With Devon Levi and Eric Comrie both injured, Devin Cooley has been recalled from the Rochester Americans of the AHL to back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. In four games with Rochester (3-0-1), Cooley has a 3.46 GAA and .903 SV%.
Solovyov had a goal, an assist, and two PIMs in four games played with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and has earned himself his first career call up to the Calgary Flames Thursday and will make his NHL debut vs. St.Louis. The 23-year-old defensemen was the Flames seventh round pick in 2020 (#205th overall) and has yet to appear in the NHL despite two successful full AHL seasons in the last two years. He will replace Jordan Oesterle in the Flames lineup Thursday.
Solovyov had a goal, an assist, and two PIMs in four games played with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and has earned himself his first career call up to the Calgary Flames Thursday. The 23-year-old defensemen was the Flames seventh round pick in 2020 (#205th overall) and has yet to appear in the NHL despite two successful full AHL seasons in the last two years. If Adam Ruzicka (undisclosed) is unable to go Thursday, expect Solovyov to make his NHL debut.
Hunt signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Flames in the offseason and will make his Calgary debut Tuesday as he replaces A.J. Greer in the lineup vs. the New York Rangers. The 27-year-old is entering his seventh NHL season with his sixth different team and has 15 goals and 43 points in 202 career games played. He is expected to draw into the Flames' fourth line for his debut.
Vladar will make his second start of the season on Sunday after surrendering three goals on 27 shots in Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Sabres. It's a somewhat surprise start for Vladar, given that starter Jacob Markstrom enjoyed his best start of the season on Friday in a losing effort against the Blue Jackets. It appears there could be an opportunity for Vladar to earn some extra starts this season, but he'll need to improve on his consistency from a year ago if that's going to be the case. The 26-year-old netminder finished the 2022-23 season with an .894 SV% and a 2.87 GAA in 27 appearances with the Flames.
Okhotyuk had yet to appear in any of the Sharks first three games and has now been loaned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) for a conditioning assignment. The 22-year-old defensive defensemen was acquired in 2022-23 in the deal that saw Timo Meier head to New Jersey. He had a goal, six SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 10 games last season with New Jersey.
Vladar will make his first start of the season Thursday at Buffalo after going 14-6-5 with a .895 SV% and 2.91 GAA in 2022-23. He will be looking to get Calgary back in the win column after their dropped their previous two matchups to Pittsburgh and Washington. He faces the Buffalo Sabres on the road Thursday, who won their last game vs. Tampa Bay 3-2 in overtime and are 25th in the NHL in goals for (2.0).
Tinordi failed to pick up a point in any of his three games played so far this season and will be a healthy scratch Monday as Chicago takes on Toronto. The 31-year-old defenseman is in his ninth NHL season after playing a career-high 44 games with Chicago in 2022-23. He will be replaced by Nikita Zaitsev in the Blackhawks lineup Monday.
Mantha's frustrating tenure with the Capitals continues as he is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday night. He had zero points and failed to record a shot on goal in 11:52 time-on-ice in the Capitals' season-opener. He has 58 points (24G / 34A) in 119 games as a Capital and is expected to be replaced by Aliaksei Protas on the fourth line.
Klapka had a shot to make Calgary's opening night roster but has unfortunately been re-assigned to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) to start the 2023-24 season. The 23-year-old has yet to make his NHL debut after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022-23. He returns to the Wranglers where he had 13 goals, 12 assists, 80 PIMs, and a +1 plus/minus in 60 games during his inaugural AHL season in 2022-23.
Pelletier is expected to be out long-term after undergoing shoulder surgery. Last season he made his NHL debut, recording seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games for the Flames. In his absence, Dryden Hunt is expected to make the opening-night roster and center the 4th line for Calgary.
Rooney had an assist, 14 SOG, seven PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 17 games played with Calgary in 2022-23 but will be forced to miss the start of the 2023-24 season as he is out long-term with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old forward was expected to battle for one of the Flames' final roster spots but will be added to their injured reserve which is also occupied by Jakub Pelletier (shoulder surgery).
Backlund had 19 goals, 37 assists, 36 PIMs, 260 SOG, and a +24 plus/minus in 82 games in 2022-23 with Calgary and has signed a two-year contract extension worth $9.0 million ($4.5 million AAV). Along with the new contract, Backlund has been announced as the Flames' 21st Captain in team history. The 34-year-old centre is entering his 16th NHL season as a Flame and has 185 goals, 492 points and a +66 plus/minus in 908 career NHL games played.
Pelletier injured his left shoulder during a Flames pre-season game, and he will undergo surgery next week. Pelletier split his 2023 season between the AHL and NHL, picking up seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games with the Flames. He was poised to fill a middle-6 role with the Flames this season, but that will no longer be the case.
Miromanov last appeared for the Golden Knights on December 31st, 2022 after he was forced to miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season with a lower-body injury and will be out long-term to start the 2023-24 campaign. The 26-year-old defenseman appeared in 14 games last season and picked up two goals, four assists, 22 SOG, two PIMs and a -6 plus/minus prior to his injury.
Bahl had two goals, six assists, 27 SOG, 35 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 42 games in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $2.1 million contract extension ($1,050,000 AAV). The towering 23-year-old defenseman was Arizona's 2018 second-round pick (55th overall) and will be entering his fourth season in New Jersey in 2023-24. Through his previous three, he has three goals, 11 assists, 48 SOG and 45 PIMs through 66 career games played.
