ROSTER MOVES: Etem and Vatanen Up, Holland and Hendry Down

This afternoon, the Ducks announced that they had recalled forward Emerson Etem and defenseman Sami Vatanen from the Norfolk Admirals. In a corresponding move, center Peter Holland and defeseman Jordan Hendry were sent down to Norfolk.

Personally, this move raises some eyebrows and makes me wonder how Etem and Vatanen will fit in. I could easily see Etem slotted in on a revised third line with Nick Bonino and either Kyle Palmieri or Andrew Cogliano. Similarly, I have a hard time seeing why the Ducks would call up Vatanen, only to have him sit. My guess is that either Luca Sbisa or Bryan Allen will see some reduced time while the club sees what they can get from Vatanen.

That Hendry was demoted is not unsurprising, although I'm kind of shocked that Peter Holland only got one start before being shipped out. This would seem to indicate that the Ducks are willing to burn a year of center Rickard Rakell's entry level contract as the fourth line center. Rakell has played in three games, and has two more before he officially consumes a year of his ELC.

Etem has 14 points in 40 games with Norfolk, although he torched the CHL last season, racking up 61 goals in 65 games. Vatanen has 23 points in 34 games and was invited to big league camp to start the season, but was sidelined with a foot injury before being sent down to Norfolk.