Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Friday after missing six games. He is slated to back up David Rittich Saturday against the Maple Leafs and is expected to return to the crease Tuesday versus New Jersey. Sorokin holds a 12-10-2 record with a 2.55 GAA and a .910 save percentage across 24 appearances this season.
Islanders center Bo Horvat will miss at least one week due to a lower-body injury, sidelining him for a minimum of the next four games. Since returning from a prior injury, Horvat had recorded two goals on 11 shots, seven hits, and five blocks in four games. Jean-Gabriel Pageau will move to center the second line during Horvat's absence, filling in for the veteran forward.
Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (lower body) is expected to return to play Saturday against the Sabres, provided he is activated from injured reserve and experiences no setbacks. He has missed the last four games due to his injury. Prior to his absence, the 28-year-old blueliner was on an impressive five-game point streak, which included four multi-point performances.
Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has been officially selected to represent Team USA at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 6-22. This marks a significant international appearance for the Red Wings captain, who previously proved a vital force for Team USA during the highly successful Four Nations Face-Off tournament. During that competition, Larkin notably scored the game-winning goal against Team Canada in the preliminary round, highlighting his impact on the national stage.
The Edmonton Oilers have recalled forward Quinn Hutson from their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Hutson has been a standout offensive force in the AHL, recording an impressive 17 goals in his last 16 games. His strong performance places him 3rd in the AHL with a total of 19 goals, earning him this opportunity to potentially ignite the Oilers' struggling offense and secure a permanent spot in the NHL lineup.
Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling has been named to Team Sweden's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster, marking his first Olympic appearance. The 26-year-old previously represented Sweden at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the World Junior Championship. While he failed to record a point at the 4 Nations, Forsling is on pace for two goals and 29 points this season, and his play with defense partner Aaron Ekblad has recently improved. He is expected to play a critical defensive role at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill for Sweden.
Seattle Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko, 24, has been named to Team Finland's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. His selection acknowledges previous contributions, including playing on Finland's 2025 4 Nations Face-Off roster. Despite an injury-hampered second season with the Kraken, where he's recorded 2 goals and 9 points in 22 games, Kakko is beginning to find his game again. His inclusion highlights Finland's reliance on his past international performance.
Seattle Kraken winger Eeli Tolvanen, 26, has been named to Team Finland's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. His selection is based on stellar play, ranking second on the Kraken with 7 goals and 25 points in 38 games. Tolvanen is on pace for career highs in assists (39) and points (54), showcasing a new level of playmaking. After a surprise omission from the 4 Nations Face-Off, he earned his Olympic spot through strong performance, including 7 goals and 9 points in 8 games at the 2025 World Championship.
Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen, 27, has been named to Team Finland's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. Luostarinen, who also played for Finland at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, is averaging a career-high 16:50 of ice time this season. He has notched 4 goals and 18 points, putting him on pace to equal his career high in points. He is expected to play a key role alongside Anton Lundell for the Finnish squad.
Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell, 24, has been named to Team Finland's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. Having represented Finland at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, Lundell is expected to play a pivotal role, especially with Aleksander Barkov's absence. He has stepped up for the Panthers this season, scoring 13 goals and 31 points in 39 games while averaging a career-high 19:08 of ice time, demonstrating his readiness for increased responsibility.
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, 29, has been named to Team Finland's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. Mikkola, who also represented Finland at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, has been stellar on the Panthers' blueline this season. He's recorded 1 goal and 6 points in 39 games, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. Coach Paul Maurice heavily relies on Mikkola in both offensive and defensive zones, where he starts the most shifts among Panthers defenders.
Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has been officially named to the 25-man 2026 U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Roster. Matthews was among the initial six players announced in June for the tournament taking place in Milan, Italy. The U.S. team, led by New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan, will begin its gold medal quest on February 12 against Latvia. This marks the NHL's return to the Olympics for players since 2014, with the U.S. aiming for its first gold since 1980.
Rasmus Ristolainen has been named to Team Finland for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, marking his first Olympic appearance. The 31-year-old defenseman, in his fifth season with the Philadelphia Flyers, recently returned to action two and a half weeks ago after recovering from a second triceps tendon rupture. Ristolainen previously scored a gold-winning goal for Finland at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship and last played for the national team at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Edmonton Oilers' Connor Ingram remains a decent fantasy option despite allowing six goals on Wednesday, especially with Tristan Jarry sidelined. Ingram started four of the last six outings, winning the first two. He faces short-term competition from Calvin Pickard (3.69 GAA, .874 SV% in 14 appearances). Ingram is expected to continue getting work for the lethal scoring Oilers, with his next 10 opponents ranking in the bottom-half of the NHL in goals per game.
Seattle Kraken's Jared McCann is back after an extended absence, having previously been injured again in early December. In his second game on Monday, he potted a power-play goal on three shots, engaged in a fight, and skated 16:05. He then scored another marker with four pucks on net on Thursday. McCann is touted as a top fantasy pickup, expected to remain heavily involved in all attacking areas for the Kraken.
Matty Beniers scored two goals and posted a plus-3 rating in Thursday's 4-1 win against the Predators. He netted the opening goal at 3:48 and added a second just over seven minutes later, significantly boosting the Kraken's early lead. This performance follows a December with one goal and six assists over 13 outings. The 23-year-old center now totals six goals, 23 points, 67 shots, and 31 blocked shots through 38 appearances. While a 50-point season is possible, offensive consistency remains a key area for improvement.
Ilya Mikheyev scored two goals on three shots in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Stars. This marks his second two-goal game in his last four outings, despite a recent absence for the birth of his child. The 31-year-old winger is boosting a depleted Blackhawks offense, now totaling eight goals, 12 points, 64 shots on net, and a minus-5 rating through 36 appearances this season. He plays in the top six at even strength but does not receive power-play time.
The Chicago Blackhawks secured a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars, marking their best performance since Connor Bedard went down with an injury. The team is now 2-1-1 since the holiday break, with both wins against Dallas. While Bedard remains sidelined, the Blackhawks are showing signs of improvement, with players like Artyom Levshunov and Ilya Mikheyev stepping up. The team's recent success suggests a positive turn despite Bedard's absence, as they prepare to face the Washington Capitals next.
Auston Matthews (lower body) returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup Thursday after missing one game, immediately exploding for a hat trick and an assist in a 6-5 comeback win over the Jets. This marked his 14th career NHL hat trick, with his third goal being the game-winner and placing him one goal shy of Mats Sundin's franchise record. Matthews, who had been in a slump (15G, 12A in 33 games), now has 4 goals, 4 assists, and 19 shots over a personal three-game point streak (interrupted by injury). He centered the top line and played on the first power play unit.
Juuse Saros is confirmed to start in goal for the Nashville Predators on the road against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. Saros holds a 15-12-3 record with a 2.93 GAA and .898 save percentage across 30 appearances this season. In his last outing Monday, he stopped 28 of 31 shots in a 4-3 victory over Utah.
