NHL Hockey Player News

Urho Vaakanainen (undisclosed) will exit the lineup due to injury, allowing Helleson to make his season debut. Helleson was the second-round pick, 47th overall, of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut with the Ducks in the 2022-23 season, playing three games, but has played exclusively in the AHL since.

Albert Johansson will draw back into the Red Wings lineup on Friday, sending Holl to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Holl is averaging 15:58 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A), 13 blocks, and five hits in 10 games this season.

Justin Holl will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Johansson to re-enter the lineup for the first time since November 8th. The 23-year-old Johansson, in his first NHL season, is averaging 14:19 time-on-ice and has zero points in seven games.

Lars Eller will make his 2024-25 debut with the Capitals on Friday, resulting in Lapierre being a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Lapierre is averaging 10:25 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games this season.

After being acquired from the Penguins on Tuesday night, Eller is expected to make he second debut with the Capitals on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. Before the trade, the 35-year-old Eller had seven points (4G / 3A) in 17 games with the Penguins. Hendrix Lapierre will draw out of the lineup.

Nichushkin was suspended for six months in May and will make his season debut on Friday, his first day of eligibility. Off-ice issues aside, Nichushkin has been dynamite in his last three seasons with the Avalanche, scoring 152 points (70G / 82A) in 169 games, and he will provide an offensive boost to an injury-depleted team upon his return to the lineup. Nichushkin is expected to play on a line with Jonathan Drouin and Casey Mittelstadt.

Jake Bean will draw into the Flames lineup on Friday, replacing Barrie after playing two straight. The 33-year-old Barrie is averaging 15:20 time-on-ice an has two points (1G / 1A) in nine games this season.

Tyson Barrie will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Bean to return to the lineup. The 26-year-old Bean is averaging 15:34 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in eight games.

Blake Lizotte (concussion) will not play on Friday, allowing Nieto to draw into the lineup for his season debut. Nieto started the 2024-25 season on a conditioning loan after returning from a knee injury. He score one point (1G / 0A) in two games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, his first stop in the AHL since the 2013-14 season.

With Kris Letang battling an illness, St. Ivany will return to the lineup on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 16:02 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 14 games this season.

Perron has not played since the fifth game of the season, missing 11 straight due to persona reasons, but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 36-year-old Perron was having trouble establishing himself in the early part of the season, scoring zero points and recording a -4 plus/minus through five games of playing predominantly on the third line.

Jordan Harris will draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup on Friday, resulting in Johnson being a healthy scratch. Before Friday, Johnson had played all but one of 15 games for the Blue Jackets this season, averaging 14:58 time-on-ice, recording one assist and a -3 plus/minus.