Teravainen back for Blackhawks; Kings 'hopeful' Kopitar can return during road trip
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Simon Edvinsson (lower body) will be out through the NHL break next month for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan announced after practice Monday. The 22-year-old defenseman missed his third straight game when Detroit hosted the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. The Red Wings play their final game before the break at the Utah Mammoth on Feb. 4. They will resume play against the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 26. “He is a significant piece, but we have others that are going to have to go in and play, and they’ve done that already for a couple of games and have done an admirable job,” McLellan said. “When you lose players, there’s all the cliches, somebody else steps up, all that type of stuff. It just means that everybody else has to pull a little harder and do a little bit more. If you manage the game properly, you can get through it.” Edvinsson has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) and is second on the Red Wings in average time on ice (22:35) in 48 games.
Teuvo Teravainen returned from an upper-body injury against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. The forward, who will represent Team Finland at the Olympics, practiced with the Blackhawks on Monday, skating on the top line with Frank Nazar and Connor Bedard, after missing six games. “I anticipate that, but until tomorrow I’ll reserve total judgment,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said after practice. “But definitely trending toward playing tomorrow.” Teravainen has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 45 games. … Forward Nick Lardis was reassigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League on Monday.
The Kings are “hopeful” Anze Kopitar can return during their five-game road trip, coach Jim Hiller said before their game at Detroit on Tuesday. Kopitar, who participated in the morning skate but missed his 10th straight game, has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in what he has said will be his final NHL season. The Kings visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday before finishing the road trip at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. … Taylor Ward signed a two-year, $1.75 million contract Monday. The contract has an average annual value of $875,000. The 27-year-old forward has four points (two goals, two assists) in nine games since being recalled from Ontario of the AHL on Jan. 7.
William Nylander (groin) missed his sixth straight game when the Maple Leafs hosted the Sabres on Tuesday, but the forward is aiming to return before Toronto plays its last game before the Olympic break on Feb. 3. Nylander is on Team Sweden’s roster for the Olympics; its first game is scheduled for Feb. 11. “Hopefully I’ll be back playing at some point on the road trip,” Nylander said after practice Monday. Toronto begins a four-game road trip at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday before visiting the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, the Calgary Flames on Feb. 2 and the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 3.
Denton Mateychuk and Miles Wood will return when the Blue Jackets host the Flyers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT), coach Rick Bowness said Tuesday. Mateychuk, who was activated from injured reserve, has missed six games because of an upper-body injury. The defenseman has 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 44 games. Wood has been out since sustaining a lower-body injury against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 31. The forward has 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 32 games. To make room on the roster the Blue Jackets placed forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Brendan Gaunce on waivers for purpose of assignment to Cleveland of the AHL.
Pius Suter practiced fully Monday for the first time since the forward sustained a high ankle sprain during a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Dec. 27. “I’m getting there,” Suter said. “Obviously it’s been a long time, annoying injury. We’ll see how we react step by step, and obviously it’s nice to get team practices in.” Suter has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 31 games this season.
Jack St. Ivany had surgery on his left hand is expected to be out at least eight weeks. The defenseman left the Penguins’ 3-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday after blocking a shot by Canucks forward Elias Pettersson at 8:03 of the first period. The 26-year-old has seven assists in 17 games.
Go deep with NHL.com’s full coverage of the men’s hockey action at the Olympic Winter Games
Zeev Buium could have surgery for a broken bone in his cheek and will likely be out until after the Olympic break, Canucks coach Adam Foote said Tuesday. The defenseman was hit in the face with a puck during the first period of a 3-2 loss to the Penguins on Sunday but returned to finish the game with a full cage on his helmet. Buium has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 51 games, including six (two goals, four assists) in 20 games since being acquired in the trade that sent defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Wild on Dec. 12. Buium and forward Brock Boeser were placed on injured reserve Monday. Boeser was hit at the end of the third period by Pittsburgh forward Bryan Rust, who was suspended three games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for an illegal check to the head. Boeser has 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 50 games this season. Forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki and defenseman Victor Mancini were recalled from Abbotsford of the AHL.
Logan Cooley (lower body) practiced with the Mammoth in a noncontact jersey at their morning skate prior to a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. It was the forward’s first time skating with the team since a 4-1 win against the Canucks on Dec. 5, when he collided with goalie Kevin Lankinen after taking the puck hard to the net on a partial breakaway while being held by Quinn Hughes, who was assessed a minor penalty on the play. Cooley stayed down and was grabbing at his left knee as a trainer came out onto the ice, but he skated off under his own power and was back out on the ice before the end of that power play. The team announced Dec. 11 that Cooley was expected to miss a minimum of eight weeks. He has 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) in 29 games.
Linus Ullmark potentially could start this week for the first time since Dec. 27. The goalie, who took a leave of absence from the Senators the next day for personal reasons, served as the backup to Mads Sogaard for a 7-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. “We’ll see. I’m not worried about that right now,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said after the game. The Senators host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, ALT) and the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Ullmark is 14-8-5 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .881 save percentage in 28 games this season.
Devon Toews will miss his 11th straight game for the Avalanche when they visit the Senators on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, ALT). The defenseman, who is on Team Canada’s roster for the Olympics, has 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) and is plus-26 in 40 games this season. … Ross Colton (lower body) could return on Wednesday after missing their past two games. He has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 48 games this season.
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