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Jake Muzzin Out Four Weeks With Broken Hand

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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ defensive depth is getting even thinner by the day. The team announced today that Jake Muzzin will be out for the next four weeks after suffering a broken hand last night. The recently re-acquired Calle Rosen has been recalled in his place.

With Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci already out, the Maple Leafs’ defense now consists almost entirely of the group that won the AHL Calder Cup in 2018. Travis Dermott, Justin Holl, Timothy Liljegren, Martin Marincin and Rosen were all on that team, leaving only Tyson Barrie and Rasmus Sandin—a 19-year old with 24 NHL games under his belt—as those who weren’t part of the playoff run. For a team trying to clinch a divisional playoff spot, that group will have to take some real development steps in a hurry.

Muzzin, 31, just inked a four-year extension with the Maple Leafs that will start paying him an average of $5.65MM next year. His veteran leadership has been immeasurable for the team this season, but this will be his second major injury after breaking his foot earlier on. In 53 games he has 23 points.

If he does return in four weeks it would leave just five games before the end of the season for Muzzin to get his legs under him and help the Maple Leafs secure a spot. Rielly and Ceci are both expected back before the end of the year as well, but for now the team will have to rely on their inexperienced group to get them close to the finish line.

Snapshots: Barrie, Nemirovsky, Suspensions

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Leading up to the trade deadline yesterday there was plenty of speculation about the future of Tyson Barrie. Several teams had inquired on the defenseman, but when it was all said and done he was still part of the Toronto Maple Leafs and ready to try and get them to the playoffs. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that Barrie was only told he wasn’t going to be traded shortly before the deadline, confirming that he was available if the right package came along.

Bob McKenzie was on TSN radio in Vancouver today, explaining just how that package didn’t materialize. The insider explained that the Maple Leafs set a price for Barrie comparable to the Kevin Shattenkirk trade from a few years ago, but only received offers similar to the ones that landed Sami Vatanen and Erik Gustafsson.

Minor Transactions: 02/25/20

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Roster limits are no longer a problem for teams around the NHL, meaning several veterans from the minor leagues will likely find themselves back up for the stretch run instead of floundering in the AHL. Paper transactions were all the rage yesterday because they made young talent eligible for minor league playoffs, but many should be back up today.

  • The San Jose Sharks have recalled Maxim Letunov and Lean Bergmann, giving them a 23-man roster again after trading several names yesterday. The next few weeks for the Sharks are all about prospect evaluation, finding out who can do what for next season.
  • Kevin Gravel has been returned to the minors by the Toronto Maple Leafs after filling in at practice yesterday. The Maple Leafs are expected to give Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin an increased role down the stretch, though Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci were both spotted skating yesterday.
  • Dillon Dube has been sent back to the minor leagues by the Calgary Flames, making room for a couple of defensemen they added at the deadline. Dube has played 38 games for the Flames this season and will likely be back up soon.
  • A couple of players that were acquired yesterday, Daniel Sprong and Fredrik Claesson have been sent to the AHL right away. The pair will suit up for the Hershey Bears and Binghamton Devils respectively for the time being.
  • Following an injury to Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins last night, Matiss Kivlenieks has been recalled under emergency conditions. The Blue Jackets just can’t catch a break, losing two more players to injury in Merzlikins and Riley Nash.
  • After playing a man short last night, the Ottawa Senators have recalled Filip Chlapik from the minor leagues. The team now has 14 forwards on the roster, at least provided Rudolfs Balcers equipment has finally arrived.
  • Justin Dowling has been loaned to the AHL for a conditioning stint, allowing him to get into some action for the first time in a month. Dowling has six points in 27 games for the Stars this season.
  • After being papered yesterday, Nicolas Roy and Zach Whitecloud have been recalled again from the minor leagues. Both players will be eligible for AHL playoffs if the Vegas Golden Knights decide to send them down.

Jake Muzzin Signs Four-Year Extension

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Now that the trade deadline is over without much movement, the Toronto Maple Leafs can announced Jake Muzzin’s four-year extension. The veteran defenseman has inked a deal that keeps him in Toronto through 2023-24, and will carry an average annual value of $5.625MM.

The deal will be of little comfort for Maple Leafs fans that saw their team do almost nothing on deadline day, but does keep a solid contributor in the mix for the next several years. Muzzin has fit in well in Toronto as a two-way star that can log huge minutes in a shutdown role while also moving the puck quickly to the team’s talented forwards. In Morgan Rielly’s absence he has been the only real reliable option on the back end, part of the reason why so many were expecting a change to occur today.

