Datsyuk is not skating at Red Wings' practice this morning and will be evaluated this afternoon. Datsyuk missed 37 games last season, so this is not the way 'The Magician' wanted to start his season. Expect an update later today.
Stepan will likely miss the preseason opener after suffering a bruised foot while blocking a shot in an informal skate. The injury is not serious and Stepan will be ready to go when the games start to count.
Malkin missed his second straight day of training camp on Friday, but he is expected to be ready to go for the start of the season. The Penguins announced on Thursday that Malkin is only dealing with a minor injury.
The Penguins announced on Thursday that he would be held out of the early portion of camp as a precautionary measure as he recovers from a minor undisclosed injury. Crosby is coming off of his healthiest season in four years, so it is a great sign to see him back on the ice right away. The injury is reportedly not related to the wrist injury he decided not to get surgery on this summer.
The Ducks' first round pick in 2013 suffered the injury in Sunday’s futures game. The 19-year-old defenseman had an outstanding season in the WHL last year, posting 22 goals and 57 assists (79 points) in 70 games. He led the Seattle Thunderbirds in points by 16 while playing on the blueline. He had an outside chance of making the Ducks' roster but was likely going to be left off the team because of Anaheim's great depth at the position.
Palmieri is targeting a return in the Ducks' final preseason game on October 4th, so he should be ready to go to start the season. He is coming off of a 14-goal, 17 assist season in 2013-14.
With the start of the season two and a half weeks away, the Flyers caught a break with the severity of their captain's injury. Still, this is not the way Giroux wanted to start his season. However, it should not hurt his value on draft day, he should be ready for the Flyers' season opener on October 8th.
Mantha, 20, is the reigning CHL player of the year after scoring 57 goals and 63 assists (120 points) in 57 games with Val d'Or (QMJHL). Mantha had a great chance to make the Red Wings out of training camp, but now will likely start in the AHL when he returns in late-October/early-November.
Dekeyser, 24, had four goals and 19 assists (23 points) in 65 games with the Red Wings in his first full pro season. The smooth skating defenceman was a calming presence on Detroit's blueline and should continue to develop his game as a top-4 NHL D-man.
Smith-Pelly, 22, scored two goals and eight assists (10 points) in 19 games with the Ducks last season. He spent the majority of the season in the AHL, where he led the Norfolk Admirals in goals with 27 in 55 games. He should make Ducks out of training camp and is a candidate to play with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.
Malone, 34, spent the last six seasons with the Lightning, but saw his run with Tampa Bay come to an end after being arrested on charges of driving under the influence and cocaine possession last April. Malone had five goals and 10 assists (15 points) in 57 games with the Lightning last season.
Josh Harding broke his foot on Wednesday and Darcy Kuemper remains unsigned so the WIld will bring Bryzgalov into training camp and give him a look after he went unsigned in free agency. Bryzgalov went 7-1-3 in 12 regular-season games last season with a 2.11 goals-against average. In the playoffs, he was 3-6 with a 2.63 GAA.
Harding broke his foot after kicking a wall following an off-ice altercation with a teammate. After missing half of last season with complications with multiple sclerosis , Harding was expected to be the Wild's number-1 netminder in 2014-15. With Darcy Kuemper still unsigned, the WIld's goaltending situation is as messy as ever.
Gelinas, 23, had seven goals and 22 assists in 60 games in his first NHL season. The 6-foot-4 defenseman averaged 2:25 power-play minutes per night and tallied five goals and 17 assists with the extra-man, both good for second among Devils D-men. He has an a rocket slap-shot and will be a key member of the New Jersey power-play in 2014-15.
Koivu, 39, was selected 21st overall in 1993 by the Montreal Canadiens. He played 13 years with the Habs, 10 as their captain. In 792 games with Montreal he had 191 goals and 450 assists. He went on to play five seasons in Anaheim, where he wrapped up his career with 255 goals and 577 assists in 1124 games.
Krejci, 28, was set to become a free agent at the end of next season, but is now locked up through the 2020-21 season with an annual cap-hit of $7.25 million. Krejci is coming off of his second best point total as a pro having totaled 19 goals, 50 assists (69 points) with a plus-29 rating in 80 games.
Rinaldo, 24, had four points (2G / 2A) with 153 penalty minutes in 67 games with the Flyers last season. Certainly not known for his offence, Rinaldo can collect PIMS with the best of them.
Fabbri, 18, was selected 21st overall in this summer's draft. He finished second on the Guelph Storm in scoring, piling up 45 goals and 42 assists (87 points) in 58 games.
Ehlers, 18, was selected ninth overall in the draft this summer. He has tremendous speed and an excellent wrist shot. He posted 49 goals and 55 assists (104 points) in 63 games with the Halifax Mooseheads last season. Ehlers was named the CHL's rookie of the year. He stands in at 5-foot-11, but needs to fill out (163 lbs.) to play in the NHL. He will probably return to juniors for one more season.
Ekblad was named the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) most outstanding defenseman during the 2013-2014 season, ranking first among the league’s blueliners with 23 goals and tied for fifth with 53 points (23-30-53). The 6-foot-3, 213-pound defenseman became just the third player in his 18-year-old birth year to earn the OHL’s most outstanding defenseman honor in the past 20 years. The Belle River, Ontario, native is expected to crack the Panthers opening day roster and should be an immediate fantasy contributor.
