Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto has been listed as week-to-week due to an ankle injury, the team announced Tuesday. In a corresponding move, the club recalled forward Markus Granlund from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.
Yamamoto has performed extremely well since being called up by the Oilers earlier this season. In 21 games, he's recorded nine goals and 21 points.
Granlund has appeared in 32 games with Edmonton this season, managing three goals and one assist. He's skated in 17 games with the Condors, scoring nine goals and adding nine assists.
"Since we were 13 years old," Kovalchuk said to reporters when asked how long he and Ovechkin have spoken about playing for the same club. "We played together on the national team but never for the same team. Usually, we battle against each other."
The Capitals traded a third-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for Kovalchuk on Sunday. The 36-year-old potted six goals and seven assists in 22 games with Montreal this year. His contract was terminated by the Los Angeles Kings earlier this season.
"I have a great time in Montreal. I think that was one of the best decisions in my hockey life that I go there," Kovalchuk added. "Now I have a chance to play for a contender so it's a great opportunity."
While it's unclear where Kovalchuk will slot into the Capitals' lineup, he was practicing on the team's third line and second power-play unit at practice on Tuesday, according to The Washington Post's Samantha Pell.
"We'll see, it all depends on how I'm going to play," Kovalchuk said when asked how he'll handle a smaller role in Washington. "If I play well I might become the first line player you never know."
Kovalchuk is slated to make his Capitals debut on Tuesday when Washington takes on the Winnipeg Jets.
Ennis recorded 14 goals and 19 assists with the Senators this year. Originally the Buffalo Sabres' first-round pick in 2008, the veteran forward has racked up 131 goals and 178 assists in 604 career games.
The 30-year-old inked a one-year contract with the Senators last summer worth $800,000. He'll join Andreas Athanasiou and Mike Green as Edmonton's newest additions after a busy trade deadline day.
The draft pick will become a third-rounder if Eakin re-signs with the Jets or if they make the playoffs, Dreger adds.
Eakin is in the final year of his contract, which carries an average annual value of $3.85 million. The Winnipeg native has appeared in 41 games with the Golden Knights this season, recording four goals and six assists.
The 28-year-old produced a career year last campaign with Vegas, setting personal highs in goals (22) and points (41) over 78 games.
Boston will retain 25% of Backes' salary as part of the agreement. His contract is valued at $6 million annually, and there's one more year left on the deal after this season.
The Ducks selected Kase in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. The 24-year-old has appeared in 198 NHL games, amassing 43 goals and 96 points. The winger notched seven goals and 16 assists in 49 contests with Anaheim this season.
Backes, 35, has struggled to find his way into Boston's lineup in 2019-20. He's appeared in 16 games while tallying one goal and two assists. He was demoted in January, but Backes hasn't played in an AHL game despite being healthy since then.
The Bruins selected Andersson in the second round of the 2018 draft. The 20-year-old defenseman has recorded two goals and 22 points in 41 QMJHL games this campaign.
The Buffalo Sabres will place defenseman Zach Bogosian on unconditional waivers Friday for the purpose of terminating his contract as he doesn't intend to report to the AHL's Rochester Americans, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
If Bogosian clears, he will be free to sign with another club. Buffalo tried to trade the defenseman and was willing to retain 50% of his contract, Dreger reports.
Bogosian, 29, is in the final year of a seven-year, $36-million contract he signed in 2013. He's carried an average annual value of $5.14 million.
The veteran blue-liner has been a healthy scratch numerous times this season. He's appeared in just 19 games, recording one goal and five points. He reportedly requested a trade out of Buffalo earlier in the campaign.
Montreal's new additions will report to the AHL's Laval Rocket.
Blandisi appeared in 21 games for the Penguins this season, recording two goals and five points. The Colorado Avalanche selected the 25-year-old in the sixth round in 2012.
Lucchini has yet to appear in an NHL game. The undrafted 24-year-old played in 53 contests with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season, recording seven goals and 15 points.
Barber appeared in nine games with the Canadiens this season and went pointless. He's totaled 13 goals and 31 points with the Rocket. Varone hasn't appeared in an NHL contest this season but has collected four goals and 10 assists in 27 games with Laval.
"When I played here in Chicago, I (thought) I would play here my whole life," Panarin said after Wednesday's 6-3 win over his former club, according to The Daily Herald's John Dietz. "And then that (trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets) happened. It still confuse(s) me."
Panarin played in the KHL from 2008-2015 before Chicago recruited him to the NHL. He made an immediate impact during the 2015-16 season, scoring 30 goals and 77 points and taking home the Calder Trophy.
He continued his excellent play during his second season in Chicago and then signed a two-year, $12-million contract extension.
"I don't want to be that guy. I want to play on a winning team," Panarin told his former agent, Dan Milstein, of signing a team-friendly deal, according to Dietz. "Give them the flexibility so they can retain the guys or sign the new guys because it's not about me. I'm young. I'm going to make plenty of money in my future."
In the summer of 2017, before his extension kicked in, Chicago dealt Panarin to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg.
"I was not ready for that. It was a big surprise for me. I (felt) bad after the trade," Panarin added.
The 28-year-old inked a seven-year, $81.5-million deal with the Rangers last summer. He's on pace for a career year in his first season with the club, tallying 30 goals and 79 points in 58 games.
Sometimes players just don't work with certain teams for intangible reasons. They could be newcomers who don't gel properly or veterans simply needing to move on and reignite their game.
