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NHL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Monday, December 15, 2025

Bedard Sidelined Until 2026 with Upper Body Injury, No Surgery Needed

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Blackhawks' leading scorer Connor Bedard has been placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury, sustained late in Friday's loss. He will not require surgery but is expected to be sidelined until the calendar flips to 2026, missing the upcoming road trip. The transaction is retroactive to December 12, making him eligible to return on December 19, though his return timeline is uncertain. Frank Nazar or Jason Dickinson are expected to fill his first-line center role. Bedard has recorded 19 goals, 25 assists for 44 points, and 103 shots in 31 appearances this season.

Jacob Melanson Makes Season Debut for Kraken, Records Seven Hits

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Jacob Melanson made his season debut for the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, skating in his second career NHL game. He was recalled after Jared McCann was placed on injured reserve and played on the fourth line alongside Ben Meyers and Tye Kartye. The 22-year-old forward recorded seven hits in just 7:47 of ice time, bringing energy and physicality. Melanson has notched seven goals and 14 points this season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Kraken lost 3-1 to the Buffalo Sabres in his debut.

DeSmith to Start Against Kings, Boasts Strong Season Stats

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Casey DeSmith will start in goal for the Dallas Stars' home game against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. This will be his second start in the last seven games, but he has been effective, holding a 7-1-3 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .920 save percentage across 11 appearances this season. The Kings present a favorable matchup, ranking fifth-worst in the league with 2.65 goals per game.

Ethan Del Mastro Called Up to Blackhawks from AHL Rockford

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Defenseman Ethan Del Mastro has been called up to the Chicago Blackhawks from the Rockford IceHogs. He has spent most of the season in the AHL, where he has recorded 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 27 games. This marks his second stint with the NHL club this season, having played one NHL game previously in 2025-26.

Brossoit Rejoins Blackhawks After Conditioning Stint, Hip Issue Resolved

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Goaltender Laurent Brossoit has rejoined the Chicago Blackhawks after successfully completing his conditioning stint with AHL Rockford. During his three appearances for the IceHogs, he posted a 2-1-0 record with a .900 save percentage and a 3.39 goals against average, even scoring his first career pro goal (empty net). Brossoit's hip issue is reportedly behind him, and he is now expected to eventually break into the Blackhawks' rotation alongside Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom.

Vasilevskiy Not Cleared to Play, Remains on Injured Reserve

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Andrei Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) participated in Monday's game-day skate but has not yet been cleared to play. While he was initially considered a possibility for Monday's game against the Panthers, the new target for his return is before the Christmas break. The veteran netminder remains on injured reserve, with Jonas Johansson continuing to start in his absence for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Skinner Added to Penguins Roster After Resolving Visa Issues

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Stuart Skinner has resolved his visa issues and was officially added to the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster on Monday. The move makes him available to potentially make his Penguins debut against Edmonton on Tuesday. With the team's recent struggles in protecting leads, the starting goaltender position is currently open, offering Skinner a significant opportunity to establish himself in Pittsburgh.

Shesterkin Starts Against High-Scoring Ducks After Recent Struggles

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Igor Shesterkin will start in goal for the New York Rangers' home game against Anaheim on Monday. He recently made 13 saves in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win over Montreal. Over his last three outings, Shesterkin has a 1-1-1 record, allowing 10 goals on 84 shots. This season, he holds a 13-10-3 record with a 2.53 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 26 appearances. Anaheim ranks second in the league with 3.44 goals per game.

Hellebuyck to Start for Jets Against Ottawa After Strong Win

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Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal for the Winnipeg Jets' home game against Ottawa on Monday. He is coming off a strong performance, making 24 saves in Saturday's 5-1 victory over Washington. This season, Hellebuyck holds a 9-6-0 record with a 2.41 GAA and a .916 save percentage through 15 appearances. Ottawa currently ranks 15th in the league, averaging 3.06 goals per game.

Johansson to Make Seventh Consecutive Start for Lightning

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Jonas Johansson was the first goalie off the ice during Monday's morning skate, signaling he will start at home against the Panthers. This will be his seventh consecutive start for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Over his last six outings, Johansson has posted a 2-3-1 record with a 2.19 GAA and a .916 save percentage. The Panthers currently rank 12th in the NHL, averaging 3.13 goals per game this season.

Sabres' Alex Lyon Generating Trade Interest Amid Goalie Surplus

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Alex Lyon is generating trade chatter as a potential candidate for the Buffalo Sabres, who have a surplus of goaltenders. Lyon, signed to a two-year, $3 million deal, has posted a 6-6-1 record with a .905 save percentage, 2.99 goals-against average, and one shutout in 17 games this season. The Edmonton Oilers, who previously showed interest, and the Philadelphia Flyers are identified as two potential landing spots if the Sabres elect to shop him.

