Djoos, who was originally a seventh-round pick of the Capitals in 2012, has appeared in 119 career NHL games with Washington and Anaheim. Djoos is a modern-day NHL defenseman, who is mobile and a solid puck-mover from the back-end. He has 27 points (5G / 22A) in his brief NHL career thus far and will likely be the seventh defenseman in Detroit.
One day after taking an indefinite leave of absence from the Devils, Crawford announced his retirement. Crawford said in a statement that he believes he's "given all I can to the game of hockey." Crawford played 10 full NHL seasons, going 260-162-53 with a 2.45 GAA and .918 SV% in 488 regular-season games. He is a two-time Stanley Cup winner and has twice been a part of the William M. Jennings Trophy tandem.
Barzal debuted in Islanders' camp on Saturday, fresh off of a three-year contract extension. The 23-year-old centre had 19 goals and 41 assists (60 points) in 68 games a season ago and has averaged 14 goals and 36 assists (50 points) per 56-games over the last three years. Given the depth at the position, Barzal is a strong No.2 fantasy centre now that he'll be there for the start of the 2021 season.
Sheahan was in Sabres camp on a PTO but signed Friday after the news of Zemgus Girgensons being out for the season. Sheahan spent the 2020 season with the Oilers, collecting eight goals and seven assists (15 points) in 66 games. Sheahan will likely open the 2021 season on the fourth line and will help replace Girgensons on the penalty kill.
Guhle was in a battle to land one of the two spots up for grabs on the Ducks' third pairing but is now expected to miss the first five weeks of the regular season with a sprained MCL. Guhle split 2020 between the NHL and AHL, tallying four goals and four assists in 20 games with the Ducks.
Crawford has worked his way back from concussion and vertigo in recent years but appeared set to split time with Mackenzie Blackwood in the Devils' crease in 2021. With Crawford taking an indefinite leave, it's impossible to predict when and if he will play this season. From a fantasy hockey perspective, this is tremendous news for Blackwood, who should act as a workhorse as long as Crawford is out. Bump Blackwood well up your draft boards and I would let Crawford hit the waiver wire to begin the season.
The Predators acquired the RFA this offseason and signed him to a two-year extension on Wednesday. Kunin, who is coming into his third full NHL season set career-highs in goals (15) and assists (16) in 63 games a season ago. Kunin opened Predators training camp skating on a line with Colton Sissons and Calle Jarnkrok.
Girgensons will miss the entire 2021 season after suffering a serious hamstring injury. Girgensons led all Sabres forwards in shorthanded ice-time a season ago and they also lost Johan Larsson in free agency, so the Sabres will have to completely retool their penalty kill this season.
Bjorkstrand finally saw his long-awaited bump in ice time in 2020 and he turned out a career-year, which was unfortunately hampered by injuries. Overall, he scored 21 goals with 15 assists (36 points) in 49 games, a 35-goal and 60-point per 82-game pace. Bjorkstrand is expected to continue to see huge minutes in 2021 as a fixture on the Blue Jackets' top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Pastrnak was originally expected to miss the first month of the season, roughly 15 games, but head coach Bruce Cassidy provided some positive information on Tuesday. Pastrnak is one of the most polarizing players in fantasy drafts this season but this update provides optimism that could push his ADP into the second round.
Wilson was the No.7 overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft and retires at the age of 31 after 11 seasons. Wilson played for the Predators and Avalanche, compiling 113 goals and 173 assists (286 points) in 632 games.
Pavelski is expected to play a large role this season with Tyler Seguin out for months but this is not a good start. Pavelski is day-to-day pending further results from medicals and his status is something worth monitoring leading up to the season.
Aston-Reese underwent shoulder surgery in August and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season. With Aston-Reese out, the Penguins will likely have Evan Rodrigues or Drew O'Connor in their bottom-6 for the first month.
With Bishop out for at least one month, the Stars will continue to lean on Anton Khudobin as their No.1 netminder, as they did during their playoff run. Bishop told The Athletic that the surgery was to repair the meniscus in his right knee and that he is expecting to get back to Dallas in the next couple of weeks and hopes to be on the ice soon.
Depending on when Khudobin gets his visa issues cleared up and arrives in Dallas, he could be in danger of missing the start of the regular season. He will be forced to quarantine for seven days once he arrives in Dallas. With Ben Bishop expected to be out until March, Khudobin will be leaned on to serve as the Stars No.1 netminder for at least a month and a half.
After a breakout 2019 campaign, he finished 2020 with 38 points (12G / 26A) in 58 games. Strome appeared set to open the 2021 campaign as the Blackhawks' No.3 centre behind Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach, but with both with Toews dealing with a health issue and Dach out for five months, Strome will be their No.1 centre when they start training camp on Monday.
Kapanen is in Finland as he works through immigration issues that have been complicated by COVID-19. HE is not slated to have a visa meeting until later this week and the hopes are that he will be on a plane to Pittsburgh shortly after. However, once he arrives, he would need to quarantine for seven days, which will force him to miss training camp and likely the first game of the regular season.
Marino was originally drafted in the sixth-round by the Oilers but was traded to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick back in the summer of 2019. What a trade that has turned out to be for the Penguins. Marino had a terrific rookie season, compiling six goals with 20 assists (26 points) in 56 games. He averaged over 20 minutes per game in 2020 and should continue to eat huge minutes in the Penguins' top-4 in 2021.
Olofsson was shaken up after losing his balance and crashing into the post at Saturday's practice. Olofsson tried to return to the skate following a video session but ended up retiring to the dressing room shortly after. Following the practice the Sabres said that Olofsson is still being evaluated, so consider him day-to-day until more information is released.
The Rangers called Zibanejad day-to-day, so it doesn't sound like he's going to miss any regular-season time at this point, but his situation is certainly one worth monitoring as the season approaches.
