Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Plucks apple in return
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Holmberg notched an assist and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Flames.
Holmberg missed the previous seven games due to an undisclosed injury. The 26-year-old was reunited with Yanni Gourde and Zemgus Girgensons, and the trio assisted on Girgensons' first-period tally. Holmberg should continue to fill a bottom-six role moving forward. He's at six points, 17 shots on net, 19 hits, eight blocked shots, 10 PIM and a plus-2 rating over 16 appearances.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Removed from IR
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Holmberg (undisclosed) was activated off injured reserve ahead of Wednesday's matchup with Calgary, per the NHL media site.
Holmberg is returning following a seven-game stint on injured reserve due to his undisclosed injury. With the 26-year-old winger back to 100 percent, he will step into a third-line role while Brayden Point (undisclosed) remains on the shelf. On the year, Holmberg has managed just one goal in 15 contests while adding four helpers, which shouldn't come as a huge surprise considering he hasn't reached the 20-point threshold yet in his NHL career.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Will remain sidelined Monday
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Head coach Jon Cooper said that Holmberg (undisclosed) will remain sidelined for Monday's game against the Flyers but is getting closer to returning, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
While a clear timetable for Holmberg's return hasn't yet been revealed, it's at least encouraging that he seems to be trending in the right direction after landing on injured reserve in mid-November. Holmberg appeared in 15 games prior to sustaining his injury, and he recorded a goal, four assists, 18 hits, 10 PIM and seven blocked shots while averaging 12:24 of ice time.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Goes on injured reserve
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Holmberg (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
Holmberg will sit out his second straight game Saturday. He has one goal and four assists with 18 hits across 15 games this season. The Lightning recalled Jakob Pelletier from AHL Syracuse in a corresponding move.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Deemed day-to-day
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Holmberg (undisclosed) is day-to-day after missing Tuesday's practice, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Holmberg also didn't participate in Sunday's session, making his availability for Wednesday's matchup against the Rangers unclear. He has collected one goal, four assists, 15 shots on net and 18 hits across 15 appearances this season. If Holmberg doesn't play versus the Rangers, Curtis Douglas could draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the last three games.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Drawing in Saturday
Rotowire
Holmberg (undisclosed) will play in Saturday's preseason game versus the Panthers, Lightning radio announcer Dave Mishkin reports.
Holmberg was cleared for contact at practice Thursday, and he'll get some game action just a couple of days later. The 26-year-old forward's injury cost him just under a week of preseason play. He'll make one more push Saturday for the Opening Night roster, though he's likely to be limited to bottom-six minutes at best.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Cleared for contact
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Holmberg (undisclosed) was on the ice in a regular jersey for Thursday's practice session, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Holmberg's return to practice doesn't mean he'll be in action to face the Panthers on Thursday. Still, it's a step in the right direction for the 26-year-old winger, who should be available for Opening Night against the Senators on Oct. 9. Even with Holmberg on the roster, he is far from a lock to play on a nightly basis and could spend plenty of time watching from the press box.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Skating in non-contact jersey
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Holmberg (undisclosed) sported a non-contact jersey at Tuesday's morning skate, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Holmberg has already been ruled out for Tuesday's preseason game against the Panthers, though head coach Jon Cooper implied Monday that Holmberg could play in Tampa Bay's last two exhibition outings later this week. The 26-year-old forward notched seven goals, 19 points and a plus-4 rating across 68 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs in 2024-25.
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Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Ruled out for Tuesday
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Holmberg has been ruled out for Tuesday's preseason game against the Panthers for an undisclosed reason, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Although Holmberg will be unavailable Tuesday, head coach Jon Cooper suggested Monday that he isn't too concerned about Holmberg's availability for the start of the regular season. Once the 2025-26 regular season gets underway, Holmberg will likely handle a bottom-six role for the Lightning.
Holmberg signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract with Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.
Holmberg produced seven goals, 19 points, 68 shots on net, 53 blocked shots and 46 hits across 68 regular-season appearances with Toronto in 2024-25. He will likely occupy a bottom-six role with the Lightning in the 2025-26 campaign.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Puts up helper
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Holmberg logged an assist and went plus-2 in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Blue Jackets.
