4 weeks agoBoston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo will be between the sticks for Tuesday's season opener against the Florida Panthers. Boston managed to get Jeremy Swayman under a new contract right before the start of the season, but the team has decided to go with Korpisalo for the first game. The Finnish netminder faces a difficult challenge on the road against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Korpisalo has a 3-7-2 career record against the Panthers with a 3.81 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Fluto Shinzawa
4 weeks agoSan Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (lower body) will play in Thursday's season opener against St. Louis, head coach Ryan Warsofsky has confirmed. Celebrini sustained a lower-body injury in a preseason game at the start of the month and has been out of action because of it. However, he will be good to go for his debut on Thursday. The 18-year-old will pick up first-line center duties. Tyler Toffoli and William Eklund skated alongside him in Monday's practice, and it's likely the trio will stick together for Thursday's contest against a Blues team that allowed 3.02 goals per game last season and won't have Torey Krug (ankle) available in defense.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sheng Peng
4 weeks agoColorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder) will be re-evaluated at the end of the month. The Avalanche have 11 games scheduled for October, starting with Wednesday's regular-season opener against Vegas. With Gabriel Landeskog (knee) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) also unavailable, the team's attack is looking quite light behind the top line. The absences could mean a big role for rookie Calum Ritchie right off the bat. He practiced on the second line on Monday and has made the opening night roster.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Corey Masisak
4 weeks agoLeft wing Jakub Vrana has agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals. The deal is a league minimum of $775,000. Vrana spent training camp and preseason with the Capitals on a professional tryout agreement. It marks a return to D.C. for Vrana, who began his NHL career with the Capitals in 2016-17. He was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, and Vrana spent the previous couple of campaigns in the St. Louis Blues organization. The 28-year-old mostly featured in the AHL last season. Vrana's career has been on a downward spiral, but he has previously proven that he can be an impactful player. In 367 career appearances, Vrana has produced 110 goals and 209 points.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: The Hockey News
4 weeks agoBoston Bruins center Matthew Poitras (undisclosed) has officially been ruled out for Tuesday's season opener against Florida. He was already iffy for the contest with an undisclosed ailment, and the young forward hasn't recovered in time for the first game of the season. However, Poitras practiced on Monday in a non-contact jersey, meaning he should not miss too much action at the start of the campaign. Once he's ready to go, Poitras is expected to center Boston's third line. He won't be a very attractive fantasy piece in the role.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: The Hockey News
4 weeks agoSt. Louis Blues left wing Brandon Saad (personal) will not be in the lineup on Tuesday as the team begins its 2024-25 campaign with a road contest against the Seattle Kraken. Saad hasn't traveled to the game with the team, remaining in St. Louis for the expected arrival of his third child. The Blues also visit San Jose and Vegas in the opening week, and it remains to be seen if Saad will be ready to link up with the team at some point. The veteran is slated to fill a middle-six role for St. Louis this season. Saad notched 26 goals and 42 points in 82 games last term.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
4 weeks agoNew York Ranger left wing Artemi Panarin (lower body) has said that he will be ready to play in the team's season opener. The Rangers begin the campaign on Wednesday night versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Panarin's status had been under a question mark after he battled a lower-body injury throughout preseason. The Russian winger has saved some of his best performances for meetings with the Penguins, posting 17 goals and 39 points in 30 career games against them. It's the most goals he has scored against any opposition during his nine-year NHL career.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Remy Mastey
4 weeks agoVeteran winger Max Pacioretty has signed a one-year, $873,770 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pacioretty spent the training camp with the team on a professional tryout contract and will now also start the regular season with the Maple Leafs. Health issues have kept the 35-year-old back in recent campaigns, but he finds himself in a good situation in Toronto. Pacioretty is projected to start the season on the third line, but he should also see action among the top six and will definitely be used on the power play. The Maple Leafs also added Steven Lorentz to their forwards group on a one-year contract on Monday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
