Nutivaara has two years left at $2.7M AAV and should immediately slide into the Panthers' top-4. Nutivaara will likely replace Josh Brown, who was traded to Ottawa Keith Yandle's partner. He was in-and-out of the lineup in 2020, playing just 37games. Over the last three seasons, he's averaged seven goals and 18 assists (25 points) per 82 games, so there is some offence there.
Wennberg had three years left on a six-year deal that carried a $4.9M AAV cap hit. The former No.14 overall pick (2013) had struggled since posting 59 points in 2017, averaging just five goals and 22 assists (27 points) over the last three seasons. Still, he has enough skill to be a No.2 centre for a team in need and a good enough two-way game to be a third line centre for a team with better depth.
Toffoli was hurt in the first game of the qualifying round vs. the Wild and has not skated with his teammates since. Toffoli is still unfit to play, so don't expect to see him in Game 1 on Wednesday.
Lindblom is expected to start practicing with his teammates once his quarantine is over and could return in the second or third round if the Flyers advance that far. This is obviously fantastic news for the 23-year-old, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma back in mid-December.
Rutta played in the Lightning's second round-robin game but that was it. When head coach Jon Copper met with the media on Monday, he said that everything was "status quo," which suggests that Rutta is still unfit to play. Look for Zach Bogosian to remain in Rutta's spot.
Nutivaara was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the series but will replace Dean Kukan in the lineup for Game 3. During the regular-season, Nutivaara had nine points (3G / 6A) while averaging 1.3 shots and 0.9 blocked shots in 37 games.
Afanasyev was viewed as a potential first-round pick in last year's draft but fell to the Predators at the No.45 pick (second-round). The 6-foot-3, 205 lbs. Russian winger joined the Windsor Spitfires (OHL) for the 2020 campaign and led the team in goals (31) and was tied for first in points (67).
