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NHL tracker: Assistance program clears Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin to resume practicing
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- NHL tracker: Assistance program clears Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin to resume practicing
Less than two weeks remain before the NHL trade deadline on March 8.
There have been a number of trades and other transactions this season, including contract extensions . The latest trade was between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins .
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There also have been six coaching changes, with the Los Angeles Kings firing Todd McLellan in the latest move.
The salary cap remains tight this season, but it is expected to rise to $87.7 million next season.
Follow along this season for news and analysis on deals, major transactions and other announcements that have happened in the months leading up the trade deadline:
When is the 2024 NHL trade deadline?
The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on March 8.
What transactions took place before the March 8 trade deadline?
Feb. 26: Colorado Avalanche 's Valeri Nichushkin cleared to resume practicing
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin, who entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 15, has entered the follow-up care phase and can resume practicing with the team. He has not been cleared to play yet. Nichushkin, 28, had 42 points in 40 games before entering the program, including two goals in his last game. His potential availability could affect how the Avalanche approach the March 8 trade deadline.
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Feb. 23: Arizona Coyotes take step toward cutting Adam Ruzicka after social media video
The Arizona Coyotes announced that they were placing forward Adam Ruzicka on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract .
The Associated Press reported that the move followed a Ruzicka social media post that appeared to show him plus white powder and a credit card on a plate. The team said it would have no comment.
Ruzicka, 24, had been claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 25 and he played in three games for the Coyotes this month. The 2017 fourth-round pick has 40 points in 117 career games.
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Also:The Washington Capitals called up forward Hendrix Lapierre a day after T.J. Oshie had to crawl off the ice following a non-contact injury. "It's too early to tell," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters about Oshie's status. "We're just monitoring him and we'll know more in the near future."
Feb. 22: Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins make trade
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Emil Bemstrom from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Alex Nylander and a conditional sixth-round pick. Both players are pending restricted free agents and likely could benefit from a new opportunity. Nylander, 25, whose brother William stars for the Toronto Maple Leafs , has spent most of the season in the American Hockey League. Bemstrom, 24, has played 32 games this season, recording 11 points. His career best was 22 points last season. Nylander's career best was 26 points in 2019-20 with the Chicago Blackhawks .
Feb. 17-18: Future Stadium Series, All-Star games announced
The NHL used the outdoor Stadium Series games at MetLife Stadium to announce key games for upcoming seasons:
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-The Columbus Blue Jackets will host the Detroit Red Wings next season in an outdoor game at Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State football team. This will be the first outdoor game for the Blue Jackets and the fifth for the Red Wings. The 2025 Winter Classic will be at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues .
-The 2026 All-Star Game will be at the New York Islanders ' UBS Arena and serve as a lead-in to NHL participation in the 2026 Olympics . The Islanders last hosted the All-Star Game in 1983 at Nassau County Coliseum.
Feb. 15: Blue Jackets fire GM Jarmo Kekalainen
Jarmo Kekalainen has been fired as the Columbus Blue Jackets general manager, team president of hockey operations and alternate governor John Davidson announced Thursday. Davidson and the team's hockey operations management team will take over the general manager responsibilities as the organization hires a replacement.
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The Blue Jackets are at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings with a 16-26-10 record, and currently have the fewest of points of any team in the Eastern Conference with 42.
Prior to the 2023-24 season, the Blue Jackets hired coach Mike Babcock, who was fired 78 days later after allegations surfaced of Babcock violated players' privacy during offseason meetings. - Colin Gay, Columbus Dispatch
Feb. 13: Phil Kessel talking to Vancouver Canucks
Free agent forward Phil Kessel, the NHL's reigning ironman, is in Vancouver and will work out with the Canucks' affiliate in Abbotsford, British Columbia, general manager Patrik Allvin said. Kessel, 36, hasn't played since early in last season's playoffs with the Vegas Golden Knights . He picked up his third Stanley Cup title last season after winning twice earlier with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kessel holds the NHL ironman record of 1,064 consecutive regular-season games.
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Feb. 7: Winter Classic to return to Wrigley Field in 2025
The NHL announced that the Chicago Blackhawks will host the 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field against the St. Louis Blues. The date and time are to be determined, but it be aired on TNT. The Chicago Cubs' home stadium was the venue of the 2009 Winter Classic, when the Blackhawks lost to the Detroit Red Wings 6-4. The Blackhawks are 0-4 in the Winter Classic and haven't played in one since 2019 at Notre Dame Stadium . But they're now they're a draw again with generational talent Connor Bedard on the team. The NHL is returning to more established teams after the 2024 Winter Classic between the recent expansion teams Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights had lower ratings while being played on the same day as the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Also:The Boston Bruins announced that rookie forward Matthew Poitras had season-ending shoulder injury. ... The Los Angeles Kings have hired fired Ottawa Senators coach D.J. Smith as an assistant coach. He joins the staff of interim coach Jim Hiller , who will make his head coaching debut on Saturday.
Feb. 5: Washington Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov enters assistance program
Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov is entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, the league and union announced Monday. He will be away from the team indefinitely while he receives care. He can return to the team for practice and then games when cleared by administrators.
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Kuznetsov, who has 17 points in 43 games, is the fourth announced player this season announced to enter the program after Columbus' Patrik Laine and Colorado's Samuel Girard and Valeri Nichushkin. Girard has returned.
