NHL Hockey Player News

Portillo played one game with the Kings last season, his NHL debut, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) to record a victory. The 25-year-old goalie was the 67th-overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He was recalled by Los Angeles earlier on Wednesday after Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) was announced day-to-day, but has been reassigned back to the Ontario Reign (AHL) after the Kings acquired goalie Phoenix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Kings lost Copley at the beginning of the month to the Tampa Bay Lightning after placing him on waivers. However, with Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) considered day-to-day, the Kings were in need of another goalie and re-acquired Copley from Tampa Bay via trade for future considerations. Copley is no stranger to the NHL, with 77 games of experience. The 33-year-old Copley spent the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying a 2.49 GAA and .904 SV% in 42 games with the Ontario Reign (24-17-1).

Forbort did not play in Vancouver's 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues and has not practiced since. Through two games this season, the 33-year-old Forbort is averaging 13:56 time-on-ice, recording four blocks and two hits.

Liljegren showed no signs of a injury in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, playing 20:48 time-on-ice, but did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Friday's game against the Utah Mammoth. The 26-year-old Liljegren has zero points a -2 plus/minus through three games this season.

Klingberg did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Friday's game against the Utah Mammoth. The 33-year-old Klingberg has been productive from the blueline early in his tenure with the Sharks, scoring two points (1G / 1A), both on the powerplay, in his first three games.

Kuemper was not at practice on Wednesday and is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The 35-year-old Kuemper is off to a sluggish start to the 2025-26 season, posting a 3.35 GAA and .868 SV% in three games (0-2-1). The Kings recalled goalie Erik Portillo from the Ontario Reign (AHL), but Anton Forsberg is expected to start for the Kings on Thursday against the Penguins.

Anze Kopitar is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was not at practice on Wednesday, but could be an option on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the self-proclaimed final season of his career, the 38-year-old Kopitar is off to a hot start with four points (0G / 4A) in his first four games.

Walman signed a seven-year contract worth $7 million AAV at the beginning of October but has not played a game yet in the 2025-26 season. He is hopeful to debut on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. The 29-year-old Walman had a goal, eight points and a +5 plus/minus in 15 games with the Oilers last season after being acquired at the Trade Deadline from San Jose.

York is slated to skate on Philadelphia's top defensive pairing alongside Travis Sanheim in Thursday's contest against the Winnipeg Jets after being sidelined through the first three games of the season due to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old York averaged 20:47 time-on-ice and tallied 17 points (4G / 13A) in 66 games last season.

Afanasyev signed a one-year extension worth $800K in the offseason after being acquired in a trade from the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Afanasyev spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the KHL, where he scored 21 points (7G / 14A) in 53 games with CSKA Moscow. He will report to the San Jose Barracuda after clearing waivers.

With the announcement that Dmitry Kulikov (upper-body) will be sidelined for five months, the Panthers have opted to claim Donovan Sebrango off of waivers from the Ottawa Senators. The 23-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 20 points (8G / 12A) in 50 games with the Belleville Senators.

Andrae made his season debut in Philadelphia's most recent game, but he has now been reassigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL). The 23-year-old Andrae is in his sophomore season after playing 42 games with the Flyers in 2024-25, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in the process.

Portillo played one game with the Kings last season, his NHL debut, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) to record a victory. The 25-year-old goalie was the 67th-overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. It's unclear if he was recalled for precautionary reasons or if there is an injury concern with one of Darcy Kuemper or Anton Forsberg.

The Islanders have struggled to score goals early in the 2025-26 season, outscored 7-13 in three games (0-3-0), and will attempt a shake-up, sending Tsyplakov to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old forward scored 35 points (10G / 25A) playing 77 games with the Islanders in his first NHL season in 2024-25.

Duchene was on the receiving end of a hit from Minnesota's Jacob Middleton that made contact with his head in Tuesday's 5-2 win. The 34-year-old Duchene was shaken up on the play but skated off the ice under his power, although he was not able to return to the game. Duchene has two points (1G / 1A) in three games this season and will create a sizable void in the Stars' top-six if he misses any time. That said, Stars' head coach Glen Gulutzan seemed optimistic that the injury is not overly concerning and Duchene has not been ruled out for their next game.

The Blackhawks are off to a 1-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Soderblom for the second time on Wednesday when they visit the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old Soderblom hopes to rebound after an upsetting first performance of the season, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins. The Blackhawks enter the action on Wednesday as significant +214 home underdogs against a Blues team that is 2-1-0 to start the season.

Koepke exited Monday's contest against the New York Islanders after only 2:50 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old Koepke recorded his first point of the season, an assist, before suffering the injury.

Fleury departed Saturday's game after taking a shot off the "side of the kneecap" according to head coach Scott Arniel. The 29-year-old Fleury did not play in Winnipeg's following game but appears to be nearing a return after practicing on Wednesday.

After getting the night off in Utah's most recent outing, Vejmelka will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Vejmelka has been solid early in the 2025-26 season but has only been rewarded with a 1-1-0 record, despite an impressive 1.99 GAA and .920 SV%. The Czech goaltending tandem of Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek should continue to be led by Vejmelka, unless his play dictates otherwise. The Mammoth enters Wednesday's contest as sizable -220 home favorites against a Flames team that has been outscored 9-16 in their first four games (1-3-0).