December 23, 2025
San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith (upper body) is week-to-week, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. "We're gonna re-evaluate him in the New Year," Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. "He's making steps daily to getting better. So that's the big positive." San Jose has four games to go until the calendar flips. Smith has had a highly productive sophomore campaign, posting 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 33 appearances. He has already missed the last three games. The Sharks are also missing Philipp Kurashev (upper body) and could be without Collin Graf (face) after he was struck by a puck at Monday's practice. The injury issues have allowed Graf and Igor Chernyshov to move up to the first line. Should Graf also be unavailable, Jeff Skinner may have a rare chance to play in the top six on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
December 23, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (upper body) has landed on Injured Reserve and is considered week-to-week. He will be absent for a second straight contest on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. Slavin has been really unlucky with injuries this campaign, as he had just returned from a lower-body problem. Overall, the 31-year-old has made only five appearances in 2025-26, going scoreless with four shots and eight blocks. Due to Slavin's injury issues, K'Andre Miller has enjoyed increased usage on the blue line. Miller ranks third on the team with 30 blocks and has notched 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 28 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis (upper body) has been labeled as week-to-week. He will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers, and a few more absences look to be on the horizon for Jarvis due to an upper-body injury. On Saturday, Carolina placed its top goal-scorer on Injured Reserve. Jarvis has potted 19 goals in 34 games, adding 10 assists. He is also a physical presence in the lineup, registering 43 hits this campaign. With Jarvis on the shelf, Jackson Blake has an opportunity to skate on the first line. After a rough few weeks, Blake has averaged a point per game over his last four outings. He has tallied 10 goals and 22 points in 35 games during the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh notched a game-high three points in Monday's 4-1 triumph over the St. Louis Blues. His power-play goal in the first period proved to be the game-winning marker, and Raddysh completed his three-point night with two assists. The 29-year-old has been one of the major surprises in fantasy hockey this season, averaging nearly a point per game. Through 30 outings, Raddysh has contributed eight goals and 19 assists. He is well on course to surpass his career high of 37 points from last season. With Victor Hedman (elbow) out until February, Raddysh will play a prominent role on Tampa's blue line for several more weeks.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 23, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment lit the lamp twice in Monday's 3-1 road win over the Los Angeles Kings. Both tallies came on the power play during the first period. This was Marchment's second outing with his new crew, and he already has three goals to his name. Marchment has quickly adapted to his new surroundings and is well-positioned to maintain his strong offensive form, having secured a spot on the first line and the second power-play unit. For the entire campaign, Marchment has registered seven goals and 16 points in 31 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 23, 2025
Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (undisclosed) was injured during the third period of Monday's 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He left the contest after taking a big hit from Ducks forward Ross Johnston. The Kraken may now be without their top two defensemen on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Prior to Monday's game, the team announced that Brandon Montour (hand) will be out for four weeks. The two lead Seattle in ice time and have combined for over 30 points. Dunn has recorded 19 points (five goals, 14 assists), 81 shots, and 38 blocks in 34 contests.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 22, 2025
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (undisclosed) won't be available for Tuesday's tilt against the New Jersey Devils. The team announced that Sorokin is dealing with a nagging injury. He is expected to return to the lineup after the Christmas break. Sorokin has blown hot and cold in 2025-26, posting a 12-10-2 record. He has registered three shutouts with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. The Russian netminder began December with a five-game winning streak before losing back-to-back starts. David Rittich is expected to start on Tuesday, with Marcus Hogberg being called up from the minors to provide cover.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 22, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (lower body) will play on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks, returning from a one-game absence. A lower-body injury forced Dvorak to miss Saturday's matchup against the New York Rangers. Luckily for the Flyers, he has made a quick recovery and will rejoin the first line on Monday night. Dvorak also skates on the second power-play unit. Recently, Dvorak enjoyed his best offensive spell of the season, notching seven points (one goal, six assists) over a six-game stretch. He sits third in scoring on his team, boasting 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 33 contests. Monday's matchup is a good one for Dvorak and the Flyers, as Vancouver allows 3.34 goals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 22, 2025
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (upper body) participated in the morning skate but won't play on Monday versus the Philadelphia Flyers, missing an eighth consecutive game. Canucks head coach Adam Foote hopes that Pettersson can return in the first or second game after the holiday break. In 28 appearances, Pettersson has recorded 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists), leading all Canucks forwards in scoring. He has also averaged nearly two blocks per game and one hit. David Kampf has seen time in the top six during Pettersson's absence, though he's having a really difficult time in 2025-26, posting one goal and zero assists in 15 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 22, 2025
Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (hand) has been ruled out for four weeks after having surgery. The versatile blue-liner injured his hand last week and will miss a third consecutive game on Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks. In 27 outings this season, Montour has registered 16 points (six goals, 10 assists), 68 shots, 35 blocks, and 34 hits. He averages nearly 22 minutes of ice time, so the Kraken have a big gap to fill on the backline. Josh Mahura has entered the lineup during Montour's absence, while Jamie Oleksiak and Adam Larsson have seen their workload increase.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 22, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Miles Wood (lower body) will be available after a one-game absence on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Due to a lower-body injury, he was a late scratch for Saturday's matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. Wood has contributed eight goals and four assists in 28 outings, delivering 35 hits. However, Wood hasn't produced any offense in six straight appearances. Columbus tries to spark Wood on Monday by pairing him with two creative players, Dimitri Voronkov and Sean Monahan, on the third line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 22, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (lower body) will miss Monday's matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. The good news is that the team considers Werenski day-to-day. He sustained a lower-body injury while blocking a shot in Saturday's loss to the Anaheim Ducks. After Monday night, Columbus will be off until Sunday, giving Werenski plenty of time to recover. Werenski and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche are the only defensemen this season to reach the 40-point plateau. Only three points separate the two, with Werenski producing 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) in 35 games. Jake Christiansen is expected to take Werenski's place in the lineup on Monday, while Ivan Provorov will replace him on the first power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 22, 2025
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (lower body) won't play in Monday's contest against the Seattle Kraken and is day-to-day. This will be Anaheim's final contest before the Christmas break, so Carlsson will get a good amount of time to recover from his lower-body injury before the next game on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. It has been an incredible season for Carlsson, who has a good chance to surpass his last campaign's scoring total (45 points) before the turn of the year. Across 36 outings, he has produced 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists). Mikael Granlund will move into the top six on Monday and looks like an appealing fantasy option after scoring in three consecutive games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 22, 2025
Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev produced two assists in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets. Sergachev's passing ability helped the Mammoth race to a 3-0 lead, but the team ultimately needed the fastest overtime goal in franchise history to secure two points. Clayton Keller ended the game just 13 seconds into the extra frame. On Sunday, Sergachev also made significant contributions on the defensive end, logging three blocks and one hit, while leading all skaters in ice time with 25:19. The Russian blue-liner is looking to post his season consecutive 50-point season. Currently, he is on 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) through 38 games, earning 10 points (two goals, eight assists) on the power play.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Ottawa Senators winger Fabian Zetterlund tallied a season-high three points in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. He potted a pair of power-play markers and set up Tim Stutzle for a goal. After a couple of poor months to start the season, Zetterlund has finally found some form on the offensive end in December. Nine of his 16 points have come this month. He has notched nine goals and seven assists in 35 games this season. Entering the new week, Zetterlund boasts a three-game point streak, his longest since January. While Zetterlund isn't a very reliable fantasy option, he currently looks like an appealing pickup as a member of Ottawa's first line and second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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