It’s the beginning of a new week in the NHL with ten games on the docket on Monday, including a matinee match-up between the Blues and Coyotes to cap off their in-season seven-game series. Teams continue to shake up their rosters with regularity this season, with promotions and demotions from the taxi squad to the NHL and AHL and everything in between. Keep track of all today’s moves right here as teams prepare for a fresh slate of games this week:
Central Division
- The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that prospect forward MacKenzie Entwistle has been reassigned to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Entwistle had yet to see any game action with Chicago yet this season, so a move to the minors will get him some much-needed playing time. CapFriendly adds that Wyatt Kalnyuk and Reese Johnson were recalled from the taxi squad while Adam Boqvist was sent to the taxi squad.
- As the Tampa Bay Lightning deal with the long-term absences of Anthony Cirelli and Mitchell Stephens, they have recalled reinforcements from the AHL. The team announced that Alex Barre-Boulet and Ross Colton have been recalled from the Syracuse Crunch and assigned to the taxi squad. Both forwards are still seeking their NHL debuts. Moving from the taxi squad down to the minors is goaltender Spencer Martin. CapFriendly adds that Callan Foote and Gemel Smith were also recalled from the taxi squad.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets took a chance by placing young defenseman Gabriel Carlsson on waivers. However, it paid off as he has cleared and can now get some much-needed playing time with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. For the time being, the team has announced that he has been shifted to the taxi squad while forward Stefan Matteau has been recalled to the active roster.
- Nashville Predators defenseman Frederic Allard has finally returned from his loan to Austria’s Villacher SV. The Predators have reassigned him to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, Nashville’s temporary shared affiliate for this season. The team also announced the recalls of Michael McCarron and Eeli Tolvanen from the taxi squad while returning Ben Harpur to the taxi squad.
- As expected, Detroit defenseman Danny DeKeyser has been reassigned to the taxi squad after being a surprise inclusion on waivers yesterday. The club reportedly wants to keep the long-time Red Wing involved with the team but want to use their roster spots on other players. The first player recalled to get the opportunity to replace DeKeyser is forward Mathias Brome.
- With the Hurricanes back in action, they’ve recalled Alex Nedeljkovic from the taxi squad to serve as the backup goaltender, per CapFriendly. Carolina also recalled defenseman Jake Bean from the taxi squad.
- The Dallas Stars recalled wingers Joel Kiviranta and Joel L’Esperance from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Kiviranta was sent down just yesterday while L’Esperance has played in three NHL games this season.
East Division
- With an influx of healthy players coming off the CPRA list, the New Jersey Devils have announced a flurry of moves. Goaltender Aaron Dell has been recalled from his conditioning loan and added to the active roster, finally joining the team after being claimed on waivers earlier this season. Goaltender Gilles Senn has thus been demoted from the taxi squad to AHL Binghamton, as has defenseman Josh Jacobs. Replacing them on the taxi squad for now are forwards Mikhail Maltsev and Brett Seney, recalled from the junior Devils. This will not be the last of the moves for a New Jersey, who have a roster overhaul on their hands after leading the league in COVID-related absences.
- The Washington Capitals have flipped goaltenders, per CapFriendly. Craig Anderson has been returned to the taxi squad while Zach Fucale has been recalled. Ilya Samsonov is nearing a return so they won’t need to carry one of these two on the active roster for much longer.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled forwards Maxim Sushko and David Kase from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. As Philly battles through an ongoing COVID breakout, they need all the help they can get with games scheduled for later this week. CapFriendly adds that Connor Bunnaman has also been recalled.
- The Buffalo Sabres have pushed a number of players up the depth chart as they prepare to return to action with several players still sidelined with COVID. Steven Fogarty, William Borgen, and Brandon Davidson have been recalled to the active roster from the taxi squad, while forwards Rasmus Asplund and Andrew Oglevie have been promoted to the AHL’s Rochester Americans to replace them on the taxi squad.
- The Boston Bruins have assigned Trent Frederic to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The 23-year-old has played in all 14 games this season but has frequently been sent down on non-game days to bank some cap room.
- Oliver Wahlstrom is back up with the New York Islanders, per CapFriendly. The winger has frequently been moved back and forth this season and has a goal in six games so far this season.
North Division
- The Montreal Canadiens have sent veteran forward Michael Frolik to the AHL’s Laval Rocket for a conditioning stint. Frolik will spend the week in the minors and will be reassigned to the Montreal taxi squad on Saturday. The 32-year-old free agent addition has yet to play this season. Replacing Frolik on the taxi squad is Paul Byron, who cleared waivers today. CapFriendly adds that Jesperi Kotkaniemi was recalled from the taxi squad while Hayden Verbeek was recalled to the taxi squad from AHL Laval.
- After being promoted from the AHL to the taxi squad yesterday, Joey Daccord is now moving up again. The Ottawa Senators announced that he has been recalled to the active roster and will dress as the backup for the team’s game tonight. This would imply that the injured Matt Murray is still not ready to return to action.
- Jansen Harkins has been activated from the injured reserve and has rejoined the Winnipeg Jets. The young forward is expected to draw back into the lineup immediately.
- After clearing waivers on Saturday, James Neal has been reassigned to the taxi squad by the Edmonton Oilers. In a corresponding move, his roster spot will be taken by Devin Shore, who has been recalled from the taxi squad.
- The Calgary Flames have recalled defenseman Connor Mackey from the taxi squad. The blueliner has been shuffled back and forth in recent days and made his NHL debut over the weekend.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled Travis Boyd from the taxi squad while activating Joe Thornton from LTIR, per CapFriendly. To make room on the roster, Alexander Barabanov and Scott Sabourin were returned to the taxi squad.
West Division
- With a number of players still sidelined due to COVID but a game coming up on Tuesday night, the Minnesota Wild have to make some moves. Fortunately for the team, some non-COVID players are also getting healthy just in time. The team has announced that defenseman Matt Dumba and forward Mats Zuccarello have been activated from the injured reserve. Additionally, goalie Andrew Hammond, forward Luke Johnson, and defenseman Dakota Mermis have been promoted to the active roster from the taxi squad. Taking their places, up from AHL Iowa, are goalie Dereck Baribeau and forwards Joseph Cramarossa and Mason Shaw.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have demoted forward Patrick Brown and goaltender Logan Thompson to the AHL’s newest team, the Henderson Silver Knights. Neither player appears to be in Vegas’ NHL roster plans this season but made a brief appearance on the taxi squad.
- The Colorado Avalanche shuffled their reserve defenseman, per CapFriendly. Dan Renouf has been recalled from the taxi squad while Dennis Gilbert goes down to make room.
- The Los Angeles Kings have shuffled their goalie depth chart, per a team release. The re-claimed Troy Grosenick has been recalled from the AHL’s Ontario Reign and assigned to the taxi squad. He bumps young Jacob Ingham down to the minors. Either goalie would require an injury to the NHL tandem of veteran Jonathan Quick and future starter Cal Petersen in order to play at the top level this season.
- The San Jose Sharks have recalled defenseman Jacob Middleton and winger Noah Gregor from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Both players have been shuffled back and forth in recent days.
- As they’ve done almost every day lately, the Anaheim Ducks made another lengthy set of moves, per CapFriendly. The team recalled Sam Steel, Max Jones, and Andy Welinski from the taxi squad while demoting David Backes to the taxi squad. Anaheim also promoted Chase De Leo from AHL San Diego to the taxi squad.
- The St. Louis Blues have recalled Mackenzie MacEachern and Austin Poganski from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. Both were sent down yesterday.