Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson (shoulder) is expected to make his season debut this week, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports. On Monday, Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness said he expects Severson to be available on Friday against Pittsburgh. Severson has missed Columbus' first two games of the season due to shoulder surgery. The team has allowed seven goals without him in the lineup. Severson's return will boost the defense. He'll also boost the offense after a 32-point season. Denton Mateychuk's ice time will likely decrease significantly with Severson's return.

New Jersey Devils right wing Connor Brown (lower body) will remain on the shelf this week. He was injured in practice last week and hasn't yet played in any games this season. It's now confirmed that the Devils also won't have Brown on Tuesday against Utah or Saturday against Vancouver. Brown had a solid 43-point campaign in 2025-26 and is definitely missed by the Devils, who have scored only three goals in their first two games of the season. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said Monday that Brown is "ramping up," so he could be available soon.

Edmonton Oilers center Jason Dickinson (foot) is expected to make his season debut in Wednesday's clash against the Anaheim Ducks. He has struggled to overcome a foot injury sustained late in the 2025-26 regular season. "If I'm being honest, I never quite got to 100 percent over the summer," Dickinson said. "I was making jumps, but it felt like every jump I made, I plateaued for a couple of weeks." Dickinson re-aggravated the injury in training camp. His return to the lineup should help Edmonton clean up some of its defensive mess. However, Dickinson doesn't have enough offensive upside to merit a spot on fantasy squads.

Minnesota Wild forward Danila Yurov (upper body) didn't complete Monday's practice, Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News reports. Wild head coach John Hynes said Yurov's early exit was precautionary, but he did not know whether he would be available for Tuesday's game against Buffalo. Yurov has started his sophomore year as the first-line center in Minnesota, recording one assist in two games. Ryan Hartman moved up to the first line during Monday's practice. A larger role would boost Hartman's fantasy appeal. Meanwhile, Nico Sturm is expected to make his season debut on the fourth line if Yurov can't play.