Saturday was originally set to be a busy day on the NHL schedule with ten games on the docket but COVID-related postponements have dropped that to six for the time being with more postponements appearing to be coming. Nevertheless, there still will be some roster activity around the league which we’ll keep track of here.
Atlantic Division
- The Bruins have returned forward Jack Studnicka and goaltender Kyle Keyser to AHL Providence, per the AHL’s transactions log. With Boston now off through the holiday break, they can be sent down to allow the team to bank some much-needed cap space. Later in the day, the Bruins announced that winger Jesper Froden was also sent back to Providence.
Metropolitan Division
- With the Panthers now off until after the holiday break, they’ve assigned defensemen Chase Priskie and Matt Kiersted plus forwards Cole Schwindt, Grigori Denisenko, and Aleksi Heponiemi to AHL Charlotte, per an announcement from the Checkers. The move allows Florida to get out of LTIR and bank some cap space while allowing their prospects to play before the AHL has their pause.
- The Capitals announced that they’ve sent goaltender Zach Fucale back to Hershey of the AHL. He had been recalled on Friday but was not in uniform for their game against Winnipeg. Fucale made his NHL debut last month, posting a 21-save shutout versus Detroit and has a 2.80 GAA with a .889 SV% in eight games with the Bears this season.
Central Division
- The Blackhawks have recalled defenseman Ian Mitchell from AHL Rockford, relays Scott Powers of The Athletic (Twitter link). After being a regular for the bulk of last season, the 22-year-old has been limited to just six games with Chicago so far and has instead spent most of the year with the IceHogs where he has 12 points in 19 games.
- The Nashville Predators, per a team tweet, re-assigned forwards Rocco Grimaldi, Mathieu Olivier, Kole Sherwood, and Cole Smith to the Milwaukee Admirals. As the team is shut down through the holiday break, this gives them some salary cap flexibility and could allow those four to get into game action.
Pacific Division
- Per a news release, the Anaheim Ducks re-assigned defenseman Jacob Larsson and forward Buddy Robinson to the San Diego Gulls. Larsson hasn’t gotten into an NHL game yet this year, but has seven assists in 19 games with San Diego. Robinson has two points in six games with the big club.
This post will be updated throughout the day.