Markstrom appears to have a firm grip on his role as a workhorse in the Calgary crease this season. The 33-year-old netminder averaged 61 starts over the last two seasons and has been named the starter for each of the Flames' first three games to begin the 2023-24 campaign. How much fantasy value that role will provide remains to be seen. Markstrom put on an impressive 34-save performance on route to a 5-3 victory over the Jets to open the season, but surrendered four goals on just 28 shots in Saturday's loss to Pittsburgh. The Flames are slight favourites in Washington tonight, so fantasy managers can be hopeful for a bounceback game from Markstrom.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Flames' opening night win over the Jets. It was a strong start to the season for Markstorm, who is looking for a bounce-back after a difficult 2022-23 season. He only faced Pittsburgh once last year, stopping 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 win.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Flames' opening night win over the Jets. It was a strong start to the season for Markstorm, who is looking for a bounce-back after a difficult 2022-23 season. He only faced Pittsburgh once last year, stopping 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 win.
Markstrom struggled in 2022-23 with a 23-21-12 record, a .892 SV%, and a 2.92 GAA and will take the crease for Calgary's season opener vs. Winnipeg on Wednesday. The 33-year-old veteran is entering his 14th NHL season and fourth with the Flames. He faces the Jets, who finished last season 21st in the NHL in both goals (246) and shots per game (30.3).
Haula is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for the Devils' opening game is uncertain. Last season was Haula's first with the Devils, in which he scored 41 points (14G / 27A) in 80 games. Haula is projected to center a talented third line between Ondrej Palat and Alexander Holtz but if he is unable to play, Michael McLeod might temporarily fill his position.
Allen had an underwhelming preseason, posting a 4.00 GAA and .854 SV% in two games (1-0-0) but will still begin the 2023-24 campaign as the starting goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. In 42 games last season (15-24-3), Allen posted career worsts in GAA (3.55) and SV% (.891), mirroring the Canadiens' 29th-ranked team defence that allowed an average of 3.72 goals per game. However, in his career against the Maple Leafs, Allen sports a respectable 2.60 GAA and .917 SV% in 18 appearances (8-7-0).
Willman played in nine games for Philadelphia in 2022-23 and failed to pick up a point but had nine SOG, four PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus and has officially signed a one-year, two-way deal with New Jersey. The 28-year-old centre has appeared in 50 games for the Flyers over the last two seasons since making his debut in 2021-22 and has four goals, six points, and 16 PIMs on his career. He is expected to start the season with New Jersey's AHL affiliate in Utica.
Tatar had 20 goals, 28 assists, 30 PIMs, 153 SOG, and a +41 plus/minus through 82 games with New Jersey in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1,500,000 contract with Colorado on Tuesday. The 32-year-old will join his fifth NHL team and has 211 goals, 455 points, and 276 PIMs through 783 career games played. It is a great depth signing for the Avalanche as Tatar comes at a cheap price tag and has seven 20+ goal seasons across his 12 years of playing in the NHL.
Bernier went 4-4-1 with a .902 SV% and 3.06 GAA through 10 games with New Jersey in 2022-23 and has called it a career Monday after 14 NHL seasons. The 35-year-old goaltender was drafted in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft's 1st round (11th overall) and went on to play for six different teams (LAK, TOR, DET, ANA, COL, NJD) picking up a 165-163-40 record, 2.78 GAA, and .912 SV%.
Legare was acquire by Montreal as part of a three-team trade including San Jose and which saw three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson head to Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old right-winger was Pittsburgh's 2019 third-round pick (74th overall) and has yet to see any NHL action through his first two seasons in the AHL. In 2022-23 he had eight goals, 19 points, 76 PIMs and a -17 plus/minus through 68 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Dowling had 11 goals, 35 assists, 18 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 56 games with Abbotsford (AHL) and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV) with New Jersey. The 32-year-old forward last played in the NHL in 2021-22 and brings six goals, 12 assists and 93 SOG across 98 career NHL games to the Devils.
Kallgren was 3-2-4 with a .267 GAA and .898 SV% with Toronto in 2022-23 and has now signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with New Jersey. The 26-year-old goaltender was Arizona's 2015 seventh-round pick (183rd overall) and has a career NHL record of 11-6-5 S with a 3.04 GAA and .892 SV% across two seasons in Toronto.
Bastian had six goals, nine assists, 62 SOG, 31 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through an injury riddled 2022-23, and has signed a two-year contract extension worth $2.7 million ($1.35M AAV). The 25-year-old right-winger was New Jersey's 2016 second-round pick (41st overall) and has played all but 12 of his 163 career games with the Devils.
Bowers' rights were traded from Boston to New Jersey on Monday, and he inked a one-year deal on Thursday. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut with Colorado last season but spent most of the year in the AHL. Bowers had eight goals and 13 assists (21 points) in 57 games between Colorado (AHL) and Providence (AHL). He should start 2023-24 with Binghamton (AHL).
Meier had 40 goals, 26 assists, 327 SOG, 43 PIMs and a -19 plus/minus through 78 games with both New Jersey and San Jose in 2022-23 and has Timo Meier has signed an eight-year, $70.4 Million ($8,800,000 AAV) contract extension. The 26-year-old right-winger was acquired by New Jersey at the trade deadline in 2022-23 that included four players and three draft-picks. He has amassed 163 goals and 330 points across 472 career NHL games played.
Bowers had eight goals, 13 assists, 16 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 57 games with Providence (AHL) and Colorado (AHL) in 2022-23 and has had his rights traded to New Jersey for the rights to Reilly Walsh. The 23-year-old was Ottawa's 2017 first round pick (28th overall) and has appeared in only one NHL game since leaving Boston College after the 2018-19 season.
Haula had 14 goals, 27 assists, 164 SOG, 47 PIMs and a +13 plus/minus through 80 games in his first season in New Jersey in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year contract extension ($3.15 Million AAV) with the Devils on Friday. The 32-year-old left-winger is entering his 11th NHL season having suited up for seven different teams along that span and collecting 281 points (126G/155A) through 614 career games.
Bratt was a pending RFA but signed an eight-year deal that will keep him in New Jersey through the 2031 season. Bratt has posted back-to-back 73-point seasons, but 2023 was the first time he eclipsed the 30-goal mark (32). Over those two seasons, Bratt is tied for 44th in the NHL in points (146) and 49th in goals (58).