NHL Hockey Player News

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby(LW)|WPG
Line Change
Line Change
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby will draw back into the Jets' lineup Thursday vs. Colorado.

Previously skating with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup, the Jets will return to the more traditional formation as Nate Schmidt and Declan Chisholm will both be healthy scratches on Thursday, allowing Jonsson-Fjallby to re-enter the lineup. Jonsson-Fjallby has been held without a point in eight games this season, averaging 7:16 time-on-ice.

Source:
Mike McIntyre 2023-12-07T19:56:49.796Z
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby
Justin Schultz(RD)|SEA
Line Change
Line Change
Justin Schultz is expected to be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. New Jersey.

Schultz is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Ryker Evans to make his NHL debut. Schultz has struggled lately, with only one point in his last five games (0G / 1A), posting a -6 plus/minus while averaging 16:50 time-on-ice.

Source:
Sound of Hockey 2023-12-07T19:44:17.655Z
Justin Schultz
Ryker Evans(D)|SEA
Line Change
Line Change
Ryker Evans is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday vs. New Jersey.

Justin Schultz is expected to be a healthy scratch, allowing Evans to make his NHL debut on Thursday. The 21-year-old Evans was the 35th overall pick of the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the last two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, scoring 52 points (8G / 44A) in 89 combined games. He is expected to play with Brian Dumoulin on the third defensive pair.

Source:
Sound of Hockey 2023-12-07T19:46:38.712Z
Ryker Evans
Caleb Jones(D)|LAK
Line Change
Line Change
Caleb Jones will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Winnipeg.

Jones will be a healthy scratch for the Avalanche as defensemen Bowen Byram and Cale Makar, both previously game-time decisions, will suit up for Thursday night's contest against the Winnipeg Jets. Jones has two points (0G / 2A), averaging 12:45 time-on-ice in 12 games with the Avalanche this season.

Source:
Peter Baugh 2023-12-07T19:31:24.106Z
Caleb Jones
Dennis Gilbert(D)|OTT
Line Change
Line Change
Dennis Gilbert will draw back into the Flames lineup Thursday vs. Carolina.

Jordan Oesterle will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Gilbert to re-enter the lineup for the Flames on Thursday. The left-handed defenseman has played 15 games with the Flames this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A), averaging 12:48 time-on-ice.

Source:
Pat Steinberg 2023-12-07T19:22:04.866Z
Dennis Gilbert
Martin Pospisil(C)|CAL
Line Change
Line Change
Martin Pospisil will draw back into the Flames' lineup Thursday vs. Carolina.

Walker Duehr will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pospisil to draw back into the lineup for the Flames. The Slovak-born Pospisil has five points (3G / 2A), averaging 13:09 time-on-ice, and 32 shots on goal through 14 games this season. He is expected to play on a line with Connor Zary and Nazem Kadri.

Source:
Pat Steinberg 2023-12-07T19:19:34.228Z
Martin Pospisil
Eric Robinson(LW)|CAR
Line Change
Line Change
Eric Robinson is expected to make his Sabres' debut Thursday vs. Boston.

Robinson was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Sabres yesterday in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick and is expected to make his debut with his new team on Thursday. Robinson has a goal, nine SOG, and a -3 plus/minus through seven games this season.

Source:
Audacy.com 2023-12-07T19:16:21.264Z
Eric Robinson
Louis Crevier(D)|CHI
Line Change
Line Change
Louis Crevier will draw back into the Blackhawks' lineup Thursday vs. Anaheim.

Crevier was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Anaheim as he replaces Jarred Tinordi (concussion). The 22-year-old towering defence man (6'8") will make only his second career NHL appearance Thursday and is expected to be on Chicago's third pairing alongside Nikita Zaitsev.

Source:
Greg Boysen 2023-12-07T17:31:08.474Z
Louis Crevier
Emil Bemstrom(RW)|PIT
Line Change
Line Change
Emil Bemstrom will return to the Blue Jackets' lineup Thursday vs. the New York Islanders.

