Carolina Hurricanes Reassign Josiah Slavin
The AHL’s Chicago Wolves are getting their captain back. Yesterday evening, in a team announcement, the Carolina Hurricanes shared that they’ve returned forward Josiah Slavin to AHL Chicago.
Slavin, the brother of Hurricanes alternate captain Jaccob Slavin, was recalled a few days ago in a multi-player call-up. Carolina isn’t dealing with any injuries to their forward corps, but having already captured the top seed in the Metropolitan Division, they had the opportunity to rest some players leading up to the playoffs.
Overall, although he didn’t register any points, Slavin must consider his call-up a success. He skated in two games with Carolina, his first NHL action since the 2022-23 campaign, and earned a +1 rating while averaging approximately 15 minutes of ice time.
Now, Slavin will return to AHL Chicago as they prepare for their own playoff hopes. The Wolves are expected to secure the second seed in the AHL’s Central Division, giving them a first-round bye in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Although the six-year veteran typically doesn’t lead the Wolves on the stat sheet, he’s managed a productive season by all accounts. In 67 games, Slavin has registered six goals and 25 points with a +2 rating. Still, considering he’s only managed one assist in 10 postseason contests throughout his career, he’ll want to increase that production this year to give Chicago better odds at making it deeper into the playoffs.
Blue Jackets Sign Joshua Eernisse To One-Year, Entry-Level Contract
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed college free agent Joshua Eernisse to a one-year, entry-level contract set to begin in the 2026-27 season. The University of Michigan winger will finish the 2025-26 season on a professional try-out contract with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
Eernisse’s senior season in college hockey came to a close with Michigan’s double-overtime loss to the University of Denver in the Frozen Four. He scored one of Michigan’s three goals in the semifinal matchup and totaled 25:48 in ice time, the third-most on Michigan’s offense. Eernisse filled a reliable role for the Wolverines all season long. His high-energy motor and ability to play through contact was invaluable to a Michigan team built around young, skilled forwards.
Eernisse’s quick passing and drive towards the net helped him rack up 19 points in 38 games, the most he’s scored in three years with the Wolverines. He did reach 21 points in 36 games of his freshman season at the University of St. Thomas. That production was an exciting spark after two quiet seasons in the USHL and earned Eernisse a transfer to the Big Ten. There, his 6-foot-3 and 210-pound frame helped cement a checking role in the Wolverines’ middle-six. Eernisse will lean on his ability to stand up to puck battles and win space in the slot as he transitions to the pro flight.
The Cleveland Monsters have clinched a spot in the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs. Much of their success has come from a fortified top-six, where Mikael Pyyhtia, Luca Pinelli, and Owen Sillinger have clawed out spots as three of Cleveland’s top-five scorers. Their standing could push Eernisse into a third-line role as he sets up for his pro debut. He will likely step in for hard-nosed winger Tate Singleton, who graduated from Michigan’s rival Ohio State University in 2023. Singleton has 11 points and 54 penalty minutes in 39 AHL games, and 10 points in 10 ECHL games, this season. Eernisse could top Singleton’s scoring and physicality – a potential X-factor addition as the Monsters eye their first championship since 2016.
Wild Recall Hunter Haight, Matt Kiersted
The Minnesota Wild recalled Hunter Haight and Matt Kiersted from AHL Iowa, announced today. With their first round playoff opponent set (Dallas) the club has summoned reinforcements for their final two regular season games; tomorrow at St. Louis and Tuesday against Anaheim.
Both Haight and Kiersted have contributed as depth already this season, and despite being key players for the farm club, Iowa is ranked 29th in the AHL and therefore doesn’t have the highest stakes after what has been another forgettable season.
Haight, 22, is a noteworthy prospect of Minnesota. Selected 47th overall in 2022, the center jumped into the AHL last season as an immediate contributor, posting 34 points in 67 games. He followed that up with more progression, nearly matching the same output in 16 fewer contests. The efforts got him his NHL debut in October, followed by brief stints both in the winter, and the spring, as recently as last month.
The rookie recorded his first NHL point in March, an assist. His usage remains limited, just one tick below 10:00 across the seven total games. An AHL All Star this season, the Ontario native has high puck skill for a projected top nine forward at the NHL level. As expected, he’s often been sheltered starting nearly 60% of his shifts in the offensive zone, but such will change should he develop into a trustworthy two-way center.
