NHL Hockey Player News

The Sharks will look for a strong performance from Askarov between the pipes on Friday against the Utah Mammoth as they continue to search for their first victory. The 23-year-old Askarov has a high pedigree as the 11th-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and hopes to rebound after a forgetful season-opening performance last week, allowing seven goals on 44 shots (.841 SV%) in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks enter Friday's contest as significant +215 road underdogs against a Mammoth team that is 2-2-0 to start the season.

With Liam O'Brien (undisclosed) making his season debut on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, Yamamoto will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Yamamoto is averaging 11:48 time-on-ice, recording zero points and two shots through four games this season.

O'Brien was sidelined for most of training camp and missed the first four games of the season but will draw into the lineup on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old O'Brien appeared in 28 games for Utah in 2024-25, picking up two assists and 50 PIMs alongside 34 SOG. Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch to accommodate O'Brien's return to the lineup.

Scott Wedgewood has started Colorado's first five games of the 2025-26 season, but Blackwood appears to be nearing a return from a lower-body injury after being sent to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning loan at the beginning of the week. Wedgewood has played well to start the season, but the team will be eager to have the services of Blackwood back in their lineup after posting a 22-12-3 record last season, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.

Danforth was limited to only 6:14 time-on-ice in Buffalo's most recent outing, exiting the contest with a lower-body injury, and will be sidelined for approximately one month. The 32-year-old Danforth was a lineup regular for the Columbus Blue Jackets the previous two seasons and scored 21 points (9G / 12A) in 61 games last season.

Utah's defensive prowess has been on display early in the 2025-26 season, limiting its opposition to only eight total goals. However, they have only translated their defensive effectiveness into a 2-2-0 record due to difficulties offensively, only scoring eight goals in the process. Vejmelka will likely be between the pipes on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, looking to build on an already impressive 1.67 GAA and .929 SV% through three games (2-1-0). The Mammoth enter Friday's contest as sizable -245 home favorites against a Sharks team searching for their first win this season (0-1-2).

Hayden has had short stints with the Kraken in each of the previous three seasons and could get another opportunity to draw into the lineup after being recalled from Coachella Valley (AHL). The 30-year-old veteran forward spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 27 points (11G / 16A) in 44 games with Coachella Valley.

Gaudreau was limited to only 8:02 time-on-ice in Minnesota's most recent game and was subsequently placed on Injured Reserve due to an undisclosed injury. The 32-year-old forward will be out of the lineup for at least one week. He has one point (0G / 1A) through four games this season.

Lyon backstopped the Sabres on Wednesday for their first victory of the season in a high-scoring 8-4 win over the Ottawa Senators, where he saved 32 of 36 shots (.889 SV%). Despite an unfavorable 1-3-0 record, the 32-year-old Lyon has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing start to the 2025-26 season for the Sabres, showcasing a 3.05 GAA and .911 SV%. The Sabres enter Saturday's contest as +125 home underdogs against the Panthers.

Tampa Bay is off to a disappointing 1-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Vasilevskiy on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings as he searches for his first win this season. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has an ugly 4.08 GAA and .870 SV% in three games (0-2-1), but he played well in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. Tampa Bay enters Friday's contest as -151 road favorites against a Red Wings team outscoring their opposition 13-6 during a three-game winning streak.

Santini has had short stints in the NHL in nine of the last 10 seasons, but he has never been able to establish himself as a permanent fixture, limited to only 124 career games. The 30-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he scored 17 points (6G / 11A).

The Blackhawks are off to a serviceable 2-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season, due in part to strong goaltending spearheaded by Spencer Knight. The 24-year-old Knight has a losing 1-2-0 record through three games but has kept his team within reach in each contest, posting a solid 2.35 GAA and .920 SV%. Chicago is riding a two-game winning streak and enters the action on Friday as +123 home underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks team coming off an impressive come-from-behind 5-3 win last night over the Dallas Stars.

Raymond participated in the morning skate but will miss his second straight game. With him still sidelined, Mason Appleton is expected to remain on the Red Wings’ top line, while James van Riemsdyk continues to skate on the top power-play unit.

Minnesota has had an inconsistent 2-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season and hopes to own a winning record after Gustavsson tends the twine on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 26-year-old Gustavsson had a dazzling 26-save shutout in his season-opening performance, but has gone on to allow nine goals on 54 shots (.833 SV%) in his next two contests (0-2-0). The Wild enter Friday's contest as +110 road underdogs against a Capitals team that is 3-1-0 to start the season despite scoring only nine total goals, the lowest in the entire Eastern Conference.

With some injury uncertainty on their blueline, the Rangers recalled Mackey from Hartford (AHL) last week, but he did not draw into the lineup and has been reassigned back to the AHL. The 29-year-old defenseman has primarily spent his career in the AHL, but has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 42 career NHL games.

Trevor van Riemsdyk will return to the press box to serve as a healthy scratch on Friday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Chisholm to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Chisholm played 14:29 time-on-ice in his only outing this season and recorded one assist.

van Riemsdyk played all 82 games for the Capitals last season, recording 21 points (1G / 20A), but will be a healthy scratch for the second time through five games this season. Declan Chisholm will draw into Washington's lineup as van Riemsdyk's replacement.

Strong goaltending helped spearhead the Capitals into first place in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25, a trend that has continued early in the 2025-26 season. Through four games this season (3-1-0), the Capitals have allowed a league-low seven total goals. Thompson has led the way with a 2.01 GAA and .921 SV% in three outings (2-1-0), and will return to the crease on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. Washington enters Friday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Minnesota team that is clicking at an outrageous 47.6% on the powerplay through four games (2-2-0).

Dubois, who missed Tuesday’s game due to a lower-body injury, skated in a non-contact jersey on Friday. His limited participation, combined with the Capitals’ recall of Ethen Frank earlier in the day, suggests that Dubois is unlikely to play tonight vs. the Wild. Still, his presence on the ice is an encouraging sign that a return could be coming soon.

With Pierre-Luc Dubois (lower body) still banged up, the Capitals have recalled Ethen Frank for the Hershey Bears (AHL) for precautionary reasons. The 27-year-old Frank made his NHL debut in 2024-25, playing 24 games with the Capitals and recording 7 points (4G/3A).