NHL Hockey Player News

Clara is an Anaheim Ducks' prospect, who was taken in the second round in 2023. The Italian netminder played briefly in the AHL last year, but has spent the 2025-26 season with Brynäs IF (SHL), where he is 16-13-0 with a 2.49 GAA and .888 SV% in 30 games. He's expected to face an enormous workload throughout the Olympics, and starts as +3500 underdogs vs. Sweden.

Gustavsson has enjoyed another strong season in Minnesota, where he's gone 20-9-6 with a 2.64 GAA, .907 SV%, and three shutouts. Internationally, he hasn't played in the World Championships since 2024, where he was 6-1-0, and he struggled at the 4Nations last spring (0-2-0, 4.18 GAA, .813 SV%). He's not expected to be tested much on Wednesday, as Sweden are -50000 favourites and Italy has implied total of 1.44.

Gustavsson has enjoyed another strong season in Minnesota, where he's gone 20-9-6 with a 2.64 GAA, .907 SV%, and three shutouts. Internationally, he hasn't played in the World Championships since 2024, where he was 6-1-0, and he struggled at the 4Nations last spring (0-2-0, 4.18 GAA, .813 SV%). He's not expected to be tested much on Wednesday, as Sweden are -50000 favourites and Italy has implied total of 0.16.

Hlavaj has spent most of the 2025–26 season with Iowa (AHL), where he’s gone 5-9-4 with a 3.33 GAA and .884 SV% in 18 games. He started all three of Slovakia’s Olympic qualifying games, posting a 3-0-0 record with a 1.67 GAA and .929 SV%, and was also solid at last year’s World Championships (2-3-0, 1.99 GAA, .912 SV%). He’ll have his work cut out for him on Wednesday, though, as Slovakia enter the matchup as +320 underdogs.

Saros will start Finland's tournament opener vs. Slovakia and is expected to be their No.1 throughout the tournament. Saros and the Finns are large -410 favourites in their opener, but it's been far from an ideal season for the Predators' netminder. Saros is 21-17-5 with a 3.20 GAA, .892 SV% and 50.0 QualityStart% in the NHL. Last year, Saros struggled at the 4Nations, but was 4-2-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .943 SV% at the World Championships where Finland finished seventh.

Nylander has been dealing with a lingering groin injury and is questionable for Sweden’s game vs. Italy on Wednesday. With Sweden listed as massive -20000 favourites against the hosts, it would make sense to rest Nylander if he’s not 100 percent and have him ready for Friday’s matchup with Finland.

Rondbjerg suffered an undisclosed injury in Anaheim on February 1st and will miss the Olympics. This is a huge blow to team Denmark, as Rondbjerg was one of just seven NHLers on the roster. His replacement, Setkov, is a defenseman, giving Denmark eight blueliners at the event.

With the NHL rosters frozen for the Olympic break, Jack Finley will not have to report to St. Louis until after February 17th after the 23-year-old was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Saturday. The rookie forward was drafted by Tampa in the 2nd round of the 2020 NHL Draft (57th overall) and had two goals, three points and 21 PIMs in a limited role (8:25 TOI/GP) with Tampa this season.

Zacha suffered an upper-body injury vs. the Flyers on January 29th and missed the last two games before the break. According to reports, Zacha's injury is not progressing the way Team Czechia expected, and his availability for the tournament is in question. This would be a massive blow for Team Czechia, as Zacha was expected to centre their top line with his Bruins' teammate David Pastrnak.

Forsberg was solid in his most recent outing, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and has been mostly excellent whenever called upon. The 33-year-old Swedish goalie has a 2.14 GAA and .922 SV% in 16 games since the end of November (7-4-4). The Kings enter the action on Thursday as +118 road underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that played last night and ended a four-game losing streak (0-2-2) with a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Kesselring will slot right back into Buffalo's lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game in Tampa Bay. Zach Metsa will sit in his place.

Metsa will take a seat on Thursday as Michael Kesselring draws back into the lineup. Metsa has just one goal and one assist in 26 games this season.

Barron will slot into the lineup on Thursday as the Predators opt to get some fresh legs into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Nick Blankenburg will sit in his place.

Blankenburg will take a seat on Thursday as the Predators opt to get some fresh legs into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Justin Barron will dress in his place.

Hayes, an undrafted 23-year-old forward, has 23 points (13G / 10A) in 31 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). He will make his NHL debut in Buffalo on Thursday, slotting in for Noel Acciari (illness).

Acciari is battling an illness and is unavailable for Pittsburgh's final game before the Olympic break. The 34-year-old Acciari has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 42 games this season.

Wood was reassigned to able to spend the Olympic break playing in AHL games for the Admirals. The 2023 first-rounder has nine goals and eight assists in 46 games this season.