NHL Hockey Player News

The Canadiens will turn to Montembeault in the crease in their season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. After an impressive 2023-24 campaign for a defensively porous Canadiens club, Montembeault is expected to have a heavy workload as the starting netminder this season. In 41 games last season (16-15-9), Montembeault was solid, posting a 3.14 GAA and .903 SV%. That said, he struggled mightily against the Maple Leafs last season, posting an ugly 4.90 GAA and .821 SV% in two contests (0-2-0).

Struble will not play in the Canadiens' season opener on Wednesday due to a upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day. The 23-year-old defenseman was impressive in his inaugural NHL season, tallying 10 points (3G / 7A), 53 blocks, and 121 hits while averaging 16:07 time-on-ice in 56 games.

Palat was away from the team for several days to attend to the birth of his child and should be ready for their next contest on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 33-year-old Palat is in his third season with the Devils and is coming off his lowest full-season production campaign, scoring only 31 points (11G / 20A) in 71 games.

Nosek suffered an upper-body injury in a September preseason contest and remains week-to-week. Nosek signed a one-year contract with the Panthers in the offseason after spending last season with the New Jersey Devils, scoring six points (2G / 4A) in 36 games.

Guentzel battled some injuries over the course of the preseason and after being unable to complete practice on Monday, did not participate in practice on Tuesday. There doesn't seem to be a lot of concern around the longevity of Guentzel's absence but his offensive prowess will be sorely missed if he is unable to suit up for Tampa Bay's season opener on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In 67 games in 2023-24, the 30-year-old winger had 30 goals and 77 points.

Fresh off their first Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes in their season opener against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of their second-round playoff matchup. Last season, Bobrovsky touted an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4), his best totals since the 2018-19 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as -147 home favorites against the Bruins. That said, Bobrovsky boasts an ugly 3.62 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 career games against the Bruins (4-11-4), his lowest totals against any club.

With prolonged contract negotiations that kept Jeremy Swayman from participating in any preseason games, the Bruins will likely turn to Korpisalo in their season opener against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Korpisalo was acquired as part of a trade in the offseason that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. The 30-year-old Korpisalo has shown flashes of brilliance in his career but has been mostly inconsistent, highlighted by a forgetful 2023-24 campaign with the Senators where he posted a 3.27 GAA and .890 SV% in 55 contests (21-26-4). The Bruins enter action as +137 road underdogs against the Panthers.

Fresh off their first Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes in their season opener against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of their second-round playoff matchup. Last season, Bobrovsky touted an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4), his best totals since the 2018-19 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as -147 home favorites against the Bruins. That said, Bobrovsky boasts an ugly 3.62 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 career games against the Bruins (4-11-4), his lowest totals against any club.

Pesce did not play in the first two games of the season for the Devils in Prague as part of the NHL Global Series as he is still recovering from surgery for a fractured fibula. That said, with his presence at practice on Tuesday, Pesce's return seems to be on the immediate horizon. Pesce signed a six-year contract to join New Jersey in the offseason after nine successful seasons on Carolina's blueline. In 70 games in 2023-24, he had three goals, 13 points, 20 PIMs, and a +10 plus/minus while averaging 20:17 TOI/GP.

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas indicated that Rust is dealing with a nagging issue that, albeit not serious, they want to treat before it becomes more concerning. With this latest development, it appears the 32-year-old will not be ready for the Penguins' season opener on October 10th when they take on Columbus. He had 28 goals and 56 points in 62 games played in 2023-24.

Benson played 17:23 TOI in Buffalo's season debut on Friday as part of the NHL Global Series in Prague but was unavailable for their contest on Saturday due to a lower-body injury. The 19-year-old Benson appeared in 71 games in 2023-24 and picked up 11 goals and 30 points. He is considered day-to-day at this point.

Peterka left Buffalo's Global Series game in Prague after just 1:39 TOI in the first period due to a concussion. The 22-year-old is considered day-to-day according to head coach Lindy Ruff. Peterka broke out last season with 50 points (28G / 22A) in 82 games.

Schmidt signed with the Panthers in the offseason but will begin his tenure with his new club as a healthy scratch in their season opener. Schmidt had 14 points (2G / 12A) in 63 games while also racking up 66 hits and 76 blocked shots in the 2023-24 season. Uvis Balinskis will draw in on the third defensive pair for the Panthers.

After missing the Golden Knights' preseason finale, Karlsson was originally expected to be ready for their season opener. The 31-year-old Karlsson had 30 goals and 60 points in 70 games played in 2023-24.

Stastney was absent from Nashville's training camp due to personal reasons and will begin the season on the Injured/Non-Roster list. The 24-year-old signed a two-year, $3.3 million contract extension ($1,650,000 AAV) in the offseason after putting up two goals, four points and a +9 plus/minus in 20 games played in 2023-24.

Saad is expected to miss the Blues' first road trip of the season as he awaits the birth of his third child and has been placed on the Injured/Non-Roster list to begin 2024-25. The Blues will hope to have their veteran 31-year-old left-winger back soon after he finished 2023-24 fourth in team goals (26) and fifth in points (42).

Bakersfield (AHL) shored up its offensive on Monday as Edmonton signed Cameron Wright to a one-year, two-way contract worth $952,000 AAV. The 26-year-old forward spent 2023-24 split between Bakersfield (AHL) and Fort Wayne (ECHL) and had a combined 16 goals and 26 points in 52 games played.

Vrana has spent the entire training camp with Washington on a PTO and has earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract on Monday. The 28-year-old left-winger is entering his ninth NHL season and will hope to play in more than 50+ games for the first time since 2019-20. In 21 games with St.Louis in 2023-24, he had two goals, six points and eight PIMs.

Mukhamadullin has not been able to participate in San Jose's training camp due to a lower-body injury and was placed on the Injured Non-Roster list on Monday. The 22-year-old former 1st-round pick made his NHL debut with the Sharks in 2023-24 and had an assist, four PIMs and five SOG in a short three-game showing.

Bourque was the 2023-24 AHL points leader with 77 (26G / 51A) in 71 games and was projected to crack the opening night roster for Dallas before suffering an undisclosed injury that caused him to exit the team's final preseason game. The 22-year-old Bourque was expected to play on a line with Jamie Benn and fellow rookie Logan Stankoven.