Like many of their previously extensions, Muzzin’s deal is front-loaded with huge signing bonuses. That makes it easier to get rid of down the line, and leans on the financial might of the organization to give them a slight advantage.

Still, signing any 31-year old defenseman comes with substantial risk. Muzzin has deal with injuries this season and has a lot of miles on his body after playing a physical style for parts of nine seasons. If he takes a step backwards as his thirties roll along the Maple Leafs could be in real trouble given how much money they already have committed to their star forwards.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Minor Transactions: 02/24/20

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With the trade deadline coming to a close at 2 p.m., many NHL teams are likely to make roster moves to replace or add to incoming/outgoing trades. On top of that, today is the deadline for AHL teams to fortify their rosters for the AHL playoffs, meaning NHL players must be on the AHL roster before the end of the day if they want to play in the playoffs. Keep an eye on this page throughout the day.

  • The Calgary Flames announced that they have assigned forward Buddy Robinson to the Stockton Heat of the AHL. Robinson has been scratched for the past eight games, but has a goal in five NHL games with the Flames. However, with 16 goals and 30 points in 40 games, it’s likely a move to ensure that Robinson gets some playoff time for the Heat, who are currently sitting in first place in the Pacific Division.
  • The New Jersey Devils announced they have assigned forward Nick Merkley to the Binghamton Devils of the AHL, again a paper transaction so that the 22-year-old is eligible to play in the AHL playoffs down the road. Merkley has fared well in four games with the Devils since his recall, putting up a goal and an assist.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs made a move as they announced they have recalled defenseman Kevin Gravel from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. The move could have something to do with trade rumors surrounding Tyson Barrie, but no such move has been made yet. Gravel has one assist in 15 games with the Marlies and is scoreless in three games for the Maple Leafs.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they have assigned defenseman Cameron Gaunce to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. The 29-year-old Gaunce has filled in for injuries to Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak and has fared well with a goal and four points in three games for the Lightning. He is likely headed down after Tampa Bay signed defenseman Zach Bogosian to a contract for the remainder of the year.
  • StarTribune’s Sarah McLellan reports that the Minnesota Wild have assigned forward Gerald Mayhew and defenseman Louis Belpedio to the Iowa Wild in the AHL, which allows both players to be eligible for the AHL playoffs. Iowa is currently in second place in the Central Division and will likely need Mayhew, who has notched 39 goals in 48 games (and another two in Minnesota). Belpedio has 18 points and 98 penalty minutes in Iowa.

Five Players Placed On Pre-Deadline Waivers

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Monday: The Anaheim Ducks have claimed Andrew Agozzino off waivers, while the Detroit Red Wings have claimed Dmytro Timashov. The other three have cleared.

Sunday: It will be a loaded waiver wire today, as the list features five different names. Two of those players were on AHL contracts until today, as the New Jersey Devils announced that they have signed defenseman Julian Melchiori to an NHL deal for the rest of the season, while the Ottawa Senators have done the same for defenseman Hubert Labrie. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrew Agozzino, Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Dmytro Timashov, and recently-acquired L.A. Kings forward Tim Schaller round out the list. Goaltender Kevin Poulin has cleared waivers after signing with the Kings yesterday.

Melchiori, 28, has 30 NHL games to his credit over three years with the Winnipeg Jets, but has not played at the top level since 2016-17. Nevertheless, he has been a productive member of the AHL’s Binghamton Devils this season and provides New Jersey with another NHL option, given that Sami Vatanen and potentially others could be traded away by tomorrow’s deadline.

Similarly, the 28-year-old Labrie has proven to be a dependable defender and a locker room leader for the AHL’s Belleville Senators this season and has earned the chance to appear with Ottawa down the stretch if needed. Labrie is a career minor-leaguer, but the Senators are without many options given injuries at both levels, the recent departures of Dylan DeMelo and Cody Goloubef, and the potential that names like Ron Hainsey and Mark Borowiecki could still be moved.

The Penguins and Leafs are both in the market for additional help at the deadline and need roster flexibility where they can get it. Although Agozzino is actively in the Pittsburgh starting lineup, the 29-year-old veteran is expendable if it means opening up roster space for the Penguins, who are always active at the trade deadline. Timashov, 23, has played a very limited role in 39 games this season for Toronto and this move signals that the team feels he is worth losing if it avoids other more difficult roster decisions.

