Hutton has yet to play this season, but could make his debut on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old defenseman scored 15 points (6G / 9A) last season in 55 games with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Tavares has been sidelined for over two weeks with a lower-body injury. He has practiced the past few days and will likely return on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 36-year-old Tavares has seven points (2G / 5A) in seven games this season.
Ullmark has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on October 21st, but has practiced the past few days and could return as soon as Saturday against the Utah Mammoth. The 33-year-old Swedish goalie had a terrific start this season before his injury, posting a dazzling 1.33 GAA and .945 SV% in eight games (7-1-0).
Kessel took a puck to the face at practice on Friday and did not return. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging 12:52 time-on-ice and has two assists in nine games this season. It is unclear what his status is for Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils.
Greig did not play on Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury and will likely miss at least one more game. The 24-year-old Greig is averaging 17:21 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 14 games.
Williams made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season, playing one game with the Blue Jackets after completing his three-year collegiate hockey career with Northeastern University. Since then, he has played exclusively in the AHL, posting five points (1G / 4A) in seven games with Cleveland this season.
Lorentz has been an NHL regular the past several seasons, but has spent the entire 2026-27 season in the AHL so far. The 30-year-old forward has nine points (7G / 2A) in nine games with Cleveland (AHL) this season.
Greaves is coming off an impressive rookie season but has struggled to start the 2026-27 season, recently losing starts to Cam Talbot, who has been more consistent. The 25-year-old Greaves last played on October 31st, when he allowed two goals on 16 shots (.875 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. He has a 3.11 GAA and an .883 SV% in eight appearances this season (2-5-0). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's game as +153 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team coming off a 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Conor Timmins (lower body) will make his season debut on Friday, sending Crevier to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Crevier has played all 15 games this season, averaging 12:52 time-on-ice and scoring one assist.
Timmins has struggled to stay healthy at the NHL level, failing to surpass 52 games played in all but one of his seven seasons. He has already missed Buffalo's first 14 games this season, but has been practicing since Monday and will debut in Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old defenseman had eight assists, 29 hits, and 81 blocks in 39 games last season. Louis Crevier will be a healthy scratch to accommodate the lineup change.
Gustavsson underwent offseason hip surgery and has not yet played in the 2026-27 season. The 27-year-old Gustavsson is entering the first year of a five-year contract extension worth $38 million ($6.8 million AAV) and was poised to duel for playing time with counterpart Jesper Wallstedt, who has become Minnesota's de facto starting goalie. That said, Wallstedt has been the busiest goalie in the NHL this season and performed exceptionally, so it is unclear what type of playing time Gustavsson will get when he returns to action.
Foligno has not played since October 6th due to an upper-body injury, but he could return on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 39-year-old Foligno has one goal in three games this season.
Foligno has not played since October 8th, recovering from a lower-body injury, but could return on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 35-year-old forward has 13 hits and zero points in four games this season.
Jesper Wallstedt has been the NHL's busiest goalie this season, and deservedly so, with consistently stellar play, but Minnesota will turn to Pickard on Saturday in the tail end of a back-to-back. The 34-year-old Pickard, signed in the offseason to back up Wallstedt while Filip Gustavsson (hip) is sidelined, has barely played in 2026-27. He has a 3.50 GAA and .833 SV% in two games (1-1-0) and has not played in two weeks.
Wallstedt has been busy with Filip Gustavsson (hip) sidelined and will return to the crease for the 16th time in Minnesota's first 18 games. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie has been outstanding to start the 2026-27 season, giving Head Coach John Hynes no reason to deviate, posting a stellar 2.06 GAA and .920 SV% in 15 games (10-2-3). In his last six games (4-1-1), Gustavsson has allowed two or fewer goals five times. Minnesota enters Friday's outing as a sizeable -273 home favourite against a struggling San Jose Sharks team that has scored only seven goals combined in their past five games (1-4-0).
With Jiri Kulich expected to return from a concussion, McLeod will be the odd man out as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old McLeod scored an impressive 107 points (34G / 73A) in his first two seasons with Buffalo, playing 160 games, but has struggled offensively in 2026-27. In 15 games, McLeod has just three points (1G / 2A) and a -7 plus/minus.
Kulich has been sidelined for over a week with a concussion, but has been practicing for the past few days. He was cleared to return on Wednesday, but remained sidelined and is anticipating to return for Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 22-year-old Czech forward has three points (1G / 2A) in eight games.
Gibson left Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury and missed Thursday's game. The Red Wings recalled Michal Postava from the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) to back up Daniil Tarasov. Gibson should be ready to return soon, but if he misses any more time, expect Tarasov to be between the pipes.
The Flames were leaning on Devin Cooley before his lower-body injury, but now, upon his return, they will roll with Wolf, who was solid in Cooley's absence. The 25-year-old Wolf saved 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken. In his last three games (2-0-1), he has a stellar 1.69 GAA and .936 SV%. The Flames enter Friday's game as -140 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that has been thriving offensively, scoring five or more goals in six straight games (4-1-1).
