Wild's Samuel Walker: Injured at World Championship
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Walker suffered a shoulder injury at the IIHF World Championship in Finland on Friday and is returning back home, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Walker's tournament is over after just one game. Team doctors told him that he will be ready to go for the start of training camp in September. The rookie had a goal and an assist in nine NHL games in his first professional season. Walker also scored 27 times and added 21 helpers in 56 AHL games.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Heads to minors
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Walker was sent down to the AHL on Friday, per Jessi Pierce of NHL.com.
Walker was called up Wednesday, but was a healthy scratch for that evening's contest against Dallas. He had a goal and two points in nine outings with Minnesota during the regular season. At the AHL level with Iowa, he contributed 27 goals and 48 points in 56 appearances in 2022-23.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Ascends to top level
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Walker was recalled by the Wild on Wednesday.
Although he's been promoted, at this point Walker isn't expected to draw into the lineup for Wednesday's Game 2 versus Dallas. The 23-year-old rookie has picked up two points through nine top-level appearances this season.
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Kings' Sean Walker: Doesn't get much ice time
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Walker averaged a career-low 14:50 of ice time in 2022-23 after averaging 18:33 over the previous three campaigns.
Walker did fine with the work he was given, though, recording three goals, 13 points, 36 PIM, 94 shots, 77 hits and 104 blocks in 70 contests during the regular season. The 28-year-old even recorded a power-play assist despite averaging just 0:13 of ice time with the man advantage. He's projected to continue playing on the third pairing for Game 1 of the Kings' first-round series against Edmonton on Monday.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Sent to minors
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Walker was assigned to AHL Iowa on Friday.
Walker picked up an assist Thursday, giving him a goal and two points in nine NHL games this season. Walker has 26 goals and 46 points in 54 games with Iowa this season.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Rises to top level
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Walker was promoted from AHL Iowa on Wednesday.
Although he's been recalled, at this point it isn't clear if Walker will jump into the lineup for Thursday's regular-season finale versus Nashville. He's picked up one goal through eight top-level appearances this season.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Sent to the minors
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Walker has been reassigned to AHL Iowa on Friday.
Walker has a goal in eight NHL games this season. Walker had 24 goals and 44 points in 50 games at the AHL level before his recall.
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Kings' Sean Walker: Slips helper in blowout win
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Walker notched an assist and went plus-4 in Monday's 8-2 win over the Flames.
Walker has two helpers, 10 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating over his last three contests. It's also a good sign that the Kings lost the game he was scratched for March 18, which should encourage head coach Todd McLellan to keep the 28-year-old blueliner in the lineup at least until Sean Durzi (upper body) returns. Walker has 12 points, 85 shots on net, 91 blocked shots, 62 hits, 34 PIM and a minus-4 rating through 61 appearances.
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Kings' Sean Walker: Sees shot tipped in
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Walker produced an assist and blocked four shots in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Islanders.
Walker saw his 10-game point drought end when Blake Lizotte tipped in one of his shot attempts early in the second period. Prior to Sean Durzi (undisclosed) missing time, Walker saw his job stability slip with a pair of healthy scratches. The 28-year-old has 11 points, 83 shots on net, 85 blocked shots, 62 hits, 34 PIM and a minus-9 rating through 59 contests.
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Kings' Sean Walker: On nine-game scoring drought
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Walker hasn't recorded a point over his last nine games.
Walker has seven goals and 10 points in 57 contests this season. He's averaged just 14:46 of ice time in 2022-23, and his role has been trending downward with him averaging 13:03 over his last nine outings. With his limited responsibilities, Walker isn't likely to make regular offensive contributions.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Summoned by Minnesota
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Walker was called up by Minnesota on Thursday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Walker has a goal in six games with Minnesota this season. At the AHL level, he's contributed 24 goals and 44 points in 50 contests with Iowa in 2022-23. Kirill Kaprizov sustained a lower-body injury during Wednesday's contest versus Winnipeg, so Walker might draw into the lineup Saturday against San Jose.
