How Does NHL Trade Deadline Day Affect AHL's North Division Race?
Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).
Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!
Now that the dust has settled after Monday, let’s round up all the roster maneuvering around the division since Sunday.
A friendly reminder: the AHL trade deadline is Monday, March 5th, at 3:00 PM.
Belleville Senators
Forward Jim O’Brien’s AHL deal was torn up in favor of a NHL deal with Ottawa through next season. He was placed on waivers and cleared to return to Belleville.
The Avalanche sent down and recalled goaltender Andrew Hammond on paper, allowing him to return to the AHL Senators before the end of the season.
Ottawa acquired forward Nick Moutrey and a third-round pick from Columbus for Ian Cole and assigned him to Belleville. He appeared in 22 games for Cleveland, with 3 goals and 3 assists.
In two other moves, goaltender Marcus Hogberg was returned to Brampton, and defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer was recalled to Ottawa.
Forward Chris Kelly, who appeared in 16 games with Belleville before representing Canada in the Spengler Cup and the Winter Olympics, signed with Anaheim for the remainder of the season on Sunday.
Stick taps to forward Ben Sexton, who was named AHL Player of the Week on Monday after picking up 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 3 games last week.
Binghamton Devils
Rookie defenseman Colton White was reassigned to Adirondack on Sunday afternoon.
In a separate move Sunday, forward John Quenneville was returned to the Southern Tier.
Laval Rocket
Thanks to the Tomas Plekanec deal with Toronto, the Rocket got a boost with the additions of forward Kerby Rychel and defenseman Rinat Valiev but lost forward Kyle Baun to the Maple Leafs.
Forward Nikita Scherbak was recalled to the Canadiens on Monday, and forward Jeremiah Addison was reassigned to Laval.
Rochester Americans
Two paper transactions by Buffalo: forward Nicholas Baptiste and defenseman Casey Nelson were sent down and recalled, making both players eligible to return to the Amerks.
Rochester will be gaining the services of reigning AHL Rookie of the Year Danny O’Regan, after he was acquired by Buffalo from San Jose along with two draft picks in exchange for Evander Kane. In 31 games for the Barracuda this season, O’Regan has 7 goals and 18 assists.
Veteran forward Brian Gionta, who had spent most of the season practicing with Rochester, then appeared in one game before heading to Pyeongchang to captain Team USA, signed with the Bruins on Sunday upon returning to North America.
Syracuse Crunch
Only two paper transactions for the Crunch: goaltender Louis Domingue and forward Adam Erne were sent down and recalled by Tampa Bay, making both players Calder Cup playoff eligible.
Toronto Marlies
The Marlies gained Baun as part of the Plekanec deal with Montreal but lost two key players in Rychel and Valiev.
In separate paper transactions, defenseman Travis Dermott and forward Kasperi Kapanen are now eligible to return to the Marlies for the playoffs.
Utica Comets
Vancouver, in a surprising move, did not send down forward Darren Archibald to make him eligible to return to the Comets.
Defenseman Philip Holm, who had been recalled back on February 13th, was traded to Vegas for forward Brendan Leipsic, and will report to AHL Chicago.
