NHL Player News

Binnington allowed two goals on 18 shots during Saturday's 2-1 preseason loss to the Stars.

Binnington got the nod in the home crease for Saturday's preseason opener. Georgii Romanov entered the game in relief for the third period. Binnington saw plenty of work before being pulled, and it was a relatively encouraging tune-up in his first taste of preseason action ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Binnington's production declined during the 2025-26 season, as he went 13-20-7 with a 3.33 GAA and .873 save percentage across 41 regular-season appearances. He could enter the year as the backup after losing playing time to Joel Hofer in 2025-26.

Poirier turned aside 11 of 12 shots during Saturday's 2-1 preseason win over the Blues.

Poirier drew the start during Saturday's preseason opener and was relatively effective over the first two periods before being replaced by Brandon Halverson. Despite Poirier's presence in the Dallas lineup, he'll likely begin the 2026-27 campaign in the minors after making 52 regular-season appearances with AHL Texas last year.

Dobes allowed two goals on 11 shots during Saturday's 4-3 preseason overtime win over the Maple Leafs.

Dobes is likely to begin the 2026-27 campaign as the Canadiens' No. 1 netminder after signing a three-year extension during the offseason. He drew the home start in Saturday's split-squad game to begin the preseason, but he didn't have his sharpest performance before Jacob Fowler entered midway through the second period. Dobes has considerable potential after going 29-10-4 with a 2.78 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 43 regular-season appearances with Montreal last year.

Akhtyamov allowed two goals on 15 shots during Saturday's 4-3 preseason overtime loss to the Canadiens.

Akhtyamov drew the start during Saturday's split-squad matchup to begin the regular season, and he played just under half of the game before being replaced by Samuel Hlavaj. Despite Saturday's starting role, Akhtyamov will likely spend most of the upcoming season with AHL Toronto.

Bobrovsky turned aside 10 of 11 shots during Saturday's 4-1 preseason loss to the Canadiens.

Bobrovsky played just under half of the matchup before being replaced by Anthony Stolarz. Bobrovsky showed some signs of regression during his final year in Florida last season, going 27-23-1 with a 3.07 GAA and .877 save percentage. However, he has bounce-back appeal in the 2026-27 campaign as the Maple Leafs' expected No. 1 netminder after signing a three-year deal with Toronto during the offseason.

Montembeault turned aside all 13 shots he saw during Saturday's 4-1 preseason win over the Maple Leafs.

Montembeault drew the start in the road goal during Saturday's preseason opener and played just over half of the game before being replaced by Kaapo Kahkonen. Montembeault made 25 regular-season appearances last year -- his lowest mark since the 2019-20 campaign -- and he'll likely have to battle with Jacob Fowler during camp for the No. 2 goaltending job behind Jakub Dobes.

Tolopilo is expected to start on the road against Seattle for Saturday's preseason game, per Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor.

Tolopilo had a 6-11-2 record, 3.61 GAA and .881 save percentage in 21 regular-season outings with Vancouver in 2025-26. If Thatcher Demko (hip) isn't available for the season opener, then Tolopilo will probably start as Kevin Lankinen's understudy. However, Chris Driedger is also in the running for the backup gig after signing a professional tryout offer to attend Vancouver's training camp.

Daccord will protect the home goal in Saturday's preseason game versus the Canucks, Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor reports.

Daccord will get the first chance to tend the twine for the Kraken this preseason. The 30-year-old heads into the campaign as the presumptive No. 1, though he may share the crease with Philipp Grubauer at times. Daccord went 20-20-6 with a 3.03 GAA and an .896 save percentage over 47 appearances in 2025-26.

Akhtyamov will start on the road versus the Canadiens in a split-squad preseason game Saturday.

Akhtyamov will be backstopping a more defensive lineup on the road. The 24-year-old made his first three NHL appearances in 2025-26, but he will likely spend most of 2026-27 with AHL Toronto.

Montembeault is set to start on the road against Toronto for Saturday's preseason game.

Montembeault had a 10-8-4 record, 3.43 GAA and .872 save percentage in 25 regular-season appearances with the Canadiens in 2025-26. While he's playing in Toronto, Jakub Dobes will man the home net against the Maple Leafs in Montreal. Once the campaign starts, Dobes is set to serve as the No. 1 netminder. There's a strong chance Montembeault will open the season as Montreal's backup, but Jacob Fowler also has a reasonable shot at getting that job.