Faksa took a hard hit along the boards during last Tuesday's preseason game and had to get stitches on his face. He was not in concussion protocol, so there's a good chance that Dallas' fourth-line centre is available for opening night.
Johnston had a "little bit of a procedure," according to head coach Pete DeBoer. The Stars will be forced to shuffle their lineup around and Craig Smith will likely dress if Johnston isn't able to play on Thursday.
Hintz practiced with the team for the first two days of training camp but hasn't been with the team recently due to an upper-body injury. He's been skating on his own and head coach Pete DeBoer is still optimistic that Hintz will be ready for Game 1. His availability for practice this week will be a good indication of if he'll play vs. the Blues or not.
Despite having an impressive preseason, recording five points (2G / 3A) in six games, a logjam of offensive talent on the Dallas Stars' roster has prevented Stankoven from cracking the opening night roster. Stankoven will likely see some time in the NHL this year but as he awaits his callup, the Stars' top prospect should see top-line minutes playing with the Texas Stars of the AHL.
Bourque had a successful first year of professional hockey last season, scoring 47 points (20G / 27A) in 70 games with the Texas Stars (AHL). The 30th overall pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has yet to make his NHL debut and will have to continue waiting as he begins this season in the AHL. Bourque is a high-end prospect for the Stars and could see some time in the NHL this season.
Head coach Rod Brind'Amour called it a "not serious shoulder injury," but it's still expected to sideline him for at least on week. The 2019 No.28 overall pick has yet to make his NHL debut, but had 32 points (13G / 19A) in 50 AHL games a season ago.
Francouz has been placed on the injured reserve as he continues to recover from a groin injury. Francouz battled injuries last season as well, recording a 2.61 GAA and .915 SV% while playing in only 16 games (8-7-1). Justus Annunen will serve as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev to start the season as Francouz's timeline for return remains uncertain.
Pelletier is expected to be out long-term after undergoing shoulder surgery. Last season he made his NHL debut, recording seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games for the Flames. In his absence, Dryden Hunt is expected to make the opening-night roster and center the 4th line for Calgary.
Buffalo has locked up one of the league's premiere defensemen with a huge eight-year contract extension. The first overall pick from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft had a breakout season last year, scoring 73 points (15G / 58A) in 78 games. Look for Dahlin to build on those totals as the star defenseman is, once again, expected to compete for the Norris Trophy.
Guenther made the Coyotes roster out of training camp last season, tallying 15 points (6G / 9A) in 33 games before finishing his season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. This year, the ninth overall pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft will debut the season in the AHL. Guenther proved that he could compete in the NHL last season and could find his way back with the Coyotes at some point this year.
Killorn will have to wait a little longer to make his Anaheim Ducks debut as he is expected to miss at least a month on the injured reserve with a fractured finger. The 11-year veteran is coming off a career-best 64-point campaign (27G / 37A) with the Tampa Bay Lightning and was signed by the Ducks to add some much-needed goal-scoring to the league's 31st-ranked offence (2.51 GPG). Until he makes his full recovery, expect Frank Vatrano to have an elevated role to start the season.
Zellweger will have to wait to make his NHL debut as he will begin the 2023-24 campaign with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. He spent last season in the WHL, splitting time between the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers, where he scored a combined 70 points (32G / 48A) across 55 games.
Lafferty had 12 goals, 15 assists, 102 SOG, 37 PIMs, and a -11 plus/minus through 70 games played with Chicago and Toronto in 2022-23 and has been traded from Toronto to Vancouver for a 2024 fifth-round pick. The 28-year-old centre will be joining his fourth NHL team in his fifth season and has 23 goals and 59 points in 210 career games played.
Aston-Reese was released on a PTO earlier in the week by Carolina and has now found himself a spot on Detroit's roster after signing a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 29-year-old forward had 10 goals, four assists, 89 SOG, 25 PIMs, and a -6 plus/minus through 77 games with Toronto in 2022-23. The Red Wings will make his fourth NHL team in seven seasons.
The 26-year-old forward was brought into Pittsburgh camp on a PTO and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The Boston-born veteran had eight goals, seven assists, 64 SOG, and 12 PIMs across 68 games in his only season in Florida in 2022-23. He is joining his third NHL team after spending six years in Ottawa and one with the Panthers.
Denisenko was placed on waivers by Florida and claimed on Saturday by the Vegas Golden Knights. The 23-year-old forward was the Panthers 2018 first-round pick (15th overall) and had three assists, four PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in 18 games with Florida in 2022-23. He has played sporadically across three seasons with the Panthers, picking up seven assists and eight PIMs in 26 career NHL games played.
After being limited to only eight games last season because of his shoulder, Norris' availability for the upcoming season remains up in the air after suffering a setback last week. Any absence for Norris poses major concerns for Ottawa as it leaves a huge void in their second-line center position. Expect Ridley Greig, who recorded nine points (2G / 7A) as a rookie with the Senators last season, to take on a bigger role for the duration of Norris' injury.
Bennett is unlikely to be ready for the opening game of the season and could miss two weeks as he recovers from a lower-body injury. Last season, Bennett scored 40 points (16G / 24A) in 63 games for the Panthers while predominantly playing in a second-line role. Eetu Luostarinen, who recorded 43 points (17G / 26A) in 82 games last season, is expected to handle some extra responsibility on the second line and second powerplay unit during Bennett's absence.
Hartman is coming off a 37-point (15G / 22A), 59-game campaign, in which he predominantly centred a line between Kiril Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. The nine-year veteran is expected to reassume his role as the top-line center for the Wild.
