January 27, 2026
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (hip) will miss the rest of the 2025-26 season. The 30-year-old is scheduled to undergo hip surgery. Demko last played on Jan. 10, allowing three goals on six shots in a 5-0 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He finishes the campaign with an 8-10-1 record, 2.90 goals-against average, a .897 save percentage, and one shutout. With Demko out of the picture, Kevin Lankinen is set for a heavy workload the rest of the way. Nikita Tolopilo currently operates as his backup.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski signed a four-year, $19 million contract extension on Tuesday. He was rewarded for a career year. With a large chunk of the 2025-26 regular season left, Malinski has already posted his new scoring record with 24 points (three goals, 21 assists) in 50 games. Additionally, he has recorded 98 shots, 56 blocks, 24 hits, and an outstanding plus-26 rating. Last offseason, Malinski inked a one-year, $1.4 million deal with Colorado. The 27-year-old has played a larger role on Colorado's blue line lately due to the absence of Devon Toews (upper body).
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust has been suspended for three games. The NHL's Department of Player Safety made the announcement on Tuesday following a hearing with Rust, who received his first career suspension for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser in Sunday's 3-2 win. Rust is Pittsburgh's third-highest scorer, with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 47 appearances. He will be eligible to return to the lineup on Feb. 3 against the New York Islanders. In the meantime, Justin Brazeau or Ben Kindel may fill in for him in the top six.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks winger Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) is expected to re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. He has been absent for six games due to an upper-body injury. On Monday, Teravainen practiced on the first line with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. He will also join the first power-play unit for Tuesday's tilt. 11 of Teravainen's 21 points this season have come with the man advantage this season. He has totaled four goals and seven assists on the power play. Overall, Teravainen has contributed nine goals and 12 assists in 45 contests. Given Minnesota's poor penalty kill (27th in the league), Teravainen could be poised for a big performance on Tuesday night. The Finnish veteran will take Nick Lardis' spot in the lineup after Chicago reassigned him to the minors on Monday.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (lower body) won't return to the lineup until after the Olympics. He has missed two games due to a lower-body injury and won't be available for five more contests. Edvinsson has formed an effective top defensive pairing in Detroit with Moritz Seider, logging 17 points (six goals, 11 assists), 57 shots, 104 blocks, and 63 hits with a plus-six rating in 48 games. Jacob Bernard-Docker has become Seider's new partner in crime, while Travis Hamonic replaced Edvinsson in the lineup last week.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 27, 2026
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (upper body) isn't expected to return this week, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports. While Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff labeled Norris day-to-day on Monday, he will be out for at least three more games. Norris is dealing with an upper-body injury and will miss a seventh consecutive contest on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's unfortunate to see Norris back on the sidelines after he amassed 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 19 appearances. Norris' absence has given Kosta Helenius a spot in the lineup, and the 2024 first-round pick has made an encouraging start to his NHL career. Helenius has posted four points (one goal, three assists) in four games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bill Hoppe
January 27, 2026
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (face) was placed on Injured Reserve on Monday. He was hit in the face by a puck during Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Buium managed to finish the game wearing a bubble visor on his helmet, but he will now be out for at least three contests. On Sunday, Buium made his 20th appearance as a Canuck. He has logged six points (two goals, four assists), 18 shots, and 16 blocks since the Minnesota Wild traded him as part of the Quinn Hughes deal. The team has replaced Buium on the roster with Victor Mancini, who was recalled from the AHL on Monday.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (head) was placed on Injured Reserve. The 28-year-old took an elbow to the head on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins and will miss at least the next three games. This marks another setback for Boeser during a rough campaign. He has been limited to 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 50 games. The Canucks have recalled Jonathan Lekkerimaki from the minors to bolster their frontline, while David Kampf is also an option to replace Boeser in the lineup on Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks. Conor Garland may take Boeser's spot on the second line.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 27, 2026
Utah Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi (undisclosed) missed the final few minutes of Monday's 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Brogan Houston of the Deseret News reports. Durzi has battled several health issues in recent seasons and could now miss more time. Utah will return to the ice on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. Durzi has registered 15 points, 54 shots, and 55 blocks across 31 outings this season. Olli Maatta will step into the lineup if Durzi isn't ready to play on Tuesday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: Brogan Houston
January 26, 2026
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports. The recovery timeline began last week. Brodin was already ruled out for the Olympics, and it looks like he will also miss some time after the tournament. Minnesota's blue line is without Zach Bogosian (lower body) as well, leaving the defense without two seasoned veterans. In his 14th NHL campaign, Brodin has recorded 15 points (three goals, 12 assists), 43 shots, and 91 blocks in 42 games. Recent injuries in the Wild's backline have given Daemon Hunt and David Jiricek regular opportunities to play.
--Taavi PailkSource: Joe Smith
January 26, 2026
Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (lower body) will be back in the lineup on Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks. He missed a week of action due to a lower-body injury, sitting out three games. The Finnish forward will grab a second-line spot, pushing Andrew Mangiapane out of the lineup. Unfortunately, Kapanen has struggled to stay healthy all season, appearing in only 14 games. He's been impactful when in the lineup, recording nine points (three goals, six assists) and 28 hits. Edmonton's frontline has an excellent fantasy matchup on Monday against the NHL's second-weakest defense.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 26, 2026
Utah Mammoth winger Lawson Crouse (illness) is expected to return to the lineup on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a pair of big performances, Crouse was forced to sit out Saturday's matchup against the Nashville Predators due to illness. Liam O'Brien is set to make way for him in the lineup. Crouse has earned a spot on the first line, amassing two goals and two assists in his last two appearances. He's having a good bounce-back year, sitting on 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) through 50 outings. 10 of Crouse's 26 points have come in January.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 26, 2026
New York Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy will miss Monday's game against the Boston Bruins for roster management purposes. He is expected to be traded to the New York Islanders. The Rangers' neighbors are looking for additional help in defense after losing Alexander Romanov (shoulder) for several months. Soucy moved to New York less than 12 months ago when he was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for a conditional third-round draft pick. He has tallied eight points (three goals, five assists), 39 shots, 66 blocks, and 71 hits in 46 outings this season. Urho Vaakanainen is set to take Soucy's spot in the lineup on Monday.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
January 26, 2026
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve and will return to the lineup for Monday's tilt against the New York Islanders. The Finnish veteran has been sidelined for six games due to an upper-body injury. Ristolainen has made 13 appearances this season, registering three assists, 24 shots, 24 blocks, and 16 hits, while averaging 20:59 of ice time. He will join Emil Andrae on the second defensive pairing on Monday, bumping Noah Juulsen out of the lineup. While Ristolainen's return will be a big boost for a Flyers defense that has allowed 38 goals across the last eight games, he has minimal fantasy appeal.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 26, 2026
New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (upper body) will be out for a second consecutive game on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The hardworking blue-liner sustained an upper-body injury on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. Pulock has improved offensively in 2025-26, tallying 21 points (two goals, 19 assists) in 50 appearances. He leads the Islanders with 92 blocked shots. Isaiah George joined the lineup on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres and is expected to make a second consecutive appearance on Monday night. George was limited to 13:56 of ice time against Buffalo and doesn't have any fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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