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Lightning Reassign Maxim Groshev

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Earlier today, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that Maxim Groshev has been re-assigned to AHL Syracuse.

The defenseman has bounced between the AHL and NHL throughout the season, last being called up one week ago. In his latest stint, the 24-year-old made his eagerly awaited NHL debut, recording an assist on 13:03 of ice time. Even with Groshev out of the mix for now, along with Ryan McDonagh, Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, and Victor Hedman all injured, the team has six active defenders ahead of tomorrow’s game against Colorado. The news may indicate that McDonagh is due to return sometime later in the week.

Groshev working his way into an NHL lineup last Saturday and making an impact is particularly impressive, as the Russian was drafted in the third round back in 2020 as a forward. Unable to make enough of an impact offensively in North America, he dropped back to defense, rarely seen in a level as high as the AHL. Since then, Groshev has made strides, leading Crunch blueliners in scoring with 12 points in 27 games.

A restricted free agent at season’s end, Groshev faces an especially tough challenge to solidify himself as a full-time NHLer, given his unlikely path, and figures to be no more than a depth option at this point. However, through it all, he’s managed to earn the trust of the Bolts when needed, who continue to win despite recent injury adversity, and make his mark at the highest level.

After tomorrow’s home tilt against the Avs, the Lightning embark on a road trip to start the next week. Barring additional injuries, Groshev could be set to settle in Syracuse for the remainder of 2026 and help the top team make a push in their North Division.

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak To Five-Year Extension

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Another pending free agent domino has fallen, as the Philadelphia Flyers announced that Christian Dvorak has been extended on a five-year deal worth $5.15MM per season. The news was first reported by Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, who shared that the two sides were closing in earlier this evening.

According to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the agreement carries a no-trade clause for the first two years, a limited no-trade clause in years three and four, and finally, no trade protection in the fifth and final year.

The extension will keep the soon-to-be 30-year-old Dvorak in the orange and black for what could prove to be his longest stay anywhere, after five and four year stops in Arizona and Montreal, respectively.

Signed by the Flyers last summer on a one-year deal worth $5.4MM, Dvorak has been a strong fit, with 25 points in 39 games so far this season which is on pace to be a career best by a considerable margin. Somewhat surprisingly, the Illinois native has become a top center on a Flyers club right in the playoff mix, and rather than hit the market with his value as high as ever, Dvorak cashes in and now can settle in on his home for years to come.

AFP Analytics predicted that if he were to hit the open market, Dvorak could have been due for a four year contract worth $5.6MM per. Given the especially thin center market, the money is right on track, and the extra year may have been the cherry on top to get it done.

Chosen in the second round of the 2014 draft by Arizona, the Montreal Canadiens were impressed by Dvorak’s track record in five seasons as a ’Yote. Just prior to the start of the 2021-22 campaign, they gave up first and second round picks, setting him up with an opportunity to blossom into a true top six center. Dvorak came to the Habs in a transitional phase, as former GM Marc Bergevin tried to create a new window. It didn’t materialize as envisioned, and shortly thereafter, Bergevin was let go. Even through a rebuild, Dvorak managed to stick around, but he never took another step as a Hab, dealing with injuries and never eclipsing the 33-point mark.

In need of a placeholder center, the Flyers were content to give Dvorak a “prove it” deal where the center bet on himself, aware he’d likely hold a larger role in Philadelphia. A possible spring trade-flip was likely in the back of the Flyers’ minds, but instead, to Dvorak’s credit, it has paid off. Such a contract may bring some sticker shock, but even as the Flyers’ youth takes form in coming years, Dvorak brings real intangibles. As shared by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, GM Daniel Briere spoke highly of Dvorak’s trustworthy two-way abilities, and his key role in the locker room.

What will be most fascinating, is where his game goes from here. On paper, Dvorak figures to age into a bottom six center capable of strong shutdown play, but his current metrics lean offensively, with a questionable defensive impact. Still just 39 games into his tenure, Philadelphia is banking on the center to continue such offensive output and not regress to his previous ~30 point level. Clearly they hold Dvorak in high regard, and with ample cap space and an extremely limited free agent market this summer, it may be a gamble worth taking. Dvorak figures to be a respectable bridge-gapper for center prospects Jett Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt, both quintessential Flyers following Briere’s vision.

With Dvorak out of the fold, along with Alexander Wennberg, who re-upped with San Jose yesterday at three years, $6MM per season, even more eyes turn to Utah’s Nick Schmaltz, in the midst of a great season. Based on recent developments, Utah may need to weigh their options with their top line center. The Mammoth still hold onto an outside shot at the postseason, where they’d love to make their first appearance in franchise history, but a top scorer may be preparing to hit the open market in July.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s core is now mostly locked up entering 2026-27, outside of Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale, both pending restricted free agents. If they can maintain their performance of late and make a real playoff push, Briere still holds enough cap flexibility to supplement the group further. Dvorak will work to prove his value as a Flyer, scoring when needed and contributing in all situations, giving the team a big morale boost from today’s news.

Photo Courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Minnesota Wild Recall David Jiricek

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According to a team announcement, the Minnesota Wild have recalled defenseman David Jiříček from the AHL’s Iowa Wild. The Wild now have a full 23-man roster, with eight of them being defensemen.

Jiříček’s story in the NHL is well known at this point. The Wild acquired the former sixth overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets last season for a 2025 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2026 third-round pick, 2026 fourth-round pick, and defenseman Daemon Hunt, who has since re-joined the Wild.

Still, Jiříček, 22, has yet to break out in any meaningful way with Minnesota. He looked promising in his first professional season with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, scoring six goals and 38 points in 55 games with a -11 rating. He hasn’t come close to achieving that level of performance again.

In fact, the way his tenure with the Wild has begun is similar to how his time with the Blue Jackets ended. Jiříček was frequently moved between the NHL and AHL lineup, failing to provide any continuity in the early stages of his development. He now finds himself in the same situation with the Wild.

During the 2025-26 season, Jiříček has played 18 games for Minnesota and 13 games for Iowa. He’s only scored with the latter, posting a goal and two assists with a -8 rating. His limited output in the NHL may be due to averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time per game when he plays.

There’s little indication he’s poised for an offensive breakout either. Throughout his tenure with the Wild, he’s only managed a 46.3% CorsiFor% at even strength, which is slightly worse than what he averaged with Columbus. However, his defensive play has improved, averaging a 94.3% on-ice SV% at even strength.

Regardless, given that the Wild are dealing with a few injuries on defense to Hunt and Zach Bogosian, Jiříček should find his way into the lineup for the time being. However, once one of them returns, he’s likely headed back for another extended stay with AHL Iowa.

Oilers Recall Isaac Howard; Reassign Quinn Hutson

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Jan. 5th: Hutson’s recall with the Oilers didn’t last long. The team announced that they’ve assigned Hutson back to AHL Bakersfield. He went scoreless against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday over 9:17 of ice time.

Jan. 2nd: The Oilers announced they’ve recalled wingers Isaac Howard and Quinn Hutson from AHL Bakersfield. They had two open roster spots after reassigning Max Jones to Bakersfield on Thursday, so no further moves are required.

In doing so, Edmonton gives two of its brightest young forwards their second chance on the active roster this season. Howard, last season’s Hobey Baker Award winner as the NCAA’s top men’s player, broke camp with the Oilers after they acquired his signing rights from the Lightning.

Immediately slotting in as Edmonton’s No. 2 prospect, he never got a crack in their top six and languished in a fourth-line role for several weeks to begin the season. After recording just two goals and an assist in 17 appearances, averaging 9:30 of ice time per game, the Oilers ended the 21-year-old’s initial run of NHL play and assigned him to Bakersfield to give him his first taste of minor-league hockey.

In the month and a half since his demotion, Howard has been among the AHL’s best players. With a 10-13–23 scoring line in 16 contests, he’s tied for the league lead in points per game (1.44). The 5’11” lefty has been especially hot as of late, recording four goals and 10 points – including a trio of three-point efforts – on a four-game point streak.

Hutson, 24, entered the season as more of an unknown. The older brother of Canadiens star Lane and Capitals prospect Cole was never drafted but broke out as a college superstar as a junior for Boston University in 2024-25, racking up 23 goals and 50 points in 38 games. He signed an entry-level deal with Edmonton as a free agent near the end of the year and skated in the Oilers’ final two games of the regular season, although he was ineligible to suit up in the playoffs.

