1 month agoNew Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce (lower leg) didn't travel with the team to Czechia to take on the Buffalo Sabres later in the week. The two teams will clash in a 2024 NHL Global Series matchup, which will kick off the 2024-25 NHL regular-season campaign. Pesce is recovering from a fractured fibula and remains week-to-week. The veteran blue-liner did skate with the team last week, so he shouldn't miss too many games at the start of the season. Seamus Casey could make his NHL debut in Pesce's absence in Prague.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 month agoNew York Rangers left wing Jimmy Vesey (lower body) is set to miss multiple weeks of action. Vesey suffered a lower-body injury in Sunday's practice, and Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette announced on Monday that the veteran winger is expected to miss "a few weeks." Considering the update, it looks unlikely Vesey will be ready for the start of the regular season. The Rangers begin their campaign on Oct. 9 versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Youngsters Brennan Othmann and Adam Edstrom will have a chance to land a spot on the team in Vesey's absence.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Danny Abriano
1 month agoPittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (head) is under evaluation after getting hit by a puck in Sunday's preseason game against Ottawa. Lizotte was struck in the head by a puck while sitting on the Penguins bench and didn't finish the contest. He was scheduled to see a doctor on Monday. Following a disappointing 15-point campaign in L.A., Lizotte signed a two-year, $3.7 million contract with the Penguins this offseason. The 26-year-old is projected to start the season as the team's fourth-line center. However, Sunday's incident could derail those plans.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michelle Crechiolo
1 month agoNew York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (illness) will not be in the lineup against Philadelphia on Monday. The rugged blue-liner is feeling under the weather and will miss the Islanders' penultimate preseason game as a result. With the team's regular-season opener not coming until Oct. 10, Pulock should have no problems getting healthy for the start of the campaign. The 29-year-old plays big minutes for the team and does a little bit of everything. He registered 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) across 58 games last season with 90 shots, 149 blocks, and 99 hits.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Gross
1 month agoCalgary Flames winger Matthew Coronato (lower body) is expected to return to the lineup for Monday's preseason clash against Seattle. The 21-year-old was hurt versus Vancouver last Wednesday, sitting out some practice time and Saturday's rematch against the Canucks. However, he's set to rejoin the action on Monday, with Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich as his linemates. Coronato spent most of 2023-24 in the minors and is fighting to make the team for opening night. He's in a good spot to impress on Monday playing with two quality forwards.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Pat Steinberg
1 month agoSan Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Benning (lower body) returned to practice on Sunday. A lower-body injury kept Benning out from the team's previous practice session on Friday. Benning is battling for a roster spot in preseason following a disappointing 2023-24 campaign. The 30-year-old saw action in only 14 games before undergoing season-ending hip surgery in January. A year after posting a career-high 24 points across 77 outings, he had zero goals and settled for two points. Benning isn't expected to make an impact in fantasy hockey during the 2024-25 season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sheng Peng
1 month agoSan Jose Sharks forward William Eklund (upper body) returned to practice on Sunday after missing the previous session. Eklund was unable to practice on Friday and was ruled day-to-day with an upper-body injury. However, following San Jose's off day on Saturday, Eklund made a quick return to the ice. The 21-year-old skated with Tyler Toffoli and Macklin Celebrini. Only Mikael Granlund (60) had more points than Eklund (45) with the Sharks last season, and the young Swede should have another fine campaign in 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sheng Peng
1 month agoSan Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund (lower body) rejoined his teammates in practice on Sunday. He skipped Friday's session with a lower-body injury, and the Sharks were off on Saturday. Granlund worked on a line with Will Smith and Fabian Zetterlund. The Finnish forward led a struggling Sharks team in assists (48) and points (60) last season despite missing 13 games. Another prolific campaign will be expected from Granlund during his contract year. The 32-year-old will complete a four-year, $20 million deal he signed with the Nashville Predators in 2021.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sheng Peng
1 month agoNew York Rangers left wing Jimmy Vesey is under evaluation for a lower-body injury. The gritty winger was hurt in Sunday's practice. The injury is not believed to be serious, with Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette saying, "It seemed somewhat harmless." Vesey has done a good job for the Rangers as a bottom-six forward. He collected 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 80 games last season with 116 shots and 90 hits. Similar production should be expected from him in 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Vince Z. Mercogliano
1 month agoBoston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (undisclosed) returned to practice on Sunday wearing a non-contact jersey. The 29-year-old had missed the previous nine days with an undisclosed injury. Lindholm hopes to play in one or two preseason games before Boston starts the real action on Oct. 8 against the Florida Panthers. After signing a seven-year, $54.25 million deal with the Bruins as a free agent in the summer, Lindholm is set to center the first line between Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 month agoEdmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (upper body) is expected to be available for the team's season opener against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 9. Pickard was injured in Saturday's preseason clash against Seattle, leaving the game in the middle of the first frame. The 32-year-old will continue to work as Stuart Skinner's backup this season. Pickard had a very successful 2023-24 campaign with a 12-7-1 record. He collected one shutout across 20 starts while posting a 2.45 goals-against average with a .909 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 month agoMontreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine (knee) was injured in Saturday's preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Laine was involved in a knee-on-knee collision with Toronto forward Cedric Pare early in the game. The Finnish star needed help to get off the ice and didn't return to the game. Laine has had awful luck with injuries throughout his eight-year NHL career, and this could be another bad one for him. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis didn't provide an update on him after the game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 month agoCalgary Flames defenseman Jake Bean (lower body) missed a third straight practice on Saturday. Bean suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks. It's a bad blow for the 26-year-old blue-liner, as Bean is missing out on valuable practice time with his new teammates ahead of the upcoming campaign. After skating the previous three seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Bean signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract with his hometown team in July. Bean logged 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 72 games last season with 76 shots and 110 blocks. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much from him once he's ready to return to the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Wes Gilbertson
1 month agoCalgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil (lower body) missed a third consecutive practice session on Saturday. He is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Pospisil tallied 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 63 games with 238 hits during his rookie year last season. After previously featuring as a winger on the team, Pospisil is battling for a middle-six center position in training camp. The injury has come at a bad time for him, but Pospisil might still get some action in ahead of the new season next week when Calgary completes its preseason with a meeting against Seattle and a pair of games versus Winnipeg.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Wes Gilbertson
1 month agoCalgary Flames winger Matthew Coronato (undisclosed) returned to the ice Saturday morning after missing a few training sessions. The 21-year-old was injured in Wednesday's preseason contest against Vancouver. Coronato isn't expected to play in Saturday's rematch against the Canucks, but it looks like he is trending in the right direction and could be back in the lineup for the final few preseason games next week. The young winger had an impressive AHL campaign last season with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 41 appearances and is now looking to nail down a spot in the big league. Coronato featured in 34 contests for the Flames in 2023-24, notching three goals and six assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Pat Steinberg
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