NHL Player News

Draisaitl (undisclosed) is expected to be in the lineup for Game 1 against the Kings on Monday, Derek Van Diest of NHL.com reported Saturday.

Drasaitl appeared in only three of Edmonton's final 14 games, finishing the 2024-25 regular season with 106 points and a league-leading 52 goals in 71 appearances. He will occupy a top-six role and skate on the first power-play combination versus the Kings in Game 1.

Hyman (undisclosed) is expected to play in Game 1 against the Kings on Monday, per Derek Van Diest of NHL.com on Saturday.

After missing the final three games of the regular season, Hyman will return to a top-six role and a spot on the first power-play unit. The 32-year-old forward produced 27 goals, 44 points and 210 shots on net in 73 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season.

Colton (lower body) missed most of the third period in Saturday's 5-1 win over Dallas in Game 1, Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports reports.

Colton had three hits and one shot on goal in 7:04 of playing time in Saturday's playoff opener. It's unclear if he will be available for Monday's Game 2 matchup versus the Stars. If Colton can't play, Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Miles Wood or Jimmy Vesey could draw into the lineup.

Kupari (concussion) has been medically cleared to return to the lineup, per Murat Ates of The Athletic on Sunday.

Kupari participated fully in Sunday's practice and will need to get into more on-ice sessions with contact before being an option to play. He will likely be a healthy scratch against the Blues on Monday in Game 2. Kupari had five goals, eight points, 53 shots on net, 31 blocked shots and 77 hits in 59 outings during the 2024-25 regular season.

Vilardi (upper body) participated in Sunday's optional practice but won't be available for Game 2 against St. Louis on Monday, Murat Ates of The Athletic reports.

Vilardi missed the final 11 games of the regular season and Saturday's playoff opener, and he hasn't been cleared for contact yet. The 25-year-old forward had 27 goals, 61 points, 130 shots on net and 50 blocked shots across 71 appearances in the 2024-25 regular season.

Shore was recalled from AHL Iowa on Sunday, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.

Shore had one goal, four assists, 41 shots on net, 37 blocked shots and 76 hits across 55 NHL appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. He will probably be a healthy scratch in Game 1 versus Vegas on Sunday.

Johnston notched a power-play assist, two shots on goal, two PIM and a minus-2 rating in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 1.

Johnston chipped in with a helper on Roope Hintz's third-period goal. The 21-year-old Johnston went 20 games without a multi-point performance to end the regular season, earning 12 points and 33 shots on net in that span. He posted a career-high 71 points (33 goals, 38 helpers) in 2024-25, so he'll be a key figure for the Stars' offense. He's also got decent playoff experience for a 21-year-old, having earned 23 points over 39 postseason appearances.

Drury logged an assist in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Stars in Game 1.

Drury set up a Charlie Coyle goal late in the third period. With a goal and four assists over his last 11 contests, Drury is proving capable of adding some secondary scoring. He saw extra ice time late in the regular season but was back in a fourth-line role for the playoff opener. Drury combined for 18 points, 93 shots on net, 45 hits and 50 blocked shots over 72 appearances between Colorado and Carolina in the regular season.

Necas logged an assist and four hits in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Stars in Game 1.

Necas has a helper in three straight contests. The 26-year-old Necas will be a focal point in this series, as he plays against the player the Avalanche traded away to acquire him in Mikko Rantanen, with both forwards featuring in similar roles. Necas put up a career year in the regular season, earning 27 goals, 56 assists, 194 shots on net, 62 hits and a plus-5 rating over 79 appearances. Necas' offensive success in the playoffs will likely correlate with Nathan MacKinnon's production as long as the two stick together on the top line.

Coyle scored a goal in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Stars in Game 1.

Coyle scored 11 seconds after Nathan MacKinnon put away an empty-netter. The 33-year-old Coyle enters the postseason as the Avalanche's third-line center, though a spot on the second power-play unit should help his offense. The center had 35 points (17 goals, 18 helpers) over 83 regular-season appearances between Colorado and Boston, though he earned 13 of those points in 19 games with the Avalanche. He can still be impactful in a depth role.