NHL Player News

Strome put up two assists in a 4-2 win over the Predators on Thursday.

Strome has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five games (nine shots), and he has 14 points, including six goals, in his last 14 games (33 shots). And now that Pierre-Luc Dubois has returned after missing 47 games, Strome should feel the relief of having another big body down the middle.

Dubois (abdomen) had a goal and an assist Thursday in a 4-2 win over Nashville. He had missed 47 games.

Dubois last played Oct. 31. He had surgery to address injuries to his abdominal and adductor muscles. He played 17:35 and put up two shots, one block and one hit. His goal came on the power play. Dubois is a solid waiver grab right now; he's slotted right back into his second-line center role and onto the second power-play unit.

Chychrun scored two goals and an assist in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Predators. He fired seven shots.

Chychrun's first goal stood as the winner, and it was a beauty. He made a spin move to elude a checker at center ice, skated into the Preds' zone, cut toward the middle and fired a long-range wrist shot that got past Justus Annunen. Chychrun has put up three multi-point games in his last five outings. He has three goals, five assists and 16 shots in that span. He heads into break with 46 points, including a career high 21 goals, and 182 shots in 57 games. Chychrun is one point from equaling his NHL career high for points (47), which he set last regular season.

Eklund scored a goal in Djurgardens' 2-1 win over Farjestad on Thursday in the SHL.

Eklund is up to three goals and 15 points over 33 outings in his first SHL season. The Islanders prospect also had eight points in seven games for Sweden at the World Junior Championship. The winger's lack of goals shouldn't be a concern considering the strength and defensive reputation of the SHL, though it'll be interesting to see if he can grow his offense in the latter part of the season.

Metsa was reassigned to AHL Rochester on Thursday.

Metsa will return to the AHL after a two-month stint in the NHL. He logged two points in 22 outings during that span, though he was a healthy scratch Thursday versus the Penguins. Metsa could return to the Sabres as a depth defenseman ahead of the team's Feb. 25 game versus the Devils.

Helenius was reassigned to AHL Rochester on Thursday.

Helenius will get steady playing time with Rochester while the NHL is on its Olympic break. The 19-year-old has four points in his first nine NHL contests. If the team is still hurting up front after the break, Helenius would seem to be a likely candidate to return to the big club.

Rosen was reassigned to AHL Rochester on Thursday.

Rosen will return to Rochester for the NHL's Olympic break. The 22-year-old has been shuffled between levels regularly this season, so there's no guarantee he'll be called back up ahead of the Sabres' Feb. 25 game versus the Devils.

Ollas was recalled from ECHL Bloomington on Thursday.

Ollas will be with the Rangers during the Olympic break. That will keep him from playing in the ECHL, but he will be sent back down following the break. This move was made so Spencer Martin can stay in a playing rhythm with AHL Hartford.

Martin was reassigned to AHL Hartford on Thursday.

Martin will return to the AHL during the NHL's Olympic break. The 30-year-old may stay there after the break if Igor Shesterkin (lower body) is ready to return when play resumes Feb. 26 versus the Flyers.

Blidh was reassigned to AHL Hartford on Thursday.

Blidh was held off the scoresheet in Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Hurricanes. He'll play with Hartford during the NHL's Olympic break.