:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62784081/2018_05_12_437_XL.0.jpg)
The Carolina Hurricanes announced Friday that they have recalled Charlotte Checkers forward Greg McKegg on an emergency basis and have placed center Jordan Staal on injured reserve.
McKegg has been a high-energy forward on a dominant Charlotte Checkers team this season. He ranks fourth on the team in points with 23 in 31 games and brings speed to a loaded Checkers top-six. McKegg and Checkers forward Andrew Poturalski have been great complimentary pieces to a young Checkers team. McKegg is coming off a two-goal performance in the Checkers 5-4 overtime loss against the Toronto Marlies.
Jordan Staal has now missed the past five games with an upper body injury. He has 11 points in 29 games this season. Staal is in the 6th year of a 10-year, $60 million contract. He was placed on injured reserve to open a roster spot for McKegg, who will take the place of Clark Bishop in tonight’s game against the Blue Jackets. Bishop suffered a lower body injury in the first period of last night’s win over the Flyers.
The emergency designation for McKegg’s recall indicates that the Hurricanes have fewer than twelve healthy forwards on the roster, and allows for McKegg to be returned to Charlotte without needing to clear waivers when Staal returns to action.
Below is the Hurricanes press release on the move:
Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s CarolinaHurricanes, today announced that the team has recalled forward Greg McKegg from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an emergency basis and placed forward Jordan Staal on injured reserve.
McKegg, 26, has posted 23 points (6g, 17a) in 31 games with the Checkers this season, ranking second on the team in assists and fourth in points. The 6’0”, 190-pound forward has appeared in 91 career NHL games with Toronto, Florida, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, recording 13 points (7g, 6a). Last season, McKegg tallied four points (2g, 2a) in 26 games with the Penguins, including his first career shorthanded goal.
The St. Thomas, Ont., native was acquired by the Hurricanes from Pittsburgh in exchange for Josh Jooris on Feb. 26, 2018. Since joining the organization, he has registered 46 points (15g, 31a) in 50 games with Charlotte (AHL). He has appeared in 322 career AHL games, tallying 193 points (82g, 111a). McKegg was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the third round, 62nd overall, of the 2010 NHL Draft.
Staal, 30, has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury. The 6’4”, 220-pound forward has recorded 11 points (5g, 6a) in 29 games this season and ranks ninth in the NHL in faceoff win percentage (56.6%). The Thunder Bay, Ont., native has registered 493 points (211g, 282a) in 872 career NHL games, including 245 points (91g, 154a) in 441 games with Carolina. He was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Penguins in exchange for Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin, and a first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (Derrick Pouliot) on June 22, 2012. Staal was drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round, second overall, of the 2006 NHL Draft.