Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/18/21

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

• The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Michael Chaput and Ivan Prosvetov from the taxi squad, moving Hudson Fasching back to it. Prosvetov will serve as the backup to Adin Hill tonight as Antti Raanta deals with a lower-body injury.
• After clearing waivers today, Dan Renouf has been sent to the taxi squad by the Colorado Avalanche, per CapFriendly.  Logan O’Connor was recalled to the NHL roster in a corresponding move.
• The Anaheim Ducks didn’t just bring up Jamie Drysdale today.  Goaltender Lukas Dostal was also brought up to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly, with John Gibson being transferred to injured reserve.

North Division

• The Toronto Maple Leafs have added Nic Petan to the taxi squad, as Alex Galchenyuk and Wayne Simmonds were once again practicing with the main group. Petan has played in seven games for the Maple Leafs this season, recording a single point.
• The Ottawa Senators have sent Erik Brannstrom and Matthew Peca back to the AHL to play this weekend, while re-assigning Clark Bishop, Filip Gustavsson, and Artem Zub to the taxi squad. The Senators don’t play again until Monday, meaning their young defenseman can get in some more game action at the minor league level to continue his development.
• The Edmonton Oilers have recalled Joakim Nygard from the taxi squad, sending Evan Bouchard down in a corresponding move.  Nygard last played two weeks ago while Bouchard has been out a bit longer, last seeing game action on March 1st.
• The Calgary Flames have made their typical non-gameday move, sending Derek Ryan and Oliver Kylington to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Dominik Simon has been recalled to the active roster.
• The Montreal Canadiens sent Paul Byron and Xavier Ouellet to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Having cleared waivers Wednesday, Byron figures to be a regular in the daily shuffle for the next few weeks.

Central Division

• The Columbus Blue Jackets are dealing with several injuries, so Mikhail Grigorenko’s time on the taxi squad has been short-lived. The recently waived forward has been recalled to the roster along with Stefan Matteau and Ryan MacInnis after the team moved Emil Bemstrom to injured reserve. The team is already without Alexandre Texier thanks to the COVID protocols after he was unable to travel with the team due to a different illness.
• The Chicago Blackhawks have moved Brandon Pirri back to the Rockford IceHogs, another transaction in what must be a frustrating season for the 29-year-old forward. Pirri has played just three total games, two in the AHL and one for the Blackhawks.  Reese Johnson was also sent to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly, with Dylan Strome being activated off injured reserve.
• For game day, the Detroit Red Wings have recalled both Frans Nielsen and Evgeny Svechnikov from the taxi squad. The two were placed there just yesterday in order to save some salary and cap.
• In their daily move, the Nashville Predators have recalled Alexandre Carrier and Ben Harpur from the taxi squad, moving Michael McCarron back in the process.
• The Dallas Stars have brought up Ty Dellandrea and Tanner Kero from the taxi squad while sending Rhett Gardner down to the taxi squad.  Dellandrea has a goal and two assists in 15 games this season while Kero has a pair of assists in 11 games.
• As they’ve regularly done on game days, the Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Alex Nedeljkovic, Jake Bean, and Morgan Geekie from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  To make room on the roster, Jake Gardiner was sent to the taxi squad.

East Division

• The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Radim Zohorna from the AHL, as Jared McCann and Evgeni Malkin will both not play tonight. Zohorna, the 6’6″ behemoth signed out of the Czech Republic last year, has nine points in 11 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season.
• The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Alex Lyon, Nate Prosser and Carsen Twarynski from the taxi squad, placing Robert Hagg on injured reserve in the process. The Flyers were absolutely demolished last night by the Rangers, who scored seven goals in the second period and won 9-0.  Connor Bunnaman and Andy Andreoff were assigned to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
• The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Jacob Bryson from the taxi squad, loaning Brandon Davidson back to it in the process. Bryson, 23, has one goal in 11 games this season for the Sabres.
• In their pregame notes, the Boston Bruins indicated that Greg McKegg and Jack Ahcan would play tonight, meaning they’ve been recalled from the taxi squad.  McKegg played 53 NHL games this season but has played just once this year while Ahcan is making his NHL debut.  Oskar Steen was also recalled from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
• The New Jersey Devils recalled Mikhail Maltsev and Michael McLeod from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  Their promotions opened a pair of taxi squad spots which were used on David Quenneville and Marian Studenic.
• The New York Islanders recalled Oliver Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows, and Thomas Hickey from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.  That resulted in Grant Hutton being recalled to the taxi squad from AHL Bridgeport.
• The New York Rangers made their usual long list of non-gameday roster moves.  Per CapFriendly, Keith Kinkaid and Kaapo Kakko were sent to the taxi squad while Tarmo Reunanen was sent to the minors.  Adam Huska was recalled from the taxi squad.

This page will be updated throughout the day.