Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Kraken Notes: Dunn, Schwartz, Oleksiak

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

In unfortunate news for the Seattle Kraken blue line, Kate Shefte of the Seattle Times reports that defenseman Vince Dunn did not travel with the team for their game tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. This will mark Dunn’s seventh straight game that he has been unable to suit up, dealing with an upper-body injury suffered a little over two weeks ago.

Dunn originally sustained an injury on a play that warranted a suspension, receiving a hit from behind from Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil. It has been the first major injury to Dunn that he has suffered throughout his tenure with the Kraken organization.

Seattle has heavily missed him, as he has been the team’s best defenseman for the last three seasons. Without their top defensive cog in the lineup, the Kraken has produced a 1-4-1 record in Dunn’s absence, averaging 3.83 goals against per game.

Other Kraken notes:

  • Shefte also reported that Jaden Schwartz would be a game-time decision for tonight’s action. Schwartz has missed the last four games for Seattle as he is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Similar to the rest of his tenure with the Kraken organization, this will mark the fourth time this year that Schwartz has missed game action due to injury.
  • Lastly, in yet another blow to Seattle’s blue line, the team does not sound optimistic about Jamie Oleksiak’s availability tonight (X Link). Earlier today, the team did recall defenseman Cale Fleury on an emergency basis, and he will likely play in his first NHL game of the season tonight.

Central Notes: Vilardi, Pionk, Krug

at CDT | by 1 Comment

During this week’s iteration of 32 Thoughts with Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek, the two have reported that the Winnipeg Jets are operating under the belief that forward Gabriel Vilardi will return before the end of the season. Vilardi has been out since the team’s March 2nd game against the Dallas Stars with an upper-body injury.

It has been a difficult season in Manitoba for Vilardi, who is in his first year with the organization since being acquired in the trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings. In a separate injury at the beginning of the year, Vilardi injured his MCL which led to his absence for a total of six weeks.

When healthy, Vilardi has been a valueable forward for the Jets, scoring 16 goals and 30 points in only 38 games on the year. Now that Winnipeg is squarely in the race for the Central Division crown, Vilardi will be an important piece to get back into the lineup during the home stretch.

Other Central notes:

  • Staying in Winnipeg, although his status was questionable for tonight’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils due to an illness, defenseman Neal Pionk was able to enter the lineup (X Link). Still operating as a solid two-way defenseman in his fifth year with the Jets organization, Pionk has scored five goals and 25 points for Winnipeg this season, averaging just under 21 minutes of ice time per night.
  • In tonight’s tilt against the Ottawa Senators, the St. Louis Blues will be without defenseman Torey Krug, who was suffering from a lower-body injury (Article Link). Nevertheless, it has still been one of the healthiest years to date for Krug, who has not broken the 64 games played mark since the 2017-18 NHL season. Once again putting up quality offensive production, Krug has scored three goals and 34 points over 69 games this season.

Tom Wilson Offered In-Person Hearing For High-Sticking

at CDT | by 15 Comments

6:46 p.m.: Wilson’s in-person hearing will be held Friday afternoon, per the department, meaning we’ll get clarity soon on how long he’ll be out of the lineup.

12:05 p.m.: The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has offered Capitals winger Tom Wilson an in-person hearing after he high-sticked Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor in last night’s 7-3 loss. The hearing date has not been announced, but the in-person option allows DoPS to suspend Wilson for six or more games.

Officials assessed Wilson a double minor penalty on the play, which occurred 12:15 into the third period. After engaging in a puck battle with Gregor along the boards, Wilson swung his stick one-handed, striking Gregor in the mouth (video link).

If suspended, it would be his sixth in the last seven years. Wilson, who made his NHL debut in 2013, was suspended on three separate instances in the 2017-18 season, one each in the preseason, regular season, and playoffs. All were less than five games. In the 2018 preseason, however, he was handed down a massive 20-game suspension by the league on a play that injured Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist, but it was later reduced to 14 by an independent arbitrator. His most recent suspension, a seven-gamer, came in March 2021. He’s also been fined five times.

After an injury-plagued 2022-23 campaign, Wilson has played in 66 of 68 games for the Caps this year. His 18:03 ATOI is second among current Caps forwards, while his 17 goals (4th) and 32 points (5th) are also near the top of the team leaderboard. A major minutes-muncher and still a truly impactful player, any long-term absence could significantly inhibit Washington’s chances at reaching the postseason. Their .551 points percentage is tied with the Red Wings for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ducks, Tomas Suchanek Agree To Entry-Level Deal

at CDT | by 1 Comment

6:34 p.m.: Suchanek’s deal carries an $870K cap hit, per CapFriendly. The deal pays him a $775K base salary, a $95K signing bonus, an $80K games played bonus, and an $82.5K minors salary in all three seasons.

