Price is battling the flu just three days prior to the start of the regular season, but he will be ready for the season opener vs. the Sabres. Price is coming off of an injury ruined season, but looked terrific in the World Cup of Hockey and enters 2016-17 as a top-3 fantasy netminder. Make sure he is in your lineups on Thursday.
Hellebuyck is the goalie of the future in Winnipeg and they know that, so that’s why the waived Ondrej Pavelec this afternoon and named Hellebuyck to the opening night roster. Hellebuyck had 13 wins with a 2.34 GAA and .918 SV% in his first NHL season and should serve as their No.1 netminder ahead of Michael Hutchinson this season. Hellebuyck gets a huge bump in goalie rankings following this latest development.
Scuderi is not known for his offence and basically lost his spot in the lineup when the Kings brought in Zach Trotman and Tom Gilbert this summer.
Michalek, 33, has picked up just 29 points (8G / 21A) over the last three seasons and his physical brand of defence can be made up by a younger blueliner in Arizona. The Coyotes have an abundance of young defensemen and Michalek appears to be on the outside looking in.
Parenteau being waived was one of the biggest surprises of training camp. The veteran winger signed a one year deal with the Islanders this summer in the hope that he would be able to rekindle his old chemistry with John Tavares. However, it looks as if the Islanders would rather get a little younger and have someone like Mathew Barzal or Josh Ho Sang instead of the 33-year-old Parenteau.
Pulkkinen, 24, is only one year removed from posting ridiculous numbers with Grand Rapids in the AHL. The Finnish winger had 34 goals and 27 assists (61 points) in 46 games that year, but has struggled to get regular playing time in Detroit ever since. Pulkkinen has a lethal shot, but scouts say he may lack the foot speed necessary to have a huge impact at the NHL level. So far, he has just 11 goals and nine assists (20 points) in 70 career NHL games, but still has a ton of upside, so don’t be surprised if a team doesn’t hesitate to add him to their roster for free.
Condra had 11 points (6G / 5A) in 54 games in his first year with the Lightning, but finds himself on waivers, where he will likely clear and head to the AHL. If Condra is picked up by another team, he will be limited to a fourth line role.
Lander, 25, enjoyed a nice finish to the 2014-15 season, which led to high expectations last year. He was never able to live up to them, picking up an awful three points (1G / 2A) in 61 games with the Oilers. The former second round pick has been placed on waivers with the intention of sending him to Oklahoma City (AHL) and he should go unclaimed.
It was only a matter of time before Pavelec was placed on waivers. The veteran netminder is in the final year of a deal that carries a $3.9 million cap hit and he was badly outplayed by the future of the Jets’ crease, Connor Hellebuyck. They had to make room for the young netminder and Pavelec was the obvious casualty. There is little chance that he is claimed and there are rumblings that he may not report to Manitoba (AHL) if he does in fact clear.
Condon, 26, enjoyed a nice 2015-16 season while Carey Price was out, going 21-25-3 with a 2.71 GAA and .903 SV%. With Al Montoya coming over from Florida, Condon is either headed to the AHL or could be claimed by a team in need of short-term help in net because of injury, like the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Nakladal, 28, split his time between the AHL and NHL in 2015-16, totalling five points (2G / 3A) in 27 games with the Flames and 14 points (2G / 12A) in 35 games with the Stockton Heat. The 6-foot-2, 212 lbs. defenseman adds depth to the Hurricanes’ blueline but figures to start the year in the AHL.
Frk, 23, was a second round pick (49th overall) in 2012, but never cracked the Red Wings roster. The Czech winger appeared in 67 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) a season ago, collecting 27 goals and 17 assists (44 points). Frk will join his former teammate Andrej Nestrasil as waiver claims from Detroit in Carolina.
Malgin, 19, was a fourth round pick (102nd overall) in the 2015 draft and he is expected to make the Panthers after Nick Bjugstad suffered a hand injury in training camp. Malgin spent last season in his native country of Switzerland, where he registered 17 points (5G / 12A) in 38 games with Zurich SC.
After Jonathan Huberdeau left Saturday’s preseason game, Marchessault took reps with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr. Marchessault had seven goals and 11 assists (18 points) in 45 games with the Lightning last year before signing with Florida this summer.
Huberdeau was coming into 2016-17 with massive expectations after a career-year last season. His injury will keep him out until at least January and opens the door for younger players like Jonathan Marchessault, who moved to the top line following Huberdeau's injury on Saturday.
Rantanen returned in a no-contact jersey, but it was his first practice session since he suffered an ankle injury in a rookie showcase back on September 17th. Rantanen is expected to have a secured spot with the Avalanche this season and is targeting a return for their season opener next Saturday.
Following the trade of Nail Yakupov, the Oilers signed Russell to a one-year, $3.1 million deal and he will solidify their second pairing with Sekera. Both are left-handed shots, but both are equally capable of playing the right-side, however Russell will start there. If used in the right capacity, Russell can be a solid second-pair defenseman, but his ugly possession numbers speak for themselves. His signing likely push righty Mark Fayne to the press box.
Wilson led the Penguins in preseason scoring, picking up two goals and three assists in five games. With Bryan Rust still sidelined with an undisclosed injury, Wilson is expected to start the season with a top six role on Malkin’s wing. The 24-year-old winger had 36 points (22G / 14A) in 34 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) last year and six points (5G / 1A) in 24 games with the Penguins.
Rust, 24, had a nice playoff run last year picking up nine points (6G / 3A) in 23 games on Evgeni Malkin’s wing. With Rust unlikely available for the start of the season, that leaves the door open for Scott Wilson to start the year with Malkin.
Motte, 21, was a standout at the University of Michigan last season, picking up 32 goals and 24 assists (56 points) in 38 games. His decision to leave Michigan to try and make the Blackhawks appears to have been a good one as it looks like the 21-year-old will not only start the season in Chicago, but start on a line with Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane.
