In the ever-evolving world of hockey, the San Jose Sharks have made a strategic move by calling up Laurent Brossoit to fill in for Yaroslav Askarov, who’s nursing a lower-body injury. Fortunately for the Sharks, reports suggest Askarov’s injury isn’t serious.
The 23-year-old goaltender has had a rollercoaster debut season in the NHL, with a 3.56 GAA and a .886 save percentage. Despite these numbers, he’s made 40 starts, showing resilience and promise in his first full campaign.
For now, Alex Nedeljkovic steps up as the starter for the upcoming back-to-back games against Montreal and Ottawa. However, with Askarov listed as day-to-day, Nedeljkovic’s time in the spotlight may be brief.
Shifting focus to the Buffalo Sabres, they’ve shared a mix of injury updates before their clash with Toronto. Winger Alex Tuch is set to return after missing the game against Washington due to a lower-body issue.
This is a boost for the Sabres as they chase the top spot in the Atlantic Division. On the downside, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is doubtful with an undisclosed injury, and newly acquired winger Tanner Pearson is sidelined after picking up a lower-body injury while filling in for Tuch.
In international news, Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson has been appointed GM of Team USA for the upcoming men’s World Championship, marking his second stint in this role. Peterson, now in his sixth season with Florida, will guide the team as the tournament kicks off on May 15th.
Meanwhile, Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud is back with the team on their road trip and participated in the morning skate. After missing three games due to an upper-body injury, Whitecloud looks set to rejoin the lineup.
Since being acquired in the Rasmus Andersson trade, he’s been a key player, averaging over 22 minutes per game and drawing trade interest before the deadline. His return is timely as the Flames push towards the season’s end.