NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread

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Drake Batherson is expected to miss at least two months with a high ankle sprain after taking a controversial hit from Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell during Tuesday night's contest, Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith announced Thursday.

Dell sent the 23-year-old forward crashing into the boards with a lowered shoulder during the first period of the Senators' 5-0 victory. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Dell for three games on Wednesday.


Smith said that despite the setback, Batherson is in good spirits.


"He's just that kind of kid, and you're going to miss that around the room win, lose, or draw," Smith said to the media Thursday. "His attitude, he's coming around in the league, the way he can make plays. We're going to miss him in all areas."

Batherson leads the Senators with 34 points in 31 games. He was slated to represent Ottawa in the All-Star Game next month before the injury.

Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will fill his spot on the Atlantic Division squad.
 
Undrafted free-agent goaltender Mack Guzda is generating quite a buzz.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to sign the netminder, and they met with him this week, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek. The Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins are also interested in his services, Marek added.

The 21-year-old is currently playing for the OHL's Barrie Colts. Guzda's recorded a .935 save percentage and a 1.89 goals against average in 13 games this season. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native is listed at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds.


Amid Toronto's interest in Guzda, the club is also getting calls about one of its own goalies.

The Maple Leafs have not initiated any conversations about Petr Mrazek's availability, but teams have contacted them anyway, Marek reported. However, Toronto likely wouldn't consider trading Mrazek until the summer, if at all.

Mrazek joined the Leafs as a free agent this past offseason, signing a three-year contract with a $3.8-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. He's missed most of the 2021-22 campaign due to injuries, though, sporting a .896 save percentage and a 3.20 goals against average in six games.

Jack Campbell has taken the starting job and run with it in Mrazek's absence, posting a .926 save percentage and a 2.26 goals against average in 30 appearances.

Campbell's $1.65-million cap hit expires after this season, and he'll almost certainly require a significant raise. Toronto would likely need to shed cap space - potentially through trading Mrazek - if the organization hopes to re-sign Campbell.
 
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