NHL Hockey Player News

Jiricek was drafted sixth-overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but has had trouble being a permanent fixture at the NHL level. The 22-year-old defenseman has been traded twice in the last two years, with stints in Columbus, Minnesota, and now Philadelphia. He has yet to play a game with the Flyers, but has been effective at the AHL level, scoring 10 points (2G / 8A) in 10 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Hovorka made his NHL debut earlier this season, recording a -3 plus/minus in 11:27 time-on-ice. The undrafted 24-year-old Czech defenseman has 16 points (4G / 12A) this season in 53 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Bjornfot was drafted 22nd overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but has struggled to make his presence felt at the NHL level. The 24-year-old defenseman has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 32 games this season with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Dellandrea has battled some injuries this season and has been sidelined since early January due to a lower-body injury, but he has been an effective bottom-six forward when healthy. The 25-year-old Dellandrea is averaging 14:24 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (2G / 9A) and 117 hits in 42 games this season. He signed a two-year contract worth $1.625 million AAV ($3.25M total) three weeks ago.

Strbak is a Slovak-born defenseman that was just awarded a three-year, entry-level contract after completing his third season of collegiate hockey. The 20-year-old 45th-overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft had 18 points (3G / 15A) in 37 games this season with Michigan State University.

Frederic has not played in nearly two weeks due to an undisclosed injury, but he will return on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 28-year-old Frederic is averaging 10:45 time-on-ice, recording six points (4G / 2A), a -16 plus/minus, and 170 hits in 67 games this season.

The Blues have predominantly relied on Joel Hofer in recent weeks as they've made their late-season push for a playoff spot, but after a poor performance in Monday's 5-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks, the team will revert to their veteran netminder, Jordan Binnington. The 32-year-old Binnington was solid in his most recent outing, albeit lightly tested, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had an impressive 1.62 GAA and .921 SV% in five games (4-1-0) in March. The Blues enter Wednesday's contest as +124 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that is also battling for a Wild Card spot despite losing five of their last six games (1-2-3).

Mangiapane has not played in nearly two weeks, but could be an option during Chicago's upcoming three-game road trip. The Edmonton Oilers signed Mangiapane in the off-season to provide some depth scoring, but after tallying just 14 points (7G / 7A) and a -19 plus/minus in 52 games, he was dealt to the Blackhawks in a trade. Through seven games with Chicago, the 29-year-old Mangiapane has two points (1G / 1A) and a -3 plus/minus.

Gudas returned from a one-game absence due to an injury on Monday, playing 7:05 time-on-ice and recording 17 penalty minutes in a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he will return to the sidelines on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 35-year-old Czech defenseman is averaging 16:18 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (2G / 11A), and 160 hits in 55 games this season.

With Cutter Gauthier (upper body) out of the lineup on Wednesday, the Ducks will turn to Gaucher to draw in for his NHL debut. The 22-year-old Gaucher was drafted 22nd-overall by the Ducks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He has 26 points (12G / 14A) in 57 games this season with the San Diego Dulls (AHL).

With Victor Mancini (undisclosed) sidelined on Wednesday, Joseph will re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Joseph is averaging 13:26 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 27 games this season.

With Evander Kane (undisclosed) out of the lineup on Wednesday, Sasson will re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Sasson is averaging 11:36 time-on-ice and has 15 points (11G / 4A) in 60 games this season.

Askarov has battled through injuries recently and completed his first full game in nearly three weeks on Tuesday, saving 22 of 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. Askarov was far from stellar in his return to action, but came up big when called upon, helping the Sharks stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sharks will need Askarov to make timely saves again on Wednesday, entering the action as slight -103 home underdogs against an Anaheim Ducks team on a two-game losing streak (0-1-1).

Mancini only played 10:54 time-on-ice in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and will be sidelined on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche due to an undisclosed injury. The 23-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:48 time-on-ice and has one assist in 21 games this season.

Kane missed a few games in March and will return to the sidelines due to an undisclosed ailment on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 34-year-old Kane scored a goal in Vancouver's previous game, giving him 31 points (13G / 18A) in 70 games this season.

The low-scoring, defensively challenged Vancouver Canucks have not made life easy for Lankinen between the pipes, but he has played serviceably in recent outings. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie has quality starts in six of his last eight games (1-6-1), posting a 2.87 GAA and a .898 SV%. That said, the Canucks enter Wednesday's contest as significant +370 road underdogs against a first-place Avalanche team coming off a dominant 9-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Nicholl was a seventh-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft that was just rewarded with a three-year, entry-level contract. The 19-year-old forward scored 26 points (15G / 11A) this season in 32 games with the London Knights (OHL).

Marchment collided with a teammate in Tuesday's game and gingerly left the ice before returning. It's unclear if this is related to what is currently troubling Marchment, but his status for Thursday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes is uncertain. The 30-year-old Marchment has been excellent since joining Columbus, scoring 27 points (14G / 13A) in 33 games.

Chernyshov recently made his return from a multi-game absence due to concussion, but could return to the sidelines on Wednesday due to an illness. The 20-year-old Chernyshov has been productive in a small sample size during his first NHL season, scoring 14 points (5G / 9A) in 20 games.