NHL Hockey Player News

Hughes will miss at least five days and two games after being added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Monday. If he misses the minimum amount of time, he'll be eligible to play Saturday vs. the Maple Leafs. Hughes has picked up eight assists in 15 games since the Christmas break. Expect Oliver Ekman-Larsson to take over as the quarterback on the Canucks' top power-play unit.

Copley appeared in relief in the Capitals final game before the All-Star break, stopping 21 of 22 shots in a loss to the Oilers. Copley started the game as Ilya Samsonov's backup because Vitek Vanecek was dealing with an injury. Being recalled post-All-Star break suggests that Vanecek still isn't 100 percent heading into Tuesday's game vs. Columbus.

Muzzin was a full participant for the second straight day but will remain sidelined for Monday's game vs. the Hurricanes. Monitor his status prior to Thursday's game in Calgary.

Norris is set to miss his fourth straight game on Monday and is expected to be out until late February. Everything is "structurally sound with the shoulder," so it doesn't sound like Norris will be sidelined too long term.

Chaput and Valtteri Puustinen were recalled from the AHL to take Evgeni Malkin's (COVID-19) spot on the roster. Chaput, who has three goals and nine assists (12 points) in 25 AHL games this season, could make his Penguins debut on Tuesday.

Puustinen was a seventh-round pick in 2019 and has scored 13 goals with 14 assists (27 points) in 40 AHL games this season. The 22-year-old is in his first season in North America and could make his NHL debut on Tuesday after Evgeni Malkin was moved to the COVID-19 protocol list on Monday.

Malkin will miss at least two games after being added to the COVID-19 protocol list. He will be eligible to be activated for Sunday's game in New Jersey. Jeff Carter will likely shift to the No.2 centre while Malkin is out.

Zaitsev missed the last 13 games with a heel injury that he suffered in Tampa on December 16th. Zaitsev, who has two points (1G / 1A) in 22 games this season, will be back on the top pair with Thomas Chabot.

Gambrell missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but is set to play Monday vs. the Devils. Gambrell has gone pointless in his last eight games and has just one goal and two assists (three points) in 25 games this season.

Brown missed 10 games after breaking his jaw in warmups in Calgary on January 13th. Brown played the game with a broken jaw, scoring one goal with one assist in 19:28 TOI. He has tallied five goals with 14 assists (19 points) in 26 games this season. He skated on the second line with Nick Paul and Alex Formenton in Sunday's practice.

The Hurricanes were hoping that the All-Star break would help Teravainen's lower-body injury but he remains questionable for Monday's game in Toronto. With Jesperi Kotkaniemi landing in COVID-19 protocol on Sunday, the Hurricanes may have to call someone up or dress seven defensemen if Teravainen can't play.

Kotkaniemi likely will not be available for Monday's game in Toronto after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. It's unclear who will replace him in the lineup, with the only reserve forward being Teuvo Teravainen, who is a game-time decision. The Hurricanes may have to call up Josh Leivo from the AHL if Teravainen can't play.

Muzzin was a full participant in Sunday's practice, which is a good sign that he's nearing a return but head coach Sheldon Keefe says it's unlikely that he will play Monday. Expect him to travel out west with the team and play either Thursday in Calgary or Saturday in Vancouver.

Hamilton has yet to be cleared for contact, so he will miss at least three more games. The next opportunity for Hamilton to return will be Sunday vs. the Penguins.

Hughes recently participated in the All-Star game festivities and tested positive for COVID-19 upon his return to New Jersey. Hughes will not travel on the Devils' three-game road trip, which starts Monday but is eligible to return to the lineup for Sunday's home game vs. the Penguins.