Winners and Losers From the 2024 NHL Preseason

The NHL's 2024 preseason scheduleconcluded on Oct.

5.

While the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devilsalready started their seasons with the NHL Global Series in Czechia onOct.

4, the other 30 clubs will be making their final roster tweaksbefore the season officially begins on Oct.

8.

Preseason play allows the generalmanagers of the 32 NHL clubs to evaluate their rosters.

It also gives their fans an early glimpse of what their favorite teamscould look like to start the season, showcasing newcomers addedduring the offseason and promising youngsters who could becomefuture stars.

Some notable stories also emerged that could carry over into the regular season.

Thoseinclude a contract standoff between the Boston Bruins and theirstarting goaltender and the first look at the Utah Hockey Club in action.

Here's a look at the notable winnersand losers from the 2024 NHL Preseason.

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Injuries are an unavoidable part ofhockey.

The intensity of preseason play may not be comparable to regular-season or playoff contests, but that doesn't mean playerscan't get hurt.

Unfortunately, several stars suffered seriousinjuries during preseason or were nursing injuries that kept them outof preseason action.

The Los Angeles Kings suffered a majorroster blow when veteran defenseman Drew Doughty fractured his left ankle during their Sept.

25 game against the Vegas Golden Knights.He's listed as month-to-month, further depleting a Kings blue linealready weakened by the offseason departures of Matt Roy and SeanWalker.

A knee-on-knee collision during a Sept.28 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs left Montreal Canadienswinger Patrik Laine with a knee injury that will sideline him forthree months.

Acquire from the Columbus Blue Jackets inAugust, the 26-year-old Laine's absence blows a big hole in theCanadien's plans to use him as their second-line left winger.

Vancouver Canucks starting goaltenderThatcher Demko missed training camp and preseason due to a naggingknee injury suffered during the opening game of last spring'splayoffs.

Demko and the Canucks are hopeful he'll be ready to returnto action soon but there's no timeline yet, prompting the Canucks tosign goalie Kevin Lankinen as insurance.

Their absences will affect theirrespective team's performances during this season.

Even if theyshould return to action at some point during the season, it might notbe enough to help their clubs if they struggle to secureplayoff spots later in the season.

Every NHL preseason sees a handful ofplayers out to prove themselves after struggling to stick with their clubs during the previous season.

Toronto Maple Leafswinger Nick Robertson is the most notable in that category this year.

Robertson began the offseason as arestricted free agent lacking arbitration rights.

Unhappy overbouncing between the Leafs and their AHL affiliate last season, heinformed management he didn't intend to sign with them and requesteda trade.

That made Robertson a fixture in thissummer's rumor mill .

He was among the players on our October NHL Trade Block Big Board .

Despite finally signing a one-year, $875,000contract with the Leafs, questions remained whether he would still beon the club when the regular season began.

Leafs general manager Brad Trelivingrefused to trade Robertson, believing he could still be a goodaddition to their middle-six forwards.

In preseason play, the youngwinger has rewarded Treliving's patience.

As of Oct.

4, Robertson was among the preseason leaders with five goals infour games.

While those stats are meaningless once the regularseason begins, it's a promising indicator that the 23-year-oldRobertson could be poised for his long-awaited breakout season.

A strong preseason doesn't guarantee afull-time roster spot for Robertson but it improves his chances.If he can carry this effort into the regular season, he couldprovide the Leafs with additional secondary scoring depth.

As we noted earlier, the rash ofinjuries among notable players during this preseason has raisedconcerns that its schedule is too long.

The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun believes there is no longer any purpose for NHL teams to play six to eight preseason games.

He cited Los Angeles Kings president Luc Robitaillesaying today's players report to camp in top condition, lessening the need for a longer preseason schedule.

He'd be happyseeing it reduced to four games per team.

Sportsnet's Andrew Brewer proposed shortening the preparation period and reducing the number ofexhibition games.

LeBrun questioned NHL commissioner Gary Bettmanabout reducing the preseason.

