NHL Player News
-
Jake Guentzel C | TB
Lightning's Jake Guentzel: Absent from lineup
Guentzel (rest) won't play Wednesday versus the Rangers, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Guentzel will sit out the regular-season finale, ending the campaign with 38 goals and 88 points over 81 appearances. The 31-year-old winger will be back in a top-six role for the start of the postseason in Game 1 versus the Canadiens.
-
Anthony Cirelli C | TB
Lightning's Anthony Cirelli: Resting Wednesday
Cirelli is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Rangers, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cirelli will get some rest in the regular-season finale. He ends the regular season with 52 points in 71 outings. He should be in a top-six role for Game 1 of the postseason against the Canadiens.
-
Sam Bennett C | FLA
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Out again Wednesday
Bennett (lower body) won't play Wednesday versus the Red Wings, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Bennett will finish the season on the shelf, missing three straight games. His status for the start of the 2026-27 campaign isn't known yet, but he should be fine if he doesn't need to get surgery. He had a career year offensively in 2025-26 with 58 points in 76 outings.
-
Carter Verhaeghe C | FLA
Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe: Still out for finale
Verhaeghe (lower body) won't play Wednesday versus the Red Wings, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Verhaeghe will miss his third straight game to conclude the 2025-26 campaign. He ends with 25 goals and 55 points over 77 outings. The nature and extent of his injury are unclear, but if he avoids surgery, he should be good for the start of 2026-27.
-
Conor Geekie C | TB
Lightning's Conor Geekie: Sent down to AHL
Geekie was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Wednesday, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Geekie saw action in 14 games for the Lightning this year, registering one goal, two assists and 10 shots while averaging 9:54 of ice time. With Geekie headed down to the minors, the club brought up Jakob Pelletier and Mitchell Chaffee for Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Rangers. Still, this likely won't be the last time Geekie shifts between levels.
-
Liam Foudy C | NYI
Islanders' Liam Foudy: Sent to AHL
Foudy was reassigned to AHL Bridgeport on Wednesday, per Andrew Gross of Newsday.
Foudy recorded one shot, one hit and one block in 11:17 of ice time in the Islanders' 2-1 loss to Carolina on Tuesday. It was his lone NHL game of 2025-26, but he's also recorded 25 goals and 46 points in 58 outings with Bridgeport this season. Foudy will shift his focus to helping Bridgeport in the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs.
-
Calum Ritchie C | NYI
Islanders' Calum Ritchie: Moved to the minors
Ritchie was reassigned to AHL Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Ritchie played in 65 regular-season games this year in which he notched 13 goals and 17 assists, including 11 power-play points. While the 21-year-old forward will finish the season in the minors, he will likely be a full-time NHL player in the 2026-27 campaign and should be capable of improving upon his statistics.
-
Martin Necas C | COL
Avalanche's Martin Necas: Secures 100-point season
Necas notched an assist, five shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Flames.
Necas' helper was the 100th point of his season. He's earned 19 points over his last 14 contests as he continues to provide steady offense in a top-line role. Overall, Necas is at 38 goals, 62 helpers, 206 shots on net, a plus-47 rating, 85 hits and 30 PIM through 78 appearances. He should be a top option in playoff pools this spring.