A change of scenery can sometimes go a long way toward revitalizing careers. Ahead of next week's trade deadline, let's look at five players who would benefit from heading to a new team.
P.K. Subban, New Jersey Devils
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Subban is currently enduring the worst statistical season of his career, with his start as a Devil almost going as poorly as possible. His team is near the bottom of the standings, and many fingers are pointing at him for underperforming since arriving from the Nashville Predators last summer.
On pace for just eight goals and 18 points this season, Subban will surely be looking to return to his former self next year. After this campaign, there are two more years left on his contract that carry a $9-million annual cap hit. The Devils are looking to rebuild around their youthful core, which means parting ways with the soon-to-be 31-year-old Subban can be mutually beneficial.
The defenseman still possesses the drive and raw skills to return to the elite form that earned him a Norris Trophy in 2013. However, there may not be many teams willing to take on the veteran's cap hit after his disastrous play this season.
Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton Oilers
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Taken with the fourth overall selection in 2016, Puljujarvi never worked out as expected in Edmonton. Some blame can be placed on Puljujarvi being rushed into the NHL as an 18-year-old. Over three seasons, he's laced up in 139 games while managing only 17 goals and 37 points.
Puljujarvi is still just 21 years old with immense potential. His game never transitioned to the NHL with the Oilers, but his skills are unquestionable. After requesting a trade from Edmonton during the offseason, Puljujarvi opted to play with Karpat in the Finnish Elite League when he wasn't moved. He's played extremely well overseas, tallying 18 goals and 44 points in 46 games, which is good for sixth in the league's points race.
With Edmonton likely heading to the playoffs, Puljujarvi's name will surely be dangled around as the trade deadline looms. He can't play in the NHL this season, but teams looking ahead to next year and beyond may show interest. A change could help rejuvenate the dynamic youngster's NHL career.
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
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For much of the last decade, Quick was among the NHL's best netminders. But the last two years have been a different story.
Prior to the 2018-19 season, Quick's career save percentage was .917 and his goals-against average sat at 2.27. His save percentage has significantly dropped to .892 over the past two seasons, and he owns an inflated 3.20 goals-against average.
At even strength this season, Quick's expected save percentage is .916, whereas his actual save percentage is .907. His high-danger save percentage is .787, which ranks 26th among the 48 goaltenders who have played 1,000-plus minutes. However, while playing behind a middling and rebuilding Kings team, Quick still shows flashes of his old form despite the poor surface stats.
The 34-year-old carries a $5.8-million annual cap hit through 2022-23, making him a tough gamble for goalie-needy teams. With Cal Petersen looking ready to take the reins in net for Los Angeles, it may be time for the Kings to move on from the former Conn Smythe winner.
There are a number of teams in need of a reliable goaltender, and Quick can rebound if he's placed behind the right group.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers
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Gostisbehere finished second in the 2016 Calder Trophy voting following a promising start to his career.
After recording 24 goals and 85 points in 140 games over his first two seasons, the Flyers inked him to a six-year, $27-million deal in 2017. Gostisbehere posted 13 goals and a career-high 65 points in his first year of the contract, but he's failed to return to that level this season and last.
He's missed recent games due to injury, but Gostisbehere was a healthy scratch a couple of times earlier this season. He's notched just five goals and 12 points in 41 games in 2019-20, and the defenseman hasn't been driving offense as well as usual.
His high-danger goals-for percentage sits at 34.78% this season after he averaged greater than 50% in three of the last four campaigns. A lack of offensive firepower paired with average defending skills is hindering his impact.
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Gostisbehere's contract carries an average annual value of $4.5 million and he's signed through 2022-23. His contract can be a bargain if he bounces back. His talent as a reliable puck-moving defenseman is undeniable, but his inconsistency is a cause for concern in Philadelphia. That could be a product of Gostisbehere's skill set not fitting the Flyers' style under new head coach Alain Vigneault.
The return for the young blue-liner would also be good for the Flyers, who need an offensive boost.
Kyle Turris, Nashville Predators
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The Predators gave up a pretty hefty sum to acquire Turris in 2017, parting with two high-end prospects and a second-round pick. They also immediately inked him to a six-year, $36-million extension. He performed adequately during his first year in Nashville, potting 13 goals and adding 29 assists. He's struggled to match those numbers since.
In the 107 games he's played since the 2018-19 campaign began, Turris has amassed just 16 goals and 51 points. This season he's averaging 15:06 of ice time per game while playing on many different lines. Turris scored 20-plus goals three times during his tenure with the Senators, but he's on pace for only 12 this year after scoring seven in 55 games last season.
Before Matt Duchene's arrival this past summer, Turris offered the Predators depth down the middle. With Duchene and Ryan Johansen entrenched as the team's top centers, there isn't as strong of a need for Turris anymore.
He can benefit from being moved to another club that would play him at his natural position in a top-six role. Signed through the 2023-24 season with a $6-million cap hit, a franchise would really have to trust Turris to rebound in a new environment.
Malgin has four goals and 12 points in 36 games with the Panthers this season. Florida's fourth-round selection in 2015 has amassed 28 goals and 60 points in 184 career games. He was teammates with Leafs forward Auston Matthews in Zurich during the 2015-16 campaign.
The 23-year-old is averaging 12:21 of ice time this season. Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said Malgin's agent asked several times for his client to be traded out of Florida, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Marchment, 24, has appeared in four career NHL games - all this season - while recording one assist. The undrafted forward has played in 124 contests with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, scoring 38 goals and adding 32 assists.
Both players are set to become restricted free agents at the end of the season.
