NHL Hockey Player News

With William Nylander (lower body) out of the lineup on Wednesday, Blais will make his season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but is no stranger to the NHL, with 71 points (27G / 44A) in 257 career games.

Nylander has been battling a nagging injury the last week, being in and out of the lineup, and will sit again on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Nylander played last night and record an assist in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. He has 15 points (3G / 12A) in nine games this season. Sammy Blais will draw into the lineup, filling in for Nylander.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after defeating the Calgary Flames 4-3, the Maple Leafs will turn to Primeau between the pipes on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wednesday's start could mark Primeau's final appearance in the Maple Leafs crease before Joseph Woll (personal) returns to action. The 26-year-old Primeau has a 3.46 GAA and .875 SV% in two games this season (2-0-0). The Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's game as +109 road underdogs against the Blue Jackets.

The elite goaltending the Red Wings received earlier in the season has dissipated slightly, but they continue their winning ways, looking to extend their winning streak to three on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 38-year-old Talbot will return to the crease for the Red Wings on Thursday, looking to improve after a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing seven goals on 30 shots (.767 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the New York Islanders. He has a 2.98 GAA and .890 SV% in five appearances this season (3-1-0).

Set to be an RFA at the end of the season, GM Jim Nill ensured that Harley will be a Dallas Star for the foreseeable future after signing him to a massive eight-year contract worth nearly $85 million ($10.587 AAV). Harley caught national attention after being a late addition to Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off. The 24-year-old Harley was drafted 18th overall by the Stars in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and is coming into his own in his third full season at the NHL level. He has eight points (1G / 7A) in 10 games so far 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. Knoblach updated the media today, stating that Hyman is still at least a week away. 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.

With Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) sidelined to this point in the season, Miner worked himself into two appearances for the Avalanche (0-0-2), posting a 2.12 GAA and .909 SV%. That said, Miner's reassignment to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) likely indicates that Blackwood is ready to return to the lineup for the Avalanche.

Gostisbehere returned to the Hurricanes lineup on Tuesday from a multi-game absence due to a lower-body injury, but only lasted until the second period, exiting the game with 7:19 time-on-ice. Hurricanes' Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour insisted that Gostisbehere's injury is not related to the previous one, but he could be out of the lineup for a prolonged period of time. The 32-year-old Gostisbehere has been impressive offensively when in the lineup this season, with seven points (1G / 6A) in six games.

Kochetkov has been battling an undisclosed injury since the beginning of October and has yet to suit up this season. That said, he is nearing a return and could be between the pipes as soon as Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 26-year-old Kochetkov posted a 2.60 GAA and .897 SV% in 47 appearances last season (27-16-3).

A Panthers top-six that is already injury-depleted will likely welcome Marchand back into the lineup on Saturday, after he missed the team's previous game to tend to a personal matter. The 37-year-old Marchand is off to an excellent start in his first full season with the Panthers, recording 11 points (5G / 6A) in 10 games.

Garland left Tuesday's game vs. New York after a massive collision with Sam Carrick and did not return. Vancouver was unable to provide any updates after the game and will add their leading scorer to their already long list of injuries so far in 2025-26. The Canucks will hope it is only a minor injury after Garland started the year on fire with three goals, 11 points and 28 SOG in his first 11 games played.

Hintz has not played since receiving an open-ice hit from Carolina's Taylor Hall on October 25th, missing two straight games. He remains day-to-day, but will not play in the team's upcoming two-game road trip. The 28-year-old Hintz has eight points (1G / 7A) in eight games this season.

Back has been battling an upper-body injury since training camp and finally made his season debut on Sunday, but returned to the sidelines on Tuesday after reaggravating the injury. The 25-year-old Back played 8:28 time-on-ice and scored a goal. He could return to the lineup on the Stars' upcoming two-game road trip.

Duchene has only played one of the previous six games for the Stars, tending to an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup for the upcoming two-game road trip. The 34-year-old Duchene signed a four-year contract extension with the Stars in the offseason and has two points (1G / 1A) through four games in 2025-26.

Ersson has taken a backseat to Dan Vladar early in the 2025-26 season, due to Vladar's strong play. The 26-year-old Ersson is not expected to miss significant time, but his absence will further allow Vladar to make his case to be the starting goalie in Philadelphia. Erson has a 3.08 GAA and .876 SV% in four games this season (2-1-1).

Megna has played sparingly at the NHL level over the previous several seasons, but has 27 points (4G / 23A) in 193 career games. The 32-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 16 points (2G / 14A) in 64 games with the Charlotte Checkers.