Schmid was 9-5-2 with a .922 SV% and a 2.13 GAA in 2022-23 and will get his first start of the 2022-23 season Friday vs. Arizona. The 23-year-old netminder is only making his 19th career regular-season start but will be looking to build off his impressive postseason run last year, which saw him post a .921 SV% and 2.35 GAA in nine games played. He draws a great opening matchup against Arizona, who finished 2022-23 last in the NHL in shots per game (25.8) and 28th in goals for (225)

Samsonov allowed five goals on only 24 shots but was able to shut the door in overtime and the shootout en route to securing a 6-5 win for the Maple Leafs over the Montreal Canadiens in their first game of the season. Despite the shaky performance, Samsonov will tend the crease again for the Maple Leafs on Saturday in their matchup against the Wild. In his sole meeting against the Wild last season, Samsonov had one of his top performances, saving 24 of 25 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory. The Wild, who ranked 22nd in the league offensively last season (2.91 goals/GM), are coming off a 2-0 victory in their season-opener against the Florida Panthers.

Rondbjerg was recalled from the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) Thursday ahead of Vegas' game vs. San Jose due to the two game suspension to Brett Howden and the injury to William Carrier (upper body). The 24-year-old forward appeared in 13 games in 2022-23 for Vegas and failed to pick up a goal while collecting an assist, four PIMs and a -5 plus/minus. He is expected to line up on the Golden Knights' fourth line alongside Keegan Kolesar and Nicholas Roy.

The hit occurred midway through the third period of Tuesday's season opener and Howden received a match penalty on the play. Tanev did not return to the game due to what the Kraken are calling an upper-body injury. Prior to his ejection, Howden had played 11:57 and collected an assist while skating alongside Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson. Mike Amadio and Paul Cotter are the most likely candidates to be prompoted to Vegas' second line in Howden's absence.

After a successful first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, in which he competed for the starting role, Samsonov will begin the 2023-24 campaign as the undisputed starting goalie for the Maple Leafs. Samsonov posted a 2.33 GAA and .919 SV in 42 games (27-10-5) last season, awarding him a one-year, $3.55 million contract through arbitration. Samsonov faced some difficulties in the preseason but still managed a 2-0-1 record despite a pedestrian 2.96 GAA and .879 SV%. Even so, Samsonov should feel confident facing a Montreal Canadiens team that ranked seventh-worst offensively last season, averaging only 2.77 goals per game. Conversely, the Maple Leafs ranked seventh-best defensively, allowing an average of 2.68 goals per game. In two contests against the Canadiens last season, Samsonov posted a 1.99 GAA and .923 SV% along with a 1-0-1 record.

After a successful first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, in which he competed for the starting role, Samsonov will begin the 2023-24 campaign as the undisputed starting goalie for the Maple Leafs. Samsonov posted a 2.33 GAA and .919 SV in 42 games (27-10-5) last season, awarding him a one-year, $3.55 million contract through arbitration. Samsonov faced some difficulties in the preseason but still managed a 2-0-1 record despite a pedestrian 2.96 GAA and .879 SV%. Even so, Samsonov should feel confident facing a Montreal Canadiens team that ranked seventh-worst offensively last season, averaging only 2.77 goals per game. Conversely, the Maple Leafs ranked seventh-best defensively, allowing an average of 2.68 goals per game. In two contests against the Canadiens last season, Samsonov posted a 1.99 GAA and .923 SV% along with a 1-0-1 record.

Hill was awarded a two-year, $9.8 million contract extension by Vegas in the offseason and will take the crease in their opening matchup of the 2023-24 campaign. The 27-year-old was 16-7-1 with a .915 SV% and a 2.50 GAA in 27 games played in 2022-23 before leading the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup. He draws the tough task of the Seattle Kraken who were fourth in the NHL in GF in 2022-23 (289) and 20th in SOG/GP (30.5).

Burke had 16 goals, 23 assists, 18 PIMs, and a +12 plus/minus in 70 games with Colorado (AHL) in 2022-23 and has been traded to Carolina for Caleb Jones. The 26-year-old forward originally joined Colorado as an undrafted free agent in 2020-21 and has played three AHL seasons for the Eagles. He made his NHL debut during the 2022-23 season with the Avalanche, playing in two games and failing to pick up a point.

Whitecloud was hurt after receiving a hit from Colorado's Kurtis MacDermid in Vegas' preseason game vs. the Avalanche and is considered week-to-week after undergoing successful surgery on an area on the upper body. The 26-year-old was expected to be a big part of Vegas' defensive unit this season after collecting five goals, seven assists, 41 PIMs, and a +10 plus/minus through 59 games in 2022-23.

Lehner did not appear in 2022-23 for Vegas due to hip and back injuries and is expected to start the 2023-24 season on the Long-Term Injured Reserve due to hip surgery. The 32-year-old goaltender last appeared for Vegas in 2021-22 and posted a 23-17-2 record with a .907 SV% and 2.83 GAA. He will hope to be back at some point with Vegas to continue his 12-year NHL career where he has appeared for five different teams (OTT, BUF, NYI, CHI, VGK).

Pearson had one goal, four assists, 17 SOG, 21 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 14 games with Vancouver in 2022-23 and has been traded to Montreal alongside a 2025 third-round pick for Casey DeSmith. The 31-year-old left-winger carries a cap hit of $3,250,000 into the 2023-24 season and has 133 goals and 272 points across 590 career games for three different organizations (LAK, PIT, VAN).

Dorofeyev had seven goals, two assists, 40 SOG, six PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 18 games with Vegas in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $825,000 contract extension. The 22-year-old left-winger made his NHL debut in 2021-22 but had a short two game showing where he failed to pick up any points. He is expected to make a full-time impact in 2023-24 as part of Vegas' bottom-six and is giving value to the Golden Knights after being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft (79th overall).

Samsonov was 27-10-5 with a 2.33 GAA and .919 SV% through 42 games played in his first season in Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $3.55 million contract through arbitration. The 26-year-old goaltender was a first-round selection in 2015 (22nd overall) with Washington and has a 79-32-13 career record with a 2.65 GAA and .908 SV% across 131 NHL games played.

Howden had six goals, seven assists, 53 SOG, 55 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 54 games with Vegas in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $3.8 million extension ($1,900,000 AAV). The 25-year-old centre was a 2017 first-round pick (27th overall) and has 31 goals, 82 points and 120 PIMs through 279 career NHL games across five seasons.

Lavoie had 25 goals, 20 assists, 47 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 61 games played with Bakersfield (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $874,125. The 22-year-old right-wing was Edmonton's 2019 second-round Draft Pick (38th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Morelli had 12 goals, 29 assists, 72 PIMs and a +19 plus/minus through 72 games with Hershey (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55 Million ($775,000 AAV). The 27-year-old centre has never played in an NHL game after signing as an undrafted free agent from the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) in 2018-19.

Geertsen had four goals, four assists, 136 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 61 games with Utica (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $1.55 Million ($775,000 AAV). The 28-year-old defenseman has played in 25 career NHL games, failing to pick up a point but picking up 77 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus.