NHL Hockey Player News

Noesen has been an effective depth contributor at the NHL level in recent seasons, but had an off 2025-26 season with the Devils, scoring just seven points (3G / 4A) in 38 games. The 33-year-old forward was held off to the scoresheet in two games with the Devils this season, and now finds himself with Utica (AHL) after clearing waivers. He has not played an AHL game since the 2021-22 season.

Leason was an NHL regular for four consecutive seasons between 2021-22 and 2024-25, but spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL and will start his 2026-27 season there as well. The 27-year-old forward has 54 points (25G / 29A) in 226 career NHL games.

Wright was a sixth-round pick of the Kings in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward made his HL debut last season, tallying four assists in 23 games with the Kings. He has three points (2G / 1A) in two games with Ontario (AHL) this season.

Dube exited St. Louis' previous game with an upper-body injury and is not expected to play on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old Dube has one goal in three games this season.

Dean was originally selected with the No.30 overall pick in 2021 and was traded to the Blues for Ivan Barbashev in 2023. Since then, he's appeared in just 10 NHL games and has spent the last two full seasons in Springfield (AHL). In 2025-26, he had just four goals and 10 assists (14 points) in 36 AHL games.

Eklund left the ice early in the first period during Thursday's 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, needing assistance due to an ankle injury. The team has not provided a concrete update, but it appears to be a long-term issue. The 23-year-old Swedish forward was getting favourable deployment early in his tenure with the Senators and scored two points (1G / 1A) in four games.

Montembeault did not finish practice on Wednesday due to a lower-body injury, and is expected to miss approximately two weeks. The 29-year-old goalie fell out of favour in Montreal last season and spent time in the AHL, but he has started the 2026-27 season in the NHL as Jakub Dobes' backup.

Just days after losing Aleksander Barkov (lower body), the Panthers' injury woes continued as Marchand exited Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury. Marchand began the season on the sidelines with an undisclosed injury and lasted only 9:36 on ice in his second game before suffering his latest ailment. Fortunately for Marchand and the Panthers, though he will miss some time, he is expected back in the lineup by late November.

Burakovsky suffered an upper-body injury in Ottawa's final preseason game and has not played since, but could make his debut on Saturday. The 31-year-old veteran was acquired in a trade with Chicago in the offseason and is entering the final year of a five-year, $27.5 million contract. He had 11 goals and 33 points in 75 games played last season with the Blackhawks.

Haydn Fleury will make his season debut on Friday, sending St. Ivany to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 14:13 time-on-ice and has zero points in two games this season.

Bauer, a sixth round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, will re-enter the lineup to fill in for the injured Josh Morrissey (upper body). The 24-year-old Bauer made his NHL debut earlier this season and is averaging 7:17 time-on-ice through two games.

Jack St. Ivany will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Fleury to enter the lineup for his season debut. The 30-year-old Fleury averaged 13:56 time-on-ice and scored four points (2G / 2A) in 38 games last season.

Morrissey exited Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche after just 9:32 on ice with an upper-body injury. He will not play on Friday, but it is not expected to be a long-term issue. Expect Neal Pionk to take Morrissey's place on the Jets' top powerplay unit.

Sergei Murashov had a decent outing in his season debut, but the Penguins have turned to Arturs Silovs in three of four games. That said, aside from his season-opening shutout, Silovs has struggled between the pipes. The 22-year-old Murashov, who saved 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, could earn increased playing time if he can string together several strong outings. The Penguins enter Friday's contest as slight +102 road underdogs against a 1-1-0 Columbus Blue Jackets team that has not played in six days.

Severson has been recovering from shoulder surgery in April, but returned to practice last week and will make his season debut on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Severson played an integral part of the Blue Jackets' blueline last season, averaging 21:04 time on ice and scoring 32 points (8G / 24A) in 71 games. The team will lean on him again in 2025-26 as they hope to battle for a playoff spot.

Sergei Murashov had a decent outing in his season debut, but the Penguins have turned to Arturs Silovs in three of four games. That said, aside from his season-opening shutout, Silovs has struggled between the pipes. The 22-year-old Murashov, who saved 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, could earn increased playing time if he can string together several strong outings. The Penguins enter Friday's contest as slight +102 road underdogs against a 1-1-0 Columbus Blue Jackets team that has not played in six days.