Viewed as a long-shot candidate to make their opening night roster with more established prospects like Howard and Savoie having a leg up, he was sent to Bakersfield to begin the first full season of his pro career. Like Howard, he’s been among the AHL’s most dominant offensive wingers, ranking top-five in the league in both goals (19) and points (32) in 26 appearances.

That emphatic production got Hutson his NHL debut last month, appearing in a three-game stretch for Edmonton in mid-December. Like Howard, his ice time was extremely limited at just 7:34 per game, but that didn’t stop him from scoring his first NHL goal against the Bruins on Dec. 18.

Now, with six goals and eight points in his last four games for Bakersfield, he gets another opportunity to make himself known as an NHL commodity. Whether head coach Kris Knoblauch will give him and Howard a long enough leash to make a tangible impact remains to be seen, but with veterans Mattias Janmark and Andrew Mangiapane struggling to produce in top-nine roles on the wing, it’s becoming near indefensible not to give some of the Oilers’ most promising talent a chance higher up in the lineup.

Jack Johnson Retires, Joins Canucks Staff

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According to a team announcement, the Vancouver Canucks have hired former defenseman Jack Johnson as a professional scout. The update indirectly confirms that Johnson’s 19-year career has come to an end.

Johnson’s professional career began in 2005 when he was selected with the third overall pick of the 2005 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, behind Sidney Crosby and Bobby Ryan. Just over a year after being drafted, the Hurricanes traded Johnson and Oleg Tverdovsky to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Tim Gleason and Éric Bélanger.

Before joining the Kings at the end of the 2006-07 season, Johnson played two years at the University of Michigan in the NCAA, where he scored 26 goals and amassed 71 points in 74 games.

Unlike fellow prospect Drew Doughty, Johnson took longer to adapt to the NHL’s pace. Throughout his first three years, despite playing in a top-four role, Johnson managed only nine goals and 22 points in 120 games with a -42 rating. Still, once he was moved to a top-pairing role for the 2009-10 season, Johnson’s offense took off, scoring 13 goals and 78 points in his next 162 contests. 

Los Angeles quickly rewarded Johnson for his breakout, signing the young blue liner to a seven-year, $30.5MM extension in early January of 2010. Unfortunately, his tenure with the Kings wouldn’t last much longer.

Looking to add a top-six center, the Kings traded Johnson, along with a 2013 first-round pick, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jeff Carter. Carter played a crucial role in the Kings’ first Stanley Cup championship later that year, while Johnson experienced the best years of his career with Columbus.

Playing out the rest of his extension with the Blue Jackets, Johnson finished his first stint with the Blue Jackets, scoring 36 goals and 154 points in 445 games. Additionally, he could always be counted upon on the defensive side of the puck, never falling below a 90.0% on-ice SV% at even strength throughout his tenure in Ohio.

Entering unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career, Johnson signed a five-year, $16.25MM contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of the 2018-19 season. Despite averaging nearly three hits a game for Pittsburgh, his offense didn’t hold up to the contract value. Johnson finished his tenure with the Penguins with four goals and 24 points in 149 games, and had the final three years of his contract bought out after the 2019-20 campaign.

Again a free agent, Johnson signed with the New York Rangers on a one-year, $1.15MM contract. Unfortunately, he was limited to 13 games in the year due to a core muscle repair surgery.

Firmly in the twilight years of his career, Johnson was open to a lower salary and a lower role in an attempt to win the first Stanley Cup of his career. He found it immediately.

Signing a one-year, league-minimum contract with the Colorado Avalanche for the 2021-22 campaign, Johnson played in 13 games for the Avalanche during the 2022 postseason, helping the team win its first Stanley Cup championship in 21 years.

Salary cap limitations prevented the Avalanche from re-signing Johnson the following year, but they subsequently acquired him again at the trade deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks. He experienced a brief offensive resurgence with Colorado during the 2023-24 season, before ultimately finishing his career with Columbus last season. He briefly attempted to make the Minnesota Wild’s roster last September, though he didn’t make the roster.

Johnson finishes his career with 77 goals and 342 points in 1,228 games with a -127 rating across 19 seasons. The length of his career is remarkable, given his willingness to sacrifice his body, averaging 1.49 blocked shots and 1.57 hits per game.

We at PHR congratulate Johnson on an impressive career and wish him the best of luck in his new role with the Canucks.

Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images. 

