NHL Player News

Lorentz provided a pair of assists, six hits, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Canadiens.

Lorentz was active in the season opener, generating a full stat line in 12:09 of ice time. He's likely to be a fixture on the fourth line for the Maple Leafs this year after signing a three-year extension on the eve of free agency. Lorentz has never reached the 20-point mark in his career, but he offers plenty of hits and solid defensive play.

Jarnkrok scored a goal in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Canadiens.

Jarnkrok has already matched his goal total from 2024-25, though last year was an injury-riddled campaign for the Swede. He's been a proven middle-six forward in the past, but he won't be asked to do that much early in 2025-26, as he opened the season on the fourth line. For now, Jarnkrok will look to stay healthy and play well enough to keep top prospect Easton Cowan in the press box.

McMann scored a goal and added four hits in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Canadiens.

McMann could have more fantasy appeal this season if he sticks on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, who both assisted on his goal one minute into the game. The 29-year-old McMann had promising stretches last year that correlated with his promotion into a top-six role, allowing him to finish the regular season with 20 goals and 34 points in 74 outings. He also shot 11.8 percent -- while a little high overall, it was a lower rate than in 2023-24, when he shot 12.7 percent over 56 games. McMann could push for something closer to the 40-45 point range while still adding plenty of hits and a few PIM in 2025-26.

Matthews scored an empty-net goal and blocked three shots in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Canadiens.

Matthews' first goal of the season wasn't anything special, but fantasy managers won't mind the early contribution. His line with Matthew Knies and Matias Maccelli was a factor on two of the Maple Leafs' goals. Matthews may need some time to adjust to the post-Mitch Marner era, but he's still one of the elite scorers in the game. Bet on talent -- his 33-goal output in the 2024-25 regular season was a career low for a player who has six campaigns of at least 40 tallies.

Toews (undisclosed) will be in the lineup for Thursday's season opener against the Stars, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press reports.

Toews will not only be making his Winnipeg debut, but he will be playing in an NHL game for the first time since 2022-23, when he was with the Blackhawks. In that final season with Chicago, the center notched 15 goals and 16 helpers in 53 regular-season tilts, including 12 power-play points. If he can produce at that level in 2025-26, his one-year deal with the Jets will be considered a success.

Gustafsson was placed on waivers by the Jets on Thursday, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press reports.

Gustafsson made 36 regular-season appearances for the Jets last year, recording two goals, four assists, 19 hits and 18 blocked shots while averaging 8:59 of ice time. However, he'll land on waivers ahead of Thursday's Opening Night matchup against the Stars since Jonathan Toews (undisclosed) is slated to be activated by the Jets.

Tavares notched two assists in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Canadiens.

The 35-year-old helped set up Bobby McMann for the Leafs' first goal of the season exactly one minute into the first period with a faceoff win, then chipped in on a William Nylander empty-netter late in the third. Toronto's Core Four is now a Big Three since Mitch Marner is in Vegas, but Tavares' role as the No. 2 center behind Auston Matthews shouldn't change much.

Bolduc scored his first goal of the season in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs.

After coming over from the Blues in a trade this offseason, Bolduc wasted little time making his mark with the Canadiens, giving his new team a 2-1 lead early in the second period as he banged home the rebound on a Brendan Gallagher shot. Bolduc skated on the top power-play unit in the Habs' opener alongside the likes of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, and if he can hang onto that assignment, the 22-year-old will be in prime position to top the 19 goals and 36 points he amassed over 72 regular-season games with St. Louis in 2024-25.

Geekie recorded an empty-net goal and an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Capitals.

Geekie was involved in the build-up of Boston's first goal, courtesy of David Pastrnak with a snap shot midway through the first period, and he'd later close out the scoring with an empty-netter in the final minute of the contest. Geekie signed a six-year, $33 million contract extension with the Bruins in the offseason, and he should remain a regular on both the first line and the power-play unit. Geekie should have plenty of opportunities to produce on offense as long as he continues to skate alongside Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm.

Lindholm recorded a power-play goal and an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Capitals.

Lindholm scored the go-ahead goal at the 7:41 mark of the third period, shortly after Tom Wilson had equalized for the Capitals, with a backhander on the power play. The playmaker, who had 47 points across 82 regular-season games in 2024-25, also set up Morgan Geekie's empty-netter in the final seconds of the game. As long as Lindholm skates on the first line and on the power play alongside David Pastrnak, he should have plenty of opportunities to keep producing.