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Snapshots: Murray, MacEachern, Raffl, Graovac

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The Senators were expected to start Matt Murray in goal tonight in their matchup against Toronto.  However, the team announced (Twitter link) just before the game began that the netminder suffered an upper-body injury in the pregame warmup and would not dress for the game.  It’s the latest negative in what has been a tough first season with Ottawa for the 26-year-old as Murray has a bloated 3.84 GAA along with a .880 SV% in 22 games so far.  Joey Daccord got the start as a result with the team recalling Kevin Mandolese from the taxi squad on an emergency basis to dress as the backup.

Elsewhere around the league:

  • The Blues announced that they have placed winger Mackenzie MacEachern on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old was frequently shuffled to the taxi squad early on in the season after he cleared waivers but has been on St. Louis’ roster for nearly a full month now.  He has played in 17 games so far this season, picking up a goal and an assist while logging 9:29 per game.
  • Flyers winger Michael Raffl could return for tomorrow’s contest against the Rangers, relays Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia (Twitter link). Raffl has missed the last four games due to a swollen right hand and was off to a decent start to his season before the injury with three goals and four assists in 21 games.
  • Canucks center Tyler Graovac has been cleared to play after recovering from a concussion, notes Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston. The veteran actually suffered the injury last week in the minors but was quietly recalled anyway from AHL Manitoba to begin quarantine protocols due to some of the injuries they had up front.  Vancouver’s farm team is in Utica which means any direct recalls would require a two-week quarantine which is why they placed a couple of players with other Canadian-based teams where that time is cut in half.  Graovac was their only available forward to recall which is why he was brought up as soon as he was injured, making for an unusual situation.

2021 NCAA All-Free Agent Team

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With the signing of Clarkson standout Josh Dunne by the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier today, the NHL’s college free agent market has officially kicked off. With many NCAA teams playing their last games today and through this week, the list of available players is about to expand as well, with new names becoming available throughout the NCAA Tournament, which concludes in early April. Curious who the top available names are? Here is the 2021 All-Free Agent Team, complete with honorable mentions:

Forwards
Alex Steeves, Notre Dame (Jr.) – A player whose NHL market is well-documented, Steeves leads the way among undrafted free agents. Steeves sits tied for sixth overall in NCAA scoring with 31 points in 28 games, while his 15 goals ties for fourth overall. A skilled forward who makes the players around him better, Steeves is ready for the pro game, even as a junior. Assuming he forgoes his remaining NCAA eligibility, Steeves could sign soon. The Fighting Irish were knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament today, an early exit for a team that needed a deep run to feel secure about a national tournament spot. That loss could very well mean that Steeves’ college season is over and his pro career is ready to begin.

Jordan Kawaguchi, North Dakota (Sr.) – Kawaguchi spurned the pros last season to return to North Dakota for one last season and he and the Fighting Hawks plan to have a long NCAA Tournament run ahead of them in the coming weeks. Once Kawaguchi’s season is over though, he will be ready to take his talents to the next level. A supremely skilled playmaker who is tied with Steeves with 31 points this season, Kawaguchi thinks the game at a high level and has great vision on the ice.

Marc McLaughlin, Boston College (Jr.) – Like Kawaguchi, McLaughlin’s BC Eagles plan to compete for a title this season and he might not be available for a while. There is also an off chance that he returns to Boston College for another season if the team falls short of an NCAA championship. However, McLaughlin is pro-ready right now and there will be a strong market for his mature, complete game. A physical, two-way center who excels at the technical aspects of the game, McLaughlin also found his offense this year with 23 points in 21 games.

Other Notable Forwards: Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac; Parker Ford, Providence College; Ty Pelton-Byce, Wisconsin; Ben Meyers, Minnesota; Chayse Primeau, Nebraska-Omaha; Zach Solow, Northeastern

Defensemen
Matt Kiersted, North Dakota (Sr.) – Next to Steeves, Kiersted might be the most anticipated college free agent of the class. The puck-moving defensemen has played major minutes for a contender at North Dakota and his 19 points in 25 games is among the best marks for blue liners. He also plays competent defense and looks ready to step into an NHL depth role right away. He may not play this year though, as the Fighting Hawks are in it for the long haul.

