NHL Hockey Player News

Backstrom has announced he will "step away from the game" indefinitely as he takes time to focus on his health. In 2022, Backstrom had hip resurfacing surgery that forced him to miss the majority of the 2022-23 season. The 35-year-old Sweedish center iceman has played 1105 career games, all with the Washington Capitals, registering 1033 points (271G / 762A), but has only scored 22 points (7G / 15A) in 47 games since his surgery, a 0.47 point-per-game pace, down significantly from the 0.96 pace he had prior.

Hart will start for the Flyers on Wednesday after allowing three goals on 33 shots in their most recent contest, a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Hart has been splendid between the pipes early this season, recording a 2.30 GAA and .921 SV% through seven games (4-3-0) and is one of the main reasons why last season's 26th-ranked Flyers are off to a respectable 4-4-1 start this season. The Flyers are slight -106 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that ranks eighth in the Atlantic Division.

Talbot will start for the Kings on Tuesday as they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. Talbot, who has a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% through six games (3-2-1), has been the clear favourite between the pipes for the Kings as backup Phoenix Copley has struggled tremendously with a horrid 4.98 GAA and .788 SV% through three games (1-0-1). The Kings are +140 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs team that has points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Stastny was a valuable fantasy asset for almost the entirety of his 17-year career, with his production tailing off only in recent seasons. The 37-year-old scored 293 goals and added 529 assists for a total of 822 points across 1145 career games spent with the Avalanche, Blues, Jets, Golden Knights, and the Hurricanes. He most recently played 73 games with Carolina last season, tallying nine goals and 13 assists.

The hit occurred in the third period of Monday's game against the Panthers. McAvoy received a match penalty on the play and was ejected from the game. It's the second suspension of McAvoy's after he was previously suspended one game for an illegal hit to the head on then Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson in Game Six of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semi-finals. He will be eligible to return on October 11th in Montreal.

Barabanov was placed on the injured reserve last Thursday (Oct 26th) due to an upper-body injury and is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks. The 29-year-old left-winger struggled much like his fellow Shark counterparts to start the season, failing to pick up a point and collecting nine SOG in six games played before his injury.

In the Nashville Predators' ninth game of the season, the team will finally turn to Lankinen for his first start of the year. Lankinen played 40 minutes earlier this season in relief of Juuse Saros, saving 17 of 19 shots, and is coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he was a very serviceable backup for the Predators, recording a 2.75 GAA and .916 SV%. The Predators are +129 road underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks team that is off to a terrific start this season (5-2-1), averaging 3.88 goals per game, fifth-best in the league.

Gagner has played four games with the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL this season, registering five points in three games (1G / 4A) and has now been signed by the Edmonton Oilers to a one-year, $775,000 contract. This will mark Gagner's third stint with the Oilers, who played with the organization from 2007-2014 and again from 2018-2020. He is expected to replace Adam Erne, who was placed on waivers by the Oilers earlier today.

In the Nashville Predators' ninth game of the season, the team will finally turn to Lankinen for his first start of the year. Lankinen played 40 minutes earlier this season in relief of Juuse Saros, saving 17 of 19 shots, and is coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he was a very serviceable backup for the Predators, recording a 2.75 GAA and .916 SV%. The Predators are +129 road underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks team that is off to a terrific start this season (5-2-1), averaging 3.88 goals per game, fifth-best in the league.

Gagner has played four games with the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL this season, registering five points in three games (1G / 4A) and has now been signed by the Edmonton Oilers to a one-year, $775,000 contract. This will mark Gagner's third stint with the Oilers, who played with the organization from 2007-2014 and again from 2018-2020. He is expected to replace Adam Erne, who was placed on waivers by the Oilers earlier today.

Prosvetov is likely to make his first start as a member of the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday after making his first appearance last week, saving all five shots he faced entering the game in relief of Alexandar Georgiev. Prosvetov has 14 NHL games under his belt (4-6-1), accumulated over the last three seasons as a member of the Arizona Coyotes, averaging a 4.03 GAA and .873 SV%. The Avalanche have been outscored 8-0 in their last two games (0-2-0) but are still -229 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that ranks second worst in the league offensively, averaging only 1.86 goals per game.

Benning was averaging 18:29 time-on-ice through eight games with the Sharks where he tallied a single point (0G / 1A) before being placed on the injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Benning's placement on IR coincides with the call-up of Nikita Okhotyuk, who is returning from a conditioning stint with the San Jose Barracuda.

Makar briefly left the Avalanche game on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres after being pushed into the boards by Kyle Okposo but returned shortly after. He has nine points (3G / 6A) in eight games and is expected to be a game-time decision on Wednesday. Look for Devon Toews to assume his role on the top powerplay unit. If Makar is unable to go, Caleb Jones, who was recalled earlier from the Colorado Eagles (AHL), could be an option to slide into the lineup.

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Byram could play on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blue but will be a game-time decision. The 22-year-old defenseman has two points (1G / 1A) in eight games while averaging 18:40 time-on-ice. Caleb Jones was recalled earlier from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and could be an option to slide into the lineup if Byram is unable to go.

After a terrific start to the AHL season with the Colorado Eagles, recording eight points (6G / 2A) in six games, Tufte has been recalled by the Avalanche. Tufte has only played 13 games in his NHL career, all with the Dallas Stars, in which he has recorded one point (1G / 0A). He is expected to make his Avalanche debut on Wednesday playing on a line with Ryan Johansen and Valeri Nichushkin.

Erne was placed on waivers by the Oilers on Monday and, if he clears, will be assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. In six games with the Oilers, Erne recorded zero points, five penalty minutes, and a -1 plus/minus rating.

Demko will be the starter for the Canucks on Tuesday as he looks to continue his terrific start to the season. After five games (3-2-0), Demko has a dazzling 1.91 GAA and .936 SV%, aided most recently by a 27-save shutout victory on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. The Canucks as a whole are rolling, with points in four consecutive games (3-0-1) and are -138 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that ranks in the bottom third of league offence, averaging 2.88 goals per game.

Demko appears to be the starter for the Canucks on Tuesday as he looks to continue his terrific start to the season. After five games (3-2-0), Demko has a dazzling 1.91 GAA and .936 SV%, aided most recently by a 27-save shutout victory on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. The Canucks as a whole are rolling, with points in four consecutive games (3-0-1) and are -138 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that ranks in the bottom third of league offence, averaging 2.88 goals per game.