Kuzmenko week to week for Kings; Luke Hughes returns for Devils
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Anthony Cirelli returned for the Lightning against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The center has missed four games with a lower-body injury he sustained in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 1. The injury also caused Cirelli to miss the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 after he was named to Team Canada. Cirelli has 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games this season.
Andrei Kuzmenko is week to week for the Kings after having knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The forward had two assists in a 6-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 25 and did not play in an 8-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Kuzmenko has 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 52 games this season. Drew Doughty and Joel Armia are both out against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, according to coach Jim Hiller.
Luke Hughes returned to the lineup for the New Jersey Devils against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.The defenseman had missed 10 games with a shoulder injury after leaving a 2-1 overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Jan. 19. “He’s a dynamic offensive guy for us,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Brings a lot of extra speed and pace from the blue line, and from our own zone which we can really use. He’s a good player for us in all facets of the game.” Hughes has 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 49 games this season.
Tye Kartye made his debut for the Rangers in a 3-2 shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Kartye played on the third line with Noah Laba and Brendan Brisson and had two shots on goal in 12:39 of ice time. The 24-year-old forward was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken on Friday. He has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 41 games this season and 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 180 NHL games over three seasons.
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Robert Thomas did not play against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, but could return against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. Thomas has 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 42 games. … Defenseman Colton Parayko did not play against the Devils because of back spasms and is doubtful to play against the Wild.
Vladislav Namestnikov is week to week for the Jets with a lower-body injury. The forward was injured in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. He had to be helped off the ice after colliding with teammate Adam Lowry during a delayed penalty early in the second period. Namestnikov has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 57 games this season. The Jets visit the San Jose Sharks on Sunday (4 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, TSN3, TVAS). .. Forward Mark Scheifele is expected to play after he appeared to be injured and left the game Friday in overtime.
Samuel Girard was in the lineup for the Penguins’ 3-2 shootout loss at the New York Rangers on Saturday. He had one shot on goal in 20:57 of ice time. The defenseman did not practice Friday and was being evaluated for a lower-body injury. Girard, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche along with a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft for defenseman Brett Kulak on Tuesday, logged 17:53 of ice time in his debut with Pittsburgh in a 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. He had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 40 games with the Avalanche prior to the trade.
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Jonathan Lekkerimaki had successful surgery for an undisclosed injury on Thursday, and will miss the remainder of the season. The forward will be ready for training camp in September, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said Friday. The 21-year-old, who last played for the Canucks in a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 4, has three points (two goals, one assist) in 13 games this season. He also had 20 points (13 goals, seven assists) in 21 games for Abbotsford, the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate.
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