Ducks Assign Jansen Harkins To AHL
The Ducks have made a roster move on their off day. Per the AHL’s transactions log, Anaheim has re-assigned forward Jansen Harkins to AHL San Diego.
Harkins is in his first season with Anaheim after signing a two-year, one-way contract with the Ducks on the second day of free agency back in July. His $787.5K cap hit will come off the books following the demotion.
Harkins was brought up a week and a half ago and played a regular role on the fourth line during that time. Overall, the 27-year-old has played in six games with Anaheim so far this season, picking up an assist along with 15 hits in 10:40 of playing time per night. However, Harkins has been quite productive with the Gulls. So far, he has tallied five goals and 12 assists in 11 games; his 1.55 points-per-game average is second-best among AHL players with five or more appearances.
With Anaheim being off until Monday, it’s possible that this is just a paper move, one that allows them to stall Harkins’ waiver clock for a couple of days. However, it also could be a sign that one of Mason McTavish (upper body) or Brock McGinn (lower body) are on the verge of returning from their respective injuries in which case they wouldn’t need to bring Harkins back right away.
Penguins Activate Kevin Hayes, Assign Vasily Ponomarev To AHL
The Penguins will welcome back a veteran forward to their lineup tonight against Utah. The team announced (Twitter link) that they have activated center Kevin Hayes off injured reserve. To make room for him on the active roster, forward Vasily Ponomarev has been returned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Hayes is in his first season with Pittsburgh after St. Louis paid a second-round pick to offload the final two years of his deal (or at least half of it with Philadelphia retaining the other half) on the Penguins. The 32-year-old is off to a bit of a quiet start as he has just three goals and one assist in his first 14 games. However, he’s also averaging just 9:27 per night, by far a career-low.
A veteran of 727 career regular season appearances over parts of 11 years, Hayes has been a productive middleman at times and has five years of 44 or more points under his belt. But with his playing time basically being limited to the fourth line so far this season, it’s unlikely that Hayes will get close to that mark, barring a change in role as the season progresses.
As for Ponomarev, he was recalled a week and a half ago and got into three games in that stretch, his first three games with Pittsburgh after they acquired him as part of the Jake Guentzel trade at last year’s trade deadline. The 22-year-old was held off the scoresheet while averaging a little over nine minutes per game.
Ponomarev sustained an upper-body injury late in training camp, derailing any chance he had of making the opening roster and instead landed on season-opening IR until the end of October. As a result, he hasn’t had much playing time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton either and he has just one assist in five games at that level. Still early in his development, consistent playing time will be needed and he’s likelier to get that at the AHL level than battling for fourth-line action with the big club.
Kings Recall Pheonix Copley, Assign Erik Portillo To Minors
The Kings are swapping out backup goaltenders in advance of their afternoon game against Seattle today. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled Pheonix Copley from AHL Ontario. In a corresponding move, Erik Portillo was re-assigned to the Reign.
Copley was the backup for Los Angeles at the start of last season, following an impressive 2022-23 performance that saw him record a 2.64 GAA and a .903 SV% in 37 games. However, he struggled early on last year and then was injured, handing the number two job to David Rittich who secured the second-string role again in training camp in the fall.
The 32-year-old has made one appearance with the Kings this season, stopping 10 of 12 shots in a mid-October appearance. But most of his playing time has come with the Reign where he has a 3.34 GAA and a .879 SV% in seven outings so far. He’s slated to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and is on a one-way contract worth $825K.
As for Portillo, the 24-year-old received his first NHL recall a little over a week ago but didn’t see any game action with Rittich carrying the workload in Darcy Kuemper’s absence due to injury. He has played in five games with Ontario so far, posting a 3.02 GAA and a .891 SV%. Last season, Portillo put up a 2.50 GAA and a .918 SV% in 39 outings with the Reign, earning him a three-year, $2.35MM contract, the final two seasons of which will carry a one-way salary. It’s not ideal to have a young goaltender sitting without any game action for an extended stretch so he’ll go back to Ontario and get a chance to see some regular action with them.
Flyers Officially Activate Cam York, Assign Anthony Richard To AHL
The Flyers have made a pair of roster moves heading into today’s afternoon game against Chicago. The team announced (Twitter link) that blueliner Cam York has been activated off injured reserve as expected. To make room for him on the active roster, forward Anthony Richard has been re-assigned to AHL Lehigh Valley.