Schaller, a salary cap offset in the recent Tyler Toffoli trade, was never expected to play a regular role in Los Angeles. The Kings are well out of the playoff race and focused on working their younger players into the lineup, and the 29-year-old impending free agent is not part of that movement. Schaller has previously shown to be a good bottom-six depth option, and while a claim is unlikely, he could be flipped tomorrow after gaining the extra flexibility of clearing waivers.

Toronto Trades Hutchinson To Colorado, Re-Acquires Rosen

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have re-acquired a familiar face as the team picked up defenseman Calle Rosen from the Colorado Avalanche, while sending third-string goaltender Michael Hutchinson back.

Rosen, 26, spent the previous two years with the Maple Leafs, mostly with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, but did play eight games with the Leafs between those two seasons. The belief was that he had developed to the point that he was a likely candidate to take over a third-pairing defenseman for Toronto this season. However, instead the Maple Leafs traded him to Colorado during the summer as part of the Nazem Kadri deal that brought in Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot. Rosen has split time with the Avalanche as well, but has primarily stayed in the AHL with the Eagles, where he has three goals and 15 points in 35 games. He has appeared in eight games with the Avalanche with two assists.

As for Hutchinson, the Avalanche needed some depth at the position with the injury to Philipp Grubauer and they got it. The team has been using backup Pavel Francouz as the primary starter, but need a capable backup to fill in as a third-string option. Hutchinson started the season as the Maple Leafs’ backup goaltender, but struggled immensely all season. An injury to Frederik Andersen, only made things worse as the netminder allowed seven goals in his final two appearances before Toronto opted to trade for Jack Campbell and sending Hutchinson to the Marlies. In 15 games, Hutchinson had a 3.66 GAA and a .866 save percentage. He has played better in the AHL in four starts this year, posting a 1.98 GAA and a .943 save percentage.

Carolina Hurricanes Will Make Additions In Net

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4:43 p.m. — As expected, the Carolina Hurricanes announced they have recalled Forsberg and Nedeljkovic from Charlotte.

11:11 a.m. — Last night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime event for the Carolina Hurricanes. The contest could not have gotten off to a worse start, with starter James Reimer being forced out of the game just six minutes in to the first period following a collision in net. Petr Mrazek entered the game in relief, but allowed a goal late in the period to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead. Things were looking up in the second frame following three Hurricanes goals, but then Mrazek was injured just over halfway through the period. This forced the team to turn to an emergency backup, 42-year-old Zamboni driver David Ayres, an employee of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment who had not played in a competitive game for more than five years. Yet, Ayres got the job done, allowing only two goals in nearly half a game (with some help from the team allowing just ten shots) to lead the Hurricanes to a 6-3 win.

While this was of course a tremendous story, the reality now sets in that the Hurricanes are now down both of their NHL goaltenders without any timeline yet as to when they may return to action. The timing of this is poor, seeing as tomorrow is the final day to make a trade this season and there is no time to wait for an official word on Mrazek or Reimer. The team is also in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild card race and can’t afford to take a chance in goal and miss out on potential points.

For now, TSN’s Pierre LeBurn reports that the team plans to recall both Anton Forsberg and Alex Nedeljkovic from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers today. Fortunately, both netminders have seen plenty of ice time this season, spitting appearances 50/50, and have performed relatively well. If asked to take on some NHL starts, either one could fair well enough. Forsberg is a veteran of 45 NHL games, while Nedeljkovic has fared well in his two NHL appearances and was arguably the best goalie in the AHL last season.

However, if there is any suspicion that both Mrazek and Reimer could be out long term, it seems unlikely that Carolina would be comfortable fighting for a playoff spot and entering the postseason with only Forsberg and Nedeljkovic. For that reason, LeBrun adds that a number of teams have already reached out to the Hurricanes about moving a goalie and it seems likely that the team could make a move. In fact, the team was kicking the tires on adding another goalie even before these injuries, so many conversations have already been had. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that the teams main focus is on Chicago Blackhawks’ keepers Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford, both impending free agents, while other rental options could include veterans Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson, or Ryan Miller or available backups like Aaron Dell or Louis Domingue.

