The Checkers will get a pair of new arrivals in time for tonight’s game against San Antonio, as the Hurricanes have reassigned forward Zac Dalpe and assigned defenseman Derek Joslin on a conditioning stint.
Dalpe recorded a goal and an assist during his latest stay with the Canes, both during the same game on Dec. 29. His return gives the Checkers 13 healthy forwards, with Jared Staal the most likely candidate to come out of the lineup as he stayed on the ice for extra work along with defenseman Chris Murray following today’s optional morning skate. If that is the case, forward Matt Beca would play his second consecutive game following his Checkers debut on Wednesday.
The return of Dalpe, who scored a goal in his most recent AHL game on Dec. 20, will come at a welcome time for a Checkers team that was becoming thin at the forward ranks to due NHL recalls (Drayson Bowman remains with the Hurricanes) and injuries (Chris Durno and Justin Shugg). Though they had scored 16 goals over their previous five games, the Checkers were shut out for the third time this season on Wednesday.
Joslin, 24, will be playing his first AHL game since May 7, 2010, when he appeared in Game 6 of Worcester’s second-round playoff loss to Manchester. The blueliner, who would require waivers to be assigned to Charlotte on anything other than a conditioning stint due to his age and NHL experience (84 games), has played 14 games with the Hurricanes this season, recording one goal and one assist. He has not played since Dec. 15, having served as a healthy scratch for a total of 27 games.
Joslin, who has recorded 96 points (26g, 67a) in 203 career AHL games, joined the Hurricanes organization following a trade with San Jose last February. Upon arriving in Carolina, he recorded 5 points (1g, 4a) and a plus-7 plus/minus rating in 17 games.
