Smith was held out of the Rangers lineup for their previous few games as they anticipated trading the impending UFA, a move that came to fruition on Thursday, sending him to his former club, the Golden Knights. The 33-year-old Smith averaged 15:36 time-on-ice and scored 29 points (10G / 19A) in 58 games with the Rangers this season.
With Jimmy Vesey making his Colorado debut on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, Wood will be the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Wood is averaging 11:22 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 28 games this season.
With Josh Manson returning from injury and Keaton Middleton drawing back into the lineup, Oliver Kylington and Sam Malinski will be healthy scratches on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Malinski is averaging 15:30 time-on-ice and has seven points (2G / 5A) in 59 games this season.
Middleton has not played since February 22nd but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old Middleton is averaging 10:45 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in a career-high 28 games this season.
With Josh Manson returning from injury and Keaton Middleton drawing back into the lineup, Oliver Kylington and Sam Malinski will be healthy scratches on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old Kylington is averaging 12:59 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 13 games with Colorado this season.
Hamilton was limited to only 5:15 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, exiting the contest in the first period due to a lower-body injury. Hamilton has 40 points (9G / 31A) in 63 games, including 15 points on the powerplay. After Hamilton left the game on Tuesday, Luke Hughes occupied his spot on New Jersey's top powerplay unit.
Fresh off a five-year, $4.75M AAV contract extension, Vejmelka will be between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Vejmelka allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.45 GAA and .910 SV% in 38 games this season (16-16-4). Utah HC enters the action on Thursday as -132 road favorites against a Red Wings club amid a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Ellis was a third-round pick, 93rd overall, of the Blues in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old goalie has yet to play an NHL game but has had an impressive season in the AHL, posting a 2.41 GAA and .926 SV% in 31 games (19-7-3) with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
The acquisition of Sturm will add some depth to the Panthers' bottom-six forward group. The 29-year-old Sturm averaged 10:08 time-on-ice and scored 13 points (7G / 6A) in 47 games with the Sharks this season.
Traff was a third-round pick, 91st overall, of the Devils in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has yet to play and NHL game. He scored seven points (3G / 4A) in 25 games with HV7a Jonkoping (SweHL) this season.
Tanev is an impending UFA will be held out of Seattle's lineup on Thursday as the team anticipates to trade him before Friday's trade deadline. The 33-year-old Tanev has 17 points (9G / 8A) in 60 games this season.
Dumoulin will add some defensive depth and Stanley Cup pedigree to the Devils blueline. The 33-year-old defenseman averaged 19:48 time-on-ice and scored 16 points (2G / 14A) through 61 games with the Ducks this season.
Hebig an undrafted 28-year-old forward that has yet to play an NHL game. He has spent most of the previous seven seasons in the AHL, including scoring 37 points (20G / 17A) in 48 games with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) this season.
The Canadiens have won five straight, continuing their push for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Montembeault was solid in his most recent outing, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Montembeault has only allowed eight goals in his last four games (4-0-0), posting a solid .927 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +205 road underdogs against an Oilers squad that has lost six of their previous seven games (1-6-0).
Foligno exited last Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights after only 6:40 time-on-ice due to a back injury and has not played since, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 37-year-old Foligno is averaging 16:14 time-on-ice and has 26 points (12G / 14A) in 58 games this season.
Helenius has regularly been sent back and forth between Los Angeles and Ontario (AHL) this season. The 22-year-old rookie forward is averaging 8:33 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 28 games with the Kings this season.
Colorado acquired Vesey in a trade from the New York Rangers last week and he will suit up for his team debut on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old Vesey averaged 10:40 time-on-ice and scored six points (4G / 2A) in 33 games with the Rangers this season.
With John Klingberg (undisclosed) and Mattias Ekholm (illness) out of the lineup on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, Troy Stecher will re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Stecher is averaging 13:48 time-on-ice and has six points (3G / 3A) in 47 games this season.
Skinner has regularly been in and out of the Oilers' lineup lately, and will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 32-year-old Skinner is averaging 12:28 time-on-ice and has 21 points (11G / 10A) in 53 games this season.
With John Klingberg (undisclosed) and Mattias Ekholm (illness) out of the lineup on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, Dineen will enter the lineup for his season debut. The 26-year-old defenseman has played 34 career NHL games, all in the 2021-22 season with the Arizona Coyotes. He has 29 points (5G / 24A) in 45 games with the Bakersfield Condors this season.
