Thomas White Flashing Dominance at Triple-A, Entering Stash Conversation?
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White has looked dominant over his first two outings at Triple-A Jacksonville and quickly re-emerged on the stash radar. Through two starts (eight innings), the southpaw has posted a 1.13 ERA with a 0.80 WHIP. He has struck out 14 hitters while allowing just three free passes. The team's top pitching prospect dealt with an oblique injury during camp, which prevented him from making a strong case to join the MLB roster out of spring training. However, with White fully healthy and showcasing this potential, he is emerging as a top-priority pitching prospect to stash. Last summer, White posted a 2.31 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and a 145:51 K:BB over 89 2/3 innings between the lower levels. While the Marlins rotation is full, White is quickly knocking on the MLB door and is emerging as a priority pitching prospect to stash. He has the upside to emerge as a must-start option as soon as he earns the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Tyler Soderstrom Exits Early as Precaution With Head Injury
Athletics first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (head) left the game early on Tuesday against the visiting Kansas City Royals as a precaution, manager Mark Kotsay told Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Soderstrom didn't have any signs of a concussion, but there is some soreness, and the team will wait to see how he feels on Wednesday. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter got his bell rung while trying to make a diving catch in left field. In the eventual 4-1 win in Sacramento, Soderstrom went 0-for-2 at the plate with two strikeouts before being replaced in left field by Carlos Cortes. We'll consider him day-to-day for now. Fantasy managers should check back on Wednesday to see if Soderstrom is active for Game 3 of the four-game series. The former first-rounder (26th overall) in 2020 is hitting just .211 (23-for-109) in the first month of 2026, but fantasy managers need to stick with him after he broke out with 25 long balls, 93 RBI, and eight steals in 158 games in 2025. Soderstrom has gone deep three times with 18 RBI in his first 29 games this year.
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Tommy Fleetwood Looks to Rebound at Trump National Doral
Tommy Fleetwood has four top-10 finishes this season, though his recent form has dipped, with a T33 and T52 in his last two starts. He now looks to get back on track at the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral. The 7,700-yard Blue Monster should reward length off the tee, strong long-iron play, and the ability to convert on the greens. Fleetwood has been solid overall, ranking 20th in total strokes gained (+1.085 per round) and 42nd on approach (+0.323), but the putter has held him back, sitting 108th (-0.190). He also isn't long off the tee (121st in distance), but this is somewhat offset by how accurate he's been, ranking ninth in driving accuracy. There's still plenty of upside here, but it likely comes down to whether the putter shows up and if he can clean up the recent approach play struggles.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Emmanuel Rodriguez Quickly Approaching MLB Promotion?
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez has continued to heat up at Triple-A and is emerging as a sneaky stash candidate in deep formats. Through 22 games at Triple-A, Rodriguez has posted a .253/.412/.533 slash line with a .945 OPS. During this stint, Rodriguez has gone deep six times, tallied three doubles, and swiped three bags. However, over his last 11 contests, Rodriguez has raised his OPS to .994 and held a much-improved 16:14 K:BB. Last summer, Rodriguez made his Triple-A debut and held a solid .258/.429/.423 line with an .852 OPS. Seeing the No. 66-ranked prospect in the sport show steady progression at Triple-A is an excellent sign and suggests he is nearing his MLB debut. If he continues this pace, Rodriguez could debut before the end of the first half. His high-end power makes him a top prospect to stash among outfielders.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Is Joshua Baez Nearing his MLB Debut?
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has flashed his raw power at Triple-A and could be slowly progressing toward his MLB debut. The Cardinals gave Baez an opportunity to break camp in spring training, despite not logging a single at-bat with the Triple-A club, but he was unable to claim a starting role. Last summer, Baez spent most of his time with Double-A Springfield, where he posted a .271/.374/.509 line with 16 home runs and 34 stolen bases. Through his first 23 contests at the Triple-A level, Baez has gone deep six times and swiped five bags. However, he posted a modest .236 AVG. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on his production as he could emerge as an elite stash option given his five-category upside. While the Cardinals' outfield appears full at the moment, Baez is worth stashing in deep 12+ team leagues, as he could become an immediate fantasy option given his rotisserie skill set once he earns the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Walker Jenkins Still on the Stash Radar After Slow Start?
