Saad will not travel to Washington for Friday’s game against the Capitals. Thankfully for the Blue Jackets, Ryan Johansen will return and replace Brandon Saad in the lineup. Monitor Saad’s status prior to Saturday’s game, at home vs. the Jets.

Saad missed this afternoon’s practice with an illness. His absence this morning suggests he could miss Friday’s contest, which would be unfortunate because the Blue Jackets will be getting Ryan Johansen back.

Hanifin was a healthy scratch on Tuesday in Detroit, but he will be back in the lineup on Thursday vs. the Islanders. He is expected to replace Michal Jordan. Hanifin has two assists, 10 shots and a minus-3 rating in eight games with the Hurricanes.

Hanifin has recorded two assists, 10 shots on goal and a minus-3 rating in eight games to begin his NHL career. Hanifin will get the night off, but is expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday in New York.

It was believed that Theodore would draw in for the injured Simon Despres on Sunday, but the Ducks will insert Korbinian Holzer instead of Theodore.

Theodore, 20, was the 26th overall pick in 2013 and is expected to make his season debut tonight after Simon Despres was moved to IR with an upper-body injury. Theodore has registered a combined 12 points (4G / 8A) in 11 career AHL games. He will skate with Sami Vatanen on Sunday.

After sitting out the season opener on Wednesday, McNabb is expected to replace Matt Greene in the lineup tonight vs. the Coyotes. McNabb had 24 points (2G / 22A) in 71 games with the Kings last season.

Hanifin was the fifth overall pick in this summer’s draft and had an impressive enough training camp to make the Hurricanes opening night roster. Carolina could elect to give him an extended nine game look to start the season, before making the decision to burn the first year of his entry level deal.

Selected second overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel joins the organization after a standout season at Boston University (NCAA-Hockey East) in which he became the second freshman – after Paul Kariya in 1993 – ever to earn the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey’s top player. Eichel led all NCAA players with 71 points (26G / 45A) in 40 games in 2014-15.

Stone, 23, was one of the hottest players in the final few months of the season and earned himself a rookie of the year nomination. The former sixth-round pick led all rookies with 64 points (26G / 38A) in 80 games. Stone heads into 2015-16 in search of his first career 30-goal season.

Stone only skated for eight minutes this morning, but is still listed as a game-time decision. He is reportedly dealing with a micro fracture in his right wrist and he is expected to test it in pre-game warmups. Expect Stone to play if it is determined that he cannot do any further damage to the wrist.

Stone was injured when he was slashed by P.K Subban in Game 1. Subban was assessed a game misconduct for the slash, but will be back for Game 2, but it does not look like Stone will be. The Senators called him “very questionable” to play again in the series. This is a huge loss for the Senators. Stone came in as one of the NHL’s hottest players.