York has been out for nearly a month, missing 13 games in the process. Before suffering an upper-body injury in October, the 23-year-old was off to a good start to his season, picking up two goals and an assist in seven games while logging nearly 23 minutes a game of playing time. That workload was similar to 2023-24 when he averaged 22:37 per game while adding 30 points in 82 appearances in a breakout effort for the 2019 first-round pick.
His return will certainly be a welcome one for a Philadelphia back end that has had its ups and downs this season. He’ll be taking the place of Yegor Zamula against the Blackhawks.
As for Richard, it’s fair to say his demotion wasn’t performance-related. The 27-year-old was recalled a little over two weeks ago and was quite productive in his limited action, notching two goals and four assists in seven games despite seeing less than 12 minutes a night of playing time. That’s easily the most productive stretch he has had at the NHL level as he came into the year with just eight points in 24 games with three teams.
Richard is in the first season of a two-year, two-way deal he inked with Philadelphia in free agency. A top scorer at the AHL level, he’s off to a fine start with the Phantoms as well, recording four goals and five assists in his first seven games with them. He’ll now go back to Lehigh Valley and resume a top-line role while awaiting his next recall. Morgan Frost will take his place in the lineup against Chicago after being a healthy scratch in recent games.
Predators To Recall Fedor Svechkov, Assign Adam Wilsby
The Nashville Predators have reportedly recalled forward Fedor Svechkov and returned defender Adam Wilsby to the AHL, per the AHL Transactions Log. It’s the first NHL call-up of Svechkov’s young career, coming after he started the season with eight points in seven AHL games. He’s one of three Milwaukee Admirals still scoring above a point-per-game pace, alongside Vinny Hinostroza (19 points in 13 games) and Zachary L’Heureux (five points in four games).
Nashville general manager Barry Trotz has been vocal about wanting to lean into the many top prospects playing in Milwaukee amid the team’s struggles. He said earlier this month that he’s responsible for buying his prospects time to develop at the NHL level – and now brings up another youngster to join L’Heureux, who has four points in his first 15 NHL games.
Svechkov has planted his feet as a strong play-driver, bringing plenty of tenacity and speed to the middle lane. Those traits helped him reach 16 goals and 39 points in 57 games as an AHL rookie last season. He looked sharp, upholding his strong production in a move from Russia to Wisconsin. The 2021 19th-overall pick will now look to maintain it through an even tougher step, likely to challenge Colton Sissons or Michael McCarron for minutes centering the team’s bottom six.
Meanwhile, Wilsby will return to the minors just one day after being recalled. He’s bounced between the two rosters all month, spending as much as a week in the NHL – though Wilsby hasn’t cracked the lineup just yet. That might be a bit of a disappointment for the 24-year-old defender, who’s yet to make his NHL debut despite three seasons of serviceable play in Milwaukee. He has three points in 11 AHL games this season, bringing him to 42 points in 144 career AHL games. Wilsby was a fourth-round pick in 2020, and spent two years after his draft selection honing his traits in Sweden’s SHL. He’ll return to the minors with an assured role, and likely another depth call-up, awaiting him.
Nick Bonino Signs In The ICEHL
After Nick Bonino received his release from the Rangers back in February and didn’t sign anywhere in free agency or the opening weeks of the season, it looked like Nick Bonino’s playing career had come to an end. However, that’s not the case as HK Olimpija Ljubljana of the ICEHL announced on their Instagram page that they’ve signed the veteran for the remainder of the season.
The 36-year-old played in 45 games with New York last season on the fourth line but struggled, recording just one goal and four assists while logging 12:15 per night of playing time. In late January, the Rangers elected to waive Bonino and after he passed through unclaimed, he decided not to report to AHL Hartford and was put on unconditional waivers in early February, being released after clearing once again.
Bonino has 868 career regular season games in the NHL under his belt over 15 seasons with seven different organizations. He has 159 goals and 199 assists to his name, a very solid career for a sixth-round pick back in 2007 when he was selected 173rd overall. It’s unlikely he’ll be adding to those totals at this point of his career but this contract suggests that he’s not ready to hang up his skates just yet.
