Merzlikins has missed the last three games but has been activated ahead of Thursday's game in Chicago. It's unclear whether or not he will start tonight after Korpisalo posted a 22-save win on Monday.
Aston-Reese missed the 11 games of the season while rehabbing offseason shoulder surgery but appears set to join the Penguins' lineup on Thursday. With Jared McCann out week-to-week, Aston-Reese will replace him and skate with familiar linemates in Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev.
According to John Tortorella, Werenksi is "banged up" and will not play on Sunday. In Saturday's practice Dean Kukan took Werenski's spot next to Seth Jones and it looks as if Scott Harrington will draw in as the sixth defenseman.
Fischer will miss the first game of the Coyotes road-trip due to an undisclosed injury. With Fischer out, John Hayden will likely draw back into the lineup, presumably in a fourth-line role.
Johnson has not been in the lineup for the last two games and was absent from practice on Sunday. The Rangers called him day-to-day and Tony DeAngelo was placed on waivers, so look for Anthony Bitetto to be in the lineup on Monday.
Merzlikins allowed two goals on 32 shots in the Blue Jackets' win over the Lightning last Saturday. With Joonas Korpisalo on the losing end of Tuesday's game, Merzlikins will start Thursday's rematch vs. the Panthers. Through three starts, the 26-year-old netminder is 1-1-1 with a 3.34 GAA and .891 SV%.
Gambrell was a healthy scratch in the first three games of the season but will centre the Sharks third line as head coach Bob Boughner searches for more production from his bottom-6. It's unclear who Gambrell will replace but he enters the lineup after having 11 points (5G / 6A) in 50 games a season ago.
The Blue Jackets went with Joonas Korpisalo in their season opening loss, so they'll go to Merzlikins in the rematch on Saturday. Merzlikins was really good after being called up from the AHL last season, going 13-9-8 with a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV% and five shutouts in 33 games. In his only start vs. the Predators, Merzlikins stopped 33 of 36 shots in a 4-3 shootout loss in February, 2020.
The Predators acquired the RFA this offseason and signed him to a two-year extension on Wednesday. Kunin, who is coming into his third full NHL season set career-highs in goals (15) and assists (16) in 63 games a season ago. Kunin opened Predators training camp skating on a line with Colton Sissons and Calle Jarnkrok.
Aston-Reese underwent shoulder surgery in August and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season. With Aston-Reese out, the Penguins will likely have Evan Rodrigues or Drew O'Connor in their bottom-6 for the first month.
Labanc was an RFA after his one-year bridge deal expired and earned a big raise from $1.0M AAV to $4.725M over the next four years. Labanc enjoyed a breakout season in 2019 but his numbers dropped off in 2020. There was no way he was going to maintain the 13.1 SH% from 2019 but his on-ice SH% plummeted to 6.6%, so expect his assist total to bounce-back in 2021.
Gillies went 14-10-4 with a 2.69 GAA and .907 SV% in 30 AHL games with the Stockton Heat in 2020. Gillies is still just 26-years-old but will be headed to Springfield (AHL) to start 2021.
After the Penguins bought out the final three years of his contract on Tuesday, the Rangers brought in Johnson on a one-year deal to have him replace Marc Staal. Johnson struggled in Pittsburgh, making this signing a little curious. But at the very least it allows the Rangers' young defensemen more time to develop.