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins is off to a slow start to the Triple-A regular season and is falling down the stash rankings. Jenkins entered the 2026 regular season as the team's No. 1 rake-prospect and the overall No. 11 prospect in the sport on MLB.com. Through the first 21 games of the Triple-A regular season, Jenkins has held a disappointing .213/.372/.293 slash line with three doubles, one home run, and four stolen bases. While his bat is yet to show on the box score, he has shown a strong eye at the plate, holding a 14:17 K:BB. During his first taste of Triple-A last season, Jenkins showed similar growing pains, posting a .242/.324/.396 line with a .720 OPS. Given that Jenkins has yet to adjust to Triple-A pitching, he is only worth stashing in deep 15-team leagues with "N/A" spots.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Pierceson Coody a Risky Value Play at Cadillac Championship
Pierceson Coody started the year hot with five finishes of T18 or better through his first six events, but has since cooled off, with just one top-20 finish over his last five starts. He now looks to get back on track at the Cadillac Championship. The 7,700-yard Blue Monster should reward length off the tee, strong long-iron play, and the ability to convert on the greens. Coody ranks 25th in strokes gained on approach (+0.451 per round), 84th in putting (-0.015), and 44th in driving distance. He has also been very strong on long approach shots, sitting 14th in proximity from 200+ yards, a range that will certainly be in play this week. The main concern is his short game, where he loses nearly half a stroke per round, combined, around the green and putting. At $7,300 on DraftKings, he profiles more as a dart throw than a reliable option in fantasy lineups.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Will Deebo Samuel Sr. Find a New Team Before Training Camps Open?
Former 49ers and Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. remains unsigned following the 2026 NFL Draft, which saw 36 new receivers drafted into the league. In what was often described as a "flavors class" at the position, most receiver-needy teams were able to come away from the three-day event believing they'd found an offensive fit. At his peak, Samuel's physical YAC abilities made him one of the most unique receivers in the game, but even coming off a year in which he led a depleted Commanders team in receiving yards and touchdowns, age and injuries have slowed him considerably. Since finishing as the fantasy WR2 in a remarkable 2021 season that saw him top 1,750 yards from scrimmage while scoring 14 touchdowns, Samuel has exceeded 865 total yards only once and finished as the WR28 or worse in three of four seasons. With the NFL overlooking him in free agency and turning to a deep draft class to find scheme fits, it's possible that Samuel will need to wait for a training camp injury before finding a new home, and at 30 years old and RotoBaller's WR78, he's become little more than a dynasty hold who can hopefully see one more value spike if that home provides a natural match for his once-dominant skill set.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen Johnson Collects Second Playoff Double-Double
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson recorded his second career postseason double-double in Tuesday's Game 5 loss to the New York Knicks. He led his team with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the contest. Additionally, Johnson managed two steals in 35 minutes. The first-year All-Star made himself useful on both ends of the floor, but Johnson's scoring efforts weren't good enough again. He went 1-for-5 from outside and 7-for-15 overall from the field. In the playoffs, Johnson has made only 42.9 percent of his field-goal attempts, and as a result, his scoring average has dipped to 19.5 points per game. Johnson's numbers in other areas have also declined compared with the regular season. The Hawks likely won't survive beyond six games in the series if Johnson can't regain his regular-season form.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Akshay Bhatia Offers Upside with Risk at Cadillac Championship
Akshay Bhatia has put together a strong season so far, with six finishes of T16 or better mixed with three missed cuts through his first nine events. He now looks to keep it going at the Cadillac Championship, which poses a true tee-to-green test at Trump National Doral. The 7,700-yard Blue Monster should favor players who have length off the tee, strong long-iron play, and the ability to convert on the greens. Bhatia ranks seventh in total strokes gained (+1.515 per round), 10th on approach (+0.720), fifth in putting (+0.792), and 97th in driving distance. He also sits 65th in proximity from over 200 yards, a range that should be well in play this week. Bhatia has either finished inside the top 20 or missed the cut in every event this season, and even in a no-cut format, he still profiles as a boom-or-bust option for fantasy lineups.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Elic Ayomanor's Dynasty Stock Way Down After NFL Draft
As a fourth-round rookie in 2025, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor led the team in targets and receiving touchdowns, but his competition heading into Year 2 figures to be significantly stiffer. After spending $38 million in guarantees to acquire former Giants receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (fresh off back-to-back 90+ reception campaigns), the Titans produced one of the NFL Draft's early surprises by selecting Ohio State prospect Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick. Tate figures to slot in as a day one starter, and, given the investment and his familiarity with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Robinson is likely to become his primary running mate in two-receiver sets. That leaves Ayomanor, eight-year veteran Calvin Ridley, and special teams maven Chimere Dike to split reps when the team turns to 11 personnel. With both Ayomanor and Tate profiling as prototypical boundary receivers, it could be Ridley who finds an easier path to playing time after leading the team in both targets and yards before a broken fibula ended his season prematurely. Following a WR51 finish in his rookie season, the soon-to-be-23-year-old Ayomanor has fallen to WR79 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen Brunson Pours 39 Points on Hawks in Game 5
