Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens!
The Vancouver Canucks have been the headline of what seems like the last two months of headlines with all the drama surrounding the team this season. Whether it be injuries, leave of absences, locker room feuds or the new ways this team finds a way to lose, it’s been a memorable season for all the wrong reasons. Yet, they’re still hanging onto the second and final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
However, the team remains intact and is priming up for their match in the Bell Centre tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. But there’s more news going on around the league that we can talk about.

Rangers claim Arthur Kaliyev

Arthur Kaliyev officially has a new home now, as after the Los Angeles Kings put him on waivers on Sunday, the New York Rangers claimed the disgruntled forward.
The Rangers have had a disappointing season this year. Following their President’s Trophy season, they currently sit tied for last in the Metropolitan division. They’ve made some difficult decisions to move on from their captain, Jacob Trouba, as well as 2019 second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko.
Kaliyev’s time in Los Angeles was underwhelming, to say the least. Drafted with the 33rd overall pick in the 2019 draft, Kaliyev was known for big frame and wicked shot. However, that hasn’t necessarily translated at the NHL level. He has scored 35 goals and 36 assists for 71 points with a minus-12 rating.
Last season, the Uzbekistan-born forward became frustrated with his role in the Kings’ lineup. He played 51 games, scoring just seven goals and eight assists in 11:48 minutes of average ice time. This past offseason, Kaliyev officially made a trade request, but GM Rob Blake could not find a deal that worked.
The bad news continues for Kaliyev, as during training camp this season, he broke his clavicle bone and has yet to suit up for NHL action. He made his return in the middle of December but for the Ontario Reign for a conditioning stint. He has scored one goal and one assist in five games with the Reign.
Now, he looks to get a fresh start for a Rangers team that’s looking for any sort of spark to turn their season around.

Ducks re-sign Frank Vatrano

Once believed to be one of the prime trade targets for the Canucks, Frank Vatrano re-signs in Anaheim.
This isn’t your typical three-year contract extension, though. The actual contract is a three-year, $18 million deal that should average out to pay him $6 million per season. However, the contract will just hold a $4.57 million cap hit per season.
How does that work?
Well, the Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun breaks it down perfectly here:
This is a very unique way of working a contract where it benefits both him and the team. He will be able to move out of California after he retires to avoid the high tax state, while the Ducks get a break on his average annual value. This could be something we see players do moving forward who are in high tax state areas.
Vatrano is coming off a career year last season, where he scored 37 goals and 23 assists for 60 points. This season, he’s producing at a slightly slower pace, posting 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 38 games. The Ducks currently sit sixth in the Pacific Division and are a few years away from seriously contending. But Vatrano has bought into the direction of the Ducks, per the team’s official statement:
“I see how bright our future is and we are making turns in the right direction to ultimately bring a Stanley Cup to Anaheim,” said Vatrano. “I couldn’t be happier to sign a three-year extension, and I am excited to help this team grow and be a big part of our future.”

Avalanche’s Scott Wedgewood out week-to-week

The Colorado Avalanche have been struggling through the goaltending position this season. While former starter Alexandar Georgiev struggled to start the season, the Avalanche made a move to trade for the veteran Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators.
Wedgewood was solid in the crease for Colorado, holding a 4-2 record with a 2.35 goals against average and a .917% save percentage. Well, Wedgewood won’t be making another start for a while after he was injured in a game against the Buffalo Sabres.
This was a weird sequence of events. If you haven’t seen it, watch the clip here:
An Avalanche player pushes Zach Benson into the back of Scott Wedgewood’s legs and knocks him to the ice in obvious pain. Typically, the team needs to regain possession of the puck for the play to be blown dead for the injured player. However, this was the goalie. Whenever there is a goaltender injury, and he’s unable to play his position, the play is usually blown dead.
However, despite the puck popping into the corner and out of a threatening scoring position, the play continued, and Benson scored on a wrap-around…and the goal stood.
If you haven’t listened to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar post-game talking about what happened, we encourage you to give it a listen:
Here is just one of the great insights he provides:
“He’s hurt. He’s sitting there hurt, blow the whistle. If the pucks in the net front still and they were hacking away at it, and the puck goes in, I’d say, ‘fine.’ But as soon as the puck squirts to the corner, they’ve got to blow it dead. They do it all the time for regular players because of player safety. The rule would state that we have to touch it, but they don’t follow that rule. They never follow that rule.
“Did I think it was goalie interference? No. It’s not goalie interference because we bumped him [Benson] in, he turned the wrong way and we bumped into him and he went into our goalie. But when the goalies hurt, you blow the whistle. That’s what happens all the time with players in every zone. For them to let it go, and allow the goal, is insanity. It’s a players safety thing.”
What do you think about this ruling? And what do you think about the Vatrano unique extension? Let us know in the comments below!
Sponsored by bet365