Jaden Schwartz returned to practice with Seattle's main group Tuesday after leaving the team's previous pre-season game against Edmonton due to a lower-body injury. The winger is projected to line up on both the Kraken's top line and powerplay to start the season. The 30-year-old put up 23 points (8G/15A) in an injury-filled 37 games in his first season with Seattle in 2021-22.
Schwartz suffered a lower-body injury in Friday's preseason game and did not participate in Saturday's practice. Head coach Dave Hakstol called Schwartz day-to-day but did not provide any insight on whether or not he would be available for Wednesday's season opener.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar has confirmed star centre Nathan MacKinnon is day-to-day after leaving practice early Saturday. MacKinnon hopes to be ready and healthy for the Avalanche's opening game Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old signed an eight-year, $100,800,000 contract extension this past September after finishing 2021-22 with 32 goals and 88 points in 65 games. It was his fifth straight season finishing above a point-per-game and his seventh straight with 200 or more shots on goal.
Landeskog is dealing with an injury from last season and will not skate "anytime soon," according to head coach Jared Bednar. Landeskog will miss the start of the season, but it's unclear how long he will be sidelined.
McKinnon had been one of the most underpaid players in the NHL for years but will have the highest AAV when the 2024 season starts at $12.6. McKinnon missed 17 games last season but was on pace for 111 points (40G / 71A) over 82 games. He also led the playoffs in goals (13) and won his first Stanley Cup. Overall, 2022 was a great year for Nathan MacKinnon.
In order to make room for Kadri, the Flames are reportedly trading Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens. Kadri is coming off of a career-best 87 points (28G / 59A) in 71 games with the Avalanche. He added 15 points (7G / 8A) in 16 playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche.
Wolanin appeared in 30 NHL games with the Senators back in 2019 but has only played in a combined 30 games in the three years since, posting one goal and four assists with the Senators, Kings and Sabres. He spent most of last season in the AHL, where he had 18 points (1G / 17A) in 37 games with Ontario.
The Avalanche acquired Manson from the Ducks in mid-March and he had 15 points (5G / 10A) in 42 combined games between the regular season and playoffs. Manson sticks around as a top-4 D option to play alongside Samuel Girard/Bowen Byram.
Juulsen was traded to the Canucks in October 2021 and spent most of the season in the AHL. He scored three goals with 13 assists (16 points) in 50 games with Abbotsford (AHL). He had two assists in eight games with the Canucks, giving him 10 points (2G / 8A) in 56 career NHL games.
Wedgwood was a revelation for the Stars in 2022, going 3-1-3 with a .913 SV% in eight games after being acquired from the Coyotes. Braden Holtby is a UFA, Ben Bishop, who is not expected to play again, was traded to Buffalo and Anton Khudobin is out until at least September, so Wedgewood enters 2022-23 as the Stars' No.2 behind Jake Oettinger.
Kadri was hit by Evander Kane on his first shift of Game 3 and did not return to the game. Head coach Jared Bednar said that Kadri will miss the rest of the series, "if not longer." Kane was suspended for one game for the hit.