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson dominated against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, leading his team to a blowout win in Game 5 of the series with 39 points, three rebounds, and eight assists. Brunson had a 15-for-23 record from the field and made three of his five attempts from deep. With an average of 28.2 points per game, Brunson is the fourth-highest scorer in the 2026 playoffs. He has also contributed 2.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, making 41.9 percent of his three-point attempts. The 2025 NBA Cup MVP will look to maintain his high level of performance as the Knicks try to finish off the Hawks in Game 6 on Thursday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Darius Slayton's Dynasty Value Fading After Busy Giants Offseason
New York wide receiver Darius Slayton has become a bit of a forgotten man amidst a busy Giants' offseason, and that is reflected in his dynasty value, as he has fallen to RotoBaller's WR122. At times, out of necessity in 2025, Slayton operated as the team's primary boundary receiver, but he converted the opportunity into only 538 yards and one touchdown on 37 receptions. For reference, Malik Nabers finished the year with 18 catches, 271 yards, and two touchdowns after an early-season ACL tear limited him to parts of only four games. With Nabers expected back for the start of the 2026 season, he'll be looking to recreate his historic 2024 rookie season, in which he caught 109 of 165 targets. Wan'Dale Robinson, who led the team with 131 targets in 2025 before signing a four-year deal with the Titans, will see much of his vacated workload picked up by free agent acquisitions Isaiah Likely and Darnell Mooney, as well as the recently drafted Malachi Fields. With the Giants' depth chart suddenly crowded, Slayton is projected to settle back into a more natural complementary role, and dynasty managers who were unable to sell on the strength of his opportunistic workload are stuck holding a depreciating asset.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Brown Struggles From the Field in Game 5
Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown finished only 9-for-23 from the field as he tallied 22 points in Tuesday's 113-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston had a chance to close out the series on home court, but most of the team struggled to score. Brown's efforts included a 1-for-4 record from downtown and a 3-for-5 success rate at the free-throw line. He picked up five rebounds and dished out five assists. On the defensive end, Brown recorded one steal. Missing a chance to finish the series in five games will haunt the Celtics, but Brown and his crew must refocus quickly with Game 6 on Thursday. The 2024 Finals MVP will enter the contest averaging a team-high 25.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.2 steals in the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jayson Tatum Picks Up Another Double-Double
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum finished Tuesday's Game 5 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers with 24 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. He led the Celtics in scoring and rebounding, recording his fourth double-double of the series. While this was another productive night for Tatum, his scoring efficiency was poor. The six-time All-Star was 8-for-19 from the field, including 4-for-12 from outside, and even struggled at the free-throw line, going 4-for-7. Overall, Tatum's percentages have improved in the playoffs, and he has been busy all over the court while averaging 37.8 minutes per game. Tatum leads his team in rebounding (10.6), assists (7.6), and steals (1.4), while sitting second in scoring (24.6).
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
With the NFL Draft Over, David Njoku Could Soon Find a Team
Former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku remains unsigned after a down year led to his release. The 29-year-old veteran ceded a considerable workload to breakthrough rookie Harold Fannin Jr. and finished his ninth season in Cleveland with only 293 yards on 33 catches. Njoku is a plus blocker and a huge target who has long been a menace after the catch, and despite seeing 21 tight ends selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including nine through the first three rounds, there are still tight end-needy teams on the market. With NFL offenses gearing more towards heavy personnel, this recent draft was evidence of the growing need for depth at the position, and Njoku's versatility could still make him a factor in fantasy regardless of where he ultimately lands. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE23, he's a low-cost dart throw depth piece who is likely to see his value spike as soon as he finds a new home.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyrese Maxey Records Double-Double With Rebounds
Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey produced a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double in Tuesday's must-win game against the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia faced elimination in Game 5 of the first-round series, but Maxey and Joel Embiid pulled the team out of a difficult spot. The duo scored 58 of the team's points, more than half, in a 113-97 road win. Maxey was the leading rebounder on the 76ers squad and finished 10-for-18 with his field-goal attempts. He sank both free throws and was 3-for-10 from downtown. Maxey's productive night included five assists, two steals, and one block. Philadelphia will lean on Maxey and Embiid again in Game 6 on Thursday as the team tries to even the series at three.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tyler Warren a Major Offseason Winner
