Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Jake Oettinger will start in goal for the Dallas Stars against the Canucks on Monday. Despite allowing 20 goals on 159 shots, Oettinger is riding a seven-game winning streak. He has a 24-10-4 record this campaign with two shutouts, a 2.71 GAA and an .898 save percentage through 38 appearances.
Roope Hintz is slated to miss Monday's game against the Canucks due to illness. He has resumed skating but will miss a third consecutive matchup. It is unclear if he will be available for Tuesday's game against the Flames.
Frederik Andersen was the first goalie off the ice, indicating he will start Monday's road game against Seattle. Andersen is coming off a 27-save win over the Red Wings, his first victory since Jan. 17. In 23 games this year, he has an 8-10-5 record, 3.21 GAA, and .874 save percentage.
Darcy Kuemper is under the weather and expected to be unavailable for Monday's game against the Avalanche. Erik Portillo has been recalled from the minors, likely meaning Anton Forsberg will start. Kuemper has managed only two wins in his last 11 outings, going 2-5-3 with a 3.62 GAA.
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (lower body) has been officially ruled out for Monday's game against the Avalanche. Doughty sustained the injury Thursday versus the Oilers, marking his second consecutive absence. Interim head coach D.J. Smith indicated that Doughty could potentially make his return to the lineup as early as Thursday against the Islanders or Saturday when the Kings face the Canadiens. His status will be re-evaluated ahead of those matchups.
Defenseman Brandt Clarke's ice time and role have been a point of discussion for the Los Angeles Kings. With Drew Doughty on the back nine of his career, Clarke is seen as a potential future number one defenseman. The new coaching staff, led by D.J. Smith, is expected to give Clarke more consistent ice time and a greater role to foster his development.
Quinton Byfield, a former second overall pick, has yet to fully reach his potential with the Los Angeles Kings. The team's recent coaching change under interim head coach D.J. Smith could provide an opportunity for Byfield to develop. He is currently averaging the most ice time among Kings forwards and may be given a chance to play with top scorers Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is slated to start on the road against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Blackwood has been in solid form recently, allowing two or fewer goals in four of his last five outings. During this stretch, he has compiled a 3-2-0 record, a 1.43 GAA, and recorded one shutout. His consistent performance suggests he's solidified his role, though a back-to-back could see Scott Wedgewood start Tuesday.
Forward Robby Fabbri has been claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild, ending his second stint with the St. Louis Blues. Fabbri signed a two-way contract in December and played 15 games, recording a goal and three assists. His departure comes as Robert Thomas returned from injury, making Fabbri a roster casualty. He is expected to add grit to the Wild's bottom six.
Vancouver Canucks netminder Nikita Tolopilo is confirmed to start in goal at home against the Dallas Stars on Monday, indicated by his presence as the first goalie off the ice at morning skate. Tolopilo's last outing was a 25-save effort in a 3-2 overtime loss to Winnipeg. This season, he holds a 3-3-2 record with a 3.03 GAA and a .908 save percentage across 10 NHL appearances. He faces a Dallas team ranked ninth in the league with 3.32 goals per game.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury sustained during Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. Coach Bruce Cassidy stated Stone will be evaluated further on Monday. His availability for Tuesday's game against Buffalo remains uncertain. Alexander Holtz is a potential replacement if Stone cannot play. The injury occurred from a light cross-check by Kris Letang.
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week. He won both of his starts, allowing only one combined goal with a .981 save percentage. Silovs has won five of his last six starts, posting a .936 save percentage in his last nine games. He is making a strong case for the playoff starting job.
Detroit Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has been named the AHL Player of the Week for his recent strong play with the Grand Rapids Griffins. In his last three games, he recorded five goals, one assist, 17 shots, and a plus-three rating. He has 15 goals and 19 assists in 48 games this season. Brandsegg-Nygård was a first-round pick in 2024.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly inquired about St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. Thomas, who has 12 goals and 35 points in 43 games this season, is in the third year of an eight-year, $8.125 million contract. While a trade seems unlikely due to the high cost, which could involve prospects like Easton Cowan or Matthew Knies, his history with coach Craig Berube and potential fit as a second-line center are noted.
Juuse Saros will be in net for the Nashville Predators' home game against Detroit on Monday. Despite struggling recently with only one win in his last six outings (1-1-3 record, 4.41 GAA), the 30-year-old goalie remains a key part of the Preds' strategy as they pursue playoff hopes. Saros is currently second in the NHL with 45 starts, just two behind Utah's Karel Vejmelka.
Luke Hughes (NJ) is featured in the essential Monday guide for fantasy hockey pickups. The guide offers recommendations on players to add and strategies for the week ahead, suggesting Hughes as a potential acquisition for fantasy managers looking to make moves before the trade deadline.
Evander Kane (Vancouver Canucks) has been highlighted in a Monday guide for fantasy hockey pickups. The article provides essential information on who to add and how to prepare for the upcoming week in fantasy leagues, suggesting Kane as a potential acquisition for managers looking to bolster their roster before the trade deadline.
Marcus Foligno (Minnesota Wild) has been placed on injured reserve Monday due to a lower-body injury. While the designation is retroactive, he is expected to miss at least the next two games. The team has not yet offered a clear recovery timeline for the winger. Both Tyler Pitlick and Ben Jones should be in contention to see minutes with Foligno on the shelf.
Bobby McMann has been elevated to the top line alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander for the Toronto Maple Leafs' game against the Philadelphia Flyers. McMann is expected to capitalize on this opportunity, with odds favoring him to record at least one point. He has exceeded his shots on goal total in eight of his last nine games.
Dan Vladar was the first goalie to leave the ice Monday, indicating he will guard the road cage against Toronto, Mark Masters of TSN reports. The 28-year-old netminder has been heavily utilized, appearing in seven of the Flyers' last eight contests, posting a 2-2-2 record and a 2.23 GAA. The Flyers appear content to continue giving Vladar a significant workload ahead of Samuel Ersson. He needs just two more victories to reach the 10-win mark for the first time in his NHL career.
