NHL Player News

Tavares (lower body) will return to the lineup in Edmonton on Saturday. according to David Alter of The Hockey News.

Tavares has missed the last six games and will regain his spot on the second line, between William Nylander and Max Pacioretty. Tavares has 20 goals and 22 assists in 44 NHL games this season, including seven goals and nine points on the power play.

Cirelli (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision versus the Islanders on Saturday, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cirelli has 19 goals and 39 points in 49 games and is just six points shy of his career high, set last season. Should Cirelli not be able to go, look for Michael Eyssimont to rejoin the lineup.

The Stars put Seguin (leg/hip) on long-term injured reserve Saturday, according to Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine.

Seguin could return in early April if everything works out, as he was deemed to be out of action for 4-6 months after his surgery Dec. 5. The Stars will gain valuable salary relief, as Nils Lundkvist had season-ending shoulder surgery and was also placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday.

Gaucher was recalled from AHL Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

With Owen Tippett (undisclosed) day-to-day, Gaucher will provide the Flyers with a spare forward for the team's two-game road trip. Gaucher has 14 goals and 27 points across 44 AHL games this season. He could be the 13th forward when the Flyers are in Colorado on Sunday.

Goncalves was called up from AHL Syracuse on Saturday.

Goncalves was returned to Syracuse on Friday in what turned out to be a paper move to reduce the Lightning's salary cap. Goncalves had an assist Thursday in a 3-0 win over LA. Look for Goncalves to see bottom-six minutes against the Islanders on Saturday, while Michael Eyssimont could be a healthy scratch if Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) is available to play.

Kulich recorded two goals, two shots and four PIM in Friday's 4-3 win over the Predators.

Kulich is going through a very productive stretch both as a scorer and playmaker, and the 20-year-old continues to show he has a bright future in the NHL every time he steps on the ice. This two-goal effort extended his point streak to three games, and he's notched seven points (four goals, three assists) over his last five appearances. The 20-year-old Czech native has 11 goals and 16 total points in 37 regular-season contests so far.

McBain failed to record a point over 14 games in January, adding a minus-7 rating, 16 shots on net and 60 hits.

McBain has largely played as a winger this season, but he's been at center more often than not over the last two weeks. The 25-year-old's month-long slump has him stuck at 15 points through 51 appearances, but his spot in the lineup should be safe while Utah is missing Logan Cooley (lower body) and Dylan Guenther (lower body). McBain has added 54 shots on net, 49 PIM, 179 hits and 35 blocked shots this season -- he's a decent source of physicality for fantasy managers in deep formats who don't need to prioritize offense.

Hayton notched a power-play assist, four shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Friday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets.

Logan Cooley (lower body) is out indefinitely, but at least for now, Hayton will remain in a second-line role rather than moving up to center the top line. Hayton held his own on the second line in January with 11 points over 14 contests to get his season back on track. Overall, the 24-year-old center has 27 points (three on the power play), 86 shots on net, 27 blocked shots, 25 PIM and a plus-5 rating through 51 appearances.

Keller logged two assists, including one on the power play, and six shots on goal in Friday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets.

Keller had the secondary helper on tallies by linemates Nick Schmaltz and Alex Kerfoot. Following news of Logan Cooley (lower body) being out indefinitely, Keller will return to being the focal point of Utah's offense, though that's familiar territory for the 26-year-old winger. Keller has 18 goals, 38 helpers, 127 shots on net and a minus-2 rating across 50 appearances this season and should continue to return solid scoring numbers.

Kerfoot scored a goal on two shots in Friday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets.

Logan Cooley (lower body) was ruled out indefinitely earlier in the day, and it was Kerfoot who got the promotion to the top line over Barrett Hayton. Kerfoot responded with a goal in his first game between Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. That tally ended an 11-game point drought for Kerfoot. He's a versatile forward who can fill just about any role, but Utah's offense has been strong enough to keep the 30-year-old in a bottom-six capacity for much of 2024-25. He's racked up seven goals, 16 points, 63 shots on net, 40 blocked shots, 26 hits and a minus-6 rating over 51 appearances.