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NHL Transactions & Roster Moves

Aaron Palushaj(RW)|
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Call up / Send down
On Wednesday, The Hurricanes assigned forward Aaron Palushaj to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Palushaj played in just one game with the Hurricanes, he skated 9:04 and was held off of the score sheet. He returns to Charlotte where he has 28 points (9G / 19A) in 34 games.

Source:
Terrell Williams 2014-01-09T10:08:24.000Z
Aaron Palushaj
Elias Lindholm(C)|BOS
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Call up / Send down
On Wednesday, the Hurricanes recalled Elias Lindholm from Charlotte (AHL).

Lindholm had been reassigned to the Swedish team for the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship. Lindholm scored two goals and added seven assists (9 points) in six games during the tournament, helping Sweden capture the silver medal. Carolina’s first-round selection, fifth overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft, Lindholm has played 21 NHL games for Carolina this season, totaling seven points (3G / 4A).

Source:
Terrell Williams 2014-01-09T10:06:04.000Z
Elias Lindholm
Peter Holland(C)|
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Call up / Send down
The Maple Leafs have reassigned Peter Holland to Toronto (AHL).

Holland played well in an expanded role while Tyler Bozak was out, but with Bozak, Nazem Kadri and Jay McClement ahead of him, Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle has not been able to find a role for Holland. He will go to the AHL where he will see much more ice-time than the 4:10 he played last night.

Source:
David Alter 2014-01-08T14:28:29.000Z
Peter Holland
Carter Ashton(RW)|
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Call up / Send down
The Maple Leafs have recalled Carter Ashton from Toronto (AHL).

Ashton has recorded one assist in 18 games with the Maple Leafs this season. Ashton will replace Peter Holland in the lineup, he has no fantasy value on Toronto's fourth line.

Source:
David Alter 2014-01-08T14:10:25.000Z
Carter Ashton
Connor Carrick(D)|FA
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Call up / Send down
The Capitals have recalled Connor Carrick from Hershey (AHL).

Carrick recorded his first career NHL goal with the Capitals on October 3, it was the only point he has recorded in three games this season. With Hershey the 2012 fifth round pick (137th overall) has four assists and a minus-3 rating in 13 games.

Source:
Katie Carerra 2014-01-08T13:44:17.000Z
Connor Carrick
Matt Dumba(D)|PIT
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Call up / Send down
The Wild have loaned Mathew Dumba back to Portland (WHL) for the remainder of the season.

Dumba's demotion will allow him to develop at further at the junior level. He did not exactly dominate the World Junior Championships, so his return to the WHL is likely a good idea for the 19-year-old's development into an everyday NHL defenseman.

Source:
Michael Russo 2014-01-07T16:08:34.000Z
Matt Dumba
Freddie Hamilton(C)|
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Call up / Send down
The Sharks recalled Freddie Hamilton from Worcester (AHL) on Monday.

Hamilton has been held off the scoresheet in 10 games with the Sharks this season. While with Worcester he has 18 points (11G / 7A) in 22 games. He will be in the lineup tonight vs. Nashville.

Source:
San Jose Sharks 2014-01-07T15:51:08.000Z
Freddie Hamilton
David Van Der Gulik(LW)|
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Call up / Send down
The Avalanche have recalled David Van Der Gulik from Lake Erie (AHL).

Van Der Gulik is a 30-year-old right-winger who has six goals in 14 games with Lake Erie. He has appeared in 46 career NHL games with the Flames and Avalanche, recording two goals and 11 assists.

Source:
@Avalanche 2014-01-07T15:48:55.000Z
David Van Der Gulik
Darren Archibald(LW)|FA
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Call up / Send down
The Canucks have recalled Darren Archibald from Utica (AHL).

Archibald has two assists in eight career NHL games, all of which have come this season with Vancouver. In the AHL he has 13 points (6G / 7A) in 24 games. Canucks head coach John Tortorella says that Archibald will be in the lineup tonight, but did not say who is coming out.

Source:
@VanCanucks 2014-01-07T13:56:36.000Z
Darren Archibald
Tanner Pearson(LW)|FA
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Call up / Send down
Left wing Tanner Pearson was recalled has been recalled by the Los Angeles Kings.

