Predators Recall Kevin Gravel, Nicolas Hague Out Day-To-Day
The Nashville Predators recalled veteran defenseman Kevin Gravel from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals before Saturday’s game over the Minnesota Wild. Gravel was a healthy scratch for the matchup but offered emergency depth for defenseman Nicolas Hague, who is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury per NHL.com’s Brooks Bratten. Predators captain Roman Josi was also questionable before the game started but did end up playing, filling the hole in the lineup left by Hague.
Gravel, Milwaukee’s captain, has been a reliable anchor at the top of the Admirals’ lineup. He has played in nearly all of the team’s games dating back to his move to Milwaukee in 2022, though did have a 23-game stint with the Predators in 2022-23. Gravel has often stood out on the defensive side of the puck, where his long reach and strong frame make scoring difficult for opponents. That has also largely kept him off the scoresheet in his years in the Preadators organization. He has two points in 29 NHL games, and 54 points in 238 AHL games in the last four seasons.
With questions around who was healthy and who was not, the Predators opted to bring Gravel up as a contingency option. He is unlikely to stick with the NHL club through the rest of the season, unless Hague or Josi need an extended stay out of the lineup. It’s more likely that Gravel returns to the minors soon, where he’ll look to lead the Admirals in locking up a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Meanwhile, Nashville will hope Hague can return to his versatile, depth role soon. The 27 year old has scored 15 points in 62 games this season, two points shy of his career-high reached twice with the Vegas Golden Knights. He is in his first season with the Predators and has averaged 19:38 a night while operating behind Brady Skjei on the depth chart.
Atlantic Notes: Stolarz, Holinka, Lightning, Ostlund
The Maple Leafs are shutting down goaltender Anthony Stolarz for the final few games of their season after he was injured on Wednesday against Washington, relays David Alter of The Hockey News. On top of that, head coach Craig Berube noted that while surgery isn’t required, the injury could ultimately affect Stolarz’s offseason training plans, which suggests this isn’t a minor issue. After a breakout effort last season that netted him a four-year, $15MM extension in the preseason, it has been a rough year for Stolarz in 2025-26. Injuries have limited him to just 26 appearances while he hasn’t been particularly sharp, putting up a 3.28 GAA and a .893 SV% after having the highest SV% in the NHL in the previous two seasons. Now, it looks like his offseason training could be impacted, adding one more negative note to a year that has had plenty.
More from the Atlantic:
- Still with the Maple Leafs, the AHL Marlies announced (Twitter link) that forward Miroslav Holinka is joining the team. The 20-year-old was a fifth-round pick by Toronto back in 2024 and is coming off a very productive junior season with WHL Edmonton. Holinka played in 59 games with the Oil Kings during the regular season, notching 37 goals and 43 assists, good for second on the team in scoring. He was even more productive in their first-round playoff loss, tallying seven goals and four assists in seven games. Eligible to play full-time with the Marlies next season, Holinka will now get an early taste of the pros.
- While the Lightning welcomed back Brandon Hagel this afternoon versus Boston, they were without a pair of other regulars. Team reporter Benjamin Pierce relayed (Twitter link) that center Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Darren Raddysh are out with day-to-day injuries. Girgensons was limited after blocking a shot on Thursday in Montreal while Raddysh’s injury is a little harder to pin down after he scored the game-tying goal late in that one. At this point, there doesn’t appear to be any concern about their playoff availability.
- The Sabres are hopeful that center Noah Ostlund will be ready to return for the playoffs, notes Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). He has missed the last two weeks with an upper-body injury; head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that the 22-year-old is skating daily and that it’s a pain management issue at this point. Ostlund has 11 goals and 16 assists in 60 games for Buffalo this season and should slot back into a bottom-six spot once he’s cleared to return to the lineup.
Canucks Recall Kirill Kudryavtsev
The Canucks have added some extra defensive depth heading into their game tonight against San Jose. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled Kirill Kudryavtsev from AHL Abbotsford.
It’s the second recall of the season for the 22-year-old, who was up for a little more than a week early on although he didn’t see any game action. As a result, he’s still at a total of two career NHL appearances, those coming in Vancouver’s final two games of 2024-25 when he blocked five shots and logged a little more than 28 minutes total of ice time.
This season, Kudryavtsev has played in 41 games with AHL Abbotsford, picking up two goals and 16 assists. From a point-per-game standpoint, that puts him slightly ahead of last year when he had 26 points in 65 regular season contests before adding another 10 in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run.
