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Detroit Red Wings Recall Austin Czarnik, Simon Edvinsson

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The Detroit Red Wings recalled center Austin Czarnik and defenseman Simon Edvinsson from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins today under emergency conditions, as announced in a team release.

This is Edvinsson’s first recall to the NHL, and it could mean the 2021 sixth-overall pick makes his NHL debut over the weekend. He takes the place of Ben Chiarot on the roster, who is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

The 20-year-old Edvinsson has five goals, 27 points, and a -3 rating with the Griffins this season, his first in North America. Detroit inked him to an entry-level contract at the end of last season after Edvinsson broke into professional hockey full-time with Frölunda HC of the SHL.

Czarnik returns to Detroit after the team returned him to Grand Rapids earlier in the week. The diminutive, versatile forward has two goals and an assist in 15 appearances with the Red Wings this season. He will likely center the fourth line between Adam Erne and Alex Chiasson in tomorrow’s game against Colorado.

While a late-season slide unfortunately took Detroit out of the playoff picture just as the deadline approached, the benefits of selling can be seen here for a young team. Getting Edvinsson into some NHL games down the stretch could go a long way toward creating an NHL-ready player for next season.

Morning Notes: Bruins, Senators, Salary Cap

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Over the past couple of seasons, the Boston Bruins haven’t made big trade deadline splashes for rentals. Their two significant acquisitions in 2021 and 2022, Taylor Hall and Hampus Lindholm, signed extensions with the team and remain in Boston today.

In his latest for The Athletic, Fluto Shinzawa explains how that will be a tricky trend to repeat this season with Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, and Tyler Bertuzzi. Although general manager Don Sweeney has expressed an interest in re-signing all three, signing an extension with only one would require multiple cap-dump trades. Matt Grzelcyk, Derek Forbort, and Mike Reilly would likely all see their way out of Boston this offseason, with the team likely to fetch far below market value on trades for Grzelcyk and Forbort if backed into a salary cap hole. Per CapFriendly, Boston has just over $10.5MM in projected cap space for 2023-24, not including potential performance bonus penalties carrying over from Patrice Bergeron’s and David Krejci’s contracts this season.

Other items dotting the league rumor wire this morning:

  • On last night’s edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, Chris Johnston noted that an ownership group led by The Hockey News owner Graeme Roustan, in conjunction with Canadian First Nations groups, has advanced past the first round of bidding to purchase the Ottawa Senators. Johnston reports that the group notably has an interest in developing the land around LeBreton Flats, realizing a long-time hope for a more centrally located arena in Ottawa.
  • Also on Insider Trading, Johnston says that the NHLPA is likely dead set against increasing escrow payments next season to accommodate for a larger salary cap increase. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman noted earlier this week that such an exchange would be necessary to increase next year’s salary cap past the projected $1MM bump to an Upper Limit of $83.5MM.

Penguins Injury Notes: Petry, Bonino, Poehling

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For the second straight game, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost the services of defenseman Jeff Petry. The 35-year-old played just three shifts in the first period before he exited the game after taking an elbow from Tyler Motte. Petry also exited Tuesday nights 6-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens with an apparent injury. Petry’s injury luck in the last two games has forced the Penguins defense to play shorthanded in back-to-back games, leaning heavily on Kris Letang who himself has dealt with a series of health issues this season.

If Petry is out for any length of time it would be likely that recent healthy scratch Chad Ruhwedel would draw back into the Penguins lineup. The Penguins do have Mark Friedman and Ty Smith stashed in the minors but would need to move Nick Bonino onto LTIR to call up either player. Ty Smith was quite good in limited NHL action earlier this season, however the young defenseman is still week-to-week with a facial fracture.