The NHL suspended Kuznetsov in 2019 for three regular-season games for "inappropriate conduct," less than a month after he was banned from playing for Russia for four years because of a positive test for cocaine. - Associated Press
Feb. 4: Pittsburgh Penguins sign forward Jesse Puljujarvi
Jesse Puljujarvi had been with the Penguins since December on a professional tryout agreement and had been playing in the American Hockey League. He'll get a prorated $800,000 for the remainder of the year.
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Puljujarvi, 25, had previously played for the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes and had bilateral hip surgery during the offseason.
Feb. 2: Winnipeg Jets acquire Sean Monahan from Montreal Canadiens
The Winnipeg Jets gave up a 2024 first-round draft pick and a 2027 conditional third-round pick for pending unrestricted free agent center Sean Monahan. The move came two days after the Vancouver Canucks acquired center Elias Lindholm .
Monahan, 29, healthy this season after recent injury-filled campaigns, has 35 points in 49 games – his best scoring pace since 2018-19. Those numbers include 16 power-play points and two short-handed goals. He has 11 points in his last seven games and has won 55% of his faceoffs this season.
Feb. 2: Los Angeles Kings fire coach Todd McLellan
Coach Todd McLellan paid the price for the Los Angeles Kings' slump as the team fired him on Friday and replaced him with Jim Hiller for the rest of the season.
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The Kings were soaring on Dec. 27. They picked up their 20th victory and were third in the Pacific Division. But they have had only three wins in their past 17 games and have fallen behind the surging Edmonton Oilers , though they still sit in the first wild-card position in the Western Conference.
Hiller will be tasked with shoring up the Kings' defensive play, which has taken a step back during the slump.
The King had allowed the league's fewest goals (74), through Dec. 27 (31 games). They have given up 58 in their last 17 games. All-Star goalie Cam Talbot was 0-6-2 with 4.27 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in January.
Jan. 31: Vancouver Canucks acquire Elias Lindholm from Calgary Flames
The Vancouver Canucks showed they are going for it and the Calgary Flames showed they'll be sellers. All-Star forward Elias Lindholm, a pending unrestricted free agent, is a strong, two-way center who will boost the No. 1 overall Canucks' top six forward group and help their middle-ranked penalty kill.
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The Flames get forward Andrei Kuzmenko , prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick. Kuzmenko, who has been a healthy scratch at times this season and has only eight goals, will benefit the Flames if he rediscovers his 39-goal form from last season.
The Flames still have to make decisions on pending unrestricted free agents Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev before the deadline.
Jan. 31: Columbus Jackets' Adam Fantilli out long-term after skate cut
Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets received tough news Wednesday after the rookie forward's full medical examination of his lacerated left calf.
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Fantilli, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2023 draft, will miss an estimated eight weeks after he was injured while checking Kraken forward Jared McCann on Sunday. McCann's skate blade cut Fantilli, first slicing through his outer "hockey sock" plus a protective Kevlar-based sock that all Blue Jackets players wear under their gear. Had he not worn the protective sock, the injury could have been much more devastating.
Should Fantilli require the full estimated length of recovery, he'll be out until March 24 and miss the next 21 games. - Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch
NHL ROOKIE RACE: Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli out with injuries
Also:The Vancouver Canucks gave general manager Patrik Allvin a three-year contract extension. That follows a similar extension for president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford.
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Jan. 28: New York Rangers ' Filip Chytil ruled out for season
The fears about Filip Chytil have been realized. The 24-year-old center, who was hurt in practice during a comeback attempt, has been ruled out for the rest of the 2023-24 season, the New York Rangers announced Sunday.
"Following a thorough evaluation of Filip Chytil after his recent setback from an upper-body injury, it has been confirmed he will be out for the remainder of this season," the team statement read. "The organization's top priority throughout this process has been Filip's health and we will continue to fully support him in his recovery with an aim to return for the 2024-25 season." - Vincent Z. Mercogliano , lohud.com
Also:Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine has entered the NHL/NHL Players' Association assistance program. He has been recovering from a broken clavicle.
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Jan. 26: Colorado Avalanche sign veteran Zach Parise
The Colorado Avalanche signed Zach Parise to a contract for the rest of the season, giving the Stanley Cup contenders some added depth and experience. General manager Chris MacFarland announced the deal Friday night. It's worth a pro-rated $825,000. Parise, 39, is joining his fourth organization for his 19th season in the NHL. He spent the past two seasons with the New York Islanders after lengthy stints with the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils . — Associated Press
Jan. 26: Philadelphia Flyers ' Owen Tippett agrees to extension
Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett will be sticking around a long time. He has agreed to an eight-year, $49.6 million extension that has an annual average value of $6.2 million, the team announced. Tippett, 24, was the key return when the Flyers traded captain Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers in 2022. He had 49 points last season and has 18 goals and 30 points in 46 games this season. He also scored an impressive spin-o-rama goal this month.
The Flyers also agreed to terms with forward Ryan Poehling on a two-year, $3.8 million contract extension, the Associated Press reported . He has 14 points in 44 games this season.
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Also:New York Rangers forward Nick Bonino passed through waivers and was assigned to the American Hockey League. He hasn't played there since 2011-12. ... Rangers forward Filip Chytil was injured in practice Friday.
