NHL Player News
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Ryan McDonagh D | TB
Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Pockets assist
McDonagh notched an assist, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Avalanche.
McDonagh snapped a five-game point drought with the secondary helper on the first of Jake Guentzel's two goals in the game. As usual, McDonagh is filling a shutdown role on the second pairing. He has three helpers, nine shots on net, a plus-10 rating and 24 blocked shots through 10 outings this season. He can help fantasy managers in formats that prioritize defense, but he's a fringe option in most other leagues.
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Albert Johansson D | DET
Red Wings' Albert Johansson: Path to playing time opens
Johansson has played in four of the Red Wings' first 10 games this season.
Johansson made the Opening Night roster after a decent camp, but that was with the Red Wings carrying eight blueliners. The team's trade sending Olli Maatta to Utah on Tuesday means Johansson is likely to see more consistent playing time moving forward, though he'll still have to fend off power-play specialist Erik Gustafsson for third-pairing minutes. While Johansson has yet to record a point over four outings, he has seven hits, five blocked shots, two shots on goal, two PIM and a minus-2 rating.
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Dylan Coghlan D | WPG
Jets' Dylan Coghlan: Awaiting team debut
Coghlan has yet to play in the 2024-25 regular season.
Coghlan was traded to the Jets by the Hurricanes in July and signed a two-way deal with his new club a few days later, but he's still awaiting a chance to make a first impression. The 26-year-old has a total of 22 points over 106 career appearances. Coghlan will likely have to wait for an injury to occur to one of the Jets' right-handed blueliners before he gets a chance in the lineup.
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Haydn Fleury D | WPG
Jets' Haydn Fleury: Struggling to make lineup
Fleury was a healthy scratch for Wednesday's matchup against Detroit, marking the sixth consecutive game in which he's been a healthy scratch.
Fleury started the season on the third pairing, but he gave way to Logan Stanley on Oct. 20, and the Jets haven't changed up their defense since. Over four appearances, Fleury picked up five shots on net, six blocked shots and two hits. The 28-year-old will likely have to wait for an injury to pop up before he gets back in the lineup.
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Erik Brannstrom D | VAN
Canucks' Erik Brannstrom: Reassigned to AHL
Brannstrom was sent to AHL Abbotsford on Thursday.
Brannstrom posted a minus-2 rating with two hits and three blocked shots over 16:07 of ice time Wednesday in the Canucks' 6-0 loss to New Jersey. Brannstrom has one assist in six NHL games this season.
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Logan Stanley D | WPG
Jets' Logan Stanley: Snags assist Wednesday
Stanley registered an assist and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Red Wings.
This was Stanley's first helper since his season debut Oct. 20. The defenseman has seen consistent third-pairing minutes since his return, averaging 16:09 of ice time over six appearances. He's added five shots on net, five hits, four PIM, 11 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating. Stanley appears to be the preferred option to be in the lineup over Haydn Fleury.
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Colin Miller D | WPG
Jets' Colin Miller: Finds twine in win
Miller scored a goal on two shots in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Red Wings.
Miller's goal was the Jets' closing tally, which came at 10:25 of the third period. The 32-year-old blueliner has done well from a third-pairing role so far, picking up two goals and three assists over 10 contests. He's added 16 shots on net, 13 hits, five blocked shots and a plus-5 rating. The Jets have fired on all cylinders early in the season, but this is Miller's best pace since he had a 41-point campaign in 2017-18 with Vegas, so he'll likely slow down over time.
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Mike Reilly D | NYI
Islanders' Mike Reilly: No-show on scoresheet
Reilly has not recorded a point through 10 games this season.
Reilly has filled in as a top-four option since Alexander Romanov (upper body) exited the lineup, but it hasn't helped his offense. The 31-year-old Reilly has 15 shots on net, three hits, four blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-1 rating this season. He's averaged 16:35 of ice time per game, including 2:06 on the power play, so he should continue to get looks after racking up 24 points in 61 regular-season outings between the Islanders and Panthers in 2023-24.
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Jordan Harris D | CLB
Blue Jackets' Jordan Harris: Part of third-pairing rotation
Harris has no points through six appearances to begin 2024-25.
Harris was scratched in the Blue Jackets' first two games, but he's played on the third pairing in six of the last seven contests. He is likely to remain a rotational option, competing with David Jiricek and Jack Johnson for playing time. Harris has accumulated two shots on goal, four PIM, five hits, 11 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating while averaging just 13:22 of ice time.
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Ivan Provorov D | CLB
Blue Jackets' Ivan Provorov: Collects assist in win
Provorov logged an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Islanders.
Provorov is up to three helpers through nine outings this season. The 27-year-old defenseman continues to play in a top-four role with time on the second power-play unit. He has added 11 shots on net, 13 blocked shots, four hits, four PIM and a plus-5 rating. Provorov doesn't hit as much as he did earlier in his career, and his defense can falter at times, but he's still likely to maintain a prominent role throughout 2024-25.