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Connor Bedard Remains Without Timeline for Return
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (shoulder) still has no timeline for his return, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Before Tuesday's season opener against Vegas, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson told reporters the team might have a firm timeline for Bedard's return sometime next month. Bedard underwent shoulder surgery in July and was ruled out for four months, suggesting he won't make his 2026-27 debut until November. With Bedard unavailable, rookie Roman Kantserov opened the season as Chicago's first-line center on Tuesday night, logging 17:07 of ice time, including 2:36 on the power play.
Source: Ben Pope
Source: Ben Pope
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Damon Severson to Miss At Least Two Games
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson (shoulder) won't be in the lineup for the first two games of the season, Jason Newland of The Hockey News reports. The 32-year-old underwent shoulder surgery late last season, and the team doesn't want to rush him into action. Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness hopes to have Severson available for the third game of the season, a clash against Pittsburgh on home ice. Dante Fabbro (upper body) isn't available either, making Denton Mateychuk a candidate for a bigger role. On Tuesday, Columbus also signed Carson Soucy to a one-year, $1.15 million contract to bolster its defensive depth.
Source: Jason Newland
Source: Jason Newland
Canucks Hope to Have Thatcher Demko Available By Christmas
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (hip) will be out until December. "He won't be ready early on, but our goal is to get him back before Christmas," Canucks's co-president of hockey operations Henrik Sedin told the "Halford and Brough" show. Demko was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2023-24 but has since dealt with several injuries. He suited up for only 20 games in 2025-26, undergoing hip surgery in January. The Canucks will start the season with Kevin Lankinen and Leevi Merilainen in net. Lankinen will face Edmonton in Tuesday's season opener. This will likely be a rough night for him, as Vancouver is a +250 underdog.
Source: Kevin Woodley
Source: Kevin Woodley
Elvis Merzlikins Out 3-5 Months
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder) will be unavailable for 3-5 months, general manager John Chayka said Tuesday. The Maple Leafs acquired Merzlikins from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, but he won't be available for his season debut until 2027. According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Toronto was on Merzlikins' 10-team no-trade list, but he waived it to make the deal happen. Even after recovering from his shoulder injury, Merzlikins isn't expected to see much NHL action this season, as Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz are Toronto's top two options in the crease.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Frederik Andersen Months Away From Returning
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Frederik Andersen (knee) will miss the first two months of the season. Ahead of Tuesday's season opener against Vancouver, Oilers head coach Mike Babcock said he doesn't expect Andersen back until "maybe" December. After helping Carolina win the 2026 Stanley Cup, Andersen moved to Edmonton on a one-year, $1 million contract this offseason. However, due to a knee injury, it will take quite a while until he's available for his new team. Tristan Jarry will start the first game of the season for the Oilers, who are -303 favorites against Vancouver.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Matt Savoie Unavailable for Eight Weeks
Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Savoie (lower body) won't be available for eight weeks. The 22-year-old was injured in the offseason and won't make his 2026-27 debut until late November. Edmonton's offense will also be without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body) and Jason Dickinson (foot) to start the season. With the frontline depleted, Isaac Howard is set to ride with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman on the first line Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. Howard has seen little success in the NHL so far, but he's in a good spot to make a big impact on Tuesday.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Misses Opening Night
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body) won't be in action when the team starts the 2026-27 season on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. He sustained a lower-body injury late in Monday's practice. As a result of Nugent-Hopkins' absence, the Oilers will split up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for the first game of the season. McDavid is expected to skate with Isaac Howard and Zach Hyman. Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin will join Draisaitl. The Oilers' offense is expected to dominate on Tuesday, as bookmakers have made them a massive -303 favorite.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Brock Faber Out Indefinitely With Fractured Skull
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a fractured skull, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. Last Friday, a puck struck Faber in the head during a preseason game. The team placed Faber on Injured Reserve Monday. Unfortunately, Minnesota must start the season without its best players, but it gives others a chance to step up. Jared Spurgeon is poised to partner with Quinn Hughes on the first defensive pairing in Thursday's season opener against Nashville. The Wild captain will also take Faber's spot on the second power-play unit.
Source: Emily Kaplan
Source: Emily Kaplan
Sabres Place Mattias Samuelsson on Injured Reserve
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) has been placed on Injured Reserve. He was labeled week-to-week last Wednesday, and it's now clear he will miss at least a couple of games. Samuelsson suffered a lower-body injury in a preseason game when a puck struck him. With Samuelsson sidelined, Louis Crevier will get a big opportunity to impress on the first defensive pairing. The Sabres acquired Crevier in June from the Chicago Blackhawks after his first full NHL season. The 25-year-old demonstrated strong two-way play, recording 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists), 95 blocks, and 124 hits in 78 outings.
Source: Sabres.com
Source: Sabres.com
Bryan Rust Out Week-to-Week
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (upper body) is considered week-to-week, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports. He was placed on Injured Reserve Monday. With Rust out, the Penguins can't count on the services of a player who has posted back-to-back 65-point campaigns. The Penguins' forward group is dealing with other injuries as well, giving players like Ville Koivunen a chance to take on more responsibility. Koivunen heads into the season opener with high expectations, having signed an eight-year, $32 million extension this offseason despite just 39 career games.
Source: Michelle Crechiolo
Source: Michelle Crechiolo
Jake DeBrusk Expected to Play in Season Opener
Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk (lower body) is expected to be fine for Tuesday's season opener against the Edmonton Oilers, Postmedia's Ben Kuzma reports. DeBrusk missed Monday's practice, initially leaving his status questionable for Tuesday night. However, he traveled with the team and will likely play. DeBrusk was slow out of the gate last season but finished with a respectable 42 points (23 goals, 19 assists) in 81 games. Fantasy managers know what to expect from DeBrusk, who has tallied at least 40 points in five consecutive campaigns.