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Kings' Sean Walker: Snaps slump with goal
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Walker scored a goal on two shots and blocked five shots in Monday's 5-2 win over the Sabres.
Walker had gone 15 games without a goal and mustered just one assist in that span. His second-period tally Monday held up as the game-winner, the first such goal of his career. For the season, the 28-year-old blueliner is up to 10 points, 68 shots on net, 73 blocked shots, 53 hits, 30 PIM and a minus-5 rating through 48 contests in a bottom-four role.
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Kings' Sean Walker: On 10-game scoring drought
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Walker has been held off the scoresheet in his last 10 contests.
Walker does have 13 hits and 19 blocks over that 10-game span though, which gives him two goals, nine points, 52 hits and 65 blocks in 46 contests this season. He's averaging just 15:05 of ice time this season, which is down from 18:33 over 123 contests from 2019-20 through 2021-22. Although he should continue to make regular contributions in terms of hits and blocks, his scoring pace isn't likely to increase meaningfully unless his role with the Kings grows.
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Kings' Sean Walker: Provides helper
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Walker notched an assist, two shots on goal and four PIM in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Golden Knights.
Walker set up Viktor Arvidsson's third-period tally. With three points over his last eight games, Walker continues to provide a little bit of depth offense from a third-pairing role. The 28-year-old blueliner is at two goals, seven helpers, 47 shots on net, 26 PIM, 46 blocked shots, 39 hits and a minus-4 rating through 36 contests. He'll continue to compete for playing time, but it looks like he has the inside edge to stay in the lineup over Jacob Moverare.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Sent to AHL
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Walker was sent back to AHL Iowa on Sunday.
Walker has suited up in six games with Minnesota this season. He was a healthy scratch Saturday versus the Blues due to the return of forwards Marcus Foligno (lower body) and Mason Shaw (suspension).
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Kings' Sean Walker: Nets equalizer in shootout win
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Walker scored a goal and added four PIM in Thursday's 5-4 shootout win over the Avalanche.
Walker tallied at 14:20 of the third period to force overtime. The 28-year-old has a pair of points in his last four games since he's returned from a two-game stint as a healthy scratch. The defenseman is up to two tallies, eight points, 42 shots on net, 40 blocked shots, 33 hits, 22 PIM and a minus-3 rating in 32 contests. He's likely to remain in a third-pairing role, competing with Alexander Edler and Jordan Spence for playing time.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Gets first NHL goal
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Walker recorded his first NHL goal and point in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Winnipeg.
Walker's marker came at 17:55 of the third period and was scored on an empty net. He was playing in his fifth NHL game after being called up from AHL Iowa on Monday. The 23-year-old logged 11:12 of ice time against Winnipeg.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Back with big club
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Walker was promoted from AHL Iowa on Monday.
As expected, the Wild recalled Walker ahead of Tuesday's matchup with the Jets. He has 24 points through 23 AHL games but he's been held scoreless through four career NHL appearances.
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Kings' Sean Walker: Rejoins lineup, earns assist
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Walker posted an assist, two blocked shots and two PIM in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Flames.
Walker was a healthy scratch for the last two games, but he retook a place in the lineup over Jordan Spence. In the first period, Walker took a shot that Gabriel Vilardi deflected in for the Kings' first goal of the contest. It's been a bit of a sputtering first half of the season for Walker, who has a goal, six assists, 40 shots on net, 34 blocked shots, 29 hits, 14 PIM and a minus-4 rating through 29 contests. He's mostly played on the third pairing this season after being a top-four fixture for much of the three previous campaigns.
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Wild's Samuel Walker: Heads to AHL
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Walker was reassigned to AHL Iowa on Saturday.
The Wild activated Ryan Hartman, who will return from a shoulder injury Sunday against Ottawa, in a corresponding move. Walker posted three shots on goal, one block and two hits in four appearances with Minnesota following his recall from the minors. The 23-year-old forward made his NHL debut Dec. 10 versus Vancouver.
