Clague played in the season opener but sat out the last two games. On Thursday he is expected to replace Kurtis MacDermid and skate on the third line with Sean Walker. He had one shot and two PIMS in 15:19 TOI last Thursday.
Vesalainen sat as a healthy scratch in the first three games of the season but will draw into the lineup on Thursday. Head coach Paul Maurice did not disclose who Vesalainen will replace but he comes in with one assist in five career NHL games.
Heinola is a talented offensive defenseman that will replace Sami Niku and skate on a pair with Josh Morrissey on Thursday. The 19-year-old had four assists in seven games with Finland at the 2021 World Juniors and picked up five points (1G / 4A) in eight NHL games a season ago.
Hellebuyck gave up three goals on 26 shots in the Jets' overtime win over the Flames last Thursday. The Jets had a long break between their first and second game, so Hellebuyck could see three or four starts during the Jets' five-game week. In two starts vs. the Maple Leafs in 2020, Hellebuyck surrendered eight goals on 45 shots (.822 SV%).
DeMelo did not travel to Toronto, so he will miss at least Monday's game and could miss the entire three-game road-trip. DeMelo is staying in Winnipeg to be with his wife for the birth of their child.
Schenn had to sit out the Lightning's season opener due to salary cap reasons but will play Friday vs. the Blackhawks. The Lightning did not announce who he will replace but it will most likely be rookie Cal Foote.
Hellebuyck is one of the few workhorses remaining in the NHL and his heavy workload will begin tonight vs. the Flames. Hellebuyck has won 30-plus games in three straight seasons and is coming off of a Vezina Trophy winning season, posting a 2.57 GAA, .922 SV% and six shutouts. In the Jets and Flames qualifying round matchup, Hellebuyck struggled with a 3.04 GAA and .904 SV%. He'll be looking for revenge on Thursday.
Hellebuyck is one of the few workhorses remaining in the NHL and his heavy workload will begin tonight vs. the Flames. Hellebuyck has won 30-plus games in three straight seasons and is coming off of a Vezina Trophy winning season, posting a 2.57 GAA, .922 SV% and six shutouts. In the Jets and Flames qualifying round matchup, Hellebuyck struggled with a 3.04 GAA and .904 SV%. He'll be looking for revenge on Thursday.
Toews is out with a medical issue with no timetable for his return. Moving him to LTIR means he will miss at least 24-days but he wasn't necessarily expected to return before that anyway.
DeMelo and his wife just had a baby so he will not play Thursday vs. the Flames. With DeMelo sidelined, Sami Niku will draw into the lineup.
Comrie continues to work his way around the NHL. He was drafted by the Jets in the second round in 2013 but has been claimed by Arizona, Detroit and then back to Winnipeg since 2019 and is on the move again in 2021. The Devils were shocked by the retirement of Corey Crawford last week, so Comrie will battle with Scott Wedgewood for the backup role to Mackenzie Blackwood. Comrie is 2-5-0 with a 4.23 GAA and .868 SV% in eight career NHL games.
In a statement, Toews said that he's been experiencing symptoms that have left him feeling "drained and lethargic." He is working with doctors to get a better understanding of his condition and will not join the Blackhawks until he "can get [his] health back to a place where feel [he] can perform at an elite level and help [his] team."
Schenn served as a No.7 defenseman in Tampa Bay for most of the year but appeared in 25 regular season and 11 postseason games to get his name on the Stanley Cup. With both Jan Rutta and Kevin Shattenkirk likely moving on, there's a chance that Schenn could be a third-pairing defenseman in 2021.
