Brzustewicz was a third-round pick (No.75 overall) of the Canucks in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old defenseman is in his second year with Kitchener (OHL), where he leads all OHL defensemen with 69 points (8G / 61A) in 47 games.
Kuzmenko is on his way to Calgary as the key piece to the trade for Elias Lindholm after struggling to live up to the 39-goal season he posted as a rookie. Kuzmenko reportedly had to waive a no-trade clause in order to facilitate the deal, as the Flames were said to be on his 12-team no-trade list. The 27-year-old should be in line for a bigger role in Calgary after struggling to secure minutes in Vancouver's top-six this season. Kuzmenko scored eight goals and added 13 assists in 43 games for the Canucks this season while playing less than 15 minutes a night.
With his contract set to expire at the end of this season, Elias Lindholm was long rumoured to be one of the top trade targets in the NHL this season, and that came to fruition on Wednesday when the Canucks acquired him in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, a pair of prospects, a first-round draft pick, and a conditional fourth-round draft pick. Lindholm had struggled to produce at his usual clip in Calgary this season, registering just nine goals and 23 assists in 49 games despite playing over 20 minutes a night. It's been reported that Lindholm did not agree to any sort of extension with Vancouver as part of the deal, so he does appear to be a rental for the time being. You can expect him to centre one of Vancouver's top two lines, though we likely won't get an official projected lineup until after the All-Star break.
Jurmo was a third-round pick (No.82 overall) of the Canucks in 2020 and has spent the entire 2023-24 season in the Liiga (Finland) with Ilves Tampere and KooKoo Kouvola. In total, the 6-foot-3, 207 lbs. left-shot defenseman has tallied one goal and two assists (three points) in 34 Liiga games.
Kaliyev will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday in order to make room for the return of Quinton Byfield (illness). Kaliyev has enjoyed a rather productive season considering his limited usage, registering six goals and eight assists in 38 games with an ATOI of 13:10.
Lewis recorded an assist, snapping a 15-game pointless streak, on Sunday while playing 11:36 time-on-ice. Lewis will skate with Alex Turcotte and Carl Grundstrom on the Kings' fourth line after being a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.
Carrier played only 8:01 time-on-ice before exiting Monday's game against the Ottawa Senators with an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old defender has 44 hits and 92 blocks while averaging 18:09 time-on-ice through 46 games this season. Carrier's absence will make way for Tyson Barrie to return to the Predators' lineup.
Saros returned to the crease after a night off and allowed four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday Night. Despite his last outing, Saros has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six of his last seven games (3-1-1), posting an impressive .922 SV%. The Predators will look to snap a two-game losing skid as slight +103 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that has lost four straight (0-2-2).
Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.
Kyle Burroughs will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday, replacing Emberson, who will not play due to an upper-body injury. Emberson played the last two games for the Sharks, recording an assist in both along with four hits.
Ty Emberson will be the odd man out on Wednesday, allowing Burroughs to re-enter the Sharks' lineup. Before missing Tuesday's game against the Seattle Kraken, Burroughs played six straight, recording one goal, seven shots, and 13 hits.
Hertl left the Sharks' contest Saturday vs. Buffalo after just 16:50 TOI due to a lower-body injury and did not play Tuesday. The 30-year-old's injury is not expected to be severe enough to hold him out from representing San Jose at the 2024 NHL All-Star games after collecting 15 goals, 34 points, 113 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -26 plus/minus in 48 games before his injury.
On the back end of a back-to-back, the Sharks will turn to Kahkonen after Mackenzie Blackwood had a 32-save shutout in the Sharks' 2-0 win over the Seattle Kraken last night. Kahkonen last played on January 27th, allowing four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Sharks are +162 road underdogs against a rested Ducks team with points in three straight (2-0-1).
Fantilli was limited to only 7:30 time-on-ice on Monday before exiting the game with a calf laceration. The 19-year-old rookie will miss approximately eight weeks, a devastating blow for a Blue Jackets team that has struggled all season. In 49 games this season, Fantilli had 27 points (12G / 15A), 115 shots, and 46 hits, one of the few bright spots on the Blue Jackets' season.
Chariter has failed to pick up a point in six straight contests and was placed on waivers Tuesday by the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old has struggled for the Senators offensively all season, with only two goals, three points, 14 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 34 games. He is expected to report to Belleville (AHL).
Lyubuskin has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. In his last three outings, Lyubushkin has a -4 plus/minus, one shot, and two hits.
Gibson will start for the third time in the last four games when the Ducks face off against the San Jose Sharks. Gibson allowed four goals on 44 shots (.909 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. The 30-year-old netminder has lost three of his last four (1-2-1), posting a .908 SV%. The Ducks enter action as -177 home favourites against a Sharks team that played last night and defeated the Seattle Kraken 2-0.
Lewis recorded an assist, snapping a 15-game pointless streak, on Sunday while playing 11:36 time-on-ice. Lewis has spent most of the season playing on a line with Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte and it will be a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.
After missing two straight games with an illness, Byfield will draw back into the lineup for the Kings on Wednesday evening. Before his injury, Byfield was riding a three-game point streak, with four points (2G / 2A) while playing on the top line, as he has for most of the season, with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.
