NHL Hockey Player News

Hedman has not played since November 8th and is apparently no closer to returning, out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. The 34-year-old Hedman has 12 points (0G / 12A) through 15 games this season. Darren Raddysh has served as the quarterback on the team's top powerplay unit while Hedman has been sidelined.

Yegor Chinakhov will draw back into the Islanders lineup on Thursday, sending Aston-Reese to the sidelines as a healthy scratch against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old Aston-Reese is averaging 10:20 time-on-ice, recording three assists and 34 hits in 13 games this season.

Zach Aston-Reese will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, allowing Chinakhov to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Chinakhov has four points (2G / 2A) in 14 games and has been held off the scoresheet in eight straight.

With Alexander Romanov (upper body) placed on Injured Reserve, the Islanders have recalled Warren from Bridgeport (AHL). That said, Warren will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, with Adam Boqvist drawing in as Romanov's replacement. The 24-year-old Warren made his NHL debut earlier this season, recording two assists in two games. He has nine points (2G / 7A) in 10 games with Bridgeport this season.

With Alexander Romanov (upper body) sidelined, Boqvist will re-enter the lineup as his replacement on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 25-year-old Boqvist has only played six games this season, averaging 12:41 time-on-ice and scoring zero points.

Stolarz, originally considered day-to-day, has been sidelined since suffering an upper-body injury on November 11th. The team has not revealed concrete details about his injury, but this latest development suggests he is not close to returning. The 31-year-old Stolarz struggled before his injury, posting a 3.51 GAA and .884 SV% in 13 games (6-5-1). Expect Joseph Woll to see the brunt of the action while Stolarz is sidelined.

The Blackhawks continue to impress, collecting points in eight of their last 10 (6-2-2), and will likely turn to Knight on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 24-year-old Knight has been solid all season for the Blackhawks and is coming off a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he saved 31 of 33 shots (.924 SV%). He has a 2.42 GAA and .924 SV% in 13 games this season (7-3-3). The Blackhawks enter the action on Thursday as slight -108 home favourites against a Kraken team that is in the bottom five of the league offensively (2.68 GF/GP).

With Jake Neighbours (lower body) set to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, Joseph will head to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Joseph is averaging 12:38 time-on-ice, recording six points (2G / 4A) and 32 blocks through 17 games this season.

The Blues have been more competitive lately, collecting points in five of their last six games (2-1-3), but remain near the bottom of the Western Conference. They have struggled to receive adequate netminding this season and will turn to Hofer on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old Hofer is sporting an ugly 4.04 GAA and .867 SV% in nine appearances this season (2-4-1). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as +110 road underdogs against a Flyers team that defeated them 6-5 in a shootout less than a week ago.

Nielsen made his NHL debut earlier this month and could potentially draw into the Avalanche lineup again after being recalled on Thursday. The 25-year-old forward is having a productive season at the AHL level, scoring 14 points (9G / 5A) in 16 games with the Colorado Eagles.

Texier has not played since November 6th and has been placed on the designated non-roster list, with Jake Neighbours (lower body) set to return to the lineup. The 26-year-old Texier has one assist while averaging 10:15 time-on-ice through eight games this season.

Neighbours has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on October 25th, but returned to practice on Monday, and appears to be on the verge of returning to the lineup after being activated from Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old Neighbours was off to a hot start to the season before his injury, tallying seven points (6G / 1A) and 20 hits in eight games.