NHL Player News

Holtz (upper body) won't play Wednesday versus the Red Wings, Ryan Wallis of Fox Sports Las Vegas reports.

Holtz is set for his second straight absence due to the issue. It's unclear if he'll be ready to play Friday versus the Wild. Even when healthy, the Golden Knights' trade for Cole Smith, who is debuting for the team Wednesday, may make it tough for Holtz to secure regular playing time.

Stone (upper body) will not be in the lineup Wednesday versus the Red Wings, Ryan Wallis of Fox Sports Las Vegas reports.

Stone has missed the last two games due to the issue. The 33-year-old winger will try to be ready for Friday versus the Wild. Cole Reinhardt is staying in the lineup while Stone is out, and newcomer Cole Smith will make his Vegas debut after being traded from Nashville on Tuesday.

Hill led the Golden Knights onto the ice, indicating he'll be between the pipes on the road versus the Red Wings on Wednesday.

Akira Schmid played Tuesday in a loss to the Sabres, and Hill will take the second half of the back-to-back. The 29-year-old Hill is just 4-4-1 with a 3.77 GAA and an .846 save percentage over his last nine outings. The Red Wings have gone 2-1-0 over three games since the Olympic break, scoring eight goals in that span.

Markstrom will protect the home goal versus the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

Markstrom was in goal for the Devils' 5-1 win over the Panthers on Tuesday. That light workload will allow him to go again a day later. The Maple Leafs are sitting out three regulars for trade protection, so he'll draw a struggling team with a diminished lineup in this matchup, which could help Markstrom in his pursuit of a three-game winning streak for the first time all season.

Pesce has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Maple Leafs due to a lower-body injury.

While the severity of Pesce's lower-body issue isn't yet clear, he'll be sidelined for the first time since mid-December. Johnny Kovacevic will likely take his place in the lineup Wednesday, while Pesce's next opportunity to suit up will be Saturday against the Rangers.

Vatrano (shoulder) was activated off injured reserve by the Ducks on Wednesday, per the NHL media site.

Following a 22-game absence, Vatrano appears ready to return to the lineup against the Islanders on Wednesday. Over 38 appearances before his injury, he recorded three goals, three assists, 67 hits, 36 PIM and 24 blocked shots while averaging 12:21 of ice time.

Granlund (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, per the NHL media site.

Granlund has already missed four games due to his upper-body issue, so his placement on IR won't impact his availability. In a corresponding move, Frank Vatrano (shoulder) was taken off injured reserve. Prior to getting hurt, Granlund had points in four of his last six outings, racking up a combined three goals and four helpers.

McMann will be held out for Wednesday's game against New Jersey due to roster management purposes.

McMann is one of several players who will sit out Wednesday's game for the Maple Leafs ahead of Friday's trade deadline. Reports ahead of the Olympic break suggested that the Oilers were interested in McMann and that Toronto was seeking a first-round pick. However, it's not yet clear whether a trade partner will ultimately materialize in the hours leading up to the deadline. It wouldn't be surprising to see McMann also sit out Thursday's matchup against the Rangers if he remains on the Toronto roster until then.

Laughton won't play Wednesday in New Jersey for roster-management reasons, per Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

Toronto is poised to be a seller ahead of Friday's trade deadline, and Laughton is among those who could move elsewhere. He has eight goals and 12 points across 43 appearances in 2025-26. If Laughton is still a member of the Maple Leafs on Thursday, he will probably be scratched again rather than play against the Rangers.

Ekman-Larsson will not be in the lineup versus New Jersey on Wednesday for roster management, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.

With the trade deadline looming, it seems Ekman-Larsson may have played his last game with the Maple Leafs. The blueliner has been struggling to produce in the offensive zone of late, going 13 games without a goal while producing just four helpers. Depending on where he lands, Ekman-Larsson could be a candidate for more power-play minutes.