March 7, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (illness) will return from a three-game absence on Saturday against the Utah Mammoth. The star blue-liner missed time due to a stomach bug. Werenski will rejoin the first defensive pairing, bumping Ivan Provorov down to the second. He will also play a key role on the first power-play unit. Before exiting the lineup late last month, Werenski set a new franchise record for the longest point streak by a defenseman, getting on the score sheet in nine consecutive games. He has finished scoreless only twice in his last 24 appearances, posting 65 points (20 goals, 45 assists) in 54 games across the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 7, 2026
Los Angeles Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko (knee) won't return to action before the end of the 2025-26 regular season. A week ago, the Russian forward underwent meniscus surgery, and it's unclear whether Kuzmenko will have a chance to return when the Kings make the playoffs. Kuzmenko ends his first full campaign in L.A. with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 52 games. The Kings have also lost Kevin Fiala (lower leg) for the season, and Joel Armia (upper body) will be out for several weeks. This has led to expanded roles for Trevor Moore and Alex Turcotte, while new additions Scott Laughton and Mathieu Joseph could also play an important part down the stretch.
--Taavi PailkSource: The Mayor
March 7, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve, paving the way for him to rejoin the lineup on Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks. The talented blue-liner sustained an upper-body injury at the Olympics and has missed five games since the Jets resumed their season. Morrissey's return will mark a boost at both ends of the ice for Winnipeg. He has recorded 42 points, 104 shots, and 94 blocks with a plus-10 rating across 56 contests this season. Ville Heinola will be bumped from the first power-play unit with Morrissey's return, while Dylan Samberg and Haydn Fleury will also see less ice time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
March 7, 2026
Buffalo Sabres center Jiri Kulich (ear) is not expected to return this season, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports. He has been out since Nov. 1 due to a blood clot in his ear. "He's continuing to get treatment," Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Friday. "Our main concern, obviously, is his well-being and long-term health, and second, when he can be back as a hockey player. But he's progressing but most likely he'll be out for the season." Kulich was knocked out of the lineup after recording five points (three goals, two assists) in 12 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bill Hoppe
March 7, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body) didn't finish Friday's 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News reports. He sustained a lower-body injury in the first period and didn't come out for the second. Despite being hurt, Gostisbehere managed to score Carolina's first goal of the night. Gostisbehere has been very productive offensively all season, but health issues have limited him to 47 appearances. He has posted 11 goals and 32 assists. Mike Reilly is set to come into the lineup if Gostisbehere has to sit out another game on Saturday against the Calgary Flames.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ryan Henkel
March 7, 2026
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (lower body) couldn't complete Friday's matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. He had to be helped off the ice in the second period after suffering a lower-body injury. This was Hintz's first appearance after the Olympics, as he had missed four games due to illness. Unfortunately, it looks like Hintz could be sidelined again for some time. As a result, the Stars may move Mavrik Bourque back to the top line, with Wyatt Johnston shifting to center. Bourque collected two assists on Friday night and has averaged a point per game across his last nine appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
March 7, 2026
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (undisclosed) escaped serious injury on Friday night against the Florida Panthers and is not expected to be out for long. "He crumpled up there," Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said of Larkin postgame. "He's in the back. He'll get checked out. We don't think it's going to be long-term, but he needs to be looked at. We'll give you an update when we have it." Larkin left Friday's game in the third period after appearing to injure his right leg. Before leaving, he earned a power-play assist, bringing his season total to 55 points (28 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games. Mario Kasper could rejoin the top six if Larkin misses his first game of the season on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 7, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will sit out the next five games due to a suspension. The Russian star received his third career suspension for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head on Thursday. Malkin is enjoying his best season in three years, collecting 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 48 contests. His suspension comes at an awful time for the Penguins, who are already without Sidney Crosby (lower body). On Friday, the team recalled Ville Koivunen from the AHL in anticipation of Malkin being suspended. Koivunen has averaged over a point per game in the minors and will now get a new opportunity to showcase his talent in the big league. Malkin will be eligible to return to the lineup on March 16 against the Colorado Avalanche.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
March 6, 2026
Edmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark (undisclosed) has had season-ending surgery, head coach Kris Knoblauch revealed on Friday. He has been out since Feb. 25 with an undisclosed injury. The team expects Janmark to be healthy for training camp in the fall. Janmark has one season left on a three-year, $4.35 million contract. He finishes this season with eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 48 games. Having acquired Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks this week, the Oilers have several options available to fill in for Janmark. Both new additions are expected to be in the lineup on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
March 6, 2026
Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (upper body) will return to work on Friday against the Florida Panthers. He has been named the starter for Friday night after missing Wednesday's loss to Vegas with an upper-body injury. Gibson has been strong between the sticks this season, posting a 23-12-2 record with four shutouts. He holds a 2.58 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. On Friday, Gibson draws a good matchup, as Florida has dropped nine of its last 11 games and has scored two or fewer goals in four of the past six contests.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 6, 2026
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (illness) will return from a four-game absence on Friday night against the Colorado Avalanche. Due to illness, the Finnish forward hasn't played for the Stars since the Olympics. Hintz will resume his role as the top-line center, with Wyatt Johnston shifting to the right wing. Mavrik Bourque is expected to move down to the third line. Across 52 games this season, Hintz has tallied 15 goals and 29 assists. He has recorded points in three of his last four regular-season games against Colorado.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 6, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (lower body) returned to practice on Friday. He skated for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury at the Olympics. Last Wednesday, Crosby was ruled out for at least four weeks. However, it seems there's a chance the Penguins captain might return sooner. While it's great news for the Penguins and fantasy managers to see Crosby back on the ice Friday, he has not been cleared for contact and isn't expected to play during Pittsburgh's back-to-back set this weekend. With Crosby out, Thomas Novak held the top-line center spot in Thursday's loss to Buffalo, while Ben Kindel has also seen increased usage recently.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
March 6, 2026
Left wing Bobby McMann will finish the 2025-26 season with the Seattle Kraken. He was traded on Friday by the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick. McMann is in the final season of a two-year, $2.7 million contract. While McMann was a top-six regular in Toronto, it's not yet clear where he'll fit into the Kraken's lineup. The 29-year-old is aiming for his first 40-point campaign, amassing 19 goals and 13 assists in 60 appearances so far.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
March 6, 2026
The Detroit Red Wings acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues on Friday in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, defenseman Justin Holl, and forward prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov. Faulk spent six and a half seasons with the Blues, recording 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists), 116 shots, 102 blocks, and 49 hits in 61 appearances this term. The veteran blue-liner has had a decent campaign on a bad team and will have an opportunity to improve his production with the playoff-chasing Red Wings. He's going to be part of the top-four group in Motown and will likely strengthen the second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 6, 2026
Center Nazem Kadri rejoined the Colorado Avalanche in a trade deadline deal on Friday. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022, Kadri signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Calgary Flames as a free agent. Now, he's back in town after Colorado re-acquired Kadri from Calgary in exchange for forward Victor Olofsson, unsigned draft pick Maxmilian Curran, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick. Additionally, the Avalanche received a 2027 fourth-round pick as part of the deal. Calgary will retain 20 percent of Kadri's salary. Kadri had a career year with the Avalanche in 2021-22 and could increase his productivity down the stretch. He has recorded 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 61 games this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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