In other Penguins injury news:

  • Seth Rorabaugh is reporting that Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan told tonight’s MSG broadcast that Pittsburgh expects center Nick Bonino to be back by the playoffs. Bonino was re-acquired on trade deadline day by the Penguins to center their fourth line but was only able to dress in a handful of games after spending most of the season with the San Jose Sharks. Jeff Carter has taken Bonino’s spot on the fourth line in recent games but has struggled mightily going -4 in just 8:28 of ice time on Tuesday against Montreal.
  • Ryan Poehling did return to action tonight after missing over a month with a lingering upper body injury. The young forward saw duty on the fourth line next to Jeff Carter and Josh Archibald. Poehling’s return could create an interesting situation on the Penguins fourth line should Jeff Carter continue to struggle. Poehling was centering the unit earlier in the season prior to the injury and showed good chemistry with Drew O’Connor and Danton Heinen.

San Jose Sharks Assign Shakir Mukhamadullin To AHL

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The San Jose Sharks welcomed Shakir Mukhamadullin to North America today. The 6’4” 195-pound defensemen arrived in San Jose this morning after travelling from Russia. He was acquired by the Sharks in last month’s Timo Meier trade with the New Jersey Devils. San Jose quickly assigned Mukhamadullin to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL where it appears he will finish the season after just completing his fourth year with Salavat Yulayev-Ufa of the KHL.

It is not yet known when the 2020 first round pick will suit up for his first game, but early indications are that he could play as early as this weekend against the Texas Stars. Should he not be ready to play by the end of the week, he will likely dress against Colorado next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Salavat was just eliminated from the playoffs in the KHL conference quarterfinals, now the young defenseman will have an opportunity to make a playoff push with the Barracuda as they have just 12 games left in the regular season. The Barracuda will certainly welcome the addition as they are without their top defenseman Derrick Pouliot who has been playing with the Sharks recently.

Contractually, Mukhamadullin was loaned (by New Jersey) to Salavat Yulayev Ufa at the start of the season, meaning that he will play out the string under the first year of his entry-level deal. He was also on loan to Salavat last season but did not burn the first year of his contract, despite dressing in three playoff games for the Utica Comets.

Dallas Stars Notes: Seguin, Marchment

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Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill gave an update on two injury situations for the team, according to Mike Heika, senior staff writer for dallasstars.com. Forward Tyler Seguin is recovering from the leg laceration he sustained on March 9 against the Buffalo Sabres, as he was skating on his own at the team’s practice facility. He is expected to practice with the team on Monday before being re-evaluated.

Seguin is an important cog in the Stars offensive machine, despite seeing his production drop off in recent seasons. Seguin has 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 65 games, and will be important to the Stars’ hopes of making a deep playoff run.

  • Nill also announced forward Mason Marchment will be out around 3-4 weeks with a knee injury. Marchment last played March 13 against the Seattle Kraken, but flew back to Dallas on his own while the team continues its road trip. Marchment enjoyed a breakout performance last season for the Florida Panthers, with 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points in 54 games. He had just 11 points total in his first 37 games in the NHL, and signed a four-year contract worth an AAV of $4.5MM with Dallas last summer. He has 12 goals and 19 assists in 67 games this season for the Stars.

Ivan Prosvetov To Remain With Arizona Coyotes For Remainder Of Season

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Arizona Coyotes goalie Ivan Prosvetov will remain with the team for the rest of the season, according to Craig Morgan of PHNX.

Arizona coach Andre Tourigny announced that Prosvetov will not return to the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL, where he has played 35 games with a .900 save percentage and 3.06 GAA.

Prosvetov, 24, has appeared in one game so far for Arizona this season, turning away 39 of 40 shots in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators on March 9. He played three games in each of the prior two seasons, and will get an opportunity to get an extended look for a Coyotes team trying to develop prospects at every position.

He has the size that has become coveted in the modern NHL, standing at 6 foot 3, and was a fourth-round selection by Arizona in the 2018 NHL draft. He is signed to a one-year contract, and could earn himself a long-term look with Arizona with a strong showing the rest of this season.

He will get the start tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, and will have an opportunity to earn more starts if he plays well enough. The Coyotes have goaltender Karel Vejmelka signed for two more seasons, who is also only two years older than Prosvetov.

