January 8, 2026
New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (lower body) has been cleared to play on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 21-year-old has been out for 12 games due to a lower-body injury. Nemec's development has been one of only a few bright spots for the Devils during a frustrating season. He has recorded 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists), 50 shots, and 46 blocks in 31 contests, averaging 20:03 of ice time. The Devils may initially limit Nemec's workload due to his long absence. He is projected to skate on the third defensive pairing on Thursday, joining forces with Brenden Dillon.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (upper body) won't play on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes and is day-to-day. Terry has been ever-present on this exciting Ducks squad, posting 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) in 43 games. Unfortunately, he will have to miss his first contest of the season due to an upper-body injury. Ryan Strome is set to replace Terry on Thursday night. The veteran has had a frustrating campaign in 2025-26, contributing six points (two goals, four assists) in 22 appearances. However, Strome is projected to skate with Alex Killorn and Leo Carlsson, putting him in a good position to make a significant impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere (illness) is expected to play on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. It was initially unclear if Lafreniere would play after he missed Wednesday's practice due to illness. The 24-year-old is set to remain on the second line against Buffalo. He will work with Vincent Trocheck and the returning J.T. Miller (upper body). On Thursday, Lafreniere will attempt to post his second three-game point streak of the season. He's had a fabulous start to January, registering one goal and three assists in two games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (undisclosed) won't play on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. Florida's top scorer didn't finish Tuesday's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and will miss at least one entire game. According to Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, Marchand has been banged up for a while. It's possible his absence won't be limited to Thursday night, but Maurice didn't rule Marchand out for Saturday's meeting with the Ottawa Senators. Jack Studnicka will get a chance to play against Montreal, while A.J. Greer is expected to start the game in the top six.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve and is set to return from a 15-game absence on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. Malkin's return will be an additional boost to an improving Penguins team that has reignited its playoff hopes with a five-game winning streak. He is expected to make his comeback as the left winger on the second line, having skated there during Wednesday's practice. Ben Kindel and Yegor Chinakhov will join Malkin on the line. Malkin has been a point-per-game player in 2025-26, notching eight goals and 21 assists in 26 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov (foot) is expected to be in the lineup on Thursday versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ashlyn Sullivan of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. Due to a foot injury, Michkov was unavailable for the first time this season on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks. Under a new coaching regime, Michkov has taken a step back in 2025-26. He has notched nine goals and 23 points in 40 appearances. The Russian talent has managed just one goal over his last 16 outings. Thursday's matchup is a good spot for Michkov to start turning things around, as the Maple Leafs allow an average of 3.29 goals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ashlyn Sullivan
January 8, 2026
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (lower body) will be out for about 7-10 more days, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports. Lyon sustained a lower-body injury in late December, landing on the shelf after winning seven consecutive decisions. Buffalo has gone with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in all three games since Lyon was injured. The Finnish netminder has done solid work, posting a 2-1-0 record and allowing eight goals. With Lyon and Luukkonen in top form, the Sabres have been the hottest team in the NHL since December, joining the playoff race.
--Taavi PailkSource: Heather Engel
January 8, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (upper body) was placed on Injured Reserve, ruling him out for at least three games. He has already skipped one contest due to an upper-body injury. The team considers Marchment week-to-week. Losing Marchment is a significant blow for the Blue Jackets, as he's had an impressive start with his new team. Since coming over from Seattle, Marchment has averaged a point per game in seven outings, scoring five goals. Columbus has replaced Marchment on the roster with Mikael Pyyhtia, but it's unclear whether he'll make the lineup for Thursday's matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere (illness) missed Wednesday's practice and may not be available for Thursday's tilt against the Buffalo Sabres. After bagging four points (one goal, three assists) in the first two games of 2026, Lafreniere could be sidelined by an illness. In December, Lafreniere had points in only four of 15 appearances, but he has shown encouraging signs of improvement early this month. Luckily for the Rangers, J.T. Miller (upper body) is on the cusp of returning and could take Lafreniere's spot in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller (upper body) is on track to return to action on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. An upper-body injury knocked the Rangers captain out of the lineup before the holiday break, leading to a seven-game absence. At the start of the week, Miller was cleared for contact and now appears ready for game action. This season, Miller has lacked his usual sharpness, going for only 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 35 games. He has made it to the score sheet just 16 times throughout the campaign.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 8, 2026
Edmonton Oilers center Adam Henrique (undisclosed) was placed on Injured Reserve and is not expected to be healthy until after the Olympic break. The 35-year-old veteran was injured during Tuesday's win over the Nashville Predators. In 43 outings, Henrique has posted 10 points (two goals, eight assists) while winning 54.8 percent of his faceoffs. The Oilers need a new third-line center with him on the shelf. Trent Frederic and Andrew Mangiapane were scratched against Nashville on Tuesday and will be the main candidates to fill Henrique's spot in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 7, 2026
St. Louis Blues left wing Nathan Walker (upper body) will return from a 16-game absence on Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. He will team up with Alexey Toropchenko and Oskar Sundqvist on the fourth line. Walker was in the midst of a solid offensive stretch when he got hurt at the start of December. The 31-year-old has notched nine points (three goals, six assists) in 25 appearances this season, while averaging 3.8 hits per game. Mathieu Joseph will be in the press box on Wednesday to accommodate Walker's return.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 7, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rutger McGroarty (concussion) will be out indefinitely after being hurt at Tuesday's practice. The 21-year-old was involved in a collision with a teammate and has been diagnosed with a concussion. The Penguins placed McGroarty on Injured Reserve. McGroarty entered the lineup in December and has posted three points (two goals, one assist) in 16 appearances. At the beginning of the campaign, he missed time due to an upper-body injury. Evgeni Malkin (upper body) has resumed full practice and could grab McGroarty's spot in the lineup on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 7, 2026
Utah Mammoth center Kevin Stenlund (undisclosed) is a game-time decision for Wednesday's matchup with the Ottawa Senators, Brogan Houston of the Deseret News reports. The Swedish veteran wasn't on the ice Wednesday morning and could miss his first game of the season. Stenlund has tallied 10 points (three goals, seven assists), 38 shots, 31 blocks, and 25 hits in 43 games as a bottom-six forward for Utah. If Stenlund isn't available against Ottawa, Kailer Yamamoto is expected to make his first appearance of 2026. Yamamoto has not provided much fantasy value this season, settling for nine points (four goals, five assists) in 26 outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: Brogan Houston
January 7, 2026
San Jose Sharks center Ty Dellandrea (lower body) will miss Wednesday's contest against the Los Angeles Kings, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. The 25-year-old sustained a lower-body injury in Tuesday's loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dellandrea ranks second on the Sharks squad with 117 hits and has recorded 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 42 appearances. He has filled third-line center duties while also playing a vital role on the penalty kill. Patrick Giles is expected to take Dellandrea's place in the lineup on Wednesday, with Zack Ostapchuk moving up to the third line.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
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