NHL Player News

Hronek scored a goal on two shots and added three hits in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 7.

Hronek earned his first career playoff tally late in the third period, but the Canucks couldn't follow it up with an equalizer. The 26-year-old defenseman was limited to two points, 13 shots on net, 25 hits, 15 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over 13 postseason appearances in his first taste of playoff action. Hronek will be a restricted free agent this summer -- the only skater on the Canucks' roster with that status -- so getting him signed will likely be a top priority for general manager Patrik Allvin.

Kulak notched an assist in Monday's 3-2 win over the Canucks in Game 7.

Kulak has a helper in two of the last three contests. The 30-year-old set up defense partner Cody Ceci's tally in the second period of Game 7. Kulak is up to four points, eight shots on net, 18 blocked shots, 17 hits and a plus-3 rating through 12 playoff appearances while filling a third-pairing role.

Bouchard logged two assists, three shots on goal and two blocked shots in Monday's 3-2 win over the Canucks in Game 7.

Bouchard has earned multiple points in four of the last five games. The defenseman is up to five goals, 15 assists, 40 shots, 20 blocks and a plus-10 rating through 12 playoff contests. The 24-year-old will continue to see top-pairing minutes, though he may end up playing in his own zone more against a Stars team that lacks some of the flaws that plagued the Canucks in the postseason.

Ceci scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 3-2 win over the Canucks in Game 7.

Ceci tallied the opening goal early in the second period as the Oilers took control after a challenging first period. The goal was Ceci's second of the playoffs, both of which came in the second round. He's added one assist, 13 shots on net, 18 hits, 14 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating through 12 postseason appearances. Ceci continues to occupy a bottom-four role.

Hakanpaa (lower body) didn't practice Monday and remains day-to-day prior to Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday, according to Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News.

Hakanpaa has missed the last 26 contests, including Dallas' first 13 playoff outings. It is still unclear when he will be available to return. If Hakanpaa can't play Thursday, Alex Petrovic or Nils Lundkvist will be in the lineup against Edmonton or Vancouver.

DeAngelo will require offseason hand surgery, according to Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal.

DeAngelo is eligible for unrestricted free agency in July after completing a one-year, $1.675 million contract with the Hurricanes. The 28-year-old blueliner generated three goals, 11 points, 44 shots on net and 18 blocked shots in 31 regular-season appearances during the 2023-24 campaign. DeAngelo also contributed two assists, 16 shots on goal, seven blocked shots and eight hits across nine playoff outings.

Hronek notched an assist, three hits and a minus-2 rating in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Oilers in Game 6.

Hronek has been a non-factor on offense this postseason, posting one helper, a minus-4 rating and 11 shots on net through 12 appearances. He's added 23 hits and 15 blocked shots while maintaining a top-pairing role.

Bouchard scored a goal on two shots, added two assists, went plus-4 and blocked two shots in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Canucks in Game 6.

Bouchard had a point in each period en route to earning his third multi-point effort over six second-round contests. The defenseman has been excellent with five goals, 13 helpers, 37 shots on net, 18 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating over 11 playoff outings. Even more impressively, Bouchard has held his own defensively, though he's also clearly benefiting from playing alongside Mattias Ekholm on the top pairing.

Pesce (lower leg) has been dealing with a fractured fibula near his ankle, Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Pesce missed the final nine games of Carolina's postseason run, including the entire second-round series against the Rangers, after suffering the injury in Game 2 of the opening round versus the Islanders. Pesce had three goals, 10 points and a plus-10 rating in 70 regular-season games this year. The 29-year-old blueliner is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason -- if healthy, Pesce should be one of the top names available.

Makar logged a power-play assist, two shots on goal and three blocked shots in Friday's 2-1 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 6.

Makar finished the postseason with five goals, 10 assists, 36 shots on net and 23 blocks over 11 contests. The 25-year-old defenseman also had a career-high 90 points in 77 regular-season outings. Makar's brilliance on the blue line remains elite, and he's a finalist for the Norris Trophy once again after a stellar campaign. Makar should continue to be a top-three fantasy defenseman in 2024-25 with an Avalanche team that will have its core intact despite going into the offseason with nine pending unrestricted free agents among the team's skaters.