Simek was banged up in training camp but head coach Bob Boughner expects to have him for the "St. Louis series" which suggests that he'll miss the season-opening back-to-back in Arizona.
After bouncing between Edmonton, Philadelphia and Calgary over the last two seasons, Talbot landed in Minnesota on a three-year deal this offseason. Talbot was rock steady in 26 games for the Flames a season ago, posting a .919 SV% and was even better in the playoffs with a .924. He's a vastly under appreciated netminder and should have a solid season behind a Wild team that is one of the stiffest defensive teams in the NHL.
Appleton produced high-end numbers at Michigan State and in the AHL but has just 18 points (8G / 10A) in 82 career NHL games. Given the Jets' solid depth on the wing, Appleton will likely be a fourth liner for the duration of 2021, making it unlikely for his numbers to improve.
Dries spent almost all of 2020 in the AHL, scoring 21 goals with 14 assists (35 points) in 50 games with the Colorado Eagles. The 26-year-old did appear in five game with the Avalanche and now has six points (3G / 3A) in 45 career NHL games. With the Avalanche having one of the deepest forward groups in the NHL, Dries is likely destined for the AHL in 2021.
The Blues selected Nolan Stevens in the fifth-round in 2016 and he has spent the first two years of his professional career in the AHL. In 2020, the 24-year-old had nine goals and 22 assists (31 points) in 50 games with San Antonio. Expect him to start 2021 with the Rampage.
Talbot stopped all 31 shots that he faced in the Flames shutout win over the Jets to close out the qualifying round series in Game 4. In the series, Talbot stopped 104 of the 110 shots (.945 SV%) that he faced. Now the Flames get the Stars in round 1, Talbot stopped 29 of 31 shots in a losing effort in his only game vs. Dallas in 2020.
