NHL Player News

Hanifin (rest) will be a healthy scratch Thursday against Anaheim, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.

This decision will allow Hanifin to rest before the playoffs. He has 13 goals and 47 points in 80 outings in 2023-24. Hanifin will undoubtedly be back in the lineup for Game 1 of the postseason.

Ceci (rest) will play Thursday versus Colorado, per the NHL media site.

Ceci was a healthy scratch for Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Arizona to keep him fresh for the playoffs. He has five goals, 25 points, 89 hits and 106 blocks in 78 appearances in 2023-24.

Nurse (rest) is drawing back into the lineup Thursday versus Colorado, per the NHL media site.

Nurse was a healthy scratch in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Arizona so that he could get some rest before the playoffs. He has 10 goals, 32 points, 79 PIM, 181 shots, 167 hits and 169 blocks in 80 appearances this season while serving in a top-four capacity.

Hanley (undisclosed) isn't available Thursday versus San Jose, per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

This is Calgary's season finale, so Hanley will conclude the campaign with a goal and five points in 42 outings between Dallas and the Flames. He missed the final eight contests of the season due to the injury. Hanley is signed through 2024-25, so he'll likely be on Calgary's roster again next year, though it's feasible the 32-year-old will bounce between serving on the third pairing and being a healthy scratch with the big club.

Ekholm (rest) won't be in the lineup Thursday versus Colorado, Oilers play-by-by announcer Jack Michaels reports.

Ekholm will finish the regular season with 11 goals, 56 points, 136 hits and 93 blocks in 79 contests. After getting a breather, the 33-year-old figures to draw back into the lineup in a top-four capacity for Game 1 of the playoffs.

Bouchard will rest for Thursday's game versus the Avalanche, Oilers play-by-by announcer Jack Michaels reports.

Bouchard will finish above a point-per-game pace for the regular season with 18 goals and 64 assists over 81 appearances. The 24-year-old racked up 35 of those 82 points on the power play. Bouchard should be back in a top-four role and on the first power-play unit for the Oilers' opening game of the playoffs.

St. Ivany was moved to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.

St. Ivany recorded an assist, two PIM, 30 hits and 14 blocks in 14 contests with Pittsburgh in 2023-24. He also has four goals, 15 points and 30 PIM in 53 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With Pittsburgh's season over but the minor-league club slated to make the playoffs, this is an opportunity for St. Ivany to get in some extra work.

Ristolainen has undergone surgery for a ruptured triceps tendon, the team announced Thursday. He is expected to be fine for the start of training camp in September.

Ristolainen didn't play past Feb. 10 due to the injury. He finished the campaign with a goal, four points, 56 hits and 45 blocks in 31 appearances. Although Ristolainen comes with a $5.1 million cap hit through 2026-27, he might start 2024-25 on the third pairing after averaging just 16:41 of ice time this season.

Pettersson recorded new personal bests in goals (four), assists (26) and games played (82) this season.

It was the first time in Pettersson's seven-year NHL career that he played in every game and reached the 30-point threshold. The 27-year-old blueliner doesn't produce much offensively, but he could be a decent depth option in deep formats in 2024-25.

Kessel was reassigned to AHL Springfield on Thursday.

Kessel recorded a goal and seven points in 39 games with St. Louis this season. The Blues' campaign is over, but he'll get in some extra contests with Springfield. Kessel has also collected two goals and seven points in 34 appearances with the minor-league club this year.