NHL Player News
-
Ilya Mikheyev RW | VAN
Canucks' Ilya Mikheyev: Out Saturday
Mikheyev (undisclosed) isn't expected to play Saturday against Edmonton in Game 6, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic.
Mikheyev also missed Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Oilers. He has no points, a minus-4 rating, 11 shots, nine hits and three blocks in 10 playoff contests this year. Mikheyev's continued absence will likely result in Vasily Podkolzin remaining in the lineup for the second straight game.
-
Arturs Silovs G | VAN
Canucks' Arturs Silovs: First off ahead of Game 6
Silovs was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic, indicating he will guard the road net Saturday in Game 6 against Edmonton.
Silovs is coming off a 21-save performance in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Oilers in Game 5. He has posted a 2.62 GAA and a .907 save percentage through eight appearances this postseason en route to a 5-3 record. Edmonton ranks second in the 2024 playoffs with 3.80 goals per game.
-
Stuart Skinner G | EDM
Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Back in net
Skinner will guard the home crease in Game 6 against Vancouver on Saturday, Gene Principe of Sportsnet reports.
Skinner ceded the crease to Calvin Pickard in Edmonton's last two contests after struggling to a .793 save percentage in the first three games of the series. With the Oilers now down 3-2, they'll turn back to Skinner as they look to force a Game 7. The 25-year-old netminder is 5-3-0 overall in the postseason with an .877 save percentage and 3.22 GAA.
-
Brett Pesce D | CAR
Hurricanes' Brett Pesce: Diagnosed with fractured fibula
Pesce (lower leg) has been dealing with a fractured fibula near his ankle, Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer reports.
Pesce missed the final nine games of Carolina's postseason run, including the entire second-round series against the Rangers, after suffering the injury in Game 2 of the opening round versus the Islanders. Pesce had three goals, 10 points and a plus-10 rating in 70 regular-season games this year. The 29-year-old blueliner is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason -- if healthy, Pesce should be one of the top names available.
-
Remi Poirier G | DAL
Stars' Remi Poirier: Recalled from minors
Poirier was summoned from AHL Texas on Saturday.
The 22-year-old netminder was 17-16-4 with a 3.19 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 38 games during the regular season. Poirier has yet to play a game at the NHL level.
-
Fredrik Karlstrom C | DAL
Stars' Fredrik Karlstrom: Joins big club
Karlstrom was recalled from AHL Texas on Saturday.
Karlstrom spent the entire 2023-24 campaign with Texas after playing in five games with Dallas during the 2022-23 campaign. He had 21 goals and 44 points in 72 appearances during the 2023-24 regular season. The 26-year-old forward was also productive in the postseason, picking up three goals and five assists in seven games.
-
Matej Blumel RW | DAL
Stars' Matej Blumel: Recalled from AHL
Blumel was called up from AHL Texas on Saturday.
Blumel was recalled Feb. 18 but was a healthy scratch before returning to the minors the following day. The 23-year-old winger had a big 2023-24 season in the AHL with 31 goals and 31 assists in 72 contests, finishing fifth overall in goals and tying for 10th in points.
-
Oskar Back C | DAL
Stars' Oskar Back: Summoned from AHL
Back was recalled from AHL Texas on Saturday.
Back has spent the last three seasons with AHL Texas after being selected in the third round (75th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He had seven goals and 36 points in 59 regular-season games during the 2023-24 campaign. He also picked up five points in seven AHL playoff outings.
-
Jonathan Drouin LW | COL
Avalanche's Jonathan Drouin: Adds power-play helper
Drouin logged a power-play assist in Friday's 2-1 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 6.
Drouin had a helper in all three of his playoff appearances, including two on the power play. The 29-year-old missed the first eight contests of the postseason due to a lower-body injury, but that was his only extended absence of the campaign. Drouin had a career-high 56 points in 79 regular-season outings while playing on a one-year, $825,000 contract. It's safe to assume his next deal will be at a higher cap hit, though it's unclear if the Avalanche will have the space to bring him back in 2024-25. If not, he should have a significant audience in free agency.
-
Cale Makar D | COL
Avalanche's Cale Makar: Garners power-play helper
Makar logged a power-play assist, two shots on goal and three blocked shots in Friday's 2-1 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 6.
Makar finished the postseason with five goals, 10 assists, 36 shots on net and 23 blocks over 11 contests. The 25-year-old defenseman also had a career-high 90 points in 77 regular-season outings. Makar's brilliance on the blue line remains elite, and he's a finalist for the Norris Trophy once again after a stellar campaign. Makar should continue to be a top-three fantasy defenseman in 2024-25 with an Avalanche team that will have its core intact despite going into the offseason with nine pending unrestricted free agents among the team's skaters.