Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in Monday's practice. The Kings are "optimistic" but said that is's "not a guarantee" that Lafferiere will be in the lineup on opening night when the Kings host the Avalanche.

Blackwood was on the ice Monday but won’t travel with the team for their one-game trip to Los Angeles. With him unavailable, expect Scott Wedgewood to start and Trent Miner to serve as backup. Blackwood’s status for Thursday’s home opener vs. Utah is also in doubt, though his participation in Monday’s practice is an encouraging sign that the injury isn’t long-term.

Luukkonen missed the majority of training camp due to a lower-body injury and will be sidelined for at least the first week of the regular season. If the 26-year-old is forced to miss significant time, a combination of Alexandar Georgiev and Devon Levi will likely handle the crease in Buffalo.

Kesselring left the Sabres' preseason game on October 1st after aggravating an injury that he'd been dealing with throughout camp. Sabres' head coach Lindy Ruff said that Kesselring will be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis, effectively ruling him out for the start of the regular season.

Power suffered an undisclosed injury early in training camp and was expected to be ready for Buffalo's season opener, but has been placed on Injured Reserve and will be sidelined for at least one week. 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.

It was announced earlier that Greenway would miss Buffalo's season opener with a lower-body injury, but the forward was also placed on IR on Monday and will miss at least the next seven days. It appears the 28-year-old's run of bad injury luck in Buffalo will continue this season after missing 128 games combined in his first three seasons with the Sabres.

With St. Louis off on Monday, they were unable to provide an update on Oskar Sundqvist after he left practice on Sunday with what appeared to be a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old is entering his third season in St. Louis and was batting for a bottom-six role before the injury. His status for St. Louis' opening night game vs. Minnesota remains uncertain.

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).

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.

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.

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.