NHL Hockey Player News

The Maple Leafs hope to push for playoff contention with a strong post-Olympics run and will turn to Stolarz to tend the twine in their first game back from the break. The 32-year-old Stolarz has had a miserable 2025-26 season, plagued with injuries, but headed into the Olympic break on a high note, saving 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) for his best performance of the season, a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. That said, the Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's action as sizeable +192 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that leads the Eastern Conference and is riding a five-game winning streak.

Cowan did not play the final few games for Toronto heading into the Olympic break, and he will remain sidelined when the team returns to action on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 20-year-old rookie is averaging 13:31 time-on-ice and has 17 points (7G / 10A) in 43 games.

Joshua has been sidelined since late December due to a kidney laceration and is nearing a return, but will remain sidelined in Toronto's first game after the Olympic break on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old is in his first season with the Maple Leafs, recording 10 points (6G / 4A) and 127 hits in 36 games this season.

Tavares was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an illness, but he will be available when the Maple Leafs return to action from the Olympic break on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 35-year-old Tavares is having a productive season in Toronto with 47 points (20G / 27A) in 57 games, but has seen his pace dip in recent weeks, with only seven points (4G / 3A) in his last 13 games.

Matthews scored seven points (3G / 4A) in six games as the captain of Team USA during their Gold Medal performance at the Olympics. The 28-year-old forward is expected to rejoin the Maple Leafs when they return to action on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before the Olympic break, Matthews had six points (1G / 5A) in his last five games with the Maple Leafs. The team hopes he can return to that form as they continue their fight for a playoff spot.

Bichsel hast not played since suffering a lower-body injury in late November, but is set to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. The hard-hitting 21-year-old Swiss defenseman is averaging 15:49 time-on-ice, recording three points (1G / 2A), 24 blocks, and 85 hits in 26 games this season.

Lamoureux recorded one assist in five games with Utah earlier this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 22-year-old first-round pick from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has 14 points (3G / 11A) in 42 games with Tucson (AHL) this season.

Simashev was drafted sixth-overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut this season, scoring one assist in 24 games with the Mammoth. That said, the 21-year-old defenseman has spent the last couple of months in the AHL, where he has excelled, with 25 points (7G / 18A) in 27 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.

Nosek suffered a knee injury during the offseason and has yet to play in 2025-26, but appears to be nearing his debut after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. Nosek is entering his 11th NHL season after winning his first Stanley Cup with Florida last season in a complementary role, which saw him put up a goal and nine points in 59 games played.

Kulikov has not played since the second game of the season due to an upper-body injury, but is nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. The 35-year-old defenseman had 13 points (4G / 9A), 71 blocks, and 114 hits in 70 games last season.

Jakob Markstrom was busy for Team Sweden at the Olympics and will get some extra rest in New Jersey's return to action, with Allen set to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 35-year-old Allen struggled heading into the Olympic break, losing six of his last seven (1-6-0) while posting a subpar 3.08 GAA and .880 SV%. The Devils enter the action on Wednesday as slight -107 home favourites against a Sabres team that defeated them 3-1 in their previous meeting.

Luukkonen missed the final two weeks of the season leading up to the Olympic Break due to a lower-body injury, but will return to the crease on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 26-year-old Finnish goalie was on an impressive run before his injury, helping his team collect at least a point in eight of 10 outings while posting a solid 2.42 GAA and .922 SV%. The Sabres enter the action on Wednesday as slight -103 road underdogs against a Devils team that entered the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak (0-3-0).

Vladar accompanied Team Czechia at the Olympics but should be well-rested, as he primarily served as Lukas Dostal's backup. The 28-year-old Vladar will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, looking to help his team in its late-season playoff push. Vladar headed into the Olympic break with a solid 2.29 GAA and .908 SV% in his last three games (1-0-2). The Flyers enter Wednesday's contest as +130 road underdogs against a Capitals team that entered the Olympic break on a 4-1-0 run.

The Maple Leafs hope to push for playoff contention with a strong post-Olympics run and will turn to Stolarz to tend the twine in their first game back from the break. The 32-year-old Stolarz has had a miserable 2025-26 season, plagued with injuries, but headed into the Olympic break on a high note, saving 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) for his best performance of the season, a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. That said, the Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's action as sizeable +192 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that leads the Eastern Conference and is riding a five-game winning streak.

With Alex Newhook (ankle) set to return from a multi-month absence, Bolduc will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Bolduc has 23 points (10G / 13A) in 57 games this season and had five points (0G / 5A) in Montreal’s final seven games heading into the Olympic break.

Newhook has been sidelined since mid-November due to a fractured ankle, but is set to return to Montreal's lineup in their first game back from the Olympic break on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Newhook is averaging 14:38 time-on-ice and has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 17 games this season.

Lilleberg has not played since mid-December due to an undisclosed injury, but is set to return in Tampa Bay's first game back from the Olympic break on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 17:21 time-on-ice and has six points (2G / 4A) in 32 games this season.

Zibanejad was productive for Team Sweden at the Olympics, scoring six points (3G / 3A) in five games, but he has returned home with an illness that kept him out of practice on Wednesday. It is unclear what his status is heading into Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 32-year-old Zibanejad was on an offensive tear before the Olympic break, scoring 23 points (11G / 12A) in his last 16 games.

Tom Wilson was an effective contributor for Team Canada during their Silver Medal performance at the Olympics, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in six games, but he has returned home with an illness that could prevent him from playing on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 31-year-old Wilson scored a career-high 65 points (33G / 32A) in 2024-25 and is pacing to surpass those totals in 2025-26, with 49 points (23G / 26A) through 50 games.

Thomas will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken due to a personal matter, but he is expected to suit up on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. The 26-year-old Thomas has been a point-per-game player over the past four seasons, but has not been able to maintain that pace in 2025-26, with only 33 points (11G / 22A) through 42 games for a struggling Blues team. That said, he had nine points (4G / 5A) in 10 games leading into the Olympic break.