April 20, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (upper body) will be in the lineup on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators. The Maple Leafs finished the regular season without Ekman-Larsson, as an upper-body injury sidelined him for four games. The Swedish rearguard adds a wealth of experience to the lineup and has been effective at both ends in 2024-25. During the regular season, Ekman-Larsson recorded 29 points (four goals, 25 assists), 83 blocks, and 108 hits in 77 games. On Saturday, it was confirmed that Jake McCabe (upper body) would be ready to return for Game 1 against Ottawa, so Toronto's blue line will receive two significant pieces back for the start of the postseason.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 20, 2025
Calgary Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich sustained a broken foot in Thursday's regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Kings. The Belarusian forward took a significant step back in 2024-25, and the injury is an additional blow. He completed the season with 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 73 appearances, a far cry from his 59-point effort a year ago. The 2024-25 campaign was the first season of a five-year, $28.75 million contract extension that Sharangovich inked with the Flames last summer. He has made 360 career appearances, posting 101 goals and 197 points.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Pat Steinberg
April 20, 2025
Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson revealed on Saturday that he played the final 12 games of the season with a broken fibula. He sustained the injury while blocking a shot against the Seattle Kraken on March 25. The Swedish blue-liner featured in all but one game in 2024-25, sitting out the team's regular-season finale. Andersson struggled to make an impact late in the season and had a disappointing campaign in general. The 28-year-old collected 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 81 appearances, marking his lowest scoring total in four years. Next season will be the final year of Andersson's six-year, $27.3 million contract.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
April 20, 2025
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (knee) believes he will be available for the start of next season. This campaign ended very early for Varlamov, who is recovering from a knee procedure he underwent in December. Varlamov said on Saturday that the injury had been bothering him for a long time and is on track to start skating again in June. The Russian veteran finished the campaign with a 3-4-3 record, a 2.89 goals-against average, and a .889 save percentage. Varlamov, who will turn 37 next weekend, has two more years remaining on his contract.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ethan Sears
April 20, 2025
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (lower body) will not require surgery to get back into game shape for next season. The talented blue-liner missed the final three regular-season games after sustaining a lower-body injury. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Power mentioned that he will need about two months to recover. The 22-year-old had a career-high 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists) in 79 games this season with 139 shots on goal and 109 blocks. Power plays a big role on Buffalo's blue line and has already made 242 regular-season appearances for the team, recording 111 points (19 goals, 92 assists).
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bill Hoppe
April 20, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has undergone triceps surgery and could miss the start of 2025-26. The Finnish rearguard also dealt with the same injury last term, making only 31 appearances. He missed the final 16 games this season, finishing with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists), 94 blocks, and 97 hits in 63 appearances. The 30-year-old surpassed 300 career points in 2024-25, boasting 56 goals and 248 assists through 776 contests. This was the third season of Ristolainen's five-year, $25.5 million contract that he signed with the Flyers in 2022.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Hall
April 20, 2025
Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (knee) is on the cusp of returning to the lineup. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said that Kane is close to being cleared to return from a knee surgery that sidelined him for the regular season. The Oilers are set to begin their postseason campaign on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Kane's return would improve the team in several areas. He was tied for the most goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs a couple of years back and has recorded 43 points (26 goals, 17 assists) in 76 career postseason appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
April 20, 2025
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor picked up three points in the team's 5-3 comeback victory in Game 1 against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. Connor recorded a power-play assist in the first period and added two more points to his tally in the third, assisting Alex Iafallo and scoring the game-winning goal at the 18:24 mark. It's the latest go-ahead goal in a playoff contest in franchise history. Additionally, Connor tied a franchise record with his fourth career game-winning goal in the postseason. The 28-year-old had a big regular season, scoring a career-high 97 points (41 goals, 56 assists) in 82 games, and Connor seems ready to replicate his form in the playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 20, 2025
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon kicked off the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a standout performance, recording three points in a 5-1 road victory against the Dallas Stars. The 2024 MVP scored twice on six shots and delivered one assist. MacKinnon became the ninth-fastest player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score 50 career goals. Playing in his 89th career postseason game, he netted a power-play goal late in the second period and scored an empty-netter in the final minutes. There should be plenty more to come in the series from MacKinnon, who averages the sixth-most points per game in NHL postseason history.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 19, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) is available for the start of the postseason. The veteran forward has missed 27 games after sustaining an undisclosed injury. Pacioretty finished the regular season with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 37 contests. He has notched 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) over 75 career postseason games. Although Pacioretty is available for selection, the Maple Leafs are not expected to use him in Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. David Kampf and Ryan Reaves are also set to be healthy scratches for the postseason opener.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
April 19, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (upper body) is poised to re-enter the lineup for Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. Due to an upper-body injury, McCabe could not play in the final seven regular-season games. McCabe has enjoyed a highly effective campaign in 2024-25, recording 23 points (two goals, 21 assists) in 66 appearances, along with 135 blocks, 118 hits, and a plus-23 rating. In Saturday's practice, McCabe partnered with Chris Tanev on the second defensive pairing. The Maple Leafs defense may also see Oliver Ekman-Larsson (upper body) return on Sunday. The Swedish blue-liner was present in Saturday's practice after sitting out four games at the end of the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
April 19, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (lower body) has been ruled out for the team's first-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers. Bjorkstrand sustained a lower-body injury on April 11 and is considered week-to-week. While splitting the season between Tampa Bay and the Seattle Kraken, Bjorkstrand posted 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in 79 appearances. Conor Geekie has enjoyed a productive spell as Bjorkstrand's replacement in the lineup, scoring twice in three games. He looks set to remain on the third line for Tuesday's postseason opener against the Panthers.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 19, 2025
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (groin) fully participated in Saturday's practice. This marked Tkachuk's first practice with the Panthers since he suffered a groin injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Panthers star seems to be on track to return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During the regular season, Tkachuk played in only 52 contests, yet he finished as Florida's third-highest scorer with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists). On Saturday, Tkachuk practiced on the second line alongside Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich, while Brad Marchand dropped to the third line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 19, 2025
Colorado Avalanche winger Jonathan Drouin (lower body) will be available for Saturday's Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. The Avalanche finished the regular season without Drouin, as he missed six games due to a lower-body injury. Drouin has struggled to stay in the lineup throughout the season, making only 43 appearances. He registered 11 goals and 37 points during the regular season. Drouin is set to join Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin on the second line for Saturday's game and is likely to be utilized on the first power-play unit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Aarif Deen
April 19, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) has been upgraded to day-to-day as the team gets ready to open its playoff campaign against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Heiskanen skated on Saturday morning but wore a non-contact jersey and has been ruled out for Game 1 of the series. However, he is making progress and appears to be on track to return to the lineup soon. Next, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer wants to see the Finnish blue-liner participate in a full-contact practice session. Heiskanen underwent knee surgery in February, finishing the regular season with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) and 85 blocks in 50 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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