Five games on a Friday for the NHL, including the seemingly unstoppable duo of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid visiting the Buffalo Sabres. The pair have now combined for 50 points through the first 12 Oilers games, and are joined by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the top of the league’s assist table. As those teams and the rest prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling:
Atlantic Division
- Oskar Steen has earned a recall with his strong play in the AHL. The Boston Bruins have announced that the hard-working forward has been promoted after getting off to stellar start in Providence with a team-leading ten points in seven games. Several Bruins forwards are not playing at full strength and others are under-performing, leaving opportunity open for Steen’s energetic style to make a mark.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Minnesota Wild have sent Kyle Rau back to the AHL for the time being, opening up a roster spot on an off day. The team plays tomorrow night in Seattle, and it seems likely that there will be a recall of some sort before that happens. Rau, 29, has played in three games for Minnesota this season.
- The Dallas Stars have officially sent Blake Comeau and Tanner Kero to the AHL after they cleared waivers today, recalling Jacob Peterson in their place. Peterson, 22, scored one goal in six games with the Stars earlier this year and has been a force at the minor league level so far.
- Rocco Grimaldi, the other player who cleared waivers today, has been assigned to the AHL by the Nashville Predators. Grimaldi hasn’t played in the AHL since 2018-19 but was a very strong contributor the last time he was down there.
Pacific Division
- The San Jose Sharks might be out of the woods with their COVID situation, as Sasha Chmelevski, Joel Kellman, Artemi Kniazev, John Leonard, Jaycob Megna, and Ryan Merkley have all been returned to the San Jose Barracuda. The Sharks were able to hold their heads above water over the last several games and will now try to get back on track for a playoff spot in the division.
- With Tucker Poolman likely facing a suspension, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled Madison Bowey from Abbotsford. The group was run out of the building last night by the Avalanche, but now must try and regroup for a game against the Golden Knights tomorrow night.
This page will be updated throughout the day