Schmidt was hurt in the first period of the season opener and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with a lower-body injury. With Schmidt sidelined, Nicolas Hague will draw into the Golden Knights lineup and make his NHL debut on Friday.
Schmidt had to be aided off the ice following a knee-on-knee collision midway through the first period. Schmidt did not return and head coach Gerard Gallant did not have a postgame update. Expect the Golden Knights to release some more information on Thursday.
Keller was set to become a restricted free agent after this 2020 season but the Coyotes locked him up early. Keller had a tremendous rookie season but took a step backward in 2019 but his shooting percentage and on-ice SH% should see some positive regression in 2020. Keller’s new contract makes him the highest-paid forward on the Coyotes, surpassing Phil Kessel’s $6.8 AAV.
Marino was acquired from the Oilers for a conditional sixth-round pick in late-July and signs his entry-level deal with the Penguins a few weeks later. Marino had 11 points (3G / 8A) in 33 games at Harvard University last season.
Marino was picked in the sixth-round in 2015 and remains unsigned. Marino is a 6-foot-2, 181 lbs. right-shot defenseman who had three goals and eight assists (11 points) in 33 games in his Junior Year at Harvard University.
Weegar had 15 points (4G / 11A) in 64 games with the Panthers last season, while ranking sixth among Panthers defensemen in TOI/GM (16:58). Weegar will likely open the 2020 season as the Panthers No.6 defenseman.
Carcone moved from Utica (AHL) to the Marlies in the middle of last season and finished the year with 20 goals and 24 assists (44 points) in 62 AHL games. The 23-year-old will help bolster Belleville’s (AHL) lineup in 2020.
O’Brien, 24, had 15 goals and 13 assists (28 points) in 74 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season. The undrafted centre has just one goal and one assist in 17 career NHL games with Washington.
Tanev missed Game 1 but was on the ice for Friday's morning skate and is expected to replace Jack Roslovic in the lineup for Game 2. Tanev, who remains a game-time decision, had six points (4G / 2A) in 17 playoff games last season.
Tanev suffered a finger injury in the second last game of the season and will miss Game 1 vs. the Blues. Tanev skated after Tuesday’s practice and is making progress but will be replaced by Par Lindholm in Game 1.
As originally expected, it is Sergachev’s turn to sit in the Lightning’s defence rotation. Sergachev will likely draw back into the lineup in New York on Wednesday.
