Kassian’s injury were reportedly “minor” on Sunday, but this afternoon the Canadiens revealed the injuries were more serious and will force him to miss time. Kassian has a bad reputation after underachieving in Buffalo and Vancouver but he was given a fresh start in Montreal, that has not gotten off on the right foot.
Larkin, 19, was the Red Wings’ first round pick (15th overall) in 2014 and has made tremendous strides since then. In his freshman year at the University of Michigan, he posted 15 goals and 32 assists (47 points) in 35 games. He decided to turn pro after that and scored five points (3G / 2A) in six playoff games with Grand Rapids. This September he was impressive as well, posting three goals, one assists and 15 shots on goal in five preseason games. This resume of work earned him a spot on the opening night roster and head coach Jeff Blashill said he plans on starting Larkin on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader.
MacDonald is owed $25.75M over the next five years and if he clears waivers and is sent to the AHL, he will represent over $4M in dead cap space. After a breakout 2013-14 season, MacDonald has struggled since being traded and re-signing with the Flyers—he has just two goals and 14 assists (16 points) in 77 games with Philly.
Paquette has been dealing with a left foot injury throughout the preseason and Monday was the first time that he practiced in a week. Despite his absence over the last seven days, Paquette is expected to be ready for the Lightning’s opener on Thursday.
Lack, 27, was acquired from the Canucks for a third and seventh round pick this summer and he will challenge Cam Ward for the starting job this season. In his first two seasons in the NHL, Lack has gone 34-30-9 with a 2.43 GAA, .917 SV% and six shutouts. During the preseason he posted a 1-0-0 record, a 2.21 GAA and .932 SV% in three games (136 minutes played). Those number were substantially better then Ward’s preseason stats.
Datsyuk is expected to miss the first month of the season after undergoing offseason ankle surgery. His movement to IR opens up a roster spot for the Red Wings to keep a young forward, like Dylan Larkin, around for an extended NHL look.
Killorn left a couple of shifts into the third period of Saturday’s preseason finale. His injury is not believed to be serious, but his day-to-day tag puts his status for the season opener in question.
Johnson was injured in Saturday’s preseason finale. He played just two shifts in the second period before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury. Johnson’s injury is not considered serious and he could be ready for the season opener.
Nikitin, 29, will head to the AHL for the first time since 2010-11 despite posting three assists and a plus-2 rating in four preseason games. Griffin Reinhart or Brandon Davidson are expected to stick with the Oilers in place of Nikitin.
Scrivens posted a 1.97 GAA and .929 SV% in three preseason games, but it wasn’t enough to beat out Anders Nilsson for the Oilers’ backup job. Scrivens was the Oilers’ starter last season, but will likely be the Condors’ starter this year.
Torres, who is a repeat offender, is expected to be suspended after receiving a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head on Silfverberg this weekend.
Gustavsson, who was with the Bruins on a PTO, won the Bruins’ backup job by going 1-1-0 with a 2.07 GAA and .923 SV% in two preseason games. In six NHL seasons, Gustavsson is 60-55-21 with a 2.89 GAA and .901 SV% between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings.
Fleischmann had one goal, two assists and 14 shots on goal in four preseason games with the Canadiens. Fleischmann had just 27 points (8G / 19A) in 66 games between the Panthers and Ducks last year.
Kassian was “all bloodied up and stuff. He was in a daze,” a witness told the Montreal Gazette after the accident. Kassian, who was acquired from the Canucks this summer, should be considered day-to-day.
Domi, 20, had just one assists, nine shots and a minus-2 rating in the preseason, but showed enough to crack the opening night roster after being sent home last year. The 2013 12th overall pick had 102 points (32G / 70A) in 57 games with London (OHL) last year.
Storm, 18, was the third overall pick this summer and had one goal, five shots and a minus-2 rating in five games this preseason. He returns to Erie, where he led the OHL in points a season ago (45G / 84A).
The oft-injured Nikitin had 10 points (4G / 6A) in 42 games last year for the Oilers. He didn’t appear to be in the Oilers plans for 2015-16 after the emergence of Oscar Klefbom and the addition of Griffin Reinhart. If he clears waivers he is expected to be assigned to Oklahoma City (AHL).
Bickell, who was placed on waivers on Friday, cleared on Saturday at noon but head coach Joel Quenneville said Bickell will not be sent to Rockford (AHL) at this time. The Blackhawks have been trying to move Bickell, who carries a $4M cap-hit but has had an impossible time finding someone to take on the contract.
Slepyshev will play on a line with Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall in the Oilers’ final preseason game. Slepyshev has two goals (both GWG) and two assists in six game this preseason. The 21-year-old had 15 goals and 10 assists (25 points) in 58 games with Ufa Salivate Yulayev (KHL) last season. If he does in fact start the season on that line, he makes for a speculative add in standard leagues.
Hanifin was the fifth overall pick in this summer’s draft and had an impressive enough training camp to make the Hurricanes opening night roster. Carolina could elect to give him an extended nine game look to start the season, before making the decision to burn the first year of his entry level deal.