Akito Hirose, Minnesota State (Fr.) – The NCAA rookie Hirose, younger brother of Detroit Red Wings forward Taro Hirose, has impressed enough after just one year to potentially warrant an NHL contract. While his offensive game nor his defensive game are elite – which could prompt him to return for another year rather than make the jump – Hirose’s mobility is top-class and has many believing he is better off developing in the pros. He has shown that he can be a difference maker on the back end, even in a conservative system like the Mavericks’. Minnesota State is in position to make a deep tournament run, but have fallen victim to early exits before.

Other Notable Defensemen: Brandon Scanlin, Nebraska-Omaha; Will Cullen, Bowling Green

Goaltenders
Strauss Mann, Michigan (Jr.) – While he may not be at the very top of the NCAA goalie ranks statistically, scouts rave about Mann’s vision and quickness. Scouts have seen plenty of him too while watching a Michigan squad loaded with draft-eligible talent and previously drafted prospects. Mann is also the Wolverines’ captain and has been unbelievably consistent as their workhorse over the past two seasons. A smart and respected teammate, Mann has the makings of an NHL starter in time. Oh and about those stats: a .927 save percentage and 1.95 GAA this year is nothing to complain about.

Other Notable Goaltenders: Dryden McKay, Minnesota State; Adam Scheel, North Dakota

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/14/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. With a full report in on time from all 31 teams, here is the list for today:

Edmonton – Kyle Turris
Los Angeles – Olli Maatta
New Jersey – Will Butcher
NY Islanders – Noah Dobson*, Jean-Gabriel Pageau*
NY Rangers – Phil Di Giuseppe*

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Jake DeBrusk, Boston Bruins; Marcus Sorensen, San Jose Sharks

It wasn’t quite an even day for the NHL in their battle against the Coronavirus. Boston’s DeBrusk is off the CPRA list after just 24 hours, while Sorenson is removed after a longer stint. However, there are three new additions out of New York in the Islanders’ Pageau and Dobson plus the Rangers’ Di Giuseppe. Pageau in particular was curiously absent from the Isles’ lineup for their Sunday afternoon contest without any explanation from the club, but as assumed he has been sidelined by the league’s COVID Protocol. The team surely hopes it is a case of a false positive or some other minor occurrence, as Pageau is even more important to New York right now given the long-term injury absence of Anders Lee. 

*denotes new addition

Anaheim Listening To Offers For Troy Terry

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The Anaheim Ducks are in the unenviable position this season of having to not only evaluate which core players to keep or trade, but also which young player to keep or trade. The Ducks’ have built a deep, talented pipeline over the last several years, but continue to get inconsistent and underwhelming effort from many of their top young pros. While there are plenty of younger roster players and prospects that Anaheim is excited about, but also too many that have yet to pan out. So , as the team trudges through another poor season, not only are they fielding offers for veterans like Rickard Rakell, Adam Henrique, and Josh Manson, but they also face pressure to shop players like Danton Heinen, Sonny Milano, Max Jones, Jacob Larsson and more before their value disappears completely.

The latest addition to the latter list appears to be forward Troy Terry. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that he is hearing the Ducks are evaluating whether or not it is time to move on from the 23-year-old forward. Friedman notes that there is some belief around the league that Terry could benefit from a change of scenery. Anaheim is currently listening to those offers, though not necessarily shopping Terry.

A fifth-round draft pick of the Ducks in 2015, Terry flew under the radar as a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program. However, he quickly rose to prominence at the college level with Denver University. Not only did Terry produce back-to-back seasons of 45+ points in his sophomore and juniors years at Denver, but his play earned him a spot with Team USA at the 2017 World Juniors and 2018 Winter Olympics – and Terry was a point-per-game player in both tournaments. After leaving college early to sign with Anaheim, Terry entered the pros with high expectations. Four years later, Terry is still trying to meet those expectations. While the talented winger has dominated in the AHL with 57 points in 55 games, it has been a different story in the NHL, where he has just 12 goals and 35 points in 103 games. With seven points through 22 games so far this year, Terry is matching his 26-point full-season pace from last year. However, as a frequent scratch by the Ducks, even that isn’t a realistic benchmark for the young scorer. Even at his best, Terry is also a complete non-factor in the physical and defensive aspects of the game, making it difficult to slot him in the lineup when he isn’t scoring at a top-six level.

