Justin Schultz is expected to be a healthy scratch, allowing Evans to make his NHL debut on Thursday. The 21-year-old Evans was the 35th overall pick of the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the last two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, scoring 52 points (8G / 44A) in 89 combined games. He is expected to play with Brian Dumoulin on the third defensive pair.

With Buffalo acquiring Eric Robinson from Columbus on Wednesday Brandon Biro has been reassigned to Rochester (AHL). The 25-year-old left-winger had just returned from an injury for a three-game spell and had two goals and two SOG in five games prior to his demotion. He heads back to Rochester, where he had six goals and 12 points in 10 games before his previous promotion.

Burakovsky last played on October 21st and was projected to miss 6-8 week with an upper-body injury and is "very close" to returning according to Seattle's head coach Dave Hakstol. The 28-year-old got off to a slow start prior to his injury, with no goals, two assists, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus in six games.

A defenseman by trade, Evans has two goals and six assists in 18 games with the Firebirds this season. The 2021 second-round draft pick is yet to make his NHL debut.

Grubauer did not play in Seattle's 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday but will return to the crease on Monday as he searches for his first victory in his last three appearances. Grubauer has an ugly 3.37 GAA and .882 SV% through 14 games (5-7-1) and ranks among the worst in the league with only three quality starts (.214 QS %). A win is likely for Grubauer on Monday as the Kraken are -152 road favourites, but don't expect much else from him, even against the low-scoring Montreal Canadiens (2.75 GF / GP), as he has a sub-.895 SV% in his last eight contests (3-3-1).

Grubauer did not play in Seattle's 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday but will likely return to the crease on Monday as he searches for his first victory in his last three appearances. Grubauer has an ugly 3.37 GAA and .882 SV% through 14 games (5-7-1) and ranks among the worst in the league with only three quality starts (.214 QS %). A win is likely for Grubauer on Monday as the Kraken are -152 road favourites, but don't expect much else from him, even against the low-scoring Montreal Canadiens (2.75 GF / GP), as he has a sub-.895 SV% in his last eight contests (3-3-1).

Burakovsky participated in his first full practice on Monday after not playing since October 21st. Burakovsky had two points (0G / 2A) in six games before suffering an upper-body injury and will be a huge boost for a Seattle Kraken offence that ranks fourth-worst in the league (2.68 GF / GP).

Stephens had three goals, nine assists, eight PIMs and a +7 plus/minus in 16 games to start the season in Laval (AHL) and has been recalled to Montreal for the first time since being acquired ahead of the 2022-23 season. The 26-year-old forward returns to the NHL for the first time since 2021-22 with Detroit and will look to build off his three goals and 13 career points he has in 72 NHL games played.

Grubauer will likely start again on Thursday after allowing four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) in Seattle's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Grubauer has been unreliable this season, posting a 3.42 GAA and .881 SV% through 13 games (5-7-0). In addition, Grubauer only has three quality starts this season and has recorded a sub-.890 SV% in each of his last seven appearances (3-3-0). The Kraken are +154 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has won five of their last seven (5-1-1) and ranks in the top half of the league offensively (3.30 GF / GP).

Grubauer will likely start again on Thursday after allowing four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) in Seattle's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Grubauer has been unreliable this season, posting a 3.42 GAA and .881 SV% through 13 games (5-7-0). In addition, Grubauer only has three quality starts this season and has recorded a sub-.890 SV% in each of his last seven appearances (3-3-0). The Kraken are +154 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has won five of their last seven (5-1-1) and ranks in the top half of the league offensively (3.30 GF / GP).

Schwartz played only 9:33 time-on-ice in Seattle's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday before leaving the game with a lower-body injury and has not been placed on injured reserve and is expected out around six weeks. Before his injury, Schwartz was in the midst of a cold streak, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) and registering a -5 plus/minus in his last eight games.

Biro played several games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 10 games, after returning from an injury that derailed a hot start to his NHL campaign. Before his injury, Biro played two games with the Sabres, scoring two goals while averaging 13:00 time-on-ice.

Grubauer will make his return to the crease for the Kraken on Tuesday after being sidelined with an undisclosed injury for their past two games. Before his injury, Grubauer had three wins in his last five appearances (3-1-0) but still managed only a .845 SV%. Grubauer has only three quality starts in 12 games this season (.250 QS%), a trend that makes him difficult to be relied upon in most fantasy formats. That said, he should be able to add to his win totals on Tuesday as the Kraken are -185 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has lost six of their last seven (1-6-0).

Grubauer will likely make his return to the crease for the Kraken on Tuesday after being sidelined with an undisclosed injury for their past two games. Before his injury, Grubauer had three wins in his last five appearances (3-1-0) but still managed only a .845 SV%. Grubauer has only three quality starts in 12 games this season (.250 QS%), a trend that makes him difficult to be relied upon in most fantasy formats. That said, he should be able to add to his win totals on Tuesday as the Kraken are -185 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has lost six of their last seven (1-6-0).

Kakko was placed on long-term injured reserve after falling awkwardly into the end boards in Monday's 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Kakko spent most of this season playing on an offensive line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider but was never able to find his scoring touch, tallying only three points (2G / 1A) and 23 shots in 20 games.

Kakko exited the game in the second period after crashing awkwardly into the boards and will not return. It's a tough break in what was already a disappointing season for the 2019 second-overall pick. Kakko has registered just two goals, one assist, and 23 shots on goal in 20 games this season.

Chris Dreidger was reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) and Grubauer was a full participant in practice Saturday so the 32-year-old net minder is expected to be good to go fro Seattle's next game. He has struggled mightily for a third-straight season with his 5-6-0 record, 3.36 GAA and .885 SV%.