With the NHL season ready to hit the ice on Saturday, a number of junior-eligible players are set to begin their professional careers.
Players who were drafted last summer and some in 2011 can play up to five games in the NHL this season before teams must decide whether to send them back to junior or use up the first year of their entry-level contracts.
To no one's surprise, first overall pick Nail Yakupov is sticking with the youthful Edmonton Oilers for now. The Russian sniper has been playing on a line with Sam Gagner and Ales Hemsky during training camp.
In Montreal, second overall pick Alex Galchenyuk, who was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship, has been named to the opening roster of the Canadiens and will start Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on the second line.
He is currently the fifth leading scorer in the Ontario Hockey League, notching 27 goals and 34 assists in only 33 games with the Sarnia Sting.
In Minnesota, defenceman Mathew Dumba will open the season with the Wild and could make his debut on Saturday when the Wild host the Colorado Avalanche. Dumba was drafted seventh overall last summer.
Mikhail Grigorenko, who has been playing with the Quebec Remparts and picked up six points in seven games for Russia at the World Junior Hockey Championship, has made the cut in Buffalo.
In Philadelphia, Scott Laughton of the Oshawa Generals will do his best to impress general manager Paul Holmgren to earn a full-time spot with the Flyers.
And Stefan Matteau, the son of former NHLer Stephane Matteau, is on the final roster of the New Jersey Devils.
Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers heads up a group of players who were drafted in 2011 and will start the season in the NHL. That list includes Sven Baertschi of the Calgary Flames, Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets, Dougie Hamilton of the Boston Bruins and Rickard Rakell of the Anaheim Ducks.
