Arizona Places Joel Hanley On Waivers
Along with Matt Moulson—who the Buffalo Sabres already announced would be going on waivers today— Joel Hanley has been placed on waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Hanley’s assignment likely means that Niklas Hjalmarsson will be ready to return to the lineup on Thursday night.
The Coyotes signed Hanley to a one-year deal this summer after he didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but likely expected him to play most of the season in the minor leagues. He’s now played four games for the Coyotes, but was held scoreless in each. The 26-year old has just 21 games under his belt since earning his entry-level contract in 2015, after grinding his way through four years at UMass-Amherst and another on an AHL deal in the minors.
Arizona is still at the bottom of the standings in the Pacific Division, but have recently climbed a bit closer to relevance. With Jakob Chychrun back and making an impact right away, and now a return from Hjalmarsson perhaps they can continue to creep their way up the standings.
Teams Gauging Availability Of Buffalo Goaltenders
The Buffalo Sabres have dominated the headlines this morning with the news that they’ll place Matt Moulson on waivers at noon, and Darren Dreger of TSN has some more information regarding the team. Dreger reports on Twitter that teams have called the Sabres about both Chad Johnson and Robin Lehner, trying to gauge the availability of the two goaltenders. With the Sabres falling even further out of the playoff race with four straight losses, it surely won’t be the only calls they’ll receive on players this year.
Both Lehner and Johnson are free agents this summer, with the former being of the restricted variety. While he’s previously shown an ability to put up excellent numbers at the NHL level, Lehner has been just as much of a disappointment as anyone else on the team. With what would be a career-low .903 save percentage, Lehner would be a tough evaluation for new Sabres GM Jason Botterill and head coach Phil Housley. If the team doesn’t believe he can be their starter going forward, perhaps moving him this season would be the right move. As a 26-year old, he’ll need a long-term contract this summer or be heading for unrestricted free agency next offseason.
None of this is to say that the Sabres would actually move a goaltender, but Johnson certainly has to be getting close to expendable. Brought in on a one-year deal to stabilize the backup position, he’s posted a very poor .883 save percentage and won just a single start. With Linus Ullmark waiting in the wings for another chance at the NHL, Johnson’s place doesn’t seem so secure.
Matt Moulson Placed On Waivers
The Buffalo Sabres announced that veteran forward Matt Moulson will be placed on waivers today, for the purpose of assignment to the AHL. Moulson has been held scoreless this season through 14 games, and has struggled to get into the lineup on a consistent basis.
Moulson, 34, carries a $5MM cap hit for this year and next in the final two seasons of his $25MM deal. His career with Buffalo has been anything but productive, as he continually underperformed after coming over from the New York Islanders. Early in the 2013-14 season, the Sabres acquired Moulson (along with two high draft picks) in exchange for Thomas Vanek and then flipped him later in the season to Minnesota for another package of picks and prospects.
Just a few months later, Moulson re-signed with the Sabres when Buffalo offered him a five-year $25MM contract. He was expected to bring some of his goal scoring talent—he’d previously scored 30+ in three separate seasons—but ended up quickly falling down the forward depth chart. Now in the fourth season of that contract, Moulson has just 35 goals and 94 points in 253 games while basically skating as a fourth-liner for the past three years.
By sending him to Rochester if he clears waivers, the Sabres will save (a prorated) $1.025MM in cap space, but will have to pay out his full $5MM salary. Next season, he’s owed just $3MM in actual salary but would be a potential buyout candidate once again. It’s unlikely that he will be claimed, as his cap hit is too restrictive for what he brings to the team.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Edmonton Claims Davidson Off Waivers
The Edmonton Oilers have claimed defenseman Brandon Davidson off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens today, according to Elliotte Friedman. This will mark Davidson’s second stint in Edmonton as the Oilers were the team to draft him back in 2010.
Davidson played 91 games for the Oilers until he was traded in February of last season to Montreal for David Desharnais. Davidson was considered a promising young defenseman a few years ago with excellent defensive skills, but never fully developed in Edmonton. After being traded to Montreal, however, he never seemed to be in the coaching staff’s plans too often as he only played 23 games for the Canadiens since February. This season, Davidson has one assist in 13 games.
