Plenty of minor transactions ahead of NHL’s Holiday roster freeze

With the NHL’s annual roster freeze coming into effect at midnight ET tonight, today was the last day for general managers to make moves and the deadline sparked plenty of minor transactions.

Check it out:

The Buffalo Sabres have placed veteran forward Patrik Berglund on waivers for the purposes of terminating his contract. The 30 year old Berglund was suspended by the team last week for refusing to report and has now had his contract worth $3.85 million per year officially torn up. He’ll hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent immediately.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Luke Johnson from the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs and put Marcus Kruger on injured reserve with a concussion. Kruger suffered the injury last night after taking an elbow to the face from Nashville Predators forward Ryan Hartman. Kruger is expected to be out of the lineup indefinitely.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned forward Phil Varone to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The veteran AHLer is pointless in two NHL games, but has 28 points in 22 games for the Phantoms this season.

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The Flyers also placed 22 year old forward Radel Fazleev on waivers for the purposes of terminating his contract. The Russian has played just 15 games for the Phantoms this season and it’s expected that he’ll announce a new contract in the KHL once he clears waivers tomorrow afternoon.

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The Arizona Coyotes assigned goaltender Adin Hill and forward Conor Garland back to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners.

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The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Brandon Pirri from the Chicago Wolves and have placed veteran forward Max Pacioretty’s on the injured reserve. The 27 year old Pirri is a former 20 goal scorer in the NHL and has 41 points in 28 games with the Wolves this season.

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The New York Islanders have placed defensemen Thomas Hickey on the injured reserve and have recalled Devon Toews from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The 24-year old Toews has yet to make his NHL debut but is has 86 points through 130 AHL games.