Predators Sign Justus Annunen To Two-Year Extension

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The Nashville Predators will be keeping their current goaltending tandem intact for a few more years. According to a team announcement, the Predators have signed Justus Annunen to a two-year, $2.5MM ($1.25MM AAV) extension.

Nashville acquired Annunen, along with a 2025 sixth-round pick, from the Colorado Avalanche last season for backup goalie Scott Wedgewood. Performance in the crease, as well as the injury bug, was one of the biggest plagues to the Avalanche last season, and Annunen was a part of the problem.

Still, Colorado wouldn’t have believed that just a year before. Although primarily rostered with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, Annunen participated in 14 games for the Avalanche during the 2023-24 campaign, managing an 8-4-1 record with a .928 SV% and 2.25 GAA.

Unfortunately, after being thrust into a backup role behind Alexandar Georgiev, Annunen didn’t continue that performance. Despite winning six of his nine starts, Annunen had disappointed with a .872 SV% and 3.23 GAA, leaving Colorado with little stability in the crease. Deciding to overhaul their entire goaltending room, the Predators swooped in to acquire Annunen and pair him with fellow countryman Juuse Saros.

He played far more with the Predators down the stretch, starting 20 games. He performed mildly better than what he was doing with the Avalanche, accruing a 9-11-1 record with a .888 SV% and 3.17 GAA.

Things haven’t gone much better this year, though they’ve been better lately. He was one of the worst backup options to begin the year, managing a 1-6-1 record in eight games with a .844 SV%. Still, his last four appearances have gone remarkably better, winning two out of four games with a .933 SV% across 90 shots.

Regardless, barring a significant injury to Saros, Annunen will only be counted upon to start 15 to 20 games a season. Given his last four outings, Nashville is likely hoping that Annunen has found another level to his game, leading them to ink today’s extension.

Sharks Recall Patrick Giles

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The Sharks recalled center Patrick Giles from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda on Monday, per a team announcement. To open a roster spot, the Sharks placed defenseman John Klingberg on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 31.

It’s the second recall of the season for Giles, who last appeared on the roster in November. The 26-year-old, who was acquired from the Panthers in last year’s Vítek Vaněček trade, has 20 games of NHL experience, including three on his previous recall this season.

The Chevy Chase, Maryland, native will provide the Sharks with an extra forward for Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jackets. While they now have 14 forwards on the active roster, Adam Gaudette has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury – although Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News reports he could be an option to return to the lineup against Columbus.

The 6’5″, 218-lb Giles grades out as a fine fourth-line pivot for a few games at a time, but shouldn’t be relied upon more than that. His possession numbers weren’t inspiring in more extended action with Florida last season, and he has a team-worst -10 rating with nine points in 28 games for the Barracuda.

As for Klingberg, San Jose’s top power play quarterback sustained a lower-body injury against the Wild on New Year’s Eve that caused him to sit out Saturday’s loss to the Lightning. He’s been ruled out of the Sharks’ upcoming back-to-back but will be eligible to return this weekend against the Stars, per Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest.

His absence means more opportunities for youngsters Sam Dickinson and Vincent Iorio while veteran Nick Leddy gets some added reps as well, despite serving as a healthy scratch for most of the campaign. Klingberg’s nine goals and 16 points in 31 games have him on pace for his best offensive showing since departing Dallas in free agency in 2022.

Flames Recall William Stromgren

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The Flames have recalled left wing prospect William Strömgren from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, per a team announcement. Calgary had been rolling with an open roster spot, so no corresponding transaction is required.

It will mark the 22-year-old’s NHL debut when he plays, although that won’t be tonight. He’s ticketed to be a healthy scratch against the Kraken, Wes Gilbertson of Postmedia reports.

Strömgren’s development has largely gone as anticipated since being drafted 45th overall by the Flames in 2021. The 6’4″ Swede spent two seasons after his draft getting limited minutes in his home country’s top league before making the move to North America.

It’s been a multi-year road, but Strömgren has firmly established himself as a top-line talent in the AHL. After breaking out for 14 goals and 49 points in 70 games for the Wranglers last year, he’s now the team’s leader in assists (23) and rating (+13) through 33 games in 2025-26.

