Laatsch was a seventh-round pick, 215th overall, of the Penguins in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 6'5 defenseman is a product of the University of Wisconsin and scored five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games with the club this season.
The Oilers have won two straight and will roll with Skinner between the pipes on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres. Skinner allowed four goals on 25 shots (.840 SV%) on Saturday but received ample goal support in a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old Skinner has a 2.87 GAA and .897 SV% in 43 games (22-15-4) this season. The Oilers enter Monday's contest as -179 road favorites against a Sabres team amid a six-game losing skid (0-5-1).
Graham was a fifth-round pick, 139th overall, of the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old forward has spent the last five seasons in the WHL, including scoring 35 points (13G / 22A) in 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets in 2024-25.
Brazeau was part of a deal that sent Jakub Lauko and Marat Khusnutdinov to the Boston Bruins on Thursday evening. The 27-year-old Brazeau played a career-high 57 games with the Bruins this season, scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) and averaging 12:58 time-on-ice.
Solovyov has played five games with the Flames this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A) and averaging 15:40 time-on-ice, but will return to the AHL. The 24-year-old defenseman has 21 points (6G / 15A) in 43 games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) this season.
Alexeyev was the 31st overall pick of the Capitals in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He has played 77 career NHL games, including five with the Capitals earlier this season, and scored eight career points (1G / 7A).
The Penguins will be hoping the 27-year-old Novak will be able to regain the form he flashed in the 2022-23 season, when he scored 17 goals and added 26 assists in just 51 regular season games. Novak leaves Nashville after amassing 117 points with the franchise across 201 career games.
The Oilers are coming off a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday and will switch to Skinner between the pipes on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 26-year-old Skinner saved 14 of 16 shots (.875 SV%) in relief of Calvin Pickard in the loss to the Ducks. Skinner has a 2.87 GAA and .897 SV% in 41 games this season (20-15-4).
Vladislav Kolyachonok will make his Penguins debut on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, sending Graves to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Graves is averaging 15:13 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 44 games this season.
Chinakhov has not played since November 27th but appears ready to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before his injury, the 23-year-old Chinakhov was averaging a career-high 17:01 time-on-ice, scoring 14 points (7G / 7A) in 21 games.
Harding was a seventh-round pick, 223rd overall, of the Penguins in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman is in his third OHL season and has 55 points (7G / 48A) in 59 games with the Brampton Steelheads.
After allowing six goals on 33 shots (.818 SV%) in Sunday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Blomqvist has been demoted to the Wilkes-Barre Sranton Penguins (AHL). In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh has recalled Tristan Jarry.
Chinakhov has not played since November 27th but appears to be nearing a return after practicing on Monday. Before his injury, the 23-year-old Chinakhov was averaging a career-high 17:01 time-on-ice, scoring 14 points (7G / 7A) in 21 games.