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren converted 106 targets into 76 receptions, 817 yards, and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2025, and his opportunities could be even more bountiful in Year 2. The Colts have been shedding wide receivers since their mid-season trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner, in which they sent 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell to the New York Jets. Shortly into the new league year, the team dealt Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers, and while they committed to Alec Pierce with a four-year, $114 million deal, Indianapolis has made no significant outside acquisitions through free agency or the draft. With Pittman gone, there is no player on the roster besides Warren who saw more than 84 targets last season, and the majority of passing work should now be divvied up between the trifecta of Warren, Pierce, and Josh Downs. Warren did see a significant decline in production following the season-ending Achilles injury suffered by Daniel Jones, so the quarterback situation in Indianapolis could hold significant weight in his ability to take the next step, but by all accounts, Jones is progressing well, and the team believes he will be ready for the start of the 2026 season. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE4, Warren is one of the few tight ends in the league in position to lead his team in targets and should remain a true fantasy difference-maker for the foreseeable future.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Joel Embiid Tallies 33 Points as 76ers Stave Off Elimination
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid led all scorers with 33 points in Tuesday's 113-97 elimination-game win against the Boston Celtics. With their backs against the wall, the 76ers stayed alive thanks to a dominant fourth quarter, winning 28-11. Embiid had eight of his points in the final frame and finished 12-for-23 from the field. He didn't make a single three-pointer on five attempts but was solid at the line with a 9-for-10 effort. Embiid also notched a game-high eight assists, four rebounds, and one block. The former MVP underwent an appendectomy just weeks ago, but you wouldn't know it from his performance. He has averaged 29.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 36.5 minutes per game since making his 2026 postseason debut.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Wembanyama Posts Second Straight Double-Double
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama recorded a second consecutive double-double in Tuesday's series-clinching 114-94 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Wembanyama was offensively passive, taking only seven field-goal attempts, but he remained highly influential. In 34 minutes, he tallied 17 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and six blocks. Wembanyama was perfect at the line with six attempts and had a 5-for-7 record from the field, including 1-for-2 from three-point range. Despite missing most of Game 4 due to a concussion, Wembanyama averaged good numbers in his first career playoff series, posting 21.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 4.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jose Ramirez Making an Impact Despite Low Batting Average?
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez's basic offensive statistics have taken a step backward so far this season. For now, fantasy managers are dealing with a low hit and high strikeout output from the veteran third baseman. After a brief stretch where it looked like he was turning things around, Ramirez has fallen back into a mini-slump, hitting 1-for-11 with a single, a walk, and a strikeout over his last three games. The bad news is that Ramirez is hitting just .221 with a 12.7% strikeout rate, which is his worst since 2021. The good news is that he owns a .343 OBP with a 15.7% walk rate, six home runs, and 115 wRC+. That's his lowest wRC+ mark since 2019, but at least he remains above league average. More hits will provide more value in fantasy baseball, but the Guardians can't complain about his walk and power rates, even if the batting average is ugly. He's also remained a threat on the basepaths, swiping 11 bags to this point.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luke Keaschall Trending Up Amid Four-Game Hitting Streak
Minnesota Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall's stats in the month of April are underwhelming, but he appears to be getting back on track. The 23-year-old owns a four-game hitting streak, going 5-for-14 with one double, one RBI, two walks, and five strikeouts during that span. In total this season, he's slashing .221/.276/.283 with just one home run, but he does have seven stolen bases. The power output has been minimal, though, as he owns a .062 ISO and 57 wRC+. His K/BB rate has also taken a step backward from his 49-game sample as a rookie last year; he's walking 6.5% of the time and striking out at a 16.3% clip. On a more promising note, the defense has been above average, and his latest hitting streak could be a sign that he's turning things around at the plate. After all, he posted an .837 OPS and 134 wRC+ as a rookie in 2025. As it stands, Keaschall is the #8 second baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
William Contreras Getting Back on Track at the Plate
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras had a 0-for-9 stretch last week, but he has gotten back on track and is swinging a hotter bat lately. Over his last two games, he's hitting 3-for-8 with two RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. Overall this season, he has played in 26 games with a .272/.348/.388 slash line, two home runs, 16 RBI, a 10.4% walk rate, an 11.3% strikeout rate, and 109 wRC+. He has offered above-average contributions at the plate and in the field, where he is the Brewers' primary catcher. He's worn the gear in 24 of his 26 games so far, throwing out base-stealers at an impressive 8-for-17 clip. All in all, Contreras continues to solidify himself as a top catcher option in fantasy baseball. He ranks #5 at the position in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings for the 2026 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trey Yesavage Sharp in Season Debut, Quickly Re-Entering Must-Start Territory
