Klingberg has been out for the Maple Leafs' previous two games due to a hip injury and has been placed on the long-term injured reserve Thursday. The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $4,150,000 contract with Toronto in the offseason and had zero goals, five assists, 14 SOG, eight PIMs and a -7 plus/minus in 14 games prior to his injury.
Steeves has been enjoying an excellent start to his 2023-24 season in Toronto (AHL) with 11 goals, seven assists, six PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus through 14 games played and has been recalled to the Maple Leafs Thursday. The 23-year-old has six career NHL games under his belt and has an assist and five SOG while averaging only 7:55 TOI.
De Leo has been out since the preseason due to a knee injury and was placed on waivers Wednesday with the purpose of assigning him to San Diego (AHL). The 28-year-old has not appeared in the NHL since 2021-22 with New Jersey but had nine goals and 23 points in 22 games with Utica (AHL) last season.
Tomkins was placed on waivers Thursday in a move that would indicate Andrei Vasileskiy's return from injury. The 29-year-old is expected to be assigned to Syracuse (AHL) if he does pass through waivers after posting a 1-2-0 record, 3.40 GAA, and .889 SV% in three games with Tampa Bay.
Lettieri had two goals, 14 SOG, four PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus in 11 games in 2023-24 but has been placed on waivers Thursday. The 28-year-old forward will likely return to Iowa (AHL) if unclaimed, where he has a goal and three points through four games this season prior to his call-up.
Jarnkrok blocked a shot in practice Wednesday and will be a game-time decision Friday in Chicago. The 32-year-old two-way center has enjoyed a solid start to his 2023-24 season with four goals, five assists, 28 SOG, four PIMs, +5 plus/minus in 17 games played.
Woll allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Maple Leafs' win in Minnesota last Sunday. Woll has had a tough time recently, allowing at least three goals in five of his last six games, while posting an .873 SV%. Tonight he'll face a Penguins team that is 1-for-22 (4.5%) on the power-play in their last nine games. Toronto are -120 road favourites.
The Maple Leafs' goaltending carousel continues Friday as Ilya Samsonov takes the crease Friday in Chicago. The 26-year-old goaltender has struggled mightily in 2023-24, with his 4-1-2 record, .878 SV%, and 3.56 GAA. He draws the Chicago Blackhawks on the road Friday, who have lost five straight and are 31st in the NHL in goals (2.53) and in shots on goal (26.9).
Soderblom will attempt to snap a personal five-game losing streak Friday as he draws the start vs. Toronto at home. The 24-year-old has struggled for a third consecutive season, with his 1-6-0 record, 3.89 GAA, and .879 SV%. He will look to snap Toronto's four-game winning streak, who are seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.53) and 11th in shots per game (31.7).
Anderson has enjoyed a fantastic start to his 2023-24 season in Rockford (AHL) with seven goals, nine assists, two PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in 14 games played and has been recalled to Chicago Thursday. The 25-year-old appeared in 24 games in 2022-23 with the Blackhawks, where he had four goals, six points, 28 SOG, and a -9 plus/minus in 24 games played.
Guttman had three goals, six assists, 16 PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus in 12 games with Rockford (AHL) and has been recalled to Chicago for a second time this season. The 24-year-old center returns to the Blackhawks, where he has a goal in three games played and is expected to center the second line as Andreas Athanasiou heads to the injured reserve.
Athanasiou has missed the Blackhawks' last five games and was placed on the injured reserve Thursday with a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old center has struggled through injuries this season with four assists, 20 SOG, and a -5 plus/minus through 11 games played. Cole Guttman was recalled from Rockford (AHL) to replace Athanasiou.
Taylor Hall was acquired in the offseason for two players but has endured a season filled with injuries and will now be out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season as he undergoes right knee surgery. The 32-year-old left-winger ends his season with two goals, two assists, 20 SOG, four PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in 10 games played.
Demko will unsurprisingly get the nod in Colorado for the Canucks on Wednesday. The 27-year-old netminder has been an integral part of the Canucks' early season success. He most recently turned away 27 of the 28 shots he faced in Monday's 3-1 victory over the Kraken. Demko owns an impressive 9-4-0 record on the season to go along with a .929 SV% and 2.12 GAA. He draws a tough assignment on Wednesday with the Canucks being +135 road underdogs to the Avalanche.
Georgiev entered the final minute of play with a 3-2 lead over the Nashville Predators on Monday but allowed two goals in 16 seconds en route to a 4-3 regulation loss. Georgiev's 3.08 GAA and .888 SV% through 15 games (10-5-0) leaves a lot to be desired, but the Bulgarian goaltender has consistently collected victories when called upon this season. The Avalanche are -163 home favourites against a Vancouver Canucks team that leads the league offensively, averaging 4.11 goals scored per game.
