Middleton didn't play in Minnesota's preseason finale due to injury, but he has been practicing and appears on track to be ready for the season opener. Middleton had career-high highs in goals (7), assists (18), points (25), blocked shots (161), and hits (148) in 80 games last season. He will line up on the second defensive pair alongside Jared Spurgeon.
Boldy didn't play in Minnesota's preseason finale due to a lower-body injury, but he has been practicing and appears on track to be ready for the season opener. Boldy, who had 29 goals and 40 assists last season, is expected to open the season on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson.
There is no concrete timeline for Lemieux's potential return to the lineup but he will be unavailable to start the season. The bruting 28-year-old forward played 32 games with the Hurricanes last season, tallying five points (3G / 2A), 64 penalty minutes, and 71 hits.
Doughty was hurt in an awkward play in a preseason game on September 25th and is considered month-to-month after it was announced the 34-year-old had successfully undergone surgery to repair a fractured ankle. He has been a staple on the Kings blueline for more than a decade and his impact will be sorely missed. Over the last two seasons, Doughty averaged nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus. Brandt Clarke is expected to take his spot on the Kings' top powerplay to start the season.
Chisholm was absent from Minnesota's final practice before their opener on Thursday vs. Columbus due to an illness and looks to be out for the game as well. The 24-year-old defensemen will be fighting to get into the Wild lineup nightly as he attempts to establish himself as an everyday player after three goals, eight points and 18 PIMs in 29 games played in 2023-24.
Saros has not participated in the last two practices for the Predators due to a lower-body injury, resulting in the club calling up Matt Murray from the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). Despite the call-up, Saros' injury does not appear to be overly concerning, and could still be ready for their season opener on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Saros finished fifth in Vezina-trophy voting last season with a 2.86 GAA and 906 SV% in 64 appearances (35-24-5).
Sorokin underwent back surgery in the offseason and, despite being ready to play, will serve as the backup to Semyon Varlamov in the Islanders' season opener on Thursday. Last season, after Patrick Roy became head coach of the Islanders, Sorokin's workload decreased dramatically. Sorokin had a poor campaign by his standards, posting a 3.01 GAA and .908 SV%, and will need to improve to his Vezina-caliber numbers of years past if he plans to regain the trust of the coach as one of the premier netminders in the league.
Lindgren suffered an upper-body injury early in training camp and is currently two weeks into his initial four-week timeline. The 26-year-old Lindgren will be an important part of the Rangers defensive core when he is healthy. He had 17 points (3G / 14A), 103 blocks, and 114 hits in 76 games last season.
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. The Sabres return to action on Thursday, at home, against the Los Angeles Kings.
Peterka left Buffalo's Global Series game in Prague on Saturday after just 1:39 TOI in the first period due to a concussion but returned to team practice on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Peterka broke out last season with 50 points (28G / 22A) in 82 games and appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. The Sabres next game is at home on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Originally expected to start the season opener for the Maple Leafs, Woll will not play on Wednesday night due to a lower-body issue. Anthony Stolarz will make his Maple Leafs debut in the crease and will likely be backed up by Dennis Hildeby, who was recalled on an emergency basis from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) earlier today. The 26-year-old Woll battled injuries last season and was limited to only 25 appearances (12-11-1), posting a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV%.
Boqvist took a clearing attempt to the face while the Panthers' were on the power play in the first period of Tuesday's game vs. the Bruins. This is a tough break for the often injured Boqvist, who had a great opportunity starting on the Panthers' PP1 to open the season. Aaron Ekblad took over for Boqvist on that unit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
