NHL Transactions & Roster Moves

Alex Nylander(LW)|FA
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Alex Nylander has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Nylander has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins along with Joona Koppanen as Pittsburgh recalled Marc Johnstone, Jonathan Gruden, and Valtteri Puustinen. Nylander has played five games with Pittsburgh this season but has failed to record a point, averaging 13:52 time-on-ice, and firing 10 shots on goal.

Source:
Matt Vensel 2023-12-08T16:29:35.284Z
Alex Nylander
Joona Koppanen(LW)|PIT
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Joona Koppanen has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Koppanen has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins along with Alex Nylander as Pittsburgh has recalled Marc Johnstone, Jonathan Gruden, and Valtteri Puustinen. Koppanen played three games with Pittsburgh, firing two shots on goal, averaging 7:25 time-on-ice, and scoring zero points.

Source:
Matt Vensel 2023-12-08T16:27:56.792Z
Joona Koppanen
Valtteri Puustinen(RW)|PIT
Call Up
Call Up
Valtteri Puustinen has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Puustinen was the seventh-round pick of the Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has scored 111 points (49G / 62A) in 163 career games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. His call-up coincides with Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Source:
Matt Vensel 2023-12-08T16:24:11.325Z
Valtteri Puustinen
Jonathan Gruden(C)|NJD
Call Up
Call Up
Jonathan Gruden has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Gruden was the 95th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry draft. He has been in the Penguins organization since the 2020-21 season and has tallied 82 points (37G / 45A) in 182 career games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). His call-up coincides with Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Source:
Matt Vensel 2023-12-08T16:20:30.482Z
Jonathan Gruden
Marc Johnstone(RW)|FA
Call Up
Call Up
Marc Johnstone has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Johnstone is an undrafted 27-year-old forward who has spent parts of the last three seasons in the AHL, between the Toronto Marlies and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, tallying 27 points (11G / 16A) in 94 games. His call-up coincides with Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Source:
Matt Vensel 2023-12-08T16:17:52.121Z
Marc Johnstone
Nico Daws(G)|NJD
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Nico Daws (undisclosed) has been activated off the injured, non-roster list and reassigned to Utica (AHL).

Daws has yet to play a game at any level in the 2023-24 campaign, but has finally been activated and will begin his season with the Utica Comets of the AHL. Last season with the Comets, Daws posted a 2.70 GAA and .904 SV% in 33 games (16-14-3). The 22-year-old netminder is no stranger to the NHL either, playing 25 games (10-11-1) with the Devils as a rookie, posting a 3.11 GAA and .893 SV%. Depending on how he fares with the Comets, Daws could be an option at the NHL level at some point this season, especially if the goaltending tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid continues to falter.

Source:
New Jersey Devils 2023-12-08T15:41:00.509Z
Nico Daws
Jaycob Megna(D)|FA
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Jaycob Megna has been loaned to Coachella Valley (AHL) on a conditioning assignment.

Megna has yet to appear this season for Seattle after being a healthy scratch on most nights and has been loaned to Coachella Valley (AHL) for a conditioning assignment. The 30-year-old defensemen only appeared in six games for the Kraken in 2022-23 after being acquired from San Jose, where he had a goal and 11 assists, in 48 games played. He returns to the AHL for the first time since 2020-21 when he was the captain of the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).

Source:
Seattle Kraken PR 2023-12-07T22:19:04.956Z
Jaycob Megna
Riley Nash(C)|FA
Call Up
Call Up
Riley Nash has been recalled form the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).

Nash had nine goals, 10 assists, 26 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 20 games with Hartford (AHL) to start the season and has earned his first call up to the Rangers Thursday. The 34-year-old last appeared in the NHL with Arizona in 2021-22 but has 63 goals and 176 points in 627 games played across 11 NHL seasons.

Source:
NYR PR 2023-12-07T22:11:30.321Z
Riley Nash
Benjamin Gleason(D)|PHI
Call Up
Call Up
Benjamin Gleason has been recalled from Bakersfield (AHL).

Philip Broberg has been loaned to the Bakersfield Condors (AHL), prompting the Oilers to recall Gleason. Gleason has not played in the NHL since the 2018-19 season, a four-game stint with the Dallas Stars, scoring one point (0G / 1A). The undrafted 25-year-old has been successful in the AHL this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A) and a +5 plus/minus in 14 games.

Source:
Edmonton Oilers 2023-12-07T18:33:34.649Z
Benjamin Gleason
Philip Broberg(D)|STL
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Philip Broberg has been loaned to Bakersfield (AHL).

With trade talks speculating as a result of Broberg being unable to make an impact with the Oilers, he has been loaned to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. Broberg, the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is averaging only 10:32 time-on-ice and has failed to record a point through 10 games this season. Benjamin Gleason has been recalled from Bakersfield to replace him in the Oilers lineup.

