NHL Hockey Player News

After a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their season opener on Tuesday, the Kings will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV in the offseason to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3) with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings enter Wednesday's matchup against the Golden Knights as +177 road underdogs.

Washe appeared in two games for Anaheim directly after finishing his season with Western Michigan (NCAA) and has earned himself a two-year contract worth $812,500 AAV ($1.625M total). The 23-year-old forward was a sought-after free agent after finishing his senior season with Western Michigan in 2024-25 with 16 goals and 38 points in 42 games played.

Bolduc missed Friday's practice and Saturday's preseason finale and was considered day-to-day. The 22-year-old Bolduc will make his Canadiens debut after tallying 19 goals and 17 assists with the Blues last season.

With several elite players signing contract extensions in the last week, the Golden Knights followed suit, signing Eichel to a massive eight-year extension worth $13.5 million AAV. Eichel was drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015 and was eventually acquired by the Golden Knights in the 2021-22 season. The 28-year-old Eichel is coming off his most productive season, scoring 94 points (28G / 66A) in 77 games, and will be motivated to top those totals in 2025-26 playing alongside new teammate Mitch Marner.

Dorofeyev missed the Golden Knights' preseason finale, recovering from a lower-body injury, but will suit up for their season opener on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old Dorofeyev had a breakout 2024-25 season, scoring 52 points (35G / 17A) in 82 games, including 13 powerplay goals, and could be in for another career year in 2025-26.

Montour underwent ankle surgery in the offseason, missing most of training camp, but could be ready for the season opener on Thursday. In his first season with Seattle, Montour had a career-high 18 goals to go along with 23 assists (41 points) in 81 games.

After a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their season opener on Tuesday, the Kings will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV in the offseason to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3) with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings enter Wednesday's matchup against the Golden Knights as +177 road underdogs.

Atkinson was drafted in the sixth round by the Blue Jackets in 2008 and enjoyed the best of his 13 NHL seasons with the team, including a career-high 41-goal campaign in the 2018-19 season. Ending his career with shorter stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, the 36-year-old Atkinson ends his career with 489 points (253G / 236A) in 809 games.

The Golden Knights will turn to Hill between the pipes on Wednesday for their season opener against the Los Angeles Kings. Hill played a career-high 50 games last season (32-13-5) and saw his save percentage (.906) fall to the lowest it has been since joining the Golden Knights. With Akira Schmid, a goalie who has never started more than 15 games in an NHL season, as the Golden Knights' backup, Hill could be in for another career-high total in games played. Vegas enters Wednesday's matchup as -199 home favorites against a Los Angeles team that was defeated 4-1 by the Colorado Avalanche last night.

The Bruins missed the playoffs last year for the first time in eight seasons and have lower-than-usual expectations again in 2025-26. In the first year of an eight-year contract in 2024-25, Swayman had the worst season of his career, posting a 3.11 GAA and .892 SV% in 58 appearances (22-29-7). If the Bruins hope to rebound into playoff contention in 2025-26, they will need Swayman to lead the way. The Bruins enter their season-opening matchup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals as +163 road underdogs.

The Blues added some depth to their crease on Wednesday, signing goalie Georgi Romanov to a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old Romanov played in eight games for the Sharks last season (0-6-0), posting a troubling 3.89 GAA and .877 SV%.

Strome is battling an upper-body injury that will delay the start of his 2025-26 campaign. The 32-year-old Strome is entering his fourth season with the Ducks and has been remarkably consistent, finishing each of his previous three seasons with 41 points.

Ahcan was a healthy scratch for the Avalanche on Tuesday and will return to the AHL. The 28-year-old undrafted defenseman was called up for two games with the Avalanche last season but failed to make much of an impact. In 69 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) last season, he had an impressive five goals and 41 points.

Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury and did not play in Chicago's season opener on Tuesday; however, he is expected to suit up on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 24-year-old Vlasic played all 82 games last season, averaging 23:16 time-on-ice and scoring 30 points (4G / 26A).

Wolf was excellent in his rookie season, finishing the 2024-25 campaign as the runner-up for the Calder trophy after posting an impressive 2.64 GAA and .910 SV% in 53 games (29-16-8). The 24-year-old Wolf could see an increased workload in 2025-26, starting with tending the twine in Calgary's season opener on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The Flames enter Wednesday's challenging matchup against the high-scoring Oilers as +193 road underdogs.

Pesce has practiced sparingly over the last week, recovering from an undisclosed injury, but will suit up for New Jersey's season opener on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old Pesce will look to improve after his first season with the Devils in 2024-25, averaging 21:19 time-on-ice and scoring 17 points (3G / 14A) in 72 games.

van Riemsdyk signed with the Red Wings during the offseason but will have to wait to make his team debut. The 36-year-old American forward scored 36 points (16G / 20A) in 71 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. He has 665 points (327G / 338A) in 1082 career games.

The Red Wings have struggled with stability between the pipes the last several seasons and will hope the offseason acquisition of John Gibson can return them to playoff contention. The 32-year-old Gibson has battled injuries over his career but played well when called upon in his final season with the Anaheim Ducks, posting a 2.77 GAA and .911 SV% in 29 outings (11-11-2). The Red Wings enter their season opener on Thursday as -130 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens team on the tail end of a back-to-back.

Coming off a forgetful 2024-25 season where he posted a 2.81 GAA and .896 SV% in 51 outings (26-18-4), Skinner will hope to return to the form that made him a top-15 netminder in his previous two seasons. The Oilers are expected to have one of the NHL's best offenses again in 2025-26, which should allow Skinner to accumulate plenty of victories. The 26-year-old netminder will be between the pipes in Edmonton's season opener on Wednesday, entering the contest as sizable -214 home favorites against the Calgary Flames.

Samuelsson reaggravated an upper-body injury, sidelining him midway through training camp, but he should be ready to play in Buffalo's season opener after originally being ruled out. The 24-year-old is entering his sixth season with Buffalo after putting up career highs in goals (4), points (14), and games played (62) in 2024-25.