Kudryavtsev is in the second season of his three-year, entry-level contract. It’s unclear at this point if his recall is to cover against an injury or if it’s simply to have some extra depth heading into their final few games of the season.
Kraken Recall Victor Ostman From AHL
Already without Philipp Grubauer who was recently injured and Matt Murray who has been out for most of the season, the Kraken now have starting goalie Joey Daccord sidelined with a lower-body injury as well. As a result, the team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled netminder Victor Ostman from AHL Coachella Valley.
The 25-year-old has made just one NHL appearance in his career, that coming last April when he made 12 saves on 12 shots in mop-up duty of a late-season game against Utah. Beyond that, his professional experience has come exclusively in the minors.
Last season, Ostman spent most of the year at the ECHL level, only getting into five AHL outings. This season, he has seen regular action with the Firebirds, getting into 37 games where he has posted a 2.77 GAA with a .907 SV%. This is his first recall to Seattle this season.
While Seattle finds itself in a bottom-five spot in the standings, they technically enter play today against Calgary with a slim chance at a playoff spot. For that to happen, they’ll have to win out and hope a whole lot else goes their way. But they’ll be turning to Niklas Kokko – Ostman’s platoon partner in Coachella Valley – to help get that victory; he’ll be making his first NHL start tonight.
With Daccord’s injury, Ostman’s recall qualifies for emergency circumstances. Accordingly, his promotion won’t count against their post-deadline recall limit.
Lightning Assign Jakob Pelletier To AHL
The AHL’s top scorer is on his way back to the minors. The Lightning announced today that they’ve reassigned winger Jakob Pelletier to AHL Syracuse.
The 25-year-old was brought up earlier this week with Tampa Bay fighting the injury bug up front. He got into two games during this promotion, bringing his season total to four. The 2019 first-rounder is still looking for his first NHL point of the season, however, while he’s averaging a little under nine minutes per night of playing time.
But things have gone much better for him in the minors. In his first season with AHL Syracuse since inking a three-year, one-way deal with the Lightning in free agency, Pelletier is in the middle of his best showing at that level by far, tallying 28 goals and 47 assists in 61 games. That gives him a seven-point lead in the points race despite missing seven games. He’ll now have a chance to add to those numbers as the Crunch continues to chase down the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Pelletier’s demotion signaled some good news on the injury front, at least, as Brandon Hagel returned to the lineup today against Boston. He had missed the last week and a half due to a lower-body injury. Hagel entered play today sitting third on the Lightning in scoring with 35 goals and 38 assists in 69 games.
Penguins Recall Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, And Joona Koppanen
With the Penguins now having secured a playoff spot, they’re electing to get some players with nagging injuries some rest. That means that several players needed to be recalled to have a full roster available for their game today against Washington. Those promotions have been made as the team announced (Twitter link) that forwards Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and Joona Koppanen have been recalled on an emergency basis from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With the emergency designation, none of them will count toward their post-deadline recall limit of five.
McGroarty is up with Pittsburgh for the fourth time this season. He has suited up in 21 games so far in a bottom-six role, picking up two goals and three assists while averaging 11:46 per night. The 2022 first-round pick has been much more productive in the minors, however, with eight goals and 22 assists in 28 games. With many key players out of the lineup today, McGroarty should have a chance to play in more of an offensive role than he has had most nights with Pittsburgh this season.
Koivunen, meanwhile, is also up for his fourth stint of the season. But unlike McGroarty, he has spent more time with Pittsburgh than in the minors. In 36 games at the top level, the 22-year-old has two goals and five assists while averaging 12:29 per night. Unsurprisingly, he has been a much better producer in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, tallying 11 goals and 25 assists in 32 appearances.
As for Koppanen, he’s also getting his fourth promotion of the year. While he hasn’t played a lot with Pittsburgh, he has had to clear waivers twice already this season. In 10 NHL outings, the 28-year-old has just one assist. In the minors, he has fared better, picking up eight goals and 15 assists in 42 contests. A pending unrestricted free agent, a report surfaced last month that suggested he’s likely to sign in Sweden for next season.
For their game today, the team announced (Twitter link) that numerous players are unavailable due to day-to-day injuries. Those include forwards Sidney Crosby (lower body), Benjamin Kindel (upper body), Evgeni Malkin (upper body), and Bryan Rust (lower body). On the back end, Erik Karlsson (lower body), Kris Letang (upper body), and Parker Wotherspoon (upper body) are all sidelined. Additionally, center Connor Dewar is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury of his own, putting his availability to start the playoffs in jeopardy.
