Evening Preseason Notes (Sep 20)

There were some high hopes for the 11th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Kings forward Gabe Vilardi, but it looks like a back injury will sideline him for the remainder of the preseason and it will likely cost him a shot at a roster spot for the start of the regular season.  Vilardi's back issue has cost him the entirety of training camp and the preseason already and with the news that he is considered week-to-week, things are looking awfully bleak for the young forward.

The Kings certainly had the roster spots to swap some guys in and out of in this training camp, so it has to be awfully disappointing for the 1st rounder from a year ago to not get his shot right away this year.

Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi will be sitting out for the remainder of the preseason after the NHL Department of Player Safety felt that his sucker punch to Florida's Aaron Ekblad deserved supplemental discipline and banned him for the remainder of the preseason calendar.  Domi's status for opening night will be active, as he will still be able to practice with the team, he just won't be allowed to take part in any of the preseason games that remain on the schedule, which works out to five games.  Since he is still practicing with his linemates, I don't see this to have much of an effect on his projections this season.



There's a little bit of concern around the return of Robby Fabbri to the St. Louis Blues roster for the start of the season, but it could be more about shaking off some of the rust from missing all of last season due to injury. Fabbri was reported to be dealing with a sore back on Thursday, but it sounds like he is likely going to practice on Friday and hopefully suit up for a preseason game over the weekend.  If that is the case, then there really isn't too much cause for concern, it is just worth noting, just in case.

Fabbri is one of my favourites to possibly slide down in the draft and be a pretty good sleeper pick for someone this year.  Not having the numbers last year, should help ensure that maybe some of those people who pick the next best from last year, won't see him at all.

Finally, it doesn't seem like Vancouver Canucks forward Loui Eriksson can catch a break these days.  After a couple of injury plagued seasons, he might have to start the 2019 season on the shelf, due to a bone bruise he suffered while blocking a shot against the Flames on Wednesday night.  Eriksson is currently listed as out week-to-week, which likely will cost him the remainder of the preseason, at the very least, and possibly a week or two of the regular season as well.

Last season, the veteran only played in 50 games for the Canucks and picked up 23 points, while back in 2016, he only played in 65 games and was good for 24 points.  It has not been a good stay for Eriksson in Vancouver, except for the $6 million salary.