How NHL trades might affect the Reign.
With the NHL trade deadline having passed at noon, it's time to gauge how the consummated deals might affect the Reign. Two players signed by the Reign -- center Dusty Collins and goalie Kellen Briggs -- are playing in the AHL, and both of those teams' parent clubs made moves Wednesday.
Collins is currently playing for the Manitoba Moose; their NHL affiliate, the Vancouver Canucks, waived a defenseman (Lawrence Nycholat) who was headed to Manitoba before the Calgary Flames plucked him off waivers Wednesday. More relevant to Collins' fate is the health of Moose forwards Mark Cullen and Michel Ouellet, both of whom are expected to return from shoulder injuries in mid-March. Collins has four goals and an assist in 17 games for Manitoba.
The news was more interesting for Briggs, who is playing for the Portland Pirates, the Buffalo Sabres' AHL affiliate.
Already holding two goalies (Patrick Lalime and Jhonas Enroth) on their roster, the Sabres acquired Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mikael Tellqvist in exchange for a future draft pick Wednesday. Enroth, who was recalled to back up Lalime on Feb. 23, is likely headed back to Portland before the Sabres' next game Friday night. Enroth is considered a legitimate prospect, and he's under contract to Buffalo through 2011. So he's probably not going to be placed on waivers.
When Enroth gets back to Portland, he will join Briggs and Jeff Jakaitis, another former ECHL goalie in the AHL on a pro tryout contract. Briggs has started three of the Pirates' four games since his recall, going 2-1 with a solid 2.00 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. Jakaitis started the other game (an OT loss), likely because it was the first night of back-to-backs. Briggs has started more games and has the better stats, so it would be a surprise if Jakaitis remains and Briggs is sent back to Ontario over the next two days.
The situation will be complicated further, however, when Buffalo's number one netminder Ryan Miller returns from his high ankle sprain, giving the Sabres three NHL goalies. There is no timetable for Miller's return, and no guarantee that either Tellqvist or Lalime would wind up in Portland when he does.
Both Briggs' and Collins' situations will be resolved sooner or later in the month of March. The guess here is later.