NHL Hockey Player News

Pacioretty will open the season on the injured reserve for the Washington Capitals as he continues to recover from his second Achilles surgery in one year. Over the last three seasons, Pacioretty has struggled vehemently with injuries, playing only 92 total games over that span. After recovering from his first Achilles surgery, he was only able to play five games last season before re-injuring his Achilles and forcing an abrupt end to his season. He scored three goals and registered 16 SOG in those five games. There is not yet a definitive timeline for his return, but he will poised to prove he can still be an effective goal scorer in the NHL.

Savoie was a longshot to make the Blackhawks' opening night roster but had a wrench thrown in those plans with a femur injury that has landed him on the injured reserve and out indefinitely. The 19-year-old forward was Chicago's 2022 3rd-round pick (81st overall). He had 26 goals, 33 assists, 90 PIMs, and a +30 plus/minus in 60 games with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23.

Philp had the potential to make the Blackhawks' opening night roster but has now been placed on the injured reserve indefinitely with an injured Achilles. The 27-year-old forward appeared in three games for Chicago in 2022-23 and picked up an assist and two PIMs. He played the majority of last season in Rockford, where he had 29 goals, 53 points and a +17 plus/minus in 60 games played.

Dach was Chicago's 2021 2nd-round selection (62nd overall) and was fighting for a spot on the Blackhawks' opening roster but has been unfortunately placed on the injured reserve to start the season with a right ankle injury. The 20-year-old forward has yet to make his NHL debut but had 12 goals, 15 assists, 31 PIMs, and a +11 plus/minus through 23 games played with both Kelowna (WHL) and Seattle (WHL) in 2022-23. He likely will be loaned to Rockford (AHL) when he is fully recovered.

Blackwell had two goals, eight assists, 53 SOG, six PIMs, and a -16 plus/minus through 53 games with Chicago in 2022-23 but will begin the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old veteran forward is considered out indefinitely as he begins his sixth NHL season. He will be used as a key depth piece when he returns to the Blackhawks.

Kurashev was injured in the Blackhawks' preseason back on September 28th and has been placed on the injured reserve retroactive to that date with a left wrist injury. The 23-year-old forward is expected to be out indefinitely to start the season after collecting nine goals, 16 assists, 116 SOG, 14 PIMs, and a -32 plus/minus in 70 games with Chicago in 2022-23.

Chinakhov had four goals, nine assists, 44 SOG, 10 PIMs, and a -6 plus/minus through 30 games with Columbus in 2022-23 but will begin the season on the injured reserve as he deals with a back strain. The 22-year-old right-winger is out indefinitely as he enters his third NHL season. The former 1st round pick (21st overall) is expected to be a key depth piece for the young Blue Jackets in 2023-24.

Blankenburg was fighting for a final roster spot in Columbus but has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) for the start of the 2022-23 campaign. The 25-year-old defensemen had four goals, 10 assists, 50 SOG, 16 PIMs, and a -16 plus/minus through 36 games with Columbus in 2022-23. He will start the season in Cleveland but is expected to play a depth roll with the Blue Jackets as bodies are needed.

The Blue Jackets 2022 first-round selection (6th overall) has failed to make Columbus' opening day roster and has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) for the start of the 2023-24 season. The 19-year-old mega prospect appeared in only four games with Columbus in 2022-23, failing to pick up a point while collecting two PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He returns to Cleveland where he spent most of last season and picked up six goals and 38 points in 55 games played.

Olivier will be forced to miss the beginning of the 2023-24 season as he was placed on the injured reserve Monday with a leg injury and will be out indefinitely. The 26-year-old forward is entering his fifth NHL season and second as a Blue Jacket after putting up five goals, 10 assists, 75 SOG, 81 PIMs, and a -20 plus/minus in 66 games in 2022-23.

Thomson has experienced a unique week on the waiver wire. After being originally placed on waivers last week by Ottawa, he now finds himself back with the Senators after being placed on waivers again by Anaheim. Thomson, the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, played 56 games last season for the Belleville Senators (AHL), recording 33 points (7G / 26A) in 56 games.

Greer played his first full NHL season last year, tallying 12 points (5G / 7A) and 114 PIM in 61 games for the Bruins. The former 39th overall pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft will likely serve as a depth forward this season for the Flames.

Prosvetov provides some much-needed organizational goaltending depth for Colorado, especially with the immediate health of Pavel Francouz (groin) being uncertain. Prosvetov has played most of the last four seasons for the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL but has seen some NHL action over that time as well. Last season, he played seven games (4-3-0) for the Arizona Coyotes, recording a 3.98 GAA and .880 SV%. With Justus Annunen being assigned to the AHL, it appears that Prosvetov will begin the season as the Avalanche backup goalie.

Ludvig was the 69th overall selection of the Florida Panthers in the NHL Entry Draft in 2019. He is unlikely to see much, if any, playing time in the NHL this season but adds some nice organizational depth for the Penguins' defensive core. Last season, Ludvig played 54 games for the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL where he recorded 17 points (3G / 14A).

Soderblom was 2-10-2 with a .894 SV% and a 3.45 GAA in 15 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and will start their second game of the season Wednesday vs. Boston. The Bruins are coming off a historic season that saw them finish with 135 points and second in the NHL in goals per game (301). The Blackhawks are coming off a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh from opening night Tuesday and will be hoping to remain in the win column.

Mrazek was 10-22-3 with a .894 SV% and 3.66 GAA in 39 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and will start the Blackhawks' season opener Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh. The Penguins finished middle of the pack and in goals for across the entire NHL last season placing 16th with 261 GF while also closing out the campaign fifth in shots per game (34.4).

Watson was brought into Tampa Bay's training camp on a PTO and has successfully been signed to a one-year, $776,667 contract Monday. The 31-year-old veteran is joining his third NHL team (NSH, OTT) for his 10th career season. He had nine goals, two assists, 123 PIMs and 79 SOG in 75 games played with Ottawa in 2022-23.

Johansson was 2-0-0 with a 2.10 GAA and a .932 SV% in three games played with Colorado in 2022-23 and will get the opening night nod Tuesday as Tampa takes on Nashville at home. The Predators finished 2022-23 ranked 28th in the NHL in goals for (223) and 23rd in shots per game (29.5) so Johansson should be in for a lighter matchup to get the season going.

Ehlers failed to participate in any preseason action for the Winnipeg Jets due to a neck injury but was a full participant in practice Monday and is expected to play in the Jets opener Wednesday. . The 27-year-old only participated in 45 games played in 2022-23 due to injuries but had a productive 12 goals, 26 assists, 11 PIMs, and -2 plus/minus. He is entering his ninth NHL season and will look to complete more than 71 games in a season for the first time since 2017-18.

Robertson had a shot to make the Maple Leafs' opening night roster for a third-straight season but has been loaned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) to start the 2023-24 campaign. The 22-year-old left-winger had two goals, three assists, 27 SOG, and a +2 plus/minus through 15 games with the Maple Leafs in 2022-23 and should find his way back to the big club sooner rather than later. The Maple Leafs' 2019 second-round draft pick (53rd overall) still carries rookie distinction even though he has appeared sporadically for Toronto in the last three seasons (31 GP).