SUSPENSION: Montreal's Brendan Gallagher gets five games for hit to head
Jan. 25: Defensemen get healthy, waiver news, plus a small trade
The Dallas Stars announced that No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen (lower body) is returning Thursday after missing three weeks with a lower-body injury. The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated No. 1 defenseman Zach Werenski , who was out with an ankle injury. He was hurt on Dec. 27. Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington is scheduled on Thursday to make his first appearance since May 2022. He took personal leave at the start of last season to attend to his mental health.
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In other news, the New York Rangers placed forward Nick Bonino on waivers, and the Flames had two of their players claimed off waivers, defenseman Nick DeSimone (New Jersey Devils) and forward Adam Ruzicka (Arizona Coyotes).
The Minnesota Wild acquired minor league defenseman Will Butcher from the Pittsburgh Penguins for minor league forward Maxim Cajkovic. Though Butcher has 275 games of NHL experience and Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon is out for the season , Butcher will stay in the American Hockey League.
Jan. 24: Chicago Blackhawks' Petr Mrazek gets two-year extension
Maybe the Chicago Blackhawks won't be major trade deadline sellers after all. Goaltender Petr Mrazek (two years, $8.5 million) is the third Blackhawks player to sign an extension recently, joining Nick Foligno (two years, $9 million) and Jason Dickinson (two years, $8.5 million). Mrazek, 31, has gone 12-17-1 this season with a 3.01 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. The Blackhawks, who are missing injured Connor Bedard and are tied for the bottom of the league in points, still have to make decisions on other pending unrestricted free agents, including two-time Stanley Cup winner Tyler Johnson .
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REPORT: 5 from Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team to face sexual assault charges
Jan. 22: Edmonton Oilers sign forward Corey Perry
Corey Perry, who had his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in November for undisclosed "unacceptable" behavior, was signed by the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the season. He'll get a prorated $775,000 and can earn additional performance bonuses. Oilers general manager Ken Holland said he talked to Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, deputy commissioner Bill Daly and others before signing the gritty forward.
Perry, 38, didn't elaborate on what he did that led to his release, but said, "Over the last two months, I really had a chance to reflect and get the help and take full responsibility for what happened in Chicago and try to better myself."
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Perry won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and was league MVP in 2010-11. He went to the Final in three consecutive seasons with the Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022). He has 53 goals and 124 points in 196 career playoff games, plus has won Olympic gold medals with Canada.
"He's been a player who's been on a lot of winning teams," Holland said.
Also:In a corresponding move, the Oilers placed forward Adam Erne on waivers. ... The NHL announced All-Star Game replacements for injured Connor Bedard and Jack Eichel .
Jan. 20: New York Islanders name Patrick Roy coach after firing Lane Lambert
The news was stunning, although Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is famous for keeping moves under wraps and also for making coaching changes. The Islanders had fallen out of a playoff position with a four-game losing streak in Lane Lambert's second season with the team.
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Patrick Roy last coached in the NHL in 2015-16 and resigned from the Colorado Avalanche that August. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2013-14 in his first season in Colorado and won junior hockey's Memorial Cup as coach/GM of the Quebec Remparts in 2022-23. He stepped down after that.
Roy, 58, won four Stanley Cup titles as a Hall of Fame goalie and is third in NHL wins after Marc-Andre Fleury recently passed him . Roy is known for his fiery competitiveness. He was fined $10,000 after his NHL coaching debut for shoving the glass partition between the two benches during a game against the Anaheim Ducks, though he was more composed after that.
Also:Florida Panthers forward William Lockwood was suspended for three games for goaltender interference against Marc-Andre Fleury during Friday's game. Fleury ended up leaving the game. Lockwood will forfeit $12,109.38 in pay.
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Jan. 19: Ottawa Senators sign Shane Pinto to one-year deal
Shane Pinto, who was suspended for 41 games early this season for violating the NHL's sports wagering rules, signed a one-year deal worth $775,000. The Senators restricted free agent had been unsigned at the time of the suspension and will be eligible to return on Sunday. The league never said what he did to earn the suspension but said its "investigation found no evidence that Pinto made any wagers on NHL games." Pinto, 23, had a career-best 20 goals, 15 assists and 35 points last season.
Also:The Carolina Hurricanes, missing goalies Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov , claimed goalie Spencer Martin off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets. ... The Washington Capitals signed Aliaksei Protas to a five-year, $16.875 million contract extension that keeps the 6-6 forward under contract with Washington through the 2028-29 season. Protas, 23, has 18 points in 42 games this season. ... The Vancouver Canucks gave a three-year contract extension to president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford.
Jan. 18: Minnesota Wild's Jared Spurgeon to have season-ending surgery
The Minnesota Wild have shut down captain Jared Spurgeon for the season. The defenseman is scheduled to have hip surgery on Feb. 6 and then have back surgery four weeks later. He had missed the first month of the season, plus seven games in December, with injuries and hasn't played since Jan. 2. He's expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of next season.
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Jan. 16: Chicago Blackhawks' Jason Dickinson gets two-year extension
The deal is worth $8.5 million over two years. He joins Nick Foligno (two years, $9 million) as Blackhawks signing recent extensions. Dickinson is second on the team with 14 goals and third with 21 points.
Jan. 15: Colorado Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin enters assistance program
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The league and union announced Monday that Nichushkin will return once he's cleared by program administrators. No other information was provided.
Nichushkin, 28, becomes the second Avalanche player to enter the Player Assistance Program this season. Defenseman Samuel Girard announced in November that anxiety and depression led to alcohol abuse and to him seeking treatment from the program. Girard returned in mid-December.
