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Wild Reassign David Jiříček, Jonas Brodin Likely To Return

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The Wild announced they’ve reassigned top right-shot defense prospect David Jiříček to AHL Iowa. That bodes well for the likelihood of top shutdown rearguard Jonas Brodin returning to the lineup tomorrow against the Sabres, something head coach John Hynes called a “strong possibility” today (via Michael Russo of The Athletic).

Jiříček’s latest stint on the Minnesota roster was nothing to write home about. After being recalled on March 1 following Brodin’s injury, he sat as a healthy scratch for nine straight games while depth veteran Jonathon Merrill got an extended run in the lineup instead. Jiříček told Joe Smith of The Athletic this week that while he was disappointed with the lack of playing time, he preferred the development work with the NHL staff instead of spending time in Iowa amid a light schedule for the minor-league club over the past few weeks.

Since the Wild acquired the 2022 No. 6 overall pick from the Blue Jackets in November, he’s suited up just six times for them while posting a goal and an assist with a plus-two rating. That’s much better than what he’s shown in Iowa, where he’s failed to score and has just six assists with a minus-two rating in 26 appearances for the struggling affiliate. Before spending most of last year in the NHL with Columbus, Jiříček was an AHL All-Star in 2022-23 amid a 38-point showing in 55 games with Cleveland.

He’ll now return to the farm for the stretch run. Iowa likely won’t be making the Calder Cup Playoffs, sitting 10 points back of a spot with 14 games remaining, so he should be on Minnesota’s playoff roster. Despite their recent struggles, the team still has a 93.8% chance of clinching a playoff berth, per MoneyPuck.

Getting Brodin back is a tremendous defensive boost to a team needing to keep pucks out of their net, with Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov’s absences limiting their offensive upside. He missed nine games with a lower-body issue, another in a string of ailments for the 31-year-old Swede this season. He’s only appeared in 38 of 69 contests for the Wild, clinching his third straight season without hitting the 70-game mark.

When healthy, he’s been his usual self – if not even better, tossing in a bit more offensively than normal – with 4-14–18 with a +10 rating while averaging 22:42 per game. He continues to have positive possession impacts in difficult shutdown deployment.

Sharks Recall Lucas Carlsson

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The Sharks have recalled defenseman Lucas Carlsson from AHL San Jose, according to the team’s media relations department. Jimmy Schuldt was returned to the Barracuda in a corresponding move.

Carlsson, 27, joined the Sharks on a two-year, two-way deal last summer. He finished last season in the Panthers organization on the injured list after ACL surgery and subsequently began the 2024-25 campaign on the non-roster list. San Jose’s medical staff cleared his return in early November, after which he cleared waivers and headed down to the minors. Since returning, the offensive-minded lefty has 10-13–23 in 44 games with 26 PIMs and a minus-one rating for the Barracuda.

The 6’0″ Swede has 60 NHL games to his name with the Blackhawks and Panthers, although he hasn’t appeared in a contest since November 2022. A fourth-round pick by Chicago back in 2016, he’s posted 3-8–11 with a plus-six rating while averaging just 12:50 per game.

Usually a capable minor-league presence, Carlsson is two years removed from leading the AHL in goals by defensemen with 20 in 61 games with Florida’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte. He’ll now get the chance to slot into the San Jose lineup, likely on a pairing with Timothy Liljegren, as Jan Rutta (lower body, indefinite), Henry Thrun (upper body, week-to-week), and Marc-Édouard Vlasic (back, day-to-day) remain injured. Because they need Carlsson to ice six healthy defenders against Boston this weekend, he qualifies as an emergency recall.

Heading back down in Schuldt, who’s frequented the transaction wire this month. First recalled before the trade deadline on March 3, he was returned to the AHL on deadline day to maintain his eligibility for the Calder Cup Playoffs. He’s now been recalled and reassigned twice since then. The 29-year-old lefty has no points and a minus-one rating in five showings this year, averaging 14:28 per game while controlling 44.4% of shot attempts at even strength.

