Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart is expected to get the start at home against Calgary. Hart holds a 3-2-0 record with a 2.41 GAA and .906 save percentage through five appearances this season. He stopped 24 of 27 shots in a 4-2 loss during his previous start on Monday. He now faces a struggling Calgary squad that has opened the year with a 1-5-0 record while averaging just two goals per game.
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka will defend the crease on the road against Edmonton on Thursday, marking his third consecutive start. Vejmelka enters this matchup having secured victories in three of his last four outings. Over six regular-season appearances this year, the 30-year-old netminder has posted a 4-1-0 record accompanied by a strong 2.46 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage.
Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf will make his third straight start in Thursday's road matchup against Vegas. Wolf earned his first victory of the season against Anaheim on Tuesday, bringing his early-season record to 1-3-0 across four starts. He currently carries a 4.56 goals-against average and an .839 save percentage as he looks to build momentum in the crease for the Flames.
William Eklund underwent surgery to repair a torn ankle tendon sustained against the Flyers and will be sidelined for 10-12 weeks, with a return expected around late December or early 2027. Currently on injured reserve, the 24-year-old winger could become a long-term injured reserve candidate if the Ottawa Senators need additional cap space to make a roster move.
Josh Morrissey (wrist) is considered week-to-week by Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel. The defenseman suffered the injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 7, will miss his third consecutive game Thursday against the Blackhawks, and requires more recovery time than initially expected. He is not anticipated to require surgery, though his exact return date remains unclear.
Mathew Barzal (knee) will not accompany the New York Islanders on their two-game road trip. The 29-year-old center recorded 72 points in 81 regular-season games last year, including 20 on the power play and four game-winning goals. The team has not yet announced a specific recovery timeline, but he is expected to return to a top-six role with power-play time.
Devon Levi will start Thursday's home game against the Utah Mammoth, marking his fifth start in the Oilers' last six games. Levi has won each of his first four starts of the 2026-27 campaign, posting a 2.76 GAA and a .903 save percentage while continuing to ride a hot streak.
Unsigned RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains in a contract stalemate with the Detroit Red Wings after completing his entry-level deal, though interim GM Shawn Horcoff stated the team has no intention of trading him and remains open-minded to various contract options. Edvinsson has tallied 19 goals and 41 assists over 175 NHL games, and the Red Wings hold his rights until December 1.
Stuart Skinner is expected to start in goal on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. Skinner remains undefeated in regulation this season with a 3-0-1 record, 2.47 GAA, and .917 save percentage through four outings. He continues to shoulder the bulk of the workload amid Connor Hellebuyck's ongoing suspension.
Rasmus Dahlin has been ruled out for Thursday's clash against the Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury and is considered 50/50 for Saturday's game in Montreal. Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed Dahlin will miss his second consecutive game. He has compiled two goals, four points, 19 shots, eight hits, and 14 blocked shots across six games this season.
Kyle Palmieri is slated to skate on the New York Islanders' top line alongside Matias Maccelli and Bo Horvat for Thursday's game against the Ottawa Senators. Palmieri scored the go-ahead goal in the third period of the Islanders' 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks earlier in the week.
Juuse Saros will start in goal for Thursday's clash against the San Jose Sharks. Saros looks to bounce back after struggling during Frozen Frenzy, where he allowed five goals on 25 shots against the Golden Knights. The 31-year-old netminder holds a 2-2-1 record, 3.17 GAA, and an .897 save percentage across five appearances this season.
Radko Gudas is currently day-to-day with an injury and missed Thursday's game against the Vancouver Canucks. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice provided an update noting that Gudas is walking around and doing fine, with a potential return targeted for Tuesday's matchup in Ottawa or Saturday's game, though the team may give him extra time to heal.
Jacob Markstrom missed Thursday's game against the Canucks due to an undisclosed injury, marking his second consecutive absence. However, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice stated that Markstrom is making improvements and is expected to return for Tuesday's game in Ottawa. Akira Schmid will continue starting in his absence, with Cooper Black serving as the backup against Vancouver and Seattle.
Jesper Wallstedt will defend the home crease in Thursday's clash against the Blues, continuing his dominant start after posting a 21-save win over the Golden Knights on Monday. The 23-year-old netminder holds a 4-1-1 record, a 1.82 GAA, and a .933 save percentage across six appearances. While Filip Gustavsson (hip) remains sidelined, Wallstedt is positioned as an elite fantasy option seeing multiple weekly starts, though the Blues present a tough challenge after scoring seven goals in their previous game.
Jake Sanderson (lower body) will not be available versus the Islanders on Thursday, missing his seventh consecutive contest after getting injured in the season opener against the Leafs on Oct. 3. With the 24-year-old blueliner still out of the lineup, Artem Zub (knee) and Cameron Crotty (illness) will suit up in Thursday's matchup against the Islanders.
Andrei Vasilevskiy will guard the home net in Thursday's clash against the Kraken. He looks to bounce back after falling to the Rangers on Tuesday for his first loss since Opening Night. Overall, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner holds a 3-2-0 record, 2.46 GAA, and .886 save percentage across five appearances. Despite facing a red-hot Kraken offense averaging 4.00 goals per game, Vasilevskiy remains an elite fantasy option for Thursday's matchup.
The New York Rangers have reportedly kicked tires on Toronto Maple Leafs backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz as they scramble for crease depth following a severe injury to Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo's absence. Stolarz is currently in the first year of a four-year, $3.75 million AAV contract featuring a 16-team no-trade list. On the ice, he recently suffered his first loss of the campaign against the Utah Mammoth, bringing his early-season numbers to an .875 save percentage and 3.32 GAA.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored in the second period against the Dallas Stars but voiced strong frustration over a controversial first-period goal overturned for a 'distinct kicking motion.' Landeskog argued that in real speed, he was merely reacting instinctively to a deflection off his knee and couldn't possibly have consciously kicked the puck. The Avalanche ultimately fell 3-2 in a shootout, leaving the captain questioning the consistency of NHL replay reviews.
Josh Anderson scored twice on three shots and added two PIM in a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals. Anderson has three goals over his last two games and is clicking well with Alex Newhook and Chris Kreider on the second line. The winger is up to four goals, two assists, 15 shots on net, 15 hits, 10 PIM, and a plus-4 rating across seven appearances this year, showing strong potential to reach the 20-goal mark if top-six usage continues.
