NHL News

Jared Spurgeon • D • Wild

Jared Spurgeon Dealing With Upper-Body Injury

Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon is nursing an upper-body injury and missed his first game of the season Tuesday against Winnipeg. He joined Brock Faber (skull) on the sidelines, leaving Minnesota without two key defensive contributors. Quinn Hughes has carried a heavy workload, playing over 28 minutes in Tuesday's loss. David Spacek took Spurgeon's spot in the lineup and saw a season-high 15:51 of ice time. The Wild gave up five goals and will be desperate to have Spurgeon back as soon as possible. The team returns to action Thursday against St. Louis.

4 hours ago

Alex DeBrincat • RW • Red Wings

Alex DeBrincat Agrees to Seven-Year Extension With Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings winger Alex DeBrincat has agreed to a seven-year, $91 million contract extension, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. With the deal, DeBrincat's cap hit will balloon from $7.875 million to $13 million next season. Last season, DeBrincat averaged a point per game for the first time in his career. He's also played well in 2026-27, despite the team's tough start. In six outings, DeBrincat has tallied four goals and four assists. The Red Wings will be delighted to have locked up DeBrincat on a long-term deal, while the futures of Dyland Larkin and unsigned restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson remain uncertain.

4 hours ago

Mike Matheson • D • Canadiens

Mike Matheson Misses Tuesday's Action

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (lower body) is day-to-day and won't play on Tuesday against Buffalo, Sportsnet's Eric Engels reports. Montreal will also be in action on Wednesday night against Washington, so Matheson may have to sit out multiple games. While Matheson has contributed only one assist offensively in five games this season, he will be a big miss for the Canadiens. The veteran blue-liner averages the second-most ice time on the squad with 24:09 per game. Center Owen Beck will take the vacant spot in the lineup on Tuesday, signaling Montreal's plan to go back to six defensemen.

20 hours ago

Luke Evangelista • RW • Devils

Luke Evangelista Out Against Red Wings

New Jersey Devils winger Luke Evangelista (illness) won't suit up on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports. He played through an illness on Monday against Ottawa but didn't travel with the team to Detroit. Stefan Noesen will replace Evangelista in the lineup. The veteran forward has been a disappointment for the Devils since the start of last season, collecting only seven points (three goals, four assists) in 40 games. He is not expected to play a significant role against Detroit. At the same time, Dawson Mercer should draw more fantasy attention as Evangelista's replacement in the top six.

20 hours ago

Jacob Markstrom • G • Panthers

Jacob Markstrom Unavailable Tuesday

Florida Panthers goaltender Jacob Markstrom (undisclosed) is day-to-day and won't dress for Tuesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site. Markstrom was pulled from Monday's loss to Buffalo after the first period because he "tightened up." Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said after the game that Markstrom had not sustained an injury, but the team will be without its No. 1 for at least one contest. Akira Schmid will start against the Blue Jackets, who are averaging 3.00 goals per game. Cooper Black will serve as his backup.

20 hours ago

Cutter Gauthier • LW • Ducks

Cutter Gauthier Ruled Out for Tuesday

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (upper body) won't play on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 22-year-old suffered an upper-body injury against Calgary over the weekend and must sit out at least one game. He's day-to-day, so the Ducks could have Gauthier back for Friday's meeting with Boston. His absence Tuesday night will give Roger McQueen an opportunity to make his NHL debut. McQueen was a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft and has generated buzz by scoring three times in four AHL outings this season. He will skate on the third line alongside A.J. Greer and Frank Vatrano.

20 hours ago

Jordan Staal • C • Hurricanes

Jordan Staal to Miss 1-2 Months With Torn Calf

Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal will be sidelined for 1-2 months with a torn calf, head coach Rod Brind'Amour revealed Tuesday. The Hurricanes captain will miss a second straight game on Tuesday against Washington. Brind'Amour promoted Mark Jankowski to the third line in Sunday's win over Philadelphia. Jankowski also skates on the second power-play unit. The veteran forward has scored in four consecutive games, marking the longest goal streak of his career. Currently, he has some low-level fantasy appeal.

