Johansson stopped 28 of 31 shots in the Lightning's win over the Predators on opening night. It was a nice start to the season for the much-maligned netminder, who will be leaned on heavily while Andrei Vasilevskiy is out. Tonight he'll face a Red Wings team that lost 4-3 in New Jersey in their season opener.
Vasilevskiy has officially been placed on LTIR after having back surgery and is expected to miss approximately two months to start the season. Jonas Johansson has been appointed the starting goalie position for the Lightning in the interim and had a very impressive preseason, posting a 3-0-0 record along with a 2.10 GAA and .932 SV%.
Guentzel was expected to miss most of the opening month of the season after undergoing off-season ankle surgery but has now been deemed fit to play on opening night. Lining up primarily alongside Sidney Crosby, Guentzel has been the picture of consistency over the last five seasons, tallying 333 points (159G / 174A) in 331 games. Expect Guentzel to continue his point-per-game pace lining up on the top line and top powerplay unit for the Penguins.
Johansson was 2-0-0 with a 2.10 GAA and a .932 SV% in three games played with Colorado in 2022-23 and will get the opening night nod Tuesday as Tampa takes on Nashville at home. The Predators finished 2022-23 ranked 28th in the NHL in goals for (223) and 23rd in shots per game (29.5) so Johansson should be in for a lighter matchup to get the season going.
Guentzel, who underwent off-season ankle surgery, continues to be a full participant in practice and could play in the season opener for the Penguins. Last season, he scored 73 points (36G / 37A) in 78 games and would be a major boost for a Penguins team that is coming off missing the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. If Guentzel is able to suit up, expect him to take his familiar role alongside Sidney Crosby on the top line and top powerplay unit.
Guentzel was initially expected to miss the first month of the season, but then GM Kyle Dubas said he may only miss five games. Now, it looks like Guentzel may not be in danger of missing any games after being a full participant in Tuesday's practice. Guentzel had 36 goals and 37 assists (73 points) in 78 games a season ago.
Guentzel underwent offseason ankle surgery in early August and was expected 12 weeks. Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas later stated he would only miss about five games, so returning to the ice in training camp suggests he's on track for an early season debut.
Schmidt was Tampa Bay's 2021 third-round pick (96th overall) and was expected to report to Syracuse (AHL) for his first professional season but is now not expected to be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season and is out indefinitely as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The 20-year-old defensemen had four goals, 24 assists, 74 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 64 games played with Kitchener in 2022-23.
Vasilevskiy enjoyed his longest off-season since 2018-19 due to the Lightning's first-round playoff exit in 2022-23 but has undergone successful back surgery and is now expected to miss 8-10 weeks as he recovers. The 29-year-old Vezina Winner failed to lead the NHL in wins for the first time in six seasons in 2022-23, as he went 34-22-4 with a .915 SV% and a 2.65 GAA in what was considered a down year by his standards. Jonas Johansson is currently lined up to take over the starting role while Vasilevskiy recovers.
Archibald had six goals, six assists, 43 PIMs 71 SOG, and a +6 plus/minus across 62 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 but has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination by Tampa Bay. The 30-year-old had signed a two-year contract with Tampa in the offseason but had made the Lightning aware he would not be attending training camp this season as he plans to step away from the NHL.
Raddysh had a goal, two assists, 25 SOG, four PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 17 games in 2022-23 with Tampa Bay and has signed a two-year, 1.95 million contract extension ($995,000 AAV). The 27-year-old defenseman had only played in four NHL games prior to last season after a strong AHL career which saw him collect 171 points in 339 career AHL games.
Hagel enjoyed a breakout season in 2022-23 with 30 goals, 34 assists, 178 SOG, a +23 plus/minus, with 54 PIMs through 81 games played with Tampa Bay and has signed an eight-year, $52 million contract extension ($6,500,000 AAV). The 24-year-old winger was acquired from Chicago the season before for two players and two conditional first-round picks and has 64 goals and 132 points across 211 career NHL games.
Guentzel had 36 goals, 37 assists, 244 SOG, 46 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 78 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 and will now miss the next three months and start of the season as he recovers from a successful Ankle surgery. The 28-year-old elite scoring left-winger is expected to be re-evaluated in 12 weeks which means he will miss at least the Penguins' first seven games. It is a massive loss for the Penguins early as Guentzel has scored 99 goals in the previous three seasons.
Yvonne had six goals, 10 assists, 43 SOG, and a -11 plus/minus through 37 games played with Montreal in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 23-year-old right-winger is entering his fourth season in Montreal after being drafted in the second-round of the 2018 NHL Draft (35th overall) and has eight goals and 21 points in 52 career games played.
Chaffee had five goals, two assists, eight PIMs and a +8 plus/minus in a short 10 games showing with Iowa (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old right-winger made his NHL debut in 2021-22 with Minnesota, where he failed to pick up a point in two games.
Pouliot had two assists, four SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through eight games with San Jose in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Dallas. The 29-year-old defensemen was drafted in the first-round of the 2012 draft (8th overall) to Pittsburgh and has eight goals, 54 points and 241 SOG through 221 career NHL games with six different teams.
Santini had an assist, two PIMs and five SOG through four games with St.Louis in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Los Angeles. The 28-year-old defenseman was drafted by New Jersey in the second-round of the 2013 draft (42nd overall) and brings five goals, 23 points and 57 PIMs across 123 career NHL games played to the Kings.
Archibald had six goals, six assists, 71 SOG, 43 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 62 games played in 2022-23 with Pittsburgh and has signed a two-year contract worth $1.6 million ($800K AAV). The 30-year-old right-winger will join his fourth NHL team in Tampa Bay and brings 83 points (45G/38A) across 305 career NHL games to the Lightning.
It was long rumoured that Jonas Johansson would be returning to Europe following a few disappointing seasons in the NHL but he signed a two-year contract worth $1.55 million ($775K AAV). The 27-year-old goaltender saw limited action with Colorado in 2022-23, posting an impressive 2-0-0 record with a 2.10 GAA and .932 SV%. He brings 35 games of NHL experience to the Lightning and should make a servicable third goaltender.
Glendening had three goals, three assists, 65 SOG, 50 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 70 games with Dallas in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract worth $1.6 million ($800K AAV). The 34-year-old centre will be joining his third NHL team with Tampa Bay and brings 706 career NHL games played and 148 career points (69G/79A).
