NHL Player News

Savard (upper body) won't play versus the Penguins on Thursday.

Savard is considered day-to-day for now. Jayden Struble will check back into the lineup to cover for Savard's absence. The Canadiens' next game is Saturday in Winnipeg. Savard has five assists and 70 blocked shots over 27 appearances this season as a key shutdown defender.

Martinez (neck) has returned to Chicago for further evaluation, so he won't be in the lineup for Thursday's road game against the Islanders, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Martinez will presumably also miss Saturday's tilt in New Jersey. The Blackhawks will then return home to host the Islanders on Sunday. The 37-year-old defenseman has a goal, four points and 38 blocks in 15 appearances in 2024-25. Kevin Korchinski is likely to be in the lineup while Martinez is unavailable.

Bortuzzo (lower body) "will miss quite a bit of time," Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune reports Thursday.

Coach Andre Tourigny said that Bortuzzo, who was injured Tuesday against the Wild, will not accompany the team on its two-game road trip and is out indefinitely. The 35-year-old veteran has only two assists in 15 contests this season. Dakota Mermis was recalled from AHL Tucson on Thursday to replace Bortuzzo on the roster.

Forbort (knee) is expected to be activated off injured reserve and play against Florida on Thursday, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports.

Forbort hasn't been in the lineup since Nov. 2. He has an assist, a hit and five blocks in four appearances in 2024-25. Noah Juulsen is projected to be a healthy scratch due to Forbort's return.

Mayfield (illness) will return to the lineup against Chicago on Thursday.

Mayfield missed Tuesday's clash with the Kings with his illness. He is without a point in his last nine games and has a goal, four assists, 53 hits and 58 blocked shots across 29 appearances this season. Mayfield will see third unit action alongside Isaiah George as Grant Hutton will come out of the lineup.

Mermis was claimed off waivers by Utah from Toronto on Thursday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Mermis didn't end up playing for the Maple Leafs before he was waived. He'll have a better opportunity in Utah, which has a thin blue line due to injuries. Robert Bortuzzo (lower body) was hurt Tuesday, joining defensemen Sean Durzi (shoulder), Maveric Lamoureux (upper body) and John Marino (back) on the shelf.

Dermott was placed on waivers by the Oilers on Thursday.

Dermott signed a contract with the Oilers just before the start of the regular season as he was on a PTO throughout training camp. The 27-year-old failed to pick up a point in 10 NHL games this season and has been a healthy scratch over the last seven games. Dermott will be sent to AHL Bakersfield if he clears waivers.

Ceci (illness) will be a game-time decision in St. Louis on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Ceci partook in the morning skate, but the team will see how he is feeling ahead of game time. Ceci has a goal and six assists in 31 games this season. Should Ceci not be available, Henry Thrun will join the lineup.

Utah announced Thursday that Bortuzzo (lower body) is considered day-to-day.

Bortuzzo sustained his lower-body injury during Tuesday's game against the Wild, but his designation as day-to-day is somewhat encouraging since head coach Andre Tourigny said after the game that the injury "doesn't look good." Bortuzzo will be sidelined against Colorado on Thursday, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him also miss Saturday's matchup in San Jose.

Friedman was recalled from AHL Abbotsford on Thursday.

Friedman has appeared in just one game for the Canucks this season in which he generated four hits, two blocks and one shot while logging 14:49 of ice time. It will likely come down to Friedman or Erik Brannstrom for the final spot in the lineup heading into Thursday's matchup against Florida.