This article includes several important notes that are far beyond a simple recall in early March. We’ll break it all down.
Wednesday morning, the Kings recalled forward Sammy Helenius from AHL Ontario. We had noted previously that the NHL rookie was expected to be back up with the team no later than Friday afternoon (i.e. coming after the NHL Trade Deadline), so the move isn’t that surprising. However, there is more to unpack — including Brandt Clarke entering the conversation too.
So, let’s get into all of it.
THE HELENIUS SITUATION
From what we’re hearing, the Kings recent poor play sped up the timing of his recall. The team no longer wants to wait until after “rosters expand” on Friday. We put that in quotations as the term is not entirely correct as it’s used in some places. There’s a nuance to it all. Yes, teams can recall up to four players after the Trade Deadline (more on that in a minute), yet clubs still need to be salary cap compliant — one of the many wrinkles in the whole thing.
What’s really going on here and why will Helenius likely be sent down by Friday?
Another term often thrown around at this time of year is “paper transactions.” What that refers to is the fact that there are some NHL rules surrounding the Trade Deadline that impact players in the AHL too.
Essentially, there are two topics to deal with here. First, to make players eligible for the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, they must be on the AHL roster at the time of the of the NHL Trade Deadline. This rule is designed to prevent teams from loading up an AHL team at the last minute. For example, let’s use the Anaheim Ducks this year. Maybe they believe they have an outside shot at grabbing a Wild Card spot, so they keep everybody up on the NHL roster for now. Then, in the last week of the NHL season, they’re mathematically eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In that situation, they are blocked from sending all of their young players to AHL San Diego. That isn’t fair to the other AHL clubs.
Said differently, anybody who is on the Kings NHL roster at noon on Friday cannot be sent down to Ontario for the rest of the season.
Second, after the NHL Trade Deadline, teams can only make four non-emergency recalls from their AHL affiliates.
Thus, there is really limited roster movement allowed in either direction. Those are the rules.
Specific to Helenius, look for him to be reassigned to the Reign on Friday — if for no other reason than to make him eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs. Helenius will most likely make the Kings roster out of training camp next season. What today’s recall means for his immediate future will somewhat be tied to what GM Rob Blake does at the Trade Deadline. Depending what the Kings roster looks like after noon on Friday will provide a further update to the situation. Helenius is expected to be recalled at some point over the final 20 games of the NHL season. If it happens on Friday afternoon, that’s a “paper transaction” — where teams send players down to their AHL affiliates to “clear” them for potential playoff runs with those clubs, only to recall those same players immediately after the NHL Trade Deadline.
Either way, Helenius — who has already suited up for 27 games with LA this season — is expected to be one of the team’s four post-Trade Deadline recalls at some point. Again, the timing of his eventual return will somewhat be tied to what the remainder of the Kings roster looks like after any trades are made (and will also depend on their cap situation).
The Other Three Recalls
With Helenius taking up one of their four recalls, who are the other three? Well, the two most likely players would be forward Andre Lee and goaltender Erik Portillo. Both are strong contenders for a recall at some point over the final 20 games. Beyond that, if there was a different player recalled from Ontario it would most likely be situational specific and tied to an injury of some sort. That could even be an emergency recall.
So, there’s one spot open.
The Kings only have one other player who is waiver exempt on their current roster — meaning he is eligible to be assigned to Ontario without first passing through waivers — and that’s defenseman Brandt Clarke. Indications are, the Kings could go this route with their young defenseman, just to keep all options open. Clarke could easily be assigned to Ontario just before the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday and then be recalled once it’s over (one of the paper transactions referenced above). This doesn’t mean he’s really headed to the Reign anytime soon. However, it does leave the option open for him to get playing time in the AHL, either during the final stretch of the regular season or even during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
If this happens, it doesn’t really mean much, beyond moves designed to give management the maximum number of options over the next few months.
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