NHL Player News

Lankinen will protect the road goal in Tuesday's preseason game versus the Flames, Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor reports.

Lankinen will get his first start of the preseason. The 31-year-old netminder could be in line for No. 1 duties early in the season as Thatcher Demko (hip) continues to recover from his surgery. However, Lankinen has little fantasy appeal as the backstop for a rebuilding club.

Vladar (upper body) won't return to Tuesday's preseason game versus the Bruins.

Vladar appeared to injure his arm or shoulder on the Bruins' first goal of the game. The 29-year-old's status will be up in the air until the Flyers provide an additional update. Vladar is the presumptive starter in goal for Philadelphia this year, but if he misses time, Joseph Woll would see a larger share of playing time.

Hildeby will start Tuesday's road preseason matchup against Nashville, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.

Hildeby earned a 5-7-4 record with a 2.85 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 20 appearances for Toronto during the 2025-26 regular season. As a member of the Lightning, he will be Andrei Vasilevskiy's backup in the 2026-27 campaign.

Annunen will start Tuesday's home preseason game versus the Lightning, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Annunen will get in some preseason work as he prepares for another year as backup to Juuse Saros. In 2025-26, Annunen made some improvements with a 2.68 GAA and a .906 save percentage over 28 appearances. While he's unlikely to get a lot of work, Annunen will be a serviceable fantasy streaming option in low-scoring matchups.

Talbot will defend the road net in Tuesday's game against Buffalo and patrol the home crease in Thursday's matchup versus Pittsburgh, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

Talbot posted a 12-9-6 record with a 3.19 GAA and an .883 save percentage over 34 appearances for Detroit in the 2025-26 regular season. Talbot will likely be Jet Greaves' backup to begin the 2026-27 campaign due to the absence of Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder).

Greaves will get the starting nod on the road versus the Red Wings on Saturday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

Greaves posted 16 saves without allowing a goal over two periods in Monday's preseason opener against Detroit. The 25-year-old netminder will get a bit of rest before a final tune-up in the last game of the exhibition slate. Greaves is projected to be the Blue Jackets' starter this year.

Markstrom will protect the road goal in Tuesday's preseason game versus the Hurricanes, Rob Darragh of the Panthers' official site reports.

Markstrom started Sunday and earned a win over the Hurricanes, stopping 21 of 24 shots. As a veteran player limited to two games of preseason action, this will presumably be Markstrom's last appearance until the regular season, which opens with another matchup against Carolina on Sept. 29.

Levi will patrol the road crease in Tuesday's preseason contest against the Jets.

Levi will make his Oilers debut Tuesday after he was acquired via trade in July. The 24-year-old backstop had a solid season with AHL Rochester in 2025-26, where he compiled a 23-20-9 record, a 2.83 GAA, a .904 save percentage and three shutouts across 52 regular-season appearances. He'll use Tuesday's preseason contest as an audition for the lead netminder role ahead of the 2026-27 season, as Frederik Andersen (undsiclosed) is set to miss the remainder of training camp.

Wallstedt will defend the road net against Dallas on Wednesday and patrol the home crease against the Stars on Friday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Wallstedt will get the nod for the Wild in the team's final two preseason games to help him prepare for the start of the 2026-27 campaign. He went 18-9-6 with four shutouts, a 2.61 GAA and a .915 save percentage across 35 NHL appearances during the 2025-26 regular season.

Tikkanen was placed on waivers Tuesday, according to James Mirtle of The Athletic.

Assuming he clears waivers, Tikkanen will report to AHL Hamilton. He posted a 17-9-1 record with a 2.65 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 29 appearances for AHL Bridgeport during the 2025-26 regular season.