NHL Player News
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Rutger McGroarty RW | PIT
Penguins' Rutger McGroarty: Performing well in minors
McGroarty has registered six goals and 16 helpers in 39 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, including five points in his last 10 outings.
McGroarty struggled at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, managing just one helper in his first eight AHL contests but has seemingly found his game with the Baby Pens. With Pittsburgh likely headed for a third straight season without a postseason appearance, McGroarty could be one of a handful of youngsters to see minutes with the NHL club in the final few weeks of the year.
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Gustav Forsling D | FLA
Panthers' Gustav Forsling: Dealing with illness
Forsling (illness) missed Team Sweden's practice Monday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Forsling is expected to return to the ice for Tuesday's session ahead of Wednesday's 4 Nations Face-Off opener versus Team Canada. Sweden is deep down the left side, with Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Ekholm, which could make Forsling a healthy scratch when the tournament begins. However, the 28-year-old Forsling could be a candidate to replace Jonas Brodin on the top pairing with Hedman.
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Andreas Englund D | NSH
Predators' Andreas Englund: Claimed off waivers
Nashville claimed Englund off waivers from the Kings on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Englund has one goal, four shots on net, seven blocked shots and 20 hits in 11 appearances this season. He was a healthy scratch in 13 straight games before landing on waivers. Englund could see more playing time with the Predators, especially if Adam Wilsby (upper body) and Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) remain unavailable after the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Dante Fabbro D | CLB
Blue Jackets' Dante Fabbro: Likely to play after 4 Nations
Fabbro (concussion) should be ready to return after the 4 Nations Face-Off, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic on Monday.
Fabbro sat out three straight games before the break, but general manager Don Waddell expects the 26-year-old blueliner to be in the lineup Feb. 22 versus Chicago. Since being claimed off waivers from Nashville on Nov. 10, Fabbro has four goals, 13 points, 46 shots on net, 96 blocked shots and 44 hits in 37 outings with the Blue Jackets while primarily skating on the top pairing with Zach Werenski.
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Boone Jenner C | CLB
Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner: Expected back after break
Jenner (shoulder) is expected to return to the lineup after the 4 Nations Face-Off, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports Monday.
Jenner hasn't played yet in 2024-25 after sustaining a shoulder injury late in training camp, but general manager Don Waddell expects the 31-year-old forward to play Feb. 22 against Chicago. Jenner still has to come off injured reserve, and assuming that happens after the break, he will be in the mix for a top-six role and could see time on the power play versus the Blackhawks. Jenner compiled 22 goals, 35 points, 155 shots on net, 74 blocked shots and 119 hits across 58 regular-season appearances in the 2023-24 campaign.
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Sidney Crosby C | PIT
Penguins' Sidney Crosby: Available against Sweden
Crosby (upper body) will be in the lineup when Team Canada faces Sweden on Wednesday, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.
Crosby missed the Penguins' last two games due to his upper-body issue but appears to be ready to play again. With Team Canada, the veteran center is slated to play on the second line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mark Stone while also suiting up with the No. 1 power-play unit. Barring any sort of setback, Crosby should be available for Pittsburgh's meeting with Washington on Feb. 22.
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Brandon Halverson G | TB
Lightning's Brandon Halverson: Dropped to AHL
Halverson was returned to AHL Syracuse on Monday, per Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.
Halverson has been the backup goalie behind Andrei Vasilevskiy in the last four games. If Jonas Johansson (lower body) remains unavailable after the 4 Nations Face-Off, Halverson could rejoin the Lightning. The 28-year-old Halverson has a 12-7-7 record with a 2.20 GAA and a .918 save percentage in 26 AHL appearances this season.
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Dylan Duke LW | TB
Lightning's Dylan Duke: Shipped down to minors
Duke was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Monday.
With the Lightning off until Feb. 23 versus the Kraken for the 4 Nations Face-Off, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see Duke headed down to the minors during the break. In his two NHL games this year, the 21-year-old center notched one goal on one shot and five hits while averaging 7:52 of ice time. Duke is far from a lock to be recalled ahead of the matchup with Seattle and likely will play the bulk of his games in the minors this year.
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Gage Goncalves C | TB
Lightning's Gage Goncalves: Assigned to AHL
Goncalves was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Monday, according to Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.
Goncalves has one goal, seven points, 30 shots on net, 11 blocked shots and 25 hits in 33 NHL outings this season. He has three assists over a three-game point streak and five helpers in his last six appearances. Goncalves will likely be back with the Lightning after the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Travis Konecny C | PHI
Flyers' Travis Konecny: Under the weather
Konecny wasn't on the ice with Team Canada for Monday's practice due to an illness, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Konecny has until Wednesday's matchup with Sweden to get back to 100 percent. If it's deemed more serious, the 27-year-old winger could also be dropped from Team Canada's roster ahead of Monday's 5 p.m. EST deadline, though that seems unlikely. The Ontario native heads into the 4 Nations Face-Off on an upswing, having ended a nine-game goal drought with his tally against Pittsburgh on Saturday.