On the other hand, Kiersted is an AHL veteran at age 27. In his first season with the Wild organization, the Minnesota native spent most of the year in Iowa, outside of four games with the big club. Usually more offensively capable, with a 29-point campaign last year with the Charlotte Checkers, Kiersted had just 12 points in 49 games with Iowa.
Having 43 NHL games under his belt, 39 of which come from his time in Florida, the lefty is a dependable call-up to fill in on the blue line. In his last NHL contest, January 5 at Los Angeles, Kiersted played just 8:31 but he’ll figure to see more action in the coming days.
With the likes of Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarello, and Jared Spurgeon all day-to-day, and the chance to rest more stars such as Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes, the duo will have plenty of opportunity tomorrow night.
Senators Recall Hayden Hodgson
The Ottawa Senators have called up Hayden Hodgson from AHL Belleville, in a team announcement earlier today. Having locked up a spot in the postseason, currently slated for a first round match-up against Buffalo, the forward is a perfect spot-starter on the fourth line before what could be an exciting series against two franchises craving a run.
Brady Tkachuk was shaken up yesterday against the Islanders, not returning after catching a stick in the neck area in a weird sequence. Considering what’s in store, there’s no reason to rush their captain back for an inconsequential contest in Newark tonight, and Hodgson is a beneficiary.
The 30-year-old had to play the long game to this point. Undrafted out of the OHL, he was scarcely on anyone’s radar after bouncing around various ECHL clubs from 2017-2021 as well as a stint in Slovakia. After a sudden breakout with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021-22, where he recorded 31 points, Hodgson got into seven games with the Flyers, but soon found himself back on the move.
Undeterred, the Windsor, Ontario native caught on with the Senators organization in 2024, fully leaning into an enforcer role with back-to-back campaigns with over 130 penalty minutes. The willingness to drop the mitts has gotten him 11 games with the Sens over the past two years, still looking for his first point with the club, but a metric hardly in his job description.
Hodgson will be eager for his first NHL action since early December, assuming he draws into the lineup against the Devils. Not yet reaching the 9:00 mark with the big club in any of his nine games, there can be less restriction of his ice time in a game against a team firmly out of the playoff picture.
After tonight Ottawa will conclude their regular season Wednesday, hosting the Maple Leafs. Hodgson will be soon to re-join Belleville, who unfortunately won’t qualify for the playoffs, but 2025-26 has been a year to remember with the most NHL playing time in his career so far.
Predators Reassign Jordan Oesterle
April 12: This afternoon Nashville reassigned Oesterle to AHL Milwaukee, shared in a press release. The veteran skated in one game, last Thursday at Utah, playing just over 14 minutes and finishing a -1. His Predators fell 4-1 as a significant blow to their playoff hopes. Oesterle was then scratched yesterday in the club’s win over Minnesota, as they went with 22-year-old rookie righty Ryan Ufko instead.
In all likelihood the Mammoth contest will be Oesterle’s only NHL action of the 2025-26 campaign, a real shift after his tenure as a full-timer in the league from 2017-23. A free agent at season’s end, and opportunities with the Predators clearly limited, he’s presumably putting his final touches on his time with the organization this month.
April 6: The Predators recalled veteran defenseman Jordan Oesterle from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals on Monday, per a team announcement. He comes up to give Nashville a seventh healthy defenseman after lefty Nicolas Hague left Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Sharks with an undisclosed injury in the first period and did not return. As such, Hague is doubtful for tonight’s contest against the Kings, although how much time he’ll miss beyond that is unknown.
Nashville acquired Oesterle off waivers from the Bruins at last season’s trade deadline amid a rash of season-ending injuries to Roman Josi, Jeremy Lauzon, and Adam Wilsby. The 33-year-old was a fine depth fill-in, posting three goals and an assist with a -3 rating in 15 games. Since he’d signed a two-year, two-way deal with Boston the prior offseason, he remained under contract with the Preds heading into training camp. With Hague’s acquisition from the Golden Knights and Nicklaus Perbix‘s pickup in free agency, Oesterle was in a wide competition for a spot as the Preds’ healthy extra but ultimately ended up on waivers midway through training camp.
Unlike last season, Oesterle cleared. He’s been in Milwaukee ever since, where the veteran of 408 NHL games leads the team with 46 points in 65 games. That includes an 11-point run in his last seven games.
