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Pittsburgh Penguins News

Noel Acciari (upper body) is expected to be available Saturday vs. St. Louis.

Acciari will be available to suit up on Saturday after not participating in practice for the Penguins on Thursday because of an upper-body injury. If Acciari draws into the lineup, he will likely center the fourth line with Matthew Nieto and Jeff Carter. He has zero points, five blocks, eight hits, and a -1 plus/minus rating through four games.

Noel Acciari
Kris Letang (lower body) will be a game-time decision vs. St. Louis but is expected to play.

Letting did not participate in the Penguins' practice Thursday after being evaluated for a lower-body injury but did participate Friday and considers himself a game-time decision Saturday vs. St. Louis. The 36-year-old defensemen is in his 18th season with the Penguins and has three assists, six SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24.

Kris Letang
Noel Acciari is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and is being evaluated.

Acciari missed the Penguins' morning skate Thursday as he was being evaluated for an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day until Pittsburgh releases more information. The 31-year-old bruising winger was signed to a three-year, $6 million contract ($2,000,000 AAV) during the offseason and has yet to pick up a point through four games in 2023-24.

Noel Acciari
Kris Letang is day-to-day with a lower-body injury pending evaluations.

Letting did not participate in the Penguins' practice Thursday and is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. The 36-year-old defensemen is in his 18th season with the Penguins and has three assists, six SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24. Pittsburgh should be releasing more information on the injuries in the upcoming day or two.

Kris Letang
Pittsburgh has acquired Karel Plasek and Jack Rathbone from Vancouver for Ty Glover and Mark Friedman

Plasek had six goals, nine assists, and 10 PIMs across 31 games played on loan with HC Olomouc (Czachia) in 2022-23 and has been dealt to Pittsburgh alongside Jack Rathbone for Ty Glover and Mark Friedman Tuesday. The 23-year-old left-winger was Vancouvers' 2019 sixth-round pick (175th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Karel Plasek
Alexander Alexeyev is expected to make his season debut Monday vs. Calgary.

Alexeyev did not appear in Washington's only game of the season but is expected to make his 2023-24 debut Monday as the Capitals' take on the Flames at home. The 23-year-old defenseman had five assists, 28 SOG, four PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus through 32 games as a rookie in 2022-23. He should be replacing Lucas Johansen in the Capitals' lineup Monday.

Alexander Alexeyev
Anthony Mantha is expected to a be a healthy scratch Monday vs. Calgary.

Mantha's frustrating tenure with the Capitals continues as he is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday night. He had zero points and failed to record a shot on goal in 11:52 time-on-ice in the Capitals' season-opener. He has 58 points (24G / 34A) in 119 games as a Capital and is expected to be replaced by Aliaksei Protas on the fourth line.

Anthony Mantha
Emil Bemstrom will be aback in the Blue Jackets' lineup Monday vs. Detroit.

Bemstrom is expected to play in his second game of the season after being scratched by the Blue Jackets on Saturday. He recorded two shots on goal in 14:27 time-on-ice in his only game of the season. The 24-year-old had a career-high 22 points (7G / 15A) in 55 games last season.

Emil Bemstrom
Skinner will start Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jack Campbell in the Oilers' blowout loss in Vancouver on Wednesday. Campbell surprisingly got the start but didn't last long, however, Skinner didn't fare any better. The Oilers will get Mattias Ekholm back on the blueline tonight, which should help Skinner's cause, but the Oilers need to be much better as a team on Saturday. Skinner was 1-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% in two games vs. the Canucks last season.

Stuart Skinner
Skinner is in the starter's crease at the Oilers' morning skate.

Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jack Campbell in the Oilers' blowout loss in Vancouver on Wednesday. Campbell surprisingly got the start but didn't last long, however Skinner didn't fare any better. The Oilers will get Mattias Ekholm back on the blueline tonight, which should help Skinner's cause, but the Oilers need to be much better as a team on Saturday. Skinner was 1-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% in two games vs. the Canucks last season.

Stuart Skinner
Colorado has acquired Caleb Jones from Carolina for Cal Burke.

After clearing waivers earlier this week, Jones has now been traded to the Avalanche in exchange for Cal Burke. The Texas native has 217 career games under his belt, tallying 50 points (14G / 36A) in that span. Jones will likely serve as a depth defenseman for the Avalanche this season.

Caleb Jones
Yegor Chinakhov (back strain) has been placed on the injured reserve and is out indefinitely.

Chinakhov had four goals, nine assists, 44 SOG, 10 PIMs, and a -6 plus/minus through 30 games with Columbus in 2022-23 but will begin the season on the injured reserve as he deals with a back strain. The 22-year-old right-winger is out indefinitely as he enters his third NHL season. The former 1st round pick (21st overall) is expected to be a key depth piece for the young Blue Jackets in 2023-24.

Egor Chinakhov
The Red Wings assigned Elmer Soderblom to Grand Rapids (AHL).

The 6'6 Swedish power-forward opened last season with the Red Wings, recording eight points (5G / 3A) in 21 games before playing the remainder of his season in the AHL. Soderblom will look to continue his growth and further adapt to the North American game as he begins his season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Elmer Soderblom
Carolina has signed Caleb Jones to a one-year, $775,000 contract.

Jones had four goals, 12 assists, 86 SOG, 40 PIMs, and a -19 plus/minus through 73 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Carolina. The 26-year-old defenseman will join his third NHL team (CHI, EDM) after being taken in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Draft (117th overall). He has 14 goals, 50 points, 80 PIMs, and 225 SOG through 217 career NHL games played so far across his five-year career.

Caleb Jones
The Coyotes signed Matt Dumba to a one-year deal worth $3.9 million.

Dumba had four goals, 10 assists, 99 SOG, 81 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 79 games with Minnesota in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $3.9 million with the Arizona Coyotes. The 29-year-old defensemen leaves Minnesota after 10 solid seasons which saw him amass 79 goals, 236 points, 399 PIMs and 1121 SOG throughout 598 career games played.

Matt Dumba
The Penguins acquired Dillon Hamaliuk in a three-way trade with the Sharks and Canadiens.

Hamaliuk was acquired by Pittsburgh as part of the three-way trade involving San Jose and Montreal that saw superstar Erik Karlsson also land with the Penguins. The 22-year-old left-winger was San Jose's 2019 second-round pick (55th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut. In 2022-23 he had three goals, nine points and 37 PIMs across 44 games with San Jose (AHL) in his first professional season.

Dillon Hamaliuk