Byron has enjoyed the best seasons of his career during his last two years in Montreal. The 29-year-old winger has registered back-to-back 20 goals seasons while averaging 39 points during that span. Byron is a versatile forward, who is capable of playing up and down the Canadiens’ lineup.
Reinhart set new career-highs in goals (25) and points (50) during the 2017-18 season. The former No.2 overall pick (2014) is expected to land a top-6 role and players with either Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt in a new-look Sabres’ lineup. Reinhart has 60-point upside as he enters his fourth full season.
Wood just wrapped up his first full NHL season with 19 goals and 13 assists (32 points) in 76 games. The 2013 fourth-round pick will be hard pressed to land a top-6 role in New Jersey but is a serviceable bottom-6 winger who brings some toughness to the Devils’ lineup.
Green could miss the start of the regular season due to a virus that was attacking his liver. The Red Wings sent Green to see some specialists after he complained about fatigue during training camp. GM Ken Holland told reporters that he is “on the backside” of the infection. His likely absence to begin the season means that two of Dennis Cholowski, Libor Sulak, Filip Hronek and Joe Hicketts will make the opening night roster.
The Coyotes have not had any updates on Dvorak’s status, other than they had “some encouraging stuff but ti’s still a process.” With Dvorak not skating and Alex Galchenyuk out with a lower-body, the Coyotes are without two of their top-3 centres. If Dvorak misses the start of the season, Clayton Keller could move to centre for the time being.
Strome who was dealing with an upper-body injury practiced on Sunday and returned to the Coyotes lineup on Monday. This is good news for the Coyotes, who were missing three of their top-4 centres over the weekend with Strome, Alex Galchenyuk and Christian Dvorak all on the mend. The 21-year-old had 53 points (22G / 31A) in 50 AHL games last season and could take on a bigger role to start the season if Galchenyuk is forced to miss any time.
Galchenyuk, who was acquired from the Canadiens this summer, suffered a lower-body injury during last Tuesday’s preseason game. With their No.2 centre out right now, Clayton Keller shifted to the middle while they wait for Galchenyuk to return. Both Christian Dvorak and Dylan Strome could take on larger roles too if Galchenyuk misses the start of the campaign.
Eriksson suffered a bone bruise while blocking a shot in last Tuesday’s preseason opener against the Oilers. The Canucks originally labeled Eriksson as “week-to-week,” but the Swedish winger was back on the ice for Monday’s morning skate. The veteran should be ready for the start of the 2019 regular season.
The good news is that Fabbri’s lower-body injury is not related to his knee that cost him all of last season. Blues head coach Mike Yeo said that there is “no plan” for Fabbri right now, but he will take a couple of days off and see where he is at after that. There is still a chance that Fabbri is ready for the start of the regular season on October 4th.
Dobson was picked No.12 overall in this summer’s draft but was always expected to head back to Juniors this year. The 18-year-old defenseman will try to build off of his 69-point (17G / 52A) sophomore season with Acadie-Bathurst.
Dal Colle was selected fifth overall in 2014 but has struggled to get things going during his pro career. The 22-year-old had 80 points (35G / 45A) in his final OHL season, but has just 22 goals and 43 assists (65 points) in 138 career AHL games since turning pro.
The other Sebastian Aho had four points (1G /3A) in 22 games with the Islanders last season but will start this year in the AHL. Aho was beat out by Devon Toews during training camp but will likely be their first D call-up when needed.
Bellows was the No.19 overall pick in 2016 and enjoyed a solid preseason, but will start the season with Bridgeport. Bellows enjoyed a great year in Portland (WHL) last year, collecting 74 points (41G / 33A) in 56 games. Bellows and/or Josh Ho-Sang will likely be the first forwards called-up from the AHL.
Ho-Sang, 22, was expected to crack the Islanders’ rebuilding roster to start the season, but will once again start the year in Bridgeport (AHL). The 2014 first-round pick (No.28 overall) had 31 points (8G / 23A) in 50 AHL games a season ago and has complied 22 points (6G / 16A) in 43 career NHL games. He will likely be one of the first forward call-ups for the Islanders this season.
Schneider continues to workout on-ice nearly every day as he works his from May hip surgery. The Devils are easing their workhorse netminder back into action but there is no firm timetable for when he can start a game. If Schneider is out to start the season, they will turn to Keith Kinkaid until he is ready.
Green has been dealing with fatigue, so he will visit a specialist to figure out what he’s dealing with. The Red Wings are expected to know more in a few days, but don’t expect to see Green on their blueline on opening night. This is huge blow to an already terrible Detroit D-corps.
MacDonald was originally expected to miss the first two weeks of the regular season, but GM Ron Hextall said he was progressing ahead of schedule. MacDonald doesn’t carry a lot of fantasy value, but plays a key role on the Flyers’ blueline—he averaged 19:51 TOI in 66 games last year while playing with Ivan Provorov.
Sanheim is dealing with a minor shoulder injury that he suffered last weekend. The Flyers are keeping their young defenseman off of the ice for one-week as precaution, but expect him back next week. The 22-year-old defenseman is expected to play on the Flyers’ third-pairing this season after posting 10 points (2G / 8A) in 49 games with them last season.
Sheary will miss the rest of the preseason but the Sabres expect their new winger to be ready for the first game of the season vs. the Bruins (Oct. 4). Sheary was projected to play in the Sabres’ top-6, but this injury could lead to him playing in the bottom-6 to start the season. Sheary will need to play with Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt if he’s going to have any fantasy value this season.
Reinhart is coming off of the best season of his career, posting 50 points (25G / 25A) in 82 games. He has increased his point totals in each of first three seasons in the NHL and is poised to do that again in 2018-19. The Sabres beefed up Reinhart’s surrounding cast and he projects to be a top-6 winger with either Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt.
