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.
Jarry will get his second start for the Penguins in as many games and look to help them secure their first victory of the season. Despite a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Jarry played reasonably well in the season opener, saving 32 of 35 shots. The Penguins are -120 road favourites against the Capitals, who will be playing their first game of the season.
Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).
Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).
Andersen battled injuries last season, as he has for several seasons now, allowing him to suit up in only 34 games (21-11-1) where he posted a 2.48 GAA and .903 SV%. The Carolina Hurricanes opted to re-sign him and Antti Raanta in the offseason, indicating that there will probably be a similar goalie rotation in the Hurricane crease this season. In two appearances this preseason (1-0-0), Andersen posted a sparkling 1.30 GAA and .946 SV%. There are several high-caliber offensive threats on the Ottawa Senators roster but the defensive structure of Rod Brind'Amour and the Hurricanes should prove challenging for any team to penetrate. As a team last season, the Hurricanes allowed an average of only 2.56 goals per game, good for second in the NHL.
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.
Andersen battled injuries last season, as he has for several seasons now, allowing him to suit up in only 34 games (21-11-1) where he posted a 2.48 GAA and .903 SV%. The Carolina Hurricanes opted to re-sign him and Antti Raanta in the offseason, indicating that there will probably be a similar goalie rotation in the Hurricane crease this season. In two appearances this preseason (1-0-0), Andersen posted a sparkling 1.30 GAA and .946 SV%. There are several high-caliber offensive threats on the Ottawa Senators roster but the defensive structure of Rod Brind'Amour and the Hurricanes should prove challenging for any team to penetrate. As a team last season, the Hurricanes allowed an average of only 2.56 goals per game, good for second in the NHL.
Jarry picked up 24 wins for the Penguins in the 2022-23 season to go along with a 2.90 GAA and a .909 SV% across 47 appearances. He is expected to command a heavy workload for the Penguins this season and will get the nod in their season opener against Chicago. Jarry looks to be one of the safer starts on the slate as the Penguins are heavy favourites over Connor Bedard’s Blackhawks tonight.
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.
Dach was Chicago's 2021 2nd-round selection (62nd overall) and was fighting for a spot on the Blackhawks' opening roster but has been unfortunately placed on the injured reserve to start the season with a right ankle injury. The 20-year-old forward has yet to make his NHL debut but had 12 goals, 15 assists, 31 PIMs, and a +11 plus/minus through 23 games played with both Kelowna (WHL) and Seattle (WHL) in 2022-23. He likely will be loaned to Rockford (AHL) when he is fully recovered.
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.
Shea had seven goals, 21 assists, 36 PIMs and a +37 plus/minus through 70 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) and has signed a one-year, one-way $775,00 contract with Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old was drafted by Chicago in 2015 in the fourth-round (121st overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut despite his constant success at the AHL level.