Wild Sign Stevie Leskovar To Entry-Level Contract

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The Wild announced they’ve signed defenseman Stevie Leskovar to a three-year, entry-level contract starting next season. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Minnesota selected Leskovar, 20, in the sixth round (No. 174 overall) of last year’s draft. His upside comes solely from physicality and defensive play. He has just 1-4–5 in 33 games with the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League this season, although his 70 PIMs rank fifth on the team.

That menial offensive production is slightly decreased from his 2023-24 pace when the 6’4″, 216-lb lefty posted 2-10–12, a +11 rating, and 96 shots in 61 games with a team-leading 113 PIMs. Leskovar, an Ontario native, has 20 points, 237 PIMs, and 203 shots on goal in 158 career OHL games since debuting at the major-junior level with the Peterborough Petes in 2022-23.

He doesn’t stand out much in the Wild’s prospect pool, which remains one of the league’s deepest. He didn’t earn a mention from Scott Wheeler of The Athletic when he put together his 2025 NHL prospect pool rankings, although that’s par for the course for a player selected in the sixth round after being passed over in both the 2022 and 2023 drafts. If he sniffs NHL minutes at some point during his professional career, it’ll presumably be in a bottom-pairing or press box role as a penalty-kill specialist. That’s not of much concern for Minnesota, who has names like 2024 No. 12 overall pick Zeev Buium and David Jiříček still in the pipeline.

Since Leskovar is already 20, he’s ineligible for an entry-level slide and can suit up in the pros with AHL Iowa next season. His ELC will run through the 2027-28 campaign, making him a restricted free agent upon expiry. The Wild now has 28 contracts on the books for 2025-26.

Rangers Reassign Anton Blidh

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March 21: The Rangers’ PR department announced they’ve assigned Blidh back to Hartford today. Since his services weren’t required in last night’s game, he has to be returned to the minors on off days to qualify as an emergency recall.

March 20: As expected, the New York Rangers have recalled depth forward Anton Blidh from their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Multiple reports this morning indicated the Rangers could have multiple players out tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but forward Matt Rempe is the only one as he’s out with an illness.

Blidh wasn’t included in tonight’s lineup and likely won’t be during the call-up. The Molnlycke, Sweden native is in his third season with the Rangers organization but has only suited up in one contest since being acquired from the Colorado Avalance in 2023.

Still, he’s been productive in the AHL with Hartford. The career bottom-six talent has scored 31 goals and 56 points in 131 games with the Wolf Pack, making for the best stretch of his career since playing for the AHL’s Providence Bruins in the late 2010s. He’s already earned a career-high 28 points this season with 11 games remaining in Hartford’s schedule.

Meanwhile, Rempe is absent from New York’s lineup for the first time in 29 games. The young enforcer has scored two goals and five points, delivering 87 hits, and earning 30 penalty minutes. Rempe’s 29 consecutive games are relatively impressive given he’s had considerable issues with suspensions and injuries through the first two years of his NHL career.

Red Wings Sign Eduards Tralmaks To Two-Way Deal

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The Red Wings announced today they’ve signed forward Eduards Tralmaks to a two-way deal for the 2025-26 campaign. His deal includes a $775K NHL salary and a $225K minors salary, PuckPedia reports.

This won’t be Tralmaks’ first stint in North America, although it is the 28-year-old’s first NHL contract. The 6’4″, 209-lb forward, who can play both wings and center, spent a pair of seasons in the Bruins’ system with AHL Providence coming out of college in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Tralmaks, a former University of Maine standout, posted 22-19–41 with a +23 rating and 42 PIMs in 87 appearances for the P-Bruins from 2021 to 2023. After failing to land an NHL deal with the Bruins or any other club, the Latvian headed overseas. He signed with Jaromír Jágr’s club, Czech Extraliga side Rytíři Kladno, where he’s been dominant. After leading the league in power-play goals in 2023-24, he led the Extraliga in points with 23-28–51 in 48 games. He also finished atop the league leaderboard in faceoff percentage with a 62.5% win rate.