Nichushkin was away from the team in the playoffs last season for what the team explained at the time were personal reasons. He missed the final five postseason games of a first-round loss to Seattle.
His absence started after officers responded to a crisis call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle the afternoon before Game 3 on April 22. A 28-year-old woman was in an ambulance when officers arrived, and medics were told to speak with an Avalanche team physician to gather more details.
The report, obtained at the time from the Seattle Police Department by The Associated Press, said the Avalanche physician told officers that team employees found the woman when they were checking in on Nichushkin. The physician told officers the woman appeared to be heavily intoxicated – too intoxicated to have left the hotel "in a ride share or cab service," and requested EMS assistance. - Associated Press
Jan. 12: Chicago Blackhawks sign Nick Foligno to two-year extension
Gritty forward Nick Foligno, 36, landed a two-year, $9 million extension from the Chicago Blackhawks . He had been acquired with Taylor Hall from the Boston Bruins last summer to surround No. 1 pick Connor Bedard with veteran leadership and was making $4 million this season. He ranked fourth on the Blackhawks with 17 points, including five power-play goals, and second with 39 penalty minutes.
"The impact Nick has already had on our team in such a short time is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to helping the players around him succeed," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said.
Foligno is out with a fractured finger after fighting New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith , whose hit had given Bedard a broken jaw .
Jan. 10: Anaheim Ducks claim Gustav Lindstrom off waivers
The Anaheim Ducks were in need of a defenseman after trading Jamie Drysdale to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the week. Gustav Lindstrom, 25, claimed from the Montreal Canadiens, is a right shot like Drysdale, 21, though he doesn't have his offensive upside. Lindstrom has 29 points in 142 career games, compared to 45 in 123 for Drysdale. Lindstrom's best season is three goals with Montreal this season and 13 points in 2021-22 with the Detroit Red Wings.
Jan. 8: Toronto Maple Leafs sign William Nylander to eight-year, $92 million extension
William Nylander is having a fantastic contract year and is currently fifth in league scoring with 54 points in 37 games. He opened the season with a 17-game point streak, a franchise record from the start of a season and the fourth-longest overall, and also had a 13-game streak from late November to late December. He's first on the Maple Leafs in assists (33) and points and second in goals (21).
His $11.5 million cap hit, which kicks in next season, will place him second on the team behind Auston Matthews ( league-record $13.25 million ) and ahead of John Tavares ($11 million) and Mitch Marner ($10,903,000). Those four will take up 53% of the projected $87.7 million salary cap. Marner and Tavares will be unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2025.
According to The Athletic, the contract includes $69 million in signing bonuses and has a full no-movement clause in all eight years.
Jan. 8: Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers make trade
Cutter Gauthier, 19, voted the top forward at the world junior championships for gold-medal-winning USA , is heading to Anaheim for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick. Both were top-six draft picks. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said the Boston College forward wasn't interested in signing with Philadelphia, and he called Drysdale, 21, a "pretty special" and "exciting" player. Drysdale is the first year of a three-year contract but missed all but eight games last season and has played only 10 games this season because of injuries. He had 32 points in his lone full season.
Jan. 6: Chicago Blackhawks place Connor Bedard, Nick Foligno on injured list, add two forwards
The Chicago Blackhawks placed star rookie Connor Bedard and forward Nick Foligno on the injured list Saturday. Bedard suffered a fractured jaw on a hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith and Foligno broke his finger in a subsequent fight with Smith. The Blackhawks now have nine players on the injured list.
With the Blackhawks in need of healthy players, they acquired forward Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2026 seventh-round pick. He has spent this season in the American Hockey League. They also claimed forward Zach Sanford off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes. He has two points in 11 games this season.
Also:Devils All-Star forward Jack Hughes, who left Friday's game early, sat out Saturday's game with an upper-body injury. ... Los Angeles Kings goalie Pheonix Copley had season-ending ACL surgery.
Jan. 4: Calgary Flames' Oliver Kylington takes step toward return from season off
The Calgary Flames sent defenseman Oliver Kylington to a conditioning assignment with the Calgary Wranglers, a key step in his return from taking more than a season off for personal reasons. "I feel I'm in a good place with my mental health and ready to take another step forward," Kylington said in a statement. "Returning to Calgary has been the right decision." Kylington, 26, set career highs in 2021-22 with nine goals, 22 assists and 31 points, but returned to Sweden last season. He began skating in Calgary last month. "We are so happy that he has made positive progression with his mental well-being, and we will continue to support Oliver through this process," general manager Craig Conroy said.
Also:The San Jose Sharks announced that defenseman Matt Benning had hip surgery. He's expected to miss the rest of the season but be fine for training camp. ... Montreal Canadiens forward Christian Dvorak will have season-ending surgery for a torn pectoral muscle. ... Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto (knee surgery) will be out six to eight weeks.
Jan. 1: Toronto Maple Leafs send down goalie Ilya Samsonov
The Toronto Maple Leafs loaned veteran goaltender Ilya Samsonov to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League after he cleared waivers. They called up Dennis Hildeby. Samsonov, 26, has struggled in his second season with the Maple Leafs, recording a 3.94 goals-against average and .862 save percentage. He has given up 17 goals in his last three games and was pulled in one of them. Samsonov filed for salary arbitration last summer and was awarded a $3.55 million contract. He'll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Also:The Buffalo Sabres assigned Eric Comrie to Rochester (New York) of the AHL after he cleared waivers. The Sabres had been carrying three goalies this season. Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remain with the Sabres. Comrie is 1-5-0 this season.