With Arizona looking to fill holes throughout its organizational roster, Prosvetov stands to be a player to watch, as the Coyotes’ system is thin on goaltenders.

Cleveland Monsters Sign Justin Pearson To AHL Contract

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Former NCAA forward Justin Pearson has signed an AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters, the team announced on Twitter.

Pearson signed an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of this season, as well as a two-year AHL contract that begins in the 2023-24 season.

Pearson, 24, played since 2018-19 in the NCAA ranks. With the 2020-21 season canceled, Pearson played two years before that season and two years after at the college level.

He recorded 36 goals and 43 assists in 129 games played. His best seasons were a 14 goal, 10 assist season in 2019-20 for Yale University and this past season at the University of Connecticut, with 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points in 35 games.

Pearson joins a Monsters team that currently sits in last place in the AHL’s North Division, and will have 16 games remaining in this season’s schedule to get his feet wet in professional hockey.

As an older player than most who are entering pro hockey for the first time, Pearson is further along in his development than younger prospects. He will likely be counted on to produce during his initial foray into the AHL, and will have the next two seasons to prove what he can do at the professional level.

 

Injury Notes: Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins

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Detroit Red Wings coach Derek LaLonde announced that defenseman Ben Chiarot is week-to-week with an upper body injury, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

Chiarot played just over 19 minutes in Detroit’s 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. He is in the first season of a four-year contract with the Red Wings at a cap hit of $4.75MM.

Other injury notes from around the NHL:

  • Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ryan Poehling has been activated from injured reserve, the team announced on Twitter. Poehling last played on Feb. 11 in a 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He has 11 points in 38 games this season for the Pens, his first in Pittsburgh. Poehling has scored 18 goals in his career, three of which came in his NHL debut in 2019. Also announced by the Penguins was Alexander Nylander’s recall status being updated from emergency recall to regular recall. Nylander has played four games for Pittsburgh this season, recording an assist, and has played well in the AHL, with 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 54 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Jordan Binnington Suspended Two Games By NHL

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St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has been suspended for two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for roughing/unsportsmanlike conduct against Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman.

In a video explaining the suspension, the incident is described as follows:

With Binnington in net, Hartman scores a power play goal to put the Wild up 5-4. On the way to celebrate the goal with his teammates, he makes light, incedental contact with Binnington, who was sliding out of his crease and towards Hartman. With the play long over, and as the Wild celebrate their goal, Binnington leaves the area of his crease, approaches the unsuspecting Hartman and his teammates, raises his blocker and stick to head level, and strikes Hartman in the face with the blocker.

The reason for the play resulting in suspension is the fact Binnington used his blocker in such a manner, the fact it was in retaliation following a goal, how hard he hit Hartman and the fact it was in the head, as well as the fact the incident occurred after Minnesota had taken the lead.

This is the first time Binnington has been suspended, and he has never been fined by the NHL.

Binnington, 29, has been shaky this season for the Blues, with a .892 save percentage and 3.39 GAA in 52 games played. The Blues have entered a new era, having traded longtime franchise pillar Vladimir Tarasenko and captain and 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly.

The Blues sit in sixth place in the Central Division, only ahead of the lowly Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks.

Emil Andrae Signing AHL ATO

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The Philadelphia Flyers haven’t quite signed Emil Andrae yet, but he is joining the organization nonetheless. The young Swede will play for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms down the stretch on an AHL amateur tryout, now that his SHL season has ended.

Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic tweets that the plan is still for Andrae to sign an entry-level contract with the Flyers at some point, likely one beginning in 2023-24. The team holds his exclusive draft rights until June 1, 2024.

The 21-year-old Andrae was the 54th overall selection in 2020, and broke out this season in his first full year of SHL action. With six goals and 26 points, he ranked 13th among league defensemen in scoring and now joins the Flyers as a potential building block.

Despite his size—Andrae stands just 5’8″—there has never been a doubt of his willingness to work in the corners or engage attackers in front of the net. The question now will be whether he can remain effective at those things as he transitions to North America, while still bringing a high level of poise and skill when the puck is on his stick.

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