Blackhawks assign Regin, Leighton to AHL

The Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday assigned forward Peter Regin and goaltender Michael Leighton to Rockford of the American Hockey League.

Regin, 28, was acquired by the Blackhawks with forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard from the New York Islanders on Feb. 6 for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. He signed a one-year, $650,000 contract on July 1, but was placed on waivers by Chicago on Saturday. He had four goals and 11 points in 61 games last season for the Islanders and Blackhawks.

Leighton, 33, agreed to terms with the Blackhawks on a one-year contract in August after he spent last season with HC Donbass of the KHL. He is 35-41-10 with a 2.97 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 105 NHL regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes. He is 8-4 with a 2.54 GAA and .912 save percentage in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including a League-record three shutouts against the Montreal Canadiens in 2010 Eastern Conference Final.

The Blackhawks have 25 players remaining on their training camp roster.

---

The Winnipeg Jets on Sunday reassigned forward Nikolaj Ehlers, the No. 9 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, to Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Ehlers, 18, had 104 points (49 goals, 55 assists) in 63 games for the Mooseheads last season, his first in North America. He is No. 19 on NHL.com's ranking of the Top 60 prospects in the League.

Also reporting to their junior teams is defenseman Joshua Morrissey (Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League), the No. 13 pick in the 2013 draft, and Nicolas Petan (Portland, WHL). Defensemen Ben Chiarot and Keaton Ellerby will report to St. John's of the AHL pending waivers.

Goalie Daniel Taylor was released from his professional tryout.

---

The Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday claimed forward Jack Skille off waivers from the New York Islanders.

Skille returns to the Blue Jackets after leaving as a free agent. He had four goals in 16 games for Columbus last season and an assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. The No. 7 pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, Skille has 24 goals and 53 points in 194 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers and Blue Jackets.

"I know that room," Skille told the Columbus Dispatch. "I know the guys in there. They want to win. They want to change the environment. That [playoff] series [against the Pittsburgh Penguins] could have gone either way. I’m excited, not just personally to get an opportunity, but to be back with that group of guys and to go do something special."

---

The Washington Capitals on Sunday returned forward Dane Byers to the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

Byers, 28, had 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) and 211 penalty minutes in 73 AHL games last season. A second-round selection (No. 48) of the New York Rangers in the 2004 NHL Draft, Byers has a goal and 60 penalty minutes in 14 NHL games for the Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Capitals have 29 players remaining on their training camp roster and finish their preseason schedule Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes (3 p.m. ET; NHLN-US).

---

The St. Louis Blues on Sunday assigned forwards Cody Beach, Colin Fraser and Peter Mueller to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

Beach, 22, had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 34 games last season with the Wolves. Fraser, 29, had two assists in 33 regular-season games with the Los Angeles Kings and six points (three goals, three assists) in 10 games with Manchester of the AHL.

Mueller, 26, played last season for Kloten of the Swiss National League. His 24 goals were tied for the league lead and his 46 points ranked third.

---

The Edmonton Oilers on Sunday trimmed their training camp roster by eight players. Forwards Jujhar Khaira and Bogdan Yakimov, and defenseman Martin Marincin, were assigned to Oklahoma City of the AHL. Forward Kevin Westgarth was released from his professional tryout.

The Oilers also placed defenseman Keith Aulie, and forwards Anton Lander, Steven Pinizzotto and Tyler Pitlick, on waivers with the intent of an assignment to Oklahoma City.

---

The Calgary Flames on Sunday assigned forwards Sven Baertschi and Josh Jooris, and goalie Joni Ortio, to Adirondack of the AHL.

Baertschi, the No. 13 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, has eight goals and 24 points in 51 NHL games. Ortio was 4-4 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in nine games with Calgary last season after spending time with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL and the Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

Jooris had 11 goals and 27 points in 73 regular-season games last season with the Heat.

---

The Los Angeles Kings on Sunday assigned goalie Jean-Francois Berube and center Jordan Weal to Manchester of the AHL. Defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk was placed on injured reserve.

The Kings have 25 players remaining on their training camp roster.