It’s a new month for the NHL, and with that comes a full slate of games. Eleven different matches are scheduled for this evening, including one of the mismatches of the year. The Colorado Avalanche, owners of the best points percentage in the league (.779) and one of two teams averaging more than four goals a game, welcome in the Arizona Coyotes, owners of the second-worst points percentage in the league (.279) and the lowest goals for average (2.19). Can the Coyotes pull off an all-time upset? As they and other teams prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad moves.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have sent Dillon Heatherington to the AHL, with just one game left before the All-Star break. Heatherington, 26, has played nine games for Ottawa and 15 games for Bellville this season, his first since spending a year in the KHL. Lassi Thomson has also been reassigned to the taxi squad as Victor Mete makes his return to the lineup.
- The Boston Bruins have made several recalls, bringing Steven Fogarty, Jeremy Swayman, and Urho Vaakanainen back up to the active roster. Jesper Froden and Tyler Lewington are back up with the taxi squad as well.
- The Buffalo Sabres have reassigned Brandon Biro, Oskari Laaksonen, Brett Murray, J.J. Peterka, Arttu Ruotsalainen, and Jimmy Schuldt to the taxi squad, ahead of their game tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Rochester Americans play tomorrow, meaning there will likely be some additional transactions coming after tonight’s game.
Metropolitan Division
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Juuso Riikola to the taxi squad, as Brian Dumoulin missed practice again today. Riikola has played in just five games for Pittsburgh this season but has been outstanding for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, registering 12 points in 17 games in the AHL. A little later on, the team recalled Michael Chaput from the taxi squad to the active roster.
- The New York Rangers have recalled Morgan Barron to the active roster, while sending Tim Gettinger, Lauri Pajuniemi, Tarmo Reunanen, and Jarred Tinordi to the AHL. After tonight’s game against Florida, the Rangers don’t have another scheduled match until February 15.
- The Washington Capitals have reassigned Brett Leason to the taxi squad, making room for Nick Jensen to be activated from injured reserve. With the taxi squads dissolving this week, Leason will have to soon be sent to the minor leagues if he’s not on the active roster.
Central Division
- The Dallas Stars have recalled Riley Damiani and Anton Khudobin from the AHL, giving them an extra netminder for tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames. Remember, after a team’s last game before the All-Star break the taxi squad will dissolve, meaning these recalls may not necessarily be to play immediately.
- The Minnesota Wild have recalled Zane McIntyre from the AHL to the taxi squad, likely joining the team on the road in Chicago for their last game before the break. The Wild sent Andrew Hammond, their third goaltender, back to the AHL to play yesterday.
Pacific Division
- The Seattle Kraken have recalled Max McCormick, Kole Lind, and Connor Carrick to the taxi squad, while Will Borgen has been put in the COVID protocol. Borgen will miss the last two games before the All-Star break, just as he was getting a rhythm in the Seattle lineup.
- Ahead of puck drop tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, the Vegas Golden Knights recalled a trio of defensemen in Kaedan Korczak, Daniil Miromanov, and Brayden Pachal from the Henderson Silver Knights. Both Korczak (NHL debut) and Miromanov are expected to enter the lineup with Alec Martinez and Dylan Coghlan in protocol and Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud out with undisclosed injuries.
This page will be updated throughout the day