Dec. 28: New Jersey Devils send down goalie Akira Schmid
The New Jersey Devils, who have lacked consistent goaltending this season, sent Akira Schmid to Utica (New York) of the American Hockey League. Schmid, 23, helped the Devils win their first-round series last season, but is 5-7-1 with a 3.26 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. Coach Lindy Ruff wants him to play more games and "get into a rhythm."
"Our goalies can give us more saves at times," Ruff said. "But we haven't been as good a team in front of our goalies, either, so it's kind of a two-way street."
Nico Daws, who has returned from hip surgery, will back up Vitek Vanecek.
Dec. 28: Washington Capitals sign defenseman Ethan Bear
Ethan Bear will average $2.0625 million for the two-year deal. He is coming off shoulder surgery and had been working out with the Capitals. Bear, 26, has 16 goals and 47 assists in 251 career games with the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers. He kills penalties and blocks shots. The Capitals could be getting additional help, too, because offseason signee Max Pacioretty (Achilles surgery) has resumed skating.
Dec. 27: Carolina Hurricanes recall veteran goalie Antti Raanta
The Carolina Hurricanes recalled veteran goalie Antti Raanta from a two-game stint in the American Hockey League. Raanta, 34, went 1-0-1 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage with the Chicago Wolves during his first AHL appearance since the 2019-20 season. Raanta was sent down after seeing his numbers drop to a 3.61 goals-against average and a .854 save percentage from last season's 2.23 and .910. He is fourth to last in MoneyPuck's goals saved against expected. Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to get the start Wednesday in Nashville. Carolina reassigned goaltender Yaniv Perets to the Norfolk (Virginia) Admirals of the ECHL.
Dec. 22: Colorado Avalanche's Samuel Girard cleared to practice after stint in assistance program
The NHL and NHL Players' Association said defenseman Samuel Girard has been cleared to resume practicing with the Colorado Avalanche after spending time in the player assistance program. Girard, 25, had announced last month through his agent that his severe anxiety and depression had gone untreated too long and had led to alcohol abuse. He now is in the aftercare phase but hasn't been cleared to play in games.
Also:NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension to Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron for cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub in the head. Perron, who had been reacting to an injury to captain Dylan Larkin , has served the six games and was set to return in Friday's game.
Dec. 19: Banged-up Detroit Red Wings sign goalie Michael Hutchinson to NHL contract
Tuesday was a good day for Michael Hutchinson : He got himself an NHL contract, five days before Christmas.
The one-year, two-way contract (worth $775,000 at the NHL level) came about because the Detroit Red Wings need Hutchinson's services at least through the end of the week; neither Ville Husso nor Alex Lyon is available, leaving James Reimer the lone goalie standing. Husso is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Coach Derek Lalonde described it as, "Ville will be unavailable to us for a while here." He added: "Alex, I do not see him available to us till probably after Christmas."
Husso was injured in the first period of Monday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Lyon suffered an upper-body injury Saturday night in Philadelphia. The Red Wings play three games before the three-day holiday break.
- Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press
Dec. 18: Ottawa Senators fire D.J. Smith, name Jacques Martin interim coach
Jacques Martin was hired earlier this season by the Ottawa Senators as a consultant for coach D.J. Smith. Now, he will run the team on an interim basis after Smith was fired on Monday.
Martin, 71, is the Senators' all-time leader in coaching wins during the regular season (341) and playoffs (31). Daniel Alfredsson, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, was named an assistant coach, replacing Davis Payne.
Smith, who had never finished better than sixth in the division, was fired amid a four-game losing streak that included blown leads in the last two. The Senators sit in last place in the Eastern Conference.
"I think we're all looking for more consistency, more detail to our game, more structure," president of hockey operations Steve Staios told reporters.
Also:Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. ... The Boston Bruins loaned forward Matthew Poitras to the Canadian national team for the world junior championships.
Dec. 16: Carolina Hurricanes place goalie Antti Raanta on waivers
The Carolina Hurricanes have placed veteran goalie Antti Raanta on waivers a day after he gave up six goals in a loss to the Nashville Predators . He cleared waivers and was sent to Chicago of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Carolina recalled ECHL goalie Yaniv Perets, who won an NCAA title with Quinnipiac last season. Raanta, 34, who gave up eight goals in a loss last month to the Tampa Bay Lightning, has seen his numbers drop to a 3.61 goals-against average and .854 save percentage from last season's 2.23, .910 and is second to last in MoneyPuck's goals saved against expected. Pyotr Kochetkov has been the better goalie since No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen was sidelined with a blood-clotting issue. Andersen remains out indefinitely.
Dec. 15: Seattle Kraken acquire forward Tomas Tatar from Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche receive a fifth-round pick in the trade. The Kraken rank near the bottom of the league in scoring, and they're hoping for the Tomas Tatar of previous seasons, not this season. He's a seven-time 20-goal scorer who has just one goal this season after not getting a free agent contract until September. But he's a veteran of 810 games with 212 career goals, including 50 on the power play. He'll help Seattle deal with injuries among its forwards. The team placed Jaden Schwartz on long-term injured reserve.