There was worry Strömgren may have trouble standing out in a deep Calgary prospect pool – most didn’t view him as a top-10 talent in the system entering the season – but he’s done more than enough to ensure he stays on their internal radar. He’s been especially hot as of late, racking up four goals and nine points in his last five games, en route to being rewarded with his first NHL recall.

With John Beecher suspended (and injured), Strömgren could stick around as a 12th/13th forward for a while as the Flames evaluate where his checking game is at. One of his main knocks has been a lack of physicality for his tall frame. He’ll likely need to add that element into his game to transition into a fourth-line NHL role before eventually pushing to make an offensive impact in the Flames’ top nine.

Stars Activate Casey DeSmith, Recall Nathan Bastian

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Jan. 5: DeSmith has returned to the team and has been activated from the non-roster list, the team announced. Poirier was sent back to AHL Texas in the corresponding move after backing up Oettinger in Sunday’s loss to the Canadiens. Dallas also recalled Bastian from his conditioning loan; he had two goals and an assist in four games for the AHL Stars.

Jan. 3: The Stars have made a pair of roster moves in advance of their game against Montreal on Sunday.  The team announced (Twitter link) that goaltender Casey DeSmith has been granted non-roster status to tend to a personal family matter.  Taking his place on the roster will be netminder Remi Poirier, who has been recalled from AHL Texas.

DeSmith is in his second season as the backup in Dallas and he is once again having a strong campaign.  In 15 starts, he has posted a 2.44 GAA and a .912 SV%, numbers close to the ones he put up in 27 outings in 2024-25.  His save percentage is actually five points higher than starter Jake Oettinger; it’s not often that a backup goalie has better numbers than an established number one option.  He won’t be able to improve on those numbers for the time being; there is no timetable for his return.

As for Poirier, the 24-year-old is in his fourth season in the system for the Stars and this will be his first recall since his rookie campaign in 2022-23 where he didn’t see any game action.  He has played in 22 games with Texas so far, compiling a 2.77 GAA along with a .903 SV%, his lowest mark at the AHL level so far.  He’ll serve as Oettinger’s backup until DeSmith is able to return which should come fairly soon with Victory Plus’ Brian Rea suggesting (Twitter link) that DeSmith could be back with the team as soon as Tuesday.

From a salary cap perspective, Dallas has more than enough space in its LTIR pool with Tyler Seguin and Lian Bichsel both on there so nothing further has to be done on that front.  Meanwhile, their active roster remains full as 23 players; even though Nathan Bastian is on a conditioning loan with Texas, he still is on the NHL roster.

Blues Sign Alexey Toropchenko To Two-Year Extension

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The Blues announced they’ve signed winger Alexey Toropchenko to a two-year contract extension. The deal is worth $5MM for an average annual value and cap hit of $2.5MM.

Toropchenko, 26, has a late June birthday, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. He’ll now wait until at least 2028 to test the open market while getting a nearly 50% pay bump from the $1.7MM cap hit afforded to him on his current one-year deal.

A fourth-round pick by St. Louis in 2017, Toropchenko is in his fifth NHL season. The 6’6″, 225-lb lefty has become a staple of the Blues’ bottom six since playing in all 82 games in the 2023-24 season, although a handful of injuries have kept him from achieving that mark since.

While he’s relied upon mostly for his physicality – he finished tied for 17th in the league with 223 hits last year – he’s not devoid of offensive upside. He’s hit double-digit goals twice, tallying 10 in 2022-23 and 14 in 2023-24, although his finishing ability has taken a nosedive over the last year and a half. In 107 appearances since the beginning of last season, he’s only lit the lamp six times while finishing at a 5.1% clip.

Still, the two-year pact is a nice reward for a player who’s taken on some increased responsibility as of late. He’s among the Blues’ top penalty-killing forwards and, with injuries to Nick Bjugstad, Dylan Holloway, and Nathan Walker, has seen a bump in even-strength ice time. While he’s missed double-digit games with various injuries this year, he’s posted five points and 27 shots in 27 games.

Toropchenko becomes the ninth Blues forward signed to a one-way contract for 2026-27. St. Louis still has a significant number of pending free agents to contend with, including RFAs Holloway, Philip Broberg, and Jonatan Berggren, as well as some UFAs like Mathieu Joseph and Oskar Sundqvist. They still have over $24MM in salary cap flexibility for next season, per PuckPedia.

Image courtesy of Jeff Curry-Imagn Images.

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