Joseph will make his Blues debut in Vegas on Friday after sitting out the first two games of the season. The 25-year-old blue-liner spent the first four seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, totaling eight goals and 29 assists across 147 regular season games.
Aman drew into the Canucks lineup for the first game of the season as a replace for Pius Suter, who was battling an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Aman played 12:13 time-on-ice, recording a -1 plus/minus.
With Thatcher Demko likely sidelined for the next several weeks, the Canucks will rotate between Lankinen and Artus Silovs in the crease. Silovs started the season opener for the Canucks, a 6-5 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames, and will serve as the backup to Lankinen for their second game on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old Lankinen was serviceable as the Nashville Predators' backup goalie last season, posting a 2.82 GAA and .908 SV% in 24 outings (11-6-0). The Canucks enter action on Friday as -167 home favorites over the Flyers.
Bains made his NHL debut last season, being held without a point in eight games for the Canucks. The 23-year-old Bains spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), tallying an impressive 55 points (16G / 39A) in 59 games and could be in line for a more prominent role in the NHL this season.
Garland missed the Canucks' pre-season finale on Saturday but told reporters he will be good to go when the Canucks kick off their regular season on Wednesday. The 28-year-old winger will be looking to build off a successful 2023-24 campaign that saw him rack up 20 goals and 27 assists across a full 82 regular season games.
Patera has had a whirlwind offseason, signing with the Canucks at the beginning of July, being claimed on waivers by the Boston Bruins last week, and ultimately rejoining the Canucks after being claimed from waivers on Monday. Patera had a 1-3-1 record, a 3.98 GAA, and a .893 SV% in six games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season.
Demko is still several weeks away from ramping things up, but with tenuous uncertainty surrounding his injury, this is positive news for Demko and the Canucks. The 28-year-old Demko was tremendous for the Canucks last season, posting a career-best 2.45 GAA and .918 SV% in 51 games (35-14-2). In the interim, the Canucks are rolling with Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen between the pipes.
Höglander is coming off his first full season with the Canucks and has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension after scoring 36 points (24G / 12A) in 80 games. In addition, Höglander was tied for second amongst all Canucks' forward with a +23 plus/minus. The 23-year-old Swede is projected to play alongside Aatu Raty and Conor Garland on the third line.
With Jeremy Swayman's contract talks looming, Boston claimed Jiri Patera off of waivers from Vancouver on Wednesday. The 25-year-old goaltender signed a two-year, two-way contract with Vancouver in July but was swiftly claimed by Boston. In six games with Vegas in 2023-24, he had a 1-3-1 record, a 3.98 GAA and a .893 SV%.
Alriksson was Vancouver's 2023 4th-round pick (107th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks on Sunday. The 19-year-old Swedish forward is entering his second season with Guelph (OHL) after a strong rookie campaign in 2023-24 which saw him put up 17 goals, 33 points and 35 PIMs in 67 games played. He will return to the Storm for his sophomore season in 2024-25.
The Canucks needed goaltending depth because Thatcher Demko is still not 100 percent recovered from the injury that he suffered in the playoffs. It's unclear whether or not Demko will be ready for the start of the season, so Arturs Silovs and Lankinen could start the year as their goaltending duo. Most recently, Lankinen was with the Predators, where he was 11-6-0 with a 2.82 GAA and .908 SV% in 24 games in 2024.
Kane will undergo surgery and will miss training camp and the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Oilers' GM Stan Bowman said that Kane is going to be "out for a while." Kane still hasn't undergone surgery, so expect him to miss a significant portion of the season and he should open the fantasy hockey season on the waiver wire.
Canucks' fans received some excellent news on Tuesday as their star goaltender Thatcher Demko returned to the ice and is skating and working out with indications of being healthy for training camp. Demko was originally expected to miss the beginning of training camp as his offseason recovery was taking longer than expected but that news has been flipped with his return Tuesday. The 28-year-old was key in Vancouver's success last season, with his 35-14-2 record, 2.45 GAA, .918 SV% and 5 shutouts.
There is an expectation around the Oilers' camp that 33-year-old Evander Kane will undergo surgery for an undisclosed injury and will likely start the season on the Long-Term Injured Reserve. The bruising right-winger missed the Oilers last five games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs due to an injury that would not allow him to sit on the bench and will look to right the ship after collecting 24 goals and 44 points in 77 games played in 2023-24.
Joseph will join his brother in St. Louis who was acquired in an earlier deal on Tuesday after the defensemen signed a one-year $950,000 contract with the Blues. The 25-year-old defenseman had spent the first four seasons of his career in Pittsburgh and had two goals, 11 points and 14 PIMs in 52 games played in 2023-24.
After five strong AHL campaigns, Jimmy Schuldt has signed a one-year, two-way contract with San Jose as he is expected to dress for the Barracuda (AHL) this season. The 29-year-old made his NHL debut straight out of college in 2018-19 but has since spent the passed five seasons between four different AHL organizations. In 2023-24 he had five goals and 24 points in 68 games with Coachella Valley (AHL).
After three seasons as Vegas' third goalie, Jiri Patera has signed a two-year, two-way contract with Vancouver. The 25-year-old netminder appeared in six games in 2023-24 with the Golden Knights, posting a 1-3-1 record, 3.98 GAA and .893 SV%.
Vancouver added to its defensive depth as it signed journeyman defenseman Derek Forbort to a one-year, $1,500,000 contract. The 32-year-old found himself in and out of Boston's lineup in 2023-24 but had four assists, 17 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus in 35 games played.
