After being an NHL regular for nine straight seasons, Sheary was limited to a career-low five games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, spending the majority of the campaign with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL), scoring 61 points (20G / 41A) in 59 games. The 593-game NHL veteran will hope for more NHL exposure with the Rangers this season, though he may again be hard-pressed to do so with a two-way contract.

Batherson suffered an upper-body injury earlier in training camp and will miss at least one more week after being placed on Injured Reserve. 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.

Kleven will begin the 2025-26 season on Injured Reserve, recovering from an undisclosed ailment. The 23-year-old defenseman played a career-high 79 games last season, averaging 14:28 time-on-ice and scoring 10 points (4G / 6A).

Douglas was a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but he has yet to make his NHL debut. The 25-year-old forward has spent the previous several seasons in the AHL, including scoring 23 points (10G / 13A) in 63 games with the Tucson Roadrunners in 2024-25.

Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury, and his status is unlikely for Chicago's season opener. The Blackhawks are expected to take eight defensemen to Florida, and Ethan Del Mastro is expected to take his spot in the lineup if he's unable to go.

Pospisil returned to practice on Thursday after suffering an injury in a preseason game the night before, but will not suit up for Calgary's season opener against the Edmonton Oilers after being placed on IR on Monday. The 25-year-old Slovak forward is entering his third NHL season after recording career highs in games played (81), points (25), and hits (301).

Huberdeau was ruled out of Calgary's opener earlier on Monday with an undisclosed injury and will now miss the next seven days after he was placed on IR by the Flames. The 32-year-old Huberdeau averaged 19:33 time-on-ice and had 62 points (28G / 34A) in 81 games last season, his most productive campaign with the Flames.

Ellis was the 93rd overall pick of the Blues in 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old goalie has yet to play an NHL game but could get an opportunity this season with Buffalo. He had a solid 2.63 GAA and .922 SV% in 42 games (22-14-3) last season with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).

With Joseph Woll (personal) away from the team, the Maple Leafs claimed Primeau off waivers to add some organizational depth to their crease. The 26-year-old Primeau was limited to only 11 games in the 2024-25 season (7-2-3), posting a forgettable 4.70 GAA and .836 SV%.

Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 40 points (14G / 26A) in 51 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. The hard-hitting 29-year-old forward will hope for more exposure at the NHL level after being claimed off waivers on Monday by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blais' most productive season was in 2022-23 when he scored 25 points (9G / 16A) and recorded 238 hits in 71 outings.

Samuelsson reaggravated an upper-body injury, sidelining him midway through training camp, but he could 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.

A week after Kirill Kaprizov signed an enormous eight-year, $17 million AAV contract, the Oilers signed McDavid to a team-friendly two-year extension worth $12.5 million AAV. McDavid has led the NHL in points in three of his last five seasons and is continually among the league leaders for point production. The 29-year-old is coming off consecutive unsuccessful visits to the Stanley Cup Finals and will be poised to win a championship in his next three years with the Oilers.

Chatfield was absent from practice on Monday due to an undisclosed injury but will likely be ready for Carolina's season opener on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 29-year-old Chatfield was effective in a shutdown role for the Hurricanes last season, averaging 18:53 time-on-ice and recording 18 points (7G / 11A).

Anderson is battling an undisclosed injury and will begin the 2025-26 seasons on Injured Reserve. The 27-year-old Anderson was limited to only 18 games with the Blackhawks last season, averaging 12:24 time-on-ice and recording one assist.

Slaggert has been absent from training camp and preseason due to a lower-body injury and will begin the 2025-26 season sidelined on Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old Slaggert averaged 12:18 time-on-ice and scored six points (2G / 4A) in 33 games with the Blackhawks last season.

Panarin has had a low event training camp for the Rangers while managing a lower-body injury that has kept him sidelined for most of it. That said, he was a full participant at practice on Monday and will suit up for New York's season opener on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 33-year-old Panarin led the Rangers in points yet again last season, after putting up 37 goals and 89 points in 80 games played.

Girgensons suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday's preseason game against the Florida Panthers. Tampa Bay's season opener is on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, and it's unclear if Girgensons will be ready to suit up. The 31-year-old Girgensons played all 82 games in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2024-25, tallying six points (2G / 4A).

York is slated to skate on Philadelphia's top defensive pairing alongside Travis Sanheim, but it's unclear if he will 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.

Kotkaniemi was cleared for contact and returned to team practice on Monday, but it's unclear if he will be ready for Carolina's season opener on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 25-year-old Kotkaniemi, the third-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored 33 points (12G / 21A) in 78 games last season.

Miller suffered a lower-body injury earlier in training camp that kept him out of practice for over a week, but he returned to full-contact drills on Monday and has stated that he will be ready for New York's season opener on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Miller is entering his 14th NHL season and eighth in New York after being reacquired by the Rangers at the mid-point of last season. The newly appointed Rangers captain scored 21 goals and 70 points in 72 games last season.