Snapshots: Brodie, Luongo, Vande Sompel
There was a frightening moment at Calgary Flames practice today when defenseman T.J. Brodie collapsed and started convulsing on the ice. Paramedics were called to the rink and Brodie was transported to hospital. He was “alert and responsive” according to the team, and has been discharged. A further update is expected on Friday morning.
Everyone in the hockey world is hoping for a speedy recovery for the veteran defenseman.
- When Roberto Luongo took a job with the Florida Panthers, questions started being raised about the cap recapture penalties that his retirement had caused earlier this summer. The Panthers and Vancouver Canucks are currently dealing with cap penalties because of the structure of Luongo’s contract, but Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that there will be no relief given now that he is employed by Florida once again. Both teams and the league addressed the issue before the hiring and determined that it was not cap circumvention in any way. LeBrun goes on to examine the other potential recapture situations around the league.
- While providing updates on several of his injured players, New York Islanders Lou Lamoriello told reporters today that Mitch Vande Sompel will likely be out for the entire season. Vande Sompel suffered an injury in training camp when he crashed into the net and has been on season-opening injured reserve all year. The 22-year old defenseman scored 31 points in 70 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season and was an up-and-coming prospect for the Islanders.
Canucks Place Brandon Sutter On Injured Reserve
As the story of Brandon Sutter’s recent injury has unraveled, the extent of the injury has in fact become less clear. After Sutter was forced out of Tuesday night’s game between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators, The Province’s Patrick Johnston writes that the veteran center was in good spirits and said his unknown ailment was “only minor”. GM Jim Benning backed that claim, stating that Sutter would go in for an MRI on Wednesday morning, but that he was hopeful that he wouldn’t miss much time. Yet, as Wednesday wore on, the Canucks made not one but a pair of additions up front, recalling Zack MacEwen and, more notably, a center in Tyler Graovac. As if the hint wasn’t enough that Sutter’s status wasn’t positive, TSN’s Jeff Paterson now points out that Sutter has officially been placed on the injured reserve.
While the move is retroactive to Tuesday, it still leaves Vancouver without Sutter for at least the next four games. He must spend a minimum of ten days out of the lineup while on IR, meaning he will miss match-ups with the Colorado Avalanche, two with the Dallas Stars, and a rematch with the Predators. He will also still be on the shelf when the Canucks depart on a six-game road trip, raising some question over whether he would meet the team on the road if healthy or if he could potentially miss another four games while waiting to make his return at home. Sutter has quietly played an important role for the resurgent Canucks this season, as he is currently fifth on the team in goals and leads all forwards in plus/minus. Somewhat surprisingly, with eight points through 19 games, Sutter was on pace for 35 points through a full 82-game season this year, which would have been the second-best scoring campaign of his career and his best in Vancouver. This injury will likely limit that upside, but Sutter has already surpassed his six total points from last year and could challenge his 26 points from the year before.
Even more so than just Sutter alone, the Canucks real challenge is dealing with both he and Jay Beagle being sidelined at the moment. Beagle missed Tuesday night’s game due to stiffness and there has been no word on his condition either. The duo are both key two way centers and the team’s top penalty killers, not to mention responsible for a majority of face-offs. Without a timeline for either veteran to return to the lineup, Vancouver will have to prepare as if they need a long-term solution for their lack of defense and experience down the middle. The rugged, physical Graovac hopes to help out while on recall, while Adam Gaudette lined up at center on Tuesday and will likely remain there. Johnston also writes that Antoine Roussel, another established two-way contributor, has begun skating with his teammates and could make his return to the lineup after a conditioning stint in the AHL. The Canucks hope it won’t take that long for Sutter or Beagle to return to the lineup, but for now that remains a mystery and the team must get ready for a busy stretch without two key veteran leaders.
Minor Transactions: 11/13/19
Of all the talent suiting up in the NHL last night, perhaps the most unlikely star emerged in Colorado. Avalanche goaltender Adam Werner was forced into action when Pavel Francouz suffered an injury and made 40 saves en route to a shutout in his first career game. The Swedish netminder was selected in the fifth round three years ago and dominated the SHL last season.
Five more games are on the schedule tonight and as teams prepare, PHR will be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.
- Late last night the Montreal Canadiens decided to send Ryan Poehling back to the minor leagues, giving him a chance to get some more ice time. Poehling had been playing fewer than ten minutes a night for the Canadiens and will get a bigger opportunity with the Laval Rocket.
- The Winnipeg Jets have recalled prospect Michael Spacek from the minor leagues, giving the young forward the first NHL opportunity of his career. Selected in the fourth round in 2015, he was a standout for the Czech Republic at the World Juniors and has been a regular for the Manitoba Moose the last two seasons.
- Zack MacEwen and Tyler Graovac have both been recalled by the Vancouver Canucks, who have also reassigned Jalen Chatfield. Chatfield did not actually suit up for the Canucks on his recall; the 23-year-old has yet to make his NHL debut. The team is back in action tomorrow against the Dallas Stars.
- Jonathan Ericsson is back up with the Detroit Red Wings, at least for the time being. The team announced that the long-time defenseman, recently buried in the AHL, has been recalled, while Justin Abdelkader and Patrik Nemeth have been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to November 10th.