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage made his season debut on Tuesday, allowing just four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox. He also recorded three strikeouts, zero walks, and the win. This was Yesavage's first game back in the majors following his recovery from a right shoulder impingement (and a subsequent rehab assignment). He looked sharp as a rookie last year with a 2.35 FIP and 16 strikeouts over 14 regular-season innings, and he picked up right where he left off in his season debut on Tuesday. The 22-year-old didn't rack up as many strikeouts as usual, but he should get back up to his career average over a larger sample size. Yesavage remains a strong starting-pitching option capable of generating strikeouts, throwing with solid velocity, and limiting loud contact. In fact, through 19.1 regular-season innings in the majors, the young righty has yet to allow a home run. He is already back in fantasy starter conversations, and he ranks as the SP55 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lucas Erceg Extends Bounce-Back, Tallies Seventh Save
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Lucas Erceg worked around one walk and one hit on Tuesday, ultimately delivering a scoreless ninth inning and earning the save against the Athletics. He struck out one batter along the way and threw strikes at a 60.9% clip. Erceg has taken over as the Royals' primary closer after Carlos Estevez struggled and simultaneously landed on the injured list with a left foot contusion. Erceg hit a little rough patch in the middle of April, but otherwise, he's been quite effective. He has zero earned runs over his last four outings, and he has a total of seven saves across 13 games (12.1 innings) this year. He has both a strikeout and walk rate of 7.30 per nine, which is far from ideal. However, on a more promising note, he still hasn't allowed a homer, and he owns an encouraging 56.3% ground ball rate. Erceg remains an effective fantasy baseball option with a pretty firm grasp on the closer role in Kansas City.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Connor McDavid Extends Multi-Point Streak Tuesday
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (ankle) sent out two assists as the team beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 in an elimination game on Tuesday night. The Oilers stayed alive in the series thanks to a quick start. They were already 3-0 up midway through the first period, with McDavid helping to set up the third goal. He added a power-play assist in the second period, extending his multi-point streak in the playoffs to three games. McDavid hurt his ankle early in the series and was a game-time decision for Tuesday night. Strangely, McDavid's productivity has actually improved since sustaining the injury. After going scoreless in the first two games against the Ducks, McDavid has notched one goal and five assists.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Justin Thomas a Scary Proposition at Cadillac Championship
Coming off a poor showing as the defending champion at the RBC Heritage, Justin Thomas makes his way to a difficult Trump National Doral in search of any consistency he can find. The 32-year-old has found little momentum in ball striking and putting, and ranks well outside the top 100 this season in all three strokes gained metrics. He also averaged -0.67 strokes around the green at Harbour Town, which was the first negative output in this area all season. With a difficult test awaiting him at the PGA Tour's return to the Blue Monster, Thomas isn't showing many signs that justify DFS consideration. Even aside from the hassle from tee to green, this property is littered with places that can bring about making big numbers, which the former Crimson Tide golfer is no stranger to making.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Hurricanes Hope to Have Nikolaj Ehlers Back for Second Round
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body) didn't practice on Tuesday, but head coach Rod Brind'Amour hopes to have him available for the start of the second round in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carolina was without the services of Ehlers last weekend as it closed out the first-round series against Ottawa. The Danish forward missed Game 4 due to a lower-body injury after contributing one assist in the first three games of the series. In Ehlers' absence, William Carrier moved up the lineup, and Nicolas Deslauriers made his 2026 postseason debut. If Ehlers remains unavailable for the Round 2 opener, the two could benefit again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alexander Nikishin Could Be Available in Round 2
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (concussion) is making good progress, and the team hopes to have him available for Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Russian blue-liner suffered a concussion in Carolina's series-clinching win over Ottawa on Saturday. On Tuesday, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said "everything's trending in the right direction" on Nikishin, who had a solid rookie campaign with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 81 games. However, he couldn't replicate his regular-season form in the matchup with the Senators, finishing scoreless in four games. Mike Reilly and Charles-Alexis Legault will compete for Nikishin's spot in the lineup if he doesn't clear concussion protocol before the start of the second round.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Hedman Logs Full Practice
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (personal) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice, Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com reports. Due to illness and personal reasons, the Lightning captain hasn't seen any action for more than a month, but he appears to be nearing his return. Last week, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper mentioned Hedman was on "the doubtful side" for the first-round series against Montreal. Cooper continues to hold his cards close to his heart. "That's hard to say right now," Cooper said after Tuesday's practice when quizzed about a potential timeline for Hedman's return. "But he's progressing. Like, he's taking steps. So, that's a positive side for us." With Hedman unavailable, Darren Raddysh has led the Lightning's blue line in the playoffs. He has registered two points (one goal, one assist), 14 SOG, and 10 hits in four games.
Source: Mike Zeisberger
Source: Mike Zeisberger
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