Karlsson has been practicing and playing on Thursday seemed like a distinct possibility, but he told reporters that he “most likely I won’t play Thursday.” However, is not expected to be sidelined for too many games, so draft him as you would.
After a summer of hilarious Tweets and patiently waiting, Jagr has signed on with the Flames two days prior to the start of the season. The 45-year-old veteran appeared in all 82 games last season, posting 16 goals and 30 assists (46 points) with the Florida Panthers. Jagr will likely play be limited to a bottom-6 role to start, but could work his way up the depth chart in a hurry.
Anderson was entering the final year of a three-year deal but is now signed through the 2019-20 season. Anderson is coming off of a tough off-the-ice season, but played spectacularly in his 40 starts, going 25-11-4 with a 2.28 GAA, .926 SV% and five shutouts. As long as everything goes well, Anderson should get back to 50-plus starts and could approach 30 wins, making him a solid No.2 fantasy option.
For a period of time during training camp it looked like Nieves would crack the Rangers opening night roster. 2017 first-round pick Filip Chytil has beat Nieves out, so the 23-year-old will start the year in the AHL, where he had 18 points (6G / 12A) in 40 games last year.
Andersson, 18, was the No.7 overall pick in this summer’s draft and it looked like he might get a nine-game tryout with the Rangers, but was assigned to the Swedish Hockey League this afternoon. Andersson had nine goals and 10 assists (19 points) in 42 games in Sweden last year. Fellow rookie Filip Chytil remains with the team.
McCabe is dealing with a sore shoulder and his status for the season opener is in doubt. The 23-year-old will likely be replaced by Matt Tennyson to start the season but will take his spot back as soon as he’s healthy. McCabe had 20 points (3G / 17A) in 76 games last season.
Because of the Red Wings salary cap situation, it was a stretch for Svechnikov to make the opening night roster and this injury all but seals his fate. The 20-year-old will likely open the season with Grand Rapids (AHL), where he had 20 goals and 31 assists (51 points) in 74 games last season.
Fabbri underwent knee surgery after suffering an ACL injury last February and will have to have another surgery after re-injuring the knee in training camp. Fabbri was reportedly told that he had a 3% chance of re-injury and unfortunately the young forward fell into that percentage. With Fabbri out for the season, the Blues have discussed signing Jaromir Jagr.
Ekman-Larsson exited Sunday’s preseason game with a knee injury, but head coach Rick Tocchet said his star defenseman could be back on the ice tomorrow. This is huge news for the Coyotes, who could ill-afford to lose Edman-Larson with Jakob Chychrun already out for an extended period of time. O.E.L. doesn’t appear to be in any danger of missing the regular season opener.
Stempniak underwent an MRI last week, but the Hurricanes have not released a statement regarding his injury status. The veteran winger’s status for the season opener remains up in the air, but his injury opens the door for this summer’s No.12 overall pick (Martin Necas) to start the season in the NHL.
This is an unfortunate injury for Bertuzzi, who was expected to open the season with the Red Wings after dazzling in the AHL playoffs last spring. Bertuzzi could still be a Red Wing when he’s healthy, but this injury opens the door for Martin Frk or Luke Witkowski to open the season as their No.12 forward.
Fabbri is coming off of a knee ligament injury in February and re-injured the surgically repaired knee in training camp. Fabbri was a late scratch prior to the Blues’ first preseason game and will miss the rest of the preseason. Fabbri was expected to get a look at centre, but with him joining Alex Steen and Patrik Berglund on the sideline, that leaves the Blues with Paul Stastny, Brayden Schenn, Wade Megan and Kyle Brodziak as their centre options.
Karlsson skated for the first time since undergoing foot surgery this offseason on Saturday, but was given Sunday and Monday off. Despite returning to the ice, the Senators still have not put a timetable on Karlsson’s return, but one has to believe that he has a chance to be ready for the season opener on October 5th.
Fast, who underwent offseason hip surgery could be cleared for contact in the next couple of weeks, but is not expected to return to the Rangers lineup until late-October. With Fast out, one of the Rangers’ first-round picks, Lias Andersson and/or Filip Chytil, are expected to make the opening night roster.
Juulsen was a first-round pick of the Canadiens’ in 2015 and had a chance to crack the opening night roster this October. Juulsen, who had 34 points (12G / 22A) in 49 games with Everett (WHL) last year, had earned preseason praise from Claude Julien but will now likely start the year with St. John’s (AHL).
The veteran winger is expected to be sidelined for at least a few days after suffering a foot injury during the Bruins’ preseason game on Monday. Beleskey is coming off of an ugly 2016-17 season—3G / 5A (8 points) in 49 games—and his injury will allow the coaching staff to get a closer look at some of their younger wingers.
Forsbacka-Karlsson suffered an upper-body injury during the Bruins’ preseason game vs. the Red Wings on Tuesday and is considered day-to-day. The Swedish centre has a good chance to make the team out of training camp and has been centring a line with David Backes and Frank Vatrano on his wings throughout the preseason. The 2015 second-round pick had 33 points (14G / 19A) in 39 games during his sophomore season at Boston University.
Krug took a puck to the mouth in the Bruins’ preseason win on Tuesday night. Krug will likely miss at least the first three games of the regular season. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks and a new update is expected to be released.
This summer the Flyers drafted Nolan Patrick at No.2 overall, creating a logjam down the middle in Philadelphia. With Nolan expected to make the roster out of training camp, the Flyers gave Giroux a look on the left side of Sean Couturier with Jakub Voracek on the wing. Couturier and Patrick would likely serve as the No.1 and No.2 centres with the likes of Valtteri Filppula and Jori Lehtera likely being the No.3 and No.4 pivots. The centre depth will allow the Flyers to get creative and putting Giroux on the wing with Couturier and Voracek could give them a dominant first line without sacrificing depth. It’s only been one day of practice, but Giroux would definitely see an uptick in fantasy value if he were to gain dual position eligibility (C/LW).
Brassard continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery and while he’s not expected to be sidelined for much longer, it doesn’t look like he’ll be ready for Ottawa’s season opener (Oct.5). Rookie Colin White was hoping to fill-in for Brassard and make the team out of camp, but broke his wrist in their preseason game on Monday, which opens the door for fellow rookies Logan Brown and Filip Chlapik to potentially crack the roster.
