Clifton has no points while playing 15:30 ATOI in the first five games of the season and will be replaced by Steve Kampfer, who is making his season debut. “Cliffy’s played well, but a message that nothing is guaranteed,” is what head coach Bruce Cassidy had to say about scratching the rookie defenseman.
Durability has always been a concern for Malkin, who has missed 20 percent of the games over the last six years, and now he is expected to miss a large chunk of 2019-20. With Nick Bjugstad also out “longer-term," the Penguins are going to lean heavily on Jared McCann and Teddy Blueger to stabilize their second and third lines.
Karlsson missed the season opener in Vegas to be with his wife for the birth of their child but will play tonight vs. the Golden Knights. Karlsson will look to build off of a solid first season in San Jose—his 1.8 SH% is bound to bounce-back and a healthy season could result in 60-plus assists.
Karlsson was a late scratch from the Sharks season opener in Vegas. Karlsson had to attend to a personal affair and will be replaced by Tim Heed on the blueline and Kevin Labanc on the first power-play unit.
Crosby has practiced for the last two days and will play in the Penguins season opener. Crosby is set to centre the top line with Jake Guentzel and Patric Hornqvist on his wings. The 32-year-old centre is coming off of his first 100-point season since 2014.
Crosby practiced for the first time since being hit in the foot with a shot during Pittsburgh’s preseason game last Saturday. “I felt good today,” Crosby told reporters, but his status for Thursday’s season opener remains unknown. Expect another update on Thursday.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said that Rust is expected to be out “longer-term” and his move to LTIR means he will miss at least 10 games (24 days). His injury means that Zach Aston-Reese will likely start the season on the Penguins fourth-line.
Silovs was selected in the sixth-round of this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old has the size of a modern-day netminder, standing at 6-foot-4 and 203 lbs. Silovs had a 3.26 GAA and .914 SV% in Latvia’s top league last season.
Hayes was acquired from the Jets for a 2019 fifth-round pick in early-June and was set to become a free agent on July 1st. Hayes is coming off of a career-year, scoring 19 goals with 36 assists (55 points) in 71 games with the Rangers and Jets. The 27-year-old is now signed through the 2025-26 season and is the third highest paid player on the Flyers.
Karlsson was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st but the Sharks have locked him up through the 2026-27 season. Karlsson’s new $11.5M cap-hit, represents a $5.0M raise and makes him the highest-paid defenseman in the NHL. After a slow-start and an injury plagued season, Karlsson posted his lowest point total (45) since 2012-13, but his point-per-game number (0.849) was right there with his most recent seasons.
Hayes, 27, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, so the Flyers will need to sign him before July 1st. Hayes spent the first four and a half seasons of his career with the Rangers before being dealt to the Jets at least year’s trade deadline. Hayes finished the 2018-19 campaign with a career-high 55 points (19G / 36A) in 71 games. Hayes helps bolster the Flyers’ centre depth, which has taken a hit since Claude Giroux moved to the wing.
In his first season with Montreal, Kulak split his season between the AHL and NHL. The 25-year-old had 11 points (3G / 8A) in 19 games with Laval before adding 17 points (6G / 11A) in 57 games with Montreal. Kulak figures to be a part of the Habs blueline plans to start the 2019-20 season.
Bemstrom, 19, was a fourth-round pick (No.117 overall) in 2017 and finished the 2019 season with 35 points (23G / 12A) in 47 games with Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Elite League.
Acciari has been sidelined since Game 4 of round two and will miss Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Carolina. Head coach Bruce Cassidy said that Acciari is “feeling better” and is targeting a Game 2 return.
