After being limited to only eight games last season because of his shoulder, Norris' availability for the upcoming season remains up in the air after suffering a setback last week. Any absence for Norris poses major concerns for Ottawa as it leaves a huge void in their second-line center position. Expect Ridley Greig, who recorded nine points (2G / 7A) as a rookie with the Senators last season, to take on a bigger role for the duration of Norris' injury.

“Little bit of — I don’t know if it was a setback — but we’re hopeful he plays on Saturday,” head coach D.J. Smith said when asked about Norris’ surprising absence from the practice on Wednesday. Norris will not play Thursday and is questionable for Saturday's pre-season finale. This leaves his status for the regular season opener in question, a huge issue for the Senators, who haven't re-signed RFA Shane Pinto yet. This could leave them without two of their top-3 centres to start the year.

Quinn's original timetable was 4-to-6 months, but the latest update suggests that he'll be be back at the tail-end of that timeline. Quinn had a solid rookie season, scoring 14 goals with 23 assists (37 points) in 75 games. He figures to be a key figure in the Sabres' middle-6 once he returns to the lineup.

Norris suffered a shoulder injury last October and attempted to return to the lineup in January, but that only last three games before re-injuring his shoulder. Norris underwent surgery in late January and says he "feels good" and has been on the ice "a ton" and "training normally" this summer. Norris also said he should be ready to play in the preseason, and his goal is to be ready for opening night. Norris has missed 90 games over the last two seasons but recorded 37 goals and 21 assists (58 points) across 74 games, making him a strong mid-to-late round fantasy selection heading into 2023-24.

McLeod had 11 goals, 12 assists, 78 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 57 games played with Edmonton in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension ($2,100,000 AAV) with the Oilers. The 23-year-old has 20 goals, 45 points and two SHG across his 138 games NHL career after being drafted in the second-round of the 2018 Draft (40th overall) by Edmonton.

Benson was Buffalo's 2023 1st-round pick (13th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract Friday. The 18-year-old forward had 36 goals, 62 assists, 49 PIMs and a +68 plus/minus through 60 games with Winnipeg (WHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to Wenatchee (WHL) for the 2023-24 season.

Murray had 23 goals, 26 assists, 46 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 71 games with Rochester (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 with Buffalo. The 24-year-old right-winger was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2016 NHL Draft (99th overall) and has two goals and six points across 21 career NHL games played.

Clague split his time between the NHL and AHL during the 2023 season. During his time with the Sabres, the 25-year-old defenseman had four assists in 33 games while averaging a modest 15:06 TOI/gm. Given the additions of Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson in free agency, Clague seems destined to start the 2024 season in the AHL.

Byram had 10 goals, 14 assists, 65 SOG, 38 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus across an injury riddled 42 games played in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract extension worth $7.7 million ($3.85M AAV) with Colorado. The 22-year-old was the Avalanche's 2019 1st round pick (4th overall) and has 15 goals, 43 points and a +15 plus/minus through 91 games across three shortened seasons.

Zucker has been with the Penguins for the last three seasons since being dealt from Minnesota win 2020. Injuries plagued him in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh, but he missed just four games last year, scoring 27 goals with 21 assists (48 points) in 78 games. With the Coyotes, Zucker will provide some much-needed offensive punch to their top-6 and looks primed to be traded to a contender at the 2024 Trade Deadline.

Clifton spent the first five seasons of his NHL career in Boston, tallying 43 points (10G / 33A) across 232 games. The 2023 season was his best to-date, posting 23 points (3G / 18A) with 120 blocked shots and 208 hits in 78 games. He brings a hard-nosed style to the Sabres' blueline and should fit well on their second pairing, potentially as a partner to up-and-comer Owen Power.

Reimer was 12-21-8 with a .890 SV% and 3.48 GAA with San Jose in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Detroit Red Wings. The 35-year-old goaltender will join his fifth NHL team and brings a career 204-169-61 record, 2.87 GAA and .911 SV% to the Red Wings.

Bernard-Docker split his time between the NHL and AHL during the 2023 season. While in Ottawa, the 23-year-old defenseman had one assist, 22 shots and 23 hits in 19 games. He figures to be in the mix for regular playing time during the 2023-24 season.

The 2023 season was Brannstrom's first full NHL season, scoring two goals with 16 assists (18 points) in 74 games. Brannstrom is a quality offensive-defenseman but it will be hard for him to carve out a significant role with Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun and Jake Sanderson ahead of him on the depth chart.

Quinn had 14 goals, 23 assists, 126 SOG, 15 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus through 75 games in 2022-23 but will miss a good portion of the beginning of the 2023-24 season as he recovers from Achilles Surgery (4-6 Month recovery). It is a tough blow for the 21-year-old right-winger who was expected to take on a larger role in his second full season in Buffalo. He was the Sabres 2020 1st Round draft pick (8th overall).

Quinn suffered an Achilles tendon injury during training and underwent successful surgery on Wednesday. Quinn will miss the start of the 2023-24 season but could be back by early November.

Rousek made his NHL debut in 2022-23, scoring a goal and picking up an assist with three SOG and a +2 plus/minus through two games and has signed a two-year, $775,000 AAV contract extension Tuesday. The 24-year-old right-winger was the Sabres' 2019 sixth round pick (160th overall).

Johnson was selected in the first round (No.31 overall) of the 2019 NHL draft, and signs his ELC after his senior season at the University of Minnesota. The 21-year-old defenseman had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 40 games this season, and figures to start the 2023-24 season with Rochester (AHL).