Hintz week to week for Stars; Morrissey back for Jets; Werenski returns for Blue Jackets
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Dylan Larkin is day to day for the Red Wings and will not play at the New Jersey Devils on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN). The forward and Detroit captain sustained a lower-body injury in a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Friday. He left the game midway through the third period after losing an edge and having his right knee buckle following an awkward fall. “He’ll need some time to recover,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said Saturday. “I can’t give you a timeline on that right now, but he will be out (at New Jersey). As far as I know … he’ll come on the trip. We’ll see how it goes day by day.” Larkin has 55 points (28 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games. Forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Saturday under emergency conditions.
Roope Hintz will “miss some time” for the Stars with a lower-body injury. The forward left a 5-4 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday late in the second period and did not return. Hintz was injured on a battle along the boards with Nathan MacKinnon. He did not put any weight on his left leg as he was helped off the ice by a teammate and a team trainer. Hintz was playing his first game since missing four because of an illness. “It’s going to be a couple weeks for sure. We don’t know exactly how much but it’s not a couple of days, so we’ll see how long that is,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Saturday. “… We’re hoping [he returns] before the playoffs.” Hintz has 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 53 games this season. Dallas next hosts the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; Victory+, CHSN).
Josh Morrissey (upper body) returned for the Jets against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Jets coach Scott Arniel said. The defenseman has been on injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 12, after he left Team Canada’s 5-0 win against Team Czechia in the Group A opening game at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Morrissey hasn’t played in an NHL game since Feb. 4. He has 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 56 games while averaging a team-high 24:37 of ice time.
Zach Werenski returned for the Blue Jackets against the Utah Mammoth on Saturday after missing three games with an illness. The defenseman leads the team with 65 points (20 goals, 45 assists) in 54 games this season. Forward Conor Garland made his Columbus debut after being acquired in a trade from the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
Brayden Schenn will make his Islanders debut at the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NBCSCA). The center was acquired Friday from the St. Louis Blues for forward Jonathan Drouin, goalie prospect Marcus Gidlof, and first- and third-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. He has 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 61 games this season. “I’m looking forward to coming to a team chasing a playoff spot, because you can just tell right now, it’s a great group of guys that have fun playing for one another,” Schenn said Saturday.
Brett Pesce is week to week for the Devils because of a lower-body injury and did not play in a 6-3 win against the New York Rangers on Saturday. The defenseman played 22:04 in a 5-1 win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday but did not play in a 4-3 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. He has seven points (one goal, six assists) and is second on the team with 80 blocked shots in 37 games this season.
Spencer Knight will not travel and will be out for the Blackhawks when they visit the Dallas Stars on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; Victory+, CHSN). The goaltender was not available due to illness when the Blackhawks lost 6-3 to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. They hope Knight will be available when they play the Utah Mammoth at United Center on Monday. The Blackhawks will also call up goaltender Drew Commesso and forward Nick Lardis from Rockford, their American Hockey League affiliate. They will meet the team in Dallas and will be available against the Stars.
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