NHL Player News

Skinner will tend the twine on the road versus Vancouver on Friday, Tony Brar of Oilers TV reports.

Skinner will get one final tune-up before Opening Night versus the Flames on Oct. 8. The 26-year-old backstop has featured in at least 50 games in each of the last three seasons but has only reached the 30-win mark once during that stretch. While his GAA last season remained below three (2.81), it marked a career worst for the Edmonton native.

Pickard will defend the road net against the Kraken on Wednesday, per Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

Pickard earned a 22-10-1 record with a 2.71 GAA and a .900 save percentage across 36 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. If Stuart Skinner continues to have consistency issues, Pickard will remain a fantasy-relevant backup option this campaign.

Merilainen will patrol the home crease against Montreal on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old netminder posted a record of 8-3-1 with three shutouts, a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage in 12 regular-season appearances with Ottawa in 2024-25. Merilainen will enter the 2025-26 campaign as Linus Ullmark's backup.

Skarek was waived by the Sharks on Tuesday, James Mirtle of The Athletic reports.

Skarek was not expected to start the year on the NHL roster after the team acquired Alex Nedeljkovic over the summer to serve as the No. 2 option behind Yaroslav Askarov. While Skarek was able to make his NHL debut last year, logging two games for the Islanders, he remains a long-term project for fantasy players -- one that may not pan out if he doesn't start getting opportunities soon.

Demko (personal) won't participate in Tuesday's practice, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports.

Vancouver has two preseason games left before the start of the regular season, and it remains to be seen if Demko will be available for those contests at this time. If the 29-year-old were to miss any time to start the regular season, Kevin Lankinen would serve as the clear-cut No. 1 option between the pipes.

Hogberg was waived by the Islanders on Tuesday, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.

This move indicates that David Rittich will begin the 2025-26 campaign as the backup to Ilya Sorokin, as Semyon Varlamov (knee) has no timeline for a return. If Hogberg goes unclaimed on the waiver wire, he will head to AHL Bridgeport, where he went 2-5-3 with an .898 save percentage and a 3.26 GAA across 11 appearances last season.

Vejmelka was the first netminder off the ice at Tuesday's morning skate, according to Brogan Houston of Deseret News Sports, indicating he will draw the home start in preseason play versus the Kings.

This will be Vejmelka's second start of the preseason, as he allowed three goals on 17 shots against the Ducks on Sept. 22. It remains to be seen if this will be the 29-year-old's last appearance during the preseason, but he's essentially a lock to draw the start in the Mammoth's regular-season opener against the Avalanche on Oct. 9.

Wallstedt will guard the home crease during Tuesday's preseason contest against the Jets, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.

Wallstedt will play the entirety of Tuesday's game, while Cal Petersen will be the backup. This will be the 22-year-old Wallstedt's third appearance of the preseason, as he has turned aside a combined 33 of 35 shots in his prior two outings. If he continues his strong showing in exhibition play Tuesday, Wallstedt has a good chance at earning the No. 2 gig behind Filip Gustavsson for the 2025-26 campaign.

Luukkonen (lower body) will guard the cage at home against the Penguins on Wednesday, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.

Head coach Lindy Ruff hasn't decided if Luukkonen will play two periods or the full game Wednesday, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports. Either way, his return to the crease clears the way for Luukkonen to get the nod for the season opener versus the Rangers on Oct. 9. With Luukkonen cleared to return, one of Alex Lyon or Alexandar Georgiev will likely be shipped down to AHL Rochester.

Hellebuyck is expected to guard the road goal in preseason action against Minnesota on Tuesday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.

Following an injury scare during Monday's practice, Hellebuyck was on the ice for Tuesday's morning skate and will make his preseason debut. The 32-year-old netminder posted a 47-12-3 record with eight shutouts, a 2.00 GAA and a .925 save percentage across 63 regular-season appearances in 2024-25.