20 hours ago

Josh Morrissey • D • Jets

Josh Morrissey Remains Out Tuesday

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (wrist) will sit out a second consecutive game on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild. He remains day-to-day after hurting his wrist in a contest against Colorado last week. Morrissey's next chance to return will be on Thursday against Chicago. The Jets have used Haydn Fleury as Morrissey's replacement in the lineup, even giving him time on the second power-play unit. Neal Pionk has begun to anchor the first power-play unit, though he hasn't been productive this season.

20 hours ago

Cale Makar • D • Avalanche

Cale Makar to Miss Tuesday's Game

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (personal) will miss Tuesday's tilt against the Dallas Stars. He has left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Makar has kicked off the season in top form, amassing seven points (three goals, four assists) in five games. He's tied for the third-most points among defensemen. Sam Malinski will skate on the first defensive pairing against Dallas, while Devon Toews will also carry a heavier workload.

20 hours ago

Trevor van Riemsdyk • D • Penguins

Penguins Move Trevor van Riemsdyk to Injured Reserve

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (lower body) was placed on Injured Reserve Monday. The team will start a four-game road trip without him on Tuesday against Chicago, but Penguins head coach Dan Muse told reporters on Monday that van Riemsdyk could join the squad later. In five appearances, van Riemsdyk has gone pointless, but he's averaged two blocks per game. Spencer Stastney will accompany Kris Letang on the third defensive pairing until van Riemsdyk returns. With 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 118 career NHL games, Stastney isn't a player fantasy managers should consider.

Yesterday

Parker Wotherspoon • D • Golden Knights

Parker Wotherspoon Out Week-to-Week

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Parker Wotherspoon (upper body) is considered week-to-week, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. He missed his first game of the season on Monday night against Minnesota due to an upper-body injury. After a 30-point year in Pittsburgh, Wotherspoon has been quiet offensively so far this season, going scoreless in six appearances. He has five blocks and five hits. Dylan Coghlan took Wotherspoon's spot in the lineup on Monday, finishing with one hit, two blocks, and a plus-two rating in 12:08 of action. He has a chance to play regularly going forward, but Coghlan lacks fantasy appeal.

Yesterday

Samuel Honzek • LW • Flames

Samuel Honzek Considered Week-to-Week

Calgary Flames winger Samuel Honzek (lower body) is week-to-week, the team announced Monday. He's set to miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday against Anaheim due to a lower-body injury. The team's update on Monday suggests Honzek will sit out a few more games after Tuesday night. Honzek is scoreless through four outings this season, but the Flames will miss his physicality: the 21-year-old has averaged nearly three hits per game. Due to Honzek's absence, Maxim Tsyplakov is expected to receive regular playing opportunities, but he should remain a free agent in fantasy leagues.

Yesterday

Pierre-Luc Dubois • C • Capitals

Pierre-Luc Dubois Unavailable Tuesday

Washington Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois (illness) isn't traveling for Tuesday's matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes, Sammy Silber of The Hockey News reports. He was a late scratch for Saturday's game against Seattle due to illness, and Dubois still seems to be feeling the effects of the bug and isn't ready to play. The Capitals return home on Wednesday to face Montreal, which will be Dubois' next chance to make his comeback. With Dubois out, Ethen Frank made his season debut on Saturday, but he has no fantasy value. Ilya Protas is expected to fill first-line center duties against Carolina, giving him more fantasy appeal.

Yesterday

Cutter Gauthier • LW • Ducks

Cutter Gauthier Questionable for Tuesday

Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier (upper body) is questionable for Tuesday's matchup against the Calgary Flames. According to Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune, Gauthier participated in practice drills on Monday but left the session before line rushes and team drills. He suffered an upper-body injury against Calgary on Saturday. Ryan Poehling (lower body) was hurt in the same game, and he wasn't on the ice Monday. These injuries could force Anaheim to make several lineup changes on Tuesday night. Players like Sam Colangelo and Frank Vatrano could have expanded roles.

