Hockey Shuffle: Rink Drama and Player Carousel

Oh boy, seems like the shuffleboard of hockey players is on full blast, so let’s spill the tea on this rink drama.

Firstly, the Colorado Avalanche have done that oh-so-classic move of yo-yoing a player between leagues. Jason Polin, come on down! This guy’s been hustled back to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles – yep, that’s right, pack yo’ bags, buddy. The Avs squad seemed to think an emergency loan was a good idea on January 8th, and our man Polin actually managed to light the lamp once in six games, but alas, it was not enough to keep him afloat. And you know, that goal must’ve tasted pretty sweet since he’s been choking on a scoring drought with the Eagles, having put up a big fat zero in their past twenty games. The poor lad must be desperate to relive his NCAA glory days when he was popping goals like bubble wrap.

Now, the Avs obviously have some master plan since they wouldn’t just send Polin packing for no reason, right? The streets are talking, and it looks like Artturi Lehkonen might be rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the long-term injured reserve where he’s been nursing a neck injury since mid-November. And with Valeri Nichushkin off getting some TLC from the NHLPA Player Assistance Program and Gabriel Landeskog still doing the rehab hustle after playing Operation on his knee, the Avs are like a puzzle with missing pieces.

Sliding over to Buffalo, the Sabres have also decided to play musical chairs with Jacob Bryson. He’s been sent to the AHL’s Rochester Americans – hope the poor dude didn’t unpack his bags when he cleared waivers right before Christmas. He had a blink-and-you-miss-it moment with a single assist in nine games. Not the stuff of legends.

And finally, Florida’s playing the loan game too – they’ve nudged Rasmus Asplund off to the Charlotte Checkers. The guy didn’t even break a sweat on the ice for the Panthers during his very short-lived emergency loan. Back to the Checkers he goes, where at least he’s had some limelight this season with four goals and 19 points. Hang in there, Asplund – the AHL loves you!

There you have it, folks, the latest edition of “Where in the World Are My Skates?” Tune in next time to see which players get a ticket on the league’s carousel of fate.