NHL Player News
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Sean Walker D | CAR
Hurricanes' Sean Walker: Nabs assist in win
Walker logged an assist and six blocked shots in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Walker hasn't scored in 14 games, but he has earned four assists over his last 11 outings. His play from early November was never going to last, but he is still in a top-four role as one of the Hurricanes' most reliable defensemen in his own zone. He's at a total of 10 points, 65 shots on net, 47 hits, 46 blocked shots, 14 PIM and a minus-2 rating in 29 appearances. Considering he had just 16 points in 82 regular-season contests in 2024-25, he's on track for a much better year.
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Jonas Siegenthaler D | NJ
Devils' Jonas Siegenthaler: Lacking offense
Siegenthaler's point drought is up to 18 games after he was held scoreless with three hits and five blocked shots in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Senators.
Siegenthaler is primarily a shutdown defenseman, so the lack of offense isn't too surprising, though he's usually able to chip in a little more than he has this year. He's at just two assists with 23 shots on net, 25 PIM, 44 hits, 57 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over 30 appearances. He's failed to reach 10 points in each of the last two campaigns, and it's not looking good for him to reverse that trend in 2025-26.
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Simon Nemec D | NJ
Devils' Simon Nemec: Lights lamp in win
Nemec scored a goal on five shots and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Senators.
Nemec scored at 5:09 of the first period to tie the game at 1-1. The 21-year-old defenseman had gone four contests without a point prior to Tuesday. He's on the third pairing at even strength, which could lead to some inconsistent offense, but he still has a sizeable power-play role. For the season, Nemec is at seven goals, 16 points, 47 shots on net, 45 blocked shots, 14 PIM and a plus-6 rating over 30 appearances.
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Kaedan Korczak D | LV
Golden Knights' Kaedan Korczak: Picks up helper in shootout loss
Korczak earned an assist in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Islanders.
Korczak snapped his 14-game point drought by setting up a Mitch Marner tally in the first period. The 24-year-old Korczak has maintained a bottom-four role this year and should be unchallenged for his spot in the lineup while Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed) remains out. Through 29 contests, Korczak has two goals, two assists, 23 shots on net, 48 hits, 45 blocked shots, 16 PIM and a plus-7 rating through 29 appearances.
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John Carlson D | WAS
Capitals' John Carlson: Could return Thursday
Head coach Spencer Carbery said Wednesday that Carlson (upper body) could play in Thursday's game against the Hurricanes, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Carlson has missed the last three games due to his upper-body injury, but he'll be in the mix to suit up in Thursday's home game. The Capitals will presumably monitor how he feels during and after Thursday's morning skate, and it wouldn't be surprising if he were a game-time decision. Over 26 appearances this season, Carlson has recorded six goals, 17 assists, 38 blocked shots, nine hits and six PIM while averaging 22:52 of ice time.
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Thomas Chabot D | OTT
Senators' Thomas Chabot: Skipping road trip
Chabot (upper body) will not travel with the Senators for their upcoming three-game road trip, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports Wednesday.
At this point, Chabot may be better served sitting out until after the Christmas break, as he will have missed 14 of the team's last 15 contests by the time the club is back in Ottawa. Still, the Quebec native would be a strong addition to the Sens' blue line, considering he has racked up 10 points in 18 games this year.
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Noah Hanifin D | LV
Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin: Nets opening goal Tuesday
Hanifin scored a goal, fired three shots on net and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Islanders.
Hanifin put Vegas on the scoresheet midway through the opening period with his second goal of the season. He's up to six points, 50 shots on goal and 34 blocks through 19 appearances this season. While the offense hasn't been at the same level as his past four seasons, he's remained a solid option in fantasy through his volume of shots, blocks and ice time. Hanifin should continue to see top-four minutes for the Golden Knights and is trending upward offensively after posting two points in his last three games.
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Matthew Schaefer D | NYI
Islanders' Matthew Schaefer: Chips in with helper
Schaefer distributed an assist and fired four shots on net in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout win over the Golden Knights.
Schaefer logged an assist on Bo Horvat's tally near the end of the first period to get the Islanders on the board. With the helper, Schaefer is up to 14 assists, 22 points, 87 shots on goal and 40 blocks through 31 games this season. The budding superstar and frontrunner for the Calder Trophy has racked up a goal and six assists through the last eight contests. His heavy shot volume ranks fourth among defensemen and makes him a must-roster defenseman in nearly all fantasy formats.
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Morgan Rielly D | TOR
Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly: Battling illness
Rielly (illness) won't participate in Wednesday's practice.
Rielly has five goals and 22 points in 28 outings in 2025-26. It's unclear if he'll be an option to play against San Jose on Thursday. If Rielly is out, he would join fellow defensemen Brandon Carlo (lower body), Dakota Mermis (lower body) and Chris Tanev (upper body) on the shelf. The Maple Leafs recalled Henry Thrun from AHL Toronto on Wednesday after Mermis sustained an injury in Monday's 2-0 win over Tampa Bay.
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Henry Thrun D | TOR
Maple Leafs' Henry Thrun: Called up Wednesday
Thrun was recalled from AHL Toronto on Wednesday.
Thrun has been putting up decent numbers in the minors, generating three goals and six helpers in 19 appearances with the Marlies. With Dakota Mermis (lower body) on injured reserve and Morgan Rielly under the weather, the 24-year-old Thrun could be pressed into service versus the Sharks on Thursday.