Smith has not played since November 1st, tending to an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche. Before his injury, the 30-year-old forward had three goals in 13 games.
Hoglander underwent lower-body surgery towards the end of training camp and will finally make his season debut on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old should return to his usual bottom-six role this season after an eight-goal, 25-point campaign across 72 games played in 2024-25.
Nyman has only played once in the last two weeks. He will draw back into the lineup on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. he has four goals in 16 games this season.
The Canucks are coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the red-hot Minnesota Wild, courtesy of a 28-save performance (.933 SV%) by Nikita Tolopilo, but they will revert to Lankinen between the pipes on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old Lankinen last played on Friday, allowing three goals on 17 shots (.824 SV%), in a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has an uninspiring 3.41 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 games this season (4-9-3). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as +105 home underdogs against a Red Wings team that has been miserable defensively, allowing 41 goals (4.6 GA / GP) in their last nine games (3-4-2).
The Sabres hope to snap a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) with Luukkonen between the pipes on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Luukkonen allowed three goals on 19 shots (.864 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 26-year-old Finnish netminder has a 2.57 GAA and .895 SV% in nine games this season (4-4-1). Buffalo enters the action on Wednesday as a -106 road favorite against a suddenly surging Calgary team that is 6-3-1 in its last 10 games.
Seattle has been outscored 21-9 during a five-game losing streak (0-4-1), and hopes for better results on Monday with Grubauer tending the twine. Despite massive struggles in his tenure with the Kraken, the 34-year-old Grubauer has a 4-0-1 record this season, posting a 2.63 GAA and .894 SV%. Seattle enters Monday's contest as +117 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild team that has followed up a seven-game winning streak with losses in three of its last four (1-2-1).
Catton was drafted eighth overall by Seattle in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and is playing in his first NHL season. The 19-year-old forward has seen flattering deployment at times, including looks on the top line and top powerplay, but is still searching for his first career goal. He has five assists and 17 shots in 21 games this season.
With Charlie Lindgren on Injured Reserve, Stevenson served as Logan Thompson's back up on Sunday, but he has been reassigned to the AHL, with Garin Bjorklund being recalled in a corresponding move. The 26-year-old Stevenson made his NHL debut last season, playing three games with Washington. He has a 2.54 GAA and .913 SV% in 11 games this season (7-4-0) with the Hershey Bears (AHL).
With Charlie Lindgren on Injured Reserve, Bjorklund will be the next man up to serve as Logan Thompson's backup. The 23-year-old Bjorklund has never played an NHL game. He has a 3.01 GAA and .895 SV% in nine games (4-4-1) with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season.
Vejmelka is sporting a pedestrian 2.64 GAA and .894 SV% in 22 games this season (12-7-2), but appears to be rounding into form over the last two weeks. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has quality starts in four of his last six games (3-3-0), including a shutout, while saving 129 of 139 shots (.928 SV%). He will likely return to the crease on Monday, with the Mammoth entering the contest as slight -107 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings team coming off an explosive 6-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Brandon Tanev will draw back into Utah's lineup on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings, resulting in Yamamoto being a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Yamamoto has seven points (3G / 4A) in 22 games this season.
Tanev has been a healthy scratch for the past few games, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 34-year-old Tanev has remained an effective agitator with 69 hits this season, but is pacing for the worst offensive totals of his career, with only one point (0G / 1A) through 27 games. Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Tanev's return.
Smith was a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators, where he spent the most productive of his 14 seasons. The 36-year-old most recently played for the Detroit Red Wings to end the 2024-25 season. He ends his career just short of the 1000-game milestone, with 452 points (220G / 232A) in 987 games.
Cooley missed Utah's most recent game and will remain out of the lineup indefinitely, recovering from a lower-body injury. The 21-year-old Cooley had been held off the scoresheet in four straight games. He has a solid 23 points (14G / 9A) in 29 games this season, but has benefitted from a few big-game performances, resulting in him being held without a point in 15 games.
Brayden Pachal will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres, resulting in Bean being a scratch due to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Bean has two points (1G / 1A) and is averaging 15:57 time-on-ice in 16 games this season.
Jake Bean will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Pachal to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Pachal is averaging 13:32 time-on-ice and has three assists in 20 games this season.
Lyubushkin did not play in the Stars' most recent game, and he will miss at least two more due to an undisclosed injury. The 31-year-old Lyubushkin has already missed a multi-game stint this season due to injury. He has five assists, 41 blocks, and 30 hits in 21 games this season.
Harley has not played since November 13th, and few details have been revealed about his injury, but he was back at practice on Friday could return to the lineup on the team's upcoming two-game road trip. The 24-year-old Harley was battling the injury before being sidelined, resulting in a lackluster start to the season, with 10 points (1G / 9A) and a -7 plus/minus in 18 games.
Tampa Bay is hoping to welcome the talents of Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point back into their lineup on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, resulting in Douglas being a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Douglas is playing his first NHL season and has two assists in 22 games.
James is a sixth-round draft pick from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft that has been effective for Tampa Bay in his first NHL season. The 23-year-old has five points (2G / 3A) and is averaging 12:19 time-on-ice in 19 games this season.
