Nine games grace the NHL schedule this evening, as we inch closer to next month’s All-Star break. A lot of eyes will be on the Edmonton Oilers after this week’s press conference dust-up, as they take on the powerhouse Florida Panthers, trying to snap out of their long losing streak. As they and other teams prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Jack Quinn to the taxi squad, and have the young forward practicing on the top powerplay unit. Buffalo won 3-1 over the Senators earlier in the week and now sit at 12-20-7 on the year. Later in the day, Quinn was recalled to the active roster and Brett Murray was reassigned to the AHL.
- The Boston Bruins have returned Kyle Keyser and Steven Fogarty to the AHL from the taxi squad, as the Providence Bruins prepare for action tomorrow night. The minor league team is off after that all the way to February 11, meaning there could be some additional recalls in the coming days.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Jacob Bernard-Docker and Clark Bishop from the taxi squad, following Dillon Heatherington clearing waivers. Heatherington has now been sent to the taxi squad.
- Tampa Bay will not have to play with four defensemen tonight, after recalling Fredrik Claesson to the taxi squad today. Of course, that’s depending on who stays healthy heading into tomorrow’s match against the Anaheim Ducks.
- The Florida Panthers have recalled Maxim Mamin and Matt Kiersted from the taxi squad ahead of tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. Mamin, 27, has played in 20 games this season for the Panthers, scoring five goals and seven points.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent Michael Hutchinson back to the minors from the taxi squad. Between spending some time as the backup for the Maple Leafs, the COVID pause, and the recreation of the taxi squad, he has played just once since late November.
Metropolitan Division
- The New York Rangers have recalled Jonny Brodzinski, Tim Gettinger, and Zac Jones to the taxi squad, giving them some extra bodies for their short road trip. The Rangers are off to Carolina for a game tomorrow before returning home to take on the Coyotes on Saturday.
- With Jakub Voracek coming off the COVID list, the Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned Liam Foudy to the taxi squad. Foudy made his season debut a few days ago after spending the early part of the season with Cleveland in the AHL.
Central Division
- The Minnesota Wild have recalled Kevin Czuczman from the taxi squad. Michael Russo of The Athletic suggests that since Hunter Jones was not added to the taxi squad, Cam Talbot could be traveling with the team to Chicago.
- The Nashville Predators have recalled Matt Tennyson from the AHL, giving them another defenseman for tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. Tennyson, 31, has 165 games of NHL experience, though none of them have come this season.
- Riley Damiani is back up from the taxi squad for the Dallas Stars, and he’s coming along with Rhett Gardner this time. The two have been involved in several transactions this month as the team continues to bounce names up and down, collecting cap space and saving salary. Later on, Gardner was returned to the taxi squad.
Pacific Division
- The Los Angeles Kings have activated Carl Grundstrom from the COVID list and will insert him into the lineup this evening. Jacob Moverare has also been recalled to the active roster from the taxi squad, as the team prepares for a match against the Colorado Avalanche.
- With Thatcher Demko’s status uncertain as the Vancouver Canucks wait for additional COVID testing results, the team has recalled Michael DiPietro to the taxi squad. DiPietro could be asked to play tomorrow night should Demko be ruled out.
- The Edmonton Oilers have moved Zach Hyman to the COVID protocol, joining Stuart Skinner and Josh Archibald. One player that isn’t in the protocol anymore is Kyle Turris, activated today. Kris Russell has also been activated from injured reserve while Ilya Konovalov has been officially recalled to back up Mikko Koskinen in Skinner’s absence.
- With Morgan Geekie being activated off injured reserve, the Seattle Kraken have returned Alexander True to the taxi squad. True has played in eight NHL games so far this season, being held off the scoresheet in just over eight minutes per game of playing time.
This page will be updated throughout the day