Matthews missed the first three games of the season but was on the ice for Sunday's practice and is planning on playing tomorrow. Matthews has averaged 59 goals per 82 games over the last two seasons and could have a legitimate chance at 60 goals in 2021-22.
With John Gibson out with an injury, Stolarz will start the second game of the season. Stolarz has been terrific in eight career starts with Anaheim, going 4-4-0 with a 2.18 GAA and. 929 SV%. It's not the ideal matchup, facing a Wild team that ranked ninth in scoring (3.21 GF/gm) last year but he's a decent option if you're desperate for a late-week starter.
Domi was expected to miss at least the first month of the season but is way ahead of schedule and will play in the season opener on Thursday. Domi's production has been all over the map in the last three seasons, but he'll look to improve in 2021 under a more offensive-minded head coach.
Jarnkrok is one of five Kraken players in COVID-19 protocol but the only one who has already been ruled out. According to The Athletic, there's a chance the other four (Oleksiak, McCann, Donskoi and Johansson) could clear protocol and play vs. the Golden Knights. Alex True and Kole Lind were recalled from the AHL and will play if needed.
Roy remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and will not play Tuesday vs. the Kraken. With Roy out and Patrick Brown getting claimed off of waivers by the Flyers, the Golden Knights' fourth line is expected to feature Peyton Krebs and Pavel Dorofeyev.
Domi's original timetable had him returning sometime in November or December. However, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen reported that he's ahead of schedule in his recovery but still has a lot of tests to pass until he's ready to play.
Mermis has been primarily an AHL defenseman in recent years, picking up six goals and 37 assists (43 points) in 115 AHL games in 2019 and 2020 combined. In 2021, the 27-year-old failed to record a point in three games with the Wild.
Ekman-Larsson was one of the best goal-scoring defensemen in the NHL from 2014-to-2019 but his game has slipped a bit in recent years. Ekman-Larsson has a tough time in his own end but brings an offensive punch to the Canucks' blueline that already features Quinn Hughes. In a full 82-game season, you can almost certainly plug O.E.L in for double-digit goals and 30-plus assists.
Myers developed into a very steady piece of the Flyers top-4 in 2021 and will likely play a very similar role with the Predators in 2022. Myers will land in good hands, playing alongside either Roman Josi or Mattias Ekholm in 2022. He has picked up five goals with 22 assists (27 points) in 94 games over the last two seasons.
Woll was a third-round pick in 2016 and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL. The 23-year-old struggled in 2020-21, going 7-7-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .892 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies. Woll will almost certainly open the 2021-22 season in the AHL.
Carlo struggled with injuries during the 2021 campaign, missing 29 of the 56 games and finishing with just three goals and one assist. Still, he's an integral part of the Bruins' top-4 moving forward and they made a lengthy commitment to the 24-year-old.
