NHL Hockey Player News

After clearing waivers earlier this week, Jones has now been traded to the Avalanche in exchange for Cal Burke. The Texas native has 217 career games under his belt, tallying 50 points (14G / 36A) in that span. Jones will likely serve as a depth defenseman for the Avalanche this season.

Burke had 16 goals, 23 assists, 18 PIMs, and a +12 plus/minus in 70 games with Colorado (AHL) in 2022-23 and has been traded to Carolina for Caleb Jones. The 26-year-old forward originally joined Colorado as an undrafted free agent in 2020-21 and has played three AHL seasons for the Eagles. He made his NHL debut during the 2022-23 season with the Avalanche, playing in two games and failing to pick up a point.

Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice and is beginning the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury but is a game-time decision for Philadelphia's opener Thursday vs. Columbus. If the 28-year-old defenseman is unable to go it will leave a large gap in the Flyers defensive pairings. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.

Svechnikov's return to the lineup remains uncertain but it appears he will likely miss at least the first six games of the season. Last season, Svechnikov scored 55 points (23G / 32A) in 64 games before having season-ending knee surgery. Teuvo Teravainen stands to be the biggest benefactor and will likely slide up to the left-wing position on the second line.

Vasilevskiy has officially been placed on LTIR after having back surgery and is expected to miss approximately two months to start the season. Jonas Johansson has been appointed the starting goalie position for the Lightning in the interim and had a very impressive preseason, posting a 3-0-0 record along with a 2.10 GAA and .932 SV%.

Tufte was the 25th overall pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft but was never able to become a permanent fixture in their roster, playing only 13 total games and scoring one goal. He will look to have a more regular role this season on Colorado's fourth line.

Haula is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for the Devils' opening game is uncertain. Last season was Haula's first with the Devils, in which he scored 41 points (14G / 27A) in 80 games. Haula is projected to center a talented third line between Ondrej Palat and Alexander Holtz but if he is unable to play, Michael McLeod might temporarily fill his position.

Allen had an underwhelming preseason, posting a 4.00 GAA and .854 SV% in two games (1-0-0) but will still begin the 2023-24 campaign as the starting goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. In 42 games last season (15-24-3), Allen posted career worsts in GAA (3.55) and SV% (.891), mirroring the Canadiens' 29th-ranked team defence that allowed an average of 3.72 goals per game. However, in his career against the Maple Leafs, Allen sports a respectable 2.60 GAA and .917 SV% in 18 appearances (8-7-0).

Guentzel was expected to miss most of the opening month of the season after undergoing off-season ankle surgery but has now been deemed fit to play on opening night. Lining up primarily alongside Sidney Crosby, Guentzel has been the picture of consistency over the last five seasons, tallying 333 points (159G / 174A) in 331 games. Expect Guentzel to continue his point-per-game pace lining up on the top line and top powerplay unit for the Penguins.

If MacEwen is unable to play in the season opener, the Senators will likely have to play with only 11 forwards. MacEwen recorded 10 points last season (4G / 6A) and 66 PIM across 56 games between the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings last season.

Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice but will begin the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old defensemen will miss an undisclosed amount of time leaving a large gap in the Flyers defensive unit. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.

Stalock signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Ducks in the offseason to provide the team with goaltending depth but has been assigned to San Diego (AHL) to start the 2023-24 season. The 36-year-old netminder was one of the best comeback stories of 2022-23 as he posted a 9-15-2 record, .908 SV%, and 3.01 GAA with the Blackhawks. If he returns to the NHL it will mark his 12th season at the highest level.

Soucy left the Canucks' final preseason game vs. Calgary due to a leg injury and is now expected to be out week-to-week. The 28-year-old was signed to a three-year, $9.75 million contract in the offseason and was expected to be a key part of the Canucks' defensive unit. He had three goals, 13 assists, 87 SOG, 68 PIMs and a +18 plus/minus through 78 games with Seattle in 2022-23.

Annuen was expected to make the Avalanche's opening-day roster until they scooped up Ivan Prosvetov from Arizona on waivers Monday which has led to the netminder being assigned to Colorado (AHL) to start the 2023-24 season. The 23-year-old Finnish netminder appeared in two games for the Avalanche in 2022-23 and had a 1-1-0 record, .854 SV%, and 3.58 GAA.

Martinez will not be a part of Vegas' opening night roster after it was announced he would be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury but is not expected to be out long-term. The 36-year-old defenseman had three goals, 11 assists, 76 SOG, 29 PIMs, and a +30 plus/minus through 77 games with Vegas in 2022-23. He was a key part of their 2023 Stanley Cup championship run.

Hellebuyck led the NHL in games played in 2022-23 (64) to go along with his 37-25-2 record, .920 SV%, and 2.49 GAA and has now signed a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension ($8,500,000) with Winnipeg. The 30-year-old workhorse goaltender is entering his ninth NHL season with Winnipeg and has a 238-154-37 record with a career .916 SV% and 2.66 GAA.

Scheifele had 42 goals, 26 assists, 43 PIMs, 206 SOG, and a -16 plus/minus through 81 games played in 2022-23 and has now signed a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension ($8,500,000 AAV). The 30-year-old Jets captain is entering his 13th NHL season (all with Winnipeg) and has 272 goals and 645 points in 723 career games played.