NHL Hockey Player News

Slaggert will draw into the Blackhawks lineup on Friday along with Sam Lafferty. Colton Dach is a healthy scratch and Nick Foligno will also sit out with an undisclosed injury.

Lafferty will draw into the Blackhawks lineup on Friday along with Landon Slaggert. Colton Dach is a healthy scratch and Nick Foligno will also sit out with an undisclosed injury.

Rinzel started the season with the Blackhawks, scoring eight points (1G/7A) in 28 games, but the team determined he needed more seasoning at the AHL level. He returns to the Blackhawks after a 19-game stint with Rockford (AHL), where he had 10 points (2G / 8A).

Dach will take a seat on Friday as the Blackhawks opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Dach has three goals and six assists in 50 games this season.

Foligno suffered an undisclosed injury early in the first period of Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and will miss Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a result. The 38-year-old Foligno is averaging 12:55 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 32 games this season.

Marshall Rifai will make his season debut on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks, sending Benoit to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Benoit is averaging 17:18 time-on-ice and has three assists in 47 games this season.

Rifai has only played two career NHL games and has seem limited action at either level this season. The undrafted 27-year-old defenseman has four assists in 12 games with the Marlies (AHL). Simon Benoit will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Rifai's debut.

Nylander has been sidelined for nearly three weeks because of a lower-body injury, but should return to the lineup on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Nylander has already missed 15 games this season, but has been exceptionally productive when healthy, scoring 48 points (17G / 31A) in 37 games this season. The Maple Leafs have lost seven of eight games (1-5-2) since Nylander's injury and will be eager to get him back into the lineup.

Hronek was absent from practice on Friday because of an illness, and it is unclear what his status will be on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old defenseman is having a productive season from Vancouver's blueline, pacing for a career-best with 32 points (5G / 27A) in 54 games. He has five points (2G / 3A) in his last six games.

Rinzel started the season with the Blackhawks, scoring eight points (1G/7A) in 28 games, but the team determined he needed more seasoning at the AHL level. He returns to the Blackhawks after a 19-game stint with Rockford (AHL), where he had 10 points (2G / 8A).

Laczynski was seeing favorable deployment in a recent call-up to Vegas, including playing on the team's second powerplay unit. He has two assists in eight games with Vegas, but will return to Henderson (AHL), where he has 35 points (13G / 22A) in 32 games this season.

Coghlan played two games with the Golden Knights earlier this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 27-year-old defenseman has 18 points (7G / 11A) in 30 games with Henderson (AHL).

Rondbjerg recorded an assists in two games with the Golden Knights earlier this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 26-year-old forward has 23 points (12G / 11A) in 36 games with Henderson (AHL).

Malkin is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for Saturday's game against the New York Rangers is up in the air. At age-39, the veteran Malkin is having a terrific season with 41 points (13G / 28A) in 37 games. He has six points (3G / 3A) during a four-game point streak.

Letang has been effective in his age-38 season, but he is battling an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear whether he will be available on Saturday against the New York Rangers. He has 25 points (3G / 22A) in 50 games.

Gibson has been one of the best goalies in the NHL since the beginning of December, but he has lost two straight (0-1-1), allowing five goals on 44 combined shots (.886 SV%). Still, the 32-year-old American goalie boasts an impressive 2.04 GAA and .927 SV% in his last 21 games (17-3-1). He will tend the twine on Saturday against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who are currently fighting themselves out of a rut, going 4-5-3 in their last 12 games.

Lindholm suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators and exited the game in the second period and has not played since. His next chance to return will be on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 31-year-old has been a strong offensive contributor in recent weeks, scoring 14 points (6G / 8A) in his last 14 games.

Zacha exited Thursday's 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period because of an undisclosed injury and did not return. The 28-year-old Zacha scored a goal before leaving the game, giving him 11 points (5G / 6A) in his last 13 contests. His next chance to return to the lineup will be on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers.

The Blue Jackets' new Head Coach Rick Bowness continues to show his trust in Elvis Merzlikins, who will return to the crease for the fifth time in eight games since the coaching change. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie has also played better with his uptick in deployment, posting a 2.63 GAA and .907 SV% in his last four outings (3-1-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Friday as -147 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team on a four-game losing streak (0-2-2).

Jake Christiansen will draw back into the Blue Jackets' lineup on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, resulting in Zamula being a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Zamula is averaging 14:31 time-on-ice and has one assist in nine games with the Blue Jackets.