Maple Leafs Announce Several Roster Moves
Earlier this afternoon the Toronto Maple Leafs shared several roster moves: Benoit-Olivier Groulx has been assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, while a number of players have been recalled from the farm club on an emergency basis. Goaltender Artur Akhtyamov, forwards Luke Haymes and Ryan Tverberg, and defenseman William Villeneuve have all joined the Leafs ahead of their game at the Islanders.
A number of Maple Leafs are banged up, and with games inconsequential at this point, they have little to lose in giving a look at some younger players. Out of the bunch, Akhtyamov and Haymes are in the lineup, while Tverberg and Villeneuve were not needed tonight after all.
Headed back down, Groulx made a name for himself quickly, as he’s led the Marlies in scoring with 27 tallies in 55 games in 2025-26. A former notable Ducks prospect drafted in the second round, the French center provided a spark with five points in his first six games as a Leaf in early March. He’s since been scoreless in seven straight, despite a decent share of usage. With just three games left on the schedule, Toronto may leave Groulx to stay down as a top AHL contributor.
Akhtyamov, 24, made his NHL debut in December where he made five saves in just 10:32 of action. Tonight presents a taller task, as he’ll have to backstop the Leafs against a desperate Islanders club in new head coach Peter DeBoer’s debut.
Chosen in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, the Russian has gotten a steady dose of action with the Marlies over the past two seasons, posting a save percentage over the .900 mark across 62 regular season games. As part of a thin pool, Akhtyamov has been referenced as a top 10 prospect which would not be the case in some other organizations. Sitting behind fellow 24-year-old Dennis Hildeby, and with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll locked up for the foreseeable future, he faces a long road toward his projected upside as a NHL backup.
Up front, it’ll be a memorable night for Haymes, as he’s making his NHL debut. Centering the third line, the 22-year-old was undrafted out of Dartmouth College, catching on with Toronto and taking a step forward with 32 points in 64 games with the Marlies this year.
As a do-it-all forward in the Marlies’ middle six, the 6’1” lefty would hope to follow a Bobby McMann type of development curve, eventually becoming a surprise NHL contributor. Even if a 20-goal output isn’t on the horizon though, Haymes has the skillset to be a depth bottom sixer at the NHL level, having progressed nicely this season.
Villeneuve, 24, is also a fourth rounder of Toronto’s 2020 draft class. Over the past four years the 6’2” lefty has put up strong offensive numbers with the Marlies, including a 40-point effort in 55 games last season, but he’s still awaiting his NHL debut. A restricted free agent this summer, he’d certainly enjoy an opportunity to showcase his strong skating and offensive instincts, but even if it doesn’t come, Villeneuve is a valuable AHLer.
Rounding out the bunch, Tverberg shares the distinction of being a 2020 draftee, although his name wasn’t called until the seventh round. The former University of Connecticut standout has put together a solid season in the AHL with 32 points in 61 games, impressive for any player drafted 213th overall. The Ontario native has blistering speed, crucial for any energy forward hopeful, and similar to Villeneuve, an NHL appearance would go a long way before contract expiration shortly.
After tonight’s action on Long Island, Toronto is off until Saturday as they’ll host Florida. That’s likely enough time for their roster to heal up, leaving the group to return to the Marlies, who have secured a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs and therefore will be needing them back.
Hurricanes Assign Ivan Ryabkin To AHL
The Chicago Wolves, AHL affiliates of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that prospect forward Ivan Ryabkin has been reassigned to the team from his junior club. Ryabkin had been playing for the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL, whose season ended on April 7 when they fell in a seven-game first-round playoff series against the Quebec Ramparts.
Ryabkin actually began his 2025-26 season in the AHL with the Wolves. He signed his entry-level contract on August 27 and just over a month later, was reassigned by the Hurricanes to the AHL as part of a round of training camp cuts. Ryabkin had a slow start to his season in the AHL, scoring just one point in his first six games. Through the end of the calendar year, Ryabkin played a limited role in Chicago, and only managed seven points in 25 games, to go alongside 56 penalty minutes.
When the calendar flipped to 2026, Ryabkin and the Hurricanes decided to make a change in where he played in order to spark some momentum in his development. Ryabkin was loaned to the QMJHL’s Islanders, where he found his groove, scoring 13 goals and 42 points in just 20 games. He also added four goals and nine points in six playoff games, but missed the third game of the series against Quebec after he was suspended for abuse of officials.
