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Nikita Prishchepov

Avalanche Reassign T.J. Tynan, Nikita Prishchepov

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The Avalanche returned forwards T.J. Tynan and Nikita Prishchepov to AHL Colorado on Thursday, according to a team announcement.

Tynan and Prishchepov have been subject to numerous paper transactions since the beginning of the month, often being sent to the AHL without actually reporting to the minors purely to maintain maximum roster flexibility and, in Tynan’s case, delay his temporary waiver exemption. However, with Valeri Nichushkin set to make his season debut on Friday against the Capitals after serving his six-month suspension and Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood potentially returning from their respective injuries, Tynan’s and Prishchepov’s demotions may be more permanent.

Tynan, 32, cleared waivers without incident to begin the season. He posted four assists in six AHL games before getting his first recall of the season on Oct. 30.

The 5’8″, 160-lb pivot made seven appearances for the Avs over three different recalls, posting an assist and four shots on goal while averaging 7:47 per game. Tynan, who has led the AHL in assists for three seasons in a row and was named the league’s MVP in 2020-21 and 2021-22, is on one of the richest two-way deals in the league with a $535K guarantee and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. He re-joined the Colorado organization this summer after spending the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons there.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Prishchepov returns to the minors for much-needed development time. Selected in the seventh round of the 2024 draft less than six months ago, Prishchepov became the first player selected in the final round since 2020 to make his NHL debut.

The Russian center played in each of the Avalanche’s last six games. Like Tynan, he was used sparingly and averaged only 7:18 of ice time per game. Head coach Jared Bednar deployed him exclusively on the wing, where he failed to record his first NHL point but managed four shots on goal, one block and nine hits.

Prishchepov, who stands at 6’1″ and 194 lbs, now returns to the AHL, where he had one goal and three assists through his first six professional games. Last season, he posted 67 points in 63 games for the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres in his third and final season of major junior hockey.

The Avalanche now have three open roster spots. That’s enough space to activate Drouin, Nichushkin and Wood from their respective non-roster designations before tomorrow’s game. Clearing Tynan’s and Prishchepov’s combined $1.582MM cap hit also gives them enough space in their LTIR pool to activate Nichushkin.

West Notes: Wild, Avalanche, Canucks, Stezka

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The Minnesota Wild have recalled forward Michael Milne to the NHL roster. The move comes after each of Jonas Brodin (lower-body), Marcus Johansson (illness), and Zach Bogosian (personal) missed the team’s Wednesday practice, per Michael Russo of The Athletic. Head coach John Hynes told Russo that Johansson and Bogosian are expected to play on Thursday, while Brodin is questionable.

Minnesota is already carrying seven defenders, with Declan Chisholm likely to step in if Brodin misses on Thursday. The team did not have an extra forward, though – requiring the call-up of Milne to cover Johansson’s potential absence. Chisholm has appeared in 10 games this season, recording three assists but yet to score his first goal of the year.

Meanwhile, Milne will rejoin the NHL roster just two days after being sent down. He received the first recall of his pro career last week, and was expected to make his NHL debut – but instead spent three games in the Wild press box. He likely isn’t locked into the lineup on this call-up either, unless Johansson ends up unavailable. Milne ranks second on the AHL’s Iowa Wild in scoring, with eight points in 10 games this season and three points in his latest two games.

Other notes from out West:

  • The Colorado Avalanche also made some roster moves, recalling forwards T.J. Tynan and Nikita Prishchepov after brief stints in the minor leagues. Both Tynan and Prishchepov have been regular fixtures of the Avalanche lineup amid their injury woes this season, each playing in six games and recording four points – though Prishchepov’s one goal is the only between the two. Colorado is soon expecting the return of Valeri Nichushkin from suspension and Jonathan Drouin from injury, but their pair of recalls will serve as understudies in the event of any change in plan.
  • While Minnesota and Colorado hedge their bets against injuries, the Vancouver Canucks have sent down top prospects Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Arshdeep Bains, and Aatu Raty in a paper transaction, per Jeff Paterson of Rink Wide: Vancouver. The Canucks will net just over $15.5K in cap space accrual with this move, helping continue to bank cap space over the course of the season. All three players will likely return to the lineup ahead of Vancouver’s Thursday matchup against the New York Islanders.
  • Rounding out Western Conference roster moves is Seattle’s assignment of goaltender Ales Stezka, who served as backup in the team’s Tuesday win over Columbus. Stezka has served as the starter for the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds this season, posting a 2-5-0 record and .894 save percentage in seven games. He’s played ahead of top Kraken goalie prospect Niklas Kokko, who’s managed an .880 save percentage in four games. Stezka’s assignment suggests that Philipp Grubauer will soon return, after suffering an undisclosed injury away from the rink that forced him out of Tuesday’s game.

Minor Transactions: 11/12/24

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There have been a few smaller transactions with NHL connections around the hockey world, whether it’s paper transactions, a short-term recall, or prospect-related.  We’ll run through those here.