He said it's something that's on theirlist for discussion in the next round of collective bargaining.

The current CBA is set to expire in September 2026.

Bettman's response indicates therewon't be any real changes to the preseason until perhaps September of2027.

Even then, there's nocertainty any significant changes will be made.

Nevertheless, it's becoming apparentthat the need for a lengthy training camp and preseason to getplayers in top condition faces growing criticism, especially ifstars continue to get hurt before they play a meaningful game.

NHL clubs use preseason play to get an early read on where their top young prospects are in their development.

Most will be returned to their junior, college, or European clubs while others will be sent to the American Hockey League for further pro seasoning.

A handful, however, could begin their first seasons in the NHL.

Several have already stood out in this year's preseason action.

Drafted first overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini faces considerable pressure to wear the mantle of franchise player for this rebuilding franchise.

The 18-year-old center missed several days with a lower-body injury but showed promise with a goal and an assist in his first preseason contest.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson is generating plenty of buzz with his quickness, vision, and puck-moving skills despite his 5'9", 162-pound frame.

The Athletic's Arpon Basu believes the 20-year-old blueliner is making a strong case to be in the Canadien's opening-night lineup.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov drew praise from Flyers head coach John Tortorella for his energy and love of the game.

Only 19, the 5'10, 172-pounder is their leading scorer in this preseason.

Dallas Stars forward Logan Stankoven and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf had a handful of NHL games under their belts last season but still qualify as rookies this season.

They've looked solid thus far in postseason play, which bodes well for their chances of securing full-time roster spots this season.

The Boston Bruins relied on the stronggoaltending tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman over the lasttwo seasons.

They backstopped the Bruins to a record-setting first-overall performance in 2022-23 and kept a depleted roster amongthe top clubs in the Eastern Conference last season.

However, the Bruins couldn't afford tokeep both with Swayman in line for a new contract and Ullmark a yearaway from unrestricted free-agent eligibility.

They traded Ullmark inJune to the Ottawa Senators to free up sufficient salary-cap room to sign Swayman.

Contract negotiations between theBruins and Swayman stalled, with the 25-year-old netminder notreporting to training camp until a deal was completed.

Generalmanager Don Sweeney remains confident that he'll get Swayman signed,but preseason ended with the two sides remaining deadlocked .

This is not an ideal situation foreither side.

Swayman missed the opportunity to properly prepare forthe coming season with his teammates in preseason action.

Meanwhile,the Bruins are left trying to adjust their strategy without their topnetminder.

The longer this drags on, the more itcould adversely affect Swayman's game when he finally returns toaction.

That could hurt the Bruins' hopes of staging a run for theStanley Cup this season.

It also creates an unwelcome distraction formanagement, the coaching staff, and the players.

The former Arizona Coyotes relocated toSalt Lake City, Utah during the offseason.

They spent this preseasonpreparing for a new chapter in their franchise history.

The former Arizona Coyotes relocated toSalt Lake City, Utah during the offseason.

They spent this preseasonpreparing for a new chapter in their franchise history.

They had a shaky start to their first preseason game byinadvertently scoring into their own net against the St.

Louis Blues but they rallied for a 5-3 win.

They also had a 6-3 road victory over theColorado Avalanche and would defeat the rebuilding San Jose Sharksand Anaheim Ducks.

Their first preseason home game at SaltLake City's Delta Center was a hit , nipping the Los Angeles Kings 3-2in front of a chanting sellout crowd of 11,131 new fans.

Some were hockey fans stretching back to the days of the old Salt LakeGolden Eagles in the Western Hockey League.

Utah remains for now a teamtransitioning to its new arena and city.

They still don't have anofficial team name, the Delta Center requires two years of renovationto provide more unobstructed seats for their fans, and it isconstructing a permanent practice facility for the club.

Nevertheless, they are inbetter shape now compared to their final years in Arizona, where they spent their final seasons in a college arena.

There's a hugedemand for tickets to see this club filled with promising youngtalent poised to emerge as a playoff contender after several seasonsof rebuilding..

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