Yesterday

Nikolas Matinpalo • D • Senators

Nikolas Matinpalo Sustains Upper-Body Injury Monday

Ottawa Senators defenseman Nikolas Matinpalo played only a handful of minutes in Monday's win over New Jersey due to an upper-body injury. He exited the action in the first period after absorbing a big hit from Devils forward Anthony Mantha, who received a five-minute major penalty for boarding. This marks another injury blow for Ottawa's defense. The team has been without Jake Sanderson (lower body) and Artem Zub (knee). The two aren't expected back for Tuesday's game against St. Louis, and Matinpalo likely won't play either. As a result, the Senators will be without half of their regular defensive corps. Thomas Chabot and Jordan Spence will continue to play huge minutes, while Carter Yakemchuk also has an expanded role.

Yesterday

Nico Sturm • C • Wild

Nico Sturm Doing "OK" After Being Sent to Hospital

Minnesota Wild center Nico Sturm (upper body) is doing "OK" after Monday's scary incident against Vegas, Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News reports. Sturm was hit in the head by a puck in the second period and was taken to the hospital. Fortunately, the veteran forward didn't suffer a serious injury. Recently, the Wild lost defenseman Brock Faber to a fractured skull in a similar incident. Still, Sturm isn't expected to travel with the team for Tuesday's contest against Winnipeg, meaning he'll be out for at least one game. Tyler Pitlick is an option to replace him on the fourth line, though Minnesota may also opt to go with seven defensemen.

Yesterday

Matt Duchene • C • Stars

Matt Duchene Out for Three Months After Core Surgery

Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene underwent surgery to repair a core injury and will be unavailable for three months, the team announced Monday. Duchene dealt with a lower-body injury at training camp and hasn't seen any action this season. Dallas placed him on long-term Injured Reserve on Oct. 1. Unfortunately, we won't see Duchene back on the ice before 2027. This injury has ruined Duchene's hopes of reaching his 1,000th career point this season. He has produced consistently throughout his career, with 387 goals and 549 assists in 1,195 games. Duchene's long-term absence elevates the fantasy value of Sam Steel and Justin Hryckowian.

Yesterday

John Tavares • C • Maple Leafs

John Tavares Rejoins Practice

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (personal) practiced on Monday and is on track to return for Tuesday's matchup with the Utah Mammoth. Tavares didn't play in Saturday's win over Colorado after the birth of his son. Nicholas Paul moved to the second line and contributed two assists in an impressive 6-3 road triumph. Tavares' return will bump Paul to the third line, but he should still see plenty of ice time. After five appearances, Tavares sits on one goal and two assists.

Yesterday

Connor Bedard • C • Blackhawks

Connor Bedard Likely to Make His Season Debut Tuesday

Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (knee) is likely to make his season debut in Tuesday's matchup with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. The Blackhawks captain fully participated in Sunday's practice, and on Monday, head coach Jeff Blashill said Bedard is "trending toward" playing against Pittsburgh. This is huge news because Bedard wasn't initially expected to play this month after offseason shoulder surgery. Bedard is set to skate alongside Patrick Kane and Roman Kanstserov on Chicago's top line in Tuesday's game. He has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in five career games against Crosby's crew.

Yesterday

Jake Sanderson • D • Senators

Jake Sanderson Still Sidelined Monday

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (lower body) will miss a fifth consecutive game on Monday night against the New Jersey Devils. The 2026 Olympic champion took part in the morning skate, but he isn't ready to return from a lower-body injury. Artem Zub (knee) will also remain out, increasing the fantasy value of Thomas Chabot, Jordan Spence, and Carter Yakemchuk. Chabot has averaged a whopping 27:07 of ice time, recording three points, 15 SOG, and 16 blocks in five games. Yakemchuk has also made a strong impression offensively, landing on the score sheet twice in the last three games.

Yesterday

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