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  • Unavailable Thursday
    Kane (hip) is expected to miss Game 3 against the Panthers on Thursday, per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.

    Advice: Kane has four goals, eight points, 37 PIM and 64 hits in 20 playoff outings this year. Corey Perry and Derek Ryan, who were both healthy scratches for Game 2 on Monday, are projected to draw back into the lineup. Sam Carrick is slated to miss Thursday's game after logging 7:31 of ice time in Edmonton's last contest, but unlike Kane, it's believed Carrick's absence is the coach's decision. Rotowire.com Today, 4:46 pm
     
  • Starting Game 3
    Skinner will protect the home goal versus the Panthers in Thursday's Game 3, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.

    Advice: Skinner has let in five goals on 45 shots over the first two games of the series, but he'll stay between the pipes for the first contest in Edmonton. The fact that he hasn't let in more than three goals in nine of his last 10 contests is a positive, but the Oilers have just one tally over two games in the Stanley Cup Finals, so Skinner will need more support. Rotowire.com Today, 4:44 pm
     
  • Heading back to Czechia
    Smejkal signed a five-year contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice of Czechia on Thursday.

    Advice: Smejkal picked up one goal and one assist over 20 NHL games, as well as 22 points in 47 contests with AHL Belleville. The 27-year-old winger signed an entry-level deal last May, but he was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer before signing this deal to head back to his home country. Rotowire.com Today, 3:02 pm
     
  • Agrees to one-year deal
    Kakko has signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Kakko was set to become a restricted free agent in July after completing his two-year, $4.2 million contract. He struggled in 2023-24, recording just 13 goals and 19 points across 61 regular-season contests after setting career highs with 18 goals and 40 points in 82 outings in 2022-23. The 23-year-old can't be counted out at the age of 23, but he certainly hasn't lived up to his potential after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Look for him to open next season as a part of the Rangers' bottom six. Rotowire.com Today, 12:08 pm
     
  • Recovering from sports hernia
    Couturier said he's recovering from a "little sports hernia surgery, lower abs," Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports Thursday.

    Advice: Couturier was limited to a goal and eight points over his final 33 contests in 2023-24 after supplying 10 goals and 30 points across his first 41 appearances. Although it's not clear how long he was dealing with a sports hernia, the injury might help explain his steep decline in offensive production in the second half of the campaign. The 31-year-old will look to rebound next season, but injuries have been a recurring problem -- he missed the entire 2022-23 campaign and was limited to 29 games in 2021-22. Rotowire.com Today, 11:13 am
     
  • Good to go for Game 3
    Barkov (upper body) will play in Thursday's Game 3 versus the Oilers, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.

    Advice: Barkov exited and did not return to Monday's Game 2 win over Edmonton after taking a high hit from the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl in the third period, but luckily for the Panthers, it seems whatever injury prevented him from returning to that contest didn't end up being overly serious. The 28-year-old pivot, who's racked up six goals and 19 points through 19 games this postseason, will skate on the first line and top power-play unit Thursday. Rotowire.com Today, 11:06 am
     
  • Inks three-year contract
    Chatfield signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Hurricanes on Thursday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

    Advice: Chatfield had eight goals, 22 points, a plus-15 rating, 24 PIM, 58 hits and 66 blocks in 72 regular-season outings with Carolina in 2023-24. The 28-year-old was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July after completing his two-year, $1.525 million deal, but he'll stick with the Hurricanes instead. Although he averaged just 14:48 of ice time across his first 48 regular-season appearances in the recent campaign, that ticked up to 17:09 over his latest 37 regular-season and playoff contests. It would not be surprising to see that increased role carry into the next year. Rotowire.com Today, 11:03 am
     
  • Starting Game 3
    Bobrovsky will guard the road goal in Game 3 versus the Oilers on Thursday, Steve Goldstein of Bally Sports Florida reports.

    Advice: Bobrovsky has been spectacular through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, picking up back-to-back wins while posting an exceptional 0.50 GAA and .980 save percentage. The Oilers have gone 6-3 at home this postseason, and they'll undoubtedly be desperate to try to avoid falling into a 3-0 series hole, so Bob could face his toughest test yet from Edmonton on Thursday. Rotowire.com Today, 10:53 am
     
  • Signs new deal
    Crookshank signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators on Wednesday, per PuckPedia.

    Advice: Crookshank made his NHL debut in 2023-24, picking up three points, 20 shots on net, 20 hits and a minus-3 rating over 13 appearances. He also had 46 points in 50 contests with AHL Belleville. Crookshank will likely spend some time in the minors in 2024-25, but he may be ready to push for a larger role at the NHL level. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 4:04 pm