Olofsson is battling a lower-body injury and will not play on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 29-year-old Olofsson is averaging 14:46 time-on-ice and has 22 points (11G / 11A) in 40 games this season.

Carriere is an undrafted 24-year-old goalie out of the University of Vermont. He is playing his first full professional season, posting a 2.85 GAA and .902 SV% in 10 games (5-4-1) with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).

Brazeau was part of a deal that sent Jakub Lauko and Marat Khusnutdinov to the Boston Bruins on Thursday evening. The 27-year-old Brazeau played a career-high 57 games with the Bruins this season, scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) and averaging 12:58 time-on-ice.

Kunin was held out of San Jose's lineup on Thursday in anticipation of a trade and has ultimately been dealt to the Blue Jackets on Friday. Kunin is an impending UFA and has 18 points (11G / 7A) in 63 games this season.

A contract extension was necessary for the Dallas Stars to execute a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes to acquire Mikko Rantanen, which was signed on Friday afternoon, making him the highest-paid winger in the league, making $12 million per season for the next eight seasons. The 28-year-old superstar forward is coming off consecutive 100+ point seasons in Colorado and instantly makes the Dallas Stars a Stanley Cup favorite. Rantanen is poised to suit up on the Stars' top line with Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz.

Johnston was set to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, but has signed a five-year contract extension, worth $42 million, making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2029-30 season. The 21-year-old Johnston has 59 points (23G / 36A) in 62 games this season, including 14 points (8G / 6A) in his last eight games.

Zellers was a third-round pick, 76th overall, of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old forward is currently played for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) and has 58 points (37G / 21A) in 40 games this season.

Vaakanainen was acquired in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this season and has earned himself a two-year, $3.10 million contract extension with the Rangers. The 26-year-old defenseman has averaged 15:599 time-on-ice and scored nine points (2G / 7A) in 30 games with the Rangers this season.

Colorado acquired Mittelstadt in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres last season but has not lived up to expectations and has been dealt to the Boston Bruins. The 26-year-old Mittelstadt scored 34 points (11G / 23A) in 63 games this season. He only had five points (2G / 3A) in his last 16 games.

Coyle will likely be Colorado's third-line center, a role more suited for the 33-year-old forward than he was deployed this season as a Boston Bruin. The 13-year veteran forward averaged 17:38 time-on-ice and scored 22 points (15G / 7A) in 64 games with Boston this season.

Lankinen saved 14 of 16 shots (.875 SV%) in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks and will return to the crease on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. The 29-year-old Lankinen has a 2.56 GAA and .904 SV% in 38 games this season (21-10-7). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as -123 home favorites against the Wild.

The Golden Knights have won three straight and will turn to Samsonov between the pipes on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Samsonov struggled in his most recent outing but received ample goal support in a 7-5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, saving 17 of 22 shots (.773 SV%). He has a 2.91 GAA and .887 SV% in 24 games this season (14-8-2). The Golden Knights enter Friday's contest as sizeable -238 home favorites.

Veleno was a first-round pick, 30th overall, of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old averaged 11:57 time-on-ice this season, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in 56 games.

Reaves has only played three games for the Maple Leafs since the beginning of February and was placed on waivers on Thursday. The 38-year-old hard-hitting forward is averaging 7:48 time-on-ice, recording two points (0G / 2A) and 103 hits in 35 games this season.

Smith has been traded to the Red Wings, joining his fifth club in the past three seasons. The 35-year-old veteran forward had 16 points (9G / 7A) and averaged 11:39 time-on-ice in 40 games with the Blackhawks this season.

Mrazek began his career in Detroit and will return to the Red Wings after being acquired in a trade on Friday. The 33-year-old Mrazek has a 3.46 GAA and .890 SV% in 33 appearances this season (10-19-2). He has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.25 million.

The Ducks will turn to Dostal between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Dostal entered Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in relief of an injured John Gibson (lower body), saving 14 of 15 shots (.933 SV%) in the effort. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.87 GAA and .911 SV% in 38 games this season (18-15-5). The Ducks enter Friday's contest as +137 home underdogs against a Blues squad with points in seven of their last eight (6-1-1).

Utah HC has won four of their last five (1-4-0) and will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Vejmelka was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Czech netminder has a 2.44 GAA and .912 SV% in 39 appearances this season (17-16-4). Utah enters Friday's contest as -163 road favorites against a Chicago team with points in three straight (2-0-1).

Jakub Lauko was acquired along with Marat Khusnutdinov and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Boston Bruins for Justin Brazeau. The 22-year-old Khusnutdinov averaged 11:14 time-on-ice and scored seven points (2G / 5A) in 57 games with Minnesota this season.

Jakub Lauko was acquired along with Marat Khusnutdinov and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Boston Bruins for Justin Brazeau. The 24-year-old Lauko scored six points (3G / 3A) and averaged 10:03 time-on-ice in 38 games with Minnesota this season.