NHL Hockey Player News

Helleson will take a seat on Monday in favour of Pavel Mintyukov. Helleson has two goals and seven assists in 32 games this season.

Mintyukov will slot right back into Anaheim's lineup after sitting out the Ducks game in New Jersey on Saturday. Drew Helleson will sit in his place.

Rempe has not played since October 23rd, injured in a fight with San Jose's Ryan Reaves, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 23-year-old Rempe had one goal and 30 hits in nine games with the Rangers before his injury.

Shesterkin has played well over the past month, but is coming off of one of his worst outings of the season, salvaging a 5-4 overtime victory over the Montreal Canadiens despite allowing four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%). The 29-year-old Shesterkin has a 2.53 GAA and .909 SV% in 26 games this season (13-10-3). The Rangers enter the action on Monday as -122 home favorites against an Anaheim Ducks team that has been outscored 9-3 during a two-game losing skid.

Dunn has continued to be a productive presence from Seattle's blueline, regularly quarterbacking their top powerplay unit. The 29-year-old defenseman has 18 points (5G / 13A) in 30 games this season, including six points (2G / 4A) in his last eight games.

Kakko was acquired by Seattle in the offseason and has not panned out the way they had hoped. The 24-year-old second-overall pick from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has yet to live up to his draft value and has seemingly taken a step back with the Kraken, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 14 games this season.

Backlund exited Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings in the second period due to an undisclosed injury. He was not at practice on Monday and the team has not yet given an update on his status. The 36-year-old forward has 16 points (5G / 11A) in 33 games this season.

Lauzon has not played since November 15th, but appears to be nearing a return after practicing on Monday. The 28-year-old is in his first season in Vegas and has four assists, 28 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 17 games before his injury.

Kuzmenko has regularly been in and out of the lineup lately, but draws back in to replace Quinten Byfield (illness). The 29-year-old Kuzmenko was excellent with the Kings after being acquired before the trade deadline in 2024-25, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games, but has not been able to replicate that success in 2025-26. He played a season-low 6:58 time-on-ice in the Kings' most recent game and has just one point (1G / 0A) in his last 13.

The Kings have lost six of their last 10 (4-2-4), but largely credit Kuemper's strong play for helping the team collect points in four of those losses. Kuemper has been outstanding in December, posting a tremendous 1.62 GAA and .944 SV% in five games (2-2-1). The 35-year-old Kuemper has a 2.21 GAA and .916 SV% in 22 games this season (10-6-6). The Kings enter Monday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has been outscored 9-2 during a two-game losing skid.

Cardwell scored a goal while playing four games for the Sharks this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old forward has nine points (3G / 6A) in 14 games the Barracuda (AHL) this season.

Chernyshov was drafted 33rd overall by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old forward has never played an NHL game, but has been solid in the AHL this season, scoring 23 points (11G / 22A) in 25 games with the San Jose Barracuda.

The Predators have won four of their last five (4-1-0) and will turn to Saros on Monday against the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old Saros was solid in his most recent effort, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 7-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Saros has a 2.60 GAA and .921 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0). The Predators enter Monday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against the Blues.

Kurashev exited Saturday's 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins after only 8:03 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old Kurashev has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 31 games this season. He has only three assists in his last 12 games.

Smith suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday's rollercoaster 6-5 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and will be sidelined for at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 20-year-old second-year player has 29 points (12G / 17A) in 33 games this season.

An illness circulating around the Kings' locker room will sideline two key players on Monday against the Dallas Stars, with Quinten Byfield and Danault unable to play. The 32-year-old Danault is averaging 16:19 time-on-ice and has five assists in 30 games this season.

The Kings will be without their second-line center on Monday, as Byfield tends to an illness. The 23-year-old Byfield has 19 points (4G / 15A) in 31 games this season, but has recently been demoted from the top powerplay unit and has seen his production dip significantly. He has only two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games this season.

Woll has not played since suffering a lower-body injury late in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on December 4th. He was given a roughly one-week recovery timeline, which would hold true if he can return to the crease on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. With Woll's injury history, the Maple Leafs may take the cautious route and alternate starts with Dennis Hildeby, who has played well for them this season.

Eller just returned from a one-week absence to play two games, but returned to the sidelines after just two games, out for the foreseeable future due to a lower-body injury. The veteran 36-year-old forward has six points (2G / 4A) in 28 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in 16 straight.