NHL Player News

General manager Chris Drury said Wednesday that Rempe (thumb) is healthy for the start of training camp, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.

Rempe missed the final month and a half of the 2025-26 campaign due to a thumb injury. However, he had clear medical results after reporting for training camp. Across 26 regular-season appearances last year, he recorded a goal, 86 hits, 11 PIM and six blocked shots while averaging 8:36 of ice time per game.

Ellis could be part of a timeshare in the crease early in the 2026-27 campaign if he makes the Opening Night roster, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports Wednesday.

Head coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday that the Sabres' goaltenders will likely share the net to begin the 2026-27 campaign. While Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon will likely see the most playing time in the crease this year, Ellis could benefit from a timeshare if he breaks camp with the Sabres. Across 16 appearances with the NHL club last year, Ellis went 8-4-2 with a 2.90 GAA and .903 save percentage.

Although Lyon is projected to start 2026-27 as Buffalo's No. 2 goaltender, he should play more than a typical understudy, per Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 on Wednesday.

Buffalo plans to split the goaltending duties rather than have firm starter and backup roles. Lyon posted a 20-10-4 record, a 2.77 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 36 regular-season appearances with Buffalo last year. It wouldn't be surprising to see him get a similar workload in 2026-27 while sharing the net primarily with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and occasionally with Colten Ellis.

Head coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday that Luukkonen and the Sabres' other goaltenders will likely share the net early in the 2026-27 campaign, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.

The Sabres utilized a timeshare in the crease for most of the 2025-26 campaign, and that trend is expected to continue into the 2026-27 season. Luukkonen should share playing time with Alex Lyon, as well as Colten Ellis if he's included on the Opening Night roster. The Sabres and the rest of the NHL have an abbreviated training camp ahead of the regular season, so it isn't particularly surprising that the team will use a timeshare to preserve the long-term health of its goaltenders.

Head coach Glen Gulutzan said Wednesday that Benn is the leanest and strongest he has ever looked ahead of training camp, Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine reports.

Benn made just 60 regular-season appearances last year -- his lowest mark since the 2020-21 campaign -- after he missed the start of the year following surgery for a collapsed lung. He recorded 15 goals, 21 assists, 79 hits, 53 PIM and 23 blocked shots while averaging a career-low 13:17 of ice time last year. The 37-year-old is healthy ahead of the 2026-27 season, and he changed his workout routine over the summer, which has contributed to his improved frame. If Benn can remain healthy this year, he should have opportunities to bounce back during his 18th season in Dallas.

Demko (hip) won't be a full participant in training camp, Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor reports Wednesday.

Demko was sidelined to close out the 2025-26 campaign due to hip surgery, and the Canucks announced last week that he doesn't yet have a timetable for his return. While he isn't expected to be among the main groups to open camp, the netminder will be on the ice in Penticton with his teammates as he continues his recovery process. It remains unclear if Demko will be available for the start of the regular season. Kevin Lankinen, Chris Driedger and Nikita Tolopilo are candidates to see time in net if Demko remains sidelined.

General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Wednesday that Zucker is recovering from sports hernia surgery and won't be ready for the start of the regular season, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.

Zucker hasn't appeared in more than 73 regular-season games in any of the past three years. Kekalainen suggested that Zucker could miss a "couple of weeks" to begin the 2026-27 campaign, which might put the 34-year-old back on the ice in mid-October. Across 62 regular-season appearances last year, Zucker recorded 24 goals, 21 assists, 57 hits, 23 PIM and 21 blocked shots while averaging 15:37 of ice time per game.

Crevier underwent shoulder surgery over the offseason, but he might be ready for the start of training camp, according to Heather Engel of NHL.com on Wednesday.

Crevier had seven goals, 25 points, 63 PIM, 124 hits and 95 blocks in 78 regular-season appearances with the Blackhawks in 2025-26. The 25-year-old is likely to begin the campaign as a member of the third pairing if he's healthy. If Crevier ends up needing to miss time, then that could create an opportunity for Dennis Gilbert or Zach Metsa to dress in Buffalo's season opener.

Merzlikins (shoulder) failed his physical, and there's still no timetable for his return, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers on Wednesday.

Merzlikins is recovering from shoulder surgery. While general manager Don Waddell didn't offer a timetable, he did specify that "you're not going to see him in the near future, that's for sure." In other words, it's fair to consider the netminder out indefinitely. Merzlikins had a 14-11-3 record, 3.39 GAA and .883 save percentage over 30 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. After signing with the Blue Jackets on Monday, Cam Talbot is projected to serve as the backup goaltender to Jet Greaves until Merzlikins is available.

Barkov (knee) is available for the start of training camp, per David Dwork of The Hockey News on Wednesday.

Barkov didn't play at all during the 2025-26 campaign due to the injury, but he did log three goals and 11 points in 10 outings for Team Finland during the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Even without focusing on the lost season, Barkov has a lengthy injury history. The 31-year-old hasn't reached the 75-game mark in a regular season since 2018-19. However, Barkov is capable of producing a little over a point per game when healthy.