Holmberg snapped a nine-game point drought when he set up the first of Nicholas Robertson's two goals in this game. The 26-year-old Holmberg looked ticketed for the press box prior to David Kampf (upper body) exiting the lineup. For now, Holmberg is holding down a fourth-line role. He's at 16 points -- one shy of his career high -- with 62 shots on net, 48 blocked shots, 39 hits, 27 PIM and a plus-2 rating over 62 appearances.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Role shrinking in March
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Holmberg saw a season-low 7:38 of ice time in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Kings.
Holmberg had six points over five games between Feb. 22 and March 2, but he's put up just a single assist across his last 11 outings. His ice time has been trending downward as well, and he was even scratched for the two games prior to Saturday. The 26-year-old has seen time on the second line occasionally, but his current role is not fantasy friendly. He's at 15 points, 60 shots on net, 44 blocked shots, 35 hits and a minus-1 rating across 59 appearances.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Forces overtime Tuesday
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Holmberg scored a goal, added two PIM and levied three hits in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win over the Bruins.
Holmberg continues to fit in well on the second line -- he has four goals, one assist and a plus-4 rating over three contests since moving into that role following the 4 Nations Face-Off. The 25-year-old's goal Tuesday was clutch -- he scored with 46 seconds left in the third period to force overtime, allowing Mitch Marner to play hero with the game-winner in the extra session. Holmberg is up to six goals, 13 points, 47 shots on net, 36 blocked shots, 25 PIM and a minus-2 rating across 46 appearances this season. He's worth a look as a streamer, but be ready to let him go if he moves back into the bottom six.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Pockets assist
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Holmberg provided an assist and blocked two shots in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Wild.
Holmberg has gotten a chance to center the second line in the absence of John Tavares (lower body), though Wednesday was the first time it led to a meaningful bump in ice time (19:31). The 25-year-old Holmberg is more of a defensive forward, so his scoring upside remains limited. He has eight points, 35 shots on net, 33 blocked shots, 23 PIM and 17 hits over 39 contests in 2024-25.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Helps on power play
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Holmberg had a power-play assist, three shots on net and two blocks in Saturday's 7-3 win over Montreal.
Holmberg got some rare playing time on the power play and picked up the secondary helper on a tally by Nicholas Robertson, who redirected a shot from the point with one second remaining on the penalty. It was Holmberg's first power-play point this season and the second of his career. The third-line winger has two goals and five assists over 35 outings this season.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Unavailable Saturday
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Holmberg (illness) won't play against Boston on Saturday, according to David Alter of The Hockey News.
Holmberg will miss his third straight game. He has chipped in two goals, six points, 23 shots on net, 25 blocked shots and 14 hits across 32 appearances this season. Auston Matthews (upper body) will return to Saturday's lineup, and Ryan Reaves will be a healthy scratch.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Finds assist in overtime win
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Holmberg logged an assist and two PIM in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Capitals.
The helper was Holmberg's first point since Oct. 10, a span of 13 scoreless appearances. The 25-year-old has been an occasional healthy scratch this season and is unlikely to see anything more than a bottom-six role. He has two assists, 15 shots on net, 10 blocked shots, 15 PIM and a minus-5 rating over 16 outings.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Produces helper in win
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Holmberg notched an assist and blocked three shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Devils.
Holmberg made an early impact, setting up linemate Max Pacioretty for the opening goal at 8:18 of the first period. While more of a defensive forward, Holmberg produced 30 points over 91 contests across his first two seasons. The 25-year-old has filled the third-line center spot to begin 2024-25, though he's unlikely to produce enough in any given category to earn much fantasy interest.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Two helpers in loss
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Holmberg recorded a pair of assists in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Oilers.
Holmberg set up Auston Matthews' tally just 27 seconds into the first period Tuesday before grabbing a second helper on a Morgan Rielly goal in the second. The 24-year-old Holmberg has six points (two goals, four assists) in his last six games -- he's earned a spot on Toronto's top line with Matthews and Mitchell Marner. Overall, Holmberg has two goals and seven points in 16 games this season.
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Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Scores in loss
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Holmberg scored a goal on three shots in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Red Wings.
Holmberg was given a top-line look amid a roster shuffle in response to Saturday's collapse versus Colorado. He saw 12:57 of ice time Sunday and logged the opening goal early in the second period. Holmberg has picked up four points over the last five games, so a promotion in the lineup doesn't come as a surprise. He has two goals, five points, 17 shots on net and a plus-3 rating through 15 appearances this season, mainly as a bottom-six player.
