NHL Hockey Player News

Slafkovsky was not on the ice for Friday's practice session, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he will play Saturday vs. the Sabres. Slafkovsky's absence was classified as a therapy day, so he should be available without limitation on Saturday. He enters play with just three points (1G / 2A) in seven games this season.

Kapanen, who has yet to play a game this season, was a full participant on Friday, a sign that he'll be ready to make his season debut soon. He skated as a placeholder for Juraj Slafkovsky in the session, so it doesn't look like he'll play Saturday vs. Buffalo, so expect him to get in a couple of practices fore returning to the lineup.

Lambos was the 26th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old defenseman play one game with Minnesota last season, his NHL debut, but spent most of the season in Iowa (AHL), where he scored 19 points (8G / 11A) in 70 games.

Evangelista was a game-time decision with an illness on Monday, but drew into the lineup. However, he did not play on Tuesday or Thursday as his illness continued to linger. Evangelista's next change to return will be on Saturday afternoon against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old forward has three points (2G / 1A) in five games this season.

Hall exited Carolina's previous game with an upper-body injury after 4:17 time-on-ice and will be out for the foreseeable future. The 34-year-old Hall has five points (3G / 2A) in eight games this season. Seth Jarvis (shoulder) is set to return soon and could be an immediate lineup replacement for Hall.

Taylor Hall (upper body) will be out week to week, but the Hurricanes could get immediate reinforcement with the pending return of Seth Jarvis. The 24-year-old Jarvis underwent surgery in late June to address a shoulder injury and was given a four-to-six-month recovery timeline. Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour said he hopes Jarvis can return for the team's upcoming five-game road trip, but insisted he has not yet been medically cleared. Jarvis scored 66 points (32G / 34A) in 71 games last season.

Xhekaj has been sidelined for the past week and will remain there for at least two more due to a lower-body injury. The 22-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 7:36 time-on-ice and has a -4 plus/minus in two games this season.

Back exited Dallas' previous game after only 3:04 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old bottom-six forward has one assist in seven games this season. He will miss at least two games before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve.

Nelson was a third-round pick of the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and he has yet to make his NHL Debut. The 22-year-old defenseman has four assists in five games with Coachella Valley (AHL) this season.

Roy has missed the past five games with a lower-body injury, but he was a full participant at practice on Friday. It is unclear what his status will be on Saturday afternoon against the New Jersey Devils. The 31-year-old Roy averaged 20:37 time-on-ice, recording 19 points (2G /17A), 116 hits, and 146 blocks in 79 games last season.

Raddysh spent most of the 2025-26 season with the Rangers, but has started 2026-27 with Hartford (AHL), where he has five points (3G / 2A) in five games. The 28-year-old forward has 119 points (52G / 67A) in 373 career NHL games. Jaroslav Chmelar has been sent to Hartford in a corresponding move.

Chmelar was a healthy scratch in New York's previous game, and he will head down to Hartford (AHL). The 23-year-old Czech forward scored zero points and averaged 8:15 time-on-ice in seven games. Taylor Raddysh has been recalled in a corresponding move.

Sourdif is battling an illness, and his status for Saturday afternoon's game against the New Jersey Devils is unclear. The 24-year-old forward scored 35 points (15G / 20A) in 78 games last season, but his ice time has dipped from 14:44 to 13:24 early in 2026-27, and he has scored just one goal in seven outings.

Norris exited Thursday's 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs after 14:50 time on ice and has entered concussion protocol. The 27-year-old Norris has battled injuries throughout his career, but this ailment isn't related to the shoulder injury that has sidelined him for significant parts of the past several seasons.

Toronto did not provide an update on John Tavares after their overtime loss to Buffalo on Thursday. The 36-year-old left the game with a lower-body injury after picking up two assists. He currently has two goals and seven points in seven games played this season.