NHL Status Report: Reimer's Potential First Start for Senators at Rangers
The Ottawa Senators are gearing up for a potential game-changer as goalie James Reimer, a 37-year-old veteran, could make his first start for the team against the New York Rangers on Wednesday. Reimer signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Senators on Monday, bringing a wealth of experience to the net after his previous season with the Buffalo Sabres. Meanwhile, Linus Ullmark, who has been skating, remains without a return timetable, having missed seven games since his leave of absence on December 28.
The Sabres are dealing with injuries, too. Josh Dunne, a forward, is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks due to a middle-body injury, but he persevered, skating for 7:13 in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday. Michael Kesselring, a defenseman, is close to returning, but will likely miss his sixth consecutive game when the Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The Flyers' own challenges include an upper-body injury to Jamie Drysdale, who is now available after missing three games.
The Montreal Canadiens have made a significant move, signing forward Alexandre Texier to a two-year, $5 million contract, with an average annual value of $2.5 million. Texier, 26, has been a standout since joining the Canadiens on November 23, amassing 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 25 games. He was also named to Team France's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
The Los Angeles Kings are facing their own set of challenges, with forward Corey Perry leaving to attend to a family matter and missing games against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Kings will rely on 11 forwards and seven defensemen, including Jacob Moverare, to fill the gap. Meanwhile, injured forwards Joel Armia, Anze Kopitar, and Trevor Moore are still out, but the team is optimistic about their return.
The New Jersey Devils are set to welcome Simon Nemec back into the lineup against the Seattle Kraken, replacing Johnathan Kovacevic, who has been playing after a knee surgery that sidelined him for the first 44 games. The Devils' coach, Keefe, is managing Nemec's return carefully, considering the team's schedule.
The Chicago Blackhawks are dealing with an illness to Connor Bedard, who missed a game against the Edmonton Oilers. Teuvo Teravainen, an upper-body injury, is also out, and his return against the Boston Bruins is uncertain. The San Jose Sharks are cautiously bringing forward Will Smith back into the lineup after an upper-body injury, while also monitoring the progress of defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Ty Dellandrea.
The Vegas Golden Knights are hoping for a return from goalie Adin Hill, who has been out since October 20 due to a lower-body injury. Hill's availability for Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is uncertain, but the team is optimistic. The Golden Knights are also dealing with a setback in the recovery of forward William Karlsson, who has not played since November 8.
