NHL Player News

Wennberg pocketed two assists in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens.

The veteran center recorded his first points in three games since play resumed after the 4 Nations Face-Off. Wennberg hadn't produced a multi-point performance since Nov. 21, and on the season he's managed eight goals and 25 points in 55 appearances. If 19-year-old linemate Will Smith keeps heating up though, Wennberg could be positioned to take advantage.

Smith scored a goal and added an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens.

The fourth overall pick in the 2023 Draft produced his first multi-point performance since Jan. 20, helping to set up Fabian Zetterlund early in the first period before snapping home a tally of his own late in the second. Smith is coming into his own, racking up three goals and 11 points over the last 12 games with an impressive plus-8 rating for a Sharks team that has only one win during that span.

LaBate notched an assist and blocked three shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Red Wings.

LaBate looked to be a career AHL player until the Blue Jackets signed him to a two-way deal in November. He's been with the big club since the 4 Nations Face-Off ended, and he's now earned his first NHL helper when he assisted on Sean Kuraly's go-ahead goal in the second period Thursday. LaBate's only previous NHL experience came in the 2016-17 campaign with the Canucks, when he logged 13 appearances. He's unlikely to make much of a scoring impact from the fourth line, but he plays a heavy game and will help bolster the Blue Jackets' depth until some of their injured forwards can return.

Kuraly scored a goal on three shots and added two PIM in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Red Wings.

The Blue Jackets' fourth line of Kuraly, James van Riemsdyk and Joseph LaBate combined for three goals and four points in the contest. Kuraly has gotten on the scoresheet in each of the last two games (one goal, one assist) after enduring a stretch in which he had just two points across 23 outings. For the season, the center has 13 points, 56 shots on net, 127 hits and a plus-1 rating through 59 appearances, so he's still a poor option in most fantasy formats.

Motte played in his third straight game in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Motte is filling in for Michael Rasmussen (upper body). The 29-year-old Motte has had his own injury issues at times this season, though he's no lock for the lineup even when healthy. He's at four points, 37 shots on net, 43 hits and a minus-12 rating across 32 appearances. Motte has never earned a 20-point campaign and has virtually no chance to get there in 2024-25, so he's not a fantasy option in the vast majority of formats.

Beecher's point drought reached 13 games in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Islanders.

During that stretch, Beecher has seven shots on net, eight PIM, a minus-6 rating, 10 hits and 11 blocked shots. He's filling a bottom-six role, so the lack of offense isn't a total surprise, but he can do better than he has lately. Overall, Beecher is at nine points, 34 shots on net, 64 hits, 51 blocks and a minus-7 rating through 58 appearances.

Smith logged an assist in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Golden Knights.

Smith has two goals and an assist over seven games since he returned from a back injury. The 35-year-old winger is firmly in a fourth-line role for the Blackhawks, so his chances to contribute on offense will be limited. He's up to 14 points, 71 shots on net and a minus-9 rating across 37 appearances this season, which is a better per-game pace than last season when he had 20 points over 75 regular-season games with the Stars.

Donato logged an assist, two shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Golden Knights.

Donato moved back up to the top line Thursday, but his helper was on defenseman Ethan Del Mastro's first career NHL goal. This was Donato's third straight game with an assist, and he racked up four goals and seven assists over eight outings in February. The 28-year-old forward is up to the 40-point mark for the first time in his career, adding 129 shots on net, 94 hits and a minus-11 rating through 57 appearances. The trade deadline is a week away, and Donato has emerged as a top target for contenders because of his $1 million cap hit, but it's unclear if the Blackhawks will choose to move him or extend him at this point.

Teravainen logged an assist, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Golden Knights.

Teravainen has two goals and seven assists over his last seven games, recording at least one point in six of those contests. The 30-year-old winger's consistency lately is impressive considering he's been on the second line instead of alongside Connor Bedard, who has been Chicago's engine on offense. Teravainen is up to 13 goals, 30 helpers, 89 shots on net and a minus-15 rating through 59 outings overall.

Nazar notched two assists, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Golden Knights.

Nazar continues to settle into a middle-six role at the NHL level. He ended up with a goal and five helpers over eight contests in February, primarily from a third-line assignment. He could be due to move up to the second line if Nick Foligno (undisclosed) misses time following his early exit Thursday. Nazar now has 14 points, 46 shots on net and a minus-6 rating over 30 appearances this season.