Ritchie was a healthy scratch vs. the Sharks on Saturday but is expected to replace Nicolas Deslauriers in the lineup in Detroit. Ritchie started the year on the top-line but is expected to skate on the fourth line tonight.
Kadri took a shot off of his foot on Saturday and is sore, but head coach Jared Bednar expects him to play vs. the Bruins on Tuesday. Kadri is still searching for his first point with the Avalanche, but has four shots and has averaged 15:55 TOI/gm through two games.
With Roman Polak out long-term, the Stars had to dig into their farm system over the last 24 hours. Hanley failed to register a point in 16 NHL games last year but had 28 points (8G / 20A) in 60 AHL contests.
Backlund has been dealing with a lower-body injury since the late stages of the preseason but is ready to go in Colorado. Backlund, who will centre the second line with familiar linemates (Tkachuk and Frolik) had 21 goals and 26 assists (47 points) last season.
Farabee, who was a first-round pick (No.14 overall) in 2018 nearly made the Flyers opening night roster but the last second return of Tyler Pitlick has pushed him to the AHL to begin the year. The 19-year-old had 17 goals and 19 assists (36 points) in 37 games at Boston University last season.
Backlund was on the ice for Wednesday’s practice but remains a question mark heading into the first game of the year. Monitor his status during tomorrow’s morning skate and expect Sam Bennett to replace him on the second line if he doesn’t play.
Meloche is a former second-round pick of Colorado and is coming off of a 21-point (6G / 15A) season with the Colorado Eagles (AHL). He will report to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).
Frost seemed like a front-runner to at start the season with the Flyers, but this injury all but guarantees that he will end up in the AHL next week. While this is bad news for Frost, it opens the door for fellow rookies German Rubtsov and Joel Farabee to make the opening night roster.
Pachal was an undrafted free agent who had 15 goals with 36 assists (51 points) in 66 games with the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) in 2019. He’ll report for a fifth WHL season with the Raiders in 2020.
Stone was bought out by the Flames earlier in the summer but signs back on for a discount after Jusso Valimaki suffered a torn ACL. Stone had just five assists in 14 games with Calgary last season and figures to be their 6/7th defenseman in 2020.
Stone appeared in just 14 NHL games and three AHL games last season and the Flames have bought out the final-year of his contract. The emergence of Rasmus Andersson and Juuso Valimaki pushed Stone down the depth chart.
Weegar had 15 points (4G / 11A) in 64 games with the Panthers last season, while ranking sixth among Panthers defensemen in TOI/GM (16:58). Weegar will likely open the 2020 season as the Panthers No.6 defenseman.
Hunt split his 2019 season between the NHL and AHL, posting 44 points (23G / 21A) in 51 games with Springfield (AHL) and 10 points (3G / 7A) in 31 games with Florida (NHL). Despite moderate NHL success, Hunt will likely start 2020 in the AHL.
Lomberg had 29 points (12G / 17A) in 58 games with Stockton (AHL) last season and had a brief four-game showing with the Flames, where he had 17 PIMS. Lomberg is a fourth-line player who could have a spot in Calgary next year after Garnet Hathaway signed with the Capitals this summer.
Tinordi spent the entire 2018-19 season with Milwaukee (AHL), where he had eight goals and 14 assists (22 points) in 75 games. Tinordi will likely be one of the first defenseman called-up if the Predators run into any injury concerns next season. He has six assists in 53 career NHL games with the Canadiens and Coyotes.