After a stint with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), posting 14 points (10G / 4A) in eight games, Bemstrom will return to the Blue Jackets lineup for the first time since November 14th. Before his demotion to the AHL, Bemstrom had four points (3G / 1A) in 12 games with the Blue Jackets. He is expected to skate on the third line alongside Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson.

Source:
Brian Hedger 2023-12-07T18:09:39.808Z
Emil Bemstrom
Tyson Barrie(D)|CAL
Line Change
Line Change
Tyson Barrie is expected to be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Tampa Bay.

Barrie returned to the lineup Tuesday after being a healthy scratch for consecutive games but will return to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday. Reports have circulated that Barrie's time with the Predators could be coming to an end as he and his agent search for a suitable trade partner. The 32-year-old defenseman has 10 points (0G / 10A) in 23 assists with the Predators this season.

Source:
Robby Stanley 2023-12-07T17:39:12.177Z
Tyson Barrie
Marc Staal(LD)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Marc Staal will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Arizona.

Staal will be a healthy scratch after playing six of the last seven games, as Egor Zamula will draw back into the lineup. Staal has yet to score a point through 10 games this season and is averaging only 14:03 time-on-ice, the lowest total of his career by over three full minutes.

Source:
Dylan Robillard 2023-12-07T17:19:00.837Z
Marc Staal
Egor Zamula(D)|PHI
Line Change
Line Change
Egor Zamula will draw back into the Flyers' lineup Thursday vs. the Coyotes.

Zamula will draw back into the Flyers' lineup for the first time since November 30th, as Marc Staal will be a healthy scratch. Zamula has four points (1G / 3A) in 18 games, a +10 plus/minus, and is averaging 15:18 time-on-ice. He is expected to skate alongside Rasmus Ristolainen on the third defensive pair.

Source:
Dylan Robillard 2023-12-07T17:17:04.861Z
Egor Zamula
Sonny Milano(LW)|WAS
Line Change
Line Change
Sonny Milano is expected to be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Dallas.

Milano has played in 14 consecutive games but has not provided enough of an offensive punch for a Capitals team that ranks second worst in the league offensively (2.27 GF / GP), scoring zero points and registering only six shots on goal in his last seven games. Most recently, Milano skated on a line with Matthew Phillips and Hendrix Lapierre.

Source:
Tom Gulitti 2023-12-07T16:30:55.935Z
Sonny Milano

NHL Line Changes

NHL line changes are essential in keeping a team’s players fresh on the ice over the course of a hard-fought 60-minute matchup. With shift changes occurring rapidly throughout any given game, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know regarding line changes.

Making sure a team is efficiently making line changes can be essential to their success within a matchup, as it ensures that the players needed on the ice to gain the upper hand are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. For NHL daily fantasy hockey players, knowing how to track line changes can be important as you look to keep tabs on the players you’ve drafted to your lineup and their production.

On The Fly

Unlike other sports where play must come to a stop in order to make a player substitution, in hockey, players can switch in-and-out of play on the fly. This helps in keeping the breakneck pace of the contest going, increasing the amount of action from whistle-to-whistle and avoiding any unnecessary stoppages.

On the fly changes are generally done when a team is in possession of the puck and are looking to make a transition play from their own end to their opponent’s side of the rink. Players must be aware of the action around them when making an on the fly substitution as a poorly timed switch could leave themselves vulnerable to an odd-man rush on the other end.

In order to make successful line changes on the fly it is up to the team coaching staff to keep players informed on when their line matchups are due to hit the ice. Generally, with both forwards and defensive pairings, line changes go from the first line trickling its way down to the fourth. Depending on the situation of the game, coaches may opt to give a particular line more playing time, increasing the amount of shifts they receive.

Play Stoppages

NHL line changes can also be made during stoppage of play, with both sides being given the chance to put fresh bodies on the ice ahead of the upcoming faceoff. Examples of a play stoppage that would allow teams to make line changes are after minor or major penalties, offsides, icing, and puck out of play calls. These line changes are often much more calculated as each coach has time to survey the other team and decide what would be the most advantageous line combination that will provide them with a competitive advantage.

