Canada Sport News

Meet the NHL's 2023-24 All-Healthy Scratch Team
  • List
    •

    Meet the NHL’s 2023-24 All-Healthy Scratch Team

    Some folks are “not talking about Sean.” But we are.

    We’re talking about Sean and Evgeny and Patrik and Ukko-Pekka and all the other notable players banished, for various reasons and for varying stretches, to the press box.

    Yes, we’re unveiling our 2023-24 All–Healthy Scratch Team — two full lines, two defence pairs, and two goaltenders who have been forced to sit and watch teammates play in games they had planned to dress for.

    The healthy scratch means different things in different situations.

    As you can see by the stories on our squad, there are cases where a benching can foreshadow a trade, embarrass a superstar, drag out an improved performance, hint at a deeper issue, or simply offer a chance for a player’s mental or physical reset.

    What all significant healthy scratches do, though, is spark conversation and strike nerves.

    NHL on Sportsnet


    Livestream Hockey Night in Canada, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the Oilers, Flames, Canucks, out-of-market matchups, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the NHL Draft.

    Broadcast Schedule

    Here are a dozen lineup exclusions that caught our attention this season:

    Sean Couturier, C: The headliner of this team and only captain on the list, Couturier’s journey from Selke Trophy winner to John Tortorella’s doghouse during a critical stretch run is both fascinating and infuriating. The two-way centreman is signed for six more seasons beyond this one at a $7.75-million cap hit, so this story is far from over.

    Evgeny Kuznetsov, C: An 83-point scorer and near–Conn Smythe winner in the Capitals’ Cup-winning run in 2018, Kuznetsov had fallen out of favour in Washington for a while and was ultimately untradable without salary retention. He entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He cleared waivers. And after his deadline deal to contending Carolina, Kuznetsov is savouring a second chance. It may be his last.

    Andrei Kuzmenko, LW: Jolted by a ridiculous 27.3 shooting percentage, the undrafted Russian sniped his way to 39-goal debut and a juicy contract extension from the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23, his first season in the North America. The winger’s momentum did not carry over to new coach Rick Tocchet’s 2023-24 regime, however. Falling out of favour on a stronger squad, Kuzmenko was scratched frequently and eventually packaged to Calgary in the Elias Lindholm trade.

    Anthony Duclair, LW: Now thriving in Tampa Bay for a Lightning squad that appears to be peaking at the perfect time (nine points in seven games), the speedy Duclair got benched in moribund San Jose back in December. He looked like a lost talent swirling in a lost campaign. “I just gotta skate more. You got to track back and work harder,” Duclair said at the time. “That’s it.”

    Patrik Laine, RW: “It was a hard conversation, but nobody is bigger than the Blue Jackets,” Columbus coach Pascal Vincent explained, when he scratched the Jackets’ $34.8-million investment back in November. Laine called his trip to the press box “the most embarrassing thing that has happened to me” in his career. The former 44-goal-scorer entered in the player assistance program in January. For the Jackets and Laine’s sake, here’s hoping the electrifying talent can rebound next season.

    Anthony Mantha, RW: The wildly inconsistent power forward responded well after his wrist-slap in Washington, posting 20 goals for the first time in five years and turning himself into a worthy trade chip. The pending UFA has yet to find his niche in Vegas, however. Mantha has only a goal and an assist through his first games for the defending champs, who paid a second- and a fourth-round pick to rent his services.

    Tony DeAngelo, D: A two-time 50-point defenceman, DeAngelo has had a difficult time squeezing into Carolina’s winning lineup this season. His frustration will all but certainly lead to a parting of the ways this summer. “I’m not used to it, obviously. I don’t agree with it,” DeAngelo, who has appeared in just 28 contests, said in February. “That’s nothing against the coaching staff or anybody. It’s just, honestly, I know I’m good enough to play. But we’ve got a great D and guys have played well, and that’s the way they went with it…. I came back here, signing in Carolina, to play, to compete, to help try to win. So, it’s tough to not get to be a part of it every night.”

    T.J. Brodie, D: The versatile and respected veteran ranks second among all Maple Leafs defencemen in ice time and salary. Yet the guy coach Sheldon Keefe once dubbed “Mr. Consistent” has struggled in the tough matchups this season. Toronto gave Brodie a two-game mental break last week in the hope that some time off can reset and refresh the pending UFA for the post-season. Asked how Brodie performed in Sunday’s return, a 2-1 loss in Carolina, Keefe said: “He was fine.”

    Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D: Vlasic’s gold-medal-winning days with Team Canada feel distant as the 36-year-old defensive stalwart is now a minus-22 for the scorched-earth San Jose Sharks. That two more seasons — and a $7-million cap hit — remain on Vlasic’s contract make a trade improbable and more scratches likely. Not fun seeing such a steady, stand-up D-man in decline and obscurity.

    Tyson Barrie, D: Not since his 10-game taste of the NHL in 2011-12 has Barrie’s ice time been lower than it has been this season (18:21). The four-time 50-point defenceman will be hard-pressed to hit 20 this year. Despite submitting a trade request months ago and being granted permission to speak with opposing team, Barrie has battled injury and quietly hung on as a depth player during the Predators’ thrilling and unexpected wild-card push. “It doesn’t really feel like a great fit,” Barrie said in December. Which is why the free agent should move on this off-season.

    Ilya Samsonov, G: The 2023-24 Ilya Samsonov Experience has been a wild ride. At the roller-coaster’s lowest point, the man who backstopped the Maple Leafs’ first playoff series victory in a generation was waived and banished to solo work with the club’s AHL goaltending coach. Reborn mentally stronger, Samsonov has won 14 of his 18 starts since mid-January.

    Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G: Deemed not fit to dress behind prized prospect Devon Levi in the early going, Luukkonen has shone through as one of the brightest stories in another cloudy winter in Buffalo. The 25-year-old Sabres goaltender has been fantastic in 2023-24, posting career highs in games played, wins, and goals-against average. The pending RFA has earned himself a raise.

    Honourable mentions: Morgan Frost, Kevin Shattenkirk, Kent Johnson, Cam Atkinson, Connor Brown, David Kämpf, Pierre Engvall, James van Riemsdyk, Simon Holmstrom, Mark Giordano, Antti Raanta, Ethan Bear, Calen Addison.

    More from Sportsnet
    Weekend Takeaways: Ovechkin reignites Gretzky chase


    Maple Leafs’ Matthews on pace for NHL’s most goals in a season in nearly 30 years

    In the fast-paced world of professional hockey, injuries are unfortunately a common occurrence. Whether it’s a minor tweak or a more serious ailment, players often find themselves sidelined for games while they recover. However, there is another group of players who also spend a significant amount of time watching from the press box: healthy scratches.

    A healthy scratch is a player who is not injured but is still left out of the lineup for various reasons, such as poor performance, lineup changes, or simply being the odd man out. While it may be frustrating for these players to sit out games, being a healthy scratch is a part of the game and can provide an opportunity for players to rest and refocus.

    With that in mind, let’s take a look at the NHL’s 2023-24 All-Healthy Scratch Team. These players may not be on the ice every night, but they are still valuable members of their respective teams.

    1. Forward: Alex Galchenyuk (Toronto Maple Leafs)
    Galchenyuk has had a rollercoaster career in the NHL, bouncing around from team to team. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, he has struggled to find consistency. As a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs, Galchenyuk is working hard to earn his spot in the lineup and make an impact when given the opportunity.

    2. Forward: Ryan Donato (Seattle Kraken)
    Donato was once a highly-touted prospect, but he has yet to fully realize his potential in the NHL. As a healthy scratch for the Kraken, Donato is looking to prove himself and show that he belongs in the league.

    3. Defense: Jake Bean (Columbus Blue Jackets)
    Bean was a first-round draft pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016, but he was traded to the Blue Jackets in 2021. As a healthy scratch for Columbus, Bean is working on improving his game and earning a regular spot in the lineup.

    4. Defense: Madison Bowey (Vancouver Canucks)
    Bowey has bounced between the NHL and AHL throughout his career, but he has shown promise as a defenseman. As a healthy scratch for the Canucks, Bowey is focused on continuing to develop his game and contribute to the team when called upon.

    5. Goalie: Anton Forsberg (Carolina Hurricanes)
    Forsberg has been a reliable backup goalie in the NHL, but he has found himself as a healthy scratch behind starter Frederik Andersen in Carolina. Despite not seeing much game action, Forsberg is staying sharp in practice and ready to step in when needed.

    While being a healthy scratch may not be ideal for these players, it is all part of the game of hockey. These players continue to work hard and stay ready for their next opportunity to make an impact on the ice. So next time you see a player listed as a healthy scratch, remember that they are still an important part of their team and are working hard behind the scenes to contribute when called upon.