January 5, 2026
Washington Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas (lower body) is a game-time decision for Monday's tilt against the Anaheim Ducks. The Belarusian forward has a chance to return from a one-game absence. On Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, a lower-body injury kept Protas sidelined for the first time this season. Protas has enjoyed red-hot form recently, logging points in each of his last five appearances, scoring four goals and delivering five assists. He boasts 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists) in 41 appearances for the campaign. The Capitals would certainly welcome Protas' return, especially with top scorer Tom Wilson (lower body) sidelined on Monday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 5, 2026
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (lower body) is day-to-day and won't play on Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks. The power forward must sit out at least one game due to a lower-body injury he sustained during Saturday's meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks. Wilson leads the Capitals in goals (22), points (42), and hits (110) this season, averaging at least a point per game for the first time in his career. With Wilson out, Anthony Beauvillier and Connor McMichael may see increased ice time on Monday. Wilson's first chance to return will be on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 5, 2026
San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg (lower body) won't be available this week, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. The Swedish veteran sustained a lower-body injury on Dec. 31 against the Minnesota Wild and wasn't in the lineup for Saturday's loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Due to the injury, Klingberg is set to miss at least three more games. Dmitry Orlov and Timothy Liljegren see more power-play time with Klingberg out. Further changes in the backline might be coming this week after Shakir Mukhamadullin (upper body) was hurt against Tampa Bay.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
January 5, 2026
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (groin) appears ready to return to the lineup soon, as he will travel with the team during an upcoming six-game road trip. Tkachuk, who had offseason surgery to repair a torn adductor and sports hernia, rejoined practice last week. Florida begins its trip in Toronto on Tuesday. Despite being without Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov (knee), the Panthers beat the league-leading Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Sunday to improve to 22-16-3. The team is only a point off a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Tkachuk's return will be a massive boost for three parties: the Panthers, fantasy managers, and Team USA, which has named him to the Olympic roster.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 5, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (shoulder) is expected to return to action before the Olympic break, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports. Chicago's young star is recovering from a shoulder injury and missed his 11th straight game on Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Blackhawks have their final game before the international break on Feb. 4. Before his injury, Bedard was battling for the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer. He has posted 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 outings this season. Currently, Chicago is using Ryan Greene as Bedard's replacement on the first line, giving him more fantasy appeal.
--Taavi PailkSource: Scott Powers
January 5, 2026
Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (face) exited Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the third period. The Stars captain took an awkward fall, hitting his face on the ice. Benn was bleeding and needed help to leave the ice. Dallas plans to provide an update on Benn on Monday. Sunday's loss was Benn's fourth consecutive outing without a point, and his offensive production has been limited to 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 23 games this season. He has been on the Stars' third line and the second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 5, 2026
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (upper body) will miss "some time," Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports. Due to an upper-body injury, the 31-year-old sat out his first game of the season on Sunday versus the Florida Panthers. Ilya Solovyov filled the gap in the lineup, though he was limited to 9:40 of ice time. Meanwhile, Samuel Girard saw action next to Cale Makar on the first defensive pairing. Girard will have more fantasy value as a skater on the first defensive pairing, but his production tends to be inconsistent.
--Taavi PailkSource: Corey Masisak
January 5, 2026
Colorado Avalanche winger Gabriel Landeskog (upper body) is expected to miss several games after sustaining an injury during Sunday's loss to the Florida Panthers. The Avalanche captain crashed into the goalpost and needed assistance to leave the ice. After the game, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Landeskog is "going to miss some time for sure." So far, Landeskog has played in all 41 games this season, recording 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) and 60 hits. Taylor Makar could play regularly during Landeskog's absence, while Ross Colton or Victor Olofsson may step into a top-six role.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 4, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley has been suspended for one game for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk during Saturday's 4-2 loss. As a result, Stanley will miss Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights, marking his first absence of the season. He has had a career year offensively, producing 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 40 appearances. Without the puck, Stanley has logged 43 blocks and 67 hits, giving him fantasy value in some formats. Luke Schenn or Haydn Fleury will take Stanley's spot in the lineup on Tuesday night
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 4, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (groin) may be done for the rest of the 2025-26 regular-season campaign, Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports. The veteran defenseman is set to meet with a surgeon next week to decide on the next steps for his groin injury, which he sustained on Dec. 28 versus the Detroit Red Wings. A surgery would sideline Tanev until late April or early May. Tanev, who is in the second year of a six-year, $27 million contract, has battled health issues all season, making only 11 appearances. He has recorded two assists and 15 blocks with a plus-eight rating. Simon Benoit has played regularly since Tanev's exit from the lineup, racking up 14 hits in three contests.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dave Pagnotta
January 4, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (undisclosed) is expected to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports. Due to an unspecified injury, the veteran forward skipped a fourth consecutive game on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Monahan has been banged up all season, severely limiting his impact. Over his last 20 appearances, Monahan has landed on the score sheet only six times. He boasts 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 37 games for the season. Charlie Coyle and Cole Sillinger have shared the second-line center role during Monahan's absence. He will probably reclaim the spot on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mark Scheig
January 4, 2026
San Jose Sharks center Alexander Wennberg extended his contract on Sunday, earning a three-year, $18 million deal. Right now, he is in the midst of Year 2 on a two-year, $10 million contract. The Swedish veteran has been a good pickup for San Jose, recording 61 points (17 goals, 44 assists) in 118 appearances with the team. This season, Wennberg is tied for second on the roster with 19 assists and has added seven goals in 41 games. After an impressive 13-point month in December, Wennberg opened January with a scoreless performance in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 4, 2026
Calgary Flames center John Beecher (upper body) was suspended for one game on Sunday for roughing Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron during Saturday's loss. In the game, Beecher received a minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct, and on Sunday, the NHL Department of Player Safety issued further discipline. Beecher finished Saturday night with 17 penalty minutes in total and left the game with an upper-body injury. As a result, the fourth-line center may have missed Monday's matchup against the Seattle Kraken regardless. The Flames are likely to use Justin Kirkland as Beecher's replacement in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 4, 2026
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (upper body) won't suit up for Sunday's clash against the Florida Panthers, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports. Toews missed some time in Saturday's win against the Carolina Hurricanes and will take an entire game off on Sunday. Up to this point, Toews had played in all 40 games for Colorado this season, contributing 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) and 58 blocks. Ilya Solovyov is set to fill in for Toews on Sunday; however, he holds no fantasy relevance.
--Taavi PailkSource: Corey Masisak
January 4, 2026
Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (upper body) won't play in Sunday's big matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. The former All-Star sustained an upper-body injury on Friday night in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic against the New York Rangers and will undergo evaluation on Monday. Currently, the team considers Jones day-to-day. With Jones on the sidelines, Florida won't have a defenseman who has made himself very useful on both ends of the ice. Jones has registered 24 points (six goals, 18 assists), 78 shots, 47 blocks, and 38 hits in 40 appearances. Donovan Sebrango will enter the lineup on Sunday, but fantasy managers should ignore him.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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