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.

Kuemper's first season in Los Angeles was a major success, following his decline to mediocrity in his final season as a Washington Capital. The 35-year-old veteran netminder finished the 2024-25 campaign as the second runner-up for the Vezina trophy after posting an excellent 2.02 GAA, .921 SV%, and five shutouts in 50 games (31-11-7). Kuemper will be between the pipes for the Kings' season opener on Tuesday, entering the action as slight -101 home underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche.

Coming off a disappointing 2024-25 season in which they missed the playoffs, the Rangers will hope to start the 2025-26 campaign on a positive note, likely turning to Shesterkin in their season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite serviceable totals, the 29-year-old Shesterkin had the worst season of his career statistically in 2024-25, posting an average .905 SV% and 2.86 GAA and 61 outings (27-29-5). The talented netminder will aim for his seventh NHL season to be more aligned with the first five of his career, where he boasted a .921 SV% and 2.43 GAA in 213 games (135-59-17). The Rangers enter Tuesday's contest as sizable -219 home favorites against the Penguins.

Hryckowian had a strong preseason, recording one goal, two assists, five shots, and eight hits in five games. He was initially assigned to the AHL for cap-related reasons, but returns to the NHL roster after Jamie Benn and Oskar Back were placed on IR. Hryckowian ranked second on the Stars' AHL affiliate in scoring last season with 60 points (22G, 38A) in 67 games.

Holtz was the seventh-overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. After three years in the Devils organization, he made his Golden Knights debut last season, scoring 12 points (4G / 8A) in 53 games.

The Blackhawks will turn to Knight between the pipes for their season-opening matchup on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old Knight was serviceable after being acquired by the Blackhawks last season, posting a 3.18 GAA and .893 SV% in 15 outings (5-8-2). Chicago enters Tuesday's contest as sizable +230 road underdogs against Florida.

Blueger missed practice on Sunday and will miss at least Vancouver's season opener. The Canucks will see how he responds in the next couple of days, but rookie Braeden Cootes looks poised to be in the opening night roster in Blueger's absence.

O'Brien has been sidelined for most of training camp due to a lower-body injury but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. The 31-year-old grinder nicknamed "Spicy Tuna" appeared in 28 games for Utah in 2024-25, picking up two assists and 50 PIMs alongside 34 SOG.

Stenlund is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for Utah's season opener on Thursday is up in the air. The 28-year-old achieved career-highs in goals (11) and points (15) in 2023-24 across 81 games played.

Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury, and has been ruled out of Chicago's season opener on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old Vlasic played all 82 games last season, averaging 23:16 time-on-ice and scoring 30 points (4G / 26A).

Dorofeyev missed the Golden Knights' preseason finale and is questionable for the season opener. Dorofeyev missed a big portion of the preseason due to a lower-body injury, but the Golden Knights haven't confirmed his status for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. That said, Dorofoyev was a full participant at practice on Tuesday and suited up on the team's top powerplay unit.

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.

With Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) sidelined to start the 2025-26 season, Colorado will turn to Wedgewood between the pipes for their season opener on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old Wedgewood played well in a supporting role after being acquired by Colorado early last season, posting a solid 1.99 GAA and .917 SV% in 19 appearances (13-4-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -109 road favorites against Los Angeles. Expect Colorado's crease to be exclusively occupied by Wedgewood until Blackwood returns from injury.

York was slated to skate on Philadelphia's top defensive pairing alongside Travis Sanheim, but it appears he will not be ready for Thursday's season opener against the Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old York averaged 20:47 time-on-ice and tallied 17 points (4G / 13A) in 66 games last season.

Kuemper's first season in Los Angeles was a major success, following his decline to mediocrity in his final season as a Washington Capital. The 35-year-old veteran netminder finished the 2024-25 campaign as the second runner-up for the Vezina trophy after posting an excellent 2.02 GAA, .921 SV%, and five shutouts in 50 games (31-11-7). Kuemper will be between the pipes for the Kings' season opener on Tuesday, entering the action as slight -101 home underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche.

Toews "tweaked something" in a preseason contest against the Minnesota Wild last Tuesday and finally returned to practiced on Sunday, upgrading his status to day-to-day. After missing the entirety of the previous two seasons, recovering from injuries, Toews signed in the offseason with his hometown team. The veteran forward scored 31 points (15G / 16A) in 53 games in his most recent season in 2022-23.

Hyman missed the second half of last year's playoffs after enduring an upper-body injury and will not be ready for the start of the 2025-26 regular season. At the beginning of training camp, Head Coach Kris Knoblach stated he is hopeful the 32-year-old can return in early November. Hyman is just one season removed from a 54-goal campaign in 2023-24 and will hope to get off to a hot start when he is able to return early in the season.