2 weeks agoUtah Hockey Club defenseman Robert Bortuzzo suffered an undisclosed injury in Wednesday's matchup against Anaheim. He left the 5-4 overtime loss in the third period after logging 10:02 of ice time. While in the game, Bortuzzo recorded one block and two penalty minutes with a minus-two rating. He was making his season debut in Sean Durzi's (upper body) absence. It looks like Utah could be down another d-man before Saturday's action against Boston, with Patrik Koch likely being the next man up at the back. The 27-year-old Slovakia native has previously played in only one NHL game. He logged 15 points (one goal, 14 assists) in 63 AHL appearances last season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Brogan Houston
2 weeks agoAnaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom sustained an apparent upper-body injury in Wednesday's 5-4 overtime win against Utah. He exited the game after absorbing a high hit from Nick Schmaltz. The Swedish centerman needed assistance to leave the ice. Lundestrom logged 11:18 of ice time in the contest and registered one shot and one block. Anaheim has used Lundestrom as a fourth-line center this season. He scored a goal in the season opener but has been held without a point since then. Ross Johnston is in line to replace Lundestrom in the lineup if he's unavailable for Friday's matchup against Colorado. Johnston is a big physical presence but rarely provides any offense, so he belongs to the waiver wire in fantasy hockey.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Derek Lee
2 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is expected to miss some time with an upper-body injury. The team announced that he will be out "short-term." It was initially reported that Merzlikins simply needed rest and would get a few days off. The Latvian netminder has endured another rough stretch to start the 2024-25 campaign, losing each of his first two starts and giving up seven goals while producing a .854 save percentage. The Blue Jackets have recalled Jet Greaves from the minors, with Daniil Tarasov likely getting the nod for Thursday's battle against Buffalo.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Portzline
2 weeks agoSan Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund didn't practice on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. According to Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky, Eklund is dealing with a "little nagging" injury and is "probably a game-time decision" for Thursday's matchup against Chicago. Eklund has been a member of the first line to start the season, contributing one assist with nine shots. Danil Gushchin, who has been a healthy scratch for a couple of games, filled in for Eklund on the top line in Wednesday's practice. He could be an intriguing DFS target for managers on Thursday in a favorable matchup if Eklund cannot play and Gushchin maintains the spot.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sheng Peng
2 weeks agoSt. Louis Blues defenseman Nick Leddy was unable to practice on Wednesday due to a lower-body injury. Leddy logged close to 21 minutes of action against Minnesota on Tuesday. However, according to Blues head coach Drew Bannister, Leddy was already hurt prior to Tuesday's game. Bannister considers him day-to-day, and Leddy might be forced to sit out Thursday's matchup against the Islanders. Leddy's absence would push Ryan Suter to a top-pairing role. Suter has tallied one goal with six shots and five blocks in four games this season while averaging 16:02 of ice time. The move up the lineup will boost Suter's fantasy appeal, but the 39-year-old veteran is far from the player he used to be.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Lou Korac
2 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings winger Vladimir Tarasenko missed Wednesday's practice because of an illness. This leaves a question mark hanging over him ahead of Thursday's matchup against the New York Rangers. Tarasenko has had an underwhelming start on his new team, posting one goal with eight shots in three games. He has been limited to only 13:22 of ice time per game. Despite his absence from practice, Tarasenko is still expected to play against his former team on Thursday. However, if he ends up missing the game, Michael Rasmussen will likely move to the second line after skating there on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Helene St. James
2 weeks agoNew York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider wasn't on the ice for Wednesday's practice due to an illness. Jonny Brodzinski filled in for Kreider on the first line. However, Kreider traveled with the team to Detroit to face the Red Wings on Thursday, so he might still remain in the lineup if he makes a quick recovery. Kreider has started the 2024-25 campaign in good goal-scoring form, netting three markers in three games with nine shots on goal. He has scored in all situations and recorded the game-winning goal when the Rangers beat Detroit 4-1 on home ice on Monday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Vince Z. Mercogliano
