The start to Sturm's tenure in Minnesota has been delayed due to injury, and now with surgery is expected to miss at least six weeks. After winning a cup with Florida in 2024-25, Sturm signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Minnesota in the offseason. He is coming off a seven-goal, 14-point campaign across 62 games with both San Jose and Florida in 2024-25.

Brodin, who had offseason surgery on an upper-body injury, will not play in the Wild's season opener on Thursday. There was hope that he'd be ready, but he's "stagnated a little bit," according to head coach John Hynes. With Brodin unavailable, David Jiriceck is expected to be in the opening night lineup.

Wiesblatt made his NHL debut with Nashville last season, recording one assist in five games, and hopes to be a more regular NHLer in the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old forward was San Jose's 31st-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Toews "tweaked something" in a preseason contest against the Minnesota Wild last Tuesday, but will be ready to suit up for Thursday's contest against the Dallas Stars. 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.

Rust was back at practice on Thursday but will remain out of the lineup against the New York Islanders. The 33-year-old Rust scored a career-high 65 points (31G / 34A) in 71 games last season and will likely return to a role on the team's top powerplay unit when he returns.

Kochetkov was absent from practice the past few days and will not suit up 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). Hurricanes' head coach Rod Brind'Amour stated that Kochetkov aggravated something in practice and "hasn't been getting better." If Kochetkov is unable to play, expect Frederik Andersen to be between the pipes.

Bolduc missed Friday's practice and Saturday's preseason finale and was considered day-to-day. The 22-year-old Bolduc will make his Canadiens debut after tallying 19 goals and 17 assists with the Blues last season.

Dorofeyev missed the Golden Knights' preseason finale, recovering from a lower-body injury, but will suit up for their season opener on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old Dorofeyev had a breakout 2024-25 season, scoring 52 points (35G / 17A) in 82 games, including 13 powerplay goals, and could be in for another career year in 2025-26.

Montour underwent ankle surgery in the offseason, missing most of training camp, but could be ready for the season opener on Thursday. In his first season with Seattle, Montour had a career-high 18 goals to go along with 23 assists (41 points) in 81 games.

Strome is battling an upper-body injury that will delay the start of his 2025-26 campaign. The 32-year-old Strome is entering his fourth season with the Ducks and has been remarkably consistent, finishing each of his previous three seasons with 41 points.

Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury and did not play in Chicago's season opener on Tuesday; however, he is expected to suit up on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 24-year-old Vlasic played all 82 games last season, averaging 23:16 time-on-ice and scoring 30 points (4G / 26A).

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.

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.

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.

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.