NHL Player News

Barre-Boulet was recalled from AHL Colorado on Thursday.

The Avalanche play their final game of the regular season Thursday versus Seattle and while it hasn't been decided which regulars will sit this one out before the playoffs, look for Barre-Boulet to play his second NHL game of the campaign. He assisted in his only other game Jan. 19 versus Washington. Barre-Boulet had 26 goals and 70 points in 69 AHL regular-season games this season, leading the Eagles in points.

Kunin scored two goals, one the game-winner, and added an assist in Wednesday's 8-1 rout of the Red Wings.

The 28-year-old center hadn't even produced a multi-point game this season prior to Wednesday, but Kunin took full advantage of the absence of most of Florida's big names in a regular-season finale that had nothing on the line for either team but draft lottery slotting. Kunin managed four goals and 10 points in 62 contests during his first season with the Panthers while adding 123 hits and 47 PIM, and he'll head into free agency this spring looking to land a bottom-six role somewhere.

Polin was recalled from AHL Colorado on Thursday.

Polin played three games at the NHL level this season, picking up eight hits and three blocked shots. He had 10 goals and 11 assists across 45 AHL games and will likely be in the Colorado lineup versus Seattle on Thursday for the regular-season finale.

Moore (lower body) will play for the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Hockey Championship in May, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.

Moore missed the last 19 games of the regular season with the injury. He was held out late in the campaign as the Blackhawks didn't want to risk further injury, but with the World Championship beginning May 15 in Switzerland, the extra four weeks will be more than enough for Moore to be back at full health. He ended the regular season with five goals and 19 points in 51 games and should vastly increase his point total next season as a 22-year-old.

Tarasov made 24 saves in Wednesday's 8-1 rout over Detroit.

Justin Faulk spoiled his shutout bid late in the second period, but Tarasov was still able to end the regular season on a high note. The 27-year-old posted a 13-15-3 record with a 3.05 GAA and .895 save percentage over 33 outings in 2025-26, and with both Tarasov and Sergei Bobrovsky headed into free agency, the Panthers' crease could look very different next season.

Matheson (rest) was back at practice Thursday after missing the final regular-season game Tuesday, per Eric Engels of Sportsnet.

Matheson had seven goals, 30 assists, 59 hits and 150 blocked shots in 78 regular-season games in 2025-26. He should see plenty of playing time in the playoffs, as a first-unit defenseman. He averaged 24:10 of ice time this season, the most among Montreal rearguards.

Talbot allowed four goals on 12 shots after replacing John Gibson midway through the second period of Wednesday's 8-1 loss to the Panthers.

Neither goalie fared well in the regular-season finale, as the Red Wings seemed mentally checked out at the end of a massively disappointing campaign. Talbot will be a free agent this spring, and the 38-year-old could have trouble landing a secure No. 2 job given his 3.19 GAA and .883 save percentage over 34 outings in 2025-26.

Olivier (upper body) told reporters Thursday he would have been ready for Game 1 of the playoffs, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

Olivier also mentioned that he might have tried to suit up in the regular-season finale had a spot in the playoffs been on the line. Overall, the 29-year-old winger played in 61 games this year, which stopped him from being able to produce a second straight 30-plus point campaign. If he can stay healthy in 2026-27, 20 goals and 40 points are both achievable thresholds.

Gibson gave up four goals on 15 shots before being replaced by Cam Talbot midway through the second period of Wednesday's 8-1 rout at the hands of the Panthers.

The Red Wings apparently hit the links early to close out a massively disappointing season, hanging both their netminders out to dry in the process against a Florida lineup that was missing most of its stars. Gibson had something of a bounce-back campaign in Detroit despite a late fade, with his 29 wins being his highest total since 2017-18 with Anaheim. The 32-year-old goalie has one more year left on his current contract, but he could begin to get phased out next season by the Wings' top prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine, who are both knocking on the door.

Anderson (rest) practiced Thursday and is on track to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs this weekend, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.

Anderson sat out the final game of the regular season Tuesday. He finished the season with 14 goals, nine assist, 129 hits and 43 blocked shots over 72 games. He practiced on the fourth line, alongside Phillip Danault and Jake Evans, his likely role in the postseason.