Norris was a first-round pick of the Sharks in 2017 and was traded to Ottawa as a part of the Erik Karlsson trade. The 20-year-old had 10 goals and nine assists (19 points) in 17 games at the University of Michigan this season. He also added three goals and three assists in seven games while representing the United States at the Wold Juniors.
Chara missed Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals but the will play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals vs. the Blues. Chara, who plays a shutdown role for the Bruins, has been on the ice for 12 5v5 goals for and just six against throughout the postseason while playing 22:32 TOI/gm.
Thomas has sat out the last few practices, including Monday’s morning skate, but will play in Game 1 in Boston. Thomas has performed well during the postseason, scoring one goal with five assists (six points) in 19 games.
Binnington stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Blues 5-1 win over the Sharks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. Binnington had a .912 SV% in the series and has posted a .914 SV% across the postseason. The Blues will start the Finals on the road, where Binnington has gone 7-2 with a 2.36 GAA, .913 SV% and one shutout in the playoffs.
Rask stopped all 24 shots that he faced to complete the sweep of the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals and finished the series allowing just five goals on 114 shots (.956 SV%). Entering the Stanley Cup Finals, Rask has posted a stellar .942 SV% in the postseason and is 6-3 with a 2.01 GAA and .931 SV% at the TD Garden. The 32-year-old was 1-0-1 with a 1.44 GAA and .949 SV% in two games vs. the Blues in the regular season.
Ouellet’s deal is worth $700K at the NHL-level but the 25-year-old played just 19 games with Montreal last season. Ouellet spent most of the year with Laval (AHL), where he posted seven goals and 21 assists (28 points) in 47 AHL games.
Dunn skated skated for the second straight day on Sunday but is not expected to play in Game 1 in Boston. Dunn has been out since Game 3 after being struck in the mouth by a Brenden Dillon shot. Blues head coach Craig Berube said there is a “good chance” that Dunn will be back at some point during the series. In the mean time, veteran defenseman Carl Gunnarsson will remain in the Blues lineup and has averaged 11:47 TOI/gm in the three games that he has replaced Dunn.
In his first season with Montreal, Kulak split his season between the AHL and NHL. The 25-year-old had 11 points (3G / 8A) in 19 games with Laval before adding 17 points (6G / 11A) in 57 games with Montreal. Kulak figures to be a part of the Habs blueline plans to start the 2019-20 season.
Brossoit signed with the Jets as a free agent last summer after spending the first four seasons of his career in Edmonton. Brossoit turned in a superb season as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup, going 13-6-2 with a 2.52 GAA, .925 SV% and one shutout in 19 starts and two relief appearances. Brossoit proved he is a capable backup option and will remain with Winnipeg for another season.
Nygard, 26, is an undrafted free-agent winger who has spent seven seasons with Farjestads BK Karlstad of the Swedish Elite League. This past season, Nygard led the team in goals (21) and was third in points (35) in 52 games.
In his first season in the Canadiens organization, Belzile let the Laval Rockets (AHL) in goals (19), assists (35) and points (54). The 27-year-old centre will start 2019-20 with Laval.
Francouz just finished his first full professional season in North America, going 27-20-1 with a 2.68 GAA and .918 SV% in 49 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL). The 28-year-old Czech netminder also appeared in two games with the Avalanche, stopping 33 of the 35 shots (.943 SV%) he faced in 61 minutes of play. Francouz is expected to start the 2019-20 season with the Eagles.
Wedin, 26, is an undrafted free agent winger, who had 14 goals and 13 assists (27 points) in 32 games with Timra IK of the Swedish Elite League.
Gawanke, 19, was a fifth-round pick (No.136 overall) in 2017 and signed after his third season with Cape Breton (QMJHL), where he had 17 goals and 40 assists (57 points) in 62 games this season.
Ruhwedel split his 2019 campaign between the NHL and AHL. Ruhwedel had one goal and one assist in 18 games with the Penguins and five points (1G / 4A) in five AHL games. Ruhwedel figures to serve as the Penguins No.7 defenseman in 2019-20.
Nelson is coming off of a career-year, having scored 25 goals and 28 assists (53 points) in 82 games. Nelson has been extremely durable, missing just two games over the last five seasons and figures to continue as the Islanders’ No.2 centre heading into the 2019-20 campaign.
Rodrigue, 18, was picked in the second-round (No.62 overall) in 2018 and finished his third season with Drummondville (QMJHL) where he was 35-9-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .902 SV%.
Day, 24, just finished his first pro season with Bakersfield (AHL) where he led all Condors defensemen with 34 points (7G / 27A) in 64 games.
Rykov, 22, was originally selected in the fifth-round by the Devils in 2016 but was acquired by the Rangers on February 22nd, 2018. Rykov had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 47 games with Sochi HC of the KHL this season. Rykov represented Russia twice at the World Juniors, where he collected two goals and eight assists (10 points) in 14 games.
Pinho, 24, is a former sixth-round pick, who turned pro this season after four years at Providence College. Pinho had four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 73 games with Hershey (AHL).