On the heels of that strong minor-league performance, he’ll get a late-season reward for his play heading into free agency this summer. Nashville lost a high-quality depth option when they sent Nick Blankenburg to the Avalanche at the deadline, so it’ll either be Oesterle or rookie Ryan Ufko entering the lineup for Hague tonight. If they want to keep their two-lefty top pair of Josi and Brady Skjei together, it’ll likely be Oesterle stepping in to ensure there’s a left-shot option on the second and third pairings as well. Neither is a great stylistic fit to replace the imposing Hague.
If Oesterle draws in, his first NHL game in nearly a calendar year couldn’t come with higher stakes. Nashville’s playoff hopes face a 40 percent swing depending on the result of tonight’s game against Los Angeles. They currently sit in the second wild-card slot with a 34.6% chance of hanging onto it and securing an improbable playoff berth, but that number could rise to 55.6% with a regulation win and drop to just 17.2% with a regulation loss, per MoneyPuck. The Preds and Kings both have 81 points through 76 games, but Nashville has already clinched the tiebreaker with 26 regulation wins compared to L.A.’s 19.
Predators Recall Kevin Gravel, Nicolas Hague Out Day-To-Day
The Nashville Predators recalled veteran defenseman Kevin Gravel from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals before Saturday’s game over the Minnesota Wild. Gravel was a healthy scratch for the matchup but offered emergency depth for defenseman Nicolas Hague, who is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury per NHL.com’s Brooks Bratten. Predators captain Roman Josi was also questionable before the game started but did end up playing, filling the hole in the lineup left by Hague.
Gravel, Milwaukee’s captain, has been a reliable anchor at the top of the Admirals’ lineup. He has played in nearly all of the team’s games dating back to his move to Milwaukee in 2022, though did have a 23-game stint with the Predators in 2022-23. Gravel has often stood out on the defensive side of the puck, where his long reach and strong frame make scoring difficult for opponents. That has also largely kept him off the scoresheet in his years in the Preadators organization. He has two points in 29 NHL games, and 54 points in 238 AHL games in the last four seasons.
With questions around who was healthy and who was not, the Predators opted to bring Gravel up as a contingency option. He is unlikely to stick with the NHL club through the rest of the season, unless Hague or Josi need an extended stay out of the lineup. It’s more likely that Gravel returns to the minors soon, where he’ll look to lead the Admirals in locking up a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Meanwhile, Nashville will hope Hague can return to his versatile, depth role soon. The 27 year old has scored 15 points in 62 games this season, two points shy of his career-high reached twice with the Vegas Golden Knights. He is in his first season with the Predators and has averaged 19:38 a night while operating behind Brady Skjei on the depth chart.
Bruins Recall Lukas Reichel
4/11: One day later, the Bruins have reversed Reichel’s assignment, recalling him back to the NHL roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He will offer another forward option should Boston decide not to ice Hagens.
4/10: The Bruins assigned forward Lukas Reichel to AHL Providence on Friday, per a team announcement. It’s not expected to be a long-term demotion, though, Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub relays. He’ll get into action for Providence tonight before being added back to the roster as early as Saturday.
That makes sense considering he’s sat out of two of Boston’s last three games. While head coach Marco Sturm confirmed new rookie addition James Hagens will be a healthy scratch tomorrow morning against the Lightning, his inclusion on the roster only makes NHL playing time for Reichel a tougher battle to fight.
Boston acquired Reichel, the 17th overall pick in 2020, from the Canucks at the trade deadline for a sixth-round pick. Vancouver had acquired the struggling 23-year-old from the Blackhawks just a few months prior for a fourth.
At the time of the trade, he was on an AHL assignment after clearing waivers, so he reported to Providence to begin his B’s tenure. The German sharpshooter looked like a natural there, racking up a goal and four assists through his first three games.
That earned him a quick recall to Boston. Since then, he’s averaged 12:53 of ice time across nine contests, scoring once and adding a pair of assists.
Reichel’s physicality remains a non-factor, but his possession impacts, an area of concern throughout his career in Chicago and still through his pit stop in Vancouver this year, have seen improvement in a small sample. Boston has controlled 53.0% of shot attempts with Reichel on the ice at 5-on-5 despite him receiving the least defensively sheltered usage of his career.
