NHL Player News

Tverberg was reassigned to AHL Toronto on Friday.

Tverberg made his NHL debut this season, logging two games for the Leafs in which he generated three hits, one shot and two PIM. If the 24-year-old Ontario native can bring the offensive upside he showed in the minors -- 14 goals and 18 assists in 61 games -- he should be capable of earning more NHL opportunities in 2026-27.

Vanecek stopped nine of 10 shots in the third period Thursday after replacing Karel Vejmelka, taking the loss as the Mammoth fell 5-3 to the Blues.

Vanecek took over in the crease with the score tied 3-3, so the backhander he allowed to Logan Mailloux late in the final frame wound up being the game-winning goal. Vanecek wraps up the regular season with a 5-13-3 record over 22 outings, along with a 2.94 GAA and .883 save percentage, and he'll be the Mammoth's No. 2 netminder as the team begins its first playoff run since the move to Utah.

Haymes was returned to AHL Toronto on Friday.

Haymes suited up in four NHL games this year, including his debut for the Leafs on April 9. Along the way, the 22-year-old center garnered one assist, three shots and three hits. While Haymes could see increased NHL opportunities next year, he figures to once again play the bulk of his minutes in the minors, continuing his long-term development.

Vejmelka gave up three goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Vitek Vanecek to begin the third period of Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Blues.

The switch didn't seem to be prompted by the score or by Vejmelka's play -- the score was tied 3-3 after 40 minutes -- but with the Mammoth locked into a wild-card spot, coach Andre Tourigny elected to give his No. 1 netminder a little bit of extra rest ahead of the playoffs. Vejmelka finishes the regular season with a career-high 38 wins, one short of NHL leader Andrei Vasilevskiy, along with a 2.75 GAA, an .896 save percentage and a league-leading 64 outings and 3,692:45 in ice time.

Cowan was demoted to AHL Toronto on Friday.

Cowan put up solid numbers to end the regular season, generating seven points in his last eight contests, including two goals and two assists with the man advantage. While the 21-year-old winger will be finishing the year in the minors, he should continue to be a full-time NHL option next year and could see top-six minutes once again.

Villeneuve was returned to AHL Toronto on Friday.

Villeneuve saw action in just three NHL games this year in which he recorded five blocks, two shots and one hit while averaging 17:20 of ice time. In the minors this year, the 24-year-old defenseman has been significantly more productive, racking up 29 points in 59 contests.

Holloway picked up two assists in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Mammoth.

Both assists came on Robert Thomas tallies in the second period, as Holloway helped his linemate to his second career hat trick. Holloway took his game to another level after the Olympic break once he'd recovered from an ankle injury, and over the last 25 games of the Blues' season he erupted for 14 goals and 34 points with a massive plus-26 rating. The 24-year-old should be locked into a top-six role in 2026-27 and will have significant sleeper appeal.

Thomas scored three goals in Thursday's 5-3 win over Utah.

With the Blues down 2-1 midway through the second period, Thomas got rolling by potting two tallies in less than three minutes before wrapping up the scoring late in the third with an empty-netter. It was the second career hat trick for Thomas, both coming in April this season, and through 64 contests on the campaign he delivered 25 goals and 64 points, the third straight season in which he's produced at a point-a-game pace.

Hofer made 20 saves in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Mammoth.

The 25-year-old netminder finishes the 2025-26 campaign as the clear top option in the crease for St. Louis. Hofer won his last three starts and five of his last six, and through 46 outings on the season he compiled a 24-13-5 record with a 2.61 GAA and .909 save percentage. Jordan Binnington still has one more year left on his current contract at a $6 million cap hit, which will make him difficult to move given his poor numbers (3.33 GAA, .873 save percentage), but Hofer should head into next season as the No. 1 goalie for the Blues regardless of whether Binnington returns.

Lankinen stopped 29 of 35 shots in Thursday's 6-1 loss to the Oilers.

It was a disastrous end to the season for Lankinen, who allowed four goals -- including a hat trick to Matt Savoie -- in the first period alone. The 30-year-old netminder ends a disappointing 2025-26 season having won three of his last four starts, but that shouldn't hide the fact that the Canucks were a disaster defensively throughout the campaign. Lankinen went 11-27-5 with a 3.70 GAA and an .875 save percentage across 47 appearances in 2025-26. Both the GAA and save percentage were career-worst marks for the 30-year-old netminder.