Minor Transactions: 11/08/19
So much for a Colorado Avalanche team struggling to score without two members of their top line. The team exploded for six second period goals last night to down the Nashville Predators 9-4, but did lose another few bodies to injury. While we wait for news on Nathan MacKinnon‘s precautionary removal, the rest of the league is preparing for the weekend action. As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.
- Last night the Detroit Red Wings sent Joe Hicketts back to the minor leagues, ending his short run in the NHL. The 23-year old defenseman averaged just over 18 minutes a game in four contests, but will have to wait for his next opportunity at the highest level.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled veteran forward Andy Andreoff while loaning Mikhail Vorobyev back to the minor leagues. Andreoff, 28, hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2017-18 season with the Los Angeles Kings, but does have seven points in 10 games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
- After clearing waivers, Tomas Jurco and Nic Petan have both been assigned to the minor leagues by their respective teams. Martin Marincin has avoided that fate for the time being, though the Toronto Maple Leafs are still expected to clear a few more bodies before Zach Hyman returns next week.
- Otto Koivula is back up from the minor leagues for the New York Islanders, which could mean their injured forwards aren’t quite ready to return just yet. Jordan Eberle and Leo Komarov both practiced in regular jerseys today, but aren’t guaranteed to be ready for tomorrow’s afternoon game.
- Jalen Chatfield has received his first call-up of the season and is on his way to join the Vancouver Canucks. The 23-year old defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut and will serve as insurance for Chris Tanev who is dealing with injury.
- Kyle Capobianco has been sent back to the AHL, meaning Jordan Oesterle may be ready to go for the Arizona Coyotes. The 22-year old Capobianco has to be used to this by now after being involved in six transactions since the start of the season.
- Gavin Bayreuther has been recalled by the Dallas Stars, giving the team an extra defenseman as they deal with injuries on the back end. The 25-year old played 19 games for Dallas last season, scoring five points and recording 10 penalty minutes.
Minor Transactions: 11/06/19
Last night was another step in the right direction for three struggling Western Conference teams, as the Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild were all victorious in their respective matchups. The same can not be said about the Los Angeles Kings, who are now 5-10 and have trade rumors swirling all about. Just two games are on the schedule tonight, and as teams prepare for that action we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.
- With Alexandre Texier nearing a return, the Columbus Blue Jackets have sent Markus Hannikainen to the minor leagues. Hannikainen still hasn’t played in a single game for the Blue Jackets this season after suiting up 44 times in 2018-19. The 26-year old is just injury depth at this point.
- Dominic Toninato has been recalled by the Florida Panthers, after they sent Riley Stillman back yesterday. The Panthers acquired Toninato from the Colorado Avalanche just a few months ago, and this will be his first call-up with the organization.
- German Rubtsov‘s time with the NHL club is over for now, as the Philadelphia Flyers have sent him back to the AHL and recalled Mikhail Vorobyev. In three games Rubtsov was held scoreless and still looks to have some development to do in the minor leagues. The 21-year old has played just 21 AHL games so far after injury robbed him of much of the 2018-19 season.
- Nicolas Hague and Nicolas Roy are on their way back to the Chicago Wolves, the latest in a series of transactions for the pair of Vegas Golden Knights prospects. The team is using off days to bank some cap space, but could recall one or both down the road.
- The Vancouver Canucks have sent Ashton Sautner back down, a good sign after he was forced from his only game with an injury. The 25-year old defenseman won’t be a full-time player for the Canucks this season, but is valuable injury depth.
- Josh Mahura has been assigned to the Anaheim Ducks, another likely cap-saving move that while the team waits for their next game. The Ducks don’t play again until Sunday.
- Zachary Senyshyn and Cameron Hughes have both been sent back down by the Boston Bruins, who don’t play again until Friday evening. At least one of the young forwards will likely be recalled at that time, but for now the team will save some cap space on the off days.
- Jayson Megna has been returned to the AHL by the Colorado Avalanche, with T.J. Tynan taking his place on the NHL roster. The 27-year old Tynan has been on fire at the minor league level, scoring 12 points in his first ten games for the Colorado Eagles.
- The Washington Capitals have returned Liam O’Brien to the minor leagues, giving him a chance at some playing time after sitting on the sidelines the last few days. O’Brien is an important player for the Hershey Bears, but hasn’t suited up for an NHL game since 2017-18.
- The Chicago Blackhawks announced that defenseman Dennis Gilbert has been re-assigned to the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs. The 23-year-old has split his season between the NHL and AHL, most recently getting some starts in Chicago in place of Brent Seabrook.
Early Notes: Klingberg, Canucks, Draft Rankings
Darren Dreger of TSN reports that Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg will have an MRI today to determine the severity of his injury after being struck in the neck by a puck last night. The team announced to reporters including Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News that it would be at least two weeks, while Dreger suggests a 2-4 week timeline was the original prognosis.
The Stars are already without Andrej Sekera, Roman Polak and Stephen Johns, meaning their defensive depth will be stretched awfully thin over the next few weeks without Klingberg in the lineup. That comes just as they are finally hitting their stride, winning seven of their last eight games to climb back into the Western Conference playoff race.
