NHL Notebook: Bruins release former Oilers forward Alex Chiasson from PTO, Ducks forward Alex Killorn to miss 4-6 weeks, and more

The Boston Bruins confirmed on Sunday that they have released former Edmonton Oilers forward Alex Chiasson from his professional tryout.

The news was initially annouced on Twitter by Scott McLaughlin on Saturday morning, but was confirmed by the club.

The forward, who turned 33-years-old Sunday, played in two preseason games for the Bruins including a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, logging 20:48 of total ice time. Despite joining a line with Brett Harrison, Georgii Merkulov, and joining the first power play unit, Chiasson failed to secure a point for the Bruins.

Boston’s head coach Jim Montgomery expressed that the organization felt that the news would give Chiasson an opportunity to go else where as he hits the free agent market once again.

“A lot of guys are having really good camps, it’s just coming down to the numbers,” Montgomery noted.

Last season, Chiasson joined the Detroit Red Wings signing as a free agent playing 20 games scoring six goals and nine points. He appeared in an additional 29 games with the clubs AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he posted nine goals and 20 points.

It’s been 14 years since Chiasson drafted by the Dallas Stars as their 38th overall pick in the 2009 NHL draft. Since then, the forward has had tenures with seven different teams including the Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, and his longest tenure being with the Oilers.

Chiasson originally signed as a free agent with the Oilers back in October of 2018, months after becoming a Stanley Cup Champion with the Capitals. He was no superstar during his time in Edmonton, but did find ways to consistently produce secondary offence. In his three years with the team he scored 42 goals and 78 points across 183 games dressed in blue and orange.

The Anaheim Ducks annouced on Saturday forward Alex Killorn will miss four to six weeks due to a fractured finger he suffered in a preseason game against the San Jose Sharks on September 27th.

Killorn joined the Ducks as an unrestricted free agent on opening day of free agency on July 1st 2023, after spending seven years with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not only did Killorn secure a new team, he inked a lucrative four-year deal worth $6.25 million per year.

Last season, Killorn capped off his final year with the Lightning setting career-highs with 27 goals and 64 points across 82 regular season games. He notched an additional three goals and five points during the playoffs, but the Lightning faced an unexpected first-round exit — their first since 2019 — courtesy of the Toronto Maple Leafs who eliminated them six games.

His legacy with the Lightning spans over 11 seasons, after being drafted by the team as their 77th overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft. His crowning moments have been marked by consecutive Stanley Cup wins in 2019-20, and 2020-21. Throughout 805 games he’s posted 198 goals and 466 points.

The entire hockey community is deeply saddened after the announcement that Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow passed on Saturday after a courageous battle with ALS.

Kelsie Snow, the 42-year-old’s wife, shared the unfortunate news in a social media post confirming his passing and revealing the donation of Snow’s kidney, liver and lungs.

“Today we hugged Chris for the last time and said goodbye.”

Snow received his initial diagnosis with ALS at the University of Miami in 2019, just months after news that he would be moving into the role as the Flames assistant general manager.

The entire Snow family had become advocates for the disease and worked tirelessly with a handful of charitable efforts to help raise awareness surrounding ALS. The #SnowyStrong campaign launched in 2020 raising over $575,000 to directly fund new treatments and research across three different organizations. Snow also participated in the #WeakSideStrong campaign to help with furthering the search for a cure.

On September 27th, his wife revealed that her husband has suffered cardiac arrest leading to a catastrophic brain injury due to lack of oxygen, but it was unlikely he would wake up.

The Flames released a statement from general manager Craig Conroy onto their socials after the heartbreaking news was shared.

“We will never replace a person like Chris,” the post read. “We simply pay tribute to him by moving forward with the same passion that he brought to his life each day.”

Snow leaves behind his wife Kelsie, daughter Willa, and son Cohen.