Overview

• Aitcheson left the preseason opener against the Flyers late in the second period after an open-ice collision with Noah Juulsen and did not return.
• Team officials classified it as a lower-body injury and Roy said postgame that he expects the defenseman to be fine on a day-to-day timeline.
• Witnesses differed on the hit’s legality, with Tony DeAngelo calling it clean and Roy suggesting it looked knee on knee given limited replay angles.
• Elliotte Friedman and other outlets reported the same day-to-day assessment, reinforcing that the injury is not believed to be serious.
• The 17th-overall pick from the OHL’s Barrie Colts was making his preseason debut as New York evaluates its 2025 draft class and defensive depth.