Höglander is coming off his first full season with the Canucks and has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension after scoring 36 points (24G / 12A) in 80 games. In addition, Höglander was tied for second amongst all Canucks' forward with a +23 plus/minus. The 23-year-old Swede is projected to play alongside Aatu Raty and Conor Garland on the third line.
Yamamoto had spent training camp with Utah on a PTO and earned himself a one-year, two-way contract on Sunday. The 26-year-old is entering his eighth NHL season and had eight goals and 16 points in 59 games with Seattle in 2023-24.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said that Jenner is going to be out "a while" and is going to see another specialist next week. The team should release a more detailed timetable following that appointment. In an effort to replace Jenner, the Blue Jackets signed Kevin Labanc on Sunday.
Gibson underwent an emergency appendectomy on September 25th and is about two weeks into his original 3-6 week timeline. The American netminder has failed to produce a save percentage above .900 in each of the last two seasons and beginning 2024-25 on the Injured Reserve is a tough way to ensure a bounce-back campaign after only 13 wins in 2023-24.
After prolonged contract negotiations kept Swayman out of the Bruins' training camp, the two sides have finally reached an agreement on a massive eight-year contract extension worth $66 million. Swayman cemented his part in the Bruins' crease last season after posting a tremendous 2.53 GAA and .916 SV% in 44 games (25-10-8). The American netminder is expected to see the majority of action between the crease for the Bruins this season but will be backing up Joonas Korpisalo in the team's debut on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.
Bear was placed on waivers Friday but cleared on Saturday and has been loaned to the Hershey Bears (AHL) for the start of the 2024-25 season. The 27-year-old is in the second year of a two-year, $4.13 million contract and had a goal, four points and 10 PIMs in 24 games played in 2023-24.
Ludvig was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh on Friday and has been claimed by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. The 24-year-old defenseman spent his entire rookie season in 2023-24 with Pittsburgh and had three goals, five points and 47 PIMs in 33 games played.
Peterka left Buffalo's Global Series game in Prague after just 1:39 TOI in the first due to an injury and has been diagnosed with a concussion post game. The 22-year-old is without a timetable to return for the time being but should be provided updates when Buffalo returns to the United States.
Labanc was on a PTO with New Jersey but has earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. The 28-year-old winger played the previous eight seasons in San Jose but had a down year in 2023-24 with only two goals, nine points and a -27 plus/minus in 46 games played.
Karlsson began skating with the team earlier this week but has stated that he fully expects to be ready for Pittsburgh's season opener on Wednesday vs. the New York Rangers. The 34-year-old has yet to appear in the preseason but will be looking to build off a subpar first season in PIttsburgh in 2023-24, with 11 goals, 56 PIMs and 213 SOG in 82 games played.
Kulich will get the chance to make his season debut in his home country of Czechia after it was announced Zach Benson would be out on Saturday vs. New Jersey. The 20-year-old centre is only making his second NHL appearance ever after making it into one game in 2023-24. He is expected to take Benson's spot in Buffalo's top-six.
Benson played 17:23 TOI in Buffalo's debut on Friday but is absent from the lineup for their second game on Saturday in Prague due to a lower-body injury. The Sabres' have yet to provide any updates on the severity of the issue of the flashy 19-year-old who appeared in 71 games in 2023-24 and picked up 11 goals and 30 points.
With Ondrej Palat stepping away from the team due to the birth of his second child, Kurtis MacDaermid will make his season debut on Saturday in Prague vs. Buffalo. The 30-year-old bruising left-winger came to New Jersey mid season in 2023-24 and had two goals, three points and 73 PIMs in 45 total games played.
Levi split his 2023-24 season between the NHL and the AHL and will start 2024-25 as the Sabres' No.2 netminder behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. During his 23 NHL games last season, Levi was 10-8-2 with a 3.10 GAA and .899 SV%. Buffalo is coming off of a 4-1 loss to the Devils on Friday and are +127 underdogs.