For any team interested in landing Terry, there has to be a plan to put him in positions that take advantage of his offensive ability while limiting his defensive liability. Terry may very well need a change of scenery, but he is not going to work out as a fourth-line player or facing difficult defensive match-ups no matter where he goes. This makes him a difficult player to place. Terry certainly has ample offensive upside, hence Anaheim’s hesitation to move him, but there is a reason that he has not produced or earned a greater role with the Ducks despite seemingly ample opportunity. Terry’s potential availability will be an interesting case to keep an eye on in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

North Division Notes: 2021-22, Quarantine Protocol, Sabourin

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Although the North Division was only intended to be a temporary alignment in 2020-21, the all-Canadian grouping has been popular north of the border. As a result, there are a number of teams hoping that the division might stay together for a while longer. Commissioner Gary Bettman was adamant earlier this week that the league will return to its normal divisional alignment next season, albeit with a small shift due to expansion. Yet, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that several Canadian teams are hoping to get at least another year of national competition. Ironically, this only seems likely if there continue to be restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border through the summer and into next season; the same restrictions that are making trade acquisitions difficult for Canadian teams and could prevent the North Division winner from playing at home in the semifinal and potentially the Stanley Cup Final series. However, the teams in favor of the North Division remaining intact feel that the impact could be more important than any ill effects this season. Johnston notes that these teams can feel the excitement within the country of the reignited Canadian rivalries and want to see that expand with fans being allowed back into games, further boosting the focus on the league. However, there is a way for this to be accomplished without the North Division continuing. Discussions earlier this season centered around the value of continuing to push the regional, non-divisional rivalries that have sprouted this season simply by changing the way scheduling is handled, rather than through realignment. Furthering the emphasis on regional play through extra contents between geographically linked teams would not only continue to fuel the rivalries created or rediscovered this season, but is also a way to save money on travel as teams continue to deal with losses this season. Perhaps this is the way to go that will make both the NHL and their Canadian contingent happy.

  • As noted, there is more downside than upside for the NHL and Canadian clubs to continued border issues. The most pressing of these problems with the trade deadline approaching is the required 14-day quarantine for anyone crossing into Canada, a major holdup in player acquisitions. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reached out to Health Canada and found that, despite a report earlier this year, there has been no formal request made by the NHL to amend the quarantine rules for trade acquisitions. However, Friedman did not sound optimistic that any such proposal would be accepted anyway. Specifically, players have wondered whether they could avoid the quarantine period if an acquired player has been vaccinated, but Health Canada stated that they do not know enough about the impact of vaccination on transmission to allow such a change. Friedman notes that lobbying efforts continue from the league to strike some sort of agreement with the Canadian government to ease quarantine restrictions, but the likelihood seems low. With the deadline now a month away and nothing formal yet in the works, Canadian contenders will likely have to account for a two-week absence of any new players acquired from their American counterparts.
  • It didn’t take long for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Sabourin to make his mark on this season, and not in a good way. After signing with the Leafs in Feburary, Sabourin was assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to get back into game shape and made his season debut against the Laval Rocket on Friday. On Saturday, the Leafs recalled him to their taxi squad, adding a physical, gritty veteran to their group of potential substitutes. Later in the day, the AHL announced that when Sabourin returns to the AHL, he will be suspended for one game; Toronto opted to send him down on Sunday to serve that ban. Sabourin crashed the Laval net late in Friday’s game and started an altercation with multiple opponents and the league deemed this was worthy of a suspension. With a one-game suspension, not to mention 17 penalty minutes, after just one game this year, Sabourin seems to be returning to the aggressive reputation that he has built in his AHL career rather than building on the progress he made as a more composed player with the Ottawa Senators last year.

Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

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Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is already a month away.  Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Columbus Blue Jackets franchise is nothing if not hopeful. After 17 years of remaining faithful, the team finally won a playoff series in 2019 and then won another in 2020. Even though their play this season has been disappointing at times, they are still in the running for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division and have a non-zero chance of catching the upstart Chicago Blackhawks and holding off the Dallas Stars.

With that said, this Blue Jackets team is in the bottom third of the league in goals for per game, goals against per game, power play, and penalty kill. Even if they sneak into the playoffs, even if they again wondrously upset the Tampa Bay Lightning, this is not a team with title hopes this year. This is not a team buying at the deadline.

Besides, the Blue Jackets already made their big move this season: the acquisition of two new core pieces in Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Columbus may not be playing up to their expectations this season, but it has been an odd year – and for this team in particular – and the Blue Jackets are probably best served to just take it easy at the trade deadline. Just as this is not a contending roster, it is equally not a roster in need of a rebuild. Columbus should stay the course. If they receive outstanding offers for their impending free agents or term depth players, they should consider. If they are faced with the opportunity to add a term depth player of their own, they should consider. By and large though, the Blue Jackets should focus on the group they currently have and see if they can sneak into the postseason. This is not a year for Columbus to do anything drastic.

Record

11-12-6, .483, 5th in Central Division

Deadline Status

Opportunistic Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$1.571MM in full-season space ($7.01MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 43/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: CLB 1st, CLB 3rd, CLB 4th, CLB 5th, NJD 5th, CLB 6th, CLB 7th
2022: CLB 1st, CLB 2nd, CLB 4th, CLB 6th, ANA 7th

Trade Chips

The Blue Jackets are sitting on a pair of prime time impending free agents, but unlike 2019, when Columbus couldn’t bear to let Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky go without loading up and going for a run, the team has a different reason this time around to think twice about parting ways with their most valuable pieces. Nick Foligno and David Savard bleed Jackets blue. The former is the captain and the latter is a career Blue Jacket and the longest tenured player on the team. There is certainly some discussion in the front office about whether it is really worth it to part with either player. Of course, much of that also revolves around extension talks. If this is the end of Foligno and/or Savard in Columbus anyway, then the team should trade them. However, if either one wants to remain with the club in the future, likely re-signing after expansion, it could be better for all parties if they held on to them. Foligno especially, as the locker room leader for a team that is still within reach of a playoff spot, has value on the team this season, perhaps more than he would to any other team in the league. Foligno is also having a down year offensively and may not command a great return. Savard, on the other hand, is extremely valuable to a great many teams as an experienced shutdown defender on the right side. Yet, he also fits perfectly as a complement to the Blue Jackets’ more offensive-minded, puck-moving top pair and the team surely hopes that he wishes to remain in that role moving forward.

Fortunately for Columbus, they aren’t without other valuable rentals if Foligno and Savard stay put, albeit to a lesser extent. First-time Blue Jackets Michael Del Zotto and Mikhail Grigorenko could be nice depth additions for contenders, as could bottom-six center Riley Nash. None of them have had especially noteworthy seasons, but are useful additions nonetheless. Del Zotto especially is affordable and experienced – a nice acquisition for a cap-strapped team in need of skill on the blue line.

Among term players, there are certainly already some calling for the trade of Max Domi. The off-season acquisition, who signed a two-year extension with the team, has been nothing short of underwhelming this season. However, is there any upside to trading him now? Domi, who already has a reputation for not lasting long with teams, may be at the lowest point in trade value in his career. Especially in a cap-strapped climate, the Blue Jackets would almost certainly not get back fair value. The optics would also be bad, as counterpart Josh Anderson has found immediate success with the Montreal Canadiens. Columbus would be much better off to hold on to Domi and see if he can improve next season before making a decision on his future. Unless, of course, someone blows them away with an offer. Domi was expected to fill a hole down the middle for Columbus, so any deal to move him out right now should aim to bring another talented center in.

