Thomas takes leave from Blues; Wilson out for Capitals; Kulak makes Avalanche debut
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Leo Carlsson returned for the Ducks against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 21-year-old center had a procedure on Jan. 16 to treat a left thigh injury and was expected to be out 3-5 weeks. Carlsson was named to Team Sweden’s roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 but was unavailable because of his injury. He has 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 44 games, second on the Ducks to Cutter Gauthier, who has 49 points (25 goals, 24 assists).
Robert Thomas is taking a temporary leave of absence from the Blues because of a personal matter. The forward will not play at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, KHN/Prime, KONG), St. Louis’ first game following the break for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, but is expected to return Friday. Thomas has not played since Jan. 10 and had a right leg procedure, which the Blues announced Jan. 31. He has 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 42 games this season. … Forward Dylan Holloway likely will return Thursday; he has missed 23 of the past 24 games because of a right high ankle sprain sustained during practice Dec. 14. Holloway has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 34 games.
Connor McMichael was activated from injured reserve and the forward returned to the lineup Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers after missing the final four games before the Olympic break with an upper-body injury. … Forward Tom Wilson was out against the Flyers. Coach Spencer Carbery said the forward, who did not participate in the optional morning skate, is feeling under the weather after returning from helping Team Canada win the silver medal at the Olympics. … Defenseman John Carlson did not play because of a lower-body injury he sustained against the Nashville Predators on Feb. 5 during the Capitals’ final game before the break.
Logan Cooley returned to the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The forward had missed the past 28 games with a lower-body injury. Cooley also skated with the Mammoth during the Olympic break. Cooley has 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) in 29 games this season. … Forward Alex Kerfoot also returned after missing 12 games with a lower-body injury. … Forward Michael Michael Carcone was out with an illness.
The Golden Knights were out all five of their players who played in the gold medal game at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SNO, SNE, SN1, TVAS). Forward Jack Eichel and defenseman Noah Hanifin won the gold medal with the United States. Forwards Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, and defenseman Shea Theodore each represented Canada, which won the silver medal. Coach Bruce Cassidy indicated all five are likely to be available when the Golden Knights continue their five-game road trip at the Washington Capitals on Friday. “Well, it’s a challenge to the group, and it’s an opportunity for others, so we still got 20 NHL players in our lineup,” Cassidy said. “Obviously, less room for error when you’re missing some real difference-makers”. … Defenseman Brayden McNabb (upper body, 19 games missed) and forwards Brandon Saad (undisclosed, 15 games missed) and Colton Sissons (upper body, 12 games missed) were each activated off injured reserve Tuesday and returned to play.
Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin could return for the Rangers when they host the Flyers on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN). Fox, a defenseman, has missed 13 games since he sustained a lower-body injury in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Mammoth on Jan 5. Fox, who has 26 points (three goals, 23 assists) in 30 games this season, missed 14 games from Dec. 2-29 with an upper-body injury. Shesterkin, a goalie, sustained a lower-body injury in the first period against Utah when he fell backwards and could not put weight on his left leg. He is 17-12-4 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 34 games this season. … Forwards Conor Sheary (15 games missed) and Adam Edstrom (30 games missed) also could return from lower-body injuries. “I would anticipate some of them being available for tomorrow,” coach Mike Sullivan said after practice Tuesday.
Brett Kulak made his Avalanche debut against the Mammoth on Wednesday. The defenseman was acquired from the Penguins for defenseman Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft on Tuesday. Kulak had nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 56 games with the Penguins this season and played on the third pair with Sam Malinski. “I’m happy to be a part of the group,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a special team here and I’m excited to be a part of it. … I want to try to just absorb as much experience and wisdom and see how these guys go about their business and apply it to my career.”
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and forwards Josh Norris and Josh Dunne were activated from injured reserve on Wednesday, Luukkonen had missed five games with a lower-body injury before getting the start against the New Jersey Devils. Norris had missed 12 games with an upper-body injury and Dunne missed 13 games with a middle-body injury.
Auston Matthews was in the lineup for the Maple Leafs against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs captain, who helped the U.S. win gold at the Olympics, had seven points (three goals, four assists) in six games at the tournament. He has 48 points (26 goals, 22 assists) in 51 games with Toronto this season. … Forward Dakota Joshua remained out and missed his 20th game with a lacerated kidney. He has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 36 games this season.
