Monahan suffered an upper-body injury, exiting Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames after only 13:11 time-on-ice, but has already returned to practice and is nearing a return to the lineup. The 31-year-old Monahan is off to a slow start this season despite top-line and top-powerplay deployment, scoring only six points (1G / 5A) in 13 games.
Eklund did not play in San Jose's two most recent game due to a lower-body injury and will miss at least one more contest before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old Eklund is to a great start this season, scoring 11 points (5G / 6A) in 12 games.
With Ramus Dahlin (persona) away from the team, Jones has earned his second call-up of the season but is still awaiting his first NHL action of the season. The 25-year-old defenseman posted career highs in games played (46), points (11), PIMs (24) and SOG (51) with the New York Rangers last season.
Smith has missed one game since being injured on November 1st, and will miss at least one more before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve. The 30-year-old Smith has three goals in 13 games this season.
Hyman missed the second half of last year's playoffs after enduring an upper-body injury and has yet to play in the 2025-26 season. At the beginning of training camp, Head Coach Kris Knoblach stated he is hopeful the 32-year-old can return in early November, a timeline that seems to be holding true, as Head Coach Knoblach stated on Friday. Hyman is just one season removed from a 54-goal campaign in 2023-24 and will hope to get off to a hot start when he is able to return.
Janmark has battled an undisclosed injury since training camp and has yet to play this season, but could make his debut on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 32-year-old Swedish forward has been effective in a bottom-six role for the Oilers of the previous three seasons, scoring 55 points (16G / 39A) in 217 combined games.
The Oilers have given up two-goal leads in each of their last two games (0-1-1), and hope to return to the win column on Saturday with Skinner tending the twine against the Colorado Avalanche. Edmonton has struggled between the pipes this season, but has received more consistent goaltending from Skinner, who has a 2.54 GAA and .899 SV% in 10 games (4-3-3).
Demko has battled injuries throughout his career, and the team is trying to eliminate those this season by giving him ample rest and maintenance days. The 29-year-old Demko has been solid in Vancouver's crease this season, posting a 2.57 GAA and .911 SV% in nine games (5-4-0). Vancouver recalled Jiri Patera from Abbotsford (AHL) in anticipation of Demko being unable to play for at least one of the team's two games this weekend.
Primeau has struggled with the Maple Leafs this season, posting an ugly 4.30 GAA and .838 SV% in three games (2-1-0). He could be recalled by the Maple Leafs after playing a game with the Marlies on Friday, but his time with the NHL club is likely coming to an end, as Joseph Woll is nearing a return to the lineup.
Misa continues his recovery from an undisclosed injury and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, beginning with Saturday's game against the Winnipeg Jets. Injuries aside, the Sharks have been easing the 18-year-old Misa into gameplay this season, limited to only seven games, scoring three points (1G / 2A).
Luke Schenn will draw back into Winnipeg's lineup on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, sending Miller to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Miller has been used sparsely this season, averaging only 11:32 time-on-ice through four games this season.
Colin Miller will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, allowing Schenn to re-enter the lineup. The 36-year-old Schenn is averaging 13:10 time-on-ice, recording 12 blocks, and 24 hits in 10 games this season.
Lambert, the 30th-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games combined over the last three seasons. Nikita Chibrikov will draw into the lineup as Lamert's replacement.
Chibrikov has only played five games this season, scoring zero points, and has been sidelined since October 26th. The 22-year-old Chibrikov was drafted 50th overall by the Jets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Sam Dickinson has been used sparingly in his first NHL season, and will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 19-year-old Dickinson is averaging 14:30 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in 11 games this season.
Reaves has not played since October 30th due to an undisclosed injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 39-year-old Reaves is averaging 6:43 time-on-ice, recording two points (2G / 0A), 10 penalty minutes, and 37 hits in 10 games.
Perfetti suffered an ankle injury during the Jets' preseason finale and has been sidelined since, but appears to be nearing an imminent return after practicing on Friday. The 23-year-old Perfetti was originally expected to play on the team's top powerplay unit. That said, it's unclear if Perfetti will re-join the top powerplay unit, as Alex Iafallo has filled Perfetti's role adequately, helping the team garner a top-10 powerplay unit.
The Sharks have points in four straight (2-0-2) and will try to keep the streak going, turning to Nedeljkovic between the pipes on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic has won two of his last three contests (2-0-1), saving 81 of 90 combined shots (.900 SV%). He has a 3.29 GAA and .895 SV% in six games this season (2-2-2). The Sharks enter Friday's contest as +170 home underdogs against a Jets team that is 4-1-0 on the road this season.
Hayes has not played yet this season, recovering from an upper-body injury, but could make his season debut this weekend against the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old Hayes recorded 23 points (13G / 10A) while playing 64 games in his first season with the Penguins in 2024-25.
The 6-5-3 Blackhawks will likely turn to Knight on Friday when they visit the Calgary Flames. Knight was outstanding in his most recent game, saving 43 of 45 shots (.956 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The 24-year-old goalie boasts a solid 2.56 GAA and .919 SV% through 10 games this season (5-3-2). The Blackhawks enter Friday's contest as +138 road underdogs against a Flames team averaging only 2.4 goals per game through 15 contests (4-9-2).
