Anderson-Dolan signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Jets in the offseason but will begin the 2024-25 campaign on Injured Reserve. The 25-year-old split last season between the Los Angeles Kings and the Nashville Predators but was limited to only 31 games, tallying four points (1G / 3A), 22 blocks, and 56 hits.
The newly minted Utah Hockey Club will turn to Ingram as their netminder for their first regular season game since moving from Arizona in the offseason. The 27-year-old Ingram faced the heaviest workload of his young career in the 2023-24 season and was up to the task, posting an impressive 2.91 GAA, .907 SV%, and six shutouts in 50 games (23-21-3). The Utah HC enter action as -162 home favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that ranked dead-last with only 179 goals scored last season.
For the first time in his young career, Skinner enters the 2024-25 campaign as the undisputed starting goalie for the Edmonton Oilers. The 25-year-old Skinner had an up-and-down 2023-24 season, posting a 2.62 GAA and .905 SV% in 59 games (36-16-5), but had a 17-game stretch to end the season (11-2-3) where he allowed three or fewer goals in all but one game, posting a .922 SV% before leading his club to the Stanley Cup finals. Skinner and the Oilers will open the season against a Winnipeg Jets club he posted a 2-0-1 record against along with a 2.27 GAA and .910 SV%.
The Blackhawks will likely start the season with Mrazek as their starting goaltender. The 32-year-old Mrazek was a bright spot for a Blackhawks club in a mostly forgettable 2023-24 campaign. In 56 contests (18-31-4), Mrazek posted a respectable 3.05 GAA and .907 SV%, totals that mirror his career average of 2.80 GAA and .907 SV%. The Blackhawks enter action on Tuesday as +145 road underdogs in a historic first regular season game for the Utah Hockey Club.
Hellebuyck has been away from the team for two days due to a personal family issue but will be ready to start in goal for the Jets' season opener against the Edmonton Oilers. The 31-year-old American netminder was tremendous last season, winning his second Vezina trophy with a 2.39 GAA and .921 SV% in 60 games (37-19-4). That said, Hellebuyck and the Jets will be put to the test in their first game of the season against the high-flying offense of the Stanley Cup runner-ups.
Aube-Kubel played only 5:45 time-on-ice before exiting Friday's season-opening 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Sabres in the offseason after a 2023-24 campaign with the Washington Capitals where he scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 60 games.
The Canadiens will turn to Montembeault in the crease in their season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. After an impressive 2023-24 campaign for a defensively porous Canadiens club, Montembeault is expected to have a heavy workload as the starting netminder this season. In 41 games last season (16-15-9), Montembeault was solid, posting a 3.14 GAA and .903 SV%. That said, he struggled mightily against the Maple Leafs last season, posting an ugly 4.90 GAA and .821 SV% in two contests (0-2-0).
Struble will not play in the Canadiens' season opener on Wednesday due to a upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day. The 23-year-old defenseman was impressive in his inaugural NHL season, tallying 10 points (3G / 7A), 53 blocks, and 121 hits while averaging 16:07 time-on-ice in 56 games.
Palat was away from the team for several days to attend to the birth of his child and should be ready for their next contest on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 33-year-old Palat is in his third season with the Devils and is coming off his lowest full-season production campaign, scoring only 31 points (11G / 20A) in 71 games.
Nosek suffered an upper-body injury in a September preseason contest and remains week-to-week. Nosek signed a one-year contract with the Panthers in the offseason after spending last season with the New Jersey Devils, scoring six points (2G / 4A) in 36 games.
Guentzel battled some injuries over the course of the preseason and after being unable to complete practice on Monday, did not participate in practice on Tuesday. There doesn't seem to be a lot of concern around the longevity of Guentzel's absence but his offensive prowess will be sorely missed if he is unable to suit up for Tampa Bay's season opener on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In 67 games in 2023-24, the 30-year-old winger had 30 goals and 77 points.
Fresh off their first Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes in their season opener against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of their second-round playoff matchup. Last season, Bobrovsky touted an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4), his best totals since the 2018-19 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as -147 home favorites against the Bruins. That said, Bobrovsky boasts an ugly 3.62 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 career games against the Bruins (4-11-4), his lowest totals against any club.
With prolonged contract negotiations that kept Jeremy Swayman from participating in any preseason games, the Bruins will likely turn to Korpisalo in their season opener against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Korpisalo was acquired as part of a trade in the offseason that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. The 30-year-old Korpisalo has shown flashes of brilliance in his career but has been mostly inconsistent, highlighted by a forgetful 2023-24 campaign with the Senators where he posted a 3.27 GAA and .890 SV% in 55 contests (21-26-4). The Bruins enter action as +137 road underdogs against the Panthers.
Fresh off their first Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes in their season opener against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of their second-round playoff matchup. Last season, Bobrovsky touted an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4), his best totals since the 2018-19 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as -147 home favorites against the Bruins. That said, Bobrovsky boasts an ugly 3.62 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 career games against the Bruins (4-11-4), his lowest totals against any club.
Pesce did not play in the first two games of the season for the Devils in Prague as part of the NHL Global Series as he is still recovering from surgery for a fractured fibula. That said, with his presence at practice on Tuesday, Pesce's return seems to be on the immediate horizon. Pesce signed a six-year contract to join New Jersey in the offseason after nine successful seasons on Carolina's blueline. In 70 games in 2023-24, he had three goals, 13 points, 20 PIMs, and a +10 plus/minus while averaging 20:17 TOI/GP.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas indicated that Rust is dealing with a nagging issue that, albeit not serious, they want to treat before it becomes more concerning. With this latest development, it appears the 32-year-old will not be ready for the Penguins' season opener on October 10th when they take on Columbus. He had 28 goals and 56 points in 62 games played in 2023-24.
Benson played 17:23 TOI in Buffalo's season debut on Friday as part of the NHL Global Series in Prague but was unavailable for their contest on Saturday due to a lower-body injury. The 19-year-old Benson appeared in 71 games in 2023-24 and picked up 11 goals and 30 points. He is considered day-to-day at this point.
Peterka left Buffalo's Global Series game in Prague after just 1:39 TOI in the first period due to a concussion. The 22-year-old is considered day-to-day according to head coach Lindy Ruff. Peterka broke out last season with 50 points (28G / 22A) in 82 games.
Schmidt signed with the Panthers in the offseason but will begin his tenure with his new club as a healthy scratch in their season opener. Schmidt had 14 points (2G / 12A) in 63 games while also racking up 66 hits and 76 blocked shots in the 2023-24 season. Uvis Balinskis will draw in on the third defensive pair for the Panthers.
After missing the Golden Knights' preseason finale, Karlsson was originally expected to be ready for their season opener. The 31-year-old Karlsson had 30 goals and 60 points in 70 games played in 2023-24.