He doesn’t have much of any growth left in his game in his late 20s, and he’s unlikely to make an impact in Detroit’s lineup next season. Nonetheless, he should be an important piece for their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. If he impresses, he now has the option to be called up, unlike in years past.

Tralmaks will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Wings now have 30 standard contracts on the books for next season.

Devils Recall Nolan Foote

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The New Jersey Devils have recalled forward Nolan Foote from the minor leagues. New Jersey opted not to practice on Friday, keeping reporters from clearly seeing who Foote could be filling in for. Both Ondrej Palat and Curtis Lazar are questionable for Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators due to undisclosed injuries. Both forwards sat out of the team’s Thursday loss to the Calgary Flames.

While it’s unclear if he’ll step into the lineup, this recall is nonetheless good news for Foote. It’s just his second call-up of the season, after he spent 10 days on the NHL roster in November. Foote stepped into two NHL games on that stint but didn’t manage any scoring. He’s been far more productive in the minors, where he leads the Utica Comets in scoring with 39 points in 53 games. He’s also second on the team with 18 goals, behind Brian Halonen’s 21 goals. The performance has been a welcome return to form for Foote, after he missed all but eight games of the 2023-24 season with injury. Prior to that, Foote had scored 37 points in 55 AHL games in the 2022-23 campaign. He’s lapped those totals this year, and could now get a chance at hardy NHL minutes.

Foote has appeared in 25 NHL games across the last five seasons. He started off hot, with six points in his first 13 career games. But he’s added just two points since then. On the back of an improved groove in the minors, this recall could be a chance to get back onto an NHL scoresheet. Palat’s absence could open up third-line minutes, while Lazar vacates a fourth-line role. It’s likely New Jersey will allocate the bulk of minutes, and special team roles, to players like Daniel Sprong and Erik Haula. That likely leaves a minute, fourth-line role for Foote, should he be the preferred lineup choice. The Devils also have centerman Justin Dowling on the NHL roster and available to cover injuries.

Anaheim Ducks Reassign Ville Husso, John Gibson Returns

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Earlier today, Anaheim Ducks’ head coach Greg Cronin shared (and publicized by Derek Lee of The Hockey News) that netminder John Gibson has returned from his lower-body injury and would start tonight against the Nashville Predators. The Ducks announced they’ve reassigned goaltender Ville Husso to their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, now that Gibson has fully returned.

Gibson has been out of the lineup for the better part of two months with a pair of lower-body injuries. Since the calendar turned to February, Gibson has only managed four games played, posting a 1-1-0 record with a .891 SV% in that time. His start tonight against Nashville will be the first action he’s seen since March 5th.

Still, this season can’t be seen as anything other than a productive rebound for Gibson. He owns a 9-10-2 record in 25 starts this year with a .909 SV% and 2.82 GAA. The latter two statistics and his 5.9 goals saved above average represent his highest totals since the 2018-19 season. Although Lukáš Dostál has become the de facto starter in Orange County, Gibson has turned his career around after multiple disappointing campaigns.

Meanwhile, Husso returns to San Diego after debuting with the Ducks in the past week. Anaheim acquired Husso just before the trade deadline from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations, and he’s filled in nicely for the team when Gibson has been out.

The native of Helsinki, Finland appeared in two games for Anaheim since being acquired, managing a 0-1-0 record and stopping 46 of 51 shots. His numbers aren’t as promising in the AHL, as Husso has posted a 3-1-0 record in four games with the Gulls with a .894 SV%.

Kings Sign Joe Hicketts To Two-Year Extension

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The Los Angeles Kings are keeping one of their organizational depth defensemen around for another two years. The Kings announced they’ve signed defenseman Joe Hicketts to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55MM ($775K AAV) at the NHL level.

Hicketts has never been a household name as far as prospects go. Still, he made some noise in his first professional season after signing with the Detroit Red Wings as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2016-17 season.

The Kamloops, British Columbia native debuted scoring seven goals and 34 points in 73 games with the Red Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He didn’t earn any individual awards, but Hicketts finished seventh in rookie scoring among defensemen and aided in the Griffins’ championship run in the Calder Cup playoffs scoring one goal and eight points in 19 contests.