Source: Ben Kuzma
Source: Ben Kuzma
Brock Faber Moved to Injured Reserve
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (upper body) will not be available for the season opener against Nashville on Oct. 1 after being placed on Injured Reserve, retroactive to Sept. 25. Faber took a puck to the left side of his head in a preseason game last week. He initially carried on playing, making it look like it wasn't a serious injury. However, it will keep Faber sidelined for at least one game. As a result, Quinn Hughes faces a massive workload, and the rest of the blue line must also be ready for additional duties. In 2025-26, Faber averaged 24:41 of ice time per game and recorded a career-high 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 80 appearances.
Source: Michael Russo
Source: Michael Russo
Blue Jackets Acquire Matthew Knies
The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired winger Matthew Knies in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. He was part of a six-player deal that also sent Columbus defenseman Emil Andrae, winger Steven Lorentz, and a second-round draft pick. Knies had a productive 2025-26 season (66 points in 79 games), but his name often surfaced in trade rumors. Now, the American winger will start a new chapter in his career in Columbus. Knies could see more ice time with the Blue Jackets, boosting his fantasy appeal.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Elvis Merzlikins Moves to Toronto
Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder) was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. The Columbus Blue Jackets included Merzlikins in a six-player trade centered around Kirill Marchenko and Matthews Knies. The Latvian netminder spent seven years in Columbus, suiting up for nearly 300 regular-season games. His future going forward is murky. Due to a shoulder injury, it's unclear when Merzlikins will be available for selection, and he's in the final season of his five-year, $27 million contract. The Maple Leafs have Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz ahead of Merzlikins on the depth chart.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Kirill Marchenko Lands in Toronto, Signs Six-Year Extension
The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired right wing Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a six-player deal. The Russian forward has been hoping for a change of scenery and finally got his move. After trading for Marchenko, the Maple Leafs signed him to a six-year, $72.5 million extension. Marchenko could have become a restricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. Last season, he narrowly missed a second consecutive 30-goal season. He has the potential to become a point-per-game player in Toronto as Auston Matthews' running mate on the first line.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Logan O'Connor Day-to-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor (lower body) is day-to-day, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. He sustained a lower-body injury in training camp, leaving O'Connor questionable for opening night. The Avalanche begin the action on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. O'Connor has been a regular 20-point scorer for Colorado, but he played only 13 games in 2025-26 after hip surgery. Left wing Zachary L'Heureux (lower body) is also day-to-day heading into opening week, so Colorado could be missing two fourth-line grinders on Wednesday.
Source: Aarif Deen
Source: Aarif Deen
Dante Fabbro to Miss at Least One Month
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro (upper body) will miss the first month of the regular season, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. On Sunday, Portzline reported that Fabbro is expected to be unavailable for "a month or more." A week ago, Fabbro suffered an upper-body injury in a preseason game, and the team placed him on Injured Reserve Friday. Regarding Columbus' defense, Damon Severson's (shoulder) availability at the start of the season is also in question. As such, the Blue Jackets are trying to sign Carson Soucy to a standard contract after he spent training camp with the team on a tryout deal.
Source: Aaron Portzline
Source: Aaron Portzline
Mackie Samoskevich Placed on Injured Reserve
Seattle Kraken right wing Mackie Samoskevich (upper body) will begin the 2026-27 campaign on Injured Reserve. He has dealt with an upper-body injury during preseason, and the team is set to start the regular season without him. In limited playing time, Samoskevich managed back-to-back 30-point seasons with the Florida Panthers, so it will be interesting to see what he can do in a larger role in Seattle. The Kraken plan to use him as a top-six regular. Alongside Samoskevich, Seattle placed center Jake O'Brien (lower body) on Injured Reserve Sunday.
Source: Seattle Kraken PR
Source: Seattle Kraken PR
Dan Vladar Practices in Full Capacity Sunday
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (upper body) fully participated in Sunday's practice, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Vladar had an injury scare last week in a preseason game, but he's on track to be ready for opening night. "I wouldn't say he's 100%, but he's very hopeful," Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said. The Czech shot-stopper had an impressive first year with the Flyers and has a big role to play in the team's success. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 29-14-7 record, a 2.42 goals-against average, and a .906 save percentage.
Source: Jackie Spiegel
Source: Jackie Spiegel
Nick Blankenburg Inks One-Year Deal With Maple Leafs
Defenseman Nick Blankenburg has converted a professional tryout agreement into a standard contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. On Sunday, Blankenburg signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal. The Maple Leafs are getting a versatile defenseman who recorded 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists), 72 SOG, 59 blocks, and 55 hits in 61 games last season. However, Blankenburg won't have a major role on the backline, making him a non-factor in fantasy hockey. He may not even be in the opening-night lineup.
Source: Toronto Maple Leafs
Source: Toronto Maple Leafs
Logan Stanley Joins Islanders on One-Year Deal
Defenseman Logan Stanley signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the New York Islanders on Sunday. Despite a career year in 2025-26, Stanley was a free agent with only a few days remaining until the new campaign begins. He skated with the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres last season, registering 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists), 96 SOG, 84 blocks, and 110 hits. Stanley will be a good depth option for the Islanders, who have dealt with several injuries on defense in previous seasons.
Source: New York Islanders PR
Source: New York Islanders PR
