"ripple effect" of NHL Taxi Squads

[JMCx4]

From: AP/The Hockey News

DEC 30, 2021

RETURN OF NHL TAXI SQUADS CREATES DOMINO EFFECT IN MINORS

With the NHL bringing back taxi squads amid a surge of COVID-19 cases, there’s been a ripple effect felt down the hockey food chain in North America.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
By Stephen Whyno

Larry Landon enjoyed watching two recent American Hockey League callups score in their NHL debuts. Adding to the fun: they did it against a team with a player who spent time in the ECHL.

“It’s wonderful to see,” the executive director of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association said. “It’s great for the players. Everybody aspires to get to the NHL, and whether it’s pandemic or not, they got a chance to play and show their skillset.” ...

Similar to last season, each of the NHL’s 32 teams can now carry up to six players on the taxi squad to prevent more virus postponements and fill lineups with 18 skaters and two goaltenders. That means nearly 200 open roster spots across the AHL, which is in turn pilfering players off ECHL clubs. ...

(Current minor league roster minimums) might still be too challenging with the NHL sucking up so many players. In the three days after taxi squads were reinstated Sunday, 55 players were called up from the ECHL to the AHL.

“When you flip the faucet on full tilt, that creates an issue,” ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin said.

The flow of talent includes players on NHL contracts in the AHL and ECHL and others on minor league contracts. Positive COVID-19 test results have also led to teams in the 27-team ECHL drawing from the Southern Professional Hockey League. ...


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[royals119]

The Royals played Worcester yesterday, and our radio guy mentioned that Worcester had 50 transaction in the last week. Some of those were the same players being called up and sent back multiple times, and players going on and off the covid list, plus some ebugs and temporary signings of local players, but 50 transactions in a week is nuts. Royals haven't played for a while since they had their games vs Worcester and Adirondack rescheduled due to covid outbreaks before the holiday break. All three teams looked rusty and disorganized this week, as you would expect.