Ice Chips: Jets hopeful veteran Toews can play Thursday against Stars

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Winnipeg Jets

Head coach Scott Arniel is hopeful Jonathan Toews will be able to play in Thursday’s opener against the visiting Dallas Stars.

Toews “tweaked something” during last week’s pre-season loss to the Minnesota Wild, according to the coach.

Toews had just over 10 minutes of ice time before leaving with the undisclosed injury in the second period.

The 37-year-old Winnipeg native signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Jets this off-season after being away from the game for two seasons due to health issues.

Jets’ Practice Lines

F

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi

Nyquist-Toews-Chibrikov

Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Iafallo

Koepke-Barron-Pearson

Extras: Ford, Lambert, Gustafsson

D

Morrissey-DeMelo

Fleury-Pionk

Stanley-Schenn

Extra: Miller

G

Hellebuyck

Comrie

Toronto Maple Leafs

Off-season signing Matias Maccelli skated on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies at practice on Tuesday as the Maple Leafs prepare for their season opener on Wednesday against the visiting Montreal Canadines.

The 24-year-old Maccelli, who was acquired from the Utah Mammoth over the summer, netted eight goals and 10 assists over 55 games in 2024-25, his fourth season in the NHL.

Maccelli is entering the final season of a three-year, $10.28 million contract.

Winger Sammy Blais, who was claimed off waivers by the Leafs on Monday alongside backup goalie Cayden Primeau, skated with the team as an extra at practice.

Maple Leafs’ Practice Lines

F

Knies - Matthews - Maccelli

McMann - Tavares - Nylander

Joshua - Domi - Robertson

Lorentz - Roy - Jarnkrok

Blais

D

McCabe - Tanev

Rielly - Carlo

Ekman-Larsson - Benoit

Myers

G

Stolarz

Primeau

Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said Tuesday he wants to see Easton Cowan seeing game action, whether that’s at the NHL level or in the AHL.

Cowan was not named to the team’s opening-night roster on Monday despite a promising training camp with the team.

“Today, he’s not on the roster. And then we’ll see what happens tomorrow,” Treliving said, per The Athletic. “… If he’s gonna be playing with us here, great. But if he’s not — I want him playing.”

Cowan worked as the team’s 13th forward in practice Sunday before Monday’s roster was announced.

Treliving added that things are progressing well with goalie Joseph Woll, who is away from the team to attend a personal matter, but had no timetable for return.

Injured forward Scott Laughton is still considered day-to-day.

Montreal Canadiens

Sam Montembeault will get the start in net for Wednesday’s season opener against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.

The 28-year-old has a career season in 2024-25, posting a 31-24-7 record alongside a 2.80 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.

Jakub Dobes will start Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Vancouver Canucks

Defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph has been placed on the Injured Reserve, retroactive to Sept. 30

The 26-year-old Laval, Que., native recorded three assists over 37 games split between the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Russian winger Pavel Dorofeyev is a game-time decision for Wednesday’s season opener against the visiting Los Angeles Kings, but is expected to play, according to head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The 24-year-old scored a career-high 35 goals and 17 assists in 82 games with Vegas last season.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Goalie Arturs Silovs will get the start on Tuesday in the season opener against the New York Rangers.

Silovs, 24, appeared in 10 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season.

St. Louis Blues

Veteran forward Milan Lucic is rehabbing a lower-body injury in St. Louis as the Blues will extend his professional tryout in 10-day increments.

No official contract has been signed.

Lucic signed with the Blues in August. The 37-year-old winger last played early in the 2023-24 season, appearing in four games with the Boston Bruins before taking an indefinite leave of absence. He was charged with domestic violence shortly after the leave was announced, but prosecutors dropped the case four months later, saying the decision by his wife to invoke marital privilege made it impossible for them to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In the team’s release last month, the Blues stated that Lucic has completed the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and has been reinstated by the league.

In other news, forward Oskar Sundqvist is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The 31-year-old scored six goals and added 14 assists over 67 games last season with the Blues.