NHL Hockey Player News

Duclair was acquired on Thursday from San Jose and is expected to make his Lightning debut on Saturday vs. Philadelphia. Duclair finds himself on his sixth NHL team but has been enjoying a solid season despite the weak team around him in San Jose, with 16 goals, 27 points, 28 PIMs and a -12 plus/minus in 56 games before the trade.

The most surprising deal on Friday was announced minutes before the trade deadline, sending Hertl from the San Jose Sharks to the Golden Knights. Hertl has six years remaining on a $8.1375 million AAV, which the Sharks will retain 17 percent of for the remainder of the contract. Hertl is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury after undergoing a procedure in his left knee at the beginning of February but is expected to return before the end of the season. The talented Czech forward has 34 points (15G / 19A) while averaging 20:54 time-on-ice through 48 games this season.

Vanecek has been on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, but will likely serve in a timeshare with Mackenzie Blackwood between the pipes for the Sharks upon his return. The 28-year-old Vanecek struggled this season with the New Jersey Devils, posting a career-worst 3.18 GAA and .890 SV% in 32 games (17-9-3).

Kahkonen joins a Devils club that already acquired Jake Allen via trade earlier on Friday, likely indicating that they will be riding a new tandem between the pipes for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old Kahkonen was serviceable on a defensively poor Sharks team this season, posting a 3.81 GAA and .895 SV% through 31 games (6-20-3).

Okhotyuk will help fill out a Flames' defensive core that is less robust than it was a few weeks ago after dealing away Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin in trades before the deadline. The 23-year-old Okhotyuk registered eight points (1G / 7A), 126 hits, and 72 blocks while averaging 16:27 time-on-ice through 43 games with the San Jose Sharks.

Dumba is an impending unrestricted free agent with a $3.9 million AAV but was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the deadline and is expected to make his debut on Saturday. The 29-year-old defenseman has seen his offensive production steadily decline over the years but still provides defensive depth for Tampa Bay. In 58 games this season, Dumba has 10 points (4G / 6A), 148 hits, and 84 blocks.

Lilleberg made a strong impact in his first career appearance with Tampa Bay but has been reassigned to Syracuse (AHL) after the Lightning made some deadline acquisitions. The 23-year-old Norweigan rookie will head back to the minors with three assists,17 SOG, eight PIMs and a -14 plus/minus in 23 games played with Tampa Bay.

Crozier was the odd man out of Tampa Bay's roster after their trade deadline acquisitions and will head back to Syracuse (AHL) on Friday. The 23-year-old rookie did well in his first NHL showing, with two assists, seven PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 13 games played.

Knies exited Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in the first period after playing only 3:18 time-on-ice. The first-year forward has 26 points (11G / 15A) in 61 games this season and isn't expected to miss any time due to his injury.

Rooney was sidelined until February due to off-season shoulder surgery but has played all 13 games for the Flames since making his season debut, tallying one goal and 21 hits in 13 games. The 30-year-old Rooney has played predominantly on a line with Walker Duehr and Jakob Pelletier.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Stars will turn to Oettinger between the pipes on Friday night. Oettinger has won three straight but struggled in his last outing, allowing six goals on 20 shots (.700 SV%) in a 7-6 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Stars are significant -320 road favourites against an Anaheim Ducks club that will likely be missing several key offensive pieces on Friday night.

The Jets were adding offensive pieces ahead of the trade deadline by adding Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli but added defensive depth as well with the acquisition of Colin Miller. Miller is an impending unrestricted free agent with a $1.85 million AAV. He has seven points (3G / 4A), 72 hits, and 31 blocks in 40 games this season.

The Maple Leafs acquired additional depth for their bottom-six forward group by acquiring Dewar before the trade deadline. The 24-year-old Dewar is an impending restricted free agent and has 14 points (10G / 4A) in 57 games this season.

With Johnson being reassigned to the Rochester Americans (AHL), Kyle Clague was recalled by the Sabres. Johnson has spent the majority of his first professional season with the Sabres, tallying seven points (0G / 7A) in 41 games.

Ryan Johnson was reassigned to the Rochester Americans (AHL) on Friday, allowing the Sabres to recall Clague. The 25-year-old Clague has spent most of the season in the AHL, tallying 23 points (3G / 20A) in 42 games with Rochester.

Carlsson has missed the last three games for the Ducks and will miss a fourth on Friday against the Dallas Stars. Before his injury, the rookie Carlsson had collected three points (1G / 2A) in his last seven games.

Vilardi exited last Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in the second period with an upper-body injury and will return to practice on Monday. The 24-year-old Vilardi had been productive lately, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last seven games before his injury.

Forbort has missed the last three games due to an undisclosed ailment and was placed on IR on Friday. Forbort last played in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the New York Islanders, recording two shots and two hits in 19:27 time-on-ice.

The Blue Jackets acquired Jakub Zboril and a 2027 third-round pick from the Bruins for Andrew Peeke on Friday. Zboril has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign, posting nine points (0G / 9A) in 31 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL). The 27-year-old defenseman is an impending unrestricted free agent.