This marks the second recall on the year for Nesterenko, 23, who previously registered a goal and an assist during a seven-game stretch earlier this season. In 19 career games with the big club, he has registered three goals and four points.

He has fared much better offensively at the AHL-level, where he has 13 goals and 34 points in 48 games with the Gulls this season, along with 71 points in 118 career AHL games. He’s been particularly hot of late, ranking third among all AHL players in points (19) since the AHL’s all-star break.

The Ducks acquired Nesterenko, defender Andrej Sustr (who never dressed for the Ducks and is now playing overseas) and a 2025 fourth-round selection from the Wild for defenseman John Klingberg in March 2023. Nesterenko was selected by Minnesota in the sixth round (173rd overall) in the 2019 NHL entry draft.

While his recall may be deserving, it also comes with a degree of necessity as forwards Sam Colangelo and Ross Johnston are both out day-to-day with injuries. The 23-year-old Colangelo has scored 6 goals in 20 games this season and his injury comes at a particularly inopportune time, as he scored four goals in his last five games. This included his first career two-goal game at home against the Islanders on March 9. The right-handed winger was selected by Anaheim in the second round of the 2020 draft.

Johnston, a veteran of 245 NHL games, has registered just four points in 45 games on the season. Now in his ninth NHL season and second with Ducks, Johnston has averaged just 8:41 of ice time on the year.

It’s been a tough season for the 32-year-old veteran, who has fought injuries and posted only five goals and 15 points through 53 games. He landed on the IR on March 1 with an upper-body injury, which marked his second stint on IR on the year after missing the first eight games of the season with an additional upper-body injury.

As Utah continues to soar up the standings – aided by a 6-2-2 record over their last 10 games – and sits just two points out of a wild card spot, it stands to reason they wouldn’t want to make a roster change at this time. Bjugstad is in the final year of his deal that comes with a $2.1MM cap hit.

The disappointment in Bjugstad’s season is only heightened by his success for the franchise just a year ago. In 76 games in Arizona last year, he put up 22 goals, 23 assists and 45 points, the second highest total of his now 13-year NHL career.

Still, Bjugstad’s veteran presence and experience in the playoffs could serve as a positive for the team moving forward. A veteran of 747 career NHL games, Bjugstad sports a 0.44 career points per game total and has added six goals in 27 career playoff games.

The Preds acquired Bunting and a fourth-round pick from the Penguins in exchange for forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn. After the deal, Nashville GM Barry Trotz stated Bunting was an “impact player” the Preds were interested in acquiring, and noted the team’s desire to keep the 29-year-old Bunting in the fold moving forward.

Bunting has fought through injuries this season – as well as a short stint as a healthy scratch – in Pittsburgh prior to the trade. However, after a slow start, he started to turn things around to the tune of 14 goals and 29 points through 58 games. He also led the Penguins in power play goals (9) at the time of the trade. Through 326 career games, Bunting has scored 90 times, including two 20-plus goal seasons under his belt.

Although he’s only in his ninth NHL season, the Predators will mark the fifth NHL team Bunting will suit up for after stints with Arizona, Toronto, Carolina, and Pittsburgh. But Bunting should provide a veteran presence, solid top nine play, and power play production to the rebuilding Preds.

Bunting has one year remaining on his current contract with a 2025-26 cap hit of $4.5MM.