Now reunited with his previous team, Davidson should immediately jump into their lineup with their injuries on the blueline to Adam Larsson and Andrej Sekera. However, Larsson is eligible to come off injured reserve on Wednesday, and if he does, the team will have to make another defensive decision then, as they will have eight players on the blueline. However, Davidson might be a preferred option to defenseman Yohann Auvito, who has a history of taking a lot of risks on offense.
Assuming he stays with Edmonton after that, he could get a matchup with his old team on Saturday in Montreal.
Senators Claim Chris DiDomenico Off Waivers From Tampa Bay
Chris DiDomenico‘s stint in Tampa Bay’s organization didn’t last long. After being placed on waivers yesterday, the Senators have claimed the winger, per a team announcement (Twitter link). This comes on the heels of the Lightning claiming him from Ottawa just a week ago.
[Related: Updated Senators Depth Chart from Roster Resource]
In his time with Tampa Bay, DiDomenico only played in the minors on a conditioning stint. He suited up in three games with their AHL affiliate in Syracuse, scoring once during that span.
DiDomenico initially cleared waivers at the end of training camp but injuries up front gave him a chance to be recalled early on in the season to Ottawa. He initially made quite the impact as he recorded five points in his first five games. However, his ice time decreased after that and he picked up just a lone assist in his final seven games with the Sens before they placed him on waivers last weekend.
If the Senators were the only team to claim the 28-year-old, they will be eligible to send him down to their AHL affiliate in Belleville. If, however, any other team behind them in the priority list put in a claim, then they would have to re-waive him in order to try to send him back down.
- In other waiver news on Saturday, Oilers winger Iiro Pakarinen cleared waivers, per Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic (Twitter link). The team announced via Twitter that he has been assigned to Bakersfield of the AHL.
Brandon Davidson Placed On Waivers
After all the talk of Brandon Davidson being on the Montreal Canadiens’ trade block and the numerous teams who could have considerable interest in acquiring him, it seems no deal could materialize for the Habs and their hand has been forced. Davidson has been placed on waivers today, as first reported by TVA’s Renaud Lavoie.
With Shea Weber returning from injury, Montreal needs a roster spot and they will get one by placing Davidson on waivers. It seems somewhat unlikely that Davidson will clear waivers, as he is not far gone from being and up-and-coming defender and still plays a solid defensive game. The only roadblock could be his contract, but at just under $1.5MM, it’s far from an albatross for any D-needy team to take on.
Davidson’s absence means greater roles for Victor Mete, Jakub Jerabek, and Joe Morrow moving forward, as the Canadiens look for the right mix to get back on track this season. Montreal is in the bottom third in the league in goals for, goals against, power play, and penalty kill. If coach Claude Julien thinks potentially losing Davidson and giving more ice time to this trio of young defenders is a way to reverse their fortunes in even one of those areas, it is probably worth it.
Minor Transactions: 12/2/2017
In minor moves today:
- The floundering Buffalo Sabres have made a move, calling up forward Hudson Fasching from the AHL’s Rochester Americans, per a team report. The Sabres have failed to score a goal in each of their past three games and face the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, again today as the second half of a home-and-home. Buffalo could use all the help they can get and Fasching is tied for the team lead in goals in Rochester and uses his big frame to create opportunities around the net. The former University of Minnesota star has not proven himself in the pros quite yet, but could earn a regular role in the NHL if he jump starts the Sabres’ season (or at least scores a goal).
- The Dallas Stars announced that they have recalled forward Curtis McKenzie from AHL Texas. McKenzie has been back and forth multiple times already in 2017-18, but hasn’t had the opportunity to play for Dallas despite leading the Texas Stars with 10 goals and 68 shots in 19 games. The 2009 draft pick hasn’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut at the next level though; he recorded only five points in his first 39 NHL games, but at least took a step forward last season with 16 points in 53 games. Many expected McKenzie to have a full-time role after gaining so much experience last year, but it hasn’t happened for him just yet. Perhaps a strong showing – should he get the opportunity – on this latest recall could keep him in Dallas for a longer, more involved stay.
