NHL Player News

McDonagh notched an assist in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Mammoth.

McDonagh has chipped in two assists over 11 games this season. The veteran defenseman also has seven shots on net, four hits, 12 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating. The 37-year-old isn't in the power-play mix, and he's averaging just 16:05 of ice time, a reduction of more than three minutes per game compared to last year. That'll make it tougher for him to provide production across the board, though he can still be a good source of blocks and a plus-minus stabilizer in deeper formats.

Cernak notched an assist and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Mammoth.

Through 11 outings, Cernak has two helpers, 15 shots on net, 23 hits, 17 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating. The 29-year-old defenseman is looking to bounce back from a career-worst output of 11 points in 61 regular-season contests in 2025-26. The year before, he set a personal best with 21 points over 76 regular-season games. Cernak's potential lies in the middle of those marks, though his fantasy value is highest in banger leagues, assuming he doesn't overdo it and end up getting injured.

Simashev scored twice on three shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win over the Lightning.

It took Simashev 40 games to net the first goal of his NHL career, which came at 17:02 of the second period to tie the game at 4-4. He didn't wait nearly as long for the second tally, which was the game-winner 1:44 into overtime. Simashev ended a six-game point drought with this unexpected burst of offense. The 21-year-old defenseman now has four points, 14 shots on net, 19 hits, eight blocked shots and a minus-1 rating over 12 outings in a third-pairing role. Simashev will have to earn his way up the lineup, but he should have some confidence moving forward.

Struble scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Penguins.

This was Struble's first point with the Predators since he was dealt from the Canadiens earlier in October. The 25-year-old defenseman has received a steady spot in the lineup in Nashville, though he could be pushed by another newcomer in Daemon Hunt, who was claimed off waivers Saturday. Struble has one goal, three shots on net, 25 hits, nine blocked shots and a minus-4 rating over six appearances this season.

Bouchard delivered two assists, including one on the power play, in a 7-2 loss to Toronto on Saturday.

He fired three shots, blocked three and delivered one hit. Bouchard has exploded out of the blocks this season, and he sits third in the NHL with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists). He's also third overall in helpers. Bouchard is on an eight-game, 13-point scoring streak that includes 10 assists. Half of those assists have come with the man advantage. And he has 21 shots in that span. Bouchard can't possibly keep this heat up -- he's on a 160-point pace. Bobby Orr holds the record for the most points by a defender in a single-season, pouring in a whopping 139 points (37 goals, 102 assists) in 78 games in 1970-71. Bouchard is no Orr, and he's no Paul Coffey, either -- the latter came within one point of tying Orr in 1985-86. But this sure is fun, especially as teammate Connor McDavid continues to roar toward Wayne Gretzky's single-season point record (215).

Luneau scored his first goal of the season on two shots and added two assists, two blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Flyers.

The 22-year-old blueliner helped set up a pair of tallies in the second period as Anaheim tied the score at 3-3, before Luneau snuck a puck under Joseph Woll's armpit two minutes into the final frame to give his team its first lead of the afternoon. The three-point performance was a career high for Luneau, and through 11 games to begin his first full season in the NHL he's produced five points, 16 blocked shots, nine shots on net and a plus-1 rating.

Stecher scored a goal in Saturday's 7-2 win or loss against Edmonton.

Stecher now has a goal in each of his last two games; this one came against his former squad. The Leafs plucked the defender off the waiver wire last season after the Oilers tried to move him to the AHL. Stecher isn't really a fantasy guy -- his best category is typically blocks. He had 79 in 64 games last season and has 15 so far this year. But he's having a sweet little run right now.

Harding scored a goal and added two assists in AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 3-2 win over Hartford on Saturday.

Harding had just one assist over his first six games of the season. The defenseman did fine last year as an AHL rookie, earning 22 points over 54 regular-season contests. A seventh-round pick in 2024, he's not likely to be a strong source of offense at any level of professional hockey.

Hedman (lower body) won't play Saturday versus the Mammoth.

Hedman is considered day-to-day at this time. The Lightning are poised to go with six defensemen in the lineup, also scratching Max Crozier. Look for increased duties for Charle-Edouard D'Astous in Saturday's contest.

Dillon had four hits in 14:51 of ice time in a 3-1 win over the Kings on Saturday.

He was nicked with three giveaways on the official scoresheet. Dillon watched from the press box for five games before Saturday. The 35-year-old defender is in the sunset of his career. He has played 1,062 NHL regular-season games, delivering 42 goals and 185 assists. This could be his last chance at a Stanley Cup after competing in the 2016 championship with the Sharks. San Jose lost to Sidney Crosby and the Penguins that year.