CANTLON: THE RETURN OF TAXI SQUADS 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack will have an extended Christmas break to make it a week between games. Also, coming back is the return of the dreaded taxi squad.

In a late evening press release, an agreement between the NHL and NHLPLA, a supplement to the present CBA, was crafted and agreed upon. Effective December 26, ostensibly to last through the NHL All-Star Classic, each team will bring up to six players to remain in residence with their NHL club. Per the new rules, goaltenders can be recalled by 5:00 PM on a game day.

Hartford General Manager Ryan Martin and Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch developed a list for New York Rangers GM Chris Drury. Once that list is completed, VP of Operations Pat Boller will have the unenviable task to tell those on the list that they’re recalled, but to the taxi squad.

But that won’t be where it ends for Boller. Once completed, he’ll reach out to the team’s ECHL affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen, to recall Hartford. Then, if they cannot find what they’re looking for in Jacksonville, they’ll reach out to other ECHL teams for their Wednesday night match-up with the Bridgeport Islanders.

MORE CHANGES COMING

The future of the entire AHL schedule is in doubt, with games being postponed. However, there remains the possibility of a return to last year’s division-only play as a potential solution to lowering travel expenses and Covid exposure. In addition, the re-introduction of a Canadian division as per Canada’s protocols and the cross-border issues is confirmed and a definite factor in the taxi squad scenario.

All these things are being negotiated above the AHL player’s heads. However, the full brunt of the decision is due soon. “The (AHL) players aren’t happy (because) they don’t have a seat at the table right now,” a trusted source told Howlings. “I’m only disappointed we haven’t seen the NHL not go the NFL route making testing optional since everybody is vaccinated. Last year, we were just getting a vaccine; this year, we do have one.

“I think they’re shooting themselves in the foot, I realize the Canadian coin and regulations pose an issue and the AHL is going to be feeling the brunt of it. The ECHL is a little more self-contained. We’ll still lose players. It’s a very difficult situation all-around. It’s significant. Players want to get called up, but not this way.”

The pay scale is still being factored in, and building availability down the road is also being weighed.

TAXI SQUAD PLAYERS

The taxi squad provision now falls under new rules that have been amended and agreed upon under the CBA framework.

During Christmas break, and to nobody’s surprise, the AHL All-Star Classic set to be played in Laval, Quebec, became a casualty for the second year in a row. No announcement was made on the game’s future or the AHL regular season schedule, in which games were postponed is likely to be the next shoe-to-drop.

The revised schedule will include changes to the AHL Calder Cup playoffs and finals.

The NHL needs to preserve as much of its schedule, league timeline, and a completed season as possible. But among the changes that Covid has brought include the cancelation of player participation in the Beijing Olympics, and now depleting the AHL rosters is the next step and the only way to accomplish those objectives clearly in mind.

AHL ALL-STAR GAME

Adding postponed games during the NHL All-Star Classic layoff period as scheduled was another factor in the taxi squad equation. There will be scenarios of four-games-in-four-days likely to come, so that injuries will be another factor. Then player compensation issues regarding AHL versus NHL salary will be decided. Finally, owners receiving their full TV money will come into play.

This whole episode came about resulting from last month’s COVID outbreak. The Providence Bruins, despite being a mere fifty-minute drive from downtown Boston, was unable to supply their parent club with any players; as a result, their full roster blew up with positive cases and failed to send anyone up to fill any injured or suspended player needs.

The official section reads:

The parties agree to the modifications set forth below effective as of December 26, 2021, and continuing through the remainder of the 2021-22 season, except where otherwise indicated herein. The parties further agree that these modifications may be eliminated or adjusted at any time by mutual agreement to the extent it is determined the circumstances either warrant such an adjustment or the circumstances no longer warrant a need for such modifications. (2) Section 50.10(e)

RULES

For the 2021-22 season only, a Club shall be permitted to Recall a Player pursuant to the Roster Emergency Exception with an Averaged Amount (if calculated exclusive of Exhibit 5 Performance Bonuses) that is no more than $1,000,000. For purposes of clarity, any Performance Bonuses earned by a Player Recalled pursuant to Section 50.10(e) shall be included in determining a Club’s Performance Bonus Overage for the 2022-23 season Additionally, the following language will be appended to Section 50.10(e) for the 2021-22 season only:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicable to the 2021-22 Season only, if a Club has less than two (2) goaltenders on its Active Roster who are able to play in the Club’s next Regular Season game due to injury or illness, it will be permitted to Recall a goaltender immediately without the Club playing the previous game with fewer than two (2) goaltenders.

Additionally, should both goaltenders on a Club’s Playing Roster become incapacitated during an NHL Game, the Club will similarly be permitted to immediately Recall a goaltender for purposes of playing in such NHL Game.

For clarity, any Goaltender Recalled per Section 50.10 (e) will, on the date of such Recall (even if such Recall occurs after the appropriate 5:00 p.m. deadline) and during the period of such Recall, be included in the Players’ Share but will not count against the Club’s Averaged Club Salary Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicable to the 2021-22 Season only, if a Club has less than twelve (12) Forwards or six (6) Defenseman on its Active Roster who are able to play in its next Regular Season game specifically by virtue of Players being unavailable due to COVID-19 Protocol, such Club will be permitted to Recall a Player(s) at the deficient position(s) without the Club having to play the previous game with fewer than 18 Skaters.

SALARY ISSUES

That’s the legal framework now for the English translation.

The team can recall any number of players without penalty to meet the needs under COVID.

The protocol lists are still being worked on. Those likely to be on the taxi squad list include Tim Gettinger, who is in the last year of his contract with very favorable terms. The same goes for defenseman Anthony Bitetto, who may have played his last set of games for the Wolf Pack. However, he’s close to returning from an injury suffered in a collision with the Springfield Thunderbirds’ Tommy Cross two weeks ago.

Goalie Keith Kinkaid was recalled Monday to replace Alexander Georgiev, who was put in COVID-19 protocols. He was recalled on an emergency basis and will not be added (right now) to the taxi squad.

PLAYERS LOST

Not yet announced, is recently recalled Jarred Tinordi, who comes off a conditioning stint with Harford, has landed on the COVID-19 list. Expect another transaction to cover this need.

Bridgeport saw their parent club, the New York Islanders, recall Simon Holmstrom, Grant Hutton, and Cole Bardreau to their taxi squad. They also sent Will Cullen to the ECHL Worcester Railers.

The Laval Rockets lost six players. The Montreal Canadiens lost five players and a coach to COVID-19. The coach is former Wolf Pack goalie coach Eric Raymond. One player, goalie ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger Kevin Poulin, was recalled from Trois-Rivieres (ECHL) to replace recalled goalie Cayden Primeau, son of ex-Whaler Kevin Primeau.

MORE RECALLS

Florida recalled Darien, CT’s Spencer Knight from the Charlotte Checkers.

The games for the Wolf Pack on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday are still on, but that could change.

Several calls to the PHPA – the minor pro hockey union offices in Niagara Falls, Ontario went unreturned. As a result, the short-term and long-term effects on the AHL, the players, and its member clubs is still being calibrated and calculated.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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