  • Following their acquisition of Lars Eller, the Capitals announced that they’ve re-assigned center Michael Sgarbossa to AHL Hershey. The 32-year-old has played in three games with Washington this season, picking up a goal and an assist.  Sgarbossa has a goal and eight helpers in seven games with the Bears so far this season.
  • The Hurricanes announced that they’ve re-assigned defenseman Ty Smith to AHL Chicago. Carolina recalled the 24-year-old on Sunday but didn’t play him.  Smith has three assists in four games with the Wolves so far this season and has 123 career NHL appearances under his belt from his time with New Jersey and Pittsburgh.
  • Following yesterday’s victory over Nashville, the Avalanche announced (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned forwards Nikita Prishchepov and T.J. Tynan to AHL Colorado. They’ve done this several times now in a money-saving measure.  Prishchepov, a seventh-round pick back in June, has been held off the scoresheet in five games with the Avs so far while Tynan has an assist in six appearances.
  • Canadiens prospect Joe Vrbetic has signed a one-year deal with ECHL Indy, per a team announcement. Montreal drafted the 22-year-old in the seventh round in 2021 but he hasn’t played with any of their affiliates this season.  Vrbetic had a 3.52 GAA with a .891 SV% in 33 games last season with ECHL Trois-Rivieres.  The Canadiens hold his draft rights until June 1, 2025.

Snapshots: Tynan, Prishchepov, Quenneville, Ahcan

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The Avalanche reversed a pair of paper transactions, recalling forwards T.J. Tynan and Nikita Prishchepov from AHL Colorado ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Hurricanes.

With the moves, Colorado is back to having a full 23-man active roster. The injury fill-ins have been frequently shuttled between the NHL over the past week-plus, in Tynan’s case, delaying his temporary waiver exemption.

The 32-year-old Tynan has made four appearances for the Avs while they remain without the services of Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, Jonathan Drouin, Ross Colton, and Miles Wood. Arguably the AHL’s top playmaker of the past decade, he’s still yet to make much of an impact at the NHL level. That hasn’t changed this season, as Tynan has gone without a point and is averaging only 8:24 per game.

Prishchepov, 20, is also looking for his first point of the season. It’s unsurprising – a seventh-round pick just a few months ago, the Russian pivot is making his first NHL appearances way ahead of schedule and out of necessity, given Colorado’s injury situation. He’s averaged 9:15 per game and gotten involved physically, logging six hits and controlling play quite well with a 79.6 CF%.

More from around the hockey world:

  • Former NHL left-winger John Quenneville has landed a one-year deal in Finland with Tappara for the remainder of 2024-25, the team announced. Now 28, Quenneville last suited up in the NHL with the Blackhawks in the 2019-20 season. In only 42 career appearances with Chicago and New Jersey over four seasons, the 2014 first-round pick managed two goals and three assists. The Edmonton native has plied his trade across the AHL and Europe in the past five years, suiting up for AHL Rockford and Belleville in addition to stops in Switzerland and Sweden. He spent last season with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League, logging two goals and eight assists in 20 appearances.
  • The Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, have re-upped forward Roman Ahcan on a one-year deal for the rest of the season. He’d previously been with Cleveland on a PTO and more than earned his spot on the club with seven goals through his first 10 games. That’s a huge jump in production for the 25-year-old, who had nine goals and 19 points in 52 games with Cleveland last year. The Minnesota native has been with Cleveland ever since graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2022 but has yet to land an NHL contract.

Avalanche Place Miles Wood On IR, Valeri Nichushkin Cleared To Practice

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The Avalanche announced today that they’ve summoned forwards Ivan Ivan, Nikolai Kovalenko and Nikita Prishchepov back up from AHL Colorado after papering them down yesterday. They only had two open spots on the active roster after activating Artturi Lehkonen from injured reserve, so winger Miles Wood was placed on IR retroactive to Oct. 28 in a corresponding transaction to open the extra spot. Additionally, the team confirmed that Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared to practice with the team as he enters the final few days of his participation in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and corresponding suspension.

Wood would be eligible to come off IR as soon as tomorrow’s game against the Kraken, but that won’t happen. Head coach Jared Bednar said on Oct. 30 that Wood was set to miss around seven to 10 days with the upper-body injury that’s kept him out of Colorado’s last two contests. That pushes his return to the lineup to Thursday against the Jets or the Hurricanes next weekend.

The 29-year-old’s absence adds to a laundry list of injuries at forward for the Avalanche, although they’ll certainly take a swap of him for Lehkonen coming off IR. The checking winger hadn’t been much of a factor for the Avs yet this season, limited to one goal on 19 shots and no assists through 10 games. He had averaged 13:40 per game, one second lower than last season, despite Colorado being without Lehkonen, Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog throughout the entire campaign to date.

With Lehkonen back and the aforementioned trio recalled, the Avs may be able to dress 12 forwards tomorrow for the first time since Wood’s injury. Defenseman Oliver Kylington had suited up on the wing in back-to-back games with Wood out and no roster flexibility for an additional recall from the AHL.

