NHL Player News

Wednesday, November 25

• 11/25/09 - 1:39PM ETEric Staal : (Upper Body) Will Play Wednesday

  The Hurricanes have activated Staal (upper body) from the injured list and he will play in Wednesday's game against the Ducks, the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

  Go ahead and start Staal for fantasy purposes if you are thin at the center spot. Otherwise, it would be wise to reserve him until he can prove that he is 100-percent healthy.

• 11/25/09 - 9:31AM ETTyler Kennedy : Will Not Play on Wednesday

  Kennedy (groin) will not be in Wednesday's lineup against the Canadiens, according to the Penguins' Web site.

  Kennedy has been fully participating in practice for nearly a week and coach Dan Bylsma says that Kennedy is getting closer. "Not available but we're hopefully progressing," Bylsma said of the forward's impending return. "Tyler is day to day as he moves along in his rehab."

• 11/25/09 - 9:16AM ETMike Fisher : Out on Wednesday

  Fisher will miss Wednesday's game against the Devils due to an undisclosed upper-body injury reports the Ottawa Citizen.

  Apparently, the injury isn't considered serious and Fisher shouldn't miss much time. He's off to a great start to the season, having notched 10 goals and 11 assists in 21 games.

• 11/25/09 - 9:15AM ETRob Niedermayer : Could Play on Friday

  Niedermayer (shoulder) participated in Wednesday's morning skate and could play Friday against Boston, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

  Niedermayer has been feeling better of late and practicing with the team. His presence will help the team defensively and he's chipped in a bit offensively this season with seven points in 13 games.

• 11/25/09 - 8:41AM ETPetr Sykora : Will Not Play on Wednesday

  Sykora (concussion) will miss Wednesday's game against the Bruins, the Boston Globe reports.

  We're still uncertain how long Sykora will be out, but it sounds as if he won't be back in the lineup for a least a few more games.

• 11/25/09 - 8:29AM ETMartin Biron : Will Start on Wednesday

  Biron will get the start in net against his former Flyers team on Wednesday, Newsday reports.

  The Flyers are in the midst of a five-game road trip, and they have dropped the first three. Fantasy owners may want to go out on a limb and start Biron, who is catching Philadelphia at the right time.

• 11/25/09 - 7:18AM ETRick Nash : Picks Up Two Assists in Loss

  Nash picked up two assists, including a ridiculous behind-the-back pass to set up Antoine Vermette, in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Canadiens.

  That puts Nash at 13 assists, to go along with 14 goals, through 23 games. He's still on pace for career highs in goals and points.

• 11/25/09 - 5:57AM ETJarret Stoll : Questionable For Wednesday

  Stoll (lower body) skated on Tuesday but remains questionable for Wednesday's game, the LA Kings Insider reports.

  The Kings play on Thursday and again on Saturday but it seems unlikely that Stoll would be able to lace up the skates for Wednesday's tilt. Keep him on your bench until he returns.

Tuesday, November 24

• 11/24/09 - 1:49PM ETMarian Hossa : (Shoulder) Will Return Wednesday

  The Blackhawks have confirmed that Hossa (shoulder) will make his season debut against the Sharks on Wednesday night.

  Wednesday has been his target for the last several weeks, so it's not a huge surprise that he'll appear in his first game of the season. If you've been stashing him away on IR, prepare to activate him on Wednesday as he should be able to make an immediate impact on a team that has been able to produce at the offensive end in his absence thus far.

• 11/24/09 - 1:28PM ETDaniel Briere : Suspended Two Games

  Briere has been suspended two games for his hit on Colorado's Scott Hannan in Monday's game against the Avalanche, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.

  As a result of the suspension, Briere will miss Wednesday's game against the Islanders and Friday's game against the Sabres. Briere will return to the lineup against Atlanta on Saturday night. Meanwhile, Hannan is questionable for the Avs' game on Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday's practice with the injury.

Monday, November 23

• 11/23/09 - 2:05PM ETMartin Havlat : Hopes to Practice Tuesday

  Havlat (lower body) skated on his own during Monday's practice and hopes to fully participate in practice on Tuesday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

  His status is still in doubt for Wednesday's game, but it sounds like he's making progress.

• 11/23/09 - 1:31PM ETTyler Kennedy : (Groin) Out Monday, Possibly Wednesday

  Kennedy (groin) will not play Monday and is also expected to miss Wednesday's game, according to coach Dan Bylsma, the Penguins' Web site reports.

  Bylsma answered somewhat cryptically when discussing Kennedy's status. "Sunday was a day that he really tested himself and went hard," Bylsma said. "We brought him here (to Florida) because he was progressing. Yesterday was a big test. Today he didn't goes as hard as yesterday so we'll see how he is. Hopefully he's progressing." Bylsma then answered a question regarding whether Kennedy might play on Wednesday. "I would think that's not in the future."

