Simek was banged up in training camp but head coach Bob Boughner expects to have him for the "St. Louis series" which suggests that he'll miss the season-opening back-to-back in Arizona.
After bouncing between Edmonton, Philadelphia and Calgary over the last two seasons, Talbot landed in Minnesota on a three-year deal this offseason. Talbot was rock steady in 26 games for the Flames a season ago, posting a .919 SV% and was even better in the playoffs with a .924. He's a vastly under appreciated netminder and should have a solid season behind a Wild team that is one of the stiffest defensive teams in the NHL.
Moving Tarasenko to LTIR opens up some cap space for the Blues to recall Jordan Kyrou and Mackenzie MacEachern from the taxi squad. Tarasenko continues to rehab his surgically repaired shoulder and is expected to be re-evaluated at the end of January.
Dries spent almost all of 2020 in the AHL, scoring 21 goals with 14 assists (35 points) in 50 games with the Colorado Eagles. The 26-year-old did appear in five game with the Avalanche and now has six points (3G / 3A) in 45 career NHL games. With the Avalanche having one of the deepest forward groups in the NHL, Dries is likely destined for the AHL in 2021.
Motte has become an integral part of the Canucks' fourth-line, posting eight points (4G / 4A) in 34 games while also ranking second among Canucks' forwards in hits and fourth in PK ATOI (2:00).
The Blues selected Nolan Stevens in the fifth-round in 2016 and he has spent the first two years of his professional career in the AHL. In 2020, the 24-year-old had nine goals and 22 assists (31 points) in 50 games with San Antonio. Expect him to start 2021 with the Rampage.
Petry had one-year left on his six-year, $33M contract that he signed in 2015 but earned a fresh four-year extension and got a $750K AAV raise. Petry has recorded three-straight seasons of at last 40 points and has not missed a game over that stretch.
Lyon spent most of 2020 in the AHL going 11-14-5 with a 2.69 GAA and .913 SV%. With Brian Elliott set to become a UFA, it looks like the Flyers plan to have Lyon as Carter Hart's backup in 2021. The 27-year-old is 5-4-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .893 SV% in 16 career NHL games.
