Lambert, the 30th-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games combined over the last three seasons. Nikita Chibrikov will draw into the lineup as Lamert's replacement.
Chibrikov has only played five games this season, scoring zero points, and has been sidelined since October 26th. The 22-year-old Chibrikov was drafted 50th overall by the Jets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Sam Dickinson has been used sparingly in his first NHL season, and will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 19-year-old Dickinson is averaging 14:30 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in 11 games this season.
Parekh has played 10 games this season for the Flames, burning the first year of his entry-level contract, ensuring he will spend the season in the NHL, but remains in a position where he is being used sparingly. The 19-year-old Parekh has not had the opportunity to fully showcase his talents in his first NHL season, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) through 10 games in a sheltered role.
Jaroslav Chmelar will make his NHL debut on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings, sending Edstrom to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Edstrom had played all 14 games for the Rangers this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 9:59 time-on-ice in a bottom-six role.
Chmelar was a fifth-round pick of the Rangers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and will make his NHL debut on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. The towering 6'5 Czech forward scored 29 points (12G / 17A) in 71 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) last season. Adam Edstrom will exit the lineup to accommodate Chmelar's debut.
Crozier will slot out of the Lightning lineup on Thursday in favour of Darren Raddysh. Crozier has appeared in five games this season, registering zero goals and three assists.
Raddysh has appeared in seven games so far this season, logging one goal and two assists. Maxwell Crozier will sit in his place.
Abols will take the place of Jacob Gaucher, who was reassigned to Lehigh Valley (AHL) on Thursday. Abols is yet to register a point through eight games this season.
Capobianco will take a seat on Thursday as the Stars return to dressing just six defencemen. Roope Hintz (upper-body) will return to the lineup in his place.
Kessel will play in place of Logan Mailloux, who is a healthy scratch for Thursday's game in Buffalo. Kessel is yet to register a point through five games this season.
Mailloux will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Matthew Kessel, who draws back into the Blues lineup. Mailloux is yet to register a point through nine games this season.
With K'Andre Miller returning from an injury on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, Legault will likely be the odd man out as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old, in his first NHL season, is averaging 13:26 time-on-ice and has zero points through six games.
Logan Mailloux will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Kessel to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Kessel has appeared in five games this season, averaging 10:30 time-on-ice and scoring zero points.
The Blues have had a terrible start to the season, and Logan Mailloux has been a byproduct of their poor team defense. The 22-year-old Mailloux has played sheltered minutes, averaging only 12:33 time-on-ice, but has still managed a woeful -12 plus/minus and zero point through nine games this season. Matthew Kessel will draw into the lineup as Mailloux's replacement.
Jordan Kyrou is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Texier to enter the lineup for the first time since October 28th. The 26-year-old Texier is averaging 9:57 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in seven games this season.
Oskar Sundqivst is battling an undisclosed injury and will not play on Thursday, allowing Joseph to re-enter the lineup against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Joseph is averaging 12:39 time-on-ice, recording 26 hits and three points (1G / 2A) in 13 games this season.
The Blues sit at the bottom of the league with a 4-8-2 record through 14 games, and hope to shake things up by benching one of their star players, Jordy Kyrou, on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 27-year-old Kyrou has eight points (4G / 4A) and a -8 plus/minus through 14 games this season. He has been held off the scoresheet in four straight. Alexandre Texier will draw into the lineup as Kyrou's replacement.
Daemon Hunt will make his season debut on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, sending Jiricek to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Jiricek has yet to score a point in 10 games this season, but has seen sheltered minutes, averaging only 12:40 time-on-ice while playing on Minnesota's bottom defensive pair.
David Jiricek will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, allowing Hunt to enter the lineup for his season debut. The 23-year-old Hunt spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he scored 14 points (2G / 12A) in 48 games with the Cleveland Monsters.
