The Ducks have signed Jacob Perreault to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Edmonton Oilers News
The Blackhawks have signed Mattias Janmark to a one-year contract worth $2.25M.
The Oilers have re-signed Mike Smith to a one-year deal worth $2.0M.
After striking out in a crowded goalie market, the Oilers have brought Smith back to serve next to Mikko Koskinen as their goaltending duo. Smith was 19-12-6 with a 2.95 GAA and .902 SV% in 2020--he now ranks 30th in GAA (2.81) and tied for 45th/49 in SV% (.900) over the last two seasons. Smith's game has eroded in his late-30s and likely won't be a fantasy asset in 2021.
The Red Wings have signed Troy Stecher to a two-year deal worth $3.4 million ($1.7M AAV).
Stecher is an extremely mobile, puck-moving defenseman that will help the Red Wings' blueline immensely. Stecher set a new career-high in goals (5) last season but went from 19:55 ATOI to 15:21 as he was pushed down the Canucks' depth chart. Expect him to be back near 19:00 ATOI as he moves into the Red Wings' top-4.
The Oilers have signed Seth Griffith to a two-year, two-way contract.
Griffith has been terrific at the AHL-level since he turned pro in 2014 but has had very little success in the NHL. Most recently, Griffith had 41 points (21G / 20A) in 58 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) and will likely start 2021 in Bakersfield (AHL).
The Devils have acquired Ryan Murray from the Blue Jackets for a 2021 fifth-round pick.
Murray has one-year left with a $4.6M cap-hit and is a cheap, low-risk addition for the Devils. The Blue Jackets were dumping salary left and right and the oft-injured Murray was a logical choice. The 27-year-old was the No.2 overall pick in 2012 but has not played more than 60 games in the last four years. He's averaged 46.8 games played with 1.5 goals and 13.8 assists (15.3 points) over that stretch.
The Senators have signed Josh Brown to a two-year, $2.4 million ($1 2 million AAV) contract extension.
Brown was acquired from the Panthers for a 2020 fourth-round pick last Friday and he will likely skate in the Senators' top-6 defensemen in 2021. The 26-year-old is a towering defenseman (6-foot-5, 217 lbs.) but offers very little in terms of offence--10 points (4G / 6A) in 93 career NHL games.
The Panthers have traded Josh Brown to the Senators for a 2020 fourth-round pick.
Brown was originally a sixth-round pick of the Panthers (2013) and worked his way into an NHL defenseman in 2020. Brown spent the whole season in Florida, where he played primarily as Keith Yandle's D-partner and scored three goals with five assists (eight points) in 56 games. At 6-foot-5, 217 lbs. Brown can be a physical force on the ice but had just 77 hits (to lead FLA defensemen) in 2020.
Janmark is on the ice for warmups; expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Avalanche.
Janmark is "unfit to play" in Game 6 vs. the Flames.
Murray (undisclosed) will play in Game 5 vs. Toronto.
Line Change
Brown is expected to draw into the Panthers lineup for Game 3.
Goalie Start
Smith led the Oilers onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Smith will start Wednesday vs. the Jets.
Smith was pulled after allowing four goals on 21 shots in the Oilers loss in Chicago last Thursday. Mikko Koskinen has been simply outstanding in his last two starts but the Oilers will give him a breather after stopping a combined 90 of 94 shots (.962 SV%) in the last four days. As for Smith, he has gone 4-2-2 with a 2.88 GAA and .907 SV% in his last eight starts.
McDavid (illness) will return to the Oilers lineup on Wednesday.
McDavid was listed as a game-time decision for Monday's game but ended up getting scratched. He missed yesterday's practice but was back on the ice for Wednesday's morning skate and will play vs. the Jets. Since January 1st, McDavid is second in points-per-game, with 32 points (11G / 21A) in 21 games (1.52 P/gm).
McDavid (illness) is not on the ice for warmups; will not play vs. the Golden Knights.
McDavid (illness) is expected to play against the Golden Knights on Monday.
Murray (undisclosed) will not play on Saturday.
Murray, who recently returned from a lengthy injury absence, is "nicked up" and will not play on Saturday.With Murray out, Markus Nutivaara will draw back into the lineup.
Goalie Start
Smith will start Thursday in Chicago.
Smith stopped 27 of 30 shots in the Oilers win in Nashville on Monday. Smith has won two in a row and is on a six-game point streak (4-0-2) while posting a 2.62 GAA and .911 SV%. He gets set to face a Chicago team that is 4-2-0 while scoring 3.67 goals per game in their last six games.
Goalie Start
Smith will start Monday in Nashville.
Smith allowed two goals on 41 shots in the Oilers win over the Jets on Saturday. It was a strong finish to February for Smith, who was 6-1-2 with a 2.63 GAA and .916 SV% in the month. Tonight he faces the Predators for the third time this season. He was terrific in the first two meetings, going 2-0-0 while stopping 57 of the 61 shots (.934 SV%) that he faced.