NHL Hockey Player News

Oleksiak has been bothered by a lower-body injury, but was able to skate this morning which indicates he may not miss much time past tonight’s season opener.

Hemsky was plagued by a groin injury in the preseason and it will cost him the first two games of the regular season. However, he skated this morning which is a positive sign that he shouldn’t miss an extended period of time.

Lundqvist is coming off of a year in which he had a goals against average above 2.40 for the first time since 2008-09. However, a lot of that can be attributed to the team in front of him, because he still posted a .920 SV% which is close to his career .921 SV%. He remains a high-end No.1 fantasy option coming into this season, but tonight he faces and Islanders team that he was winless against last year—0-2-1, 2.20 GAA and .929 SV%. However, you drafted Lundqvist early and he should be in your lineup tonight.

Schneider has been one of the best goalies in the NHL since being traded to New Jersey, but that hasn’t always translated into fantasy success. In his first three years in New Jersey, he has is tied with the second best SV% (.924) and third in GAA (2.12) but ranks 21st in wins (69) thanks to an anemic Devils’ offence. Schneider will have a better offence in front of him this season and will post elite splits, but you should still temper your expectations on his win total.

Holtby enters 2016-17 as the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Over the last two seasons he leads the NHL in wins (89) and is tied for fourth in both GAA (2.21) and SV% (.923). Holtby plays behind one of the most powerful offences in the NHL, which gives him an opportunity to win 40 games again this year. Tonight his season starts against the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Holtby was 2-2-1 with a 2.90 GAA and .913 SV% against the Pens last year.

Fleury had a strong 2015-16 season, winning 35 of his 58 games with a 2.29 GAA and .921 SV%. However, it was Matt Murray who led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup and will challenge Fleury for starts once he is healthy. Fleury has been a staple of consistency over his career, having won at least 30 games in the last seven consecutive full 82-game seasons. He might not start as many games as he is used to, but he will win more often than not.

Niemi was the better of the Stars’ goalies in 2015-16, but nearly everyone was better than Kari Lehtonen last year. Niemi finished the season with 25 wins, a 2.67 GAA and .905 SV%. His best years are behind him, but he still has a shot at 30 wins if he continues to outplay Lehtonen behind one of the NHL’s most dominant offences. Tonight he starts against an Anaheim team that figures to take a step back from years prior.

Bishop has been one of the safest fantasy netminders in the NHL over the last three years. Last season he won 35 games and his 112 wins over the last three seasons is tied with Braden Holtby for first in the NHL. Andrei Vasilevskiy will eat into his starts this year, but he will still start around 50 games, including tonight’s game vs. the Red Wings. Bishop has enjoyed a tonne of success vs. Detroit, especially in the playoffs, making him a solid start tonight.

Lehner was limited to just 21 games in his first season with the Sabres, which led to just five wins, a 2.47 GAA and .924 SV%. Evidenced by that save percentage, Lehner was effective when he was healthy, but durability has been a concern of his throughout his career. Coming into 2016-17, the Sabre should be much improved and Lehner has the potential to be a No.2 fantasy netminder if he can stay on the ice. Tonight he draws an OK matchup against a Carey Price-less Montreal team. The 25-year-old was 1-1-1 with a 2.66 GAA and .912 SV% vs. the Habs last year.

Rieder had not skated with the Coyotes since signing his two-year extension two weeks go. On Wednesday, he got back on the ice and skated on the Coyotes’ second line with Christian Dvorak and Anthony Duclair. Rieder played well in the World Cup of Hockey and could be poised for a breakout year in the Arizona top-6.

Dubnyk started 66 games a season ago, winning 32 with a 2.33 GAA and .918 SV%. The 30-year-old is 59-35-2 since being traded to Minnesota and is a low-end No.1/high-end No.2 option heading into 2016-17. Tonight he faces a Blues team that he was 2-2-1 with a 2.84 GAA and .902 SV% against last year. St. Louis is also on the tail-end of a back-to-back after beating the Blackhawks last night.

Quick left Wednesday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not return. Kings’ General Manager Dean Lombardi said that it “could be a while” before Quick is back on the ice. The American born netminder is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday and more details should be released following the results of that MRI. If Quick is to miss an extended period of time, look for Jeff Zatkoff to take over as the starter and for the Kings to possibly look for outside help.

There is no word on what is ailing Davidson, but he will miss the remainder of the season opener. Expect the Oilers to give an update on Davidson in the next 24 hours.

Quick left after the first period and is not expected to return. The Kings’ netminder stopped 14 of 15 shots in the first frame, that included a dustup with Joe Pavelski following the Sharks’ goal. There is no word on when Quick suffered the injury, but expected an update in the next 24 hours.

In 2015-16, Quick won 40 games for the first time in his career and ranks second in the NHL with 76 wins over the last two seasons. During that stretch Quick is also seventh in GAA (2.23) and tied for 17th in SV% (.918). He has been extremely consistent from year-to-year and makes for a safe No.1 fantasy option behind one of the league’s best possession teams. Tonight he faces a Sharks team that he was 0-3-0 with a 4.40 GAA and .845 SV% against last season

Dubois, 18, was selected third overall this summer but couldn’t crack the Blue Jackets opening night roster. He was on the 23-man roster but only for cap purposes. Dubois heads back to the QMJHL where he had 99 points (42G / 57A) in 62 games last season.

Eichel suffered a high ankle sprain in Wednesday’s practice and will likely miss a minimum of 4-to-6 weeks. It could be much longer, but the Sabres have not released a timetable. Eichel’s injury means that Johan Larsson and Tyler Ennis will likely take on bigger roles.

In 2015-16, Quick won 40 games for the first time in his career and ranks second in the NHL with 76 wins over the last two seasons. During that stretch Quick is also seventh in GAA (2.23) and tied for 17th in SV% (.918). He has been extremely consistent from year-to-year and makes for a safe No.1 fantasy option behind one of the league’s best possession teams. Tonight he faces a Sharks team that he was 0-3-0 with a 4.40 GAA and .845 SV% against last season.

Jones’ first season as the Sharks’ starter was a success. The 26-year-old won 37 games while posting a 2.27 GAA and .918 SV% in 65 games and enters 2016-17 with massive expectations. He was a No.2 option coming into last year, but is a clear-cut No.1 fantasy option this year. Jones will start the year against Los Angeles, who he was 3-1-1 with a 2.57 GAA and .913 SV% against last year.