It was a busy Monday in the NHL and things aren’t slowing down as the league plows ahead with their soon-to-be condensed schedule. Eight games are on the docket, including the red-hot Florida Panthers taking on the stingy Calgary Flames. The Panthers have averaged more than six goals per game over their last eight but will take on a Calgary Flames team that has allowed just 87 on the season, the fewest in the Western Conference. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling right here.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Mark Kastelic and Logan Shaw to the taxi squad, giving them some extra forward depth. Kastelic, 22, has 11 points in 31 games for the Belleville Senators this season to go along with 38 penalty minutes. The 6’3″ forward was a fifth-round pick in 2019 and has yet to make his NHL debut. Later in the day, the team announced that Filip Gustavsson has been recalled as Matt Murray will miss tonight’s game with a non-COVID illness.
Metropolitan Division
- The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Josh Leivo back to the taxi squad, moving Joey Keane to the Chicago Wolves to make room. Leivo has played in just three games for Carolina this season, spending most of the year in the minor leagues where he has 19 points in 20 games for Chicago. A veteran of more than 200 NHL contests, he’ll be an extra forward option after Martin Necas was put in the COVID protocol yesterday.
- Michael Sgarbossa has been recalled by the Washington Capitals, giving them another forward to use against the Winnipeg Jets this evening. The Capitals lost their last game but remain within three points of first place in the Metro.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have added Max Willman to the active roster, while sending Jackson Cates back to the AHL. Cates has played in seven games for the Flyers this season, his first full year of professional hockey after signing out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have reassigned Anthony Angello, Kasper Bjorkvist, and Filip Hallander to the AHL, as the team is back home for the next few days. The Penguins will welcome in the Senators on Thursday before heading to Columbus for a game Friday evening.
Central Division
- The Chicago Blackhawks have removed Seth Jones from the COVID protocol, meaning the team could make some other changes. Jakub Galvas, Mike Hardman, Cale Morris, and Josiah Slavin have all been reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs, though the minor league club doesn’t have a game until Friday.
- The Dallas Stars have reassigned Anton Khudobin to the taxi squad, adding Ty Dellandrea to it as well. The move suggests that Braden Holtby is ready to exit the COVID protocol and retake his position alongside Jake Oettinger in the Stars’ net. Khudobin played twice last week, allowing five goals on 50 shots.
- The Minnesota Wild have reassigned Kevin Czuczman, Hunter Jones, and Kyle Rau to the AHL, while moving Calen Addison, Matt Boldy, and Andrew Hammond back to the taxi squad. The moves don’t necessarily mean that players like Boldy are actually out of the lineup, but will save the team some cap space while they wait for their next game.
- The Arizona Coyotes have placed Antoine Roussel in the COVID protocol, while also assigning Vladislav Kolyachonok, Victor Soderstrom, and Ivan Prosvetov to the AHL. The Coyotes are off until tomorrow when they travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils.
- The Winnipeg Jets have reassigned Declan Chisholm to the AHL, while bringing Arvid Hom, Mikey Eyssimont, and Austin Poganski up to the taxi squad. Chisholm made his NHL debut last week, playing 13:44 against the Detroit Red Wings and recording four shots on goal.
Pacific Division
- Jacob Ingham and Austin Strand have been sent to the AHL from the Los Angeles Kings taxi squad. The Kings are at home against the Lightning tonight after a short road trip and don’t need the extra practice bodies for the time being.
- The Seattle Kraken have recalled Joey Daccord from the AHL, sending Max McCormick back to make room. Seattle of course claimed Karson Kuhlman on waivers yesterday, adding a forward to the active roster.
- The Calgary Flames have activated Adam Rucizka to the active roster from the taxi squad. The 22-year-old has played in five games with Calgary this season and scored his first career NHL goal last month.
This page will be updated throughout the day.