NHL Player News

Sandin-Pellikka registered two assists and went plus-3 in Monday's 4-0 win over the Canucks.

Sandin-Pellikka is heating up with four helpers over his last three games. The 20-year-old defenseman's ice time has dropped in that span, as he's topped 15 minutes just once over those contests after going 10 straight games with at least 16 minutes. Perhaps less is more for the rookie, at least for now, as the Red Wings can get higher quality out of him in less ice time. He's at 10 points, 31 shots on net, 31 blocked shots and a minus-14 rating over 30 appearances.

Harley (lower body) will return to the lineup against the Jets on Tuesday, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press reports.

Following a 12-game absence, Harley should return to a top-four role and see time on the power play against Winnipeg. He has compiled one goal, nine assists, 21 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and nine hits through 18 appearances this season.

Liljegren (lower body) will be a game-time decision Tuesday against the Flyers, according to Max Miller of NHL.com.

Liljegren hasn't recorded a point across his last 11 appearances -- he has 24 blocked shots and a minus-8 rating during that cold stretch. If the right-shot blueliner is unable to suit up Tuesday, Shakir Mukhamadullin will replace him in the lineup.

Desharnais (upper body) will be sidelined through the Christmas break, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports Tuesday.

Desharnais is still considered week-to-week while on injured reserve, so it's possible he will be out even longer than the break. Considering the blueliner hasn't scored a goal since 2023-24 when he was with the Oilers, and has managed just two points this year, few fantasy managers figure to be impacted by his continued absence.

Brunicke will be loaned to Team Canada for the 2026 World Junior Championship, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.

Brunicke will take part in the World Juniors, which will likely keep him away from the Penguins through early January. The 19-year-old Brunicke hasn't played in an NHL game since Nov. 3 versus the Maple Leafs, though he did suit up in five minor-league games for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while on a conditioning assignment.

Kuznetsov scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Monday's 7-4 victory over the Sabres.

It was the 23-year-old's first career game-winner in his 18th NHL contest, and his first multi-point performance. Kuznetsov is emerging as a reliable member of Calgary's blue line, seeing more than 20 minutes of ice time in 10 straight games, and over the last seven contests, the 2020 second-round pick has produced two goals and four points with 16 blocked shots, 15 hits and a minus-1 rating.

York (upper body) will not be in action versus the Sharks on Tuesday, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

York will miss his second straight game due to his upper-body problem, though he was on the ice for the game-day skate. The blueliner is currently stuck in a 13-game goal drought, but he did manage to chip in five helpers over that stretch. With York unavailable, Ty Murchison is poised to make his NHL debut against San Jose.

Dahlin scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Flames.

It was the 25-year-old blueliner's first goal since Oct. 30, snapping a 14-game drought. Dahlin also hadn't managed a multi-point performance since Nov. 21, producing just two assists over his prior seven contests, but on the season, he's still contributed two goals and 20 points in 26 games with 68 shots on net, 31 blocked shots, 31 PIM and 23 hits with a minus-12 rating.

Reilly scored the game-winning goal in Monday's 2-0 victory over the Lightning.

Late in the first period, the veteran blueliner had his initial shot attempt from the slot interrupted by a back-checking Jake Guentzel, but Reilly stuck with the play, recovered the puck and slipped a backhand past Jonas Johansson as he fell to the ice. That proved to be all the offense Dennis Hildeby would need. Reilly hasn't gone two straight games without recording a point since the end of October, and over his last 18 games, he's piled up three goals and 16 points with 34 shots on net, 26 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating.

Middleton (undisclosed) was forced out of Monday's 4-1 win in Seattle, and there was no update on his status postgame, according to Sarah McLellan of The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Middleton logged an assist and one blocked shot in 16:34 of ice time before exiting the game. Considering head coach John Hynes didn't have any information on the blueliner's status going forward, Middleton should be considered questionable, at best, for Thursday's divisional matchup versus Dallas.