Unfortunately, his rookie campaign would be his best year-long performance in the Red Wings organization. Thanks to injuries and players being moved off the team as Detroit began their current rebuild, Hicketts earned the opportunity to debut in the NHL. From January 2018 to November 2019, Hicketts tallied five assists in 22 contests for the Red Wings averaging 18:13 of ice time per game.

He hasn’t played in the NHL since. From 2021 to 2023, Hicketts enjoyed a two-year stint with the Minnesota Wild’s affiliate, the Iowa Wild, scoring 18 goals and 79 points in 133 games. The 2022-23 AHL season has been his best statistical performance up to this point in his professional career, as he finished fifth in scoring among blueliners.

The nine-year AHL veteran is in his second season with the Kings’ affiliate, the Ontario Reign, and his first as the team’s captain. He’s tied for first with Reilly Walsh as the highest-scoring defenseman on the Reign with three goals and 27 points in 52 contests. Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, Ontario is expected to make the playoffs this year allowing Hicketts to enjoy the sixth postseason push of his career.

Ducks’ Will Francis Signs AHL Tryout

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Ducks defense prospect Will Francis has signed an amateur tryout with AHL San Diego for the remainder of the season, the team announced. The 2019 sixth-round pick will get his first taste of professional hockey after four years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

It’s been an incredibly trying road for Francis, 24, to get to this point. After playing out his post-draft season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He’s now entered remission three separate times in the last five years, keeping him sidelined for the entire 2020-21 campaign and the vast majority of the 2021-22, 2023-24, and 2024-25 campaigns. After beginning his third round of cancer treatments in October, he returned to play for the Bulldogs on March 8 and suited up in one of their NCHC quarterfinal losses to Arizona State.

A hard-nosed shutdown defenseman, the 6’5″, 216-lb Francis totaled one assist and 29 PIMs with a minus-six rating in 39 games for Duluth. Before his diagnosis, he posted 3-11–14 with a plus-nine rating across 69 major junior games with Cedar Rapids. While Francis’ NHL signing rights will lapse on Aug. 15, he’ll still get at least a few games within the Ducks organization.

Back in 2022, the Ducks’ website put together a profile on Francis during a development camp appearance with the club that’s more than worth the read. All of us at PHR wish him health as he takes the next step in his career.

Sabres Extend Jacob Bryson

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2:47 p.m.: Buffalo confirmed the deal as reported.

1:29 p.m.: The Sabres are closing in on a one-year, one-way extension worth $900K for defenseman Jacob Bryson, PuckPedia reports. He was slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

Bryson’s new deal mirrors what he signed to return to Buffalo last summer after they opted to non-tender him on the conclusion of his two-year, $3.7MM deal that carried a $1.9MM qualifying offer. That’s fair value for the limited role he continues to play as the No. 7 on the Sabres’ depth chart. He’s made 42 appearances this season, up from last year’s 36, although his average ice time has dropped slightly from 14:41 to 14:22.

The 27-year-old was a fourth-round pick by the Sabres back in 2017, so he’s now been affiliated with the organization for eight years and will extend his stay through a ninth. As far as replacement-level players go on the back end, he fits the bill. While not an overly physical rearguard (he has just nine hits this year), he blocks shots well and plays an overall sound defensive game. His 46.8 CF% and -5.7 expected rating at even strength this year are par for the course, considering he starts over 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone. Offensively, he’s posted 4-39–43 in 248 career games as a Sabre, including seven assists in 2024-25.

After making his NHL debut during the COVID-shortened 2021 campaign, he’ll return to Buffalo for his sixth big-league campaign. With the six defenders ahead of him on the depth chart either signed through next season or destined for restricted free agency this summer, he’ll likely start next year in a press-box role again, barring injuries or an unforeseen trade that doesn’t bring an in-kind replacement back to the Sabres. The 5’9″ lefty will now surpass $8MM in estimated career earnings with this deal, per PuckPedia.

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