Despite a recent extension in February, there is a more logical reason to potentially move defenseman Dean Kukan. Kukan has missed some time this season, but has played well when healthy. As one of the top candidates to be selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, the Blue Jackets may choose instead to get value back for the blue liner if there is interest. Of course, they may also just hold out hope that Seattle goes in a different direction.

Of course, the big move that Columbus could make is to break up their young goalie tandem. With both Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins set to hit free agency after next season, there is some question as to the viability of retaining both beyond that point. Either one would certainly draw interest on the trade market, though a deal is more likely in the off-season. Specifically, when it comes to Korpisalo, there may be limited demand around the league for adding an eligible goalie prior to the expansion draft rather than after. His market would likely be improved in the summer. If the Blue Jackets decide to make a big change in net at the deadline rather than waiting for the summer, it is more likely to be Merzlikins on the move.

Others to Watch For: D Scott Harrington ($1.633M, UFA 2022), D Gabriel Carlsson ($725K, RFA 2022), D Adam Clendening ($700K, UFA), F Ryan MacInnis ($700K, Group 6 UFA)

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks and Prospects – Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets are still feeling the effects of their all-out approach at the 2019 trade deadline, as well as some other moves they have made. They have not had many high-value picks over the past two years and are still without some key selections moving forward, including a second-rounder this year and a third-rounder in 2022. With many of their top prospects having graduated to the pros as well, Columbus has a young NHL roster, but a lacking pipeline. In fact, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked it 27th overall in the league, which would be easier to swallow if the team was performing better. Whether by picks or by prospects, the Blue Jackets need to try to replenish the system.

2) A Term Forward – The shrewd GM that he is, don’t be surprised to see Jarmo Kekalainen try to address the Expansion Draft ahead of the deadline. Assuming their most likely protection scheme and choices, the Blue Jackets are currently short one forward to meet the exposure quota that the draft demands, unless they re-sign Nash or Grigorenko, UFA’s they could instead trade, or Kevin Stenlund, who would also need to play regularly down the stretch to meet the games played criteria. Those options aren’t ideal and the Blue Jackets could just as easily find a player to trade for at a low price who covers them for expansion, but could also play a role next season if not selected. Although Columbus shouldn’t be a typical buyer at the deadline, an additional forward could also help in their continued pursuit of a playoff spot, especially if they move one or more of their impending free agents up front. Again, center is the team’s biggest positional need, but not necessarily the priority here in adding a player they plan to expose in expansion.

Anders Lee Out Indefinitely With Lower-Body Injury

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March 14: Lee has officially been placed on long-term injured reserve, meaning not only will he be out a while, but the Islanders will also receive some salary flexibility. Lee’s cap hit of $7MM gives the team plenty of room to make a deadline addition, so long as he’s not coming back before the end of the regular season.

March 12: The New York Islanders managed to hold on and win against the New Jersey Devils last night, but it came at a cost. Captain Anders Lee left the game in the first period and is now out “indefinitely” with a lower-body injury. Lee got tangled up with Devils forward Pavel Zacha and stayed down for a good while, obviously favoring his leg. The Islanders will not provide a further update.

If he is gone for any substantial amount of time, it’s a huge blow to the Islanders who have managed to climb all the way to the top of the East Division standings. Sitting at 17-6-4 through the first half of the season, Barry Trotz’ group also holds the best goal differential in the division and is currently on a seven-game winning streak. A big part of that success has been Lee, who leads the team with 12 goals and is second behind only Mathew Barzal in points.

In fact, those 12 goals tie Lee for 13th in the entire league, right alongside names like Kyle Connor, Mikko Rantanen, and Steven Stamkos. On a team that prides itself on getting contributions from everyone in the lineup instead of a few superstars, his standout ability to put the puck in the net is extremely important.

The Islanders are back in action for a back-to-back in New Jersey over the weekend and don’t seem likely to have the captain in the lineup.

