Kesselring has 13 goals, nine assists, 40 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 49 games with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) and was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers alongside a 2023 3rd Round Pick for Nick Bjugstad (50% salary retention) earlier this week. He will make both his Coyotes' and NHL debut Friday.
Vejmelka stopped 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak as he beat Chicago in his previous start. The 26-year-old has played well despite the team in front of him (32nd in SOG/GP), with his 16-18-5 record, 3.32 GAA and .904 SV%. He will take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who have lost their last two games but are third in the NHL in shots per game (35.0).
Eklund had 17 goals, 24 assists, 43 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 52 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) and will be making his season debut with the Sharks on Saturday. Eklund was a 2021 1st round pick (7th overall) and has played in nine career NHL games previously, picking up four assists.
Barkov has missed the Panthers' previous three games due to a hand injury and is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup Saturday vs. Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old star has 16 goals, 50 points, 147 SOG, and a +4 plus/minus through 49 games this season.
Allard has two goals, five assists, and 30 PIMs across 35 games played with the Ontario Reign (AHL) and has been traded Friday for Nate Schnarr. The 25-year-old defenseman has previously played in one NHL game in 2020-21 with Nashville, failing to pick up a point and being a -2 plus/minus.
Originally a third-round pick by the Coyotes in the 2017 draft, Schnarr has spent the last four seasons in the AHL, making stops in Tuscon, Binghamton, and Utica before joining the Canadiens organization prior to the 2021-22 season. He registered three goals and four assists in 27 games with Laval (AHL) this season.
Skinner stopped 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) to snap a two-game losing skid as he beat Toronto in his previous start. The 24-year-old Edmonton native continues to see the majority of the Oilers' starts due to his strong 16-13-4 record, .912 SV% and 2.88 GAA. He will take on the struggling Winnipeg Jets, who have lost four straight games after their 6-5 shootout loss to Los Angeles last game.
The Sharks acquired Namestnikov from the Lightning on Wednesday, and he now leaves for the Jets before having ever played a game for San Jose. Namestnikov scored six goals and added nine assists in 57 games with the Lightning this season. He is likely to slot into Winnipeg's bottom-six.
Lemieux had three assists, 22 SOG, 53 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 27 games with the Los Angeles Kings and has been traded alongside a 2024 5th Round Pick from the Kings for Zack MacEwen. Lemieux has spent the last three seasons in Los Angeles and will be joining his fourth NHL team.
MacEwen has missed the Flyers last 11 games with a fractured jaw. MacEwen has picked ups four goals and five assists in 12:18 ATOI in 46 games this season. His first chance to make his Kings debut will be Saturday night's game against the Blues.
Lazar missed the Canucks last six games with a lower-body injury. He has just two goals and three assists in 45 games this season. He'll likely slot into the Devils' bottom-six and should see some time on the penalty-kill.
Grubauer stopped 16 of 17 shots (.941 SV%) in a rare relief win as he beat the Detroit Red Wings last night. The 31-year-old has been steadily improving his rough early season numbers, with his now 9-11-3 record, 3.05 GAA and .894 SV%. He will face the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have won two of their last three games but are 30th in the NHL in scoring (2.59).
Marchand suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday's game vs. the Sabres and did not return. It's unclear where Marchand suffered the injury but he was tangled up with Peyton Krebs at one point and was hit hard by Ilya Lyubushkin shortly after. He's registered 19 goals and 34 assists in 53 games this season.
Puljujarvi is an extremely useful play driver, that has had a very difficult time finishing his chances. The 24-year-old winger has scored just five goals on 88 shots (5.7 SH%) with nine assists (14 points) in 58 games this season. In Carolina, Puljujarvi will likely serve a bottom-six role, with Seth Jarvis and Martin Necas ahead of him on the depth chart.
Kinkaid was recently acquired from the Bruins, and could make his Avalanche debut during their back-to-back this weekend. Kinkaid has spent most of the season in the AHL, going 8-7-4 with a 3.10 GAA and .909 SV%.
Laczynski has not played since December 5th but getting activated clears the way for him to return to the lineup on Sunday. Laczynski has picked up just four points (2G / 2A) in 19 games this season.
MacEwen has missed the last 11 games with a fractured jaw but is set to return to the Flyers lineup Sunday vs. the Red Wings. MacEwen has picked ups four goals and five assists in 12:18 ATOI in 46 games this season.
Sorokin stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced in Tuesday's shootout loss to the Wild. Goal support continues to be an issue for Sorokin. He's registered just 20 wins in 44 starts this season despite owning a .925 SV% and a 2.37 GAA. He'll have a great opportunity to get back into the win column Saturday against the Red Wings.
