The Sabres acquired Crevier in the offseason and he has been rewarded with a four-year, $16 million contract ($4.0M AAV). The 25-yera-old defenseman played a career high 78 games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, averaging 17:08 time-on-ice and scoring 25 points (7G / 18A).
Jacob Markstrom was excellent in Florida's season opener, saving all 15 shots he faced in a 1-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Still, the team will rotate netminders early, turning to Schmid on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Schmid has had successful stints at the NHL level and is coming off a career-high 34 games played (16-10-6) last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, posting a 2.59 GAA and .893 SV%. The Panthers enter Thursday as -142 road favourites.
Markstrom was excellent in Florida's season opener, saving all 15 shots he faced in a 1-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Still, the team will rotate netminders early, turning to Schmid on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Schmid has had successful stints at the NHL level and is coming off a career-high 34 games played (16-10-6) last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, posting a 2.59 GAA and .893 SV%. The Panthers enter Thursday as -142 road favourites.
Hyman played 20:33 time on ice in Edmonton's season-opening 6-5 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, but he is battling an undisclosed injury and is expected to miss the next two weeks. The 34-year-old forward had a resurgent 2025-26 season, scoring 52 points (31G / 21A) in 58 games and will be relied upon heavily again for offence in 2026-27.
With Frederik Andersen (undisclosed) expected to be out until December, and Tristan Jarry off to a discouraging start on Tuesday, allowing six goals on 23 shots (.739 SV%) in a 6-5 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, Levi tends the twine in a rematch against the Canucks. The 24-year-old Levi has excelled in the AHL but has struggled to translate that success to the NHL in previous stints with the Buffalo Sabres. Now, with the Oilers, who are desperate for an answer between the pipes, Levi has a chance to make his mark. The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -212 road favourites.
Primeau has had brief stints in the NHL each of the past several seasons, but he has primarily been an AHL netminder. The 27-year-old goalie had a 4.30 GAA and .838 SV% last season in three appearances with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2-1-0).
Lankinen struggled in Vancouver's season opener, allowing five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%), but got plenty of help in an eventual 6-5 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks will likely need Lankinen to be more stoic between the pipes on Thursday in a rematch against the Oilers. Expectations are low for the Canucks this season, but Lankinen will hope to improve on last season's ugly 3.70 GAA and .876 SV% in 47 outings (11-27-5). The Canucks enter the action as +187 home underdogs.
After years of being regarded as a highly promising prospect, Askarov's first full NHL season in 2025-26 left something to be desired, posting an underwhelming 3.63 GAA and .883 SV% in 47 games (21-20-4). With intentions of returning to the postseason for the first time in over half a decade, the Sharks will need Askarov to live up to the skill set that made him the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He will tend the twine on Thursday, as the Sharks enter the action as +127 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team that won 1-0 over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
A night after being pummeled 7-0 in their season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers will likely change things up between the pipes, turning to newcomer Joseph Woll for his team debut. The 28-year-old Woll spent the first few seasons of his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they parted ways after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, posting a 3.34 GAA and .898 SV% in 39 outings (15-16-7). The Flyers hope to rebound on Thursday, entering the action as +149 road underdogs against the New Jersey Devils.
Lundestrom had Achilles surgery in July and remains out month to month, likely through the end of the calendar year. The 26-year-old Swedish forward averaged 12:23 last season in 68 games with the Blue Jackets, scoring 12 points (4G / 8A).
With Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) on Injured Reserve, out week-to-week, the Rangers have recalled Garand from Hartford (AHL). The 24-year-old Garand made his NHL debut last season, posting a 1.62 GAA and .948 SV% in three games (2-0-1). The Rangers play a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday, so Garand could potentially tend the twine as soon as Friday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Korpisalo joined the Rangers in the offseason, but his team debut will be delayed after he landed on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old Finnish goalie posted a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% last season in 31 games with the Boston Bruins (14-9-6). The Rangers have recalled Dylan Garand from Hartford (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Vejmelka was a busy goalie last season, and he should continue that role in 2026-27, as his backup is Sebastian Cossa, who, while he has a promising future, has only one career NHL appearance. The 30-year-old Vejmelka led the Mammoth to the playoffs last season, appearing in 64 games (38-20-3), posting a 2.75 GAA and .896 SV%. The Mammoth enter their season opener on Thursday as sizeable -219 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that lost 5-2 on Tuesday to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kindel suffered a lower-body early in the preseason and has been sidelined since. He did not play in Pittsburgh's season-opening 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, but he was back at practice as a full participant on Thursday. The 19-year-old forward enters his sophomore season after scoring 35 points (17G / 18A) in 77 games with Pittsburgh in 2025-26.
Chiarot is battling an undisclosed injury, but is not expected to miss any time. The 35-year-old veteran defenseman was a calming presence on a largely inexperienced Red Wings blueline last season, averaging 20:50 time on ice, recording 15 points (5G / 10A), 160 blocks, and 170 hits in 82 games.
Samuelsson was originally announced as week-to-week with a lower-body injury, but has made a quick recovery and will draw into the lineup for Buffalo's season opener vs. Columbus on Thursday. The 26-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025-26, putting up career highs in nearly all statistical categories with his 14-goal, 41-point line across 78 games played to go alongside his +41 plus/minus.
