NHL Player News

Gustafsson (undisclosed) will join Team Sweden for the 2025 IIHF World Chmapionship.

Gustafsson ended the 2024-25 season with 14 straight absences due to his long-term injury. However, it appears he has recovered enough in recent weeks to be back in playing shape. Gustafsson has another year on his contract, so he's expected to be back with the Red Wings in a bottom-four capacity in 2025-26.

Morrissey (upper body) is a game-time decision ahead of Friday's Game 2 versus Dallas, according to John Lu of TSN.

Morrissey was injured in Game 7 versus St. Louis and sat out Game 1 on Wednesday versus the Stars. Morrissey will quarterback the Jets' top power play, should he return Friday. He had three assists in the opening round of the playoffs, after potting 14 goals and adding 48 assists in 80 regular-season games during the 2024-25 campaign.

Stanley (undisclosed) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's Game 2 against the Stars, John Lu of TSN reports.

Head coach Scott Arniel said Thursday that Stanley had "a good skate," but the team will still wait before determining his status for Game 2. Stanley made five appearances during Winnipeg's first-round series against the Blues and was held without a point while recording 10 hits, six blocked shots and 42 PIM.

Pietrangelo (illness) is considered a game-time decision for Thursday's Game 2 against Edmonton, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

The 35-year-old was on the ice for Thursday's morning skate, and head coach Bruce Cassidy said afterward that Pietrangelo has a chance to play in Game 2. However, the Golden Knights will monitor Pietrangelo in the hours leading up to puck drop before determining his status. Over his six appearances in the team's first-round series against the Wild, he logged a goal, two assists, 15 blocked shots, six hits and a plus-2 rating while averaging 22:30 of ice time.

Kovacevic underwent knee surgery Thursday and won't be ready for the start of training camp, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

Kovacevic's timeline hasn't officially ruled him out for Opening Night of the Devils' 2025-26 campaign, but this update certainly doesn't bode well for the blueliner. The Ontario native is coming off a career year in which he set new personal bests in games played (81), assists (16) and points (17). Even if Kovacevic is ready for the start of the season, he may be hard-pressed to push for the 20-point threshold, especially considering he has yet to reach that mark in his career.

Fleury logged an assist, two hits, two blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Stars in Game 1.

Fleury made his third appearance of the playoffs. The 28-year-old will likely stay in the lineup while at least one of Josh Morrissey (upper body) or Logan Stanley (undisclosed) remain out, though Fleury has been steady in limited action and could command playing time even when the Jets are fully healthy again. Fleury has added one shot on net, seven hits, four blocks and a plus-2 rating over three postseason games.

Lyubushkin generated an assist in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Jets in Game 1.

Lyubushkin remains warm on offense with three assists over his last four games. That's all of his point production this postseason, to go with nine shots on net, eight hits, eight blocked shots and a minus-5 rating across eight outings. Lyubushkin continues to offer more upside as a stay-at-home blueliner, so don't expect his surge on offense to last.

Harley logged an assist, two shots on goal and three blocked shots in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Jets in Game 1.

Harley set up the second of Mikko Rantanen's three goals in the game. The 23-year-old Harley has gotten on the scoresheet in six of eight playoff contests. He's at two goals, four assists, 12 shots on net, 24 blocked shots, 11 hits and a minus-4 rating. The blueliner continues to see big minutes in a top-four role and on the power play, and he has the production to match.

Stanley (undisclosed) won't play in Wednesday's Game 1 versus the Stars, John Lu of TSN reports.

This will be Stanley's second game in a row out of the lineup. The defenseman had no points and racked up 10 hits, six blocked shots and 42 PIM over five appearances in the first round versus the Blues. Colin Miller and Haydn Fleury are both expected to play Wednesday while Stanley and Josh Morrissey (upper body) sit out.

Morrissey (upper body) won't play in Wednesday's Game 1 versus the Stars, John Lu of TSN reports.

Morrissey was considered a game-time decision but was in a non-contact jersey during Tuesday's optional skate. The 30-year-old defenseman will be forced to miss at least one game after suffering the injury in Game 7 of the first round versus the Blues. Haydn Fleury is set to be in the lineup to cover Morrissey's absence.