With Joseph Woll (personal) away from the team, the Maple Leafs claimed Primeau off waivers to add some organizational depth to their crease. The 26-year-old Primeau was limited to only 11 games in the 2024-25 season (7-2-3), posting a forgettable 4.70 GAA and .836 SV%.
Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 40 points (14G / 26A) in 51 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. The hard-hitting 29-year-old forward will hope for more exposure at the NHL level after being claimed off waivers on Monday by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blais' most productive season was in 2022-23 when he scored 25 points (9G / 16A) and recorded 238 hits in 71 outings.
Samuelsson reaggravated an upper-body injury, sidelining him midway through training camp, but he could 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.
A week after Kirill Kaprizov signed an enormous eight-year, $17 million AAV contract, the Oilers signed McDavid to a team-friendly two-year extension worth $12.5 million AAV. McDavid has led the NHL in points in three of his last five seasons and is continually among the league leaders for point production. The 29-year-old is coming off consecutive unsuccessful visits to the Stanley Cup Finals and will be poised to win a championship in his next three years with the Oilers.
Chatfield was absent from practice on Monday due to an undisclosed injury but will likely be ready for Carolina's season opener on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 29-year-old Chatfield was effective in a shutdown role for the Hurricanes last season, averaging 18:53 time-on-ice and recording 18 points (7G / 11A).
Anderson is battling an undisclosed injury and will begin the 2025-26 seasons on Injured Reserve. The 27-year-old Anderson was limited to only 18 games with the Blackhawks last season, averaging 12:24 time-on-ice and recording one assist.
Slaggert has been absent from training camp and preseason due to a lower-body injury and will begin the 2025-26 season sidelined on Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old Slaggert averaged 12:18 time-on-ice and scored six points (2G / 4A) in 33 games with the Blackhawks last season.
Panarin has had a low event training camp for the Rangers while managing a lower-body injury that has kept him sidelined for most of it. That said, he was a full participant at practice on Monday and will suit up for New York's season opener on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 33-year-old Panarin led the Rangers in points yet again last season, after putting up 37 goals and 89 points in 80 games played.
Girgensons suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday's preseason game against the Florida Panthers. Tampa Bay's season opener is on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, and it's unclear if Girgensons will be ready to suit up. The 31-year-old Girgensons played all 82 games in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2024-25, tallying six points (2G / 4A).
York is slated to skate on Philadelphia's top defensive pairing alongside Travis Sanheim, but it's unclear if he will be ready for Thursday's season opener against the Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old York averaged 20:47 time-on-ice and tallied 17 points (4G / 13A) in 66 games last season.
Kotkaniemi was cleared for contact and returned to team practice on Monday, but it's unclear if he will be ready for Carolina's season opener on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 25-year-old Kotkaniemi, the third-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored 33 points (12G / 21A) in 78 games last season.
Miller suffered a lower-body injury earlier in training camp that kept him out of practice for over a week, but he returned to full-contact drills on Monday and has stated that he will be ready for New York's season opener on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Miller is entering his 14th NHL season and eighth in New York after being reacquired by the Rangers at the mid-point of last season. The newly appointed Rangers captain scored 21 goals and 70 points in 72 games last season.
The Islanders signed Bear to a one-year contract in the offseason to provide some depth on their blueline, but he will need to wait to make his team debut as he will be sidelined for a few weeks on Injured Reserve. The 28-year-old Bear spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 46 points (10G / 36A) in 62 games with the Hershey Bears. He has 67 points (17G / 50A) in 275 career NHL games.
Coming off offseason surgery, it's unclear when Varlamov will return to action, but he will start the 2025-26 campaign sidelined on the Injured Reserve. The 37-year-old netminder was limited to only 10 games last season (3-4-3), posting a 2.89 GAA and .889 SV%, due to various injuries.
McIlrath exited Saturday's preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to a lower-body injury and was absent from practice on Monday. The extent of his injury is unclear, but he was likely a long shot to make Washington's opening night roster on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. That said, the 33-year-old McIlrath was a solid depth blueliner for the Capitals last season, tallying two points (0G / 2A) in 17 games.
Roy exited Saturday's preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to an upper-body injury and was absent from practice on Monday. The 30-year-old Roy was slated to start the season on Washington's second defensive pair alongside Rasmus Sandin, but it's unclear whether his injury will keep him out of their season opener on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Roy had 24 points (3G / 1A) in 69 games last season.
Dorofeyev missed the Golden Knights' preseason finale and is questionable for the season opener. Dorofeyev has missed a big portion of the preseason due to a lower-body injury but the Golden Knights haven't commented on whether they expect him to be in the opening night lineup or not. With Dorofeyev hurt, the Golden Knights haven't had a full lineup all camp, so there are still questions to be answered. As of Saturday, head coach Bruce Cassidy was still noncommittal on whether Shea Theodore would be on PP1 or if it would be Dorofeyev in a five-forward look.
Blueger missed practice on Sunday and is questionable for Vancouver's season opener on Thursday. The Canucks will see how he responds in the next couple of days, but rookie Braeden Cootes could be in the opening night lineup if Blueger is unavailable.
Engvall continues to recover from offseason hip surgery and is not expected to be ready for opening night, so expect him to start the season on IR. Once healthy, Engvall will likely once again be battling for playing time in the Islanders' bottom-6.
Noesen missed the entire preseason, and head coach Sheldon Keefe did not have an update on his status, but did say he's "not close to being ready to play." Expect Noesen to open the season on IR.