Matthews discusses Team USA and Team Canada rivalry, winning gold
Brayden Point and Victor Hedman were in the lineup against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. An undisclosed injury prevented Point from playing for Canada at the Olympics. The forward left after scoring a power-play goal at 4:29 of the second period in a 5-1 win against the Flyers on Jan 12. Hedman was in uniform and on the bench for Team Sweden, but the defenseman did not play in a 2-1 overtime loss to Team USA in the quarterfinals because of a lower-body injury sustained during warmups. “It’s good,” the Lightning captain said following practice Tuesday. “It’s frustrating and still a little bit of disbelief it happened before one of the most important games of my career, but it is what it is. Representing your country is more than yourself, so you have to be a little unselfish. I felt like not playing was the best for the team. I don’t think I could have played at my level in that game.” Hedman has 13 assists in 21 games this season. … Canada forward Brandon Hagel, U.S. forward Jake Guentzel and Team Slovakia defenseman Erik Cernak were in the lineup for Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Neal Pionk has a new injury and is week to week, Jets coach Scott Arniel said Tuesday. The defenseman has been sidelined since Jan. 13 because of a lower-body injury. … Nino Niederreiter is also week to week with an injury Arniel said the forward was playing through prior to joining Team Switzerland for the Olympics, where he scored one goal in five games. Niederreiter skated Wednesday, but it did not go as well as hoped. … Josh Morrissey (upper body) will not be on Winnipeg’s three-game road trip that began in Vancouver on Wednesday. Arniel hopes the defenseman is available when the Jets return home to play the Chicago Blackhawks on March 3. He was placed on injured reserve Tuesday retroactive to Feb. 12, when he was injured during Canada’s 5-0 win against Team Czechia to begin the preliminary round of the Olympic tournament. … Defenseman Haydn Fleury skated in a noncontact jersey, and is day to day. The defenseman was taken from the ice on a stretcher during the first period of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 6.
Alex Newhook will return for the Canadiens against the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, MSGSN). The forward has not played since Nov. 13 because of a broken ankle and was expected to be sidelined four months. He has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 17 games this season. “It’s been a long few months away from the team,” Newhook said Wednesday. “… Excited to get back and excited to help this team down the stretch here.”
Tyler Myers was held out of Wednesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets for roster management purposes, the Canucks announced. The 36-year-old defenseman has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 57 games in his seventh season with Vancouver. … Zeev Buium will wear a full face shield in his return to the lineup against the Jets. The defenseman missed five games with a facial fracture sustained against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 25. … Forward Marco Rossi returned after missing 18 games with a lower-body injury, and forward Brock Boeser is back after missing five games in concussion protocol. … Forward Nils Hoglander returned after missing four games with a lower-body injury. .. Forward Filip Chytil sustained a facial fracture when he was hit by a shot in practice on Feb. 18 and could miss the rest of the season.
Wyatt Kaiser skated Wednesday for the first time since sustaining an unspecified injury earlier this month, but he will not travel with the Blackhawks for their game at the Nashville Predators on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, CHSN). Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said there is a chance the defenseman could join them on their four-game road trip. “We’ll see later in the week,” Blashill said. Kaiser was placed on injured reserve Feb. 18 (retroactive to Feb. 4), with an injury sustained in a 4-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on that date. Kaiser limped off at 7:19 of the first period after getting tangled with Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. Kaiser has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 57 games this season.
Dylan Larkin is expected to play for the Red Wings against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, FDSNDET). The center and Detroit captain helped Team USA win gold at the Olympics, where he had three points (two goals, one assist) in six games. “If all goes well and the weather and flights and everything cooperate, I think he can sleep in his own bed tonight,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said Tuesday. “We’ll have him around the arena tomorrow. I’m not sure if he’ll skate. Expect him to be on the plane and be a factor in Ottawa on Thursday night.” Larkin has 51 points (26 goals, 25 assists) in 58 games this season.
Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson will be back when the Senators host the Red Wings on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, FDSNDET), coach Travis Green said Monday after winning Olympic gold with the U.S. Sanderson leads Ottawa defensemen with 46 points (11 goals, 35 assists) in 57 games. Tkachuk, the Senators captain, has 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 37 games.
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