NHL Hockey Player News

Seattle has only lost twice in regulation through 12 games this season (6-2-4), largely due to strong goaltending from Joey Daccord. The 29-year-old Daccord will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. He was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, improving his season totals to a 2.53 GAA and .910 SV% in 10 games (6-1-3). Seattle enters Wednesday's contest as -155 home favorites against a Sharks team with points in four of their last five games (3-1-1).

Macelli did not play in Monday's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, his first time as a healthy scratch this season, but he will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. The 25-year-old Finnish forward is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice, recording five points (2G / 3A) and 11 shots in 12 games.

Cowan has played 10 straight games for the Maple Leafs, but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. The 20-year-old first-year NHLer is averaging 12:33 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 10 games.

Blais made his season debut with the Maple Leafs last week and has been productive in a bottom-six role, recording two points (1G / 1A) and 11 hits while averaging 9:56 time-on-ice. The 29-year-old Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but is no stranger to the NHL, with 73 points (28G / 45A) in 260 career games.

Kudryavtsev was a seventh-round pick, 208th overall, of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman had a solid first season in the AHL in 2024-25, scoring 26 points (5G / 21A) in 65 games with the Abbotsford Canucks.

Kozak has not played since October 24th, recovering from a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year-old Kozak is averaging 9:52 time-on-ice, recording 19 hits and two goals in seven games.

Faksa showed no signed of an ailment in the Stars' 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday, playing 11:55 time-on-ice, but did not play on Tuesday in the team's 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The 31-year-old Faksa is averaging 12:18 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games this season.

Miller has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on October 20th, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 25-year-old Miller was off to a strong start with the Hurricanes, averaging 23:32 time-on-ice and scoring four points (2G / 2A) in six games while spending some time quarterback the team's top powerplay unit.

Luukkonen has started two of Buffalo's last five games since making his season debut, returning from an off-season lower-body injury. The 26-year-old Luukkonen played well in his most recent outing to secure his first victory, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the Washington Capitals. He has a 3.34 GAA and .877 SV% in two games this season (2-0-1). Luukkonen returns to the crease on Thursday, facing a St. Louis Blues team playing the tail end of a back-to-back.

Hallander has spent parts of the 2025-26 season playing alongside Sidney Crosby, and has tallied four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games. It's unclear if Hallander will be able to play when the Penguins return to action on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. If Hallander is unable to suit up, expect Ben Kindel to take his spot on Pittsburgh's top line.

Mateychuk played a season-low 13:01 time-on-ice in the Blue Jackets' most recent game due to an undisclosed injury, and will not play on Wednesday, but is not expected to be out of the lineup for a prolonged period. The 21-year-old Mateychuk was fitting in nicely on the Blue Jackets' top defensive pair alongside Zach Werenski, tallying five points (3G / 2A) in 12 games before his injury. Dysin Mayo will draw into the lineup as Mateychuk's replacement.

Denton Mateychuk suffered an injury in the Blue Jackets' most recent game, and will not play on Wednesday, allowing Mayo to suit up against the Calgary Flames. The 29-year-old Mayo has four points (0G / 4A) in five games with Cleveland this season.

The Blues Jackets have received serviceable goaltending from both of their netminders this season, and will continue their rotation on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames, turning to Greaves for his seventh start of the season. The 24-year-old Greaves has played well in his first season as a full-time NHLer, posting a 2.67 GAA and .916 SV% in six games (3-3-0). The Blue Jackets are 7-5-0 through 12 games this season and enter Wednesday's contest as slight +101 road underdogs against a Flames team that has scored the fewest goals in the league (2.21 GF / GP).

Zayne Parekh and Jake Bean will be healthy scratches on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing Brayden Pachal and Yan Kuznetsov to draw into Calgary's lineup. Kuznetsov was drafted 50th-overall by the Flames in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut in 2023-24, playing one game with the Flames, but has otherwise exclusively been in the AHL for the previous four seasons.

Parekh just played his 10th game of the season for the Flames, burning the first year of his entry-level contract, and ensuring he will spend the season in the NHL. That said, he returns to a familiar spot on Wednesday as a healthy scratch, joining Jake Bean on the sidelines, as Brayden Pachal and Yan Kutznetsov will draw into the Flames' lineup. The 19-year-old Parekh has not had the opportunity to fully showcase his talents in his first NHL season, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) through 10 games in a sheltered role.

Jake Bean joins Zayne Parekh as healthy scratches from Calgary's blueline for Wednesday's contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing Brayden Pachal and Yan Kuznetsov to enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Bean has played 10 games this season, recording 18 blocks and on assist.

Zayne Parekh and Jake Bean will be healthy scratches on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing Brayden Pachal and Yan Kuznetsov to draw into Calgary's lineup. The 26-year-old Pachal is averaging 12:40 time-on-ice, recording 14 hits and one assist in seven games this season.

The Flames sit at the bottom of the NHL with a 3-9-2 record, but are coming off a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers where Wolf saved 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%), and will try to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season. The 24-year-old Wolf, last season's runner-up for the Calder Trophy, has a troubling 3.39 GAA and .884 SV% in 12 games this season (3-8-1). The Flames enter Wednesday's contest as slight -115 home favorites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team off to a solid 7-5-0 start this season.

Mathieu Joseph will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Walker to re-enter the Blues' lineup. The 31-year-old Walker has been effective in a bottom-six role for the Blues this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) and recording a monstrous 42 hits.

Matthew Kessel will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Mailloux to re-enter the Blues' lineup. The 22-year-old Mailloux has struggled this season, recording zero points and a -9 plus/minus in eight games.