Metropolitan Notes: Provorov, Nash, Hurricanes, Makiniemi
Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov is one of the more intriguing pending UFA blueliners from the 2025 free agent class. With Columbus still in their rebuild, it’s expected that he’ll be on the move at some point. However, in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link), Pierre LeBrun reports that the team is telling interested parties that they’re not willing to move the 27-year-old just yet. The Blue Jackets are off to a respectable 8-9-2 start and aren’t ready to start subtracting from what’s already a fairly young group this early in the season. That’s expected to change as we get closer to the March 7 trade deadline and when that time comes, LeBrun suggests to expect a first-round pick to serve as the asking price for Provorov’s services.
More from the Metropolitan:
- Still with Columbus, when Don Waddell took over as President and GM for the Blue Jackets, one of the first moves he made was elevating Rick Nash to assistant GM. While that’s an important step for any aspiring manager, Nash told Daily Faceoff’s Anthony DiMarco that he’s “not in any rush” to ascend to a GM position just yet. He has worked in Columbus’ front office since 2019 and it wouldn’t be shocking if he were next in line for the top job with the Blue Jackets when Waddell either moves on or wants to have just the President title down the road.
- The Hurricanes have returned winger Jackson Blake and goaltender Spencer Martin to the minors, per the AHL’s transactions log, though these are almost certainly just paper moves to bank additional cap space. Blake has five goals in 19 games with Carolina in his first full professional season which is a solid start for the 21-year-old. Martin, meanwhile, has played in four NHL contests so far in 2024-25, putting up a 3.25 GAA with a .868 SV%. He has been much better in similarly limited action with AHL Chicago, however, compiling a 2.32 GAA and a .920 SV% in his first three outings.
- Flyers goaltender Eetu Makiniemi is set to undergo sports hernia surgery next week, relays team reporter Bill Meltzer (Twitter link). The procedure will keep him out for three to four months. The 25-year-old had a successful tryout in training camp, earning a one-year, two-way deal to play with AHL Lehigh Valley where he had a 3.03 GAA and a .899 SV% in five appearances. With the injury, the only recallable goaltender Philadelphia has left is veteran Cal Petersen.
Central Notes: Wilsby, Dickinson, Lundkvist
After another short stay in the American Hockey League, Adam Wilsby is back in the NHL. The Nashville Predators announced they have recalled the young defenseman from their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, before their game tomorrow against the Winnipeg Jets.
Wilsby has already been on the Predators’ roster for an extended stay. The organization recalled him on November 13th before their Pacific Division road trip although he never factored into the lineup. He may make his NHL debut this week, especially considering how Nashville has played recently.
The West Coast road trip went unfavorably, with a 1-2-1 record, and Wilsby’s introduction into the lineup would provide a different look. According to MoneyPuck, the defensive pairing of Jeremy Lauzon and Alexandre Carrier has provided a dismal 40.8% xGoals%, and the Predators would be wise to switch things up with their second pairing.
Other Central notes:
- According to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, Jason Dickinson should play for the Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow night despite having a hand injury. Dickinson only skated in a few shifts during the second period of last night’s win against the Florida Panthers but returned for the entire third after taking a puck off the hand. He still finished the game with 17:57 of ice time which ranks the second highest of his season.
- Despite missing this morning’s practice, Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist will travel with the team for their upcoming three-game road trip (X Link). Lundkvist sustained a lower-body injury in Dallas’ recent win against the San Jose Sharks. He’s only considered day-to-day meaning he could factor into the team’s game tomorrow night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Maple Leafs Sign Alexander Nylander, Place Matthew Knies On IR
The Maple Leafs have officially united the Nylanders, announcing the signing of William’s brother, Alexander Nylander, to a one-year contract. The team placed left-winger Matthew Knies on injured reserve retroactive to Wednesday with an upper-body injury in a corresponding transaction to open a spot on the active roster.
Nylander signed for the prorated league-minimum $775K, per the team. It’s a one-way deal, per Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic, so he’ll still be making an NHL salary if he’s placed on waivers later in the year and heads back to the minors.
Now 26, Nylander was a top-10 pick in 2016, going eighth overall to the Sabres two years after the Leafs also drafted William eighth overall. He joined the Maple Leafs organization this summer on a one-year contract with their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, but remained a free agent in the NHL’s eyes.