4 weeks agoNew York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) will open the season on the injured reserve, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic. Staple further noted that Lindgren is expected to return within the next ten games. The 26-year-old was already sidelined with the injury for a few weeks and was facing an uphill battle to be ready in time for the season opener. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status but should not expect him to miss any significant period. While Lindgren remains out, K'Andre Miller is a candidate to play on the top pairing with Adam Fox. Lindgren has yet to eclipse the 20-point mark in his five-year NHL career but remains a valuable asset in leagues that score hits and blocked shots, as he tallied 114 and 103, respectively, in the 2023 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Arthur Staple
4 weeks agoCalgary Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich (lower body) was placed on the injured reserve on Monday and was deemed week-to-week. The 26-year-old suffered an injury during Friday's preseason game and will now miss at least the first week of the 2024 regular season. As a result, fantasy managers should expect 19-year-old Samuel Honzek to claim the open spot on the top line, as he was seen doing line rushes with them earlier on Monday. Sharangovich enjoyed a breakout campaign last season as he tallied an impressive 31 goals and 59 points, both career-highs. Honzek is worth a look in deeper formats, as he should be given ample opportunities to succeed while Sharangovich is sidelined.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Calgary Flames
4 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets left wing Boone Jenner (upper body) is expected to be placed on the injured reserve, according to Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers. Scheig further noted that Jenner could miss a significant amount of time. The 31-year-old reportedly suffered the injury during Friday's practice. As a result, fantasy managers should expect 23-year-old Yegor Chinakhov to replace Jenner on the top line. Jenner scored at least 20 goals for the third-straight campaign in 2023 with 35 points. Chinakhov began to emerge in Columbus last season as he scored a career-high 16 goals before suffering a season-ending injury. Chinakhov is worth adding in most formats as he should have a good opportunity to reach the 20-goal mark this season playing on the top line and top power-play unit.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Scheig
4 weeks agoPittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic (lower body) was placed on the injured reserve earlier on Monday according to Michelle Crechiolo of Pens Inside Scoop. The 28-year-old was deemed week-to-week during the final week of the preseason which could suggest Nedeljkovic could miss some time early on. As a result, rookie Joel Blomqvist made the Opening Night Roster and is set to backup Tristan Jarry. When Nedeljkovic returns, fantasy managers should expect him and Jarry to split time in the crease as they did through most of the 2023 campaign. Blomqvist spent the entire 2023 season in the AHL and performed very well with a 0.921 SV% and a 2.16 GAA. Blomqvist is worth a look in deeper formats as he could make his first NHL start on Thursday evening against the Detroit Red Wings as Jarry will likely get the nod on Wednesday evening in the season opener.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Michelle Crechiolo
4 weeks agoPittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (lower body) will open the 2024 season on Injured Reserve, according to Michelle Crechiolo of Pens Inside Scoop. Rust was originally deemed day-to-day during last week's practices but will miss at least the first four games of the season. However, seeing that the injury did not appear to be serious suggests that the 32-year-old could be back on the ice fairly quickly. Rust enjoyed a nice bounce-back campaign last season by scoring 28 goals with 56 points, which was an increase from the 20 goals and 46 points he posted in 2022. While Rust remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Anthony Beauvillier to serve as the top right wing alongside Drew O'Connor and Sidney Crosby, which makes him an intriguing streaming option through the first week of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Michelle Crechiolo
4 weeks agoDallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston (undisclosed) is expected to play on Thursday night, according to Bruce LeVine of the Dallas Stars. The 21-year-old has been dealing with an undisclosed injury but is expecting to be ready to suit up when the Stars face the Nashville Predators. The former first-round pick took a significant step forward in his sophomore campaign last season, tallying a career-high 32 goals and 65 points. In addition, he averaged two more minutes of playing time every game in relation to his rookie season. Fantasy managers should expect Johnston to open the campaign playing on the top line alongside Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz and seeing top power-play minutes.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bruce LeVine
4 weeks agoTampa Bay Lightning forward Mikey Eyssimont (lower body) has returned to full practice and could be an option for the season opener. Eyssimont is working his way back from a lower-body injury ahead of the new campaign. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said the team hopes to have the 28-year-old available for Friday's season opener against Carolina. Eyssimont logged 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 81 games last season with 135 hits, working as a bottom-six forward. He'll be expected to put up similar numbers in 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Eduardo A. Encina
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