January 1, 2026
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin wrapped up 2025 with his second career hat trick in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Colorado burst out of the gate with four goals inside the opening 4:39 of action as Nichushkin and Nathan MacKinnon became only the second set of teammates in NHL history to each score multiple goals in the first five minutes of a game. MacKinnon ended the contest with four points (two goals, two assists). After missing a large chunk of November with a lower-body injury, Nichushkin came back with a vengeance in December, averaging a point per game across 14 outings. He had been held off the score sheet only once in the past nine games. Nichushkin begins 2026 sitting on 36 points (11 goals, 15 assists) through 31 appearances this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 1, 2026
Anaheim Ducks forward Frank Vatrano (shoulder) will be out for approximately six weeks, the team announced on Wednesday. Vatrano fractured his shoulder on Dec. 27 against the Los Angeles Kings and sat out a second consecutive contest on Wednesday versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. The six-week timeline indicates that Vatrano won't be ready to return until after the Olympics break, so he will be unavailable for 16 more games. After scoring 80 goals over the previous three campaigns, Vatrano has been largely anonymous on the offensive end in 2025-26, contributing three goals and three assists in 38 contests. Nikita Nesterenko has appeared in both games Vatrano has missed and is expected to remain a regular in the lineup until he returns.
--Taavi PailkSource: Anaheim Ducks
January 1, 2026
New York Rangers left wing Conor Sheary (lower body) and center Noah Laba (upper body) were injured during Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. The two started the contest on the third line with Taylor Raddysh. Sheary has also seen some top-six usage recently, but his offensive impact has been limited to nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 37 games. Laba has totaled 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 42 contests during his rookie campaign. The Rangers currently have one healthy extra forward on the roster in Brennan Othmann, who could slot into the lineup for Friday's Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers.
--Taavi PailkSource: New York Rangers PR
January 1, 2026
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (upper body) was forced to make an early exit against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. He was knocked out of the lineup by an upper-body injury in the second period. The 34-year-old veteran couldn't carry on after being involved in a collision with Predators forward Michael Bunting. McNabb has been limited to three points (two goals, one assist) in 38 games and lacks fantasy appeal. However, he has been a valuable defensive contributor for the Golden Knights, recording a team-high 98 blocks and 63 hits. Vegas currently doesn't have a healthy extra defenseman on the roster, so the team must do some roster maneuvering if McNabb isn't available on Friday night versus the St. Louis Blues.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 1, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Miles Wood (lower body) was injured during the first period of Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He logged only 2:51 of ice time before suffering a lower-body injury. "It doesn't look good," Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason said about the injury postgame. Wood has recently been part of Columbus' top-six group, though he hasn't done any scoring in 10 straight outings. For the season, the veteran has managed eight goals and 12 points in 32 appearances. On Wednesday, the Blue Jackets were also without Sean Monahan (undisclosed) for a second straight game, so their attacking department has taken several blows in a short span. Cole Sillinger has taken Monahan's spot on the second line, while Kent Johnson might be the replacement for Wood if needed.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 1, 2026
Colorado Avalanche forward Gavin Brindley (upper body) "tweaked something" in Wednesday's win over the St. Louis Blues, Bailey Curtis of DNVR Sports reports. Joel Kiviranta (lower body) was a late scratch on Wednesday, and Colorado's frontline suffered another injury in the game. The team will evaluate Brindley further on Thursday to determine the severity of his ailment. The 21-year-old rookie had his eighth consecutive outing without scoring on Wednesday. He did, however, see some success earlier in the campaign, notching nine points (five goals, four assists) in 27 games during the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bailey Curtis
December 31, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (undisclosed) will miss a second straight game on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. He was an unexpected scratch on Monday against the Ottawa Senators and still appears to be dealing with a health issue that prevents him from playing. The veteran has been banged up all season, so it isn't surprising that he is taking some time off. Monahan's ongoing health issues have affected his performance, limiting him to just 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 37 games. On Monday, Cole Sillinger was promoted from the fourth line to the top six and contributed two assists in a 4-1 victory. Sillinger is projected to remain as the second-line center on Wednesday, enhancing his fantasy appeal.