That’s mostly due to Reichel being able to effectively gel on a high-event third line with Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie. They gave up considerable quality defensively in their nine games together but were able to produce enough quality chances to offset, controlling 52.2% of expected goals and outscoring opponents 6-2, per MoneyPuck.
If Reichel can keep up that level of play, there are worse options to toss into that position in the playoffs if a need arises. With Geekie and Lindholm now being bumped up the lineup to skate with David Pastrňák, though, there’s less of a fit for Reichel in the lineup with less two-way support available for him in the middle six.
Reichel is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. His inability to hold down a full-time NHL job this season makes it unlikely that the Bruins will risk themselves getting roped into an award, nor will they likely be willing to extend him the $1.3MM qualifying offer he’s owed. While a strong non-tender candidate, Boston could look to bring him back on a cheaper deal if both sides have liked the fit thus far.
Red Wings Sign Dylan James
The Red Wings have signed another one of their college prospects. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve signed winger Dylan James to a two-year, entry-level deal. The contract will begin next season. For the rest of this year, James will join AHL Grand Rapids on a tryout agreement. PuckPedia reports (Twitter link) that the deal, which carries a $1.05MM AAV, breaks down as follows:
| Year | NHL Salary | Signing Bonus | Minors Salary |
| 2026-27 | $922.5K | $102.5K | $85K |
| 2027-28 | $967.5K | $107.5K | $85K |
Detroit drafted the 22-year-old in the second round back in 2022, picking him 40th overall. James was coming off an impressive season with USHL Sioux City, one that saw him finish in the top 20 in league scoring with 28 goals and 33 assists in 62 games.
From there, James went on to play his college hockey in North Dakota where it took a while for his offensive game to come around. He recorded 16 points in his freshman year before notching 19 and 22 in his sophomore and junior years, respectively. But James saved his best offensive performance for last, picking up 21 goals and 11 assists in 40 games, leading the Fighting Hawks in goals while making the AHCA All-Academic Team for the fourth straight time. His team had made it to the Frozen Four but lost to Wisconsin on Thursday, ending his season.
While James will get an early start on his professional career by joining the Griffins on a tryout, it seems unlikely that he’ll see any sort of extended action in the AHL playoffs with Grand Rapids carrying a veteran-laden roster that has already locked up the top spot in the Western Conference.
Canucks Recall Kirill Kudryavtsev
The Canucks have added some extra defensive depth heading into their game tonight against San Jose. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled Kirill Kudryavtsev from AHL Abbotsford.
It’s the second recall of the season for the 22-year-old, who was up for a little more than a week early on although he didn’t see any game action. As a result, he’s still at a total of two career NHL appearances, those coming in Vancouver’s final two games of 2024-25 when he blocked five shots and logged a little more than 28 minutes total of ice time.
This season, Kudryavtsev has played in 41 games with AHL Abbotsford, picking up two goals and 16 assists. From a point-per-game standpoint, that puts him slightly ahead of last year when he had 26 points in 65 regular season contests before adding another 10 in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run.
Kudryavtsev is in the second season of his three-year, entry-level contract. It’s unclear at this point if his recall is to cover against an injury or if it’s simply to have some extra depth heading into their final few games of the season.
Kraken Recall Victor Ostman From AHL
Already without Philipp Grubauer who was recently injured and Matt Murray who has been out for most of the season, the Kraken now have starting goalie Joey Daccord sidelined with a lower-body injury as well. As a result, the team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled netminder Victor Ostman from AHL Coachella Valley.
The 25-year-old has made just one NHL appearance in his career, that coming last April when he made 12 saves on 12 shots in mop-up duty of a late-season game against Utah. Beyond that, his professional experience has come exclusively in the minors.
Last season, Ostman spent most of the year at the ECHL level, only getting into five AHL outings. This season, he has seen regular action with the Firebirds, getting into 37 games where he has posted a 2.77 GAA with a .907 SV%. This is his first recall to Seattle this season.
While Seattle finds itself in a bottom-five spot in the standings, they technically enter play today against Calgary with a slim chance at a playoff spot. For that to happen, they’ll have to win out and hope a whole lot else goes their way. But they’ll be turning to Niklas Kokko – Ostman’s platoon partner in Coachella Valley – to help get that victory; he’ll be making his first NHL start tonight.
With Daccord’s injury, Ostman’s recall qualifies for emergency circumstances. Accordingly, his promotion won’t count against their post-deadline recall limit.