In a depth trade Friday, the San Jose Sharks acquired center Jack Studnicka from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Nick Cicek and a sixth-round pick.
Dec. 15: Columbus Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine suffers fractured clavicle
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine, who has had problems recently staying healthy, will be out six weeks after suffering a fracture clavicle during a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced Friday. He left the ice holding his shoulder in the second period after he was tripped by Toronto's William Lagesson and slid into the boards. Laine had scored his sixth goal of the season during the first period. He was in his second game back after missing three games with an illness. He missed nine games early this season with a concussion and also was a healthy scratch once. Last season, Laine was limited to 55 games by injury or illness and played only 56 the season before.
Dec. 12: St. Louis Blues fire coach Craig Berube, name Drew Bannister as interim
General manager Doug Armstrong said he started having sleepless nights after a Dec. 8 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the short-handed Detroit Red Wings rallied to hand St. Louis its fourth consecutive loss, Armstrong fired Craig Berube and named Drew Bannister, head of their American Hockey League affiliate, the interim coach. "Your mind is starting to work when you're everybody's homecoming game," Armstrong told reporters on Wednesday, a day after making the move.
Coaching changes have turned around the fortunes of the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild this season, and Berube took a last-place Blues team to the 2019 Stanley Cup title after his midseason hire. Bannister isn't necessarily the coach for the rest of the season, though. Armstrong said he is looking for a full-time coach but didn't have a timetable on when he'll make a hire.
St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube was fired on Dec. 12.
The Blues rank near the bottom of the league in power play and goals per game. They traded Robert Bortuzzo and waived Jakub Vrana , who's headed to the AHL with Mackenzie MacEachern being recalled. Armstrong said he and the players share in the blame for the team's performance. "Nobody should feel safe in our group," he said.
Dec. 8: New York Islanders acquire St. Louis Blues' Robert Bortuzzo
The New York Islanders acquired defenseman Robert Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues on Friday in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The trade was announced after the team said Ryan Pulock (lower body) was going on the injured list, joining fellow defensemen Adam Pelech and Sebastian Aho. Bortuzzo, 34, won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 but has been limited to four games this season and often was a healthy scratch. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Dec. 7: Nashville Predators' Tyson Barrie discusses trade request
Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie knew he was about to be uncomfortable with the questions that were going to come his way Thursday, ones about him requesting a trade after being a healthy scratch last weekend. About the Predators granting him permission to talk with other teams.
"I'm trying not to really air it out in the media," Barrie said .
Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie came to Nashville last season from the Edmonton Oilers in the Mattias Ekholm trade.
As much as he might have wanted to, Barrie didn't exactly bury any hatchets, either.
"Well, if we're getting into it, I'm in the stands so it doesn't really feel like a great fit," he said. "My goal is to be playing hockey. Whether that's here or elsewhere is up for the powers that be to decide." - Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean
Dec. 6: Detroit Red Wings announce when Patrick Kane is expected to make debut
Star Patrick Kane is scheduled to make his Detroit Red Wings debut on Thursday at home against the San Jose Sharks, coach Derek Lalonde told reporters. Kane was signed last week to a one-year, $2.75 million contract after offseason hip resurfacing surgery. Lalonde plans to play him with former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat and will try the pair with different centers. Kane's minutes will be monitored. "There's a lot of unknowns still there so we'll all be patient with it and kind of let it play out a little bit," Lalonde said.
Also:The Buffalo Sabres acquired winger Eric Robinson from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2025. The fourth-liner has 82 points in 266 career games, including one goal in seven games this season. The Blue Jackets later placed defenseman Adam Boqvist, goalie Elvis Merzlikins and forward Cole Sillinger on the injured list. Boqvist (shoulder) is expected to miss four weeks. ... The Toronto Maple Leafs announced defenseman John Klingberg will have season-ending hip surgery . He signed a one-year, $4.15 million deal in the offseason but hasn't played since Nov. 11. The Maple Leafs, also missing defensemen Mark Giordano and Timothy Liljegren, are looking for a replacement through a trade. "It's no secret we've investigated what the market is, what those costs could be," general manager Brad Trevling told reporters. ... Jacques Martin, who has been a head coach for nearly 1,300 NHL games (692 with Ottawa), was named an advisor to the Senators' coaching staff.
Dec. 4: Winnipeg Jets sign Nino Niederreiter to three-year extension
He'll average $4 million in the contract that kicks in next season. He is the third player signed long-term since the Jets moved out Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler during the summer, following Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck. Niederreiter, 31, is tied for fourth on the Jets with six goals and is sixth with 14 points.
Dec. 1: Simon Nemec called up amid New Jersey Devils' issues on defense
Simon Nemec, the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NHL draft, made his NHL debut after being called up amid the team's major absences on defense. He played 22:38, had two assists and three shots, and was a minus 2 in the 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Before the game, the Devils announced that top defenseman Dougie Hamilton is out indefinitely after having surgery on his left pectoral muscle. Also, defenseman Brendan Smith was suspended for two games for slashing Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny. He will forfeit $11,458.34 in pay and Konecny was fined $5,000 for his cross-check on Smith. The Devils also announced that forward Tomas Nosek had surgery on his right foot.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec makes an appearance in a preseason game.
