Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (upper body) will miss his third consecutive game, sitting out Thursday's matchup against Buffalo. Pettersson, who has eight goals and 22 points in 28 appearances this season, was considered doubtful for the game. Despite his absence, he is expected to travel with the Canucks on their upcoming five-game road trip, indicating a potential return as early as Sunday's game in New Jersey.
Colorado Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood (back) is cleared to serve as the backup in Thursday's game versus the Panthers. He was dealing with a tight back after being hit during Tuesday's shootout against the Predators. Wedgewood was initially pulled by a concussion spotter but cleared protocol without issues. He will be on the bench Thursday and is expected to be available to start as early as Saturday's game against the Predators.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who suffered a lower-body injury after blocking a shot and left Wednesday's game against the Flames, is unexpectedly expected to play Thursday against the Oilers. Coach Todd McLellan confirmed Edvinsson is with the team in Edmonton, stating, 'he's in there...getting ready to play.' His initial departure led to an emergency call-up for Erik Gustafsson. Edvinsson has appeared in 28 games this season, tallying 3 goals, 6 assists, and a +6 rating.
Mammoth center Logan Cooley is expected to miss at least eight weeks after suffering a lower-body injury on December 5th in Vancouver. This significant absence will impact the team's lineup for an extended period.
Detroit Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot is set to start on the road against the Oilers on Thursday. He enters the game with a recent skid, posting an 0-2-2 record and allowing 16 goals over his last four appearances, which has led to John Gibson seeing increased playing time. Talbot faces a challenging matchup against an Oilers team that has scored 18 goals in their last three games.
Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (undisclosed) is expected to return to the lineup Thursday against the Sabres, after initially being labeled a game-time decision. The 28-year-old is anticipated to resume his top-line role and first power-play unit duties for the injury-ravaged Canucks.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington is expected to start on the road against Nashville on Thursday. He has struggled recently, surrendering at least three goals in four of his past five outings, posting a 2-2-1 record over that span. For the season, Binnington holds a 7-7-5 record with a 3.29 GAA and an .876 save percentage through 20 appearances.
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros will guard the home goal against the Blues on Thursday, marking his fifth consecutive start. He has shown significant improvement recently, posting a 3-1-0 record while allowing 11 goals on 139 shots over his last four outings. This strong performance comes after a challenging start to the season.
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (upper body) is set to play against Carolina on Thursday, marking his return after missing the past three matches. Carlson, who has six goals and 23 points in 26 appearances this season, was previously a game-time decision. His return means Dylan McIlrath is expected to be a healthy scratch.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (illness) will play Thursday versus San Jose, per Dave McCarthy of NHL.com. Rielly was questionable after missing Wednesday's practice but will not miss a game. The 31-year-old is expected to serve on the top pairing alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson and feature on the top power-play unit against the Sharks.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso is expected to start on the road against the Islanders on Thursday. Husso has won three straight starts, stopping 81 of 88 shots (.920 SV%). He has improved his season record to 5-2-0 with a 2.83 GAA and an .893 SV% through seven appearances. The Islanders rank 20th in goals per game.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson will protect the road goal versus the Devils on Thursday. He has allowed just seven goals over his last four games, going 1-3-0, but snapped his losing streak with a 26-save effort in Tuesday's 6-1 win. Johansson continues a hefty workload with Andrei Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) sidelined, though Vasilevskiy is day-to-day.
New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe is showing encouraging signs in his recovery from an upper-body injury sustained in a fight against Ryan Reaves, which landed him on LTIR and caused him to miss 23 games. The 23-year-old practiced for the first time Tuesday in a non-contact jersey and traveled with the team to Chicago, indicating significant progress toward a return to the lineup.
Center Trevor Kuntar, 24, has been called up by the Buffalo Sabres from AHL Rochester after signing an NHL two-way deal on Wednesday. A 2020 third-round pick by Boston, Kuntar was not qualified by the Bruins and previously signed an AHL deal with the Amerks. He recorded nine goals in 24 games with Rochester this season, making him eligible to join the NHL club for his debut.
Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj, 24, will be a healthy scratch for the Dec. 11 matchup against the Penguins, with Adam Engstrom entering the lineup. This season, Xhekaj has recorded one assist, 21 blocks, 57 hits, 55 PIM, and a minus-7 rating in 27 games. Last season, he posted one goal, six points, 118 PIM, and 180 hits in 70 games for Montreal.
Avalanche forward Gavin Brindley, 21, returns to the lineup tonight against the Panthers after missing 10 games with a lower-body injury. He previously sustained a concussion on Oct. 31 and was sidelined again Nov. 20. Brindley, who scored his first NHL goal Oct. 11 and an OT winner Nov. 9, has tallied 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 18 games this season. He is expected to return to the fourth line.
Trade speculation surrounding Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, a former Norris Trophy winner, has intensified, with reports suggesting a move is inevitable. Betting site PlayNow Sports has released odds for his team on March 7, 2026. The Detroit Red Wings (2.50), New Jersey Devils (3.50), and Philadelphia Flyers (5.00) are among the top contenders, while the Canucks are listed at 10.00.
New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier is taking an indefinite personal leave of absence from the team, as announced by the Devils on Thursday. He will be attending to a family health matter, requiring him to step away from team activities. This unexpected development means Meier will be unavailable for upcoming games, impacting the Devils' forward lines. The team has not provided a specific timeline for his return, emphasizing the personal nature of the situation.
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been activated off injured reserve after recovering from a face injury. He is now poised to return to the lineup Thursday night against the Winnipeg Jets. While initially deemed a game-time decision, his activation clears him to suit up. McAvoy is expected to immediately rejoin the top defensive pairing alongside Hampus Lindholm and resume his role on the top power-play unit, providing a significant boost to the Bruins' blue line.
Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov is expected to start on the road against Colorado on Thursday, according to George Richards of Florida Hockey Now. This season, Tarasov holds a 3-4-1 record with a 2.47 GAA and a .911 save percentage across nine appearances. In his most recent outing on Sunday, he delivered a strong performance, stopping 20 of 21 shots en route to a 4-1 victory over the Islanders, demonstrating solid form ahead of this upcoming start.
