December 11, 2025
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (illness) will sit out a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. He has been dealing with an illness and soreness this week. Health issues have limited Norris to only five appearances in 2025-26. The 26-year-old has been very productive when on the ice, producing two goals and five assists. Buffalo's frontline also lost Jason Zucker (lower body) this week, giving Peyton Krebs an opportunity to skate on the first line. Krebs is also part of the second power-play unit. Buffalo's forwards could have a field day on Thursday night, as Vancouver is ranked 26th in save percentage and has the third-worst penalty kill in the league.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 11, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner (upper body) will rejoin the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. He has been out of commission for 14 games due to an upper-body injury. The Blue Jackets captain will join Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli on the second line. Jenner has notched 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 16 outings this season. He also adds a lot of physicality to the team, having averaged 2.2 hits for his career. It's a good matchup for Columbus' frontline on Thursday night, as Ottawa has the third-lowest save percentage in the NHL (.877).
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 11, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (undisclosed) will miss at least one week of action after he was placed on Injured Reserve. Hedman only recently returned from a 12-game absence. Now, he must sit out at least three games due to an undisclosed injury he sustained during Tuesday's win over the Montreal Canadiens. Hedman's absence will begin on Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils. To bolster its defensive depth, Tampa Bay has recalled Declan Carlile from the minors to take Hedman's spot on the roster. The major beneficiary of Hedman's injury will be Darren Raddysh, who has locked down a position on the first power-play unit. Raddysh is also seeing big minutes during even-strength play and has totaled 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) over his last 13 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 11, 2025
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is set to return to action on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets after he was activated from Injured Reserve. McAvoy has missed 11 games due to a facial injury. He needed surgery after being struck in the face by a puck. The star defenseman hasn't scored in 19 appearances this season, but McAvoy does have 14 assists on his account. He has also recorded 32 blocks and 26 hits while averaging 23:46 of ice time. On Thursday, McAvoy will join his regular partner, Hampus Lindholm, on the first defensive pairing and will strengthen Boston's first power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NESN
December 11, 2025
Detroit Red Wings winger Alex DeBrincat continued his prolific start to December with a three-point performance in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. He notched two goals and one assist, recording his third three-point outing of the season. DeBrincat has landed on the score sheet in each of his five outings this month, totaling four goals and eight points. The veteran winger is having a spectacular year and could average more than a point per game in a campaign for only the second time during his nine-year NHL career. After 31 outings, DeBrincat boasts a team-high 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists). He is tied for fourth in the league with seven power-play goals.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 11, 2025
Utah Mammoth winger Dylan Guenther finished Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers with two goals. He had Utah's first two tallies in the contest, setting the young franchise's new record with his seventh multi-goal effort for the club. The Mammoth are currently going through a tough time, but Guenther has remained productive. He has scored five goals over the last 10 games, adding five assists. Guenther is Utah's second-highest goal-scorer this season with 13 markers and ranks third with 25 points after 32 games. The 22-year-old will hope to post his third career three-game goal streak when Utah meets the Seattle Kraken on Friday.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 11, 2025
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett registered two goals and one assist in Wednesday's 4-3 road victory over the Utah Mammoth. He set up Carter Verhaeghe for a goal late in the first period and lit the lamp twice inside the opening 3:24 of action in the second. Bennett now has a whopping eight points (three goals, five assists) over his last four appearances. That is nearly half of his entire tally this season. In 29 outings, Bennett has contributed nine goals and 11 assists. 15 of Bennett's 20 points have come in 11 games since Nov. 17.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 11, 2025
Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn had a hugely impressive performance against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, factoring in all of his team's goals in a 3-2 overtime win. Dunn sent out a pair of power-play assists during regulation and finished the game with a power-play goal 1:21 into overtime. Playing in his 303rd contest with the Kraken, Dunn became the fourth-fastest active defenseman to post 200 points with a franchise. He has notched 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 28 outings this season, putting Dunn on track for his second career 50-point campaign.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 11, 2025
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight posted his second shutout of the season on Wednesday night against the New York Rangers, finishing a 3-0 victory with 21 saves. Connor Bedard took care of things on the other end, recording a goal and an assist. After a great start to the campaign, Knight struggled with consistency in November, but he appears to have gotten over the hump in December. The 24-year-old has opened the month with a 2-1-1 run. Knight holds a 10-6-5 record for the season and has a 2.50 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Next up, Knight and the Blackhawks face the struggling St. Louis Blues, who are averaging only 2.55 goals this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 11, 2025
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (lower body) didn't complete Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. He suffered a lower-body injury, taking only a couple of shifts in the second period and missing the third. Edvinsson has been an all-around contributor for the Red Wings, totaling nine points (three goals, six assists), 33 shots, 57 blocks, and 37 hits in 28 contests this season. Detroit will return to action on Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers, and Jacob Bernard-Docker is in line to fill Edvinsson's spot in the lineup if he can't play. Bernard-Docker does not hold any fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 11, 2025
Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann (undisclosed) was injured during Wednesday's 3-2 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings. He exited the action late in the third period following a collision with Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg. McCann opened the scoring in the contest with a power-play goal. The 29-year-old skated in only his 11th game of the season after he missed time earlier in the campaign due to a lower-body injury. McCann has recorded five goals and eight points. Kaapo Kakko could be McCann's replacement in the top six if he has to miss time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 10, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis (lower body) will miss a month, Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun reports. He was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, retroactive to Dec. 8. Mermis sustained a lower-body injury in Monday's win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Maple Leafs recalled Henry Thrun from the minors on Wednesday, and he is likely to replace Mermis in the lineup on Thursday night against the San Jose Sharks. Philippe Myers is another option for the blue line, which remains without Brandon Carlo (lower body) and Chris Tanev (upper body) on Thursday. Meanwhile, Morgan Rielly (illness) is questionable after missing Wednesday's practice.
--Taavi PailkSource: Lance Hornby
December 10, 2025
Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (personal) won't be in the lineup on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will miss the game for personal reasons. Montreal expects to have Evans back for Saturday's contest against the New York Rangers. Evans has gone six games without scoring any points. Across the season, he has totaled eight points (four goals, four assists) in 29 outings while amassing a team-worst minus-19 rating. Owen Beck was recalled from the minors on Wednesday and figures to enter the lineup against Pittsburgh. The 21-year-old has not scored any points in two NHL appearances this season and does not provide any fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 10, 2025
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (upper body) is expected to remain out on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, Paul Chapman of The Province reports. Canucks head coach Adam Foote said following Wednesday's practice that Pettersson is "unlikely" to play against Buffalo. The Swedish forward has already missed two games due to an upper-body injury. He is the team's top scorer, alongside Quinn Hughes, boasting 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) through 28 appearances. David Kampf has taken on top-line center duties during Pettersson's absence. After 10 appearances, Kampf is still looking for his first points of the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Paul Chapman
December 10, 2025
St. Louis Blues center Nick Bjugstad (upper body) will be out "at least five days," head coach Jim Montgomery announced on Wednesday. The veteran forward suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's loss to the Boston Bruins. St. Louis will play three games over the next five days. Jordan Kyrou (lower body), Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexei Toropchenko (leg), and Nathan Walker (upper body) are also out, leaving the Blues shorthanded up front. To address the situation, the team signed Robby Fabbri to a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday. Fabbri, who previously played for the Blues from 2015 to 2019, could make his first appearance of the season on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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