- The Vancouver Canucks have given extensions to their assistant coaching staff according to Scott Rintoul of Sportsnet. The team has not confirmed exactly who received these extensions or how long they are for, but this is an obvious sign that the front office is pleased with the progress over the last while. The Canucks took the defending Stanley Cup champions to overtime last night and are now 9-3-3 on the season.
- Sportsnet has released their November draft rankings for the 2020 class, and it comes as no surprise that Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield lead the group. The pair of CHL stars have absolutely dominated their respective leagues to this point, with a combined 76 points (43 for Lafreniere, 33 for Byfield) in just 36 games.
Tyler Motte Out At Least Four Weeks
It wasn’t clear how long Tyler Motte would be out when he ended up on injured reserve recently, but Vancouver Canucks Travis Green cleared things up today. Green indicated that Motte will miss “at least four weeks,” while Micheal Ferland is still in the concussion protocol.
Motte, 24, was a constant in the Canucks lineup last season, recording 16 points in 74 games as an energy player in the bottom six. His 200 hits easily led all Vancouver players while also contributing on the penalty kill.
That energy will be missed, but the Canucks are rolling right now with a 9-3-2 record good for third in the Western Conference. They’ve found more than enough capable forwards to fill out a lineup, even without Motte and Ferland for the next little while.
Morning Notes: Three Stars, Sabourin, Gusev
The NHL has released their Three Stars for last week and at the top of the heap is the reigning Calder Trophy winner. Elias Pettersson had nine points in four games for the Vancouver Canucks—one of which he was held scoreless entirely—and now sits sixth in the entire league in scoring. The 21-year old is a huge part of the turnaround in Vancouver that has the Canucks sitting in third place in the Western Conference with a 9-3-2 record.
Second and third went to Jakub Vrana and Mike Smith respectively, an impressive resurgence for the 37-year old goaltender especially. Smith struggled last season with the Calgary Flames but has found new life with their rival Edmonton Oilers, posting a .931 save percentage through his first nine games. The Oilers are one of the only teams ahead of the Canucks in the west, thanks in large part to the goaltending tandem that has been excellent so far.
- There is more good news for Scott Sabourin, who has been released from hospital and is now back in Ottawa recuperating. The 27-year old appears to have avoided major injury after a scary collision with Boston Bruins’ forward David Backes on Saturday night that left him unconscious for several minutes on the ice.
- Nikita Gusev is expected to return to the lineup for the New Jersey Devils when they take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight, but is still someone to keep an eye on as the season progresses. Gusev was made a healthy scratch the last three games by head coach John Hynes, but will now get a chance to play thanks to an injury to Jesper Bratt. Bratt will not be traveling with the team to Winnipeg according to team reporter Amanda Stein, but could join them later on their Western Canada road trip.
Pacific Notes: Hughes, Fleury, Subban, Russell
Vancouver Canucks fans are hoping that defenseman Quinn Hughes will be back sooner than later after the Calder Trophy candidate went down in the first period of Friday’s game against the Ducks. Having played nearly half of the first 15 minutes of play, the rookie blueliner was rushing to get back into his zone when he appeared to pivot and stub his toe that had him fall forward to his knees and needed to helped off the ice.
Sportsnet’s Ian McIntyre writes that the injury is likely to be a short-term injury and the defenseman will be re-examined Saturday in San Jose before their game against the Sharks with a remote possibility of playing. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Hughes will not play Saturday.
Hughes has been a key member to the Canucks’ defense despite his youth as he has immediately become a top-four player and already averages more than 20 minutes per game. His ability to quarterback the power play has been critical to the Canucks’ recent 8-1-1 streak. Hopefully, he’ll be back sooner than later.
- With Garret Sparks recalled under emergency conditions and the return of Malcolm Subban to the ice, many were wondering what was going on with the Vegas Golden Knights’ goaltending situation. However, The Athletic’s Jesse Granger answered that question by reporting that starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has the flu and will sit out today. Head coach Gerard Gallant stated that it wasn’t anything that will keep the veteran goaltender out for very long. Without Fleury, Granger also reported that Subban, who has been out since Oct. 10 when he played just one period, will get the start tonight against the Jets. Subban, coincidentally, has never allowed a goal to Winnipeg in his career.
- In a mailbag piece, The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman (subscription required) writes that while it would be advantageous for the Edmonton Oilers to trade off some of their defensive depth for some forward help, however the team few players that have much value. The most likley candidate to trade would be Kris Russell, who has just one more year on his contract. However, the scribe adds that Russell might be hard to move due to his $4MM contract right now as well as the fact that he has a 20-team no-trade clause in his contract. Both those issues would make it difficult to move him, especially since it might be a stretch to consider him as a No. 4 defenseman.
Canucks Recall Oscar Fantenberg From Conditioning Stint
- The Canucks announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defenseman Oscar Fantenberg from his conditioning loan with Utica (AHL). He has yet to play with Vancouver this season which is why he agreed to go to the minors to get some game action in. He suited up in two games with the Comets during that stretch.