Also:The Montreal Canadiens and goalie Sam Montembeault agreed to a three-year, $9.45 million extension. The Quebec native had been claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers in 2021
Nov. 30: Vancouver Canucks acquire defenseman Nikita Zadorov
The Vancouver Canucks got stronger on defense by adding rugged 6-foot-6, 248-pound defenseman Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames. The Canucks gave up the fifth-round pick they acquired a day earlier in the Anthony Beauvillier trade, plus a 2026 third-round pick. Calgary's return doesn't seem high for a player who led the Flames in hits and is going to a division rival, but Zadorov had requested a trade and is a pending unrestricted free agent. The Flames, who have pushed closer to a playoff position after a tough start, also have forward Elias Lindholm and defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev in the final years of their contracts.
Nov. 28: Chicago Blackhawks waive Corey Perry, trade for Anthony Beauvillier
The Chicago Blackhawks placed Corey Perry on unconditional waivers on Tuesday in order to terminate his contract. The team said it determined that Perry "engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Player's Contract and the Blackhawks' internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments." The Beauvillier trade happened later. The Vancouver Canucks, who acquired Beauvillier last season in the Bo Horvat trade, will receive a fifth-round draft pick. More important for Vancouver, the Blackhawks take on his entire $4.15 million cap hit, giving them flexibility before the trade deadline. Beauvillier, a winger like Perry, has two goals and six assists in 22 games this season.
Perry issued an apology Thursday for his "inappropriate and wrong" behavior.
BLACKHAWKS: More details on why Chicago is cutting ties with Corey Perry
Nov. 28: Detroit Red Wings sign Patrick Kane
The one-year, $2.75 million deal will reunite Patrick Kane with Detroit's Alex DeBrincat, his former linemate on the Chicago Blackhawks. DeBrincat had two 40-goal seasons while in Chicago. The question is how Kane will perform after hip resurfacing surgery during the offseason. Though recent videos showed Kane going through intense workouts, Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence to determine his future after having the same surgery during the 2022 offseason. Considering Kane wanted to play for a contender, that says something about his faith in the Red Wings' direction after they try to end a seven-year playoff drought. Daniel Sprong is giving up his No. 88 for Kane and will wear No. 17 instead.
Also:The Buffalo Sabres loaned rookie goalie Devon Levi to Rochester (New York) of the American Hockey League. He had been in a three-goalie system with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Eric Comrie and his numbers were down from the strong start he had last season after leaving Northeastern University. The move allows Levi to see more action than he would in the NHL. "We're super excited about Devon, believe in him," general manager Kevyn Adams told reporters on Wednesday. "This is an opportunity for him to get in a rhythm, get sharpened up."
Nov. 27: Minnesota Wild fire coach Dean Evason, hire John Hynes
John Hynes is back in the NHL after being hired to replace fired Minnesota Wild coach Dean Evason on Monday. The Wild made the switch after a 5-10-4 start in which the team struggled defensively and especially on the penalty kill. Hynes, who knows Wild general manager Bill Guerin from their days in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, was a midseason replacement previously with the Nashville Predators. He was fired last summer after missing the playoffs. He also coached the New Jersey Devils and has a 284-255-63 NHL record, making the playoffs four times.
Nov. 25: Chicago Blackhawks' Corey Perry to be away from team for foreseeable future
Corey Perry will be away from the Chicago Blackhawks for the foreseeable future, general manager Kyle Davidson said Saturday. Perry, 38, hasn't played since a 3-2 loss to Buffalo last Sunday. He was a healthy scratch for the last two games.
"It's been a team decision so far to hold him out, and that's about all I'm able to provide," Davidson said.
Chicago Blackhawks forward Corey Perry was acquired in an offseason trade.
In a statement provided to Hockey Night in Canada, Pat Morris, Perry's agent, said the forward stepped away from the team to attend to personal matters.
Perry was acquired from Tampa Bay in a June trade, then agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract. He has four goals and five assists in 16 games. His absence comes as the Blackhawks deal with a series of injuries among their forwards. Taylor Hall, another offseason acquisition , is scheduled for right knee surgery on Monday in Minnesota. - Associated Press
Also:The New York Islanders claimed veteran defenseman Mike Reilly off waivers from the Florida Panthers and placed defenseman Adam Pelech (upper body) on long term injured reserve.
Nov. 24: Colorado Avalanche's Samuel Girard enters mental health treatment
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard is entering the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program. He announced through his agent that his severe anxiety and depression had gone untreated too long and had led to alcohol abuse.
"Taking care of your mental health is of the utmost importance, and I encourage everyone to speak up and seek help should you feel like you need it," he said in a statement.
Girard, 25, has played all but five games of his seven-year NHL career with the Avalanche and had a career-best 37 points last season. He had one goal and three assists through 15 games this season and had missed the past two games for personal reasons.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said the team supports Girard going to get help.
"You've got to take care of yourself first before you're able to come and help a team," he said.
Nov. 24: Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness returns from leave of absence
Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness returned behind the bench Friday for the first time since he took a leave of absence on Oct. 23 after his wife Judy had a seizure. He said she's doing as well as expected with her new medication and will stay with their children when he's on the road. Associate coach Scott Arniel went 9-2-2 in Bowness' absence. The Jets beat the Florida Panthers 3-0 with Bowness behind the bench.