Bench Configuration

It may seem like a confusing and unorganized area of the game, but in hockey there is a fair amount of strategy put into the bench configuration within a matchup. With both benches positioned in the neutral zone, making sure that players can quickly hop the boards and get into the game is key to making successful line changes. Benches are generally set so that players entering into the game on the fly are in the best possible position on the ice to fulfill their role.

Generally, a bench in hockey will have the forwards positioned closest to the attacking zone, whereas the defenceman will be situated closest to their defensive zone. This separates the forward lines and defence pairings from on another on each end of the bench so that groups can easily stay together. From here the rested forwards ready to enter into the game will be placed in the centre of the bench, positioned near the coaches so they can easily receive instruction before hitting the ice. This is also advantageous as players coming off the ice for a line change will often enter from the opposite side they came onto the ice from, preventing any unnecessary traffic or confusion when making a change. While each team may have their own preferences on how to configure their bench, these are the most common ways they are run.

Line Change Rules

Understanding the rules of NHL line changes in hockey is an understated part of the game and when used correctly can swing the tide of a matchup in your favour. Without in-depth understanding of line changes in hockey, this can cause costly mistakes that can result in minor penalties, lengthy shifts, or mismatches off a faceoff.

Last Line Change

The last line change rule exists so that the home team is able to make an adjustment to whatever lineup the visiting team decides to roll out after a stoppage in play. This rule was designed to make NHL line changes efficient, as well as provide both sides with the chance to strategically place their players based on the lines sent out by their opponents.

For example, after the whistle, the home team’s coach can elect to make a line change to the personnel on the ice. After that, the visiting coach will send out any new players into the game off of a line change. Thanks to the last line change rule, the home team coach is now granted the opportunity to make one last line change before play resumes to counter whatever line changes were made by the opposing team.

For daily fantasy sports bettors this is where having ample knowledge of each NHL team can come in handy. You can envision how each team may look to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent during a possession, drafting players who are set up for success within a matchup.

Penalties & Infractions

While NHL line changes are meant to be an efficient and simple way to keep the game being played at a fast-pace with minimal interruptions, there is still room for serious error during these substitutions. It’s not uncommon to see teams assessed for a penalty due to a botched line change, resulting in a power play opportunity for the opposing team.

A common penalty called as a result of a poorly executed line change is “too many men on the ice”. This penalty results when the offending team has six or more skaters (including the goaltender) on the ice at any given time and comes in physical contact with the puck. While players entering in the game during a shift change are eligible to hop the boards and get in on the action once their teammate is within five feet of the bench, they must time this correctly or they could be hit with a premature substitution infraction. When a bench minor penalty such as too many men on the ice is assessed, it is up to the team’s head coach to decide who serves the penalty based on the players currently on the ice at the time of the penalty.

Another line change infraction to be aware of is in the case of an icing call. Icing is called when a team plays a puck from their own side of the red centre line across the red goal line in their opponents end. When icing is called, a faceoff will be taken from the end of the team that committed the infraction. During an icing call the team that was called for icing is not able to make any line changes, meaning they are forced to keep all players who were on the ice at the time of the infraction in the contest. Their opponents however are allowed to make any line change they desire, making this an incredibly beneficial call if they can strategize correctly.

How Line Changes Impact Fantasy Hockey

NHL line changes can come fast and suddenly so it can be challenging to keep track of certain players over the course of a matchup. This can make it difficult for avid fantasy hockey managers and sports bettors to know when the players they’ve wagered on are on the ice. Some broadcasts now incorporate various display mechanics that allow for you to see who is on the ice at any given time, making shift change tracking much simpler than ever before. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the jersey numbers of any players on your fantasy roster or that you bet on as a failsafe so that you can find them quickly while watching the action unfold.

Knowing how long a typical shift for a player entering into a matchup is can be an advantageous piece of knowledge for fantasy managers and bettors alike. The longer a player’s shift lasts, the higher their chances of registering a point or other statistical milestone which can help you in winning your fantasy matchups and/or bets placed on a game.