Ivan and Kovalenko each have four points through 12 games this season, both their first regular-season contests in the NHL. Ivan had no previous major-league experience, while Kovalenko suited up twice for the Avs in last year’s playoffs. Meanwhile, all signs point to Prishchepov playing his second NHL game tomorrow. The 20-year-old was selected 217th overall just a few months ago in the 2024 draft and logged 13:30 in his debut against the Predators on Saturday, registering two shots and three hits.

For Nichushkin, his being cleared to practice indicates that he’s fulfilled all the requirements of his Stage 3 placement so far. His corresponding six-month suspension was handed out on May 13, 2024, while the Avalanche were amid their Second Round series against the Stars. He’s eligible to return to the lineup on Nov. 13 against the Kings, and with a nine-day run-up to practice, it’s looking likelier than not that he’ll play.

While a separate stint in the Player Assistance Program limited Nichushkin to 54 games last season, he’s coming off the best campaign of his nine-year NHL career. The 6’4″, 210-lb Russian winger notched 28 goals and 53 points for a career-high 0.98 points per game, also averaging a career-high 21:21 per night. Despite the extended absence, he also led the club with 16 power-play goals.

Nichushkin has six years remaining on the eight-year, $49MM extension he signed in 2022 to keep him off the open market. Many speculated the Avs would try and move that contract given Nichushkin’s struggles to stay in the lineup since the deal began (he’s only played in 107 of 164 possible regular-season games). But given their bevy of injuries and correspondingly underwhelming 5-7-0 record, it makes little sense to part ways with a player who’s been an invaluable part of their top six when healthy.

Avalanche Recall Nikita Prishchepov

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The Avalanche announced that they’ve recalled forward prospect Nikita Prishchepov from AHL Colorado ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Predators. Veteran depth piece T.J. Tynan is also back up on the NHL roster after being papered down yesterday to accrue cap space and delay his temporary waiver exemption.

With Matthew Stienburg suspended for two games for charging Lightning defenseman Erik Černák in Wednesday night’s loss, the injury-plagued Avalanche didn’t have the roster flexibility to replace him in-house. He was sent down to AHL Colorado yesterday, freeing up his roster spot but delaying the commencement of his suspension until he returns to the NHL roster. That meant two recalls were coming today – Tynan plus a new face from their minor-league affiliate.

That new face is Prishchepov, who’s now poised to make his NHL debut tomorrow, months after the Avs took him in the seventh round of the 2024 draft. The 20-year-old was an overage pick who’d been passed over in the 2022 and 2023 drafts but worked his way into consideration with 22 goals and 67 points in 63 games for QMJHL Victoriaville in his third and final season of junior hockey. Colorado inked the Russian center/left-winger to an entry-level contract early last month after a decent training camp, which proved prudent in hindsight.

Prishchepov is off to a decent start to his professional career, scoring once and adding three assists in six AHL games with 8 PIMs and a +3 rating. It’s good production early on from the 6’1″ forward, but it’s clear he’s a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option this early on in his development.

Unfortunately for the Avs, their injury situation up front constitutes an emergency. They were already without top-six forwards Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin to begin the season. Ross Colton and Jonathan Drouin have since joined them on injured reserve, although the latter is close to returning. Miles Wood is also day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. However, he won’t be out long enough to warrant an IR placement, meaning the Avalanche only had 11 healthy forwards available against Tampa. Oliver Kylington, one of their two extra defenders on the roster, slotted in as their third-line left wing.

Prishchepov still has two seasons left after this one on his ELC. He costs $806.7K against the cap while on the NHL roster, although that’s somewhat irrelevant for the Avs right now with so much money stashed on long-term injured reserve. He’ll be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2027.

Colorado Avalanche Sign Nikita Prishchepov To Entry-Level Contract

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After trading defenseman Erik Brannstrom to the Vancouver Canucks earlier today the Colorado Avalanche have stayed busy. The organization announced they have signed forward Nikita Prishchepov to a three-year, entry-level contract and he’ll report to their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.

Prishchepov was the ninth-to-last player selected in the 2024 NHL Draft at 217th overall to the Avalanche. He had previously been playing for the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres and will suit up professionally earlier than expected.

The 20-year-old Russian spent three years with Victoriaville after moving to North America from the subsidiary of the KHL, the MHL. He improved each year of his major junior career and finished with 45 goals and 135 points in 191 games for the Tigres. The Avalanche will hope for more discipline as he makes his way up the North American pipeline as Prishchepov finished with 189 PIMs in his QMJHL tenure.

That discipline carried into his final weeks with Victoriaville as he earned 20 PIMs in only 14 postseason games putting his team at a serious disadvantage. He finished with three goals and 11 points to end his career as the Tigres fell in five games to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL Conference Finals.

He’ll start down the middle of the ice with the Eagles and should serve as valuable center depth for the organization. His talents are still a bit raw but he’ll have a few years to iron out his foundation at the AHL level.

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