Johansson left Thursday's win over the Panthers after getting clipped by an elbow by Uvis Balinskis. Post-game, the Wild did not have an update on Johansson's status and said that he'll be re-evaluated on Friday. If Johansson isn't available on Saturday, expect them to dress seven defensemen because they don't have a reserve forward on the roster and no cap space to bring one up (without having to waive Dakota Mermis).
Expectations are high this season for the 25-year-old Gustavsson, who made his presence known in his first season with the Wild, posting a 2.10 GAA and .931 SV% in 39 games (22-9-7) en route to eventually capturing the starting role from veteran Marc-Andre Fleury. As the confirmed starting goalie in Minnesota's season-opener, Gustavsson appears poised to pick up where he left off and should see an even larger role between the pipes this season. The Wild enter action tonight as -130 home favourites against the Florida Panthers, who will be without their top two defensemen, Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour.
Bogosian cleared waivers on Tuesday but has been recalled from Syracuse (AHL) on Wednesday. The 33-year-old defenseman missed the Lightnings' season-opening win over Nashville but will mark his 16th NHL season when he makes his first appearance for Tampa. He had a goal, four assists, 54 SOG, 42 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 46 games played with the Lightning in 2022-23.
The Blue Jackets 2022 first-round selection (6th overall) has failed to make Columbus' opening day roster and has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) for the start of the 2023-24 season. The 19-year-old mega prospect appeared in only four games with Columbus in 2022-23, failing to pick up a point while collecting two PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He returns to Cleveland where he spent most of last season and picked up six goals and 38 points in 55 games played.
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.
Spurgeon is expected to be out week-to-week as he deals with an upper-body injury and his presence will be greatly missed on Minnesota's back end. Last season, he led all Wild defensemen with 34 points (11G / 23A) and was second in time on ice, averaging 21:49 per game. With Spurgeon out, Alex Goligoski will likely become a regular in the lineup and Jonas Brodin and Brock Faber will be thrust into larger roles.
Foligno had seven goals, 14 assists, 97 PIMs, 83 SOG, and a -6 plus/minus in 2022-23 and signed a four-year, $16 million extension with Minnesota on Friday. The 32-year-old is entering his seventh season in Minnesota and has 116 goals and 272 points across 12 NHL seasons and 743 games played. He should have a key-role in the Wilds' bottom six yet again this season.
Zuccarello had 22 goals, 45 assists, 198 SOG, 26 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 2022-23 with Minnesota and has signed a two-year, $8.250 million contract extension ($4,125,000) with the Wild. The 36-year-old enters his fifth season with the Wild and has an impressive 186 goals and 573 points in 766 career games played. He is expected yet again to be a key cog on the Wilds' top line with Kirill Kaprizov.
Chisholm had five goals, 38 assists, 21 PIMs, and a -13 plus/minus through 59 games with Manitoba (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Winnipeg. The 23-year-old defenseman was Winnipeg's 2018 fifth-round pick (150th overall) and has made two NHL appearances with the club, failing to pick up a point.
Shore had a goal, eight assists, 33 SOG, four PIMs, and a +6 plus/minus through 47 games played with Edmonton in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Seattle. The 29-year-old joins his fifth NHL team after seasons in Dallas, Edmonton, Anaheim, and Columbus and has 50 goals, 135 points, and 69 PIMs across 422 career games in eight seasons.
Gustavsson had a 22-9-7 record, 2.10 GAA (2nd in NHL), and a .931 SV% (2nd in NHL) in his first season in Minnesota in 2022-23 and has signed a $11.25 million extension ($3,750,000 AAV). The 25-year-old netminder was acquired in July of 2022 for Cam Talbot from Ottawa and excelled in his first season with the Wild. He will man Minnesota's crease for the next three years and brings a 32-22-10 career record, and a .920 SV% and a .2.51 career GAA into 2023-24.
Grosenick was 3-2-0 with a .892 SV% and 3.32 GAA in 2022-23 with Lehigh Valley (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Nashville. The 33-year-old goaltender last made an appearance in the NHL in 2020-21 with Los Angeles and has a 2-2-0 career record with a .933 SV% and 2.27 GAA.
After five years in the Golden Knights' organization, Jones signed with the Flames last July and finished third in Calgary Wranglers scoring with 54 points (17G / 37A) in 71 AHL games. With Matthew Phillips now with the Capitals, Jones will be a key member of the Wranglers lineup in 2024.
Lauko split the 2022-23 season between the NHL and AHL, tallying seven points (4G / 3A) in 23 NHL games. Given some of the holes in the Bruins roster, Lauko will have a shot to make the team out of training camp this season.
Eriksson Ek played in only one shift throughout the entire first round of the playoffs after appearing in Game 3 for only 0:19 seconds TOI and has confirmed Monday that he broke his leg and has already completed surgery. The 26-year-old will have a long road to return from but will hope to be back for the 2023-24 season opener after picking up a career-high 23 goals and 61 points through 78 regular season games.
Zuccarello was not present for a second-straight Minnesota practice and will play after being a game-time decision for an undisclosed injury ahead of Game 6. If he is unable to go, Oskar Sundqvist will draw into Minnesota's lineup. The 35-year-old has had a great opening series, with two goals, three assists, 13 SOG, four PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through five games.
Lauko had an assist, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through three games throughout the playoffs but will be a healthy scratch in Game 6 vs. Florida as Trent Frederic returns to the lineup. The 23-year-old is coming off a regular season which saw him pick up four goals, seven points and a +2 plus/minus through 23 games played.
Zuccarello was not present for a second-straight Minnesota practice and is considered a game-time decision for an undisclosed injury ahead of Game 6. If he is unable to go, Oskar Sundqvist will draw into Minnesota's lineup. The 35-year-old has had a great opening series, with two goals, three assists, 13 SOG, four PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through five games.
