NHL Player News

Askarov stopped 23 of 26 shots in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Panthers.

The Sharks looked good for two periods but got shaky in the third. Askarov kept them from falling behind, setting the stage for Luca Cagnoni's heroics in overtime. This could be a preview for the season as a whole -- the Sharks have assembled some young talent and complemented the kids with veterans in key spots, but it could take a while for the roster to mature to avoid blowing leads. Askarov should have a slight edge over Alex Nedeljkovic for starts as long as he plays well. The Sharks are set to host the Kings on Saturday.

Keller notched two power-play assists, fired four shots on goal and added two PIM in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Keller will likely be among the Mammoth's most productive players when the season ends. The 28-year-old stood out with an 88-point regular season in 2025-26, though that was a little weaker than his 90-point effort from the year before. At his best, he's a 30-goal, 90-point threat who can approach 30 power-play points. He'll also average nearly three shots per game from a top-line role.

But scored a goal and added three hits in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

But tallied an insurance goal in the third period. The 21-year-old winger is one of the Mammoth's most NHL-ready prospects, but he'll have to earn his time on the fourth line early in the season. He had seven points over 29 regular-season outings for the Mammoth in 2025-26. But's worth keeping an eye on if he can work his way into the top six later in the year.

Lee scored a goal on four shots in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Lee netted a goal in his team debut with the Mammoth. The 36-year-old signed a three-year deal at the start of free agency and opened the campaign on the second line. Lee is looking to bounce back from missing the 20-goal mark for just the third time in the last 12 years -- he finished with 19 goals and 42 points in 82 regular-season outings for the Islanders last year. He'll add veteran experience and steady scoring for a young Utah team.

Schmaltz scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Schmaltz stretched the Mammoth's lead to 3-0 in the second period. The 30-year-old is operating as the top-line center to start the year, though he took just four faceoffs compared to Vincent Trocheck's 14 draws in the season opener. Both players could end up gaining multi-position eligibility if they continue to line up with Schmaltz down the middle and Trocheck on the right. Most importantly, Schmaltz remains in a top-line spot and on the first power-play unit, usage that led to a career year of 33 goals and 74 points over 82 regular-season outings in 2025-26.

Barkov sustained an apparent left leg injury Thursday versus the Sharks, but an update on his status isn't expected until Friday, Panthers TV Rinkside Reporter Katie Engleson reports.

Barkov's injury isn't related at all to his devastating right ACL and MCL injuries from last year. His left leg buckled underneath him as he fell to the ice in a board battle during the second period Thursday, and Barkov was visibly upset when he left the ice. While it's definitely possible he'll miss time, the severity of the injury won't be known until his evaluation is completed.

Carcone scored a goal on two shots, dished an assist, went plus-2 and added six hits in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Carcone set career highs with 31 points over 79 regular-season appearances last year. The 30-year-old forward may struggle to replicate that production in 2026-27, but he's off to a good start despite opening the campaign in a fourth-line role. Carcone will need to remain productive to fend off Liam O'Brien and Kailer Yamamoto for the last spot in the lineup. With a bit of physicality in his play, Carcone could be worth a look in deep banger leagues.

Guenther scored two power-play goals on five shots in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Guenther posted a 40-goal, 73-point regular season last year, but he may not be done growing on offense. The 23-year-old winger made a quick impact with two goals in this contest. He earned 24 of his points with the man advantage last year, including nine goals, but that's still an area he could improve. He's also working on the second line at even strength to begin 2026-27.

Vejmelka posted a 15-save shutout in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Vejmelka had no trouble in this contest, which the Mammoth took control of quickly. The 30-year-old had just two shutouts in all of the 2025-26 regular season, when he went 38-20-3 with a 2.75 GAA and an .896 save percentage. Utah's roster beefed up in the offseason, though that mainly was due to additions up front. In any case, Vejmelka has proven he can handle a strong workload, and he's got plenty of upside on a team poised to take a step up in 2026-27. The Mammoth have a back-to-back on the road this weekend, visiting the Blue Jackets on Saturday and the Rangers on Sunday, so expect Vejmelka and Sebastian Cossa to split those contests.

Soderblom allowed six goals on 32 shots in Thursday's 6-0 loss to the Mammoth.

Soderblom didn't put in a great showing, but the Blackhawks' defense didn't do him in any favors. With a young blue line in front of him, it could be rough early in the season. Soderblom also hasn't logged a save percentage better than .898 in any of his NHL campaigns, so it's unlikely he'll be able to steal a game when his teammates are off their game. The Blackhawks wrap up their season-opening road trip in Buffalo on Saturday, which will likely be a start for Spencer Knight.