Schmidt signed with the Panthers in the offseason but will begin his tenure with his new club as a healthy scratch in their season opener. Schmidt had 14 points (2G / 12A) in 63 games while also racking up 66 hits and 76 blocked shots in the 2023-24 season. Uvis Balinskis will draw in on the third defensive pair for the Panthers.
Stastney was absent from Nashville's training camp due to personal reasons and will begin the season on the Injured/Non-Roster list. The 24-year-old signed a two-year, $3.3 million contract extension ($1,650,000 AAV) in the offseason after putting up two goals, four points and a +9 plus/minus in 20 games played in 2023-24.
Saad is expected to miss the Blues' first road trip of the season as he awaits the birth of his third child and has been placed on the Injured/Non-Roster list to begin 2024-25. The Blues will hope to have their veteran 31-year-old left-winger back soon after he finished 2023-24 fourth in team goals (26) and fifth in points (42).
Hellebuyck is away from the team due to a personal family issue but is expected to play in the Jets' season opener on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 31-year-old American netminder was tremendous last season, winning his second Vezina trophy with a 2.39 GAA and .921 SV% in 60 games (37-19-4).
Kulich will get the chance to make his season debut in his home country of Czechia after it was announced Zach Benson would be out on Saturday vs. New Jersey. The 20-year-old centre is only making his second NHL appearance ever after making it into one game in 2023-24. He is expected to take Benson's spot in Buffalo's top-six.
With Ondrej Palat stepping away from the team due to the birth of his second child, Kurtis MacDaermid will make his season debut on Saturday in Prague vs. Buffalo. The 30-year-old bruising left-winger came to New Jersey mid season in 2023-24 and had two goals, three points and 73 PIMs in 45 total games played.
Kurtis MacDermid will make his season debut in Palat's absence as he leaves the team for the birth of his second child. Palat managed to stick around for the Devils' season opener in Prague and had no points, and one SOG across 13:46 TOI.
With Brett Pesce injured, Casey seized the opportunity to break camp with the Devils and will make his NHL debut in Prague on Friday. The 20-year-old was a second-round pick (No.46 overall) in 2022 and had 45 points (7G / 38A) in 40 games at the University of Michigan last season. Casey, who will man the Devils' second power-play unit, had one assist, three SOG and two hits in his two preseason games.
Cousins appeared in the Panthers' lineup for Game 6 for the first time since May 26th but will come back out on Monday as he is replaced by Kyle Okposo. The 30-year-old had seven goals and 15 points in 69 regular season games but has failed to produce at all in the playoffs with only one assist and 20 PIMs in 12 playoff games played.
Okposo was a healthy scratch for Game 6 but will get another chance to secure the Stanley Cup as he will return to Florida's lineup in replacement for Nick Cousins. The 36-year-old veteran was acquired at the trade deadline this season from Buffalo and has never won a Stanley Cup in his 17 NHL seasons. In 16 playoff games in 2023-24, he has no goals, two assists and 10 PIMs.
Cousins hasn't played in nearly a month as his last appearance came on May 26th vs. the New York Rangers but he is expected to draw back into the Panthers' lineup on Friday for Game 6 in Edmonton. The 30-year-old scrappy winger had 15 points in 69 regular season games but has failed to produce in the playoffs, with no goals, one assist, 20 PIMs and eight SOG in 11 games played.
Okposo took a late penalty in Game 5 and seems to be the odd man out of Florida's lineup for Game 6 on Friday after line rushes in practice on Thursday had Nick Cousins replacing the veteran on the fourth line. The 36-year-old Okposo came to Florida at the trade deadline after captaining the Buffalo Sabres and has just two assists, 10 PIMs and 16 SOG in 16 playoff games.
Lorentz had found himself in Florida's lineup for the first four games of the Stanley Cup Finals but will be the odd man out on Tuesday as Ryan Lomberg enters the Panthers' fourth line. Lorentz had appeared in 16 games this postseason, picking up two goals, three points, 30 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus.
Lomberg has been a healthy scratch for the Panthers' previous seven games but will draw back into the lineup for some added spark and speed in Game 5 as he replaces Steven Lorentz on Florida's fourth line. The 29-year-old winger has only suited up in five of the Panthers' 21 playoff games so far and is without a point with nine SOG and a -2 plus/minus.
