and had success, meaning he’ll possibly debut there next year.

The big-bodied defenseman has incredible offensive instincts and jumps into the play often, even protecting the puck down low on the powerplay and eluding defenders with his deceptive quickness. For a 6’3″ 210-lbs player, he moves smoothly on the ice and has a crisp, accurate first pass. While he can crank it up with a slap shot at times, he often uses a powerful wrist shot to get the puck on net.

While Poolman isn’t expected to become a star in the league, he is NHL ready and could anchor a bottom pair and play in all situations. For a team like the Jets who are trending in the right direction with a young core, he could easily become an effective role player behind their big-4 on defense. Hopefully the surgery—which is scheduled for tomorrow—will go well enough to allow him a full training camp, as four months would have him ready for the beginning of August.

Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald was first to report the deal, with Gary Lawless of TSN reporting the terms.

Morning Notes: Poolman, McAvoy, Hextall

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The other day, we reported that Winnipeg Jets prospect Tucker Poolman had suffered an injury that would keep him from signing his entry-level deal this season and getting into the Winnipeg lineup. According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, that shoulder injury requires surgery and will keep him out four to six months, and he agrees that it may impact his decision to hit free agency this summer.

Poolman would become a free agent in August and able to sign with any NHL team, though McKenzie wonders if he’d choose to go back to school for another year and come out in 2018 with no restrictions on what kind of contract he could sign. Like Matt Read of the Philadelphia Flyers, who avoided an entry-level deal when he signed in 2011, Poolman could get a one-way deal worth much more than a standard ELC.

  • Charlie McAvoy is close to signing an amateur tryout with the Providence Bruins, but that doesn’t stop him from signing an entry-level deal this year if the Bruins feel they are desperate enough. As we discussed in the comments of the article yesterday, and confirmed by McKenzie in the video above, McAvoy would burn a year of his ELC if he should sign for this season despite being only 19. Because he turns 20 between September 16th and December 31st of this year, his contract wouldn’t slide even if he played fewer than 10 games. Like Colin White in Ottawa, this is still a possibility if the team feels as though they could help them win in the playoffs this season.
  • Ron Hextall will likely be the GM of Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships, provided Philadelphia doesn’t make the playoffs. The team is currently six points behind Boston for the final spot, but have several teams in between them. Expect former NHL goaltender Sean Burke to also be part of the management team after his involvement in Hockey Canada over the past several years.

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