The Minnesota Wild’s injury issues are getting worse by the day. Monday, fourth-line center Zac Dalpe underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, according to the Star Tribune. Both Dalpe and defenseman Victor Bartley are likely to hit LTIR to give the Wild some breathing room under the salary cap. They need that space so that they’re able to recall Tyler Graovac and Christoph Bertschy, and potentially another player.
Cusp forward Jordan Schroeder was named AHL Player of the Week on Monday, so it could very well be him.
Congratulations to @IAWild forward Jordan Schroeder (4-3=7) this week's @CCMHockey/AHL Player of the Week. →https://t.co/HgmasY4pcZ pic.twitter.com/HxwKHjZX21
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) October 31, 2016
They’ll need three call-ups because they’re not just down Dalpe, who coach Bruce Boudreau said will be out “multiple weeks.” Chris Stewart missed Monday’s practice with an illness, Zach Parise is still out with what’s believed to be a foot injury and defenseman Marco Scandella is out with what’s believed to be an ankle injury.
Additionally, center Erik Haula is going to be out another week to 10 days.
Limited cap space is a bear for the Wild right now and it’s not clear they’ll be able to find the space to have 18 skaters on the roster in Tuesday’s game against the Sabres.
Hemsky Out Five-to-Six Months
Ales Hemsky started the season on the shelf for the Stars and managed to return for a single contest before he was back on the shelf. Monday, the Stars announced that Hemsky has undergone surgery to “repair a labral tear in his hip.”
The procedure will keep Hemsky off the ice for five-to-six months. That means Hemsky could miss the remainder of the season. He’s in the final year of a deal carrying a $4 million cap hit, according to Cap Friendly.
Sabres Lose Fasching
At Monday’s press availability, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma told The Hockey Writers that Hudson Fasching is dealing with a groin injury and will not play Tuesday against the Wild. Fasching played for the University of Minnesota last season and this would be his first game as an NHLer at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.
Additionally, Bylsma said that he’d like to get defenseman Casey Nelson into a game soon, but “soon” wouldn’t be Tuesday’s contest. Like Fasching, Nelson played college hockey in Minnesota, though he played for Minnesota State. Also like Fasching, this would be Nelson’s first game as a professional at Xcel Energy Center. Short of a Buffalo versus Minnesota Stanley Cup, it looks like they’ll both have to wait until next season.
Murray Might Return Tuesday
Columbus may get defenseman Ryan Murray back in the lineup Tuesday. He’s already been injured twice this season, but has skated the last five days and returned to practice Monday. There, he was paired with Jack Johnson and appears to be on track to make his return Tuesday, reports Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.
In a separate move, the Blue Jackets sent down goaltender Jonas Koorpisalo on Monday. He suffered an injury in an exhibition game against Nashville and will continue his rehab with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.
Scuderi Back in the NHL
The Los Angeles Kings have recalled veteran defenseman Rob Scuderi to the NHL. He’s still in the organization following last season’s trade with the Chicago Blackhawks that sent Christian Ehrhoff to the Windy City.
The recall was needed after the team placed Brayden McNabb on injured reserve Saturday.
Dvorak Leaving Arizona
Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak has been reassigned to the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL, the team announced Monday. The 20-year-old has played seven contests with the Coyotes this season, posting three assists.
His departure ought to give him plenty of ice time and it should also give the team the opportunity to work Dylan Strome and Lawson Crouse into the lineup a little more regularly. Both have been used sparingly in their rookie campaign this year.
Additionally, the Coyotes signed defenseman Kyle Capobianco to a three-year, entry-level contract Monday. The 19-year-old was a third-round draft pick (63rd overall) in the 2015 draft. He’ll spend the season in the OHL skating for the Sudbury Wolves where he has four goals and 11 points in the season’s first 12 games.
Zacha Sticking Around
It appears New Jersey Devils prospect Pavel Zacha will be sticking around the NHL club this season. Andrew Gross of The Record reports the team will keep Zacha on the roster past the all-important nine-game mark that triggers the first year of his ELC.
Zacha has played eight games this season, contributing three assists, two penalty minutes and 10 shots.
Sergachev Is Not
As rumored previously, the Montreal Canadiens are returning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL.
Sergachev made the Habs out of training camp but suited up in just three of the team’s first nine games. He was, for his time in the NHL, the youngest rookie playing this season.
Canadiens today assigned defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League. pic.twitter.com/mWlXIiKIep
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 31, 2016
Odds & Ends
– The U.S. Women’s National Team has announced that Meghan Duggan will serve as the team’s captain at the Four Nations Cup, set to kick off this week in Finland. Kacey Bellamy and Monique Lamoureux-Morando will serve as alternate captains.
“We have a strong leadership group and Meghan continues to play a vital role in setting a great example for our team,” said coach Ken Klee. “All three of our captains provide the key characteristics that will help us achieve our overall goals during this tournament.”
– The Colorado Avalanche have reassigned Gabriel Bourque to the AHL.
– The Carolina Hurricanes have waived forward Martin Frk, who they acquired early in the season after the Detroit Red Wings waived him.
– Journeyman Jiri Tlusty has signed a deal to play with Karpat in the Finnish Liiga.