NHL Hockey Player News

Jeremy Swayman had a miserable 2024-25 season after signing a massive eight-year contract extension, posting an ugly 3.11 GAA and .892 SV% in 58 games (22-29-7). The organization had concerns about the contract, but he followed it up with a solid 2025-26 season, posting a 2.71 GAA and .907 SV% in 55 games (31-18-4). Now, the 27-year-old goalie seems to be continuing his upward trajectory, opening the season with a 2.30 GAA and .914 SV% in three games (2-1-0). That said, he is coming off his weakest performance of the season, allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Swayman hopes to rebound Thursday, as the Bruins enter as slight +112 home underdogs against the Utah Mammoth, who have outscored opponents 17-8 over four games (3-1-0).

With Alexander Romanov (ACL tear) likely out for the remainder of the season, Mayfield will draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 33-year-old Mayfield played 80 games with the Islanders last season, averaging 16:28 time-on-ice and scoring 15 points (2G / 13A).

Samuel Montembeault's disastrous 2025-26 season, which led to a demotion to the AHL, thrust Fowler into some NHL action, but Montembeault started the 2026-27 season with the Canadiens, resulting in Fowler playing with Laval (AHL). That said, an early-season injury to Montembeault has given Fowler an NHL opportunity, and he will tend the twine for the first time this season on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 21-year-old Fowler played well last season in his NHL debut, posting a 2.43 GAA and .908 SV% in 17 games (9-6-2). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -171 home favourites.

Tampa Bay has relied heavily on Andrei Vasilevskiy in recent seasons, so its plan for 2026-27 with newcomer Dennis Hildeby remains unclear, but he will likely start on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 25-year-old Hildeby benefited from team injuries last season as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, earning a promotion to the NHL, where he played well when called upon, posting a 2.86 GAA and .914 SV% in 20 appearances (5-7-4). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -139 home favourites against a Minnesota team that is 2-1-0 this season.

Adam Engstrom will make his season debut on Thursday against the Nashville Predators, sending Struble to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Struble played a career high 59 games last season, averaging 14:01 time-on-ice and scoring 12 points (2G / 10A).

Ottawa's previous game raised concerns when Ullmark exited in the second intermission with an undisclosed injury. Still, he fully participated in the team's morning skate on Thursday and will return to the crease against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 33-year-old Swedish goalie had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, but has started 2026-27 on a positive note, with an impressive 1.20 GAA and .949 SV% in two outings (2-0-0). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -175 home favourites against a Flyers team that has been outscored 17-5 through four games (0-2-2).

Engstrom made his NHL debut Canadiens last season, but has started the 2026-27 campaign as a healthy scratch. That said, he will make his debut on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman averaged 13:03 time-on-ice and scored one assist in 15 games last season.

Samuel Montembeault's disastrous 2025-26 season, which led to a demotion to the AHL, thrust Fowler into some NHL action, but Montembeault started the 2026-27 season with the Canadiens, resulting in Fowler playing with Laval (AHL). That said, an early-season injury to Montembeault has given Fowler an NHL opportunity, and he will tend the twine for the first time this season on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 21-year-old Fowler played well last season in his NHL debut, posting a 2.43 GAA and .908 SV% in 17 games (9-6-2). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -171 home favourites.

James is recovering from a broken hand that sidelined him for the entirety of training camp. He returned to practice this week, but will miss at least one more game. The 24-year-old forward made his NHL debut last season, tallying 15 points (7G / 8A) in 43 games with Tampa Bay.

Barzal continues to work his way back from a knee injury that kept him out of training camp. He skated on his own on Thursday, which is a sign that he is getting closer to returning to practice with his teammates. The Islanders have yet to provide any kind of timeline on his return to the lineup.

Up to this point, Jarvis had been skating in a non-contact jersey, but he was a full participant in Thursday's am skate. Jarvis is not expected to play on Thursday, but this is a sign that his season debut could come in the not too distant future.

Linus Ullmark (undisclosed) exited Ottawa's previous game in the third period, resulting in Johansson being recalled from Belleville (AHL). That said, Ullmark was back at practice on Thursday, sending Johansson back to the AHL. The 31-year-old Johansson appeared in 25 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season (11-10-2), posting a 3.29 GAA and .884 SV%.

Hurricanes' Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour started Brandon Bussi in the first two games of the season, but he seems to be easing into an even goalie rotation, with Kochetkov tending the twine on Thursday in his second start of the season. The 27-year-old Kochetkov missed most of the 2025-26 season with a lower-body injury, but he played well in his return to action, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as enormous -337 home favourites against the surprisingly potent early-season offense of the Vancouver Canucks, who have scored 19 goals in their first four games (2-2-0).

Still without Alex Lyon (upper body), the Sabres will keep leaning on Luukkonen, turning to him for the third time in four games. That said, Luukkonen's de facto starting netminder role hasn't translated into success. The 27-year-old Finnish goalie has allowed eight goals on 37 shots (.784 SV%) in two outings, but has salvaged a 1-1-0 record. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as slight +105 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team coming off a one-sided 5-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Morrissey exited Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche after just 9:32 on ice with an upper-body injury. The team has yet to provide a concrete update, but it can ill-afford losing its power-play quarterback. If Morrissey misses any time, expect Neal Pionk to see more ice time.

To some surprise, Colorado hasn't yet turned to Scott Wedgewood this season and will roll with Blackwood between the pipes for a third straight game. Despite Wedgewood's tremendous 2025-26 season, it's hard to blame Head Coach Jared Bednar for turning to Blackwood again, given his solid 2.50 GAA and .912 SV% through the first two games (2-0-0). Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as sizeable -193 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that is 2-0-1 this season.