NHL Hockey Player News

Vaakanainen was a surprise scratch on Wednesday, with the Rangers not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Zac Jones will draw into the lineup in his place.

Smith has been limited to only four games since December 12th due to a nagging back and knee issue but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 35-year-old forward is averaging 11:41 time-on-ice and has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 30 games this season.

The second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Levshunov is yet to make his NHL debut. He has three goals and ten assists in 38 AHL games this season. Craig Smith was activated from injured reserve in a corresponding move.

A second round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Dach has appeared in 13 NHL games this season, scoring one goal and adding three assists. He has 12 goals and 13 assists in 30 AHL games this season. Craig Smith was activated from injured reserve in a corresponding move.

An incredible story of perseverance, Shine made his NHL debut at age 31 two weeks ago, scoring one point (0G / 1A) in four games, after spending the last nine seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). He has 11 goals and 21 assists in 40 AHL games this season.

Hughes suffered a lower-body injury late in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars and has not played since. He will miss a third consecutive game on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 25-year-old Hughes is amid another Norris trophy caliber season, posting 59 points (14G / 45A) in 47 games. Filip Hronek has been the quarterback on Vancouver's top powerplay unit while Hughes has been sidelined.

Puljujarvi played 11:51 time-on-ice on January 29th in a 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club but was a healthy scratch in the following two games and has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 26-year-old Puljujarvi has nine points (3G / 6A) in 26 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Deallandrea has not played since January 23rd, missing fours games, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 24-year-old Dellandra is averaging 11:45 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 41 games this season.

The Kings have not played since Saturday when Kuemper saved 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping a four-game losing skid (0-3-1). Kuemper returns to the crease on Monday, looking to build on an impressive first season with the Kings, where he has a 2.16 GAA and .920 SV% through 28 appearances (15-6-6). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as sizeable -243 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens squad that played last night and defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-3.

Lauko missed a month in December due to a lower-body injury and returns to the sidelines again. It's unclear if this injury is related to his previous one that caused him to miss 15 consecutive games. The 24-year-old Czech forward is averaging 9:56 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 33 games this season.

Hinostroza scored two points (0G / 2A) in 13 games with the Predators this season before being placed on waivers on Monday. The 30-year-old forward has 387 games of NHL experience but has primarily been an AHL player over the previous two seasons.

Thompson exited Sunday's 4-3 win over New Jersey Devils in the third period after being on the receiving end of an unsuspecting hit from Stefan Noesen. He did not play in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets but could be an option when the Sabres return to action on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. The 27-year-old Thompson has been tremendous offensively lately, scoring 14 points (7G / 7A) in his last nine games.

Cozens played 15:15 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets but was absent from practice on Wednesday due to a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old Cozens has 26 points (10G / 16A) in 53 games this season and is pacing for the worst offensive production of his career since his rookie season in 2020-21 when he had 13 points (4G / 9A) as a rookie in 41 games. Cozens' status is up in the air for when the Sabres return to action on Saturday against the Nashville Predators.

Solovyov made his NHL debut last season, scoring three points (0G / 3A) in 10 games with the Flames but has primarily been an AHL player in his young professional career. The 24-year-old defenseman has 21 points (6G / 15A) in 41 games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) this season.

Del Mastro has only played three games this season, averaging 16:07 time-on-ice and scoring one point (0G / 1A), but will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 22-year-old defenseman was a fourth-round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

With Craig Smith (knee) returning to Chicago's lineup on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers, Dach will be the odd man out as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Dach is averaging 11:35 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 13 games this season.

Smith has been limited to only four games since December 12th due to a nagging back and knee issue but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 35-year-old forward is averaging 11:41 time-on-ice and has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 30 games this season.

Crosby exited Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils for an eight-minute stretch due to an undisclosed injury but returned to the contest. The 37-year-old Crosby downplayed any injury concerns following the game but has stated after practice on Wednesday that he is being evaluated. Crosby has seven points (4G / 3A) during a five-game point streak.