2 weeks agoOttawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (muscle strain) might be ready to return to action on Thursday against New Jersey. Ullmark was sidelined for Monday's meeting with the Kings due to a muscle strain. However, he skated on Wednesday, and Senators head coach Travis Green said that Ullmark could play against the Devils. The Swedish netminder has gone 1-1-0 to start the year, allowing 2.58 goals with a .914 save percentage. His career record against the Devils stands at an impressive 11-4-0.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Garrioch
2 weeks agoOttawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub has been diagnosed with a concussion and will miss at least one week of action. Zub was injured in Monday's matchup against Los Angeles. The Russian defenseman has a history of concussions, so it is very unfortunate that he suffered another one. Ottawa has three games coming up in the next seven days. Jacob Bernard-Docker is poised to slot into the lineup as Zub's replacement. The 24-year-old is a shot-blocking machine but doesn't offer anything else to fantasy managers.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Garrioch
2 weeks agoColorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (lower body) will sit out a second consecutive game on Wednesday versus Boston. He was a late scratch on Monday against the Islanders with a lower-body injury and still needs some time to recover. Oliver Kylington made his season debut on Monday on the first defensive pairing, while Sam Malinski replaced Toews on the second power-play unit. The two are set to benefit from Toews' absence again on Wednesday, although the Avalanche defense has massively struggled so far, and the woes could easily continue against a top-class team like Boston.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Conor McGahey
2 weeks agoBuffalo Sabres winger JJ Peterka (concussion) will be back in the lineup on Wednesday against Pittsburgh. He's returning to action after missing a couple of games with a concussion. Peterka is an exciting talent who opened the campaign on the top line. He's set to head back to the line on Wednesday, with a spot on the second power-play unit also reserved for Peterka. The Penguins defense has struggled so far, allowing 4.00 goals per game, meaning Peterka makes his comeback in a favorable spot.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Buffalo Sabres
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson (personal) has been added to the non-roster list ahead of Wednesday's clash with the Maple Leafs. He will miss the contest for personal reasons. According to Kings head coach Jim Hiller, Edmundson has left the team to go back home. Edmundson, who signed a four-year, $15.4 million contract with the Kings as a free agent in the summer, has averaged a career-high 21:09 of ice time early in the year on a blue line that has been without Drew Doughty (ankle). He has tallied one assist with four shots, eight hits, and three blocks in three games. Andreas Englund is projected to come into the lineup as Edmundson's replacement on Wednesday. The Swedish blue-liner is generally a non-factor in fantasy hockey and should remain on the waiver wire.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: TSN
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (lower body) will miss Wednesday's road contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran is troubled by a lower-body injury and could be absent for multiple games as the Kings also take the ice on Thursday night versus Montreal. He is officially considered day-to-day. Kuemper has started each of the first three games of the season, going 1-0-2 with a 3.59 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. He will give up the crease to David Rittich on Wednesday, with Pheonix Copley recalled from the minors to work as the backup. Rittich won 13 of 21 starts last term and carries a solid 92-57-24 career record.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Dennis Bernstein
2 weeks agoToronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (illness) is regarded as a game-time call for Wednesday's matchup against the Kings. The Swedish forward has been battling an illness after opening his scoring account for the season with two goals in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh. Nylander has averaged 18:25 of ice time on the second line while also rolling with the first power-play unit. Nicholas Robertson will replace Nylander in the top six if he can't play on Wednesday. Robertson has been quiet to start the year, going scoreless in three games with four shots on goal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mark Masters
2 weeks agoToronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (illness) is on track to rejoin the lineup on Wednesday versus Los Angeles. Tavares missed Saturday's clash with Pittsburgh due to an illness but returned to practice on Tuesday. Playing on the second line, Tavares has posted one goal with six shots in two games this season. While he is set to return to the lineup on Wednesday, Tavares has admitted that he still isn't feeling 100 percent, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much from the veteran star against the Kings.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mark Masters
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