NHL Hockey Player News

Bernard-Docker was fighting for one of Detroit's final defensive spots after signing a two-year, $1.6 million AAV contract extension in the offseason, but has not had a chance to play in the opening week of the season due to an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old is entering his seventh NHL season and second with the Red Wings after putting up a goal, five points and 25 PIMs in 63 games last season.

Stanley was a fourth-round pick of the Senators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to make his NHL debut. The 21-year-old defenseman made his professional debut last season with Belleville (AHL), playing six games after completing his collegiate career with Cornell University.

Bobrovsky's early-season introduction to the Maple Leafs hasn't been overly encouraging. Still, he will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights in search of his first victory. The 38-year-old Bobrovsky has allowed six goals on 53 shots (.887 SV%) through two games this season (0-2-0). The Maple Leafs enter Thursday as +151 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team coming off a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken.

Barron signed a one-year, $1.575 million contract with the Nashville Predators in the offseason, but was claimed off of waivers by the St. Louis Blues before the start of the season. The 24-year-old Barron played 52 games with the Predators last season, averaging 14:15 time-on-ice and recording nine assists.

Victor Mancini will draw into Vancouver's lineup on Thursday, sending Schenn to the press box as a healthy scratch. Schenn was regularly a healthy scratch last season while splitting time between Buffalo and Winnipeg, but will sit for the first time this season in game five.

Luke Schenn will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Mancini to suit up for his season debut. The 24-year-old Mancini played 24 games with the Canucks last season, averaging 13:44 time-on-ice and tallying three assists.

Siegenthaler left Tuesday’s game vs. Utah with an undisclosed injury and did not return, but could return to the lineup as soon as Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Siegenthaler played all 82 games with the Devils last season, averaging 19:29 time-on-ice and scoring 16 points (0G / 16A).

DeBrusk did not play in Vancouver's previous game because of an illness, but he returned to practice Tuesday, and should play on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 29-year-old DeBrusk is averaging 15:36 of ice time and has one assist in two games this season. He is expected to be relied upon heavily in Vancouver's top six this season.

Surprisingly, Colorado hasn't turned to Scott Wedgewood this season and has rolled with Blackwood between the pipes for the first three games. Wedgewood's tremendous 2025-26 season, posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 45 appearances (31-6-6), should at least earn him close to a timeshare by season's end, even if the team is showing early-season favour for Blackwood. Colorado enters Thursday's contest as significant -235 road favourites against a struggling Calgary team that has been outscored 16-3 through three games (0-3-0).

Maxim Tsyplakov will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Suniev to enter the lineup for his season debut. Suniev was drafted 80th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to make his presence felt at the NHL level. The 21-year-old spent mot of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he tallied 24 points (16G / 8A) in 57 games with the Calgary Wranglers.

Castagna was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. The 21-year-old forward made his professional debut earlier this season, tallying two goals in two games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). He spent the previous three seasons playing for Cornell University.

Tsyplakov hasn't been noticeable through his first three games with the Flames, recording only one shot on goal and a -3 plus/minus. He will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Thursday and be replaced by Aydar Suniev.

Cooley had a terrific first season as a full-time NHLer, serving primarily as Dustin Wolf's backup, posting a solid 2.69 GAA and .909 SV% in 31 appearances (10-10-6) for a poor Calgary Flames team. The 29-year-old Cooley struggled in his only 2026-27 outing, allowing three goals on 25 shots (.880 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, but hopes to improve Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The Flames enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +207 home underdogs against an Avalanche team coming off a disappointing final-minute 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets yesterday.

O'Connor has missed Colorado's first three games of the season with a lower-body injury but could make his debut on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. The 30-year-old is entering his eighth season in Colorado after only managing to appear in 13 games last season due to a hip injury. He will be a key part of the Avalanche's bottom-six when he is fully able to return to the lineup.

To start the 2026-27 season, the Blues have made it clear they are relying more on Hofer than veteran Jordan Binnington, and will turn to him again on Thursday for his third start in four games. Through two games this season (1-1-0), Hofer has a shutout and has posted an impressive 1.01 GAA and .955 SV%. The Blues enter Thursday as -150 home favourites against a San Jose Sharks team coming off a disappointing 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Sharks Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky rolled with Yaroslav Askarov for the first three games of the season (2-1-0), but Askarov hasn't provided confidence between the pipes, so Warsofsky will turn to Nedeljkovic for the first time on Thursday. The 30-year-old Nedeljkovic was a serviceable option when Askarov struggled last season, posting a 2.87 GAA and .896 SV% in 40 games (18-14-4). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +137 road underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team on a two-game losing streak (0-2-0).

Celebrini was a late scratch for San Jose's Monday loss to Dallas and his status for Thursday's game against the St. Louis Blues remains up in the air. The 20-year-old is in his third NHL campaign and has five assists, nine SOG and a +2 plus/minus while averaging 22:20 TOI/GP across two games this season.

Sanderson skated on his own prior to Thursday's morning skate but will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury that he suffered early in the season opener. Sanderson returning to the ice is a good sign that he's not expected to be sidelined long-term, but as of now the Senators have not provided a timetable for his return.

With Joel Kiviranta (lower body) expected to miss at least a week, Blackwell will draw into the lineup as his replacement. The 33-year-old Blackwell played 7:29 and was held off the scoresheet in his only game this season.