January 15, 2026
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) will remain on the shelf for a third straight contest on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. He skated on his own Thursday morning and remains day-to-day. Eriksson Ek is expected to travel with the team and could be an option on Saturday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. Danila Yurov will continue as the first-line center against the Jets, while Ryan Hartman has moved to the second line in Eriksson Ek's absence. Hartman has been on a bit of a heater lately, scoring in three of the last four games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 15, 2026
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) is considered week-to-week and was moved to Injured Reserve on Thursday. The Swedish blue-liner is dealing with a lower-body issue and could miss the Olympics because of the injury. Brodin has recently improved his offensive production, reaching 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) for the season. Additionally, he has recorded 43 shots and 91 hits in 42 appearances, posting a plus-15 rating. While Minnesota added Carson Lambos to the roster on Thursday with a call-up from the minors, David Spacek is expected to take Brodin's spot in the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets. The 22-year-old will make his NHL debut after amassing 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 35 AHL appearances this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Minnesota Wild
January 15, 2026
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (personal) won't play on Thursday night against the Utah Mammoth. He is currently out of the lineup for personal reasons, missing a second straight game. Heiskanen sits eighth among defensemen in scoring, producing 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists) in 46 appearances this season. Ilya Lyubushkin re-entered the lineup as Heiskanen's replacement on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks. With Heiskanen out, Thomas Harley logged nearly four minutes of power-play time on Tuesday. Heiskanen's next opportunity to return will be on Sunday against the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 15, 2026
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (lower body) was moved to Injured Reserve on Thursday and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Thomas came out of the lineup earlier this week due to a lower-body injury. It's now uncertain whether he can return before the Olympic break. Thomas leads the Blues with 22 assists and 33 points, appearing in 42 games this season. Brayden Schenn has taken over top-line center duties, with Dalibor Dvorsky also seeing top-six action. Both players made a positive impact in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, as Dvorsky scored St. Louis' second goal and Schenn produced a power-play assist.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 15, 2026
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (lower body) will remain out on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Washington's leading scorer isn't ready to return to the lineup despite fully participating in Wednesday's practice. Wilson will be sidelined for a sixth consecutive game, with his next opportunity to return coming on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. Justin Sourdif (upper body) will miss a second straight game, giving Ethen Frank a chance to move into the top six. Frank has impressed recently with a three-game goal streak. He's in a great spot to make further damage on Thursday night, as San Jose has one of the weakest defenses in the league and allows an average of 31 shots on goal.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 15, 2026
Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (illness) will return to action on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. He has been unavailable for a pair of games due to illness. Chychrun ranks second among defensemen with 15 goals and has managed 32 points in 45 games. Over his last six appearances, Chychrun has managed only two points. However, he finds himself in a fantastic fantasy matchup on Thursday, as San Jose gives up the third-most goals in the league (3.58 per game). Trevor van Riemsdyk will exit the lineup to accommodate Chychrun's return.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday. In a corresponding move, the team reassigned Trent Miner to the AHL. Blackwood has been unavailable for six games due to a lower-body injury. He will be an option to return to the crease on Friday versus the Nashville Predators. Blackwood leads all goalies with a 2.07 goals-against average and is tied for first with a .924 save percentage. He has a 13-1-1 record. The New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks are the only teams to beat Blackwood this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 14, 2026
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (lower body) might rejoin the lineup on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News Reports. Wilson was cleared for contact on Wednesday and logged a full practice. He has been out for five games with a lower-body injury. If he's ready to play, Wilson is poised to return to a top-six role and the first power-play unit. Despite missing time, Wilson remains Washington's leader in goals scored (22) and points (42). Additionally, he ranks first on the team with 110 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sammi Silber
January 14, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, retroactive to Jan. 13. The move came after Jets head coach Scott Arniel labeled Pionk week-to-week. The 30-year-old aggravated an undisclosed injury during Tuesday's win over the New York Islanders. Pionk has been disappointing on the offensive end this season, posting only eight points (two goals, six assists) in 40 games. Defensively, he has contributed 64 blocked shots and 84 hits. Colin Miller (lower body) and Haydn Fleury (upper body) are also week-to-week, meaning the Jets must currently maneuver without three defensemen.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve ahead of Wednesday's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. The 23-year-old is expected to return from a three-game absence as Cam York's partner on the second defensive pairing. Drysdale is enjoying a good bounce-back campaign in 2025-26, recording 18 points (three goals, 15 assists), 45 shots, and 41 blocks in 41 games, with a plus-one rating. Last season, Drysdale had only 20 points and finished the year with a team-worst minus-32 rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Los Angeles Kings right wing Corey Perry (personal) won't play on Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Unfortunately, the veteran forward is dealing with an illness in his family and will be out for the third time in five games. Perry, who will turn 41 in May, is having a good campaign with the Kings, posting 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 37 games. The Kings will use defenseman Jacob Moverare as Perry's replacement in the lineup. With Anze Kopitar (upper body), Joel Armia (lower body), and Trevor Moore (upper body) also out, Taylor Ward and Jeff Malott are projected to have top-six roles.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks winger Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the Calgary Flames. He suffered an upper-body injury during Monday's defeat to the Edmonton Oilers. Teravainen has contributed nine goals and 12 assists in 45 games this season, notching 11 of his 21 points on the power play. While Teravainen will exit the lineup on Thursday, the Blackhawks are poised to get back Connor Bedard (illness), who missed Monday's action. Teravainen's first chance to return will come on Saturday night against the Boston Bruins.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (illness) returned to practice on Wednesday. Bedard was absent from Monday's game against the Edmonton Oilers because of illness, but his participation in practice suggests he could return to the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Calgary Flames. Bedard has finished three of his last four appearances with multiple points and leads the Blackhawks with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 33 games. The 20-year-old recently returned from a shoulder injury, playing in only two games this month.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension on Wednesday. He is currently on a one-year, $1 million deal, having joined the Canadiens in November. Prior to his move to Canada, the St. Louis Blues terminated Texier's $2.1 million contract. Texier has been a great fit in Montreal and recently scored his first career hat trick. In 25 games for the Canadiens, Texier has recorded seven goals and 16 points. He currently holds a top-line role and sees action on the first power-play unit, putting Texier in a great position to make a fantasy impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 14, 2026
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl once again did the business against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night but didn't get to celebrate a victory, notching three points in a 4-3 overtime loss. In NHL history, only Jerome Iginla has tallied more points against Nashville than Draisaitl, who had an even-strength goal and two power-play assists this time in the matchup. With the effort, Draisaitl extended his point streak to five games. He has averaged two points per game during that run, posting five goals and five assists. In 47 games, Draisaitl has posted 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists), which puts him tied for fourth among all scorers this season. He's also second in the league with 31 power-play points (11 goals, 20 assists).
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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