Walker - who will become the first Aussie to play in the NHL - spent last season with the AHL's Hershey Bears, where he posted 23 points in 58 games. He last played in Australia in 2010-11, when he spent three games with the Sydney Ice Dogs of the Australian Ice Hockey League.
Walker, 23, joins a growing list of NHLers who hail from non-traditional markets, including Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, a product of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant led his team through the morning skate in advance of their inaugural game Friday in Dallas against the Stars, but with an interesting balance of players at his disposal.
Gallant didn't let on when asked about the lineup, simply saying, "There's going to be 20 guys that play."
Twenty would suggest both goalies see some action, as 12 forwards and six defenseman dress. Perhaps Gallant's math was off as he announced the plan is for Marc-Andre Fleury to start in net. Malcolm Subban will serve as backup after Calvin Pickard cleared waivers.
Along with Shipachyov and Tuch, defenseman Shea Theodore is in limbo, seemingly primed to take a prominent role on the blue line but able to be sent to the AHL - where's he's listed now - without having to go through waivers.
As a result, here's what Gallant is left to work with:
Defensive pairings
Miller-Garrison Engelland-McNabb Schmidt-Sbisa
Hunt, Merrill, Reinhart healthy scratched. Yes, they have 9 defensemen.
More will become clear if and when general manager George McPhee is able to trade a defenseman or two, but in the meantime, the Knights' lineup is less than golden.
The Vegas Golden Knights will play their inaugural game in Dallas against the Stars on Friday, but their hockey home won't be far from their hearts, minds, and helmets.
In light of the tragic mass shooting that occurred in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, the Golden Knights have added a "Vegas Strong" decal to their helmets.
The expansion franchise, the Foley Family Charitable Trust, and the NHL also announced a joint donation of $300,000 to aid victims and first responders earlier this week.
Dallas will also don the Vegas decal, along with honoring broadcaster Dave Strader, who died Oct. 1 after a fight with cancer.
Per the team, "the video screens in the scoreboard are equivalent in square footage to 1,300 50-inch televisions, and the scoreboard contains 20 individual displays, including four HD underbelly units."
Here's a look at all the details and how it came together:
The Detroit Red Wings opened the regular season with a win over the Minnesota Wild inside the friendly confines of the brand new Little Caesars Arena.
Here's a look at some memorable moments from the rink's in-season debut, beginning with some neat views from above:
Henrik Zetterberg and Mikko Koivu participated in the ceremonial puck drop by Red Wings President Christopher Ilitch, former captain Nicklas Lidstrom, and TV announcer Mickey Redmond.
Moments later, the two captains met again to begin the game.
PETA made an attempt to curb Detroit's infamous octopus toss, but four hit the ice prior to puck drop.
With an impressive 10-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the Blackhawks stormed into the new season looking like a team that can still compete for a title.
While the double-digit win may have been the most impressive number of the night, here are five other stats that stood out:
1. Hartman's 5-point night
It was a record-setting night for forward Ryan Hartman, whose goal and four assists marked the most points ever recorded by a Blackhawk in a season opener. Hartman found quick chemistry with linemates Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz, as the trio combined for 12 points.
2. Niemi: 9 minutes, 13 shots, 4 goals
Many pundits questioned Pittsburgh's signing of Antti Niemi - fresh off his disastrous campaign with the Dallas Stars - and his first game as a Penguin did little to quell those concerns. The veteran netminder was torched for four goals on just 13 shots, including a stretch where he allowed three in 1:13. In all, Niemi lasted just over nine minutes into Thursday's contest before coach Mike Sullivan had seen enough.
3. Saad's record-tying hat trick
The NHL season is just two days old, and yet the record books have already gotten a workout - there have been four hat tricks in season debuts across the league, the first such occurrence in a century. Blackhawks winger Brandon Saad contributed to that feat on Thursday, notching three tallies against the Penguins.
4. 16 Blackhawks get on the board
It was a balanced attacked for the Blackhawks on Thursday, with the team receiving scoring from all avenues. In all, 16 of 20 skaters finished the night with at least one point. Forwards Alex DeBrincat, Lance Bouma, and Tanner Kero, and defenseman Connor Murphy were the lone four who failed to find the scoresheet.
5. 10 goals at even strength
Even more impressive? While the Blackhawks' power play failed to capitalize on any of its six opportunities, the team was firing on all cylinders at even strength. All 10 of Chicago's tallies came at five-on-five.
We've been pretty spoiled through the first two nights of the 2017-18 NHL season.
There's been goals up the wazoo, and with that we've been blessed with four hat tricks. Each has been impressive in its own way, but lets be honest, some goals are prettier than others and some performances rank higher - in our minds, anyways.
Here is how the first four hat tricks of the season stack up against one another:
Ovechkin's three 3rd-period daggers
Alex Ovechkin is No. 1.
Things were looking so good for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night before the six-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner realized he'd had enough.
With the Senators up 3-1 over the Capitals, Ovechkin scored twice to knot the game at 3-3. After Mark Stone gave the Senators the lead again, Ovi shut it down, completing the hat trick to send the game to overtime.
The Capitals would ultimately reign victorious in the shootout, where for good measure Ovechkin would score once more.
Connor McDavid would have slotted lower - considering he completed the hat trick into the empty net - but that second goal was just bonkers.
Last year's MVP proved once again that his foot speed is only rivaled by the speed of his hands and the car he drove to the rink in.
McDavid's three goals were all the Oilers needed to escape with a 3-0 win over the Calgary Flames and enough to make us realize we aren't worthy of him.
The Chicago Blackhawks returnee looked right back at home tallying three of the team's goals in a head-shaking 10-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Saad became just the second Blackhawks player to score a hat trick on opening night, joining Bobby Hull. Any time you're in the same conversation as the Golden Jet, you know you're doing OK.
Simmonds ain't afraid of no shark
It's hard to knock anyone who scores three goals in a game, but if we are going to compare goals (which we are) Wayne Simmonds' trio against the San Jose Sharks ranks fourth.
Simmonds showed off some great hands with two deflection goals before capping things off with an empty-netter.
The Philadelphia Flyers forward is coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons and, after a strong first game of 2017-18, one would think hitting that mark once again will certainly be in the cards.
There is a lot of blame to go around in the Pittsburgh Penguins' dressing room after the club dropped a 10-1 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Following the whipping, defenseman Kris Letang took some personal responsibility for the loss, offering his apologies to goaltenders Antti Niemi and Matt Murray.
After also giving up five goals on Wednesday night to the St. Louis Blues, it's evident the reigning Cup champs are not playing like themselves to open the season.