2:25 p.m.: The Ducks have signed goaltender Tomas Suchanek to a three-year, entry-level deal beginning next season, per a team release. Eric Stephens of The Athletic reported earlier Thursday that the two sides were close to a deal. No financial details have been reported.

Suchanek, 20, is a name familiar to World Juniors watchers. Undrafted, he stole the show at Czechia’s 2023 tournament, posting a .934 SV% and 1.51 GAA in seven games en route to a silver medal and an All-Star Team nod. Again passed over in last summer’s NHL draft as a potential overage selection, Suchanek, who had spent the last two seasons with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, found a professional home with the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in San Diego.

After suiting up in some preseason games for the Ducks on a tryout, he began the season on loan from San Diego to ECHL Tulsa. There, he had a decent showing with a .906 SV% and a 3-5-0 record in his first eight professional games. However, below-average play from the Ducks’ NHL-contracted goalies in San Diego, youngster Calle Clang and veteran Alex Stalock, paved the way for Suchanek to get a recall to the AHL in November.

He hasn’t looked back, proving himself as the best netminder out of the three with a .919 SV%, 2.56 GAA, 12-6-3 record, and two shutouts – all team-highs. They’re exceptionally strong numbers, given his age and the weakness of the club in front of him, which sits four points out of a playoff spot in the league’s Pacific Division.

Suchanek has decent size at 6-foot-2 and 181 lbs, and he’s put up strong numbers at every level since arriving in the North American circuit from Czechia in 2021. In a scouting report last year, Elite Prospects called him a “low-risk, high-reward selection” for teams looking for goalie help in the later rounds of the 2023 draft but cited his overall refinement, post integration, and footwork in the crease as some trouble spots in his game.

He’ll finish the season on an AHL contract, so he won’t make his major league debut before the summer. However, he’ll be eligible to do so as soon as next fall and will remain under contract with Anaheim through 2027, at which point he’ll be an RFA.

Oilers Linked To James Stefan

at CDT | by 1 Comment

6:02 p.m.: Edmonton has made Stefan’s signing official. It is indeed a three-year deal, although they declined to issue financial terms.

5:18 p.m.: The Oilers are one of six to eight teams pursuing top undrafted free agent forward James Stefan and are “closing in” on an entry-level deal, per PuckPedia.

Stefan, 20, was one of many prospects who had his draft year derailed by the COVID pandemic. With an August 2003 birthday, Stefan was initially eligible for the 2021 draft, in which many CHL players, specifically those in the OHL, had their seasons significantly disrupted or canceled entirely. Stefan was one of them, as instead of an important sophomore season with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, Stefan played most of the season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL in an unexpected transfer, where he struggled to put himself in draft consideration with 10 goals, 28 points and a -10 rating in 41 games.

Since returning to Portland, Stefan has been a major factor in a top-six role for one of the better teams in major junior hockey. The son of 1999 first-overall pick Patrik Stefan has recorded a point per game or better in three straight seasons but has broken out in earnest this year. He’s top-ten in the league with 48 goals and 99 points, and is second on the U.S. Division-leading Winterhawks behind another top UDFA target, Gabe Klassen. The Laguna Beach, California, native’s +47 rating is also second on the team and fourth overall in the league.

Stefan’s ELC signing age would be 21, meaning his ELC will be a three-year pact beginning next season. As such, he’ll be an RFA in 2027 for whoever signs him.

Blue Jackets Recall David Jiricek

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

4:16 p.m.: Columbus has recalled Jiříček under emergency conditions, per a team release. The move does not count toward their three remaining post-trade deadline standard recalls.

3:26 p.m.: The Blue Jackets plan to recall top defense prospect David Jiříček from AHL Cleveland, reports Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. The move is in response to an injury plaguing top blue-liner Zach Werenski, who Portzline reports was absent from practice on Thursday. Head coach Pascal Vincent said he’s “hopeful” Werenski will be available for Friday’s game against the Avalanche after blocking a shot late in Columbus’ prior game against Detroit, but the team is still waiting on the results of his evaluation (via the team’s Jeff Svoboda).

Jiříček, the sixth overall pick of the 2022 draft, has been buried on the depth chart this season and has even been the subject of a few trade rumors. The 20-year-old had a banner year in 2022-23 as one of the best rookie defensemen in the AHL, earning an All-Star Game nod while also taking home the silver medal, Best Defenseman, and All-Star Team honors at the World Junior Championship with Czechia. He logged his first four NHL games as well but was held without a point in two early-season and two late-season showings. Regardless, most expected him to crack the Blue Jackets out of camp this season, but he ended up as one of their last cuts and started out the campaign in Cleveland.

