NHL Player News
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Nate Schmidt D | UTA
Mammoth's Nate Schmidt: Sparks comeback effort
Schmidt scored a goal, blocked two shots and added two PIM in Sunday's 5-4 overtime win over the Penguins.
Schmidt's goal sparked a stretch of four tallies in 5:59 for the Mammoth. This ended a six-game slump for the defenseman, who has been seeing top-four minutes lately. He's at two goals, 12 points, 39 shots on net, 37 hits, 34 blocked shots and a plus-9 rating over 34 appearances in his first year for Utah.
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Vladislav Kolyachonok D | BOS
Stars' Vladislav Kolyachonok: Waived by Dallas
Kolyachonok was placed on waivers by the Stars on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Kolyachonok had been with Dallas since mid-November, and he recorded a goal, two assists, 10 blocked shots, five hits and four PIM while averaging 12:37 of ice time over 11 appearances with the NHL club. He'll head to AHL Texas if he goes unclaimed on waivers and should see a more consistent role in the minors.
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Christopher Tanev D | TOR
Maple Leafs' Chris Tanev: Sporting regular sweater
Tanev (upper body) practiced in a regular jersey Monday, Claire Hanna of TSN reports, indicating he's been cleared for contact.
Tanev may be hard-pressed to immediately return to the lineup versus the Blackhawks on Tuesday, but he certainly seems to be trending in the right direction. In his eight outings this year, the veteran blueliner has notched two assists, eight blocked shots and six shots on net. While the Toronto native generates plenty of blocks, he doesn't offer enough physicality or offensive upside to be more than a low-end fantasy target.
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Dylan Coghlan D | LV
Golden Knights' Dylan Coghlan: Sent down Monday
Coghlan was assigned to AHL Henderson on Monday.
Coghlan spent the past week with the Golden Knights, but he didn't appear in any games during his time with the NHL club. He should have more consistent opportunities for playing time with the Silver Knights.
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Nils Lundkvist D | DAL
Stars' Nils Lundkvist : Good to go
Lundkvist (illness) will be in the lineup against the Kings on Monday, Brien Rea of Victory+ reports.
After missing the last two games, Lundkvist will replace Kyle Capobianco in Monday's lineup. The 25-year-old Lundkvist has one goal, two assists, three shots on net, seven blocked shots and five hits through six appearances this season.
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Emil Martinsen Lilleberg D | TB
Lightning's Emil Lilleberg: Set for extended absence
Lilleberg (undisclosed) was labeled as week-to-week by head coach Jon Cooper, who told reporters Monday he was hoping to have the defenseman back before the Olympic break, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Considering the Olympic break isn't until February, it certainly doesn't sound like Lilleberg is going to be back anytime soon. With just three points in his last 15 outings, the blueliner doesn't offer much in the way of offensive productivity, though he did chip in 33 hits and 19 blocks over that stretch. Lilleberg's extended absence will open up a spot on the blue line for Steve Santini until Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed) is ready to come off of injured reserve.
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Ryan McDonagh D | TB
Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Considered day-to-day
McDonagh (undisclosed) is day-to-day, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports Monday.
McDonagh remains on injured reserve and will miss his 18th straight game against Florida on Monday. However, he appears to be progressing toward a return to the lineup. McDonagh has collected three goals, six points, 15 shots on net, 26 blocked shots and eight hits through 15 appearances this season.
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Brett Kulak D | PIT
Penguins' Brett Kulak: Activated from non-roster list
Kulak (not injured related) was added to the active roster Monday.
After being acquired by Pittsburgh from Edmonton on Friday, Kulak sat out two straight games as a non-roster player while he settled his immigration paperwork. Now that he has received clearance, he should be available to make his Pittsburgh debut against his former team when the Penguins host the Oilers on Tuesday. Kulak has two assists, 33 shots on goal and 38 blocked shots in 31 appearances this season.
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Luke Hughes D | NJ
Devils' Luke Hughes: Lights lamp in loss
Hughes scored a goal and fired five shots on net in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Vancouver.
While Sunday's contest was circled on the calendar to be a showdown between Luke and his brother Quinn Hughes before the latter was traded to Minnesota two days prior, Luke ensured that a Hughes brother found the scoresheet with his goal in the second period. He is up to three goals, 18 points, 77 shots on net and 26 blocked shots through 33 games this season. Despite New Jersey's recent struggles, the 22-year-old blueliner has played well offensively with four points and 15 shots on goal in his last five games. The third-year defenseman was also given the keys to New Jersey's power play, even with Dougie Hamilton healthy. Hughes is on track to reach the 40-point mark for the third consecutive year, and his solid category coverage, to go along with his above-average offensive play from the blue line, gives him good value in most fantasy formats.
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Sean Durzi D | UTA
Mammoth's Sean Durzi: Scores first goal of season
Durzi scored a goal, took two shots and blocked two shots in Sunday's 5-4 overtime win over the Penguins.
Durzi has cracked the scoresheet in two of the Mammoth's last three games, as he also delivered an assist in the 4-3 loss to the Panthers on Wednesday. Despite the strong play of late, he's not a defenseman who tends to get involved much on offense, so his fantasy upside remains fairly low across all formats.