Alexander Steeves will make his season debut with the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, sending Robertson to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Robertson has been a regular in the lineup for the Maple Leafs this season, but has only tallied one point (1G / 0A) and 21 shots on goal while averaging 12:51 time-on-ice through 15 games.
Jani Hakanpaa will make his maple Leafs debut on Wednesday, resulting in Benoit being a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Benoit has been a regular on the blueline for the Maple Leafs this season, averaging 15:51 time-on-ice, tallying two points (0G / 2A), 29 blocks, and 31 hits in 17 games.
Steeves is an undrafted 24-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota with seven games of NHL experience in his career. He has become an offensive standout at the AHL level, with 12 points (9G / 3A) in 10 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) this season. Nicholas Robertson will serve as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Steeves to draw into the lineup.
Hakanpaa has returned from a two-game conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and will make his Maple Leafs debut on Wednesday night. The 32-year-old Hakanpaa, in his first season as a Maple Leaf, missed an extended portion of last season with the Dallas Stars due to injuries that continued into the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign. Simon Benoit will be a healthy scratch, allowing Hakanpaa to draw into the lineup.
Motte made his return from an upper-body injury on Saturday, playing 11:25 time-on-ice, but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Joe Veleno to draw back into the lineup. The 29-year-old Motte has been limited to only five games this season, averaging 11:18 time-on-ice, tallying six hits and 11 shots.
Tyler Motte will serve as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Veleno to make his return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:14 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games this season.
The Penguins will shake up their defense on Wednesday after a debilitating 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their previous contest, welcoming Shea back into the lineup in favor of Jack St. Ivany. The 27-year-old Shea is averaging 15:06 time-on-ice and has zero points in three games this season.
Despite recording an assist and an even plus/minus rating in a disastrous 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their last outing, the Penguins will scratch St. Ivany on Wednesday in favor on Ryan Shea. The 25-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 16:02 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) through 14 games this season.
With Dakota Joshua (testicular cancer) not quite ready to return to the lineup, Bains will get the chance to make his first appearance since November 2nd. Bains has one goal and zero assists in seven games this season.
With Michael Sgarbossa being reassigned to Hershey (AHL) and Lars Eller not expected to be ready to make his debut, Lapierre will likely re-enter the lineup on Wednesday. Lapierre is yet to score a goal but does have two assists in 11 games this season.
After being acquired from the Penguins on Tuesday night, Eller is not expected to be ready in time to make his debut on Wednesday. With Michael Sgarbossa being reassigned to Hershey (AHL), Hendrix Lapierre will likely draw back into the lineup.
Samoskevich will re-enter the lineup in place of Sam Bennett, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Samoskevich has two goals and two assists in 14 games this season.
James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Labanc to re-enter the lineup for the Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old has provided some offensive depth this season, scoring six points (1G / 5A) while averaging 11:27 time-on-ice in 10 games. Labanc had only nine points (2G / 7A) in 46 games with the San Jose Sharks last season.
Kevin Labanc will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Tuesday, sending van Riemsdyk to the press box as a healthy scratch. The veteran van Riemsdyk has four points (2G / 2A) in 12 games this season while averaging 10:58 time-on-ice.
Dante Fabbro will make his debut with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, resulting in Harris being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Harris is averaging 13:10 time-on-ice, has zero points, and a -3 plus/minus in eight games this season.
Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Fabbro to make his debut with the Blue Jackets after being claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators earlier this week. Fabbro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old made his professional North American hockey debut last season but has yet to play an NHL game. He has seven points (5G / 2A) in seven games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.
Stanley will serve as a healthy scratch on Tuesday, ending a streak of 11 straight games. The 26-year-old Stanley is averaging 15:13 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 11 games this season. Haydn Fleury will draw into the lineup as Stanley's replacement.
Logan Stanley will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Fleury to re-enter the lineup. Fleury played the first four games of the season but has not played since, being sidelined for 11 straight.
Hutton will take a seat on Monday after playing in each of the last two games. Kaedan Korczak will draw into the lineup in Hutton's place.