- The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have recalled defenseman Mark Alt from Lehigh Valley of the AHL. He sits second on the Phantoms in points by a defenseman with nine through 16 games. He’s also no stranger to being with the big club as this is his third recall already this season. He has played in six games with the Flyers, being held off the scoresheet while averaging just over 13 minutes per night.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have promoted defenseman Jamie McBain to the big club, per a team release. The veteran has yet to play with the Lightning this season but has picked up 11 points in 21 minor league contests. He has plenty of NHL experience under his belt though with 348 career games split between Carolina, Buffalo, Los Angeles, and Arizona. His promotion was needed with fellow blueliner Braydon Coburn being listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Oilers Claim Nathan Walker Off Waivers
Nathan Walker became the first Australian-born player to play in the NHL earlier this season and he’ll soon become the first Australian-born player to play for a Canadian NHL team as well. The young forward was placed on waivers by the Washington Capitals yesterday and the Edmonton Oilers announced this morning that they have claimed him.
Walker, 23, had one goal in seven games for the Caps thus far this season, but played with an impressive edge in his bottom-six role. At just 5’9″, 186-lbs., Walker may not have the typical size of an energy line contributor, but makes up for it with more than enough actual energy. The disappointing Oilers could use an injection of tenacity and work ethic more than perhaps any other team in the league, making Walker a potential steal as a waiver claim.
In a corresponding move, Iiro Pakarinen has been placed on waivers by Edmonton. He joins Ottawa’s Chris DiDomenico on the wire today. Walker’s waiver wire partner yesterday, Buffalo’s Matt Tennyson, has cleared and has been sent down to the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
Minnesota Claims Nate Prosser, Buffalo Waives Matt Tennyson
The Minnesota Wild have claimed Nate Prosser off waivers, essentially replacing Kyle Quincey on the roster after he cleared. Jordin Tootoo, the third player on waivers yesterday also cleared and has been assigned to Rockford. Today, Nathan Walker (WSH) who we addressed earlier, and Matt Tennyson (BUF) are on the wire.
Prosser returns to familiar stomping grounds, having played for Minnesota for the first eight years of his professional career. After playing 282 games for the Wild over that span, he signed a two-year contract with the Blues this offseason. Only suiting up for one game for the Blues this year, they were right in their assumption that he would be claimed if they exposed him to waivers.
The 31-year old gives the Wild another right-side option, something that Quincey wasn’t willing to do according to Michael Russo of The Athletic. With Jared Spurgeon injured and not travelling with the team, Prosser could potentially jump into the lineup right away. Quincey hasn’t technically been sent to the AHL, and Minnesota had been offering him to clubs before eventually waiving him. Clearing waivers could facilitate a move now that the acquiring team could send him to the minor leagues without issue.
For Tennyson, waivers indicates he’s healthy enough to return to action. He was placed on injured reserve on November 16th, and has played in just 14 games with the Sabres this season. With seven healthy defensemen already on the roster, Tennyson is likely headed for Rochester should he clear.
Montreal Canadiens Acquire Adam Cracknell
The Montreal Canadiens have completed a minor trade, swapping minor league forward Peter Holland for Adam Cracknell from the New York Rangers. Cracknell was claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars earlier this year, but will report directly to the AHL’s Laval Rocket for the time being.
While this is just a minor league swap on paper, both players have considerable NHL experience. Holland was a first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2009 but could never quite find a role as a top-six center in any of his previous stops. A natural puck-carrying forward, his offense has been limited throughout his career. For Laval this season, he had 18 points in 20 games and will certainly improve the Hartford attack.
Cracknell on the other hand has always been a hard working bottom-six player, but actually had 10 goals last season for the Stars. He was waived early on but couldn’t catch on in New York either. The 32-year old could add some size to Montreal’s group if called up, but is likely just a minor league depth addition at this point.