RADIO
Brock Faber Set to Resume Skating Soon
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (skull) can start skating in a few days, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. Faber fractured his skull when a puck struck him in the side of his head in a preseason game on Sept. 25. A month later, he has cleared his return-to-play protocol and looks set to resume skating soon. Faber is a beast on the blue line and should be inserted back into fantasy lineups as soon as he's ready to return to action. Last season, Faber scored a career-high 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 80 games and recorded 173 SOG, 148 blocks, and a plus-18 rating.
Source: Michael Russo
Source: Michael Russo
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Brandt Clarke Makes Early Exit Thursday
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke (upper body) didn't complete Thursday's clash against the Ottawa Senators. He was injured midway through the second period when he was boarded by Senators forward Hayden Hodgson, who was tossed from the game. Before his exit, Clarke produced a power-play assist. He's been one of the Kings' top scorers this season, with nine points (three goals, six assists) in 12 games. If Clarke misses time, L.A. will need to rely more on Drew Doughty to generate offense from the blue line. The veteran has recently turned back the clock, amassing three points in each of his last two outings.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Kevin Fiala Remains Week-to-Week
Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (lower leg) remains week-to-week, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports. The Swiss forward skated in a non-contact jersey on Thursday. Fiala has been out of action since suffering a lower-leg injury at the 2026 Olympics. It's a good sign that he has resumed skating. Yet it remains unclear when Fiala is ready to return. With Mats Zuccarello (upper body) also out, the Kings are without two major offensive pieces. As a result, the team has averaged only 2.83 goals per game. The team's scoring issues make it hard to trust any player on the roster, though there have been encouraging signs of improvement in recent games, as the Kings have racked up six goals twice in their last three outings.
Source: Zach Dooley
Source: Zach Dooley
Mats Zuccarello Deemed Week-to-Week
Los Angeles Kings right wing Mats Zuccarello (upper body) is week-to-week, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports. He missed a third consecutive game on Thursday night against Ottawa, and it doesn't look like the Kings expect him back anytime soon. Zuccarello also missed time earlier in the campaign and has appeared in just six games. He has no goals and one assist. The Kings have struggled offensively and have tinkered with the lineup to find the right mix. This led to Corey Perry joining the top six against the Senators. The former MVP could get more opportunities on a scoring line until Zuccarello and Kevin Fiala (lower leg) are back.
Source: Zach Dooley
Source: Zach Dooley
Warren Foegele Out for Extended Period
Ottawa Senators winger Warren Foegele (knee) will be out for an extended period, head coach Travis Green said Thursday. Foegele was involved in a knee-on-knee collision during Tuesday's loss to Vegas and wasn't in the lineup Thursday night against the Kings. In Thursday's game, the Senators also lost Andre Burakovsky (lower body). Ottawa's injury list includes William Eklund (ankle), so the team has had some tough luck with frontline injuries. As a result, Fabian Zetterlund has landed a first-line job. He has three assists over the last four games and is worth monitoring by fantasy managers.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Aleksander Barkov Back on the Ice
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (knee) resumed skating on Wednesday, George Richards of NHL.com reports. The Panthers captain has been sidelined since injuring his left knee against San Jose on Oct. 1. He remains around four weeks away from returning to action, but it's a great sign for the Panthers that Barkov is back on the ice. Brad Marchand (leg) also resumed skating this week and is nearing his return. He's expected back in approximately three weeks. Until the Panthers get their big guns back, Lars Eller and Sandis Vilmanis will continue in larger roles.
Source: George Richards
Source: George Richards
Drew Doughty Good to Go Against Senators
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (undisclosed) will get back to work on Thursday against Ottawa. The Kings captain recorded a season-high three points in Monday's win over the Rangers, but he sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Tuesday against Chicago with an undisclosed injury. While Doughty had a standout performance on Monday night, fantasy managers shouldn't expect a repeat against the Senators. He had just one point in nine games before running amok at Madison Square Garden. With Doughty back, Cody Ceci will move to the press box as a healthy scratch.
