February 24, 2026
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen (lower body) will be unavailable for at least two weeks. The star forward sustained a lower-body injury while playing for Finland at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. After meeting with team doctors on Monday, Rantanen was placed on Injured Reserve. Rantanen ranks eighth in scoring in the NHL, recording 69 points (20 goals, 49 assists) in 54 outings. Players like Mavrik Bourque and Justin Hryckowian could see more top-six usage during Rantanen's absence.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 23, 2026
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (illness) should be available as the NHL season continues this week, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reports. The Swedish netminder dealt with flu-like symptoms before the Olympic break and was unavailable for one game. Additionally, Ullmark has missed time this season due to personal reasons. He has posted a 16-8-5 record in 30 starts, allowing 2.86 goals with a .884 save percentage. Ottawa needs Ullmark to be at the top of his game to make the playoffs. The team resumes play on Thursday against Detroit, currently six points behind the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bruce Garrioch
February 23, 2026
San Jose Sharks right wing Ryan Reaves (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve on Monday. The enforcer will be available for Thursday's matchup against the Calgary Flames. Reaves sustained an upper-body injury prior to the Olympic break but missed only one contest. In 46 outings this season, Reaves has contributed three goals while amassing 32 penalty minutes and 142 hits. He is tied for 29th in the league with 3.1 hits per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: San Jose Sharks PR
February 23, 2026
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve on Monday. The veteran netminder missed four games before the Olympic break due to a lower-body injury. Serving as Logan Thompson's backup, Lindgren has gone 8-6-3 in 17 starts this season, posting a 3.37 goals-against average, a .884 save percentage, and one shutout. Washington will resume the season on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. The team also has a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, so Lindgren is likely to start at least once this week.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 23, 2026
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (ribs) will rejoin the lineup on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 26-year-old injured his ribs in mid-January and has missed 12 games. Norris has also missed time with an upper-body injury this season, appearing in only 19 contests. He has recorded six goals and 11 assists. Norris' return provides a significant boost for Buffalo's forward group, especially with Zach Benson (upper body) expected to be sidelined for at least three more games. Norris will join the first power-play unit and skate with Josh Doan and Noah Ostlund at even strength.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 23, 2026
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen likely won't be available on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old was part of Finland's bronze-winning team in Milan and is dealing with travel delays. With Thatcher Demko (hip) out for the season, Lankinen has been Vancouver's de facto starter. It's been a tough campaign for him, as Lankinen holds a 7-19-4 record. He has allowed 3.67 goals with a .876 save percentage. The Canucks will lean on Nikita Tolopilo and Jiri Patera until Lankinen rejoins the team. The two have combined for a 3-4-1 record this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
February 23, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (upper body) won't be available when the team begins a three-game road trip this week. "He will not be available for Vancouver; we'll kind of give you a heads-up from there," Jets head coach Scott Arniel said after Monday's practice. The Jets will restart the season on Wednesday in Vancouver and will also travel to Anaheim and San Jose this week. Morrissey sustained an upper-body injury during Team Canada's Olympic opener against Czechia. The 30-year-old is a key cog for Winnipeg, leading the team in ice time at 24:37 per game and recording 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 56 games. Neal Pionk (lower body), who hasn't played since Jan. 13, is expected to be available on Wednesday, and his return will be a welcome boost for Winnipeg's defense.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 23, 2026
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen (lower body) will not be in the lineup when the team returns to action this week. The Finnish superstar suffered a lower-body injury at the Olympics and could be out for a couple of games, according to Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan. Rantanen leads his team with 69 points (20 goals, 49 assists) in 54 games, and his absence will be a massive blow for the Stars. On Wednesday, Dallas' frontline may also be without Roope Hintz (illness) and Radek Faksa (upper body). As a result, Sam Steel could get a new opportunity in the top six.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 21, 2026
Los Angeles Kings right wing Joel Armia amassed three points in Saturday's bronze-medal matchup against Slovakia, helping Finland to a 6-1 victory. Armia bagged an empty-net goal and had two assists, becoming the first Finnish player with three-plus points in a playoff game at an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players. The 32-year-old was on fire throughout the Olympics in Milan and is tied for fourth in scoring, with only the final left to play. In six games, Armia had three goals and five assists. Armia's offensive production in the NHL is far from the same level, but he will have good momentum when the season resumes next week. With the Kings, Armia has tallied 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 51 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 21, 2026
Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (lower body) will be available on Thursday when the team continues its season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports. Tarasov has used the Olympic break to recover from a lower-body injury he suffered on Feb. 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before the break, Tarasov suffered back-to-back defeats, but he has been solid overall as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup. Across 18 starts, Tarasov has posted an 8-8-2 record, a 2.83 goals-against average, and a .899 save percentage. With the Panthers facing a back-to-back set in their return to action, Tarasov is poised to get some work next week.
--Taavi PailkSource: David Dwork
February 21, 2026
Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (illness) will be available on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports. Just before the Olympic break, Rodrigues missed his first game of the season due to illness. The 32-year-old has contributed 10 goals and 15 assists in 58 outings. However, Rodrigues has made it on the score sheet just 10 times since the start of December, making him an unreliable fantasy option. He has gone five consecutive games without a point against his hometown Maple Leafs.
--Taavi PailkSource: David Dwork
February 21, 2026
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (undisclosed) is expected to play Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports. An undisclosed health issue kept Ekblad out of Florida's last game before the Olympic break. Having Ekblad back is a big boost for the Panthers, who remain without Seth Jones (upper body) and Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) on defense. Tobias Bjornfot (undisclosed) is also expected to be an option on the back end next week. On Thursday, Ekblad will aim to end a six-game scoring drought. He has notched 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in 55 games this season, adding 88 blocks and 67 hits to his tally.
--Taavi PailkSource: David Dwork
February 21, 2026
Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha (concussion) will be available for action next week. He practiced in a regular jersey on Saturday and is poised to rejoin the lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Zacha suffered a concussion in late January and wasn't able to join Team Czechia for the Olympics. With 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 54 games, Zacha is Boston's fourth-highest scoring forward. 15 of his points have come on the power play. Given Columbus' poor 77.4 percent penalty-killing efficiency, Zacha could have a significant impact in his return on Thursday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 21, 2026
Vancouver Canucks right wing Jonathan Lekkerimaki (shoulder) needs season-ending shoulder surgery, Ben Kuzma of The Province reports. The 2022 first-round pick appeared in five consecutive games for the Canucks before the Olympic break. Sadly, he won't see any more action in 2025-26, finishing the campaign with three points (two goals, one assist) in 13 outings. Lekkerimaki had 13 goals and 20 points in 21 AHL games. Having proven himself in the minors, the Finnish youngster will look to battle for a regular spot on the Canucks roster next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ben Kuzma
February 21, 2026
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen sat out Finland's 6-1 win over Slovakia on Saturday due to a lower-body injury. Eeli Tolvanen filled in for Rantanen as the Finns secured bronze at the Olympics. It's unclear whether the injury will affect Rantanen's availability next week when the NHL season resumes. Rantanen is the NHL's eighth-highest scorer, with 69 points (20 goals, 49 assists) in 54 games. He was also in fine form throughout the Olympics, finishing with two goals and six points in five outings. Dallas will be back in action on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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