As always, Saturday is a very busy day in the NHL with 26 teams set to play. Accordingly, there should be plenty of roster movement throughout the day which we’ll keep track of here.
Atlantic Division
- The Senators announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Maxence Guenette along with winger Andrew Agozzino from AHL Belleville. The recalls leave Ottawa with no more healthy blueliners in the minors to recall. The Sens currently have three rearguards in COVID protocol with Nikita Zaitsev being cleared today while Artem Zub and Erik Brannstrom both suffered injuries earlier this week. Later in the day, the Sens returned Guenette to Belleville to make room on the roster for center Shane Pinto who was activated off IR.
- The Panthers have sent defenseman Olli Juolevi to Charlotte of the AHL on a conditioning stint, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 23-year-old was acquired from Vancouver in training camp but has yet to make his debut due to an undisclosed injury. The conditioning stint can last up to three games.
Metropolitan Division
- Just days after posting his first career NHL shutout, Capitals goaltender Zach Fucale is heading back to AHL Hershey, per a team announcement. The 26-year-old – who was the first goalie in franchise history to record a shutout in his debut – has a 1.73 GAA with a .933 SV% with the Bears this season. Fucale’s demotion suggests that Vitek Vanecek is ready to return from the upper-body injury that caused him to miss the last two games.
Central Division
- The Predators announced that they have recalled forward Cole Smith from AHL Milwaukee while sending winger Rocco Grimaldi down to the Admirals. Smith made his NHL debut last season and has three goals and three assists in nine minor league contests this season. As for Grimaldi, he cleared waivers on Friday after being held off the scoresheet in his five games with Nashville this season and will look to get back on track with Milwaukee.
- The Stars are recalling goaltender Jake Oettinger from AHL Texas, reports Saad Yousuf of The Athletic (Twitter link). Braden Holtby is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury that has been lingering since training camp so Oettinger will serve as the backup for Dallas for the time being.
Pacific Division
This post will be updated throughout the day.