It’s a new week in the NHL and four games kick things off this evening. That includes the Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens battling while headlines swirl around each franchise, and the Pittsburgh Penguins taking the ice for the first time since announcing an approved sale. As those teams and others prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling right here.
Atlantic Division
- The Florida Panthers have recalled Matt Kiersted and Aleksi Heponiemi, as Aleksander Barkov continues to work on his recovery. The Panthers captain was at practice but skating with the extras, which also included Heponiemi. Now 22, Heponiemi has played just nine games at the NHL level but has 11 points in 18 games for the Charlotte Checkers this season.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled Gabriel Fortier from the AHL, as Mathieu Joseph deals with an injury. Fortier, 21, has yet to make his NHL debut but has 11 points in 17 games for the Syracuse Crunch this season. The 2018 second-round pick was a strong performer in junior and has been in the system for years, making his AHL debut back in the 2018-19 season.
- Following a California road trip, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have at least one well-rested skater when they take on Colorado on Wednesday. The team has announced that Joey Anderson has been recalled from the AHL Marlies with Kirill Semyonov heading the other way.
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have sent Connor Bunnaman and Max Willman back to the AHL, with the team off until Wednesday. Philadelphia is plummeting in the standings, losing six in a row and dropping to seventh in the Metro. The group is 2-6-2 in their last ten and now has a -12 goal differential.
- With a pair of starting defenders entering COVID Protocol earlier today, the Carolina Hurricanes have called in reinforcements. Maxime Lajoie and Jalen Chatfield have been recalled to the NHL from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, the ’Canes announced. The duo has 80 NHL games between them, but neither has suited up for Carolina yet. One or both could get their first opportunity in the team’s next game.
Central Division
- The Colorado Avalanche have activated Martin Kaut from injured reserve, loaning him to the AHL in the process. Kaut has played a handful of games at both levels this season but will get his feet back underneath him in the minor leagues.
- With Philipp Kurashev struggling to get going in his sophomore season, the Chicago Blackhawks have opted to send him to the AHL for the time being. Coming up from the Rockford IceHogs is a familiar name – or at least a familiar last name. Rookie Josiah Slavin, younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman Jaccob Slavin, has earned his first NHL recall after leaving Colorado College last year. Slavin leads the IceHogs in plus/minus by a wide margin and is a top-five scorer as well.
Pacific Division
- Benoit-Olivier Groulx has been added back to the San Diego Gulls roster for the time being, with the Anaheim Ducks off until tomorrow. Groulx, 21, has three points in 16 games during his rookie NHL season but has been bounced back and forth on off-days.
This page will be updated throughout the day