NHL Hockey Player News

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.

Celebrini took an awkward fall in San Jose's preseason game last week and missed some practices due to a lower-body injury but has stated he is healthy and ready for his NHL debut on Thursday. It is great news for the 18-year-old who was drafted first overall in last year's NHL entry draft after producing 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games at Boston University (NCAA).

Mermis signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs in the offseason but will begin his 2024-25 campaign on the Long-Term Injured Reserve due to an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old is week-to-week after undergoing successful jaw surgery last week. In 47 games with Minnesota in 2023-24, he had three goals, eight points and 33 PIMs.

Jarnkork has been placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve due to a lower-body injury after he re-aggravated a training camp injury in last Thursday's preseason game. The 33-year-old was originally day-to-day with the injury but is now without a timetable to return. If he is forced to miss significant time it will be a massive loss for the Maple Leafs after he had 10 goals, 21 points, and a +16 plus/minus in 52 games played in 2023-24.

Hakanpaa was absent from a large portion of training camp but did begin practicing with his new club last week. The bruting 6'7 defenseman spent the last three seasons with the Dallas Stars but battled injuries last season, missing the entirety of the playoffs while playing only 64 regular season games.

Minten suffered a high-ankle sprain in early September, causing him to miss the entirety of training camp and the preseason. The 20-year-old Minten appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs in 2023-24 before being returned to junior, but failed to pick up a point during his brief showing.

Dewar was absent from training camp after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and will begin the 2024-25 campaign on Injured Reserve. The 25-year-old Dewar was traded to the Maple Leafs from the Minnesota Wild ahead of last year's trade deadline and tallied five points (1G / 4A) in 17 games with his new club.

Aube-Kubel played only 5:45 time-on-ice before exiting Friday's season-opening 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Sabres in the offseason after a 2023-24 campaign with the Washington Capitals where he scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 60 games.