NHL Player News

Bedard (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Monday.

Bedard sat out Saturday's 4-0 loss to Detroit after suffering what appeared to be a shoulder injury near the end of Friday's 3-2 loss to St. Louis. He didn't accompany the Blackhawks for the team's upcoming road trip, which begins against Toronto on Tuesday, and it's unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup. The 20-year-old forward has amassed 19 goals, 44 points and 103 shots on net in 31 appearances this season.

Norris notched an assist in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Kraken.

Norris missed the last two games due to an illness and general soreness. He's earned two goals and six assists over his last five outings since he returned from an upper-body injury. The center has serious upside if he can stay healthy, but that has always been a challenge for him.

Ostlund scored a goal in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Kraken.

Ostlund opened the scoring at 17:09 of the first period. The 21-year-old forward had a stint in the AHL earlier in December, but it lasted less than a week after he had a three-point effort in his return to that league. Ostlund was on the third line and saw 12:04 of ice time Sunday, so his role at the NHL level remains limited. He has seven points, 21 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 21 appearances for Buffalo this season.

Thompson scored a goal on four shots in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Kraken.

Thompson has now scored in four straight games and has a total of seven points in that span. The 28-year-old's goal came on a defensive breakdown by the Kraken midway through the second period. Thompson is up to 16 goals, 29 points, 117 shots on net, 36 hits, 17 PIM and a minus-11 rating over 32 appearances in a top-line role this season.

Stephenson scored a power-play goal on two shots and added two hits in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Sabres.

Stephenson has two goals and three helpers during his five-game point streak. Three of those points have come with the man advantage. The veteran center is up to six goals, 17 points, 47 shots on net, 24 blocked shots and a minus-9 rating over 30 appearances this season. He should continue to see playing time in all situations.

Hyman scored a power-play goal on two shots and added two hits in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Canadiens.

Hyman has five goals, including two on the power play, over his last three games. The winger broke up Jakub Dobes' shutout bid at 12:29 of the third period in this contest. Hyman is at seven goals, 11 points, 34 shots on net, 28 hits, eight PIM and a plus-3 rating over 14 appearances this season. He should continue to see ample playing time on the top line and first power-play unit.

Veleno scored a goal and added five hits in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Oilers.

Veleno got on the scoresheet for the second game in a row. That follows a stretch of 10 games without a point. The 25-year-old forward will likely remain limited in his scoring potential in a bottom-six role -- he's most often been on the fourth line this year. He's at three points, 24 shots on net, 63 hits, 18 blocked shots, 13 PIM and a minus-9 rating over 27 appearances so far.

Suzuki scored a power-play goal on two shots and blocked three shots in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Oilers.

Suzuki ended a six-game goal drought with his third-period tally. Over the last 13 games, he's been held off the scoresheet just once, racking up five goals and 11 helpers, with nine of those points coming on the power play. The steady center is up to nine goals, 37 points (18 on the power play), 68 shots on net, 25 hits, 28 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating over 32 appearances. His 13.2 shooting percentage is his lowest mark in four years, so Suzuki could find the twine a bit more moving forward.

Eyssimont logged an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Wild.

Eyssimont was scratched in the previous two games but drew back in for Viktor Arvidsson (lower body) in this contest. The 29-year-old Eyssimont was on a five-game drought before earning a helper Sunday. The forward has 13 points, including four on the power play, while adding 69 shots on net, 23 hits, 17 PIM and a minus-7 rating over 31 appearances. He's likely to stay in a bottom-six role if he's able to maintain his place in the lineup.

Steeves scored a goal on three shots and added five hits in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Wild.

Steeves has dropped back into a bottom-six role now that David Pastrnak is back up to speed after an undisclosed injury. The 26-year-old Steeves had gone three games without a point before breaking up Filip Gustavsson's shutout bid midway through the third period. For the season, Steeves has earned seven goals, two assists, 24 shots on net, 69 hits and a plus-2 rating over 17 appearances.