NHL Player News

Matthews underwent successful MCL knee repair surgery Thursday.

Matthews had already been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a Grade 3 MCL tear and quadriceps contusion, and he has a recovery timetable of approximately 12 weeks following Thursday's procedure. The 28-year-old finished his 2025-26 campaign with 27 goals, 26 assists, 81 blocked shots, 42 hits and 18 PIM while averaging 20:48 of ice time. Given his return timetable, it seems unlikely that Matthews will be an option for Team USA at the IIHF World Championship, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him available for training camp ahead of the 2026-27 NHL campaign.

Stenlund will be a game-time decision Thursday versus Vegas, per Brogan Houston of the Deseret News.

Stenlund has four goals and 15 points in 66 outings with Utah in 2025-26. He missed Monday's 6-3 win over Dallas because of the injury.

Kindel scored a goal on two shots in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Hurricanes.

Kindel has scored twice over his last four games. The rookie center is up to 17 goals, 32 points, 131 shots on net, 51 blocked shots, 27 hits and a minus-9 rating through 65 appearances. Expect Kindel to play in a third-line role moving forward since Sidney Crosby (lower body) is back in action.

Miller posted an assist and two PIM in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Devils.

Miller's helper was his first point in three games since he returned from an upper-body injury that cost him five contests. The veteran forward is up to 39 points, 116 shots on net, 106 hits, 20 PIM and a minus-26 rating through 54 outings this season. Miller should continue to see top-six minutes.

Zibanejad scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged three hits in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Devils.

Zibanejad has four goals and seven assists over nine outings in March. He continues to play well this season despite the Rangers' overall lackluster results. The 32-year-old is up to 28 goals, 64 points, 176 shots on net, 89 hits, 45 blocked shots and a minus-20 rating through 67 appearances in a top-six role.

Draisaitl (lower body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Thursday.

Draisaitl sustained the injury in Sunday's matchup against Nashville, and the Oilers announced Tuesday that he would miss the remainder of the regular season. He had 35 goals and 62 assists, including 42 points on the power play, over 65 games. The Oilers recalled Roby Jarventie from AHL Bakersfield on an emergency basis in a corresponding move.

Copp (leg) will be a game-time decision versus Montreal on Thursday, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports.

Copp was injured March 10 in Florida and was supposed to be out at least two weeks. The center has eight goals, 37 points and 94 shots on goal over 65 games with the Red Wings this season. Should Copp return to the lineup, look for Sheldon Dries to be the odd-man out.

Laba (lower body) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Columbus, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.

Laba suffered a lower-body injury during Wednesday's game against the Devils, and he'll be unavailable for the second half of the back-to-back set. Jonny Brodzinski and Juuso Parssinen are candidates to enter the lineup Thursday, while Laba's next opportunity to suit up will be Sunday against the Jets.

Hischier produced a goal and an assist, both on the power play, in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

The 27-year-old center got the Devils on the board late in the first period before helping to set up a Connor Brown tally in the second. Hischier has been running hot and cold in March, recording three multi-point performances in the last seven games but also getting held off the scoresheet completely three times. On the season, he's up to 24 goals and 52 points in 68 contest, and Hischier needs one more power-play point to reach 20 for the second straight campaign.

Hughes produced a goal and two assists, one on the power play, in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

It was the second straight three-point performance for the 24-year-old center, who continues to shine since returning to the Devils as an Olympic hero. Over 11 games since the NHL schedule resumed, Hughes has piled up six goals and 18 points, including two goals and four assists with the man advantage.