With continued strong play, Jiříček has forced his way back into the majors multiple times this season with injuries plaguing Columbus’ blue line. His usage has been controversially minimal, averaging 14:47 per game, limiting him to a goal and nine points in 36 contests despite boasting a passable 48.1 CF% at even strength on a defensively challenged team. He’s since been passed over for multiple recalls, with Vincent recently saying the organization preferred to keep him playing heavy, important minutes with Cleveland down the stretch. As such, Jiříček hasn’t played an NHL game in over two months, last suiting up on Jan. 9.

He’s still been quite strong in the minors, boasting seven goals and 17 points in 24 games, although a -15 rating in such a short span is somewhat concerning – it’s already the worst on the team. Cleveland’s other major offensive threat on the blue line, Jake Christiansen, has 40 points in 54 games with a +8 rating. Christiansen was a recent emergency call-up to Columbus with Adam Boqvist sidelined due to an upper-body injury.

Still, Jiříček remains undoubtedly the organization’s best and brightest defense prospect. The right-shot blue-liner would also even out Columbus’ current shot discrepancy, allowing Jake Bean to move back to his natural left side against Colorado if Werenski is absent.

Kraken Recall Cale Fleury

at CDT | by 4 Comments

The Kraken announced they’ve recalled defenseman Cale Fleury from AHL Coachella Valley on an emergency basis. As such, one of the Kraken’s six healthy defenders may be unavailable for tonight’s contest against the Golden Knights. That could be Jamie Oleksiak, who Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times said participated in morning skate but missed some of Seattle’s game earlier this week against the Sabres. Fleury’s emergency recall does not count toward the Kraken’s four post-trade deadline standard recalls.

Fleury has been recalled once this season in a peculiar paper transaction on deadline day but has otherwise spent the entirety of 2023-24 with Coachella Valley. He doesn’t have any NHL games logged this year after playing in multiple games in each of the last two seasons with the Kraken. The 25-year-old was the Kraken’s expansion draft selection from the Canadiens in 2021.

This is Fleury’s first season suiting up for the Firebirds, as the franchise didn’t exist during Seattle’s inaugural season, and he didn’t see any AHL time last year. The former captain of the WHL’s Kootenay Ice has done well, recording five goals and 29 points in 57 games with a +20 rating. Coachella Valley sits first in the Pacific Division and second in the entire league with a 37-13-5-3 record.

In 62 NHL games dating back to his debut with the Habs in 2019, however, Fleury has been a nonfactor. He’s been held to just one goal and one assist throughout that time, averaging decidedly bottom-pairing minutes at 14:11 per game. His possession metrics have been decent for his role, rocking a 50.5 CF% at even strength, but owns a career -2.1 expected rating in relatively advantageous two-way usage. There isn’t much there to suggest he should be moved higher up in the lineup.

The 2017 third-round pick has one year remaining on a two-year deal he signed last July. He carries a $800K cap hit and will be an RFA with arbitration rights in 2025.

Stars Reassign Matt Murray

at CDT | by 5 Comments

Mar. 21: Dallas returned Murray to AHL Texas on Thursday, per a team announcement. He did not play in yesterday’s 5-2 win over the Coyotes.

Mar. 20: The Stars have recalled goaltender Matt Murray from AHL Texas ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Coyotes, according to a team announcement. Per Brien Rea of Bally Sports Southwest, backup Scott Wedgewood will miss the contest while on paternity leave, so Murray will be the secondary option to starter Jake Oettinger. The recall comes under emergency conditions, per CapFriendly, so it won’t count against the Stars’ four post-trade deadline standard recalls.

Dallas signed Murray, 26, to an entry-level deal in October 2022 after beginning the season on a minor-league contract with Texas. An ever-consistent starter throughout five seasons at UMass Amherst, posting a SV% north of .910 every year, Murray has now taken a sizable step back from what was a strong rookie showing last year in the minors.

Last year’s strong transition signaled he may be an everyday NHL backup in a few years. The Alberta native clutched the starting role in Texas from NHL veteran Anton Khudobin, posting a .911 SV% and 18-10-5 record in 34 games, along with three shutouts and a .909 SV% in eight postseason appearances.

