NHL Player News

Kessel signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension with the Blues on Wednesday.

Kessel has three assists, eight PIM, 19 hits and 44 blocks in 23 contests this season. He also has two goals and seven points in 34 outings with AHL Springfield. The 23-year-old's extension is a one-way deal, which suggests he could spend more time with the big club in 2024-25.

Kesselring posted an assist, three shots on goal, two hits, two blocked shots and two PIM in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Wild.

Kesselring did a little of everything in this contest. The 24-year-old snapped his four-game slump with a helper on Nick Bjugstad's tally. Kesselring continues to see bottom-four minutes for the Coyotes, but he's been able to hold his place in the lineup for a majority of the season. The defenseman is at 15 points, 78 hits, 37 blocked shots, 47 PIM and 52 shots on net through 49 outings.

Cernak (lower body) is slated to play against the Rangers on Thursday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Cernak appears to have avoided a serious issue after suffering a lower-body injury against the Flyers on Saturday. The 26-year-old defenseman has just two points in his last 10 contests while garnering just six shots over that span. Outside of hits and blocks, Cernak shouldn't be expected to offer much in the way of fantasy value.

Siegenthaler is expected to miss time with a concussion. Head coach Travis Green told reporters Wednesday, "He'll be out for an extended period of time," per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.

Siegenthaler should be considered out indefinitely at this point. With John Marino (upper body) also in doubt, the Devils could be forced to use Nick DeSimone and Santeri Hatakka as their third pairing against the Stars on Thursday.

Marino (upper body) missed Wednesday's practice and is doubtful for Thursday's contest against Dallas, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.

Marino has four goals, 23 points, 33 hits and 77 blocks in 64 appearances in 2023-24. Jonas Siegenthaler (upper body) is also questionable for Thursday, which might result in Santeri Hatakka, who was called up from AHL Utica on Wednesday, and Nick DeSimone drawing into the lineup.

Grzelcyk is battling an illness and won't travel with the Bruins to Montreal ahead of Thursday's game against the Canadiens, per Joe Haggerty of Boston Sports Journal on Wednesday.

Grzelcyk has two goals, eight points and 37 PIM in 51 contests this season. His absence from the lineup Thursday is expected to result in Andrew Peeke making his Bruins debut following his acquisition from Columbus on Friday.

Hatakka was recalled from AHL Utica on Wednesday.

Hatakka's addition to the roster doesn't bode well for Jonas Siegenthaler (upper body), who was injured in Monday's matchup with the Rangers. For his part, the 23-year-old Hatakka figures to compete with Nick DeSimone for the final spot on the blue line if Siegenthaler can't play against Dallas on Thursday.

Fox scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Hurricanes.

Goaltenders Igor Shesterkin and Pyotr Kochetkov were all but unbeatable Tuesday, and Fox's goal in the final seconds of the first period came on an attempted pass from the side boards that deflected into the net off Brady Skjei. Bounces have been going Fox's way of late though, and over the last 12 games the 26-year-old blueliner has piled up three goals and 13 points while adding 28 blocked shots, 25 shots on net and a plus-11 rating.

Byram scored two goals on four shots on net while adding two hits and a plus-4 rating in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Red Wings.

The 22-year-old blueliner has gotten off to a quick start for his new club. In three games since being traded from the Avalanche to the Sabres, Byram has racked up three goals and four points, and he led Buffalo in TOI on Tuesday at 23:14. The fourth overall pick in the 2019 Draft was stuck in Cale Makar's shadow in Colorado, but Buffalo seems willing to treat Byram as an equal partner to Rasmus Dahlin rather than a sidekick, which bodes well for his fantasy value.

Xhekaj had an assist, three shots on net, two blocks and three hits in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Columbus.

Xhekaj's slapshot was deflected home by Joshua Roy, giving Montreal a 3-0 lead six minutes into the game. It was the third assist in last six contest for Xhekaj, whose game has come around since partnering up with veteran David Savard on the second pair.