NHL Player News

Cirelli (upper body) remains out of the lineup Sunday against the Canucks, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.

Cirelli will miss a fourth consecutive game as he battles an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in 14 games with a plus-6 rating this season as a valuable part of the Lightning's forward group. His next chance to play will be Tuesday against the Devils.

Helenius did not suit up in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Senators on Saturday, the 17th time he's been scratched in the Kings' first 19 games.

Helenius' last appearance was Oct. 18 versus the Hurricanes. Head coach Jim Hiller typically doesn't adjust his lineup a whole lot, and the Kings are carrying 14 forwards. That makes it an uphill battle for Helenius to draw in when the team is healthy, which it is at forward. The 22-year-old will offer some physicality when he plays, but there's no telling when that will happen.

Evans scored a shorthanded goal, added two PIM and doled out three hits in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Bruins.

Evans has two goals and an assist over his last five games. The 29-year-old could be poised for more ice time in the near future as Alex Newhook (ankle) is out for four months and Kirby Dach (foot) is set to miss at least six weeks, depleting the Canadiens' options at center. Evans is at five points, 22 shots on net, 24 hits, 17 blocked shots, 12 PIM and a minus-11 rating over 18 appearances. He doesn't have a ton of offense in his game, but he's strong enough as a two-way forward to handle second-line minutes if necessary.

Khusnutdinov scored a goal in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Canadiens.

Khusnutdinov continues to grow more comfortable in a top-six role. He has two goals and two assists over his last six contests. His ice time isn't up among the Bruins' leaders among forwards, but he's playing a valuable role while Elias Lindholm (lower body) and Casey Mittelstadt (lower body) are out. For the season, Khusnutdinov has six points, 17 shots on net and an even plus-minus rating over 15 games. He's worth a look in deeper fantasy formats while seeing time on a line with David Pastrnak.

McLeod scored a shorthanded goal on two shots in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win over the Red Wings.

McLeod had been limited to just one assist over his previous seven games. The 26-year-old center came up clutch while killing a penalty in the third period, tying the game and ultimately forcing overtime, where Mattias Samuelsson lifted the Sabres to a comeback win. McLeod is up to four goals, including two shorties, as well as five assists, 22 shots on net and a minus-4 rating over 18 appearances. He remains a key part of the Sabres' top six and sees ice time in all situations.

Nazar logged an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs.

Nazar missed two games with an abdominal injury, but he returned with 18:54 of ice time in his usual second-line role. The 21-year-old center set up a Teuvo Teravainen goal in the third period, which tied the game at 2-2. Prior to the injury, Nazar was in a five-game point drought. He's up to 12 points, 33 shots on net, 18 blocked shots, 11 hits and a plus-3 rating over 16 appearances. He's still young, so there will be some ups and downs, but he looks poised to be one of the league's breakout players in 2025-26.

Greene scored a goal in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs.

Greene ended a five-game point drought with the tally. The 22-year-old has been featuring as a top-line option at even strength while logging at least 15 minutes of ice time in nine straight contests. He has three points in that span and is up to four points, 11 shots on net, eight hits and a plus-4 rating through 18 outings overall. Greene is probably in a little over his head at this point, but the Blackhawks are embracing a youth movement and look interested in giving him a substantial role while other players are out of action.

Staal scored a goal on three shots and went minus-2 in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers.

Staal had been limited to two assists during his 12-game goal drought. The 37-year-old center won't always be a major contributor on offense, but he'll continue to see steady middle-six minutes while providing a physical edge. For the season, he has four goals, two assists, 21 shots on net, 23 PIM, 31 hits and 10 blocked shots over 18 appearances.

Hyman logged an assist, two shots on goal and 11 hits in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Hurricanes.

It's fair to say Hyman was amped up for his season debut as he returned from a wrist injury. The rest of the Oilers totaled just 14 hits as a group, while Hyman was a physical force in his 23:10 of ice time. He's right back on the top line and first power-play unit, so he's in a position to succeed and provide the spark the Oilers have been missing so far. Matt Savoie and Andrew Mangiapane are the most likely players to see their ice time slip now that Hyman is healthy.

Rooney was recalled from AHL Tucson on Sunday.

Rooney has three goals and one assist in six minor-league appearances this campaign. He will accompany the Mammoth on the team's upcoming two-game road trip, which begins in Anaheim on Monday, but it's unclear if he will make his NHL season debut.