NHL Hockey Player News

A fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Mancini has spent the majority of his first two pro seasons with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. Mancini made his NHL debut with the Rangers earlier this season, and has one goal and four assists across 15 career NHL games. He should compete with Noah Juulsen and Vincent Desharnais for game-time as Vancouver's sixth defenceman.

Chytil joins the Canucks as the key piece in the trade that finally helped the Rangers reunite with J.T. Miller. After being limited to a bottom-six role throughout practically his entire career in New York, Chytil should finally get the chance to excel further up the lineup with the Canucks. He leaves New York after parts of eight seasons with the Rangers, scoring 75 goals and adding 89 assists in 378 career regular season games.

A sixth-round draft pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Dorrington is yet to make his professional debut. He is currently playing in his third season with Northeastern University of the NCAA. Dorrington has eight goals and 20 assists in 81 career NCAA games.

Signed from the Senators in the off-season, Brannstrom leaves the Canucks organization after just 28 NHL games. He registered three goals and five assists with the Canucks, and excelled during his short stint with Abbotsford (AHL), scoring two goals and adding ten assists in just eight games. It's unclear whether the former 15th overall pick will compete for ice-time in the NHL to start his stint with the Rangers, or if he'll be reassigned to Hartford (AHL).

Perhaps the most anticipated trade of the 2024-25 NHL season, Miller has finally been relocated back to the Big Apple, waiving his no-trade clause to rejoin the Rangers. On a per game basis, Miller is one of the most productive Canucks of all time, joining Pavel Bure as the organization's only other player to finish their Canuck careers with more than a point per game. Some dressing room turmoil quite obviously led to Miller's early departure, and although he's fallen off from the 102-point player he was a season ago, he's still managed 35 points (9G/26A) in 40 games this season. He brings a much needed offensive boost to a team that desperately needs it in the underperforming Rangers.

Miller will likely be held out of the lineup due to a potential trade in the works. Frank Seravalli has reported that Miller has verbally agreed to waive his no-trade clause to return to the Rangers, and the two teams are working towards completing a deal.

With Juuse Saros (illness) unavailable for Friday's game in Buffalo, Gravel was sent down to make room for another goalie on the roster. Gravel has appeared in three NHL games this season, registering one assist.

With Juuse Saros (illness) unavailable, Murray will back up Justus Annunen for Friday's game in Buffalo. Murray is yet to appear in an NHL game for the Predators. He's performed well at the AHL level this season, registering a .927 SV% across 23 appearances.

Hinostroza will take a seat on Friday to make way for the return of Luke Evangelista (lower-body). Hinostroza has zero goals and one assist in 12 games this season.

Evangelista has not played since January 7th due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. Before his injury, the 22-year-old Evangelista had 14 points (4G / 10A) in 39 games this season.

Saros is battling an illness and will be sidelined in Friday's contest against the Buffalo Sabres. Justus Annunen will get the nod while the recently recalled Matthew Murray will back up.

Tarasov will get the nod in the tail-end of Columbus' back-to-back when they travel to Utah on Friday. Tarasov hasn't appeared in a game since allowing six goals on 42 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Hurricanes on January 23rd. The 25-year-old netminder owns a 4-7-2 record and an underwhelming .871 SV% on the season. The Blue Jackets enter action in Utah on Friday at +180 on the money line.

Luukkonen will make his 37th start of the season when the Sabres host the Predators on Friday. Luukkonen was sharp in last time out, stopping 25 of the 27 shots he faced in a 7-2 victory over the Bruins on Tuesday. The 25-year-old netminder owns a 16-15-4 record and an .898 SV% on the season. Luukkonen and the Sabres enter action on Friday as slight underdogs at +108 on the money line.

Annunen has won his last four starts and will return to the crease on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old Annunen allowed five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in his most recent outing but was able to shut the door when needed to secure a 6-5 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He has been solid since joining the Predators, posting a 2.65 GAA and .914 SV% through nine appearances (6-2-0). The Predators enter Friday's contest as -116 road favorites against a Sabres squad coming off a 7-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Gourde has not played since January 2nd and will miss another five-to-seven weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery. The 33-year-old forward is averaging 15:34 time-on-ice and has 16 points (6G / 10A) in 35 games. His name has floated around trade rumors recently and his return to the lineup should coincide with the upcoming March 7th trade deadline.

Tomkins served as Andrei Vasilevskiy's backup on Thursday due to Jonas Johansson (lower body) being out with an injury. The 30-year-old Tomkins has a 2.87 GAA and .900 SV% in 17 games (6-8-3) with Syracuse this season.

Goncalves has played a career-high 28 games with Tampa Bay this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A) and averaging 11:47 time-on-ice, but has been reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). The 24-year-old started the season with Syracuse where he tallied 14 points (4G / 10A) in 11 games.

Askarov has been assigned back to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), an indication that Vitek Vanecek (upper body) could be ready to return from an AHL conditioning stint. The 22-year-old Askarov has a 3.10 GAA and .896 SV% in 13 games with the Sharks this season (4-6-2).

Kovalenko exited Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken after only 8:58 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury and will be out of the lineup until, at earliest, February 23rd when the Sharks visit the Calgary Flames in their first game back from the Four Nations Tournament hiatus. The 25-year-old Kovalenko is averaging 12:04 time-on-ice and has 16 points (5G / 11A) in 45 games this season.