NHL Hockey Player News

Walman last appeared in a Sharks' jersey on December 21st due to a lower-body injury and skated on Tuesday with the team but will remain out as they take on the Vegas Golden Knights. It was a positive sign for the 28-year-old defensemen who could possibly return when San Jose takes on Utah on Friday. In 31 games with the Sharks this season, he leads all defenders on the team with five goals, 25 points and 80 SOG.

Originally slated to return on Colorado's upcoming three-game road trip, Nichushkin has been ruled out for those games by head coach Jared Bednar. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Wilsby has not played since December 30th due to a lower-body injury, missing three games, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old Wilsby has played well in his first NHL season, averaging 18:43 time-on-ice and scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 15 games.

McCabe played 7:12 TOI in Sunday's victory over the Philadelphia Flyers before getting injured in a fight with Garnet Hathaway. McCabe has been a steadying force on Toronto's blue line this season and will be out of the lineup indefinitely with an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old McCabe is averaging 20:52 time-on-ice and has 11 points (1G / 10A), 68 blocks, and 72 hits in 36 games this season.

Novak has not played since December 31st, missing two games, but will likely return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 27-year-old Novak only has nine points (5G / 4A) in 31 games after scoring 45 (18G / 27A) in 71 games last season.

Faulk played a season-low 16:16 time-on-ice in last Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks has not played since but should return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 32-year-old Faulk is averaging 23:27 time-on-ice and has 13 points (2G / 11A) in 37 games this season. He also been active on the Blues' second powerplay unit.

Daccord has been activated from Injured Reserve and Ales Stezka has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL), indicating that Daccord will likely return to the crease shortly. Daccord has not played since December 22nd and had lost four straight outings (0-3-1) despite having a strong 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.51 GAA and .912 SV% in 23 games (12-9-2).

Miller exited Saturday's game after taking a puck to the throat and has since been diagnosed with a fractured larynx that will keep him out of the lineup for at least two weeks. The 32-year-old Miller was averaging 13:58 time-on-ice and had eight points (2G / 6A) in 34 games before his injury.

Shesterkin has been sidelined since December 31st and is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve at any time. A byproduct of poor team play, Shesterkin has struggled this season, posting an uncharacteristic 3.10 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games (11-15-1). Jonathan Quick will start for the third time in four games since Shesterkin's absence.

Middleton has not played since December 12th, missing 11 consecutive games, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Middleton was averaging a career-high 20:36 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (5G / 8A), 76 blocks, and 42 hits in 29 games this season.

Bernard-Docker left practice early on Monday after suffering a high-ankle sprain. He needed assistance leaving the ice and will be out of the lineup until late February at the earliest. The 24-year-old Bernard-Docker was averaging 13:06 time-on-ice and had four points (1G / 3A) in 25 games before his injury.

George exited the Islanders' January 2nd 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs after only 8:07 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury and has not played since. The 20-year-old George is averaging 16:38 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 25 games this season.

Gaudreau joined Mats Zuccarello as Minnesota players to miss practice due to an illness on Monday, but both are expected to play on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 31-year-old Gaudreau has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 40 games this season but has only one point is his last 11 (0G / 1A).

Zuccarello showed no signs of illness in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, recording three points (2G / 1A), but was not available for practice on Monday. The 37-year-old Zuccarello is having another great season, scoring 25 points (10G / 15A) in 27 games.

Reilly has not played since the beginning of November, first missing time due to a concussion, and subsequently being out after underdoing a heart procedure in mid-November. Before his injury, the 31-year-old Reilly had played 11 games, averaging 15:45 time-on-ice. There is no timeline for his return.

Holmstrom has not played since December 29th, missing the last three games due to an upper-body injury. The 23-year-old Holmstrom has 22 points (9G / 13A) in 37 games this season and has been one of the top offensive contributors for the Islanders lately. He has 12 points (6G / 6A) in his last 14 games.

Kreider did not play on Sunday and will be out of the lineup until at least January 14th against the Colorado Avalanche. The 33-year-old Kreider has struggled this season with only 15 points (13G / 2A) in 34 games but was playing better lately, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in three games before his injury.

The Avalanche travel to Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively, meaning Nichushkin should return by the weekend at the latest. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Mikkola has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on December 23rd, and will now miss his fifth straight game. The 28-year-old Mikkola has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 36 games this season.