Middleton won't play in Friday's preseason finale but he has been practicing and appears on-track to be ready for the season opener. Middleton had a career-high highs in goals (7), assists (18), points (25) blocked shots (161) and hits (148) in 80 games last season.
Boldy won't play in Friday's preseason finale, but he has been practicing and appears on-track to be ready for the season opener. Boldy, who had 29 goals and 40 assists last season, is expected to open the season on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson.
Boldy suffered a lower-body injury on Monday but head coach John Hynes said that it's not a major injury and Boldy should be back by the end of camp. As of right now, the Wild are expecting Boldy to be in the opening night lineup.
Faber had an outstanding rookie season, scoring eight goals with 39 assists (47 points) while leading all rookies in ice-time (24:58 ATOI) in 82 games. The soon-to-be 22-year-old defenseman finished second in Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) voting behind Connor Bedard. Faber's new $8.5M AAV cap hit will not kick in until the 2025-26 season.
Fresh off of his second career Stanley Cup victory, Vladimir Tarasenko has signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract ($4,750,000 AAV) with the Detroit Red Wings. The 32-year-old is entering his 13th NHL season with his fifth team and had 23 goals, 55 points and a +13 plus/minus in 76 games between Ottawa and Florida in 2023-24.
Nashville added to its offensive depth on Tuesday by adding nine-year veteran Vinnie Hinostroza to the Predators on a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old appeared in 14 games with Pittsburgh in 2023-24 and had a goal and three points. Nashville will be his sixth NHL team as he looks to add to his 54 goals and 151 points in 374 career NHL games played.
Jones joins Minnesota after two strong seasons with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) after he signed a two-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 25-year-old 7th-round pick made his one and only NHL appearance with Vegas in 2021-22 and only appeared in two games. In 2023-24 with Calgary (AHL) he had 21 goals and 43 points in 72 games played.
After three successful seasons in Minnesota, Jake Middleton has signed a four-year contract extension worth $17.4 million ($4.35M AAV). The 28-year-old had career highs in almost all statistical categories in 2023-24, with seven goals, 25 points, 77 PIMs and a -15 plus/minus through 80 games played.
Aube-Kubel will join his fifth NHL team in seven seasons as he signed a one-year contract worth $1,500,000 on Monday with Buffalo. The 28-year-old depth winger appeared in 60 games for Washington in 2023-24 and had six goals, 16 points and 23 PIMs.
Trenin will get a big pay upgrade as he signed a four-year, $14 million contract ($3,500,000 AAV) to join the Minnesota Wild on Monday. The 27-year-old bottom-six forward was acquired by Colorado at the trade deadline last season from Nashville and had 12 goals, 17 points and 40 PIMs in 76 games played in 2023-24.
Kiersted spent the 2023-24 season with Charlotte (AHL) and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with Florida next season. The 26-year-old defensemen will provide the Panthers with some depth after putting up four goals and 15 points in 57 games with Charlotte last season.
Colorado is expected to announce the plan with Yakov Trenin ahead of Game 6 on Friday after their fourth-line forward left Game 5 due to an undisclosed injury after just 2:16 TOI. The 27-year-old was acquired at the trade deadline and has locked down his fourth line centre roll well with a goal, eight SOG and four PIMs in 10 games played in the playoffs.
Aube-Kubel will head to the press box for Game 3 on Friday vs. New York as Ivan Miroshnichenko draws into the lineup for the first time in the playoffs. Aube-Kubel won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2021-22 but has struggled so far in the postseason as he has failed to record a point and SOG while averaging 9:02 TOI.
Zuccarello has missed the last three games but will return to the lineup for Minnesota's final contest of the season. Zuccarello has six points (0G / 6A) during a four-game point streak and has 62 points (11G / 51A) in 68 games this season.
Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes for the first time in three games. Gustavsson has allowed four or more goals in two straight, including his most recent outing when he allowed five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Minnesota enters the action as a +146 road underdog against the Los Angeles Kings.
Zuccarello is in the midst of a four-game point streak (6A) but did not travel to Vegas due to personal reasons and will not play on Friday. The 36-year-old is third in team scoring with 11 goals and 62 points in 68 games played.
