Danforth underwent off-season wrist surgery, did not participate in training camp, and missed the first game of the season. The 31-year-old Danforth has 43 career points (22G / 21A) in 122 games.
Noah Juulsen will draw into the lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers to replace Desharnais. The 28-year-old Desharnais, in his first season with the Canucks, played 13:11 in their season opener, recording four penalty minutes and a -2 plus/minus.
Aman drew into the Canucks lineup for the first game of the season as a replace for Pius Suter, who was battling an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Aman played 12:13 time-on-ice, recording a -1 plus/minus.
Nils Aman will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Suter to return to the lineup from his upper-body injured that kept him out of the season opener. The 28-year-old Suter provided much-needed depth offense for the Canucks last season, tallying 29 points (14G / 15A), 105 shots, and 54 hits in 67 games.
Vincent Desharnais will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Juulsen to draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 27-year-old Juulsen played 54 games for the Canucks last season, tallying seven points (1G / 6A), 85 blocks, and 164 hits.
With Thatcher Demko likely sidelined for the next several weeks, the Canucks will rotate between Lankinen and Artus Silovs in the crease. Silovs started the season opener for the Canucks, a 6-5 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames, and will serve as the backup to Lankinen for their second game on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old Lankinen was serviceable as the Nashville Predators' backup goalie last season, posting a 2.82 GAA and .908 SV% in 24 outings (11-6-0). The Canucks enter action on Friday as -167 home favorites over the Flyers.
Murray has been reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, an indication and Juuse Saros is ready to return to the Predators lineup. The 26-year-old Murray spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, posting a 3.02 GAA and .896 SV% in 31 games (14-15-2) with the Texas Stars.
Smith registered a -1 plus/minus in 12:13 time-on-ice in the Blackhawks' season opener on Tuesday but will be a healthy scratch on Friday in favor of Andreas Athanasiou. Smith was signed by the Blackhawks in the offseason after playing 75 games with the Dallas Stars in the 2023-24 campaign, scoring 20 points (11G / 9A).
Craig Smith will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Athanasiou to make his season debut. The 30-year-old Athanasiou had a 2023-24 campaign that was plagued with injuries, limiting him to only nine points (2G / 7A) in 28 games.
Allan made his NHL debut on Tuesday, playing 10:26 time-on-ice, but will draw out of the lineup on Friday in favor of Wyatt Kaiser. The 21-year-old Allan was the 32 overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Nolan Allan will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Kaiser to make his season debut. The 22-year-old Kaiser played 32 games with the Blackhawks last season, tallying seven points (0G / 7A), 46 blocks, and 22 hits.
Petr Mrazek struggled in the Blackhawks season-opening 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%). As such, the Blackhawks will turn to Soderblom for their second game of the the season, a tilt against the Winnipeg Jets, who steamrolled to a 6-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Soderblom appeared in 32 games last season (5-22-2), posting a pedestrian 3.92 GAA and .879 SV%.
Ville Husso started the first game of the season for the Red Wings, a forgettable performance, allowing four goals on 14 shots (.714 SV%), in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Talbot entered the contest in relief, saving 12 of 14 shots (.857 SV%), and will get to showcase his talents as the starting netminder on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. The 37-year-old Talbot had a strong 2023-24 campaign with the Los Angeles Kings, posting a 2.50 GAA, .913 SV%, and three shutouts in 54 appearances (27-20-6).
Petry suffered an upper-body injury at some point during the Red Wings' 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, playing only 9:34 time-on-ice. The Red Wings have recalled Justin Holl from the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) to draw into the lineup as Holl's replacement.
Patrick Roy favored Varlamov last season after taking over the Islanders' head coaching duties and appears to be doing so again, likely turning to Varlamov for consecutive games to start the season. The 36-year-old Varlamov was great last season, posting a 2.60 GAA and .918 SV% in 28 games (14-8-4), but struggled in the Islanders season opener on Thursday, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in 5-4 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.
Hunt was the 65th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut last season, playing 12 games, but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, tallying 29 points (3G / 26A) in 51 games for the Iowa Wild.
Wallstedt was sent down to the Iowa Wild (AHL) on Thursday for salary cap implications but is expected to fight for playing time in Minnesota this season. Wallstedt was the 20th overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in Iowa (AHL), posting a solid 2.70 GAA and .910 SV% in 45 games (22-19-4).
Rooney exited Wednesday's game against the Vancouver Canucks with only 1:03 time-on-ice after being on the receiving end of a hard hit by J.T. Miller. Last season, Rooney played 33 games with the Flames, tallying four points (3G / 1A), 29 blocks, and 65 hits. The Flames have recalled Justin Kirkland from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) in the interim.
With Kevin Rooney (concussion) placed on Injured Reserve, Kirkland gets the opportunity to make his Flames debut. The 28-year-old Kirkland spent most of last season in the AHL, tallying 30 points (8G / 22A) in 43 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.
Poitras was battling an injury towards the end of training camp and missed the first two games of the season. The 20-year-old Poitras was having a strong rookie campaign last season before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in February. He had 15 points (5G / 10A0 in 33 games. He skated in full on Friday and has a strong possibility to make his debut vs. Los Angeles.
