Couture was considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury he suffered in offseason training. According to head coach David Quinn, Couture continues to progress but he seems highly questionable for the start of the regular season.
Drysdale missed 74 games in 2022-23 after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder but has signed a three-year deal worth $6.9 million ($2.3M AAV) with Anaheim. The 21-year-old was limited to only eight games last season and failed to pick up a point while posting a -3 plus/minus with two PIMs. He was Anaheim's 2020 first-round pick (6th overall) and has seven goals, 40 points, 24 PIMs and a -41 plus/minus through 113 games played across three NHL seasons.
Stonehouse impressed as an undrafted free agent at the Oilers' rookie camp and has earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract with Edmonton. The 19-year-old right-winger had 37 goals, 20 assists, 66 PIMs and a +28 plus/minus in 68 games played last season with Ottawa (OHL). He has rejoined the 67's for the 2023-24 season but is now officially part of the Oilers organization.
“Little bit of — I don’t know if it was a setback — but we’re hopeful he plays on Saturday,” head coach D.J. Smith said when asked about Norris’ surprising absence from the practice on Wednesday. Norris will not play Thursday and is questionable for Saturday's pre-season finale. This leaves his status for the regular season opener in question, a huge issue for the Senators, who haven't re-signed RFA Shane Pinto yet. This could leave them without two of their top-3 centres to start the year.
Kaliyev landed a minor penalty and was not ejected for his knee infraction which hurt Anaheim's Chase De Leo but has been suspended for two preseason, and two regular season games after having a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety. The 22-year-old was expected to crack the Kings' roster after scoring 13 goals, 15 assists, 122 SOG, 12 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in his second full NHL season in 2022-23.
Musty was San Jose's 2023 first-round pick (26th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks on Wednesday. The 18-year-old left-winger had 26 goals, 52 assists, 71 PIMs and a +16 plus/minus through 53 games played with Sudbury (OHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to the OHL for his third season with Sudbury for the 2023-24 season.
Brunet was Boston's 2022 fifth-round pick (132nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $2,580,000 ($860,000 AAV). The 20-year-old had 16 goals, 57 assists, 28 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 66 games played with Rimouski (QMJHL) and Victoriaville (QMJHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to play for the Providence Bruins (AHL) for the 2023-24 season.
Rooney had an assist, 14 SOG, seven PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 17 games played with Calgary in 2022-23 but will be forced to miss the start of the 2023-24 season as he is out long-term with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old forward was expected to battle for one of the Flames' final roster spots but will be added to their injured reserve which is also occupied by Jakub Pelletier (shoulder surgery).
Kurashev is expected to resume skating this week, but the Blackhawks said it's possible he's not ready for the start of the regular season. They should have a better idea of where he's at later in the week. Kurashev is expected to start the season in the Blackhawks' top-6 on a line with Lukas Reichel and Andreas Athanasiou.
Stepan played 13 NHL seasons for four franchises (NYR, ARI, CAR, OTT) and announced his retirement from professional hockey Tuesday. The 33-year-old had five goals, six assists, eight PIMs, 98 SOG, and a +8 plus/minus in 73 games played in 2022-23 with Carolina. He finished his NHL career with 182 goals, 515 points, and a +98 plus/minus through 890 games played.
Guentzel was initially expected to miss the first month of the season, but then GM Kyle Dubas said he may only miss five games. Now, it looks like Guentzel may not be in danger of missing any games after being a full participant in Tuesday's practice. Guentzel had 36 goals and 37 assists (73 points) in 78 games a season ago.
On Monday, the Canadiens announced that Newhook was day-to-day, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he is confident that Armia will be ready for the start of the season. The 30-year-old veteran is expected to be a bottom-6 winger for the Canadiens this season. He had just 14 points (7G / 7A) in 43 games a season ago.
On Monday, the Canadiens announced that Newhook was day-to-day, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he is confident that Newhook will be ready for the start of the season. Newhook, who had 30 points (14G / 16A) in 82 games last year, was acquired from the Avalanche in the offseason. The 22-year-old is expected to open the season as a bottom-6 option for the Habs.
Tarasov was injured in practice before training camp started and has yet to make an appearance. GM Jarmo Kekäläinen said the team does not have a timeline on Tarasov's return, which is why they claimed Spencer Martin on waivers last Friday.
Harkins had three goals, two assists, 18 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 22 games with Winnipeg in 2022-23 but has been claimed off waivers Monday by Winnipeg after being placed on them by Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old centre played four NHL seasons in Winnipeg, scoring 13 goals and picking up 27 points across 154 NHL games played. He spent the majority of 2022-23 with Manitoba's AHL team picking up 25 goals and 50 points in 44 games but will hope to crack the Penguins' main unit to start the season.
Fagemo had two goals, an assist, five SOG, and a -4 plus/minus through nine games with Los Angeles in 2022-23 and has been claimed off waivers by Nashville from the Kings. The 23-year-old left-winger played the majority of last season in the minors with the Ontario Reign (AHL) and had an impressive 23 goals, 32 points and a -24 plus/minus through 56 games last season. He was Los Angeles' 2019 second-round pick (50th overall).
Zebras had 23 goals, 42 assists, 88 PIMs, 184 SOG, and a -24 plus/minus through 81 games played in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, $17.25 million contract extension worth $5,750,000 AAV. The 22-year-old was Anaheim's 2019 first-round pick (9th overall) and has 49 goals and 139 points in 180 games played across three seasons in California.
Savoie was Chicago's 2022 third-round pick (81st overall) and will be out indefinitely after undergoing successful surgery on his right femur. The 19-year-old forward was competing for a roster spot during the preseason after a 26-goal, 33 assists, 90 PIM, and +30 plus/minus season across 60 games played with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to Gatineau for the 2023-24 season once announced as healthy.
