Braun left Saturday's game in Arizona in the third period and head coach Alain Vigneault said he suffered a groin tweak and will be out through the All-Star break. With Braun not available for Monday's practice, Travis Sanheim and Philippe Myers were together and Robert Hagg and Shayne Gostisbehere were on the third pair.
Ellis was knocked out of the Winter Classic after being elbowed in the face by Corey Perry early in the first period. The Predators are still calling it an "upper-body injury" but it sure looked like a concussion. The Predators used the roster spot to call-up, Alexandre Carrier, from Milwaukee (AHL).
Smith was held pointless in five games with the Red Wings earlier in the year but has 13 points (4G / 9A) and 59 PIMS in 22 AHL games with Grand Rapids. With Valtteri Filppula out, Smith could draw into the lineup on Saturday.
Kase played pretty well during his first career call-up, scoring one goal on five shots in five games while playing 10:44 ATOI. He returns to the Phantoms, who has three goals and three assists (six points) in 21 games this season.
Konecny missed the last three games with a concussion that he suffered on December 7th vs. the Senators. He was back on the is for Monday's morning skate and will play on the top line with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier. Konecny has three goals and one assist in his last four games.
Poehling replaced Matthew Peca in the lineup on Wednesday but heads back to Laval ahead of Saturday's game vs. the Red Wings. His reassignment could be a paper move with a few days off or a sign that Pecas will be back on Saturday.
Kase was a fifth-round pick in 2015 and will likely serve as an extra forward with The 22-year-old has just three goals and three assists (six points) in 21 games this season. Kase comes up with Travis Konecny out with a concussion.
Poehling has scored five goals with seven assists (12 points) in 26 games with Laval (AHL) this season. The 20-year-old will replace Kasperi Kotkaniemi (concussion) who was placed on IR. The 20-year-old has three goals in five career NHL games.
Seeler played in the last two games and as a minus-3 while averaging just 8:49 TOI/gm. Tonight he will be replaced by Brennan Menell, who will make his NHL debut on the third-pair.
Konecny was forced to leave Saturday's game against the Senators after being crushed by Mark Borowiecki in open ice. Konecny was visually shaken by the hit, left immediately and did not return to the game. On Monday, the Flyers announced that he is out indefinitely with a concussion, so expect him to miss at least one week.
Smith has missed the last two games and was moved to IR to make room for Joe Hicketts to be recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL). Smith is eligible to return whenever he is healthy.
Poehling played in four straight games but was sent back before Friday's game in Washington. Jordan Weal will take the spot that was previously filled by Poehling. He returns to the AHL, where he has collected three goals and two assists (five points) in 14 games.
Gardner did not have a point in seven games with the Stars earlier in the year and has picked up six points (3G / 3A) in nine games with Texas. His call-up suggests that Cogliano will not play on Thursday after suffering an injury in Calgary on Wednesday.
This is the second time that Smith has been called up. During his first tour with the Red Wings, Smith had no points with four shots but carried an impressive 63.3 CorsiFor% in three games. During his time with the Griffins, the 21-year-old has scored three goals with four assists (seven points) in 10 games.
Seeler has been a healthy scratch for six straight games but will replace Carson Soucy as the No.6 defensemen on Saturday. Seeler has no points in two games this season.
Richard has one goal and one assist in seven AHL games this season and could make his season debut on Saturday. Austin Watson is a game-time decision tonight, so look for Richard to draw-in on the fourth line if Watson can't play.
