Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Luke Kunin scored two goals to help the Florida Panthers finish their season with a dominant 8-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night. The win provided a strong conclusion to an injury-plagued season for the Panthers.
Semyon Varlamov has returned to competitive hockey following two knee replacement surgeries. Despite speculation regarding his future and the possibility of retirement, the veteran goaltender has opted to continue his career rather than walking away from the game.
Mattias Samuelsson is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Stars due to rest. This update comes from Heather Engel of NHL.com, with further analysis available on RotoWire.com.
Jason Zucker will not play Wednesday versus the Stars as he is being rested. The news was reported by Heather Engel of NHL.com, and RotoWire.com offers additional analysis.
Ryan McLeod is being rested and will not play Wednesday against the Stars. Heather Engel of NHL.com provided the report, with RotoWire.com offering further insights.
Rasmus Dahlin will not participate in Wednesday's game against the Stars, taking a rest day. This information was reported by Heather Engel of NHL.com, and RotoWire.com provides additional analysis.
Tage Thompson is being rested and will miss Wednesday's game against the Stars. Heather Engel of NHL.com reported the update, with RotoWire.com offering further analysis.
Dylan Larkin will not play in Wednesday's game against the Panthers due to an undisclosed injury. RotoWire.com provides additional analysis on this update.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel will not be in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup against the New York Rangers. The team has designated the absence as a rest day for the veteran winger as they conclude the regular season. Guentzel's scratch was reported by Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site. The move allows the forward to recover ahead of the upcoming postseason, with the team prioritizing health for their key offensive contributors.
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli is not in the lineup for Wednesday's regular-season finale against the New York Rangers. According to Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site, Cirelli is being held out for rest purposes. The decision comes as the Lightning look to manage player workloads before the start of the playoffs. Cirelli joins several other key teammates on the sidelines for the final game of the 2025-26 regular season.
Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett will remain out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings due to a lower-body injury. Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site confirmed that Bennett is unavailable for the contest. This marks another missed game for the center as he continues to recover from the ailment. The team has not provided a specific timeline for his return as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season schedule.
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe will not play in Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Detroit Red Wings. Verhaeghe continues to deal with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of action recently. The update was provided by Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site. The team remains cautious with the high-scoring winger's health as they prepare for the postseason, ensuring he has adequate time to recover from the lower-body issue.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh is slated to be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the New York Rangers. Raddysh had been dealing with an undisclosed injury, but Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports that the blueliner is expected to play in the regular-season finale. His return provides a boost to the Lightning's defensive corps as they finalize their roster spots and pairings heading into the first round of the playoffs.
Andrei Vasilevskiy will not start Wednesday's home game against the New York Rangers as previously expected, according to reporter Gabby Shirley. While he was initially confirmed as the starter after being the first goalie off the ice during the morning skate, the Lightning have opted for a change for the regular-season finale. Vasilevskiy was recently recognized as a top performer in fantasy hockey awards for his contributions throughout the 2025-26 season.
Brandon Halverson is set to start in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning's home game against the New York Rangers on Wednesday. Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley confirmed the starting nod for the regular-season finale. Halverson takes over the crease after the team pivoted away from the initial plan to start Andrei Vasilevskiy. This start provides Halverson with an opportunity to showcase his skills at the NHL level as the Lightning wrap up their 2025-26 campaign.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis will get the start in net for Wednesday's home game against the Dallas Stars. The starting assignment was reported by Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News. Ellis will lead the Sabres as they close out their regular season against a Stars team currently dealing with significant injury setbacks to their top-line players. This start marks a key opportunity for Ellis to perform in the final game of the Sabres' 2025-26 season schedule.
Dallas Stars top-line center Roope Hintz will miss the start of the postseason after suffering a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury. Head coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed Wednesday that Hintz, who has been sidelined since getting hurt in a shootout loss to Colorado on March 6, is not expected to be ready for the beginning of the first-round series. The loss of the star pivot is a significant blow as the Stars prepare for their playoff run without their top center.
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen is expected to return to the lineup as the team gets healthier at several positions. Head coach Glen Gulutzan provided the update on Wednesday before the Stars' regular-season finale against the Buffalo Sabres. While the team is dealing with the loss of Roope Hintz for the start of the playoffs, Heiskanen's return provides a major boost to the blue line. The Stars are looking to integrate their key defenders back into the rotation.
The Detroit Red Wings aggressively pursued Vincent Trocheck, but the trade talks ultimately stalled due to a steep price tag. Detroit opted to pass on the deal, choosing to prioritize the preservation of future assets over acquiring immediate help at this time.
Carter Hart is confirmed to tend the twine for the Vegas Golden Knights in Wednesday's home matchup against the Seattle Kraken, according to a report from Hannah Kirkell of The Hockey News. Hart will be the primary starter as the Golden Knights look to defend their home ice in this mid-week contest. This update serves as a key confirmation for the team's goaltending rotation, ensuring Hart is the focal point of the defense as they prepare to face the Kraken's offensive attack.
