NHL Hockey Player News

Byfield was a surprise scratch on Monday, with the Kings not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Thankfully, Byfield will have two off days to hopefully recover in time for the Kings' game against the Islanders on Thursday.

With Darcy Kuemper (illness) unavailable, the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 33-year-old Forsberg is coming off one of his best performances of the season, saving all 29 shots he faced for his second shutout in a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames. That said, he was unsuccessful in a meeting against Colorado earlier this season, allowing four goals on 25 shots (.840 SV%) in a 5-2 loss. The Kings enter Monday's action as +150 home underdogs.

As he has been all season, Blackwood has been solid since returning from the Olympic break, saving 45 of 49 combined shots (.918 SV%) in two games (1-1-0). The 29-year-old Blackwood has a stellar 1.60 GAA and .939 SV% in his last seven games, but has only managed a 4-3-0 record as Colorado has battled some adversity. The Avalanche enter the action on Monday as -165 road favourites against a Los Angeles Kings team coming off a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames to snap a dream three-game losing streak in which they were outscored 18-6.

Remarkably, Booth is one of three Kings making their NHL debuts in Monday night's game, along with Kenny Connors and Jared Wright. The 21-year-old defenceman was selected in the 4th round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He has one goal and nine assists in 43 AHL games this season.

Remarkably, Wright is one of three Kings making their NHL debuts in Monday night's game, along with Kenny Connors and Angus Booth. Wright was a sixth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings that made his professional debut with the Ontario Reign (AHL) last season after spending three years playing with the University of Denver. He has 28 points (15G / 13A) in 53 games with Ontario this season.

Seeler left the game in the second period and was unable to return. We should get an update on his status ahead of the Flyers game against the Mammoth on Thursday.

The Hurricanes have alternated goalies, occasionally relying more heavily on Brandon Bussi. Still, after a strong performance by Andersen, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, the team will turn to him again in hopes of helping him get into a rhythm. The 36-year-old Andersen has had an unmemorable 2025-26 season but has shown encouraging signs in his recent outings, saving 113 of 123 shots (.919 SV%) in his last four games (2-0-2). The Hurricanes enter Monday's contest as -175 road favourites against a Seattle Kraken team coming off a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Deslauriers will slot in for Travis Konecny, who is out with undisclosed injury. Desulauriers will skate with Garnet Hathaway and Carl Grundstrom on the Flyers fourth line.

Konecny is battling an upper-body injury and will be unavailable for Monday's game in Toronto. The 28-year-old forward is coming off a two-point performance (1G / 1A) in a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins, giving him 18 points (9G / 9A) in his last 13 games.

Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy stated on Monday that Shea Theodore, Marner, and one other unnamed player were dealing with an illness, though he did not comment on their status for Tuesday's game in Buffalo. Marner has zero goals and one assist in two games since returning from representing Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Maple Leafs have come out of the Olympic break on a miserable three-game losing streak (0-3-0) and will hope for a better result on Monday, with Stolarz tending the twine against the Philadelphia Flyers. Stolarz played well in relief of Joseph Woll in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, saving all 12 shots he faced. That said, the 32-year-old Stolarz only has one win in his last seven appearances (1-4-0), posting an ugly 4.38 GAA and .867 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Monday's contest as -123 home favourites against a Flyers team on a two-game winning streak.

Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy stated on Monday that Theodore, Mitch Marner, and one other unnamed player were dealing with an illness, though he did not comment on their status for Tuesday's game in Buffalo. Theodore has gone pointless in two games since returning from representing Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Zamula will slot in for Zach Weresnki, who is out with an illness. Zamula has appeared in ten games for the Jackets since being acquired from the Flyers earlier this season, logging zero goals and one assist.

Werenski is battling an illness, and will be unavailable for Monday's game against the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old defenseman had two assists in his most recent game, giving him 13 points (2G / 11A) during a nine-game point streak. He has 65 points (20G / 45A) in 54 games this season.

It will be the first AHL trip for Kunin this season, as he's spent the entirety of the season on the Panthers roster. The 28-year-old has two goals and two assists in 44 games for the Panthers.

Moverare will be unavailable for Monday's game against the Avalanche as a result of the designation. Moverare is averaging just 8:47 of ice time in 15 games this season and has not registered a point.

Armia hasn't played since leaving Thursday's game against the Oilers due an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old Finn has ten goals and ten assists in 53 games this season.

Booth was among four players called up from the Ontario Reign, as the Kings made a flurry of moves on Monday. The 21-year-old defenceman was selected in the 4th round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and is yet to make his NHL debut. He has one goal and nine assists in 43 AHL games this season.

Howard makes a swift return to Bakersfield after being recalled earlier in the day. The 21-year-old scored five points (2G / 3A) in 28 games with the Oilers earlier this season.