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Josh Dunne

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have dipped their toes into the college free agent waters, signing Josh Dunne to a two-year entry-level contract. Dunne’s deal will start this season and has been immediately assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The 22-year-old served as captain for Clarkson University this season, though played just 14 games due to injury.

This isn’t the first time Dunne’s name has been thrown around by NHL teams. As Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports, the young forward was highly sought after last spring after an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him win the ECAC Best Defensive Forward award. The 6’4″ center may not project to be a top-line player at the next level, but a commitment to both ends of the rink and good hands around the net are a mix that scouts love in undrafted free agents.

If Dunne is looking for guidance on his transition, he needs to look no further than the Blue Jackets front office. GM Jarmo Kekalainen also played at Clarkson as an undrafted forward before signing with the Boston Bruins in 1989. While things have changed a bit since then, even Kekalainen’s modest 55-game NHL career would be a win for Dunne.

Jake Gardiner Clears Waivers

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March 14: Gardiner has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the taxi squad.

March 13: Jake Gardiner’s tenure in Carolina hasn’t gone particularly well.  He has underwhelmed offensively, been in and out of the lineup at times and now he finds himself on waivers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to report (Twitter link).

The 30-year-old is in his second season with the Hurricanes and after being a core defenseman over most of his eight seasons with Toronto, he has been more of a depth player with Carolina with his offensive numbers and playing time taking big dips as a result.  So far this season, Gardiner has yet to score while recording seven assists in 17 games.  Meanwhile, his average ice time has dipped below 16 minutes a game to just 15:48, surpassing his previous career-low which was set last season.  Clearly, this isn’t the return they were expecting when they gave him a four-year, $16.2MM contract in September of 2019.

Between the contract and below-average performance, it’s seemingly all but a foregone conclusion that Gardiner will clear at 11 AM CT on Sunday where he’ll be free to be shuffled to the taxi squad.  Several teams have placed underachieving, high-priced veterans on waivers in recent weeks for that very purpose, to free up some cap and roster flexibility while bringing the player back onto the active roster for games they’ll be playing in.  At this stage, it would seem as if Gardiner will follow that path; this isn’t a case where his time with Carolina will be over.

As for how much cap room they would save when Gardiner eventually is sent to the taxi squad, they would only free up a prorated $1.075MM on the days he’s not on the active roster.  But with the Hurricanes looking as if they’ll be a buyer once again at the trade deadline, any extra cap room would go a long way.

Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/14/21

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There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:

West Division

Central Division

  • The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Mathias Brome from the taxi squad as they prepare for their early evening game against the Hurricanes. Detroit actually won their last game against the Lightning, scoring six goals in the process. Brome wasn’t part of that game, but it looks like he will draw back in today.  Following the game, he was sent back to the taxi squad.
  • Alexander Radulov is back with the Dallas Stars. The team announced that the big scoring forward has been activated from the Injured Reserve. To make room for Radulov’s addition on the active roster, fellow forward Joel L’Esperance has been reassigned to the taxi squad.
  • After clearing waivers, the Carolina Hurricanes sent defenseman Jake Gardiner to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly, while recalling forward Morgan Geekie and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.  Both Geekie and Nedeljkovic have been making near-daily appearances on these lists this season.
  • The Nashville Predators returned defensemen Ben Harpur and Alexandre Carrier to the taxi squad.  Carrier scored his first career NHL goal on Saturday while Harpur has played in nine games so far this season.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning sent defenseman Luke Schenn to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The move doesn’t bank them any extra cap space since they’re already in LTIR but it extends Schenn’s waiver exemption.

East Division

North Division

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Clark Bishop and Matthew Peca from the taxi squad.  Bishop made his season and Ottawa debut on Friday against Edmonton while Peca has an assist in five games so far this season.
  • The Calgary Flames recalled Dominik Simon from the taxi squad while sending forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Oliver Kylington to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Both Ryan and Kylington were in the lineup in Saturday’s victory over Montreal.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs sent forward Kenny Agostino back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  The 28-year-old made his Toronto debut on Thursday, playing just over four minutes against Winnipeg.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

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