NHL Hockey Player News

The Avalanche acquired Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators last Wednesday in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. Blankenburg is a somewhat underrated, 27-year-old two-way defenceman who's put up career highs in goals (six) and assists (15) in just 49 games this season. He quarterbacked the Predators second power-play unit at times this season, but it's unclear where exactly he will slot in on the pecking order of an Avalanche blue-line that just recently swapped out Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak.

Colton was limited to only 8:15 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Colton scored a goal before leaving the game, giving him 23 points (8G / 15A) through 60 contests this season. If he is unable to play on Thursday, his next chance to return to the lineup will be on Saturday afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.

Helleson has not played in over a week and will make his return to the lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 24-year-old defenseman is averaging 17:25 time-on-ice and has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 51 games this season.

Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed eight goals on 35 shots (.771 SV%) in his last two games, paving the way for Scott Wedgewood to tend the twine on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been a pleasant surprise for Colorado all season, but has been exceptionally impressive since returning from the Olympic break, posting a stellar 1.33 GAA and .951 SV% in four games (4-0-0). Colorado enters the action on Thursday as sizable -208 road favourites against a Seattle team on a three-game losing streak (0-3-0).

Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 121 points (63G / 58A) in 528 career games, but he has yet to play a game this season. The 34-year-old forward has 20 points (11G / 9A) and 137 penalty minutes in 48 games this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

The Penguins have managed to tread water without Sydney Crosby (lower body) and now Evgeni Malkin (suspension), going 3-2-3 since the Olympic break, partly due to strong netminding from Arturs Silovs. The 24-year-old Latvian goalie only has one loss in his last five outings (4-1-0), posting a solid 2.23 GAA and .917 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +135 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, a team they defeated 5-0 less than two weeks ago.

Girard has been in and out of the lineup since joining the Penguins, and will miss a second consecutive game due to an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old Girard has seen a slight uptick in icetime since becoming a Penguin, but is still in search of his first point through seven games.

Seattle allowed four unanswered goals in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators as they suffered their third straight loss (0-3-0). The 29-year-old Daccord will likely return to the crease on Thursday, looking to improve on some inconsistent play since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 3.02 GAA and .903 SV% in six games (3-3-0). Seattle enters the action on Thursday as +185 home underdogs against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who are coming off a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Stone has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 1st, but he appears to be nearing a return after practicing on Thursday, albeit in a non-contact jersey. For the Golden Knights, Stone's return can't come soon enough, as they have gone 1-5-0 since his injury. The 33-year-old forward has been having a tremendous season, producing at a career-best rate with 60 points (21G / 39A) through 43 games.

The Golden Knights have rarely strayed from their goalie rotation in recent weeks, but appear to be trying to get Hill into a groove after a mostly disappointing 2025-26 season, turning to him for a third consecutive start. The 29-year-old Hill was lightly tested in his most recent outing, saving 14 of 16 shots (.875 SV%), but came up short in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. He has a 3.40 GAA and .832 SV% in four games since returning from the Olympic break (2-3-0). The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -153 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has gone to overtime in three straight games (1-0-2).

With Spencer Knights recently returning from an illness, Soderblom has seen a heavier-than-usual workload and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The 26-year-old Soderblom was perfect against Utah two weeks ago, saving all 22 shots he faced in a 4-0 win. He has a 2.75 GAA and .890 SV% in three games since the beginning of March (1-1-1). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +196 road underdogs against a Mammoth team they have defeated twice in the last two weeks.

Wiesblatt has been sidelined for a couple of games, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Vancouver Canuks. The 24-year-old forward is averaging 10:16 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 33 games this season.

Kane has missed two of Vancouver's last four games, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 34-year-old Kane is averaging 16:40 time-on-ice, recording 27 points (11G / 16A) and 102 hits in 61 games this season.

Tolopilo has been serviceable while being placed in a tough position, netminding for a last-place Vancouver Canucks team. The 25-year-old goalie has allowed three or fewer goals in seven consecutive appearances (2-2-2), posting a solid 2.65 GAA and .914 SV%. Still, the Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +134 home underdogs against a Nashville Predators team coming off a 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken.

With Evander Kane returning from an illness, Hoglander will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Hoglander is averaging 11:32 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 25 games this season.

Stone has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 1st, but he appears to be nearing a return after practicing on Thursday, albeit in a non-contact jersey. For the Golden Knights, Stone's return can't come soon enough, as they have gone 1-5-0 since his injury. The 33-year-old forward has been having a tremendous season, producing at a career-best rate with 60 points (21G / 39A) through 43 games.

Alexander Steeves will draw back into Boston's lineup on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, sending Eyssimont to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Eyssimont is averaging 10:53 time-on-ice and has 18 points (5G / 10A) in 50 games this season.

Swayman has been outstanding lately and will try to continue his winning ways on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old Swayman saved 15 of 16 shots (.938 SV%) in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, extending his four-game streak where he has not allowed more than two goals in a game (3-1-0). The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as -161 home favourites against a Sharks team on a three-game losing streak (0-1-2).

Dries is no stranger to the NHL, with 26 points (16G / 10A) in 122 career games, but he has exclusively played in the AHL the past three seasons. The undrafted 31-year-old forward has 37 points (20G / 17A) in 48 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) this season.