That showing solidified Murray as the third-string option behind Oettinger and Wedgewood on the depth chart heading into 2023-24. Nearing the end of the season, however, he’s started fewer games than his tandem partner, 22-year-old Rémi Poirier, and his numbers have dipped to a .895 SV% and 13-13-2 record for a Texas team that’s hovered around the .500 mark for most of the campaign. His smaller frame (6-foot-1, 196 lbs) was a concern for NHL clubs when he hit free agency two years ago, and it may now be inhibiting him as he tries to solidify his role in the professional ranks.

Murray is still waivers-exempt, although that will drop next season. He’ll be an RFA this summer with arbitration rights upon completing the one-year, two-way ($775K/$110K/$137.5K) extension he signed to remain with the Stars last offseason.

Sharks Activate Mackenzie Blackwood, Reassign Magnus Chrona

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Sharks announced they’ve reassigned rookie netminder Magnus Chrona to AHL San Jose. His weeks-long emergency loan ends because Mackenzie Blackwood is ready to come off injured reserve. As such, their roster size remains at 23, and their cap space increases by Chrona’s $867.5K cap hit.

Chrona has been on the San Jose roster for the last three weeks, except for a brief return to the minors on trade deadline day to make him eligible to play in the AHL down the stretch. The Sharks recalled him under emergency conditions on Feb. 28 when Blackwood landed on IR with what was later revealed to be a groin injury. After getting shelled in his first two NHL appearances earlier this season, Chrona improved over the last few weeks, posting a .891 SV% and a 1-4-1 record in six starts this month. However, his emergency recall meant he must be returned to the minors (or converted to a standard recall) upon Blackwood’s return.

The Sharks will likely keep Chrona in the minors down the stretch while 26-year-old rookie Devin Cooley, picked up from the Sabres in one of the final trades before the March 8 deadline, serves as Blackwood’s backup. Chrona, 23, was initially a fifth-round pick of the Lightning in 2018 but saw his signing rights traded to San Jose in April 2021 for minor-league defenseman Fredrik Claesson. He’s in his first professional season after four seasons with the University of Denver, posting a .892 SV% and 3.51 GAA in 24 games with AHL San Jose and a .940 SV% and 2.94 GAA in two showings with ECHL Wichita. The Swede has one season remaining on his entry-level contract and will be an RFA in 2025.

Blackwood returns after his groin injury sidelined him for all of March to date. He’s had a solid rebound season after the Sharks picked up his signing rights from the Devils in a trade last summer, leading San Jose with 32 starts, a 9-18-3 record, .899 SV%, and 3.48 GAA. He’s also saved 2.6 goals above expected, per MoneyPuck, his first season above expected since his standout rookie season in 2019-20. He signed a two-year, $4.7MM deal with the Sharks just after they failed to issue him a qualifying offer and, like Chrona, will be an RFA in 2025.

Dan Vladar To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Flames netminder Daniel Vladař will undergo season-ending surgery on his hip next week, per the team. Vladař, who missed three games in February with what the team termed a lower-body injury, is expected to recover by the start of the 2024-25 season. No corresponding recall will be made as starter Jacob Markström, who missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, “has been cleared for full practice and game participation.”

Vladař, 26, had the worst season of his career in 2023-24, although today’s news offers a plausible explanation as Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reports the goalie “has needed hip surgery for a while.” His only IR stint this year came during February’s absence. With no roster limit in effect after the trade deadline, there’s little reason for the Flames to move Vladař to IR for the rest of the season to open up a roster spot. While LTIR is also an option given the length of his absence, that’s also unlikely as the team has over $10MM in cap space and likely won’t need the relief provided by Vladař’s $2.2MM cap hit.

He ends 2023-24 with 19 starts, an 8-9-2 record, a .882 SV%, and a 3.62 GAA — his worst numbers since the Flames acquired him from the Bruins in 2021. However, it likely won’t be his last chance to prove himself in Calgary. Markström is a likely candidate to get traded this summer after waiving his no-move clause before the deadline for a trade to the Devils that ultimately fell through, opening a spot for Vladař to remain on the roster alongside top prospect Dustin Wolf. 2024-25 is the second and final season of the extension he signed with the club in 2022, and he’s set to earn the same base salary as his cap hit implies.

Vladař’s injury means the Flames do not need to modify Wolf’s emergency loan, which they used to bring him up from AHL Calgary earlier this month when Markström got hurt. Without two other healthy goaltenders on the active roster, Wolf can remain with the Flames on an emergency loan for the remainder of the season and keep Calgary from burning one of their two remaining post-trade deadline standard recalls. Vladař wasn’t likely to get much action down the stretch anyway, having been pulled for Wolf in his last appearance on March 12 against the Avalanche. The 22-year-old Californian has a .931 SV% and 2-1-0 record since entering the Colorado game.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top