Domi had a great start to the season, picking up four points (1G / 3A) in his first two games. In that second game, he fractured his ribs and will miss at least two weeks. With Domi out, Yegor Chinakhov will make his NHL debut on the third line.
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.
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.
Blueger missed 13 games with an upper-body injury in the shortened 2021 season but still managed to tie his career-best of 22 points (7G / 15A). With Blueger re-signed, the Penguins only need to sign RFA Zach Aston-Reese to bring back one of the best bottom-6 lines in the NHL (Tanev - Blueger - Aston-Reese).