Source:
Edmonton Oilers 2023-12-07T18:30:40.768Z
Philip Broberg
Oskar Olausson(RW)|COL
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Oskar Olausson has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Despite being held without a point, Olausson was active in his season debut for the Avalanche, firing two shots and taking one hit. His reassignment to the Eagles (AHL) coincides with Jared Bednar announcing that Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Bowen Byram will all play tonight.

Source:
Aarif Mohiedeen 2023-12-07T18:35:11.029Z
Oskar Olausson
Brandon Bussi(G)|FA
Call Up
Call Up
Brandon Bussi has been recalled from Providence (AHL) and is expected to back up Thursday vs. Buffalo.

Bussi is unlikely to see any action while he is with the Bruins but will likely serve as the backup on Thursday as Jeremy Swayman is dealing with an illness. Bussi has a 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 12 games with Providence (AHL), posting a 6-4-2 record.

Source:
Conroy Herald 2023-12-07T17:28:28.339Z
Brandon Bussi
Mason Lohrei(D)|BOS
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Call Up
Mason Lohrei has been recalled from Providence (AHL).

With Derek Forbort on long-term injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, Lohrei has been recalled from the Providence Bruins of the AHL and will likely be with the team until Forbort returns which will not be until, at the earliest, December 31st. The 22-year-old Lohrei made his NHL debut earlier this season, playing well in 10 games with the Bruins, scoring four points (1G / 3A) and averaging 17:35 time-on-ice.

Source:
Boston Bruins 2023-12-07T16:26:24.212Z
Mason Lohrei
Max McCormick(LW)|FA
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Max McCormick has been reassigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL).

McCormick made his season debut Monday and has been reassigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) on Wednesday. The 31-year-old returns to captain the Coachella Valley team where he had eight goals, 17 points and 11 PIMs in 16 games played prior to his original call up to Seattle.

Source:
Seattle Kraken PR 2023-12-06T22:54:26.945Z
Max McCormick
Marian Studenic(RW)|FA
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Marian Studenic has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL).

Studenic only appeared in two games for Seattle and was a healthy scratch for their previous game and has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) Wednesday. The 25-year-old winger returns to the AHL, where he was succeeding with six goals, five assists, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 15 games prior to his promotion.

Source:
Seattle Kraken PR 2023-12-06T22:56:38.276Z
Marian Studenic
Devin Shore(C)|FA
Call Up
Call Up
Devin Shore has been recalled from Coachella Valley (AHL).

Shore has three goals, six points, and a -1 plus/minus in nine games with Coachella Valley (AHL) and has earned himself the call up back to Seattle Wednesday. The 29-year-old centre is in his ninth NHL season and will look to add to the 51 goals and 137 points he has in 431 career games played.

Source:
Seattle Kraken PR 2023-12-06T22:58:19.528Z
Devin Shore
Nick Blankenburg(D)|NSH
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Call Up
Nick Blankenberg has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL).

With the news that Adam Boqvist (shoulder) has been placed on the Injured Reserve, Nick Blankenberg was recalled from Cleveland (AHL) for the first time this season. The 25-year-old defensemen appeared in 36 games for the Blue Jackets in 2022-23 and had four goals and 14 points. He had gotten off to an impressive start in the AHL so far, with three goals, 11 points, 20 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 18 games played prior to his promotion.

Source:
Blue Jackets PR 2023-12-06T22:39:10.330Z
Nick Blankenburg

NHL Roster Moves

NHL roster moves are essentially transactions that alter a team’s lineup. The roster move could make the team better or worse. In some cases, the move is inconsequential. Fan favourites could leave for greener pastures. A struggling player could get sent down to the farm team. A lousy contract might get put on waivers. Even worse, players may get strategically buried on the long-term injury reserve list because they’re not worth the cap hit. The possibilities are somewhat endless.

Types of NHL Roster Moves

Don’t worry; Daily Faceoff has you covered when trying to grasp the concept of a league ruled by the complexities of the almighty salary cap. Below, we break down the strategy behind roster moves so you can get a leg up in your DFS league.

Free agent signings

NHL rosters are primarily constructed by player signings. The front office reaches out to what are referred to as “free agents.” Both the front office and the player’s agent work out the terms of a deal. How teams sign deals varies depending on what type of free agents they’re dealing with.

Rookie Deals

Rookie’s sign something called an entry-level contract which is usually capped at a certain amount of money per year. Under the NHL’s current collective bargaining agreement, the longest an entry-level contract can be signed is three years.

Restricted Free Agent Contracts

After that, a player becomes a restricted free agent (RFA). Technically, they can sign with teams outside of who they played for in the past season by accepting an offer sheet. That said, if the player’s first team extends a qualifying offer, any team competing for the player’s services will have to offer up a certain amount of compensation in the form of draft picks. Of course, that’s if the player agrees to the offer sheet and their current team doesn’t match it.

Unrestricted Free Agent Contracts

Players can become unrestricted free agents (UFA) when their current RFA deal is up and they can go wherever they want. If they sign a contract extension, they can sign for up to eight years. Alternatively, they can sign a seven-year deal if they test the open market. Fun fact: pending UFAs might be motivated to play their hearts out to secure the bag in their next deal. Keep that in mind, fantasy players.