Source: Eric Stephens
Source: Eric Stephens
Thomas Chabot Returns From Four-Game Absence
Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (upper body) will rejoin the action on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings. He has been cleared to play after missing four games with an upper-body injury. Chabot's return means the Senators will have all their regular blue-liners in the lineup for the first time this season. Chabot will join Jordan Spence on the second defensive pairing, bumping Tyler Kleven to the third. The Senators captain will also log time with the second power-play unit. Aside from his injury, Chabot has had a strong start to the season, recording four points (one goal, three assists), 19 SOG, 24 blocks, and a plus-five rating in nine games.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Jared Spurgeon Listed as Week-to-Week
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (undisclosed) is week-to-week, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. The Wild lost their captain in Tuesday's win over Utah and must be without him for multiple games, starting with Thursday's clash against the Islanders. Spurgeon has made a big impact early in the season, posting five points (one goal, four assists) and 19 blocks in 10 games. Minnesota also remains without Brock Faber (skull), putting pressure on Quinn Hughes to maintain high standards. David Spacek is expected to fill Spurgeon's spot in the lineup on Thursday, but fantasy managers should ignore him.
Source: Michael Russo
Source: Michael Russo
Evgeni Malkin, Benjamin Kindel Back in Action Thursday
Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin (illness) and Benjamin Kindel (vasovagal episode) will play on Thursday against Utah. Egor Chinakhov (lower body) is also available, giving the Penguins' offense a big boost. Both Malkin and Chinakhov missed Saturday's win over Nashville. Kindel has been unavailable for two games after suffering a vasovagal episode. It's great to see the teenage forward back in action so soon after his scary incident at the start of last week. The returning trio will form the Penguins' second line and will be part of the second power-play unit.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Victor Hedman Returns to Action Thursday
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (lower body) will return to the lineup on Thursday against Winnipeg. The Lightning captain sustained a lower-body injury last week and didn't play in Saturday's loss to Utah. Hedman's workload has dropped significantly this season, hurting his numbers. In 10 appearances, he has recorded four points (two goals, two assists), nine SOG, and 13 blocks. However, Hedman's most recent outings haven't been too bad, as he's scored all four points in his last six games. The Jets have started to struggle, losing six straight, making this a good fantasy matchup for Hedman and the Lightning.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Brandon Hagel Cleared to Play Thursday
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel (undisclosed) will be in action on Thursday against Winnipeg. He was initially uncertain for the contest after being labeled a game-time decision on Wednesday. Hagel saw a four-game point streak come to an end last time out against Utah, but overall he has been sharp in 2026-27. Across 11 games, Hagel has contributed seven goals and six assists. Hagel averages almost five SOG per game and is in a good spot to start another point streak Thursday, facing a team that has a 3.00 goals-against average.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Red Wings Suspend Dylan Larkin Without Pay
The Detroit Red Wings have suspended center Dylan Larkin. The team announced that Larkin said he won't play for them anymore. As a result, the Red Wings suspended Larkin without pay. Detroit's statement followed a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that the team won't play Larkin until it trades him. He will exit the lineup on Thursday against Chicago. Detroit has struggled to move Larkin after he requested a trade in the offseason. The American star, who has a no-trade clause, recently expanded his trade list to 10 teams. Larkin closed his Detroit chapter in style, scoring a late game-tying goal in Monday's 4-3 shootout win over Edmonton. He has only two goals and four assists in 10 games this season, but it's reasonable to assume Larkin's production will increase once his future is sorted.
