Smith was San Jose's top prospect and 2023 first-round pick (4th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday worth $4.15 million ($950,000 AAV). The 19-year-old just finished up his Freshman season with Boston College (NCAA) and had 25 goals and 71 points in 41 games played.
Kaskimaki was St. Louis' 2022 third-round pick (73rd overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday with the Blues. The 20-year-old centre spent 2023-24 with HIFK of Liiga in Finland and had 10 goals, and 17 points in 48 games played.
Bobrovsky was shelled in Game 3 for a second-straight loss after allowing five goals on 23 shots (.783 SV%) and will look to bounce back as he takes the crease for Game 4 on Tuesday vs. New York. The 35-year-old had been excellent in the playoffs before this Eastern Conference final and holds a decent 9-5-0 record, 2.31 GAA and .903 SV% in 14 games played. He will host the New York Rangers on Tuesday, who are currently 10-3 in the playoffs and have scored seven goals in the first three games of the series.
Cousins has struggled in this year's playoffs with only an assist in 11 games played and will head to the press box as a healthy scratch for Game 4 as he is replaced by veteran Kyle Okposo. The 30-year-old grinding fourth-liner had seven points in 21 playoff games in 2022-23, but has failed to duplicate his success while on Florida's fourth line this year.
Okposo has been a healthy scratch for Florida's previous four playoff games but will jump back into the lineup on the fourth line for Nick Cousins on Tuesday. The 36-year-old veteran winger was acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline and has appeared in eight post season games so far, with two assists, six SOG, and two PIMs while averaging just 8:54 TOI/GP.
Lorentz has not played since Game 5 of Florida's second-round series vs. Boston but looks to draw back into the lineup for Ryan Lomberg on Tuesday for Game 4 of the ECF. The 28-year-old has matched his regular season point production in just nine playoff games with two goals and three points while averaging just 7:23 TOI/GP.
Lomberg has appeared in five playoff games so far but is without a point and will be replaced by Steven Lorentz on Florida's fourth line for Game 4 on Tuesday. The 29-year-old had seven points in 75 regular season games but has failed to produce in the playoffs while averaging only 7:41 TOI/GP.
McLeod has yet to pick up a point in his first 14 games of the playoffs. He will be replaced by Adam Henrique, who will be suiting up for the first time since Game 2 vs. the Canucks.
Henrique has been out since Game 2 vs. the Canucks but will replace Ryan McLeod in Game 3 vs. the Stars. Henrique has picked up one goal and one assist in six games during the Oilers' postseason run.
Kakko was a healthy scratch for Game 2 but will return to New York's lineup with Jimmy Vesey being out week-to-week and join the Rangers' third line. The 23-year-old winger has struggled throughout the playoffs this year, with a goal, two points and 17 SOG in 11 games played.
Shesterkin was sensational in Game 2 as he evened the series with a 26 save (.963 SV%) victory and will expectedly take the crease again on Sunday for Game 3 in Florida. The 28-year-old has been in his Vezina capable form all postseason, with his 9-3-0 record, 2.22 GAA and .928 SV%. He will head to Sunrise to take on the Florida Panthers, who will be looking to take a 2-1 series lead on home ice.
Henrique warmed up ahead of Game 2 on Saturday but did not dress after declaring he was not yet fully recovered from an ankle injury. Kris Knobblauch announced Sunday that the 34-year-old is "very close" to returning and is hopeful to have him for Game 4 on Wednesday.
Bobrovsky allowed two goals on 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a tough Game 2 loss as New York evened up the Eastern Conference final and will return to the crease as expected to start Game 3 on Sunday vs. the Rangers. The 35-year-old has been solid for the entirety of the playoffs thus far, with his 9-4-0 record, 2.12 GAA and .912 SV% in 13 games played. He will host the New York Rangers for a matinee on Sunday, as the series is now a best-of-five with it tied at one apiece after two games.
Henrique participated in the Oilers' warmup ahead of Game 2 in Dallas but did not partake in line rushes and is expected to miss yet another game as he recovers from his ankle injury suffered at the beginning of the OIlers' second series. The 34-year-old has appeared in six playoff games so far for the OIlers and has a goal and two points.
Dellandrea has not played since Game 4 of the Stars' opening series vs. Vegas but will draw back into the lineup on Saturday for Radek Faksa. In four games so far in the 2023-24 playoffs, the 23-year-old left-winger has a goal, five SOG and two PIMs.
