NHL Hockey Player News

Zamula had one assist, one hit and one blocked shot in 13:49 TOI in the Flyers' season-opening win in Columbus. Today, he'll take a seat to make room for Emil Andrae to make his NHL debut.

Andrae was a healthy scratch in the Flyers' season opener but will replace Egor Zamula on the blueline on Saturday. After coming over from Sweden in 2022-23, Andrae posted six points (2G / 4A) in 10 games with Lehigh Valley (AHL).

Brink cracked the Flyers' opening night lineup and skated on the top line and top power-play unit, recording two shots in 13:16 TOI. Today, he will be replaced by fellow prospect Tyson Foerster. This is a rotation that could continue for a couple of games.

Foerster was a healthy scratch in the Flyers' season opener but will replace Bobby Brink in the lineup on Saturday. Foerster figures to replace Brink on the Flyers' top line next to Sean Couturier. He made a strong impression a season ago, posting seven points (3G / 4A) in eight games with the Flyers.

Hart stopped 31 of 33 shots in the Flyers' opening night win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday. It was a strong start to the season for Hart, who was 22-23-10 with a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV% a season ago. This afternoon, he'll face a Senators team that he succeeded against last season, going 1-1-0 while stopping 56 of the 60 shots (.933 SV%) that he faced.

Sorokin was outstanding in 2022-23, going 31-22-7 with a 2.34 GAA, .924 SV% and six shutouts. He finished second in the Veznia Trophy voting and ninth in the Hart Trophy. On Saturday, he will open up his season against a Sabres team that lost in their season opener. Sorokin was 1-0-1 while stopping 64 of the 69 shots (.928 SV%) he faced in two games vs. Buffalo last year. He was also stellar on home ice, going 20-10-3 with a 1.91 GAA and .925 SV%.

Olivier missed the Blue Jackets' season opener with a leg injury but appears set to play in Saturday's game vs. the Rangers. The Blue Jackets will need to make a roster move in order for Olivier to play, so you'll know ahead of warmups if he's back or not.

Boqvist was a healthy scratch in the Blue Jackets' season opening loss to the Flyers. Boqvist will draw into the Blue Jackets lineup vs. the Rangers, replacing Zach Werenski, who went on IR with a thigh injury. Boqvist had five goals and 19 assists in 46 games with Columbus a season ago.

Johnson was a healthy scratch in the Blue Jackets' season opening loss but will play Saturday vs. the Rangers. It's not clear who Johnson will replace in the lineup, but based on Friday's practice lines, it appears to be Jack Roslovic. Johnson had a strong rookie season, scoring 16 goals with 24 assists (40 points) in 79 games.

Merzlikins stopped 33 of 35 shots in the Blue Jackets' season-opening loss to the Flyers. Despite the loss, it was an encouraging outing for Merzlikins, who struggled mightily during the 2022-23 season. Tonight he'll face a difficult test with the Rangers in town. They had an impressive opening night win over the Sabres.

Sorokin was outstanding in 2022-23, going 31-22-7 with a 2.34 GAA, .924 SV% and six shutouts. He finished second in the Veznia Trophy voting and ninth in the Hart Trophy. On Saturday, he will open up his season against a Sabres team that lost in their season opener. Sorokin was 1-0-1 while stopping 64 of the 69 shots (.928 SV%) he faced in two games vs. Buffalo last year. He was also stellar on home ice, going 20-10-3 with a 1.91 GAA and .925 SV%.

Benoit has been sent down and recalled frequently, most likely as a paper transaction. He is expected to serve as the Maple Leafs' No.7/reserve defenseman for Saturday's game against the Wild.

Johansson was forced to leave Thursday's opening night win against the Panthers, but head coach Dean Evason said that he cleared all the necessary tests and participated in Friday's practice. Expect Johansson to remain on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy on Saturday.

Lindgren will get the nod in the crease for the Capitals' season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins as Darcy Kuemper is away from the team for the birth of his son. Lindgren struggled in his first season with the Capitals, posting a 3.05 GAA and .899 SV% in 31 appearances (13-11-3). The Capitals will be facing a hungry Penguins squad that was held to just two goals in their season-opening loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Clay Stevenson was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the AHL and will serve as backup to Lindgren.

Schmid was 9-5-2 with a .922 SV% and a 2.13 GAA in 2022-23 and will get his first start of the 2022-23 season Friday vs. Arizona. The 23-year-old netminder is only making his 19th career regular-season start but will be looking to build off his impressive postseason run last year, which saw him post a .921 SV% and 2.35 GAA in nine games played. He draws a great opening matchup against Arizona, who finished 2022-23 last in the NHL in shots per game (25.8) and 28th in goals for (225)

Erne had a successful PTO with Edmonton and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 28-year-old left-winger had eight goals, 10 assists, 21 PIMs, 55 SOG, and a -12 plus/minus in 61 games played in 2022-23. He will be joining his third NHL team for his eighth career season and has 40 goals and 89 points in 355 career games played.

Blackwood will see his first action between the pipes as a member of the San Jose Sharks after signing with them in the offseason. Blackwood struggled in his last three seasons with the New Jersey Devils, recording a cumulative 3.19 GAA and .897 SV% across 82 games. He will be hard-pressed to improve those numbers on a Sharks team that seems destined to be at the bottom end of the NHL standings this season. To make matters worse, Blackwood will be facing the high-powered offence of the Colorado Avalanche, who are coming off a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Blueger was absent from the Canucks' season opening victory over Edmonton and will now be out for an undisclosed amount of time as he is week-to-week with a leg injury. The 28-year-old Latvian was signed to a one-year, $1.9 million contract in the offseason and will have to wait to make his much awaited Canucks debut. He had four goals, 12 assists, 30 PIMs, 85 SOG and a -9 plus/minus with Pittsburgh and Vegas in 2022-23.