Nugent-Hopkins skated on Tuesday but missed yesterday's game against the Kings and will not play tonight vs. the Coyotes. However, it is a positive sign that he has skated two days in a row, so consider him day-to-day.
Murray is nearing his season debut, but head coach Todd Richards said that penciling him for Friday might be "premature". Richards said he has his fingers crossed for Murray to be ready sooner than later, but “it might be pushing it” to suggest Friday as a possibility. Regardless, Murray continues to make progress and it is a long season. If not Friday, Murray could be back Saturday.
Smith gave up six goals on 27 shots to the Jets in the season opener. He took a seat while Devan Dubnyk won against the Kings on Saturday, but the Coyotes will turn to Smith tonight vs. the Oilers. The Oilers have yet to get into the win column and are on the tail-end of a back-to-back, so Smith should be able to bounce-back tonight.
Nurse, 19, was the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. He will replace Jeff Petry in the Oilers lineup tonight and likely skate with Andrew Ference. He had 13 goals and 37 assists (50 points) in 64 games in the OHL last season.
Nugent-Hopkins was reportedly injured on a hit in the Vancouver game on Saturday. He won't play tonight and should be considered questionable for tomorrow's game. Mark Arcobello will centre the top line with RNH out.
RNH missed practice on Monday with an undisclosed and is not practicing on any particular line this morning, which would suggest he is not playing tonight. Mark Arcobello is skating in his spot on the top-line, so if RNH can't go expect that the be the case tonight. We will get an update following the skate.
Murray has yet to play this season, but he has practiced everyday for the last week, which is a great sign that he is nearing his season debut. Murray is a tremendous offensive talent and will help bolster a Blue Jackets power-play that is working at 12.5% through two games.
Griffith, 21, was a fifth round pick (131st overall) in 2012. He had 50 points (20G / 30A) in 69 games with Providence last year. Expect him to suit up on the Bruins fourth line on Monday.
Smith allowed six goals on 27 shots in a 6-2 loss to the Jets on opening night. It was not a great start for Smith and it will not be easy for him to get back on track tonight against a Sharks team coming off of a huge opening night win over the Kings.
Murray still remains without a target date for his return, but says he feels like he is getting closer and closer with each passing day. Murray is a dynamic offensive talent on the blueline and will bolster a Blue Jackets powerplay that went 1/4 on Thursday.
Smith had a rough year in 2013-14, but should be in line for a bounce-back season. He is a good goalie on a defence-first team, which makes him a reliable fantasy option. The 2.64 GAA he posted last season, was the worst GAA he has posted in his three years in Arizona, so expect that number to creep closer to 2.40 in 2014-15. He starts the season with a nice matchup vs. Winnipeg.
Kapanen, 18, was the 22nd overall pick in this summer's draft. He had one goal on six shots in four preseason games, but will head back to KalPa Kuopio in Finland, a team he had seven goals and seven assists (14 points) in 47 games with last season.
Murray was placed on injured reserve on Sunday which means that he will miss at least the first two games of the season. The face that he is back on the ice this morning is a good sign that he could be back next Tuesday vs. Dallas, the first game he will be eligible to return from IR.
Murray is definitely out for the season opener and the second game of the season on Saturday, but his status beyond that remains unknown. The start of the season will be difficult for Columbus due to a multitude of injuries. Expect solid offensive numbers from Murray when he returns to the blueline.
The deal means that both sides will avoid an arbitration hearing for the 26-year-old blueliner, who was a restricted free agent. Last season, Demers had a career-high 34 points (5G / 29A) in 75 games. Demers was fourth amongst Sharks D-men in power-play time per game and with Dan Boyle new in New York, Demers should move up one spot in the pecking order.
Murray's return to the lineup would certainly bolster the Blue Jackets' D for a pivotal Game 5.
Murray missed Game 4 with an undisclosed injury and will likely miss Game 5. Coach Richards, however, does expect Murray to play again this series.
The Coyotes have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, so Smith will probably be done for the rest of the season. There is no sense rushing him back for a meaningless game. Look for Thomas Greiss to close out the season for the Coyotes.
Smith will miss his eighth straight game on Thursday, and he is desperately hoping that Thomas Greiss can pull out the W to keep the Coyotes alive. Phoenix has a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday, monitor Smith's status heading into the weekend.
Thomas Greiss will get another start for Phoenix as Smith remains sidelined with a knee injury. There was no real update other than he is still day-to-day. Monitor his status before Thursday's game vs. Nashville.
