Utah Hockey Club News

Weber (lower-body) skated on Friday; not 100% certain he will play on Saturday.

Weber was a late scratch on Thursday but was back on the ice this morning and could be back on Saturday. Weber remains a question mark, but at least it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury.

Shea Weber
Kerfoot will move up to the Avalanche on second line on Friday.

Kerfoot has averaged 12:57 TOI/GM in his first 14 games of the season, but played 20:49 TOI after Duchene was traded mid-game in Brooklyn. The rookie centre has five goals and four assists (nine points) to start his NHL career and will have even more opportunities now that he takes Duchene’s spot on the second line.

Alex Kerfoot
The Oilers have assigned Kailer Yamamoto to Spokane (WHL).

Yamamoto was this summers No.22 overall selection in 2017 and appeared in nine games with the Oilers but has been sent back to Spokane before the first year of his entry-level kicks in. Yamamoto got some great experience and recorded three assists in those nine games. He goes back to Spokane where he amassed 99 points (42G / 57A) in 65 games last season.

Kailer Yamamoto
Cole (mouth) will be a game-time decision on Tuesday.

Cole has missed the last three games after taking a puck to the mouth vs. the Predators on October 7th. Cole has been cleared to play tonight, but it remains to be seen if he will actually draw into the lineup. The Penguins have listed him as a game-time decision so monitor his status as they hit the ice for warmups.

Ian Cole
The Blackhawks are “optimistic” that Schmaltz (upper-body) will play on Wednesday.

Schmaltz missed the Blackhawks last four games with an upper-body injury, but it looks like he might return Wednesday vs. the Blues. Schmaltz had two goals and one assist in the season opener before getting hurt in his first shift of game No.2. The 2014 second-round pick was back on a line with Patrick Kane at Monday’s practice.

Nick Schmaltz
Schmaltz (upper-body) is doubtful for Thursday’s game; hopeful to return Saturday vs. Nashville.

Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville col WGN Radio that Schmaltz is “unlikely” to play tonight vs. Minnesota, but is hopeful he’ll be back on Saturday. This is good news for those who picked Schmaltz up after a great season opener as he’s not expected to miss too much time.

Nick Schmaltz
Schmaltz (upper-body) did not travel to Toronto; will not play on Monday.

Schmaltz collected two goals and one assist while playing on a line with Patrick Kane in the season opener, but lasted just one shift vs. the Blue Jackets on Saturday. With Schmaltz out, Artem Anisimov will re-claim his spot as the second-line centre and Tanner Kero will draw back into the lineup.

Nick Schmaltz
Schmaltz could open the season as the Blackhawks’ second line centre.

During the first few days of training camp, Schmaltz has taken Artem Anisimov’s spot on the Blackhawks’ second line next to Patrick Kane. Anisimov, who has been very successful in that spot in year’s past, is skating on the third line with Ryan Hartman and Patrick Sharp. Head coach Joel Quenneville likes the chemistry between Schmaltz and Kane, which bodes extremely well for Schmaltz’s potential heading into 2017-18. The 21-year-old is coming off of 28 points (6G / 22A) in 61 games during his rookie season.

Nick Schmaltz
The Flames select Juuso Valimaki with the 16th overall pick.

Valimaki is a mobile defenseman that oozes with offensive ability. The Finnish blueliner piled up 61 points (19G / 42A) in 60 games with the Tri-City Americans—good for fourth on the team. He’ll bring a lot of high-octane offence to the Flames blueline in the future.

Juuso Valimaki
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