Pesce has practiced sparingly over the last week, recovering from an undisclosed injury, but will suit up for New Jersey's season opener on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old Pesce will look to improve after his first season with the Devils in 2024-25, averaging 21:19 time-on-ice and scoring 17 points (3G / 14A) in 72 games.

van Riemsdyk signed with the Red Wings during the offseason but will have to wait to make his team debut. The 36-year-old American forward scored 36 points (16G / 20A) in 71 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. He has 665 points (327G / 338A) in 1082 career games.

The Red Wings have struggled with stability between the pipes the last several seasons and will hope the offseason acquisition of John Gibson can return them to playoff contention. The 32-year-old Gibson has battled injuries over his career but played well when called upon in his final season with the Anaheim Ducks, posting a 2.77 GAA and .911 SV% in 29 outings (11-11-2). The Red Wings enter their season opener on Thursday as -130 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens team on the tail end of a back-to-back.

Coming off a forgetful 2024-25 season where he posted a 2.81 GAA and .896 SV% in 51 outings (26-18-4), Skinner will hope to return to the form that made him a top-15 netminder in his previous two seasons. The Oilers are expected to have one of the NHL's best offenses again in 2025-26, which should allow Skinner to accumulate plenty of victories. The 26-year-old netminder will be between the pipes in Edmonton's season opener on Wednesday, entering the contest as sizable -214 home favorites against the Calgary Flames.

Samuelsson reaggravated an upper-body injury, sidelining him midway through training camp, but he should be ready to play in Buffalo's season opener after originally being ruled out. The 24-year-old is entering his sixth season with Buffalo after putting up career highs in goals (4), points (14), and games played (62) in 2024-25.

Power has been absent from most of Buffalo's training camp due to an undisclosed injury, but should be ready for their season opener on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 22-year-old Power is coming off a career-best season in 2024-25, scoring 40 points (7G / 33A) in 79 games. With Rasmus Dahlin locked into Buffalo's top powerplay unit, Power will likely spend most of the season quarterbacking the second unit upon his return.

Kochetkov was absent from practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Thursday's season opener against the New Jersey Devils. The 26-year-old Kochetkov posted a 2.60 GAA and .897 SV% in 47 appearances last season (27-16-3). If Kochetkov is unable to play, expect Frederik Andersen to be between the pipes.

Reinhart was absent from practice on Wednesday after receiving stitches, but the injury does not seem overly concerning, as he was able to complete Tuesday's contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Reinhart was held off the scoresheet on Tuesday but will be relied upon heavily for offence in Florida this season. He had 81 points (39G / 42A) in 79 games last season.

The Bruins missed the playoffs last year for the first time in eight seasons and have lower-than-usual expectations again in 2025-26. In the first year of an eight-year contract in 2024-25, Swayman had the worst season of his career, posting a 3.11 GAA and .892 SV% in 58 appearances (22-29-7). If the Bruins hope to rebound into playoff contention in 2025-26, they will need Swayman to lead the way. The Bruins enter their season-opening matchup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals as +163 road underdogs.

Batherson suffered an upper-body injury earlier in training camp but returned to practice on Wednesday. He has been ruled out of Thursday's season-opening matchup but could make his debut on Saturday. The 27-year-old right-winger is entering his eighth season in Ottawa after putting up career highs in points (67) last season across 82 games played. He will likely play an integral role in Ottawa's offence this season.

Reinhart was absent from practice on Wednesday after receiving stitches, but the injury does not seem overly concerning, as he was able to complete Tuesday's contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Reinhart was held off the scoresheet on Tuesday but will be relied upon heavily for offence in Florida this season. He had 81 points (39G / 42A) in 79 games last season.

With Joseph Woll (personal) away from the team, Toronto's crease should almost exclusively belong to Stolarz, starting with their season-opening matchup on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Stolarz was excellent when healthy in 2024-25, posting a superb 2.14 GAA, .926 SV%, and four shutouts in 34 appearances (21-8-3), but his season was derailed due to injuries. Toronto enters its matchup on Wednesday as -167 home favorites against Montreal.

The Capitals ended the 2024-25 season with the best record in the Western Conference, largely due to an outstanding season by Thompson. The 28-year-old Thompson split time with Charlie Lindgren throughout last season but was excellent when called upon, posting a 2.49 GAA and .910 SV% in 43 appearances (31-6-6). Thompson will likely be between the pipes for Washington's season-opening matchup on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins, where they are listed as -184 home favorites.

With Joseph Woll (personal) away from the team, Toronto's crease should almost exclusively belong to Stolarz, starting with their season-opening matchup on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Stolarz was excellent when healthy in 2024-25, posting a superb 2.14 GAA, .926 SV%, and four shutouts in 34 appearances (21-8-3), but his season was derailed due to injuries. Toronto enters its matchup on Wednesday as -167 home favorites against Montreal.

MacEwen split time last season between the Ottawa Senators and Belleville Senators (AHL), and could see a similar role this year with New Jersey and Utica (AHL). The 29-year-old forward has 34 points (17G / 17A) in 237 career NHL games.

Entering his age-35 season, Ekholm has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $12 million ($4M AAV). The veteran defenseman has been a great addition to the Oilers since joining them prior to the 2022-23 trade deadline. In 165 games with Edmonton, Ekholm is averaging 21:28 time-on-ice and has 92 points (24G / 68A).

Batherson suffered an upper-body injury earlier in training camp but returned to practice on Wednesday and has not been ruled out for Thursday's season opener. The 27-year-old right-winger is entering his eighth season in Ottawa after putting up career highs in points (67) last season across 82 games played. He will likely play an integral role in Ottawa's offence this season.

Cowan was never really expected to make Toronto out of training camp and is expected to be a healthy scratch despite being called up before their season-opening game on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 19-year-old Cowan was Toronto's 28th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Heading into their season-opening matchup on Thursday against the Dallas Stars, the Winnipeg Jets announced their most lucrative contract in franchise history, signing Kyle Connor to a massive eight-year extension worth $96 million ($12 million AAV). The 28-year-old Connor was Winnipeg's seventh overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and has consistently been one of the NHL's most consistent scorers since his rookie season in 2017-18. Connor scored a career-high 97 points (41G / 56A) in 82 games last season and will be relied upon again in 2025-26 to spearhead Winnipeg's offence.

Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in the team's last two practices. The 23-year-old Laferriere had an impressive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 42 points (19G / 23A) in 77 games.