Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Anaheim Ducks' 25-year-old goaltender Lukas Dostal will guard the cage at home against the Seattle Kraken on Monday. Since returning from a long-term upper-body injury, Dostal has logged four games, posting a 2-2-0 record and an .864 save percentage. Despite these somewhat underwhelming recent numbers, he is expected to continue seeing the bulk of the workload moving forward, even with Petr Mrazek (lower body) back in the lineup.
St. Louis Blues waiver claim Jonatan Berggren has made an immediate impact, recording two goals and four points in his first three games, including a three-point outing against Florida. The 25-year-old has quickly ascended to a first-line role, skating on the top line and power play, averaging a career-high 15:12 of ice time. Coach Jim Montgomery praised his 'elite passes, hockey sense, vision, and puck skills.' Berggren will continue on the top line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich against Tampa Bay, aiming to sustain his impressive start after inconsistent play with the Red Wings.
John Gibson has been highlighted as an essential fantasy hockey pickup for the upcoming week. The Detroit Red Wings goaltender is featured in a Monday guide for fantasy hockey enthusiasts looking to set their lineups and make key additions.
Thatcher Demko is confirmed to start Monday's road game against Philadelphia, returning to the crease for his fifth start in the Canucks' last six games after resting Saturday. The 30-year-old netminder has been stellar in his previous three outings, posting an impressive 3-0-0 record with a 0.67 GAA and a .972 save percentage. His strong play has also led to him being highlighted as an essential fantasy hockey pickup for the week ahead.
Teuvo Teravainen was absent from Monday's practice due to an apparent foot injury sustained blocking a shot Saturday. The Blackhawks winger is now in danger of missing Tuesday's game against the Flyers. Teravainen is currently in a nine-game pointless streak, having recorded 17 points through 34 games this season, putting his 50-point threshold for the first time since 2022-23 at risk. His potential absence may not significantly impact fantasy managers.
Elias Pettersson (upper body) participated in Monday's morning skate but will not play against Philadelphia, marking his eighth consecutive missed game. The Canucks hope he can return shortly after the Christmas break, though an exact timeline remains unclear. This season, Pettersson has accumulated eight goals, 22 points, 54 shots on net, 51 blocked shots, and 28 hits across 28 appearances.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is slated to start Monday's home game against St. Louis, marking his third consecutive appearance since returning from a seven-game absence due to an undisclosed injury. The veteran backstop holds a 1-1-0 record with a 3.07 GAA in his last two starts. He will face a Blues team that ranks third-worst in the NHL, averaging just 2.54 goals per game.
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, sidelined since Dec. 13 with an injury, has missed four games but is improving and has been skating. Head coach Todd McLellan confirmed Kane will not play before Christmas, missing Tuesday's game against Dallas, but there's a good chance he could return for the Dec. 27 game against Carolina. Kane is two goals shy of 500 career goals and eight points from tying Mike Modano as the highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis (upper body) has been deemed week-to-week by the team. He sustained the injury in Friday's shootout loss to Florida and was subsequently moved to injured reserve before Saturday's game. Jarvis is expected to be out for an extended period, with no clear timeline for his return. This season, he has recorded 19 goals, 29 points, 110 shots on net, and 43 hits over 34 outings.
J.T. Miller (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve by the New York Rangers, who recalled Brett Berard from AHL Hartford in a corresponding move. Miller, who sat out Sunday's game, is considered week-to-week after sustaining the injury in Saturday's shootout win over Philadelphia. His return timeline is currently unclear. Through 35 appearances this season, Miller has tallied 10 goals, 22 points, 77 shots on net, and 74 hits.
David Rittich will start in goal for the New York Islanders at home against New Jersey on Tuesday. He is coming off a 30-save performance in Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to Buffalo. Rittich holds a 7-3-2 record with one shutout, a 2.53 GAA, and a .908 save percentage across 12 appearances this season. Marcus Hogberg has been recalled from AHL Bridgeport as his backup, allowing Ilya Sorokin to rest a nagging undisclosed injury.
Jordan Binnington will be between the pipes for the St. Louis Blues on the road against the Lightning on Monday. This will be only his second appearance in the Blues' last six outings, having suffered an overtime loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Binnington has struggled recently, earning just one victory in his last five contests, posting a 1-3-1 record with a 4.64 GAA during that span.
Bo Horvat (lower body) is targeting a return to play on Saturday against the Rangers. This news rules him out for Tuesday's game against the Devils but indicates progress from his injury. Prior to getting hurt, Horvat had five goals and one assist in seven games, including three power-play points. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is expected to continue filling his second-line role during his absence.
Jacob Fowler is slated to start Tuesday's road game against the Boston Bruins. This start comes after Fowler recorded his first career shutout on Saturday against the Penguins. In four starts for Montreal this season, Fowler has a 2-1-1 record with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. This will be the Canadiens' final game before the holiday break.
Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders will be sidelined through the league's holiday break due to a "small nagging issue." The goaltender, who had a five-game winning streak earlier in December, has struggled in his last two starts with a 3.15 GAA and .880 save percentage. David Rittich is the likely starter against New Jersey, with Marcus Hogberg recalled on emergency conditions.
Ilya Solovyov has been recalled by the Colorado Avalanche after a three-game conditioning assignment with the AHL's Colorado Eagles, where he recorded no points but was +1 with 4 SOG playing top-pair minutes. Claimed off waivers in October, the 6'3", 208-pound defenseman is being prepared for a larger role, potentially stepping into Samuel Girard's spot if a trade occurs. His recall ahead of Sunday's 5-1 win over the Wild signals the Avalanche's plan to utilize his physical presence, which is seen as crucial for postseason play.
Samuel Girard is a central figure in ongoing trade discussions, with the Colorado Avalanche reportedly looking to move the defenseman. Despite being an impactful player, his physical presence is questioned for postseason play, especially after a sternum injury in 2022. The Avalanche are seeking a third-line center like Michael Rasmussen, and a proposed trade would send Girard to the Detroit Red Wings, who need a left-handed, puck-moving defenseman. Girard, in the sixth year of a $35M deal with a nine-team no-trade list, has seen decreased ice time this season, recording 1 goal and 6 assists in 20 games, scoring his first goal Dec 16.
Anton Forsberg has assumed the No. 1 goaltender position for the Los Angeles Kings as Darcy Kuemper recovers from an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old has stopped 57 of 61 shots, posting a 1-1-0 record in two starts since stepping into the role. With the Kings scheduled for three games this week, including a back-to-back, Forsberg is expected to see significant playing time if Kuemper remains unavailable. He is considered an attractive short-term fantasy option, benefiting from a defensive-minded team.
Edmonton Oilers forward Jack Roslovic was activated from long-term injured reserve and returned to action Sunday after an 11-game absence. In the Oilers' 4-3 win over Vegas, Roslovic played 15:29, recording two shots on goal and two hits while skating alongside Leon Draisaitl. The 28-year-old had amassed 10 goals, 18 points, and 53 shots in 23 appearances before his injury. He is considered a solid fantasy pickup for managers seeking offensive help during Edmonton's upcoming two-game week.
The San Jose Sharks have decided to keep 19-year-old defenseman Sam Dickinson with the team, opting against sending him to the World Junior Championship. The 2024 11th overall pick has appeared in 27 of 36 games this season, recording one goal and two assists, while averaging nearly 15 minutes of ice time. GM Mike Grier and coach Ryan Warsofsky discussed the move, with Warsofsky expressing reservations about sending him back to junior hockey to establish strong NHL habits. Dickinson previously competed in the 2023 WJC.
