NHL Hockey Player News

One of Winnipeg's top prospects is expected to make his NHL debut in Vegas on Monday as Brayden Yager is expected to draw in Winnipeg's lineup for his first career appearance. The 21-year-old was Pittsburgh's 2023 1st round pick (14th overall) but was acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh for Rutger McGroarty in August on 2024. Yager enjoyed a solid first season with Manitoba (AHL) in 2025-26, with 10 goals, and 30 points in 68 games played.

Hameenaho's first season in New Jersey looks to be over after the 21-year-old winger was assigned to Utica (AHL) on Monday. New Jersey's 2023 2nd round pick (58th overall) has enjoyed a solid first season with New Jersey despite occupying a bottom-six role, with two goals, eight points and 14 PIMs in 33 games played in 2025-26.

The Blues have received stellar goaltending down the stretch from Joel Hofer, but it was unfortunately too late as their playoff hopes came to an end last week. The 25-year-old Hofer saved 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Since returning from the Olympic break, Hofer has been one of the top goalies in the NHL, posting a stellar 1.90 GAA and .936 SV% in 14 games (10-2-2). The Blues enter Monday's contest as -130 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has lost two straight (0-2-0) and could be inclined to rest some key players with their postseason placement already decided.

Hellebuyck struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 20 shots (.750 SV%) in a 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, severely crippling Winnipeg's slim playoff hopes. That said, they will need a win on Monday, along with some luck elsewhere in the league, to stay in the race. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck, the back-to-back reigning Vezina trophy winner, has had a largely disappointing 2025-26 season and hasn't been able to elevate his game at opportune times, including posting an ugly 2.81 GAA and .874 SV% in five games this month (3-2-0). The Jets enter Monday's contest as +150 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Gustavsson Nyberg was signed to an NHL contract last week and will be a game-time decision to make his NHL debut vs. St. Louis due to visa issues. The 22-year-old undrafted Swedish shutdown defensemen was signed after completing his third NCAA campaign with the University of Connecticut (NCAA), picking up 11 points and 26 PIMs in 38 games played.

Kiersted last appeared for the Wild on January 5th but will draw back into the lineup vs. St. Louis on Monday as majority of the regular roster rests. Kiersted is in his fifth NHL season but first with the Minnesota wild and has an assist, four SOG and a -1 plus/minus in four games played.

Spurgeon missed Minnesota's previous game due to rest-related purposes but will draw back into the lineup vs. St. Louis on Monday. The 36-year-old shutdown defensemen reached the 70+ game plateau this year for the second time in his last seven seasons and has six goals, 22 points and a +4 plus/minus through 78 games played this season.

Jones was recalled from Iowa (AHL) on Saturday and will draw back into Minnesota's lineup on Monday vs. St. Louis as the Wild sit most of their regulars due to rest. Jones has struggled to produce this season, with just two points, 25 SOG and a -10 plus/minus in 26 games played.

Aube-Kubel last appeared in a Wild jersey on December 18th but will draw back into the lineup on Monday vs. St.Louis as a majority of the main roster sits due to rest. Aube-Kubel is with his seventh NHL organization in eight seasons and has an assist, six PIMs and four SOG through four games with the Wild this season.

Haight was recalled from Iowa (AHL) over the weekend and will draw back into Minnesota's lineup with a plethora of players sitting due to rest vs. St. Louis on Monday. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut this season and has appeared in seven games, picking up an assist and eight SOG despite averaging just 9:59 TOI.

With Minnesota locked into their playoff position and an influx of players resting on Monday in St. Louis, Robby Fabbri will draw back into the Wild lineup. The 30-year-old forward is onto his second organization this season after being acquired off waivers from St. Louis earlier this year but has yet to pick up a point in his four appearances with Minnesota.

Howard earned another call up to the Oilers over the weekend after he put up 22-goals and 47 points in 45 games played with Bakersfield (AHL) and will return to the lineup vs. Colorado on Monday. The 22-year-old forward is expected to play in Edmonton's top-six with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic and will hope to add to his five points in 28 games played this season.

Jones has been a solid force in Edmonton's bottom-six this season but will be out vs. Colorado on Monday due to a lower-body injury and is expected to miss the next three to four weeks. The 28-year-old has appeared in just 21 games this season, picking up three goals and five points despite only averaging 8:21 TOI per game played.

With Jonathan Drouin drawing back into St. Louis' lineup after a two-game absence, Jonatan Berggren will be the odd-man out and a healthy scratch vs. Minnesota on Monday. Berggren was acquired off waivers from Detroit earlier in the season, picking up six goals and 16 points in 35 games played with St. Louis.

Sundqvist will be a healthy scratch on Monday vs. Minnesota as Jack Finley returns to the Blues' lineup. Sundqvist has appeared in 51 games this season as mostly a bottom-six forward, picking up four goals, 16 points and a -18 plus/minus through 51 games played.

Drouin has been a healthy scratch for St. Louis' last two games but will draw back in Monday vs. Minnesota as he takes the spot of Jonatan Berggren. The 31-year-old veteran has struggled during his brief time in St. Louis after being acquired at the Trade Deadline, with just one goal, eight SOG and a -2 plus/minus in seven games played.

Finley had been a healthy scratch for St. Louis' previous game but will draw back into the lineup on Monday vs. Minnesota. The 23-year-old forward was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay earlier in the season but has gone 12 games without a point during his recent scoreless streak. He has two goals, five points and 23 SOG in 42 games with both St. Louis and Tampa Bay this season.

With Drew Fortescue drawing back into New York's lineup on Monday in Florida, Urho Vaakanainen will be the odd-man out and a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old stay-at-home defensemen has appeared in 80 games with the Rangers in the last two seasons, but has only managed two goals and 21 points.

Fortescue was a healthy scratch for New York's previous game but will draw back into the lineup for Urho Vaakanainen vs. Florida on Monday. Fortescue made his NHL debut on March 27th and has adapted well to the highest level of hockey, with two assists, four PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in seven games played.

Hyman has missed the OIlers' previous four games with an undisclosed injury but returned to practice as a welcome sign on Monday as a full participant. The 33-year-old is still not expected to return vs. Colorado on Monday but is hopeful to be healthy for the Oilers' opening playoff series.