Yahoo Sports Fantasy Hockey

Player Notes

  • Guarding goal Sunday in Melbourne
    Vejmelka will tend the twine in Sunday's game versus the Kings in Australia, Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports reports.

    Advice: Connor Ingram will start the first game of the NHL Global Series in Melbourne, and Vejmelka will go a day later. The 27-year-old Vejmelka enters 2023-24 as the Coyotes' presumptive starter after posting an 18-24-6 record, a 3.43 GAA and an .899 save percentage through 50 games last season. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:28 pm
  • Starting first game in Australia
    Ingram will start the Coyotes' exhibition game Saturday versus the Kings in Australia, Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports reports.

    Advice: Ingram will get his first preseason action in the NHL Global Series game in Melbourne. Last year, the 26-year-old netminder posted a 3.36 GAA, a .907 save percentage and a 6-13-8 record over 27 appearances. He's projected to be Karel Vejmelka's backup in 2023-24. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:25 pm
  • Clear for camp
    Brossoit (lower body) took the ice Thursday with the Jets' second practice group, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reports.

    Advice: Brossoit suffered a lower-body injury during the Golden Knights' playoff run, but his presence on the ice Thursday suggests that's no longer an issue. The 30-year-old goalie returned to Winnipeg for his second stint with the team, and he's expected to back up Connor Hellebuyck throughout the 2023-24 campaign. Brossoit has never played more than 24 games in a season, but given Hellebuyck's capabilities, Brossoit may not be asked to see even that much action this year. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:03 pm
  • Gets start for preseason opener
    Wallstedt will guard the road goal in Sunday's preseason opener versus the Avalanche, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Wallstedt is largely viewed as the Wild's goalie of the future, but he's not expected to be in the NHL this year. He went 18-15-5 with a 2.68 GAA and a .908 save percentage over 38 appearances with AHL Iowa last year. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:55 pm
  • Skates with second group
    Merzlikins (lower body) skated with the second of three groups during Thursday's practice to open training camp, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Merzlikins had a lower-body injury for much of the last month of 2022-23, but it was expected he'd be healthy by the end of April. His presence on the ice at training camp is enough to suggest he's healthy and ready to enter the season as the Blue Jackets' clear top netminder, especially with Daniil Tarasov (knee) hurting. Merzlikins is a low-end fantasy option to begin the year -- managers may want to see how much of an impact the Blue Jackets' defensive additions will benefit their goalies. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:36 pm
  • Out month-to-month
    Fanti entered training camp with a hip injury and is considered month-to-month, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Fanti split time between AHL Bakersfield and ECHL Fort Wayne last year, posting middling results. He was likely to spend most of 2023-24 in the AHL, but t could be some time before he's able to get back on the ice. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:14 pm
  • Will begin year on LTIR
    Lehner (hip) will begin the 2023-24 campaign on long-term injured reserve, Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon told Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Thursday.

    Advice: Lehner didn't play at all in 2022-23 because of his hip injury. Adin Hill and Logan Thompson are projected to enter the season as Vegas' top two goaltenders, but if Lehner's able to return during 2023-24, then he'll be in the mix for starts, too. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:05 pm
    Player Note
    Robin Lehner VGK - G
    IR-LT
  • Feeling ready for 2023-24
    Samsonov (neck) took part in Thursday's practice and is feeling good ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, per David Alter of Sports Illustrated.

    Advice: Samsonov missed the final two games of Toronto's playoff run because of a neck injury and also battled shoulder issues during the 2022-23 regular season. He feels like he's in better shape than he was last season, though. Samsonov had a 27-10-5 record, 2.33 GAA and .919 save percentage in 42 regular-season contests last year. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:15 am
  • Battling knee injury
    Tarasov is dealing with a knee injury and is considered day-to-day, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Tarasov had a 4-11-1 record, 3.91 GAA and .892 save percentage in 17 contests with the Blue Jackets in 2022-23. Provided he's healthy, Tarasov will compete with Aaron Dell for Columbus' backup job. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 2:23 pm