Also:Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson played his 10th NHL game on Friday, meaning he's staying in the league and not being returned to his junior hockey team. Benson scored his first NHL goal on Wednesday with a spectacular move . ... The Washington Capitals said forward T.J. Oshie won't travel with the team after a hard collision in Friday's 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Nov. 23: Chicago Blackhawks' Taylor Hall to have ACL surgery
Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall, the former No. 1 overall pick who was acquired to mentor and play alongside rookie Connor Bedard, will have ACL surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
"It came from an accumulation of a bunch of little injuries from the game and even in practice the other day," coach Luke Richardson told reporters. "It became unstable and we need to fix it."
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Taylor Hall (71) talks with center Connor Bedard (98) during an October game.
SABRES: Rookie Zach Benson scores first NHL goal in spectacular fashion
Hall had been limited to 10 games (four points) this season because of injuries.
"It's heartbreaking — someone that loved to play so much and every game is so impactful, such a good hockey player and such a good person," Bedard said.
The Blackhawks also placed forward Andreas Athanasiou (groin muscle) on the injured list and called up Joey Anderson and Cole Guttman.
Nov. 17: Florida Panthers activate Brandon Montour, Aaron Ekblad
The defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers got off to a 10-5-1 record even with key absences. Now, they're getting defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad back, activating them from the injured list after they recovered from offseason surgery for playoff injuries.
Montour set a franchise record for points by a defenseman (73) and was their top-scoring blueliner in the playoffs. Ekblad, like Montour a right-hand shot, was taken No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft. Defenseman Josh Mahura went on the injured list to make the salary cap situation work.
Nov. 12: Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft
The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Jay Woodcroft on Sunday after a 3-9-1 start and replaced him with Kris Knoblauch, the Hartford Wolf Pack coach and Connor McDavid's former junior hockey coach. That's the third recent move with a connection to three-time MVP McDavid . His agent, Jeff Jackson, was hired earlier as CEO of hockey operations and the team also signed his former junior hockey linemate Connor Brown.
McDavid said Monday he was surprised by the move and said Woodcroft "never lost the room."
The Oilers were a trendy pick to go far in the playoffs , but have disappointed this season. Last season's No. 1-ranked offense is 26th this season, with McDavid possibly slowed by an injury that cost him two games. Their goaltending issues have been worse. Jack Campbell was sent to the American Hockey League in the second year of his five-year contract. Stuart Skinner, a rookie of the year finalist last season, ranks last in the league in goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck .
Coach Jay Woodcroft led the Edmonton Oilers to playoff berths in his first two season.
Knoblauch – and newly hired Oilers legend Paul Coffey coaching the defense – will be tasked with getting the Oilers back to a playoff spot. There's precedent: Woodcroft went 26-9-3 down the stretch in 2021-22 as a midseason replacement and led the team to the Western Conference final.
Also:The Colorado Avalanche announced that goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body) will miss the rest of the season. He has yet to play in 2023-24 and will return to the Czech Republic to be with his family. The team also signed forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year deal.
Nov. 10: Pittsburgh Penguins to retire Jaromir Jagr's number
Jaromir Jagr, drafted fifth overall in 1990, won Stanley Cup titles in his first two seasons and ranks fourth in franchise history with 1,079 points in 806 games. He played 11 seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Washington Capitals. He ranks second all-time in NHL history in points and fourth in goals. His No. 68 will be retired on Feb. 18.
Nov. 8: Minnesota Wild trade Calen Addison to San Jose Sharks, acquire Zach Bogosian from Tampa Bay Lightning
Addison was sent to the San Jose Sharks for forward Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. The defenseman is a power play specialist, but he is unreliable in his own zone. That led to him being a healthy scratch often down the stretch last season. With the Wild getting Jared Spurgeon back soon from injury (he was activated from long-term injured reserve on Friday), the power play opportunities will dwindle. Addison will be more valuable to the Sharks, who dealt Erik Karlsson last summer. He will be a restricted free agent at season's end.
The Minnesota Wild traded defenseman Calen Addison to the San Jose Sharks.
Bogosian lacks Addison's offense, but the veteran takes care of his end of the ice. He's a right-handed shot, like Addison.
"He's a big guy," Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin told reporters. "He still skates well. He brings heaviness. He brings some grit and we need that."
The trade buys the Lightning a little bit of salary cap breathing room. Bogosian, in the final season of a three-year contract, has a $850,000 cap hit.
Nov. 7: Edmonton Oilers place goalie Jack Campbell on waivers
Campbell, who signed a five-year, $25 million free agent deal in 2022, hasn't played well since arriving. Stuart Skinner surpassed him last season and was a rookie of the year finalist . This season, Campbell was chased in the season opener and has gone 1-4 with a 4.50 goals-against average and .873 save percentage. He cleared waivers and will work on his game in the American Hockey League as the struggling Oilers try to get into a playoff spot. Edmonton recalled Calvin Pickard from Bakersfield (California) to back up Skinner.
MORE MOVES: Why Senators GM is out | Capitals star takes leave of absence
Oct. 13: Colorado Avalanche sign defenseman Devon Toews to seven-year extension
He'll average $7.25 million in the deal, which begins next season. Heading into the season, Toews led the league with a +120 plus-minus rating since he was acquired from the New York Islanders in 2020. He's right behind defenseman Cale Makar in average ice time during that time.
Oct. 10: Carolina Hurricanes acquire forward Callahan Burke from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Caleb Jones
The Hurricanes loaded up on defense this offseason and Jones was the odd man out. Both players will play for the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin enters next phase of assistance program
