NHL Player News

Rathbone (undisclosed) was placed on waivers by the Sabres on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Rathbone began the 2026-27 campaign on non-roster injured reserve due to an undisclosed injury, but his placement on waivers suggests that he's ready to return to game action. Assuming he clears waivers, the 27-year-old will report to AHL Rochester.

Heiskanen (upper body) is slated to be sidelined for Saturday's game against the Sharks, Robert Tiffin of NHL.com reports.

Heiskanen sustained an upper-body injury during Tuesday's game against the Capitals, and he's considered day-to-day. He'll be unavailable for a second consecutive matchup Saturday, but head coach Glen Gulutzan said that the Stars' four days off following the game against San Jose will allow for the team to be patient with Heiskanen's recovery process. It's not yet clear whether Heiskanen will be able to return Thursday against Winnipeg.

Engstrom scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Mammoth.

Engstrom has earned both of his points over his last four outings. The 22-year-old defenseman is getting a run of playing time while Mike Matheson (lower body) is out of the lineup. Through 10 appearances this season, Engstrom has added 11 shots on net, seven blocked shots and a plus-5 rating from a third-pairing role.

Xhekaj scored a goal on two shots, blocked two shots and added five PIM in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Mammoth.

Xhekaj has a goal and two assists over his last three games, as well as 12 PIM and six hits. The 25-year-old defenseman has gotten the chance to play regularly on the third pairing this season. He offers plenty of toughness with 30 PIM, 23 hits and 13 blocked shots over 15 outings, but the offense is still a work in progress.

Johansson (undisclosed) will be with the Red Wings for their upcoming four-game road trip, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports Friday.

Johansson may not be available at the start of the trip, but the fact that he will be with the team is a good indication that he'll return soon. The 25-year-old blueliner has already missed six games due to his undisclosed injury. In 11 outings prior to getting hurt, Johansson failed to find the back of the net while recording one assist, 14 shots and 12 blocks.

Werenski scored a goal on five shots in Thursday's 2-1 shootout win over the Stars.

Werenski tied the game with 3:14 remaining in regulation, ending his season-long goal drought when the Blue Jackets needed him the most. The defenseman has seven points (one goal, six assists) during an active five-game point streak. His sustained offensive involvement and heavy workload continue to make him an elite fantasy option despite his relatively slow start in the goal-scoring department.

Johansson scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Golden Knights.

Johansson broke a scoreless tie early in the third period, converting a rebound off the end boards for his second goal of the season. The young defenseman provided Detroit's only offense, but his contributions weren't enough to prevent another defeat. His limited offensive deployment and modest shot generation leave him with little immediate fantasy appeal outside deeper formats.

Kleven (illness) was back at practice Friday, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports.

With Kleven's return to practice, he should be good to go ahead of Saturday's clash with Utah. In 16 games this year, the 24-year-old blueliner has notched two goals, one assist, and 22 shots while averaging a career-high 20:14 of ice time. Given his offensive limitations, Kleven won't offer much in the way of fantasy value, though he might generate enough hits to be of use in banger leagues.

Livanavage was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.

Livanavage served as a healthy scratch for Thursday's clash with the Bruins. With Kaedan Korczak fully fit, the Penguins don't need to keep an extra blueliner around, hence Livanavage's demotion. Barring additional injuries, the youngster will likely play the bulk of his games in the minors this year.

Dobson collected two assists in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over Utah.

The veteran blueliner helped set up goals by Nick Suzuki in the first period and Adam Engstrom in the third. Dobson had a sluggish start to the season, but over the last four games he's roared to life with five assists, including his first power-play point. After scoring double-digit goals in each of the last five seasons, however, Dobson's still looking to light the lamp for the first time in 2026-27.