NHL Player News

Klingberg recorded two assists in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Panthers.

The veteran blueliner failed to get onto the scoresheet in his first five games as an Oiler prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off, but in three appearances since play resumed, Klingberg has delivered a goal and four points. He's beginning to get his legs back under him after missing over a year of action following hip surgery in December 2023, but without a spot on Edmonton's first power-play unit alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Klingberg's fantasy ceiling will be limited.

Rifai was recalled from AHL Toronto on Friday.

Rifai hasn't yet made an appearance in the NHL this season, but he'll rejoin the Maple Leafs after Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve. Rifai will provide additional depth on the blue line while Chris Tanev (upper body) is on the shelf.

Miller (lower body) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Maple Leafs, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.

Miller suffered a lower-body injury in the second period of Tuesday's win over the Islanders, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be available Friday. Across eight appearances in February, he's logged a goal, two assists, 15 blocked shots, 11 hits and a minus-1 rating while averaging 21:21 of ice time. Miller was on the ice for Friday's optional morning skate, but if he's held out against Toronto, Matthew Robertson will likely enter the lineup.

Christiansen logged an assist, three blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Red Wings.

Christiansen ended a point drought that stretched over two months -- he last got on the scoresheet with a goal versus the Flyers on Dec. 21. Despite his total lack of offense, the Blue Jackets inked him to a two-year extension in January, so he looks to be in their plans for the near future. This season, the 25-year-old has eight points over 59 contests, and he's added 53 shots on net, 41 hits, 61 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating. He's also averaging just 12:53 of ice time, so it's unlikely his offense picks up much over the rest of the campaign.

Hedman logged two assists, including one on the power play, in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Flames.

Hedman also had four shots on net and two blocked shots. The Swedish blueliner racked up seven points over eight games in February and continues to be a top defenseman in fantasy for his all-around production. For the season, he's up to nine goals, 38 assists, 20 power-play points, 134 shots on net, 98 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating over 56 appearances.

Cernak scored a goal, added two hits and blocked two shots in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Flames.

Cernak had a somewhat surprising February with three goals and three assists over eight games. That makes it his most productive month of the campaign despite the limited number of contests. Overall, Cernak is at three goals, 13 assists, 47 shots on net, 117 hits, 72 blocked shots and a plus-25 rating through 52 appearances. He's two points away from matching his career-high 18 from the 2020-21 campaign, which came in a 46-game sample. Fantasy managers shouldn't roster Cernak for scoring potential -- it's his physicality and defense that appeal to those in deeper formats, though his playing style also comes with a high risk of injuries.

Pelech logged an assist and two blocked shots in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Bruins.

Pelech ended a four-game dry spell with the helper. The 30-year-old defenseman is maintaining a top-four role as a shutdown defender even with the Islanders' blue line back to nearly full health. He's managed 15 assists, 76 shots on net, 57 blocked shots, 51 hits and a plus-4 rating across 38 appearances. He's not a big scorer, but even with a 20-game absence earlier in the campaign, he still has a chance to hit the 20-point mark.

Vlasic logged an assist, two shots on goal, two hits and three blocked shots in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Golden Knights.

With five helpers and a minus-1 rating over his last six games, Vlasic has played at a decent level lately. The 23-year-old continues to handle a top-four role, and while the Blackhawks' defense is far from elite, Vlasic is emerging as a leader on the blue line early in his career. He's now at 22 points, 81 shots on net, 112 blocked shots, 46 hits and a minus-12 rating across 59 appearances.

Murphy notched three assists, three hits, six blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Golden Knights.

Murphy emphatically ended a 12-game point drought, which also included a 13-game stint out of the lineup due to a groin injury. The defenseman got involved on offense Thursday, helping out on goals by Ethan Del Mastro, Ilya Mikheyev and Philipp Kurashev as the Blackhawks put in a good attempt at overcoming an early 5-1 deficit. Fantasy managers don't often need to consider Murphy, but he is an option for those in formats that reward non-scoring production. He's at 16 points -- his most in five years -- while adding 51 shots on net, 40 PIM, 79 hits and 112 blocked shots across 46 appearances.

Del Mastro scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Golden Knights.

Del Mastro's goal at 5:30 of the second period was his first in an NHL game. The 22-year-old is currently competing with T.J. Brodie and Nolan Allan for playing time in a third-pairing role. Del Mastro has two points, five shots on net, 17 hits and a minus-2 rating across nine outings with the Blackhawks this season. Without a larger role, it's unlikely he'll make much of a fantasy impact over the remainder of the campaign.