Blockbuster trades

Trades make for some of the most interesting NHL roster moves. To this day, the infamous Patrick Roy deal still gets talked about in NHL circles. What happens in a trade is that two or maybe even three teams link up and iron out a deal. There might be deals that are referred to as “hockey trades,” meaning that both teams get something of equal value. For example, one team gives up a first-line centre for a top-pairing right-handed defenceman. Some NHL trades involve bad teams selling off their moveable assets, such as upcoming free agents, for future considerations, including draft picks or prospects.

Injuries

Depending on how badly a player gets injured, several things can happen. They can be out of a game or two, with the team opting to keep the severity of the injury private (a common pet peeve for fantasy players). Players can be put on the injury reserve for injuries that can keep them out for a calendar week. This frees up a roster spot so someone from within the team’s system, or sometimes outside of it, can come in and replace them while they’re getting back in tip-top shape. If the player needs over a week to recover after a serious injury, they will get put on long-term injury reserve.

Waivers

In typical NHL roster moves jargon, when a player goes on waivers, other teams can claim them from their current team. A player usually goes on waivers when they’re signed to a one-way deal, meaning they can’t be sent down to the minors willy-nilly like a rookie on a two-way deal. Before the player gets sent down, other teams can claim the player on the “waiver wire.” If the player isn’t claimed, they go to the minors to play in the AHL.

Call Ups

Outside of signings, player callups are one of the most popular NHL transactions. Most teams call up players when they’re performing well in the AHL or if there’s an injury on the main roster. Usually, when a player gets called up to the NHL, one gets sent down to the minors.

Contract Buyouts

Of course, you’ve probably worked with someone who’s pretty lazy. People from afar think that person is a “good fit,” but internally, everyone hates the person. Oftentimes, that person finds a way to get fired. Well, newsflash: the same thing happens in NHL dressing rooms. Sometime players who have a history of poor performance have the audacity to ask for more money come contract time. Their team has the option to buyout their contract, or in extreme cases of misconduct, their contract can be terminated. If they’re not being bought out, the front office is laughing while the player’s agent is showing themselves out of the building. For the players who are actually good and could command big bucks on the open market, teams hustle to get them signed up for a new deal. If the player hits the open market, all bets are off…. Coaching Changes

Losing a head coach that sucked at their job and replacing them with a new one can ignite a team. Historically, decent teams perform strongly when they get a new coach. For how long those “strong performances” sustain themselves over the course of a season is a whole other story.

Rules Around NHL Roster Moves

NHL rules aren’t made to be broken. If they’re written in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), you may as well say they’re written in stone. Let’s talk about those “set in stone” rules.

Trade Deadline

Teams have a certain amount of time each season to make NHL trades and signings. The date varies from season to season, but it usually falls between the end of February and early March so that roster’s are set before the Stanley Cup playoffs begin. After the deadline, players can still be moved, but they will not be eligible to play for the rest of the regular season or playoffs. You’ll usually see prospects who are playing abroad get dealt after the deadline, if any trades are made at all.

[Editor’s note: can include link to new DFO Stanley Cup page here]

Strategy Behind NHL Roster Moves

General managers and hands-on hockey ops executives are always thinking about the future. If their team is going to miss the playoffs and it’s a good draft year, they might be inclined to sell, meaning they’ll try to offload decent players in return for cap space, draft picks and younger players. The opposite can be said for good teams. They’ll be looking to add to what they already have to make a run for the cup.

If you’re a DFS player or even in a dynasty league, you can exploit that by buying low on players who are playing for bad teams but have the potential to increase their production if they get traded to a good team. Having access to a good data set can help ease the trouble of anticipating how good a player will be going to and from a certain team.

The Salary Cap

When general managers sleep at night, they probably have nightmares about the salary cap. “The cap,” as hockey insiders like Frank Seravalli refer to it when discussing NHL transactions, dictates how much a team can spend on its roster. There’s a “floor,” meaning a team has to spend at least this much per year. Then, there’s a “ceiling” that teams can’t go over lest they pay the price in draft pick compensation and fines, amongst other things. The salary cap makes it difficult for teams to trade players with high cap hits. It also creates a market in itself for teams that want to get over the “floor” by taking on other teams’ bad contracts. In a world beyond reality, most would favour a luxury tax system like the one Major League Baseball implements.

How NHL Roster Moves Impact Sports Betting

Look, if you don’t want to put up with another year of getting beat by your co-worker’s child in fantasy, you have to put as much effort into your team as that 10-year-old weasel will. That means keeping up with the news. Changing your lineups on a daily basis. Trading players at their peak value. Buying them from others when they’re at their lowest. For the love all of things good, change your injured players out for healthy ones. If you’re a sports bettor, any NHL roster can change the money line or the total in a game, especially if a star player is hurt or a team is playing its third-string goalie. Staying in the loop will give bettors a better chance at finding an edge.