• 11/23/09 - 12:28PM ETMarian Hossa : (Shoulder) Expected to Play Wednesday

  Hossa (shoulder) is expected to be on the ice on Wednesday against the Sharks after the Hawks sent Bryan Bickell back to Rockford of the AHL on Monday, ESPN-AM 1000 in Chicago reports.

  With his anticipated first appearance in a Hawks sweater, there will be a lot riding on Hossa to help put the team over the top. Hossa had targeted the game against the Sharks about a month ago.

• 11/23/09 - 11:45AM ETMarc Savard : (Foot) Set to Return Monday

  Savard will return to the Bruins' lineup Monday after missing 15 games with a broken left foot, the Boston Globe reports.

  In his return, Savard is expected to skate on a line with Marco Sturm and Byron Bitz, but regardless of who he plays with, he's a fantasy-friendly point-a-game guy.

• 11/23/09 - 11:38AM ETTim Thomas : Again a Backup

  Thomas, who is dealing with a minor upper-body injury, will back up Tuukka Rask for the fourth straight game Monday against the Blues, the Boston Globe reports. "It's one of those injuries that we have to allow him to get better," coach Claude Julien said. "Yet it could be something that could be cured on a day-to-day basis."

  That's pretty vague, but the facts that Thomas continues to suit up as a backup and that the B's have not called up another goalie seem to confirm the day-to-day nature of Thomas' issue.

• 11/23/09 - 11:29AM ETNikolai Khabibulin : (Back) Misses Monday's Skate

  Khabibulin (back) did not skate on Monday, TSN.ca reports.

  The Oilers haven't revealed any plans for further testing just yet, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him undergo an MRI early this week if the pain and stiffness continue to be an issue.

• 11/23/09 - 10:07AM ETSemyon Varlamov : Expected to Start on Monday

  Varlamov is expected to start Monday against the Senators, the Washington Post reports.

  Varlamov was first off the ice Monday and is the projected starter. It has not been confirmed and Friday shows that it can. Jose Theodore is able to play, but the young Russian netminder has a glowing 7-1-1 record in his last eight games, with a 1.23 goals against average and .957 save percentage. With a full slate of games Monday, he may not be your best option, but feel free to give him a start.

• 11/23/09 - 9:30AM ETBrian Elliott : Will Be in Goal on Monday

  Elliott will get the start in goal for the Senators when they face off against the Capitals on Monday night reports the Ottawa Citizen.

  Ottawa's No. 2 goalie came on in relief of Pascal Leclaire to start the third period against Buffalo on Saturday night and stopped 14 of 16 shots to get the win. Elliott is 3-1-2 with a .903 SV% and a 2.90 GAA this season.

• 11/23/09 - 9:29AM ETAlexander Semin : Will Not Play Monday

  Semin (wrist) spoke of his injury over the weekend and will not play Monday, the Washington Post reports.

  Semin is in no hurry to rush back from his wrist injury. He said there is no timetable for his return, but he is progressing and anxious to get fully healthy to play. He has not practiced, but said he thinks he can start soon. Let's hope this injury does not linger. Tomas Fleischmann and Matt Bradley have seen increased roles in the absence of Semin and Mike Knuble.

• 11/23/09 - 9:24AM ETAlexei Kovalev : Out on Monday

  Kovalev (personal matters) will miss Monday's game against Washington reports the Ottawa Citizen.

  Head coach Cory Clouston believes Kovalev won't be back for another game or two as he attends his mother-in-law's funeral in Russia. Ottawa plays four games this week, so it looks like Kovalev will get into at least one game.

• 11/23/09 - 9:02AM ETJonathan Ericsson : Will See Expanded Role

  Ericsson will likely see an expanded role as a point man on the power play with Niklas Kronwall (knee) out four-to-eight weeks, the Detroit Free Press reports.

  He's been productive thus far with nine points through 19 games (3 G, 6 A), but everything he's contributed has come at even strength thus far. If you're a Kronwall owner in need of some help on the blue line, you may not have to look far to find it.

• 11/23/09 - 8:20AM ETRoberto Luongo : Plays Well in Loss to Blackhawks

  Luongo was the hard-luck loser on Sunday, stopping 16 of 17 shots in a 1-0 loss to the Blackhawks.

  Despite the loss, this was Luongo's best outing since returning from a rib injury on Nov. 10. He'll continue to be the Canucks' workhorse between the pipes and should have a permanent spot in your lineup.

• 11/23/09 - 8:17AM ETDaniel Sedin : Held Scoreless in Return to Ice

  Sedin logged 18 minutes of ice time in his return from a broken left foot Sunday night against the Blackhawks.

  Sedin fired off three shots on goal, but was held without a point as the Canucks were shut out. The 18 minutes are proof that the Canucks won't ease him back into the rotation. Get him back in your lineup.