Both Bjugstad and Evgeni Malkin are expected to miss extended periods of time with lower-body injuries. The Penguins were deep down the middle heading into the season and now will have to rely on players like Jared McCann and Teddy Blueger to centre their middle-6. Bjugstad has missed at least 15 games in three of the last four years.
Binnington allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Blues 3-2 win over the Stars on Saturday. Binnington has picked up right where he left off in 2018-19, starting the year 1-0-1 while stopping 58 of the 63 shots (.921 SV%) that he has faced. The Richmond Hill native will make his first start in his hometown on Monday—he stopped 31 of 33 shots in his only career start vs. Toronto.
Binnington allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Blues 3-2 win over the Stars on Saturday. Binnington has picked up right where he left off in 2018-19, starting the year 1-0-1 while stopping 58 of the 63 shots (.921 SV%) that he has faced. The Richmond Hill native will make his first start in his hometown on Monday—he stopped 31 of 33 shots in his only career start vs. Toronto.
Gunnarsson was a healthy scratch in the Blues season opener but will draw-in for Robert Bortuzzo on Saturday. Gunnarsson, who had just seven points (3G / 4A) in 25 games last season, will skate on the top-pair with Alex Pietrangelo.
Thomas suffered an upper-body injury in the Blues season opener and will be replaced by Zach Sanford in the lineup on Saturday. Thomas is listed as day-to-day.
Binnington stopped 31 of 34 shots in the Blues opening night overtime loss to the Capitals. Everyone is wondering if Binnington is the real deal and his first start was positive, despite the eventual loss. In his second start, he takes on a Dallas team that he was 1-2-0 with a 2.76 GAA and .879 SV% against last season.
Thomas missed Friday’s practice with what is being described as an upper-body injury, believed to be wrist related. Zach Sanford skated in his spot in practice and would likely take Thomas’ spot if he can’t play vs. The Stars on Saturday.
Schenn was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but the Blues have locked him up through the 2027-28 season. Schenn failed to record a point in the season opener but is coming off of a 54-point season (17G / 37A) in 2018-19.
Binnington started the 2018-19 season in the AHL but took the NHL by storm once he was called-up. Binnington went 24-5-1 while leading the NHL in GAA (1.89) and tying for fourth in SV% (.927) in 32 games. He played very well in the postseason as well, en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Not a bad rookie season. He’ll start his second season on home-ice, where he went 14-2-0 last year.
Binnington started the 2018-19 season in the AHL but took the NHL by storm once he was called-up. Binnington went 24-5-1 while leading the NHL in GAA (1.89) and tying for fourth in SV% (.927) in 32 games. He played very well in the postseason as well, en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Not a bad rookie season. He’ll start his second season on home-ice, where he went 14-2-0 last year.
Faulk is headed into the final year of a deal that carries a $4.833M AAV cap-hit but gets a deal that will carry him through the 2026-27 NHL season when he will be 35-years-old. Faulk has failed to top 40 points in four straight seasons and is coming off of an 11-goal, 24-assist season in 2019.
Faulk has been one of the best offensive-defenseman in the NHL over the last five seasons. Over that stretch, he is fourth in PPG (32), seventh in goals (67), 18th in PPP (79), 25th in points (189) and tied for 26th in Pts/gm (0.50). Heading to St. Louis, he’ll have to battle with fellow right-handed defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko for playing time at 5v5 and him or Pietrangelo should quarterback the first power-play.
Alexandrov was a second-round pick (No.62 overall) in this summer’s draft. The 18-year-old centre had 27 goals and 34 assists (61 points) in 64 QMJHL games last year. He will return to the Charlottetown Islanders for his third season in 2020.
Buchnevich set new career-highs in goals (21) and points-per-game (0.59) in 2019 while appearing in 64 games with the Rangers. Buchnevich has been a breakout candidate for the last two seasons, but 2020 looks like his best chance yet. As long as Buchnevich can remain in the Rangers’ to-6, the additions of Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko should give Buchneviche plenty of talent to work with.
Sundqvist set career-highs in goals (14), assists (17) and points (31) in 74 games last season. Sundqvist was third among Blues forwards in SH/TOI (1:39), hits (101) and tied for sixth in blocked shots (31). The 25-year-old centre went on to add nine points (4G / 5A) in 25 playoff games to help St. Louis to the Stanley Cup.
