Vlasic left the Blackhawks' game on Friday vs. Vegas after just 11 shifts and 9:53 TOI due to a concussion and will not play Monday against Arizona as he remains in protocol. The injury comes at a terrible time as the 22-year-old towering defensemen had been enjoying an incredibly strong start to the 2023-24 season with three assists, eight SOG, and a +4 plus/minus in eight games this year.
Burakovsky suffered the injury after sustaining a hit from the Rangers Jacob Trouba in the second period of Saturday's game and did not return. It's another tough blow for Burakovsky who entered the campaign with a clean bill of health following a season-ending groin injury last February. Devin Shore is expected to play in place of Burakovsky for Tuesday's game in Detroit.
Toninato had a goal, an assist, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through two games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) and has been recalled to the Jets Friday. The 29-year-old forward returns to the NHL where he has played six seasons and has 12 goals, 30 points and 73 PIMs in 169 career games played.
Bertuzzi missed practice Tuesday for maintenance and was a game-time decision Thursday vs. Florida. The 28-year-old left-winger has a goal, nine SOG, 10 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through three games this season. Bertuzzi was signed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal in the offseason and has been attached to the hip of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Toronto's top line.
Bertuzzi missed practice Tuesday for maintenance and will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Florida even though he is expected to partake in warmups. The 28-year-old left-winger has a goal, nine SOG, 10 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through three games this season. Bertuzzi was signed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal in the offseason and has been attached to the hip of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Toronto's top line.
Soderblom lost his only start of the season in a tough 3-1 defeat to Boston after stopping 30 of 32 shots against (.938 SV%) and will take over the pipes Monday vs. Toronto. The 24-year-old has struggled through three NHL seasons as he has only two wins and holds a .891 SV% across 16 career starts. He takes on the Toronto Maple Leafs on the road, who won their last game 7-4 over Minnesota and are tied for first in the NHL in goals per game (6.0).
Savoie was a longshot to make the Blackhawks' opening night roster but had a wrench thrown in those plans with a femur injury that has landed him on the injured reserve and out indefinitely. The 19-year-old forward was Chicago's 2022 3rd-round pick (81st overall). He had 26 goals, 33 assists, 90 PIMs, and a +30 plus/minus in 60 games with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23.
Soderblom was 2-10-2 with a .894 SV% and a 3.45 GAA in 15 games played with Chicago in 2022-23 and will start their second game of the season Wednesday vs. Boston. The Bruins are coming off a historic season that saw them finish with 135 points and second in the NHL in goals per game (301). The Blackhawks are coming off a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh from opening night Tuesday and will be hoping to remain in the win column.
Lafferty had 12 goals, 15 assists, 102 SOG, 37 PIMs, and a -11 plus/minus through 70 games played with Chicago and Toronto in 2022-23 and has been traded from Toronto to Vancouver for a 2024 fifth-round pick. The 28-year-old centre will be joining his fourth NHL team in his fifth season and has 23 goals and 59 points in 210 career games played.
Knight will look to regain his form while playing regularly with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. Last season, Knight played only 21 games for the Panthers before entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in February posting a 9-8-3 record with a .901 SV% and 3.18 GAA. Anthony Stolarz will serve as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup to start the season.
Furlong was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (140th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks on Thursday. The 19-year-old Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) captain had seven goals, 43 assists, 40 PIMs and a +47 plus/minus in 67 games in 2022-23 in the Quebec league. He has returned to Halifax for his 2023-24 season.
Savoie was Chicago's 2022 third-round pick (81st overall) and will be out indefinitely after undergoing successful surgery on his right femur. The 19-year-old forward was competing for a roster spot during the preseason after a 26-goal, 33 assists, 90 PIM, and +30 plus/minus season across 60 games played with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to Gatineau for the 2023-24 season once announced as healthy.
Savoie had 26 goals, 33 assists, 90 PIMs and a +30 plus/minus through 60 games with Gatineau (QMJHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $878,333 AAV. The 19-year-old forward was Chicago's 2022 third-round draft pick (81st overall) and is expected to return to Gatineau for his fourth junior season in 2023-24.
Bedard was selected with the first-overall pick of the 2023 draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on his 18th birthday. The generationally talented centre is coming off a historic season in the WHL which saw his score 71 goals and 143 points across 57 regular season games.
Rodrigue was 14-14-1 with a .912 SV% and 2.77 GAA with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 AAV. The 22-year-old net minder was Edmonton's 2018 second-round pick (62nd overall) and has yet to see any time in the NHL but has racked up 53 appearances in three years of AHL action.
Pouliot had two assists, four SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through eight games with San Jose in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Dallas. The 29-year-old defensemen was drafted in the first-round of the 2012 draft (8th overall) to Pittsburgh and has eight goals, 54 points and 241 SOG through 221 career NHL games with six different teams.
Bertuzzi had eight goals, 22 assists, 107 SOG, 29 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 50 games with both Boston and Detroit in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal with Toronto worth $5.5 million. The 28-year-old left-winger joins the Maple Leafs' with 92 goals and 218 points through 326 career NHL games.