Pearson is eligible to play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild, he took shifts alongside Colin Fraser with a rotating right wing during line rushes, which could be an indication that he won’t play. Pearson has recorded one goal and a minus-1 rating in six games with the Kings this season. He is third in points with Manchester having totalled 25 points (13G / 12A) in 30 games.

Source:
Jon Rosen 2014-01-07T13:47:26.000Z
Tanner Pearson
Jonathon Blum(D)|
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Call up / Send down
The Wild have recalled Jonathan Blum from Iowa (AHL).

Blum has tallied 17 points (4G / 13A) in 31 games this season with Iowa. He is tied for first on the team in scoring and power-play goals with four. Blum has recorded 22 points (7G / 15A) and 20 PIMs in 91 career NHL games during three seasons with Nashville.

Source:
Minnesota Wild 2014-01-06T11:29:21.000Z
Jonathon Blum
Erik Haula(LW)|NSH
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Call up / Send down
The Wild have recalled Erik Haula from Iowa (AHL).

Haula has tallied 17 points (9G / 8A) in 24 games with Iowa this season. The 22-year-old is tied for first on the team in goals, scoring and power-play goals with four. Haula recorded an assist in his NHL debut on November 29 vs. Colorado and owns two assists and a plus-3 rating in 10 games with Minnesota this season.

Source:
Minnesota Wild 2014-01-06T11:27:54.000Z
Erik Haula
Justin Florek(LW)|
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Call up / Send down
The rollercoaster of recall and reassignment continues for Justin Florek as he has been recalled on an emergency basis from Providence (AHL) this morning.

Florek was recalled on Saturday and played 10:14 while recording no points, he was then sent down on Sunday, but has yet again been recalled as the Bruins get set to embark on a three-game west-coast road trip.

Source:
Joe Haggerty 2014-01-06T10:47:59.000Z
Justin Florek
Martin Jones(G)|FA
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Call up / Send down
As expected, the Kings have reassigned Martin Jones to Manchester (AHL).

After Jonathan Quick showed no ill effects in returning from his Grade 2 groin strain in last night’s 3-1 win over the Canucks, the Kings have sent Jones back to Manchester. Because Ben Scrivens would have had to clear waivers to be assigned to Manchester – which had virtually no chance of happening, given his high level of play this season – Jones was always perceived as the player who would be designated for the AHL upon Quick’s return. Jones was excellent in Quick's absence going 8-3-0 with a 1.41 GAA and .950 SV% in 11 starts. He returns to the AHL where he is 9-2-2 with a 2.24 GAA and .927 SV%.

Source:
Jon Rosen 2014-01-05T18:43:23.000Z
Martin Jones
Benn Ferriero(C)|INA
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Call up / Send down
The Canucks have recalled forward Benn Ferriero from Utica (AHL).

Ferriero is in his first season with the Canucks organization. He has recorded 22 points (10 G / 12A) in 32 games with Utica and has totalled 23 points (14G / 9A) in 96 career NHL games. There is no word on if a forward is ailing which would have triggered Ferriero's recall.

Source:
Hosea Cheung 2018-07-18T17:53:12.476Z
Conor Allen(D)|
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Rangers have reassigned Connor Allen to Hartford (AHL).

Allen dressed in three games for the Rangers, he was held off the score sheet and was a minus-1. He returns to Hartford where he has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 29 games.

Source:
@NYRangers 2014-01-05T15:11:11.000Z
Conor Allen
Jake Allen(G)|NJD
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Call up / Send down
The Blues have assigned goaltender Jake Allen to Chicago (AHL).

Allen, 23, has dressed in 23 games for Chicago this season, ranking fourth among all AHL goalies with 14 wins (14-7-2) while his 2.17 GAA ranks third and his .922 SV% is 10th best. His demotion to the AHL means that Jaroslav Halak is back to full health and will suit up on Tuesday, whether as the start or the back-up.

Source:
St. Louis Blues 2014-01-05T14:58:42.000Z
Jake Allen
Aaron Palushaj(RW)|
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Hurricanes have recalled forward Aaron Palushaj from Charlotte (AHL).

Palushaj, 24, has played in all 34 of the Checkers’ games thus far this season, and leads the team in assists (19) and points (28). He has played in 66 career NHL regular-season games with Montreal and Colorado, scoring three goals and earning 11 assists (14 points).

Source:
Ken Preston 2014-01-05T13:07:51.000Z
Aaron Palushaj

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.