Nylander has been off to a hot start, posting eight goals and four assists for 12 points through his first 14 games. He’s second on the team in goals and is tied with Alex Steeves for the team lead in points.
It’s part of a resurgence for Nylander, who hasn’t been a full-time NHL player since the pre-pandemic days with the Blackhawks. After missing all of the 2020-21 campaign with a left meniscus tear, Nylander was assigned to the AHL to kick off the 2021-22 campaign and had 12 points in 23 games with Rockford before Chicago, who had initially acquired him from Buffalo for Henri Jokiharju, traded him to the Penguins for depth forward Sam Lafferty.
While Nylander got into a few games with Pittsburgh over the following couple of years, he spent most of his time in the minors with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That changed when the Pens traded him and a sixth-round pick to the Blue Jackets for Emil Bemström in February. He finished last season back in the NHL with Columbus and did quite well, thrust into a top-nine role and scoring 11 goals and 15 points in 23 games while averaging 16:46 per game, a career-high by a wide margin.
He’ll now get another crack at NHL minutes in Toronto, although it may be brief, with the Leafs hit hard by short-term injuries. Knies is the latest regular forward to exit the lineup after being hit hard by Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud on Wednesday. He’d already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Utah, which will likely mark Nylander’s Leafs debut, but is eligible to come off IR for their following game, a mid-week battle against the Panthers.
Calle Järnkrok, Auston Matthews and Max Pacioretty were all already dealing with injuries entering last week, while Max Domi and David Kämpf landed on IR before the Vegas game and Ryan Reaves was suspended five games for a hit against Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse last weekend. Knies becomes the seventh forward ineligible or ruled out for this weekend’s tilt, joining the rash of injuries that has led to AHL regulars like Steeves and prospects like Nikita Grebenkin and Fraser Minten getting the call in the past week or so.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Maple Leafs Notes: Myers, Ekman-Larsson, Knies, Domi
The Maple Leafs announced Friday that they’ve recalled defenseman Philippe Myers from his conditioning loan to AHL Toronto.
No corresponding moves are necessary. Myers remained on the active roster and counted against the salary cap while on his conditioning stint, which could have lasted up to two weeks but ended after six days.
Toronto needs more available healthy players amid a rising tide of injuries. The 6’5″, 220-lb righty didn’t record a point in three games on the farm but managed 4 PIMs and a +2 rating.
Myers has played just once for the Maple Leafs this season after signing a one-way, $775K contract over the summer. He sat in the press box for 17 of 18 games before his brief reassignment. His only appearance came on Oct. 26 against the Bruins, when he recorded a -1 rating and one hit in 12:11 of ice time.
If the Maple Leafs want to send Myers back to the AHL on a longer-term basis, they’ll need to place him on waivers. He’s been exposed to the wire four times in his career, all in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with the Predators and Lightning, and cleared each time.
Elsewhere in Leafland:
- Myers’ summons comes with Oliver Ekman-Larsson under the weather. He didn’t practice today due to an illness, the team said. It’s hopefully a non-factor in what’s been a strong start in Toronto for the 33-year-old, who signed a four-year, $14MM contract in free agency last summer. He has a +2 rating and is on pace for 33 points, which would be his highest offensive output since finishing 11th in Norris Trophy voting in 2018-19. He’s also averaging 21:09 per game, his highest usage in three years, and is posting his best relative possession numbers in six years. There’s a chance Myers could draw into the lineup on Sunday against Utah if OEL can’t play, with Toronto expected to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
- The Leafs will be going with the 11F/7D formation because winger Matthew Knies has been ruled out with the upper-body injury he sustained on a hit from Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud in Wednesday’s win, head coach Craig Berube told Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. It’s unclear how much time the 22-year-old, who has eight goals and 12 points in 20 games, might miss beyond this weekend’s game.
- Toronto might have 12 healthy forwards on hand if forward Max Domi can come off injured reserve, which Berube told Mark Masters of TSN is a possibility ahead of the Utah game. Domi landed on IR earlier this week and missed the win over Vegas with a lingering lower-body injury, but since the placement was retroactive to his last appearance against the Oilers on Nov. 16, he’d be eligible to come off IR after the one-game absence. Domi, 29, has yet to score in 19 games this season after inking a four-year, $15MM extension last summer.