Bo Horvat Remains Strong Contender for Team Canada Olympic Roster Despite Injury

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Islanders forward Bo Horvat remains a strong contender for Team Canada's 2026 Winter Olympics roster, despite a current lower-body injury. He is day-to-day with a 1-3 week timetable, expected back well before the Feb. 2 start. Horvat, with 19 goals and 12 assists in 32 games and a 57.8% face-off win rate, is vying for a centerman spot, likely on the fourth line. He's compared to Mark Scheifele and Nick Suzuki for the final spots. While some Islanders fans worry about injury risk, GM Mathieu Darche will not prevent him from representing his country.

Dobes Shines in Canadiens' 4-1 Victory Over Oilers

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Jakub Dobes delivered a stellar performance, backstopping the Montreal Canadiens to a crucial 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers. Despite uncertainty surrounding the team's goaltending situation, Dobes made key saves, including a two-minute five-on-three penalty kill, to keep the Canadiens in the game and inspire his team. The win, which saw goals from Ivan Demidov and Joey Veleno, with strong defensive play from Jake Evans against Connor McDavid, marked one of the Canadiens' best games of the season. Coach Martin St-Louis praised Dobes' performance but remained non-committal on future goaltending decisions.

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Husso Poised for Increased Starts with Mrazek Injured, Ducks Face Busy Week

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Anaheim Ducks G Ville Husso could see increased starts this week due to Petr Mrazek's lower-body injury, potentially splitting time with Lukas Dostal. Husso recently had a 3-game winning streak (81 saves on 88 shots) before a 5-goal outing on Dec. 11. Through 8 appearances, he holds a 5-3-0 record with a 3.17 GAA and .888 SV%. With the Ducks playing 4 games, including 2 back-to-backs, Husso is an intriguing pickup, especially with potential matchups against the struggling Blue Jackets.

Doan's Hot Streak Continues: Top-Six Role, Power-Play Time Boosts Fantasy Value

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Buffalo Sabres' Josh Doan, LW/RW, is a strong fantasy pickup, notching 6 goals and 8 assists in his last 16 appearances, with 37 shots and 6 power-play points (2G, 4A). The 23-year-old plays in the top six and on the first power-play unit, pacing for over 25 goals and nearly 60 points this season. Entering a three-game week, Doan offers significant upside for goals, points, shots, and power-play production, making him a valuable addition to rosters.

Ryan Hartman Delivers Three-Point Performance for Wild

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Ryan Hartman (31) delivered a strong performance in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Bruins, scoring a power-play goal and adding two assists for a three-point night. This marks his second goal and fourth point in the last two games. The forward, who plays on the third line and second power-play unit, now has 6 goals, 12 points (3 on power play), 57 shots, 31 hits, 31 blocked shots, and a minus-3 rating across 29 appearances this season for the Minnesota Wild.

Red Wings Recall AHL's Top Scorer John Leonard for Homestand

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The Detroit Red Wings have recalled forward John Leonard from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. Leonard, 27, has been dominant in the minors, leading the AHL with 19 goals and 10 assists for 29 points in just 20 games, scoring in 15 of those contests. He was named the AHL's Player of the Month for November with 24 points in 15 games. With previous NHL experience (70 games, 17 points), Leonard is expected to join the Red Wings as a depth forward for their upcoming four-game homestand.

Kirill Kaprizov Reaches 20 Goals, Fuels Wild's Fourth Straight Win

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Kirill Kaprizov (28) broke out of a slump in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Bruins, scoring two goals on four shots and adding an assist, blocking two shots, and going plus-3. This multi-point effort, his first since Nov. 28, helped the Minnesota Wild secure their fourth straight win and pushed Kaprizov to the 20-goal mark for the season. He now boasts 20 goals, 37 points, 109 shots on net, and a plus-1 rating across 33 appearances.

Jaccob Slavin Returns to Hurricanes After 29-Game Injury Layoff

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Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman Jaccob Slavin made his return to the lineup on Sunday. This marked his first game back after a significant 29-game absence due to a lower-body injury, as confirmed by the team. His return is a key boost for the Hurricanes.

Hughes Scores in Wild Debut After Blockbuster Trade from Canucks

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Quinn Hughes made an immediate impact in his Minnesota Wild debut on Sunday, scoring in the opening minute of the third period to help secure a 6-2 victory over Boston. This strong performance follows his blockbuster trade from Vancouver on Friday, a deal that sent Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi, and a 2026 first-round pick to the Canucks. Several teams showed interest, but the Flyers weren't willing to meet Vancouver's asset demands. His debut was highly anticipated, especially as he was expected to play against his brothers.