Brown was a healthy scratch for Arizona's victory over the Rangers on Monday but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday vs. the New York Islanders. The 29-year-old defensemen will be replacing Troy Stecher in the Coyotes' lineup. In his one-game of action this season, he has one SOG through 13:14 TOI.
Brown collected 13:14 TOI in the Coyotes' season opening win vs. New Jersey but will be the odd man out as he is a healthy scratch Monday for Troy Stecher. The 29-year-old defenseman is coming off a four goal, three assist, 87 PIM season across 68 games played in 2022-23 and is playing in his sixth NHL season and has eight goals and 24 points in 240 career games played.
After being a healthy scratch in their season opener, Stecher will make his season debut in his return to the Arizona Coyotes. Last season, Stecher split time between the Coyotes and Flames, scoring 14 points (3G / 11A) in 81 games. Stecher will replace Josh Brown, who will be a healthy scratch on Monday night.
Ekholm missed the Oilers' season opener with a hip injury but is expected to play Saturday vs. the Canucks. Ekholm will help the Oilers blueline, which yielded eight goals on Wednesday. After joining the Oilers last season, Ekholm had 14 points (4G / 10A) and a remarkable plus-28 in 21 games.
Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jack Campbell in the Oilers' blowout loss in Vancouver on Wednesday. Campbell surprisingly got the start but didn't last long, however, Skinner didn't fare any better. The Oilers will get Mattias Ekholm back on the blueline tonight, which should help Skinner's cause, but the Oilers need to be much better as a team on Saturday. Skinner was 1-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% in two games vs. the Canucks last season.
Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jack Campbell in the Oilers' blowout loss in Vancouver on Wednesday. Campbell surprisingly got the start but didn't last long, however Skinner didn't fare any better. The Oilers will get Mattias Ekholm back on the blueline tonight, which should help Skinner's cause, but the Oilers need to be much better as a team on Saturday. Skinner was 1-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% in two games vs. the Canucks last season.
Things look promising for Ekholm, who is listed as a game-time decision, to make his season debut on Saturday as he was participating regularly in drills alongside Evan Bouchard. Ekholm had 14 points (4G / 10A) in 21 games for the Oilers last season after being traded from the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline.
Stecher was signed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract by Arizona during the offseason but will be the odd-man out for the Coyotes' first game vs. New Jersey. The 29-year-old defensemen had three goals, 11 assists, 88 SOG, 44 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 81 games played with both Arizona and Calgary in 2022-23. He is entering his eighth NHL season and should find himself in the Coyotes' lineup more often than not.
Podkolzin recorded seven points (4G / 3A) in 39 games with Vancouver last season to go with 18 points (7G / 11A) in 28 games with Abbotsford (AHL). Vancouver's first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft will likely see time between both squads again this season. Akito Hirose was recalled from Abbotsford but is unlikely to see much playing time with Vancouver's recent addition of Sam Lafferty.
The Oilers' second-round pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft is currently in his third season with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. The talented defenseman has three points (1G / 2A) in four games with the Colts this season.
Ekholm practiced on Friday but said he can't say for sure that he'll be ready for opening night and that the injury has taken longer to heal that he originally thought. Philip Broberg will likely suit up if Ekholm can't play against the Canucks on Wednesday.
Stonehouse impressed as an undrafted free agent at the Oilers' rookie camp and has earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract with Edmonton. The 19-year-old right-winger had 37 goals, 20 assists, 66 PIMs and a +28 plus/minus in 68 games played last season with Ottawa (OHL). He has rejoined the 67's for the 2023-24 season but is now officially part of the Oilers organization.
Emberson was placed on waivers by the New York Rangers and has been claimed by San Jose on Saturday. The 23-year-old defenseman has yet to appear in any NHL games in his career but was a 2018 third-round (73rd overall) draft pick to Arizona. In 2022-23 he had seven goals, 20 assists, 27 PIMs and a +17 plus/minus through 69 games with Hartford (AHL).
Savoie suffered the injury just one shift into the Sabres' Prospect Showcase on Monday. Savoie will miss the start of training camp and will likely start the 2023-24 season in the AHL. The 19-year-old is one of the Sabres' top prospects and is coming off of a season where he had 95 points (38G / 57A) in 62 games with the Winnipeg Ice (WHL).
Frederic enjoyed a breakout season with the Bruins in 2022-23 with 17 goals, 14 assists, 120 SOG, 57 PIMs and a +28 plus/minus while playing a bottom-six role and has signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract extension ($2,300,000 AAV). The 25-year-old centre was Boston's 2016 first-round pick (29th overall) and has collected 29 goals, 54 points and 194 PIMs across 198 career NHL games.
Regula failed to pick up a point across four NHL games in 2022-23 but was a -3 plus/minus and had four PIMs and has been signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Boston. The 22-year-old defenseman's rights were acquired by Boston as a piece in the deal which saw Taylor Hall land in Chicago and he brings a goal, 21 SOG and 16 PIMs across 22 career NHL games to the Bruins.
Rodrigue was 14-14-1 with a .912 SV% and 2.77 GAA with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 AAV. The 22-year-old net minder was Edmonton's 2018 second-round pick (62nd overall) and has yet to see any time in the NHL but has racked up 53 appearances in three years of AHL action.
