NHL Hockey Player News

For the ninth time in the last 10 games, Utah HC will likely turn to Vejmelka between the pipes. Since Connor Ingram went down with an upper-body injury, Vejmelka has been tremendous. The 28-year-old Czech netminder is flaunting the best season of his career, posting a 2.41 GAA and .917 SV% in 12 games (3-6-1). Utah HC enters the action on Monday as +120 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club that played last night, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 3-1.

Colton suffered a lower-body injury at the end of October and was given a 6-8 week recovery timeline. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Colton was leading Colorado with eight goals in 10 game.

Kochetkov has not played since November 23rd due to a concussion but his presence at practice along with Yaniv Perets being reassigned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL) is an indication that he is likely on route to return to the crease. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.42 GAA and .904 SV% in 13 appearances this season (10-2-0).

Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a last-minute scratch on Friday due to a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old Pageau has 10 points (5G / 5A) in 23 games this season and is considered a game-time decision.

Lafferty exited Friday's game against the Vancouver Canucks after playing only 4:02 time-on-ice. Lafferty has just one goal and zero assists in 21 games this season, being held off the scoresheet in nine straight.

Klapka has been held off the scoresheet in six games with the Flames and has been sent down to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). In a corresponding move, the Flames recalled Jakob Pelletier.

Pelletier was the 26th overall pick of the Flames in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old scored three points (1G / 2A) in 13 games with the Flames last season. He has been productive during the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring 19 points (3G / 16A) in 20 contests.

With several injuries on the blueline for the Maple Leafs, Myers will draw into the lineup for the second time this season. The 27-year-old has 159 games of NHL experience but has only appeared in 17 games since the 2021-22 season.

The Rangers snapped a five-game losing skid on Saturday with Jonathan Quick between the pipes but will revert to Shesterkin on Monday against the New Jersey Devils. Shesterkin has lost four straight (0-4-0) but has played serviceably, posting a .917 SV%. The 28-year-old netminder has a .293 GAA and .913 SV% in 17 games this season (8-8-1). The Rangers enter the action on Monday as +110 home underdogs against a Devils club that has scored 10 goals in their last two games (1-1-0).

Grans was the second-round pick, 35th overall, of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut this season, playing six games, scoring one point (0G / 1A), and averaging 14:28 time-on-ice.

Roy was the fifth-round pick, 150th overall, of the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old scored nine points (4G / 5A) in 23 games with the Canadiens last season, his first taste of NHL action. He has been stellar with the Laval Rocket (AHL) this season, scoring 16 points (8G / 8A) in 17 games.

Kirkland played only 1:05 time-on-ice before exiting Friday's game with a lower-body injury and did not play on Sunday. The 28-year-old Kirkland has played a career-high 21 games this season, scoring eight points (2G / 6A) while averaging 9:42 time-on-ice.

McCabe exited Saturday's 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after only 11:27 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old McCabe is averaging 21:20 time-on-ice, has five points (0G / 5A) in 23 games, and is not expected to be out of the lineup for long.

Kochetkov has not played since November 23rd due to a concussion but his presence at practice along with Yaniv Perets being reassigned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL) is an indication that he is likely on route to return to the crease. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.42 GAA and .904 SV% in 13 appearances this season (10-2-0).

Stillman was signed by the Hurricanes in the offseason but has yet to play a game in the 2024-25 season. His last NHL game was in the 2022-23 season as a member of the Buffalo Sabres when he had three points (1G / 2A) in 18 games. He has one point (0G / 1A) in four games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) this season.

Perets was recalled last week after Pyotr Kochetkov suffered an upper-body injury. His reassignment to the AHL is likely an indication that Kochetkov is ready to return to the lineup. Perets is 1-2-0 with a 3.67 GAA and .825 SV% with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) this season.

Middleton was the fourth-round pick, 101st overall, of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has been a product of the Avalanche since the 2020-21 season and played three NHL games in that campaign, his only exposure to the NHL in his career. He has four points (0G / 4A) in 17 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

The Rangers snapped a five-game losing skid on Saturday with Jonathan Quick between the pipes but will revert to Shesterkin on Monday against the New Jersey Devils. Shesterkin has lost four straight (0-4-0) but has played serviceably, posting a .917 SV%. The 28-year-old netminder has a .293 GAA and .913 SV% in 17 games this season (8-8-1). The Rangers enter the action on Monday as +110 home underdogs against a Devils club that has scored 10 goals in their last two games (1-1-0).

Jimmy Vesey will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Brodzinski to re-enter the lineup for the Rangers. The 31-year-old Brodzinski is averaging 10:05 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 13 games this season.

Jonny Bordzinski will draw back into the Rangers lineup on Monday, resulting in Vesey being a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Vesey is averaging a career-low 9:53 time-on-ice, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in 13 games.