One way or another, the names in net are about to change for Carolina. Perhaps it will only be short-term while their current duo heal up or maybe it could be a major long-term addition for the rest of the season and a hopeful playoff run. With the team also needing a replacement on the blue line given the injuries to Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce and also rumored to be in on several big-name forwards, including the Rangers’ Chris Kreider, the next 27 hours should be very busy for the Hurricanes.

Trade Rumors: Kreider, Barrie, Green, Frolik, Coyotes

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The New York Rangers are working on two fronts with Chris Kreider as the trade deadline nears on Monday. The Rangers are negotiating with Kreider and his agent on a potential contract extension, but at the same time, are preparing for the possibility they will have to trade him if a deal can’t be worked out.

Now TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that hopes for a contract extension between the two sides are fading. That could make the trade deadline on Monday even more interesting as it is quite clear that the Rangers will trade him if the two sides cannot get negotiations to shift. The likely sticking point is term as New York doesn’t want to find itself stuck with a major contract headache in a few years and if Kreider, who is likely heading for his last big contract, is looking for a seven or eight-year deal, that could be the sticking point. New York may have some cap room to work with now, but with a number of young players likely needing big raises in the next few years, the team must be careful with asset management.

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs got a scare Saturday when Tyson Barrie went down with an apparent shoulder injury in the first period against Carolina. Many thought that might be the end of rumors that the Maple Leafs were planning to trade the gifted offensive defenseman for a more defensive-minded blueliner. However, Barrie returned and finished the game. Now, The Province’s Patrick Johnston reports that the Vancouver Canucks are very much in the mix for Barrie, which would likely be a package built on defenseman Troy Stecher. TSN’s Rick Dhaliwal confirms that the two teams are deep in talks. Barrie would provide the Canucks an offensive playmaker, but Johnston adds that isn’t what the team truly needs on their defense, making the trade a confusing one.
  • Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal writes that the Edmonton Oilers are a likely destination for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green. The scribe writes that Green’s no-movement clause turned into a 10-team modified no-trade clause on Feb. 1 and he believes that Edmonton is not on that 10-team list. Considering the familiarity between general manager Ken Holland and Green, the two teams might be a perfect match and Detroit is likely very willing to retain half of Green’s $5.375MM AAV.
  • The Athletic’s Ken Wiebe wonders whether whether the Buffalo Sabres might be willing to move forward Michael Frolik. The 32-year-old has six goals and 13 points in 54 games, but more importantly, is a efficient penalty killer, something that playoff teams are often interested in. Throw in the fact that Frolik will be an unrestricted free agent, meaning he won’t count against any team’s cap long-term. Frolik does have a $4.3MM AAV, but Buffalo could consider retaining some of that to add to make a deal work.
  • The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta writes that the Arizona Coyotes are likely entering the trade deadline with a need for a defenseman after Jakob Chychrun went down with a lower-body injury, who currently has no timetable for a return. However, with little cap room to work with, if the team attempts to acquire a player with a significant salary, Arizona may be forced to trade off a current roster player to make that work.

Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators Swap Depth Players

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The Nashville Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs connected on a trade as the Predators announced they have traded forward Miikka Salomaki to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Ben Harpur. While neither has made much of a mark on their NHL teams this year, each team bolstered their depth for their upcoming playoff run.

This deal is more likely to satisfy each team’s AHL squad. The 26-year-old Salomaki is a player who has plenty of NHL experience, but has struggled to find a full-time role and never fulfilled the potential that made him a second-round pick in 2011. He appeared in a career-high 61 games for Nashville in 2015-16 and then again in 58 games in 2017-18, but in between spent most of his playing time with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL. This year, he has appeared in five games for the Predators with one goal, but has spent 41 games in Milwaukee with five goals and 15 points. He should provide some much needed wing depth for the Toronto Marlies, who have sent several of their top forwards to help with the Maple Leafs’ depth issues.

On the other hand, Harpur can add some depth for the Predators. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound blueliner has also struggled to realize his potential and has fared poorly with the Marlies as a third-pairing option there. The team picked him up as part of the offseason trade that saw the Toronto Maple Leafs send Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown and other parts to Ottawa for Cody Ceci and Harpur and other pieces as well. The 25-year-old hasn’t seen any NHL action this year and, according to The Athletic’s James Mirtle, has wanted out of Toronto for a while. He adds a big body for a Milwaukee team and can serve as emergency insurance in case Nashville’s defense suffers injuries. He has one goal and 11 points in 33 games with the Marlies.

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