NHL Player News

Larkin scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Senators.

After a turbulent offseason that featured a public trade request and a delayed start to the campaign due to an upper-body injury, Larkin re-joined the lineup Tuesday and wasted no time demonstrating his importance to the Red Wings. The 30-year-old center gave his team a 2-1 lead midway through the first period by completing a tic-tac-toe sequence with Viktor Arvidsson and Alex DeBrincat, then Arvidsson banged home a Larkin rebound for his own tally early in the second. Detroit may give Larkin a chance to rehabilitate his value on the open market before re-engaging trade talks with other clubs, so expect him to remain in a prominent spot in the lineup -- he tied for the lead among all Wings forwards with 6:01 in power-play time Tuesday.

Gibson made 22 saves in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Senators.

The veteran netminder wasn't exactly in top form, but the Red Wings offense gave him plenty of support as Dylan Larkin returned to action. Gibson has started every game for Detroit to begin the season, going 1-2-0 in three starts despite a 2.39 GAA and .903 save percentage. He should get his first night off this weekend, as the Wings play a back-to-back set at home Friday against the Kraken, and on the road Saturday against the Canadiens.

Eklund scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Red Wings.

After setting up Drake Batherson for a tally early in the second period, Eklund potted his first goal as a Senator midway through the third, jumping on a loose puck after Fabian Zetterlund's shot went wide and banking it home off John Gibson from a sharp angle. The points were the first of the season in three games for Eklund, who was acquired from the Sharks in the offseason. With a top-six role and a spot on the top power-play unit with the Senators, the 23-year-old Eklund is in prime position to take a step forward with his production and potentially reach the 20-goal and 60-point plateaus for the first time.

L'Heureux (lower body) is slated to make his season debut Wednesday against Winnipeg, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

L'Heureux was traded to the Avalanche from the Predators in June, but he had to wait to make his team debut due to a lower-body injury he sustained late in training camp. However, he's set to return after missing the first two games of the regular season. Across 25 regular-season appearances with Nashville last year, he recorded four goals, an assist, 64 hits, 21 PIM and 15 blocked shots while averaging 13:23 of ice time.

Batherson scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to Detroit.

After having a hand in a Tim Stutzle tally early in the first period, Batherson banged home his own goal early in the second on a slick cross-ice shot-pass from William Eklund. Batherson has picked up two goals and three points through three games, and after dishing out five hits Tuesday he's up to 10 on the young season.

Roy (lower body) will not be available versus the Penguins on Wednesday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Roy has yet to get his name on the scoresheet through the Capitals' first two games and will now have to wait a little while longer. The veteran blueliner has been labeled day-to-day, so he could return at any point, perhaps even Friday versus the Rangers. In his stead, Dylan McIlrath will slot into the third pairing for Washington.

Stutzle produced a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Red Wings.

The third overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft opened the scoring early in the first period, taking the puck out of his own zone, maneuvering around the Detroit defense and snapping the puck past John Gibson from the slot. Stutzle has come flying out of the gates on the 2026-27 campaign, racking up three goals and six points in three games while adding seven shots on net, nine hits, three blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-4 rating. His production is even more impressive considering he's still looking for his first power-play point of the season.

Thompson will get the starting nod at home against the Penguins on Wednesday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Thompson has made just one appearance so far this season because the Capitals started the campaign off with a back-to-back. The 29-year-old netminder was solid in that outing against the Hurricanes, stopping 31 of 33 shots (.939 save percentage) in a winning effort. After two consecutive seasons in which Thompson recorded 31 wins, he should be primed to top that number in 2026-27, especially with the two extra games.

Dravecky agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders on Wednesday.

Dravecky is putting together a strong start to the 2026-27 campaign, generating one goal and three assists through the opening four games with OHL Guelph. Selected by the club in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old blueliner could be called up to join the NHL club at the end of the year, especially if he continues to rack up offensive numbers.

Ersson turned aside 31 of 35 shots in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Red Wings, with Detroit's final goal getting scored into an empty net.

Making his first start of the season, Ersson's misplay on a bouncing puck early in the first period led directly to an Alex DeBrincat tally and sparked a four-goal surge for the home side that put the game out of reach. With Linus Ullmark (undisclosed) banged up, Ersson could be in line for more work than expected in the short term, but he'll need better performances than this to hang onto his spot as Ottawa's No. 2 netminder. Ullmark's availability will determine which of them is between the pipes Thursday in a home clash with the Flyers.