NHL Player News

Slafkovsky scored a goal on two shots while also recording two goals and two PIM during Saturday's 4-3 preseason overtime win over the Maple Leafs.

Slafkovsky's production took a significant step forward during the 2025-26 campaign while appearing in all 82 regular-season games for the second time in the last three seasons. He recorded 30 goals, 43 assists, 105 hits, 78 blocked shots and 52 PIM while averaging 18:32 of ice time, and he enters the 2026-27 season with considerable upside due to his well-rounded skill set.

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.

Hutson recorded a goal and two assists on one shot during Saturday's 4-3 preseason overtime win over the Maple Leafs.

Hutson led the Canadiens in ice time and made his impact felt with a team-high three points. The 22-year-old defender appeared in all 82 regular-season games for a second consecutive year during the 2025-26 campaign. He recorded 12 goals, 66 assists, 137 blocked shots, 34 PIM and 31 hits while averaging 23:46 of ice time per game. He enters the 2026-27 season as one of the top fantasy blueliner options due to his well-rounded production.

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.

Danault recorded two goals on four shots and a hit in Saturday's 4-1 preseason win over the Maple Leafs.

Danault spent time with the Kings and Canadiens last year, and his production took a significant hit despite appearing in 75 regular-season games. He recorded 11 goals, 17 assists, 63 hits, 40 blocked shots and 26 PIM while averaging 15:34 of ice time. He improved after being dealt to Montreal, and he could put together a bounce-back performance during the 2026-27 campaign.

Joshua didn't play in either of the Maple Leafs' split-squad games Saturday because he is dealing with an undisclosed injury, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.

Joshua is a veteran winger, so it's not necessarily a problem for him to be sitting out preseason games. However, he was limited to 55 appearances in 2025-26 and hasn't played in more than 63 games in any of the last three years. Joshua will fill a bottom-six role when healthy, but until the Maple Leafs provide a more detailed update, it's unclear when that will happen.

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.