L’Heureux made a strong push to make the Predators roster out of training camp but their depth pushed him back to the AHL to start the season. The 21-year-old winger had 48 points (19G / 29A) and 197 PIMS in 66 AHL games a season ago.
Eyssimont was originally expected to be out until the middle of October, but he removed his non-contact jersey for Thursday's practice. Head coach Jon Cooper said that Eyssimont will need to get his conditioning up but it seems possible that he could be ready for the Lightning's season opener. He skated with Nick Paul and Conor Sheary in Thursday's practice session.
Entering training camp, it seemed as if Nazar had a chance to make the Blackhawks roster after appearing in three games with them at the end of last season. He had a disappointing preseason, though, and will get his first taste of AHL action with Rockford to begin 2024-25.
After appearing in 76 NHL games a season ago, Korchinski had a disappointing training camp and will begin the 2024-25 season in Rockford. With Korchinski off the roster, look for Alex Vlasic to quarterback the Blackhawks' second power-play unit.
Sorokin's return date is still unclear after the 29-year-old successfully underwent back surgery in the offseason. However, he had some incredibly positive signs on Thursday after he returned to Islanders' practice in full for the first time. The four-year NHL veteran claimed he felt good during the skate and is hopeful to be back shortly. Sorokin endured one of the roughest seasons of his professional career in 2023-24, posting a 25-19-12 record with a 3.01 GAA and .909 SV%.
After a long training camp with limited news on Erik Karlsson's ailment, the 34-year-old defenseman returned to Pittsburgh's practice for the first time in a non-contact jersey. The 16-year-veteran is not expected to be ready for Pittsburgh's season opener on October 9th vs. New York with the latest news. Karlsson is coming off a disappointing first season with the Penguins in 2023-24, where he put up 11 goals, 56 points, 44 PIMs and 213 SOG in 82 games played.
Lysell was "cut" from training camp on September 29th but GM Don Sweeney made it clear that day that Lysell could be called back up for Thursday or Saturday's preseason game. Lysell was first round pick in 2021 but has yet to appear in an NHL game. The 21-year-old had 50 points (15G / 35A) in 56 AHL games last year and should be in the mix for a middle-6 role in Boston this season.
Panarin left Tuesday's preseason game with a lower-body injury, the second preseason game he's left this month. At the moment the Rangers are calling Panarin day-to-day but it's unclear if he'll be available for their season opener next Wednesday.
Jones has been sidelined by an undisclosed injury during training camp but shed his non-contact jersey for Thursday's practice. Jones came over from Anaheim has a free agent this summer and had 15 points (5G / 10A) in 52 games a season ago. Now that he's back healthy, he should be a member of the Bruins' fourth line on opening night.
Brindley was expected to compete for one of Columbus' final roster spots heading into the regular season but has faced a setback after breaking his finger and will be placed on injured reserve with a return time of four to six weeks. The 19-year-old right-winger was Columbus' 2023 2nd round pick (34th overall) who is coming off 25 goals, and 53 points in 40 games at the University of Michigan (NCAA) in 2023-24.
It's safe to assume that Hughes will miss at least the first 15 games of the season, and he could miss 20+ games if he doesn't return for seven weeks. With Hughes sidelined it looks like Seamus Casey could make his NHL debut in the Devils' season opener. Casey has been running the Devils' second power-play unit in practice recently, indicating that he'll play on Friday.
Samoskevich has been dealing with an upper-body injury since the beginning of training camp but was cleared to join practice on Wednesday. Head coach Paul Maurice said he expects Samoskevich to be full contact by Friday and make his pre-season debut on Saturday. If he's healthy, Samoskevich is expected to open the season on the Panthers' roster and skate on the third line next to Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.
Lehkonen is expected to miss the start of the regular season due to offseason shoulder surgery. According to head coach Jared Bednar, they are trying to give him as long as they can without contact, but once he's cleared it won't be long before he returns to the lineup. With Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin both expected to miss the start of the season, newcomers Calum Ritchie and Nikolai Kovalenko could get a look in the Avalanche top-6 early on.
Suter got in a scuffle with Edmonton's Corey Perry in Tuesday's preseason matchup and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old will hope to be ready for the Canucks' season opener on October 9th vs. Calgary as he has a week to recover. Suter joined Vancouver from free agency in 2023-24 and had 14 goals, 29 points, 105 SOG and a +17 plus/minus in 67 games played.
With Jeremy Swayman's contract talks looming, Boston claimed Jiri Patera off of waivers from Vancouver on Wednesday. The 25-year-old goaltender signed a two-year, two-way contract with Vancouver in July but was swiftly claimed by Boston. In six games with Vegas in 2023-24, he had a 1-3-1 record, a 3.98 GAA and a .893 SV%.
Montreal was given some semi-good news on Tuesday when it was announced Patrik Laine was only expected to miss two to three months with a sprained left knee from a hit endured by Toronto's Cedric Pare. The 26-year-old winger was acquired from Columbus in late August for a 2026 2nd-round pick and Jordan Harris after he put up six goals, nine points, and 41 SOG in 18 games in 2023-24.
Blake Lizotte's Pittsburgh debut may have to wait after it was announced on Wednesday that the forward is being further evaluated for a concussion and is without a timetable to return. The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $3.7 million contract in the offseason with Pittsburgh after five solid seasons in Los Angeles. In 62 games in 2023-24, Lizotte had seven goals, 15 points, 76 SOG and 20 PIMs while averaging just 11:49 TOI/GP.
Pittsburgh will be in need of a backup goaltender to start the 2024-25 season after it was announced Alex Nedeljkovic sustained a lower-body injury on Wednesday and will be out week-to-week. The 28-year-old surprisingly took over Pittsburgh's crease for the Penguins end of season playoff run in 2023-24 due to his 18-7-7 record, 2.97 GAA and .902 SV% during his first season in Pennsylvania.
Celebrini crashed hard into the boards on Tuesday during San Jose's preseason clash vs. Utah and did not return due to a lower-body injury. If the 18-year-old is forced to delay his NHL regular season debut it will be a massive letdown after Celebrini was taken 1st overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and is considered one of the league's most exciting prospects. San Jose is expected to provide updates on the injury in the upcoming days.
