NHL Hockey Player News

Last season's Vezina trophy winner picked up where he left off, saving all 30 shots he faced for a shutout in a dominant 6-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Hellebuyck has led the league in appearances amongst goalies in four of the last seven seasons and is expected to be amongst the leaders again this season. Hellebuyck will return to the crease on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Jets enter action as sizeable -266 home favorites against a Blackhawks team that was defeated 5-2 in their season-opening matchup against the Utah Hockey Club.

The Lightning will unsurprisingly turn to their franchise netminder for their season opener on Friday night. Vasilevskiy was uncharacteristically mediocre in 2023-24, though an early season back injury could be to blame. He posted a .900 SV%, a 2.90 GAA, and a 30-20-2 record across 52 starts. He'll be looking to regain his Vezina caliber form this season, but he draws a tough assignment on opening night. The Lightning enter action as +125 underdogs in Carolina.

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour was noncommittal about who would be manning Carolina's crease for their season opener on Friday, but it's no surprise to see Andersen get the call. Though he was limited by injuries last season, Andersen was spectacular when he was available. The 35-year-old netminder posted a .932 SV% and a 1.84 GAA to go along with a 13-2-0 record across 16 appearances. Andersen and the Hurricanes enter Friday night as -150 favourites over the Lightning.

The 24-year-old will have to fend off newcomer Ivan Fedotov for playing time this season, but Ersson appears to have the slight edge heading into game one of 82. Ersson had some bright moments in 2023-24 but struggled as a whole, posting an .890 SV% and a 2.82 GAA across 51 appearances. He draws a brutal first assignment against the Canucks, who scored five goals on 24 shots in their overtime loss to the Flames on Wednesday. The Flyers enter action as +160 underdogs in Vancouver.

With Nick Seeler being placed on IR with a lower-body injury, Emil Andrae has been recalled from Lehigh Valley (AHL) ahead of Philadelphia's season opener. The 22-year-old defenseman appeared in four games with the Flyers in 2023-24 but spent the majority of the year with Lehigh Valley (AHL) and had five goals and 32 points in 61 games played.

Prior to Philadelphia's season opener on Friday, they placed Nick Seeler on the injured reserve retroactive to October 1st with a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old defensemen appeared in 71 games with the Flyers in 2023-24, and had a goal, 13 points, 78 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus.

With Aleksander Barkov's injury status up in the air for Saturday's contest, Florida has recalled Patrick Giles from Charlotte (AHL) for some offensive depth. The 24-year-old undrafted right-winger has yet to make an NHL appearance but had 13 goals, 23 points and 31 PIMs in 66 games with Charlotte (AHL) in 2023-24.

Celebrini is battling a lower-body injury and is questionable for Saturday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky would not specify if Celebrini absence is due to a new injury or something that was previously lingering. The 18-year-old Celebrini made his NHL debut on Thursday and recorded two points (1G / 1A) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Drouin played 21:25 in Colorado's season-opening 8-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday but did not practice on Thursday or Friday and will miss several games. Ross Colton is expected to fill in on the top powerplay unit in Drouin's absence.

On the tail end of a back-to-back set, the Blues will likely turn to Binnington in the crease on Friday night after Joel Hofer allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks last night. The 31-year-old Binnington was solid in the Blues' season opener on Tuesday, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. The Blues enter action on Friday as +188 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Texier was a late scratch on Thursday, being replaced by Zachary Bolduc, due to an upper-body injury. Texier spent the first five seasons of his career as a Columbus Blue Jacket. The 25-year-old Texier had a career-high 30 points (12G / 18A) in 78 games last season.

Hill was serviceable, if unspectacular, in the Golden Knights' season opener, allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in an 8-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche, enough to secure another start in their second game of the season. The 28-year-old Hill had a solid 2023-24 season but was sidelined for a large portion due to injuries, posting a 2.71 GAA and .909 SV% in only 35 games (19-12-2). The Golden Knights enter Friday night's contest as sizeable -214 home favorites against the St. Louis Blues.

Cole Schwindt will make his Golden Knights debut on Friday, replacing Brisson in the lineup. Brisson was the 29th overall pick of the Golden Knights in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Brisson spent most of last season in the AHL, scoring 38 points (19G / 19A) in 52 games.

Schwindt was the 81st overall pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has spent most of his professional career thus far in the AHL. Last season, he scored 36 points (14G / 22A) in 66 games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). He will draw into the lineup in favour of Brendan Brisson.

The Avalanche have added some depth to their goaltending position behind Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen by claiming Kahkonen from the Winnipeg Jets. Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%, but could get an opportunity at the crease in Colorado if Georgiev and Annunen are unable to provide consistent efforts.

Lavoie has had a whirlwind start to his 2024-25 campaign. Lavoie was signed to a one-year, two-way contract extension by the Edmonton Oilers in the offseason, placed on waivers last week, claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights, re-claimed by the Oilers, and ultimately claimed again by the Golden Knights. The 24-year-old was Edmonton's 2019 2nd-round pick (38th overall) and has appeared in seven games with the Oilers since making his debut last season. In 66 games with Bakersfield (AHL) in 2023-24, he had 28 goals, 50 points and 64 PIMs in 66 games played.

Filip Gustavsson was solid in the season opener for Minnesota, a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he will serve as the backup to Fleury on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. The goalie carousel is in full effect in Minnesota between Gustavsson, Fleury, and Jesper Wallstedt. The 39-year-old veteran Fleury appeared in 40 games (17-15-5) for Minnesota last season, posting a 2.98 GAA and .895 SV%. His 36 starts last season were his fewest in over a decade, a number that is likely to drop more this season.

Danforth underwent off-season wrist surgery, did not participate in training camp, and missed the first game of the season. The 31-year-old Danforth has 43 career points (22G / 21A) in 122 games.

Noah Juulsen will draw into the lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers to replace Desharnais. The 28-year-old Desharnais, in his first season with the Canucks, played 13:11 in their season opener, recording four penalty minutes and a -2 plus/minus.

Aman drew into the Canucks lineup for the first game of the season as a replace for Pius Suter, who was battling an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Aman played 12:13 time-on-ice, recording a -1 plus/minus.