NHL Player News
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Brayden Schenn C | NYI
Islanders' Brayden Schenn: Acquired via trade
Schenn was brought in by the Islanders from the Blues on Friday in a swap for Jonathan Drouin, a 2026 first-round pick, a third-round pick and Marcus Gidlof, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
It's a heavy price tag for Schenn, but the veteran forward will provide the Islanders with flexibility to play center or wing in addition to potentially seeing time with the man advantage. It's been a down season for Schenn, as he is in danger of missing the 40-point mark for just the second time in the last 13 years, though a strong finish to the year with his new club could get him over the line.
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Akira Schmid G | LV
Golden Knights' Akira Schmid: First off ice
Schmid was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, indicating he will patrol the home crease versus Minnesota on Friday.
Schmid is 1-3-1 in his last five starts, giving up 14 goals on 129 shots (.891 save percentage). Overall, the 25-year-old netminder is 16-8-6 with a 2.56 GAA and an .895 save percentage across 31 appearances this season. The Wild are tied for 10th in NHL scoring, generating 3.31 goals per game in 2025-26.
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Derrick Pouliot D | TB
Blackhawks' Derrick Pouliot: Traded Friday
Pouliot was acquired by the Blackhawks from the Rangers in exchange for Aidan Thompson on Friday, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.
Pouliot has significantly more NHL experience than Thompson, who has never played in an NHL game, but Pouliot hasn't featured at that level since 2023-24, when he was with Dallas. Still, the Hawks could bring him up for the end of the season in order to see what he has to offer and to provide some veteran experience on a young blue line.
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Gavin Brindley C | COL
Avalanche's Gavin Brindley: Sent to AHL
Brindley was reassigned to the minors Friday, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.
Brindley has six goals and 12 points in 47 outings with the Avalanche in 2025-26. Joel Kiviranta (concussion) is set to return for Friday's game against Dallas, and the Avalanche acquired Nicolas Roy from Toronto on Thursday. Those were likely factors in the Avalanche's decision to send Brindley to the AHL.
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Mathieu Joseph RW | LA
Kings' Mathieu Joseph: Agrees to deal
Joseph has agreed to a one-year, $900,000 pro-rated contract with the Kings on Friday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
St. Louis placed Joseph on waivers Thursday for the purpose of terminating his contract, and once he passed through waivers, he agreed to a deal with the Kings. Joseph had two goals, nine assists, 85 hits and 28 blocked shots over 39 games with the Blues this season.
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Elmer Soderblom LW | PIT
Penguins' Elmer Soderblom: Headed for Steel City
Soderblom was traded to Pittsburgh from Detroit on Friday in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.
Soderblom is currently mired in a 16-game pointless streak and has served as a healthy scratch for the last three games. All signs of a young player in need of change, something general manager Kyle Dubas has frequently targeted. It cost the Penguins a third-round pick they previously acquired from San Jose. Soderblom should be in the mix for a bottom-six role with the Pens but may find himself serving as a healthy scratch periodically.
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Joel Kiviranta LW | COL
Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Expected to return Friday
Kiviranta (concussion) is slated to return to the lineup Friday in Dallas, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.
Kiviranta was injured against Minnesota on Feb. 26 and has missed the last three games. The 29-year-old has two goals, five assists and 45 hits over 30 games this season.
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Luke Glendening C | PHI
Flyers' Luke Glendening: Claimed off waivers
Glendening was claimed off waivers by Philadelphia from New Jersey on Friday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Philadelphia dealt Bobby Brink to Minnesota on Friday in exchange for defenseman David Jiricek, so Glendening will provide the Flyers with a bit of needed forward depth following that trade. However, Glendening shouldn't be counted on to do much, if anything, offensively. The 36-year-old Glendening has four assists, four PIM, 66 hits and 45 blocks in 52 appearances in 2025-26. If Glendening plays for the Flyers, it will probably be as a member of the fourth line.
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Joseph Veleno C | MON
Canadiens' Joe Veleno: Back at practice
Veleno (illness) participated in Thursday's practice as an extra forward.
Veleno appears ready to return to the lineup after missing Monday's practice, but that doesn't mean he will play against Anaheim on Friday. He also sat out Tuesday's 7-5 loss to San Jose, but it's unclear if he was available for that contest because he was a healthy scratch for two straight outings before the matchup. Veleno has two goals, four points, 45 shots on net and 119 hits in 49 appearances this season.
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Cole Reinhardt LW | FLA
Panthers' Cole Reinhardt: Claimed by Florida
Reinhardt was claimed off waivers by the Panthers on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Reinhardt has made a career-high 44 appearances in the NHL this year, logging three goals, four assists, 84 hits and 19 PIM while averaging 9:47 of ice time. He was waived by the Golden Knights on Thursday but should have opportunities to contribute down the stretch for the Panthers, especially if they move some of their forwards ahead of Friday's trade deadline.