Source: Detroit Red Wings
Source: Detroit Red Wings
Tristan Jarry Shuts Out Flames
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry played a big role in Wednesday's clash against Calgary, recording a 24-save shutout in a 4-0 win. The Flames entered the first Battle of Alberta of the season on a four-game winning streak, but Jarry's outstanding play stopped their momentum. The former Penguin has taken on the No. 1 role in the Oilers' crease with Devon Levi (undisclosed) and Frederik Andersen (knee) out. While his first outing as the team's de facto starter against Toronto didn't go well, Jarry's numbers aren't bad this season. He has a 3-1-2 record, a 2.95 goals-against average, and a .889 save percentage.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Gavin McKenna Delivers in First-Line Role
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Gavin McKenna had the best game of his rookie campaign on Wednesday night against Seattle, finishing a 5-4 loss with three points. He scored two power-play goals and recorded an even-strength assist. This was an important night for McKenna, as he was promoted to the first line and saw increased power-play usage. Toronto's first line, which also includes Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, combined for eight points. While McKenna's offensive production has been inconsistent so far, he's now in a good position to boost his scoring tally. The 18-year-old has five goals and 11 points through his first 15 NHL outings.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Albert Johansson to Miss Thursday's Action
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson (undisclosed) won't play on Thursday against Chicago, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports. This will be his second consecutive absence after Johansson was a late scratch for Monday's contest against Edmonton. Johansson averages a block per game, but offers very little offensively. In 11 outings this season, he has no goals and one assist. Forward Carter Mazur filled the void in the lineup on Monday, logging 5:10 on the fourth line. The likes of Andreas Englund and William Wallinder could see more ice time during Johansson's absence, but they don't have any fantasy appeal.
Source: Helene St. James
Source: Helene St. James
Justin Brazeau Sent to AHL for Conditioning Stint
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Justin Brazeau (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve Wednesday and assigned to the AHL for a conditioning stint. Brazeau needs to get his feet back under him after missing the start of the season with a lower-body injury. He should be back with the Penguins soon. Brazeau scored a career-high 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) in 64 appearances during his first year in Pittsburgh last season. He'll be in contention for a bottom-six role when he returns to the big club.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Sam Steel Likely to Return Thursday
Dallas Stars forward Sam Steel (undisclosed) will likely return to the lineup on Thursday against Montreal. Steel has sat out a pair of games with an undisclosed injury. Despite occasionally seeing time in the top six, Steel has been quiet this season. He has averaged barely one SOG per game and has only three points (one goal, two assists) in 10 games, making him irrelevant in fantasy hockey. Steel will likely replace either Matthew Seminoff or Dylan Hryckowian in the lineup against the Canadiens.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Josh Manson Exits With Lower-Body Injury
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (lower body) exited Wednesday's 5-2 win over New Jersey in the first period, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. The 35-year-old was limited to 4:06 of ice time due to a lower-body injury. With Manson out, Sam Malinski stepped up on the blue line and delivered two assists. The team could lean on Malinski even more in the upcoming games if Manson misses time. Noah Juulsen is his potential replacement in the lineup.
Source: Aarif Deen
Source: Aarif Deen
Devin Cooley Sustains Lower-Body Injury Versus Oilers
Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley (lower body) couldn't finish Wednesday's Battle of Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers. He sustained a lower-body injury when Oilers forward Colton Dach collided with him near the end of the first period. Cooley stayed in the game to finish the period but didn't return for the second. He allowed one goal on nine SOG. His replacement, Dustin Wolf, gave up three goals on 23 SOG. Cooley has played a key role in Calgary's recent resurgence, winning four straight games before Wednesday night. Everyone on the team will have their fingers crossed that Cooley dodged a bullet and won't have to miss significant time.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Kyle Capobianco to Miss One Week
Dallas Stars defenseman Kyle Capobianco (lower body) will be out for one week. He sustained a lower-body injury in a collision with New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier in Tuesday's 5-1 loss. Recently, Capobianco has seen regular action due to Esa Lindell's (lower body) absence. Yet he hasn't made a significant impact and is still searching for his first points of the year after five appearances. The Stars are expected to call up reinforcements from the minors, as the team has only five healthy defensemen heading into Thursday's game against Montreal.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