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 31, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (lower body) will remain out for a fourth consecutive game on Wednesday versus the New Jersey Devils. Werenski's big campaign has been disrupted by a lower-body injury. However, Blue Jackets head coach Dave Evason said Werenski could be ready to return on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. As a result of Werenski's absence, Dante Fabbro's playing time has significantly increased, as he has joined Ivan Provorov on the first defensive pairing. Meanwhile, Denton Mateychuk has taken Werenski's place on the top power-play unit, recording a goal and two assists in the last three games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 31, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (hand) is questionable to play on New Year's Eve against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He missed the end of Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs after being slashed on the hand in the final minute. Hamilton has been among the biggest fantasy disappointments in 2025-26, settling for eight points (four goals, four assists) in 35 appearances. Tuesday's game marked his 16th consecutive outing without any points. Dennis Cholowski is expected to step in for Hamilton on Wednesday if necessary, though he offers no fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 31, 2025
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (illness) is expected to sit out a second consecutive game on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The punishing blue-liner is battling an illness and missed Tuesday's practice. Gudas averages close to 3.5 hits per game and has produced eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 27 outings this season. With Gudas out, Pavel Mintyukov made a scoring return to the lineup on Monday night versus the San Jose Sharks. Compared to Gudas, Mintyukov has more offensive upside and has lit the lamp three times in his past seven appearances. Anaheim is also expected to remain without forward Frank Vatrano (upper body) on Wednesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 31, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin (illness) will play on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. He has shaken off an illness to return from a one-game absence. Kyle Capobianco played instead of Lyubushkin in Saturday's shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and will not dress against Buffalo. Lyubushkin has tallied five points (one goal, four assists) across his last 12 appearances. However, his offensive improvement is unlikely to last for long, as the Russian rearguard has never posted more than 15 points in a single NHL campaign. During the 2025-26 season, he has notched seven points (one goal, six assists) in 27 outings, while blocking 52 shots and delivering 43 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 31, 2025
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (lower body) will sit out Wednesday's contest against the Dallas Stars. On Wednesday morning, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Lyon will miss "a bit of time" with a lower-body injury, so his absence may not be limited to one game. The in-form goalie, who has recorded seven straight victories, was hurt late against the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Colten Ellis (concussion) was activated from Injured Reserve and will dress as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's backup on Wednesday. While Luukkonen has lost his starting job to Lyon, he has recorded back-to-back wins, allowing only one goal in each contest.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 31, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (hand) was activated from long-term Injured Reserve and is set to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The Slovakian blue-liner has been out since Nov. 22 due to a hand injury. Cernak might take Max Crozier's spot in the lineup. Across 19 appearances, Cernak has racked up 43 blocks and 40 hits. After a career-high 21 points a season ago, he has been limited to four assists on the offensive end. Still, Cernak could tally points in three straight appearances for the first time since April 2022.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 31, 2025
San Jose Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (lower body) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Minnesota Wild, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. He missed Tuesday's practice due to a lower-body injury, and Mukhamadullin's absence from the lineup would be another injury blow for the Sharks. The defense will remain without Timothy Liljegren (upper body) on Wednesday, while several forwards are also out. Mukhamadullin averages one block per game and has tallied six points (two goals) in 21 outings this season. Nick Leddy is set to fill in for him on Wednesday if Mukhamadullin can't play.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
December 31, 2025
San Jose Sharks forward Adam Gaudette (lower body) will miss Wednesday's clash against the Minnesota Wild, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. He is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The team has brought up Pavol Regenda from the minors as Gaudette's likely replacement in the lineup. Although Gaudette hasn't been a factor in fantasy hockey, he has played well as a bottom-six forward for the Sharks, recording 14 points (eight goals, six assists) and 32 hits in 33 games. The 29-year-old has contributed offensively in each of his last three appearances. Regenda has seen action in two NHL contests this season, scoring a power-play goal in both.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
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