NHL Hockey Player News

Chicago brings in a seven-year veteran to help fill some gaps that were created by injuries this week. Alex Nylander could miss all of the 2021 season after undergoing knee surgery and Kirby Dach was injured in Team Canada's exhibition game before the World Juniors and could miss some time. Soderberg will likely fill a spot in the bottom-6 with Dylan Strome moving up to take Dach's spot with Patrick Kane. Soderberg had 35 points (17G / 18A) in 70 games with the Coyotes a season ago.

Nylander could be in danger of missing all of the 2021 season after undergoing surgery on Monday, which is part of the reason why the Blackhawks went out and signed veteran Carl Soderberg on Saturday. The 22-year-old Nylander struggled in his first season in Chicago, collecting just 26 points (10G / 16A) in 65 games. His injury opens the door for a lot of competition in the Blackhawks' training camp next week.

Cirelli is coming off of a really strong second season in the NHL, where he scored 16 goals and 28 assists (44 points) in 68 games. Cirelli had to take on a bigger role with Steven Stamkos injured for a good portion of the season and he flourished as the Lightning's No.2 centre. With Nikita Kucherov out for all of 2021, he will likely play the same role and Stamkos will shift over to the wing to fill-in for Kucherov. Cirelli's ceiling will be capped so long as he is playing with the likes of Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson and not the upper echelon of talent in Tampa Bay, but he's a player that should have a 20-goal, 30-assist pace in 2021's shortened season.

Mittelstadt has yet to live up to the billing of being selected No.8 overall in 2017 and that led to him being demoted to the AHL in 2020. He had nine points (4G / 5A) in 31 games with the Sabres before being sent to Rochester, where he tallied 25 points (9G / 16A) in 36 games. Mittelstadt is expected to get a spot in the Sabres' bottom-6 to start the 2021 season but has a lot to prove if he's going to get a raise next summer.

Miller posted to Twitter that he "tried out retirement for [nine] months (thanks COVID) Decided I wasn’t feeling it." The veteran returns for his fourth season with the Ducks and will serve as the primary backup to John Gibson with Antony Stolarz as the No.3 option. Miller started 19 games a season ago, going 9-6-4 with a 3.10 GAA and .908, both among the worst of his career.

The Lightning are hopeful that Kucherov will be available for the playoffs. Kucherov going on LTIR provides the Lightning with $9.5 million in cap space, which is a positive to come out of this. Tampa Bay is pressed up tight against the cap but losing their best player should allow them to get RFA Anthony Cirelli under contract before the start of the season.

Haas was in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Hass's travel will be delayed, so he is expected to miss the opening of the already abbreviated training camp.

Klefbom is dealing with a shoulder injury and GM Ken Holland said he's still deciding on surgery but will take off the entire 2021 season regardless. Klefbom is hoping to be ready for the fall, when training camp for 2021-22 beings. The Oilers prepared for this possibility, by signing Tyson Barrie to a one-year deal this fall. He'll fill in for Klefbom on the top power-play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Lundqvist took to Twitter on Thursday to announce that he will not be joining the Capitals for the upcoming season. "After many weeks of tests and conversations with specialists around the country, it's been determined that a heart condition will prevent me from taking the ice," Lundqvist said in the statement. Lundqvist was set to share the net with Ilya Samsonov this season but now Samsonov will receive the lion's share of the starts with either Pheonix Copley or Vitek Vanecek serving as his backup.

Steen was heading into the final year of a four-year contract that carried a $5.45M AAV. Steen played 15 years in the NHL, 12 with St. Louis and four with Toronto, totalling 245 goals and 377 assists (622 points) in 1,018 games. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.