Jiricek probably would have made the team out of training camp if he wasn't waiver exempt but because he was it was an easy decision to send him back to the AHL. With Zach Werenski out for at least one week, Jiricek was recalled and Eric Robinson was waived to make room for him. The 2022 No.6 overall pick had 38 points (6G / 32A) in 55 AHL games last season.
Gustavsson stopped all 41 shots that he faced in a shutout win over the Panthers on Thursday. Gustavsson picked up right where he left off in 2023. In his last 19 regular season starts, Gustavsson is 12-1-6 with a 1.83 GAA, .943 SV% and three shutouts. As good as he's been, he draws a tough matchup in Toronto on Saturday. He stopped 22 of 24 shots in a 2-1 OT loss in his only start vs. the Maple Leafs last year.
Johansson was forced to leave Thursday's opening night win against the Panthers, but head coach Dean Evason said that he cleared all the necessary tests and participated in Friday's practice. Expect Johansson to remain on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy on Saturday.
Jiricek was recalled by the Blue Jackets after their star defenseman Zach Weresnki was placed on injured reserve earlier this morning. The talented young Czech defenseman had 38 points (6G / 32A) in 55 games with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL. Jiricek was the sixth overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and could be an interesting piece on the back end if Werenski is forced to miss significant time.
Johansson left Thursday's win over the Panthers after getting clipped by an elbow by Uvis Balinskis. Post-game, the Wild did not have an update on Johansson's status and said that he'll be re-evaluated on Friday. If Johansson isn't available on Saturday, expect them to dress seven defensemen because they don't have a reserve forward on the roster and no cap space to bring one up (without having to waive Dakota Mermis).
Expectations are high this season for the 25-year-old Gustavsson, who made his presence known in his first season with the Wild, posting a 2.10 GAA and .931 SV% in 39 games (22-9-7) en route to eventually capturing the starting role from veteran Marc-Andre Fleury. As the confirmed starting goalie in Minnesota's season-opener, Gustavsson appears poised to pick up where he left off and should see an even larger role between the pipes this season. The Wild enter action tonight as -130 home favourites against the Florida Panthers, who will be without their top two defensemen, Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour.
Bogosian cleared waivers on Tuesday but has been recalled from Syracuse (AHL) on Wednesday. The 33-year-old defenseman missed the Lightnings' season-opening win over Nashville but will mark his 16th NHL season when he makes his first appearance for Tampa. He had a goal, four assists, 54 SOG, 42 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 46 games played with the Lightning in 2022-23.
The Blue Jackets 2022 first-round selection (6th overall) has failed to make Columbus' opening day roster and has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) for the start of the 2023-24 season. The 19-year-old mega prospect appeared in only four games with Columbus in 2022-23, failing to pick up a point while collecting two PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He returns to Cleveland where he spent most of last season and picked up six goals and 38 points in 55 games played.
Hartman is coming off a 37-point (15G / 22A), 59-game campaign, in which he predominantly centred a line between Kiril Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. The nine-year veteran is expected to reassume his role as the top-line center for the Wild.
Spurgeon is expected to be out week-to-week as he deals with an upper-body injury and his presence will be greatly missed on Minnesota's back end. Last season, he led all Wild defensemen with 34 points (11G / 23A) and was second in time on ice, averaging 21:49 per game. With Spurgeon out, Alex Goligoski will likely become a regular in the lineup and Jonas Brodin and Brock Faber will be thrust into larger roles.
Foligno had seven goals, 14 assists, 97 PIMs, 83 SOG, and a -6 plus/minus in 2022-23 and signed a four-year, $16 million extension with Minnesota on Friday. The 32-year-old is entering his seventh season in Minnesota and has 116 goals and 272 points across 12 NHL seasons and 743 games played. He should have a key-role in the Wilds' bottom six yet again this season.
Zuccarello had 22 goals, 45 assists, 198 SOG, 26 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 2022-23 with Minnesota and has signed a two-year, $8.250 million contract extension ($4,125,000) with the Wild. The 36-year-old enters his fifth season with the Wild and has an impressive 186 goals and 573 points in 766 career games played. He is expected yet again to be a key cog on the Wilds' top line with Kirill Kaprizov.
Gustavsson had a 22-9-7 record, 2.10 GAA (2nd in NHL), and a .931 SV% (2nd in NHL) in his first season in Minnesota in 2022-23 and has signed a $11.25 million extension ($3,750,000 AAV). The 25-year-old netminder was acquired in July of 2022 for Cam Talbot from Ottawa and excelled in his first season with the Wild. He will man Minnesota's crease for the next three years and brings a 32-22-10 career record, and a .920 SV% and a .2.51 career GAA into 2023-24.
Tarsenko had 18 goals, 32 assists, 169 SOG, eight PIMs and a -14 plus/minus through 69 games played with both St. Louis and New York in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $5,000,000 contract with Ottawa. The 31-year-old right-winger will join his third team in his 12th NHL season and has 270 goals, 573 points with 2124 SOG through 675 career games played.
Hinostroza had two goals, nine assists, 38 SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 26 games played with Buffalo in 2022-23 and has singed a one-year, $775,000 AAV contract with Pittsburgh. The 29-year-old centre will be joining his fifth NHL team and has 53 goals, 95 assists and 99 PIMs across 360 games played through eight season.
After five years in the Golden Knights' organization, Jones signed with the Flames last July and finished third in Calgary Wranglers scoring with 54 points (17G / 37A) in 71 AHL games. With Matthew Phillips now with the Capitals, Jones will be a key member of the Wranglers lineup in 2024.
Priskie had 11 goals, 11 assists, 20 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 58 games with both Rochester (AHL) and San Diego (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way extension with Washington ($775,000/$335,000 AAV). The 27-year-old defenseman has played in four NHL games throughout his career, failing to pick up a point while adding two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus.
Gleason had nine goals, 24 assists, 40 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 68 games with Texas (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $1.550 Million contract ($775,000) with Edmonton. The 25-year-old undrafted offensive defensemen's only appearance in the NHL was in 2018-19 with Dallas, where he had an assist, two SOG and a -1 plus/minus.
Pitlick had seven goals, nine assists, 54 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 61 games with St.Louis in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers worth $785,500. The 31-year-old centre is joining his eighth NHL team and has 55 goals and 105 points across 386 games and nine NHL seasons.
Petersen has been traded to Philadelphia in a three-team, five player, three draft-pick trade that also involved the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old had a horrendous 2022-23 season, being assigned to the AHL in December after posting a 5-3-2 record, .868 SV% and 3.75 GAA. He has 101career NHL games played under his belt across five professional seasons.
