NHL Status Report: Barzal to travel with Islanders, not ruled out for opener

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. With the season starting this week, here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal will travel with his teammates and has not been ruled out by the Islanders for their season opener at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, MSGSN). The forward missed training camp after aggravating a prior injury that caused inflammation. General manager Mathieu Darche said on Sept. 17 that Barzal would be shut down for roughly two weeks. He will not skate until Wednesday morning. ... Logan Stanley signed a one-year contract on Sunday. The 28-year-old defenseman had 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 76 regular-season games for the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets last season, including five assists in 17 games with Buffalo after he was acquired in a trade with Winnipeg on March 5. "I think it's a great opportunity," Stanley said. "Guys seem great so far, and they got a great coaching staff that I have some familiarity with, so excited about the opportunity." … Defenseman Tony DeAngelo (maintenance) did not practice Sunday. ... Defensemen Kashawn Aitcheson and Isaiah George, and forward Cole Eiserman were assigned to Hamilton of the American Hockey League, and goalie Vitek Vanecek was placed on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to Hamilton.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust is being evaluated for an upper-body injury the Penguins forward sustained during a 3-1 preseason win against the Sabres on Saturday. Rust left early in the second period. "'Rusty's' obviously a huge part of our group,” coach Dan Muse said on Sunday. “I thought he had a great camp, and so, it's unfortunate." ... Muse said defenseman Ryan Graves is out indefinitely with issues in both knees. … Forward Blake Lizotte (upper-body injury) practiced Sunday as the fourth-line center but remains day to day. ... Forwards Justin Brazeau and Ben Kindel are each week to week with a lower-body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Nick Blankenburg signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on Sunday. The 28-year-old defenseman had 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 61 games for the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche last season. He had three points (two goals, one assist) in 12 games and one goal in five playoff games after he was traded to the Avalanche on March 4. Blankenburg has 58 points (18 goals, 40 assists) in 176 NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Predators and Avalanche.

Minnesota Wild

Brock Faber is being evaluated after he was hit in the head by a puck during a 2-1 preseason loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday. The defenseman was struck by a shot from the point with 9:36 left in the second period. He was down on the ice briefly before skating to the bench under his own power, returned for the next shift and played the rest of the period before leaving. Coach John Hynes said he'd have an update Tuesday. "We do have to give it a little bit of time with 'Fabes' just because of the type of injury it was," Hynes said. "Lots of times, you feel good, but you’ve got to give it a little bit of time to make sure." Faber was not at the rink over the weekend. Minnesota plays its regular-season opener at Nashville on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; Wild+, MINNHL, SCRIPPS).

Buffalo Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left early in the third period of a 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh in Buffalo's preseason finale Saturday. "He tweaked something, and we just got him off," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of the goalie. "Lower body. Didn't want to take any chances." ... Ruff said goalie Alex Lyon was "going to miss a few days, for sure" after sustaining an upper-body injury in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. After diving forward and corralling a loose puck, he flexed his left arm and immediately skated toward the bench. … Forward Jiri Kulich did not play Saturday; he left the game Thursday midway through the second for precautionary reasons. "He skated this morning, and he was doing pretty good," Ruff said. … The Sabres play their regular-season opener at the Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; CBJHN, CBJNHL, MSG-B).

Colorado Avalanche

Rookie forward T.J. Hughes is expected to play in the season opener for the Avalanche against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT). The undrafted free agent out of the University of Michigan, who signed a one-year contract on April 11, will also start on the top power-play unit. “Of course, I'm excited. Like, I wanted to be in this spot my whole life, and I've tried to work my hardest to be here,” Hughes said. The 24-year-old had five points (three goals, two assists) in three preseason games. “We're going to give him an opportunity here,” coach Jared Bednar said. "It’s been a pleasure to work with him through training camp, through exhibition. I look forward to getting to start the year and working with him some more, because I think he can help us.” … Forwards Logan O'Connor and Zachary L'Heureux are each day to day with a lower-body injury.