NHL Player News

Per Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun, Guentzel (upper body) will be a game-time decision Thursday in San Jose, according to coach Jon Cooper.

Guentzel did not play Sunday after he was injured Saturday against the Rangers. The 30-year-old winger has 20 goals and 37 points in 33 outings this season. Should Guentzel not be available against the Sharks, look for Brandon Hagel to move up to the top unit, alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.

Amadio (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per the NHL media site.

Amadio doesn't have an official recovery timeline from the team other than it would be a while, so his placement on IR shouldn't come as a surprise. The move will allow the Senators to activate Artem Zub, who is returning against Dallas on Thursday following a long-term foot injury.

Laczynski was recalled from AHL Henderson on Thursday.

Laczynski was sent to the Silver Knights on Monday, but he'll rejoin the NHL club a few days later. The 27-year-old has made five appearances for Vegas this year, recording two blocked shots and a minus-1 rating while averaging 8:11 of ice time.

Jost (undisclosed) has returned to Carolina to undergo further evaluation, Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal reports Thursday.

The news rules Jost out against the Panthers on Thursday, though fantasy managers will have to wait for a more concrete timeline. In Jost's stead, Juha Jaaska was recalled from the minors and will make his NHL debut versus Florida. For his part, the 26-year-old Jost has been limited to just 16 appearances for the Hurricanes this year, notching two goals, 16 shots and 20 hits while averaging a career-low 10:28 of ice time.

Back signed a two-year, $1.65 million contract extension with Dallas on Thursday.

Back has a goal and nine assists across 31 games this season, his first in the NHL. The 24-year-old is seeing fourth-line duty this season, averaging 11:17 of ice time per game.

Danault logged an assist, two shots on goal and two PIM in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Devils.

Danault earned a helper in his fifth straight game. The 31-year-old center set up Quinton Byfield for a tally just after the Kings killed a penalty midway through the third period. Danault's recent run of playmaking is a return to his familiar supporting level on offense. He's produced three goals, 17 helpers, 56 shots on net, 34 hits, 33 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating through 36 outings this season in a middle-six role.

Byfield scored a goal on two shots, went plus-2 and added two PIM in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Devils.

Byfield continued his improved stretch of play by doubling the Kings' lead to 2-0 in the third period. He has six goals and three assists over his last eight outings. For the season, the 22-year-old center is at nine goals, 20 points, 69 shots on net, 32 hits, 18 PIM and a plus-7 rating through 37 appearances. After a slow start, Byfield is turning things around, so he should be rostered in most fantasy formats.

Gaunce was called up from AHL Iowa on Wednesday.

The Wild needed an extra forward for their two-game road trip after Kirill Kaprizov (lower body) landed on injured reserve. Gaunce has appeared in four NHL games this season, recording three shots on net, four PIM, five hits and a minus-3 rating. He's not guaranteed to be in the lineup against the Capitals on Thursday.

Necas notched a power-play assist and four shots on goal in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Blue Jackets.

Necas' meteoric pace from early in the season dried up in December -- he closed out the calendar year with just two assists over his last nine games. He's 11 games removed from his last goal despite taking 26 shots in that span, which has seen his shooting percentage plummet from 22.2 to 15.7. Necas is at 14 goals, 31 helpers, 20 power-play points, 89 shots on net, 27 hits and a plus-1 rating over 37 appearances. He's talented enough to work out of the slump, but the window to sell high on the 25-year-old appears to be closed.

Kotkaniemi scored a goal and added two hits in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Blue Jackets.

Kotkaniemi put the Hurricanes ahead 3-2 in the second period, but their lone lead of the game didn't last. The 24-year-old was limited to three goals and an assist over 13 outings in December, bouncing between the second and fourth lines. He's mainly played on the second line since Jack Drury (hand) exited the lineup following an injury Dec. 10. Kotkaniemi offers limited upside -- he has 17 points, 57 shots on net, 34 hits, 28 PIM and a plus-4 rating over 37 appearances, putting him at risk of missing the 40-point mark for the second year in a row and the third time in four seasons with Carolina.