NHL Player News

Eller (illness) was removed from injured reserve Sunday, per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News.

Washington assigned Hendrix Lapierre to AHL Hershey in a corresponding move. Eller will likely return to a bottom-six role against Detroit on Sunday after missing the last four games. He has six goals, 13 points, 47 shots on net, 14 blocked shots and 27 hits across 33 appearances between Washington and Pittsburgh this season.

Lapierre was sent down to AHL Hershey on Sunday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Lapierre has appeared in 27 games with the Caps this year, totaling eight assists, though it appears he'll be the odd man out when Lars Eller (illness) returns. Lapierre has been a healthy scratch in two of Washington's last five contests.

Beniers scored a goal on three shots in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win over the Canucks.

Beniers ended a 19-game goal drought with the tally. In that span, he had eight assists and 32 shots on net, which isn't great production for a center in a top-six role. The 22-year-old is at five goals, 14 assists, 65 shots on net, 34 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating over 37 appearances this season.

Scheifele produced a goal and an assist in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Senators.

Both points came in the second period as the Jets erased an early 2-0 deficit. Scheifele has three multi-point performances in the last five games, and through 13 appearances in December, he's compiled 10 goals and 18 points.

Byfield scored two goals, one the overtime winner, and added an assist in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Oilers.

The 22-year-old opened and closed the scoring for the Kings on the afternoon while helping to set up a Warren Foegele tally in between. The three points were a season high for Byfield, who appears to be catching fire -- over the last six games, he's racked up five goals and seven points.

Eriksson Ek (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Sunday, per the NHL media site.

Eriksson Ek will probably occupy a top-six role and see power-play time versus Ottawa on Sunday after missing the last 11 games. He has accounted for five goals, 13 points, 55 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and 38 hits across 22 appearances this season.

Kotkaniemi notched a power-play assist, six hits and two PIM in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Devils.

Kotkaniemi set up Jackson Blake's go-ahead goal in the third period, which stood as the game-winner. The helper ended a five-game dry spell for Kotkaniemi, who has again let a strong start to a campaign fizzle out before the halfway mark. The 24-year-old is at five goals, 11 assists, 56 shots on net, 32 hits, 28 PIM and a plus-3 rating through 36 appearances. This was Kotkaniemi's first power-play point of the campaign and just his third over the last 115 contests.

Tavares scored a goal on six shots and added two hits in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Capitals.

Tavares gave the Maple Leafs a positive start at 3:14 of the first period, but their only lead of the game lasted just 1:32. The 34-year-old center has six goals and six assists during his seven-game point streak. Tavares continues to thrive on the top line in the absence of Auston Matthews (upper body). For the season, Tavares has 18 goals, 19 assists, 110 shots on net, 47 hits and a plus-8 rating through 36 appearances. He's shooting 16.4 percent, his highest mark since 2018-19, so there's a case to be made for selling high on the veteran, but fantasy managers may also want to hold on while he's on a heater.

Wennberg notched a power-play assist and blocked two shots in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Flames.

Wennberg set up Macklin Celebrini for the Sharks' lone goal in the second period. The 30-year-old Wennberg has had a couple of bursts of offense this season, but he's been limited to four points over 12 outings in December. He's at 18 points (seven on the power play), 51 shots on net, 41 blocked shots and a minus-10 rating through 39 contests overall.

Celebrini scored a power-play goal on three shots in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Flames.

Celebrini ended a four-game goal drought with his second-period tally. He hasn't been quiet in that span -- he had four assists over those four games while continuing to excel in a top-six role. The burgeoning superstar is at 12 goals, 27 points (eight on the power play), 90 shots on net and a minus-8 rating through 27 appearances this season. He's already long gone in dynasty and keeper formats, but Celebrini is definitely worth considering in redraft leagues as well.