Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/12/22

Just three games grace the NHL schedule this evening. They include a bitter rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, an expansion team trying to figure out how to win, and Auston Matthews returning to Arizona to inspire the next generation of hockey fans in the desert. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.

Atlantic Division

• The Montreal Canadiens have sent Cameron Hillis to the AHL, after he made his NHL debut much earlier than expected. Hillis has played six games at the ECHL level this season, but with so many injuries and COVID-related absences in Montreal, was needed to fill in for a game. According to the AHL transactions page, Laurent Dauphin will come up in his place.
• The Boston Bruins have officially sent Jeremy Swayman back to the minor leagues, after signing Tuukka Rask yesterday. He’ll head to Providence, while Tyler Lewington, John Moore and Urho Vaakanainen–the latter two who were moved off the roster to fit in Rask’s salary–are back up with the team now.

Metropolitan Division

• The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Drew O’Connor to the main roster and Filip Hallander to the taxi squad, as they continue to deal with some COVID-related absences. O’Connor, 23, has five points in 20 games this season. Hallander, 21, is still waiting on his NHL debut.

Central Division

• The Minnesota Wild have recalled Kevin Czuczman to the taxi squad, as they prepare for Friday’s tilt against the Anaheim Ducks. Michael Russo of The Athletic explains that the team is hoping Alex Goligoski clears the COVID protocol early enough to play in that match, but needed an extra body anyway.
• The Nashville Predators have assigned Tommy Novak to the AHL, though that could just be until they play again tomorrow. Novak has suited up in 27 games for the team this season, scoring one goal and seven points. Later in the day, the team also reassigned Matt Luff and Cole Smith to the taxi squad.
• The Winnipeg Jets have added Declan Chisholm to the taxi squad, giving them an extra defender as they hit the road to Detroit. The 22-year-old Chisholm has 14 points in 27 games for the Manitoba Moose in his second professional season.
• Lukas Reichel has been recalled and added to the Chicago Blackhawks taxi squad, which suggests he could make his NHL debut in the coming days. The top prospect has scored 20 points in 20 games for the Rockford IceHogs in his first season of North American hockey. The team has also moved Nicolas Beaudin to the taxi squad while loaning Kurtis Gabriel, Mike Hardman, Josiah Slavin, Cale Morris and Arvid Soderblom to the AHL.
• The Arizona Coyotes recalled defensemen Victor Soderstrom, Vladislav Kolyachonok, and goalie Ivan Prosvetov to the active roster from the taxi squad. With three defensemen in COVID protocol, the team needed extra bodies quickly. Prosvetov will back up Karel Vejmelka with Scott Wedgewood in protocol.

Pacific Division

• The Vegas Golden Knights have assigned Logan Thompson, Dylan Ferguson, Daniil Miromanov, Jonas Rondbjerg and Jake Leschyshyn to the AHL, as they don’t play again until January 17. These players can get some time in at the AHL level–while also costing the Golden Knights a little less in the meantime.
• The Seattle Kraken have recalled Max McCormick from the taxi squad under emergency conditions, as Morgan Geekie is out with an upper-body injury. McCormick has played in eight games for the Kraken this season but is still looking for his first point in a Seattle uniform.
• The Los Angeles Kings have sent Samuel Fagemo back to the AHL from the taxi squad, where he can continue his season on Friday. The young forward has been involved in a ton of bouncing up and down lately, but has yet to play a game in the NHL.

This page will be updated throughout the day