Now back in Chicago, Ryabkin will re-join the pro ranks with some real wind in his sails. He was undeniably valuable in the QMJHL, with his unique blend of physical aggression and offensive skill proving to be quite the handful for QMJHL opponents to try to handle. The key next step in his development will be translating that success to the pro game, which he’ll eventually need to do if he wants to make it to the NHL.
Without question, Ryabkin will be one of the most interesting prospects in the AHL to track. He has shown himself to be an extremely talented young forward at times, especially in the Russian junior circuit. But it is also important to recognize that Ryabkin has also been subject to skepticism from scouts in the public sphere who aren’t sure he’ll be able to deliver on his talent and make it to the NHL.
Last month, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler outlined some of the concerns Ryabkin has faced thus far as a prospect. According to Wheeler, who ranked Ryabkin as the No. 6 prospect in Carolina’s system, there has been “talk of [Ryabkin] being difficult to coach” and Ryabkin “interviewed poorly with NHL teams and received heavy criticism for his fitness and weight.”
Wheeler did also note that Ryabkin “remains a talent” and added that “it’s hard to find centers with his skill and offensive instincts/intuition” in the second round of the draft. He concluded by saying the 18-year-old is “going to have to prove himself every step of the way” on his path to the NHL.
With today’s transaction, Ryabkin has rejoined the AHL. There, he will resume the process of developing his game and proving that he can, at some point in the future, translate his talent into NHL value for the Hurricanes.
Dmitry Kulikov Out For The Season; Panthers Recall Two From AHL
An already long injury list in Florida has gotten even longer. Speaking with reporters following Tuesday’s game against Montreal (video link), Panthers head coach Paul Maurice indicated that defenseman Dmitry Kulikov sustained a broken finger and will not return this season.
Kulikov, who was already playing with a broken nose, returned to the lineup at the beginning of March after missing nearly five months following an upper-body injury sustained in the second game of the season. As a result, Kulikov winds up with just 19 appearances on the 2025-26 campaign. He was held without a point in those outings along with an ATOI of 18:02. The 35-year-old has two years left on his contract with a $1.15MM AAV.
In corresponding moves, Florida has recalled defensemen Mikulas Hovorka and Ludvig Jansson from AHL Charlotte, per the AHL’s transactions log. As a result of these promotions, the Panthers are down to just two contracted blueliners who aren’t on their active roster: prospects Marek Alscher and Evan Nause.
It’s the third recall of the season for Hovorka and the second of the month. The 24-year-old has played in three games with Florida this season, his first taste of NHL action. Hovorka is still looking for his first point at the top level while he has averaged 13:30 per night in his three outings. Meanwhile, he has played in 53 games with the Checkers, recording four goals and 12 assists, besting his 10 points in 60 contests last season.
Jansson, meanwhile, is getting his first promotion. The 22-year-old is in his first season in North America after signing an entry-level deal with Florida last May. So far, Jansson has 10 points in 29 games which is more production than his final two years in Sweden combined. As the injuries continue to pile up, he may get a chance to make his NHL debut over the next few games.
Central Notes: Blues, Mustard, Megna
As St. Louis continues its front office shakeup, a pair of executives have received additional duties. The Blues announced today that assistant GMs Ryan Miller and Tim Taylor will take on co-GM duties for their AHL affiliate in Springfield. Miller (no relation to the former goalie with the same name) has been with the team since 2010 and is currently in charge of contract negotiations, CBA compliance, and other similar functions. Taylor, meanwhile, will continue to oversee player personnel. The two will replace Kevin Maxwell who departed the team last month to join the Rangers. Veteran Peter Chiarelli also departed last month while Alex Steen will take over as GM from Doug Armstrong in July as the front office will be structured differently in 2026-27.
Elsewhere in the Central:
- While the Blackhawks have brought some prospects up in recent weeks, one player who won’t be joining them is John Mustard. Scott Powers of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the 19-year-old intends to return to college for his junior year. Mustard, a third-round pick back in 2024 (67th overall), had a productive year with Providence, picking up 17 goals and 12 assists in 36 games. While he likely wouldn’t have been a candidate to make the jump to the NHL full-time next season, he almost certainly would have been able to lock down a regular role with AHL Rockford. Instead, he’ll return to the Friars and could be a candidate to sign after his 2026-27 season ends.
- Veteran forward Jayson Megna will be sticking around in the Avalanche’s organization for another year. Their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, announced that they’ve signed the 36-year-old to a one-year extension for next season. Megna has played in 204 career NHL contests over parts of 10 seasons, including 49 games with the Avs. This year, he has 26 goals and 25 assists in 66 games with the Eagles, good for second on the team in scoring.