NHL Player News

Huang scored a goal and added an assist in QMJHL Chicoutimi's 4-0 win over Rimouski on Friday.

The goal was Huang's second of the campaign, but he's otherwise been pretty good this year. He has 16 points in as many games while maintaining a plus-15 rating for Chicoutimi. He was able to produce 40 points over 64 regular-season outings in 2024-25 before being selected 122nd overall by the Predators in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Offense will be what carries him through his development, with a peak as a second-pairing option who gets power-play time if everything goes right.

Hronek was removed from Friday's game versus the Hurricanes by the concussion spotter, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports.

It's unclear if Hronek has suffered a concussion, as the results of his evaluation were not revealed after the contest. He took an elbow to the head from Andrei Svechnikov late in the game. Hronek's status for Sunday's game versus the Lightning will be in doubt until more information is available.

Hughes (undisclosed) won't play Friday versus the Hurricanes, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports.

Hughes will miss a game after initially being listed as a game-time decision. It's unclear if this issue is related to the lower-body injury that cost him four contests earlier in the season. The defenseman's absence will open up more power-play time for Filip Hronek, while Victor Mancini (upper body) was activated from injured reserve earlier Friday and could be an option to play.

Samson (upper body) was activated from non-roster injured reserve and assigned to AHL Lehigh Valley on Friday, Phantoms announcer Bob Rotruck reports.

Samson was given a 6-8 week timeline to recover in late September, and his return lands squarely in the middle of that. The 22-year-old blueliner will likely spend the bulk of the season with Lehigh Valley, where he had 24 points in 69 regular-season appearances in 2024-25.

Mancini (upper body) was activated off injured reserve Friday.

Mancini hasn't played since Oct. 26 due to the injury. He has no points, three shots, six hits and five blocks in five appearances with Vancouver in 2025-26. Mancini might draw back into the lineup now that he's available, potentially at the expense of Tom Willander, but it's also possible that Mancini will be a healthy scratch for Friday's game against Carolina.

Guhle underwent adductor muscle surgery Thursday and will miss 8-10 weeks.

The announcement was made by the Canadiens on Friday. Guhle's adductor was partially torn Oct. 16 in Nashville, with the surgery occurring almost four weeks later, as the injury did not heal properly. Guhle has a goal, one assist, five blocked shots and 16 hits across five games this season.

Bouchard notched three assists, four shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Bouchard had a hand in both of Leon Draisaitl's goals as well as a tally by Matthew Savoie. With two goals and six assists over seven games in November, Bouchard has done his part on offense this month. He's up to three goals, 12 helpers, 53 shots on net, 26 blocked shots and a minus-7 rating over 19 appearances on the year.

Mateychuk scored a goal and blocked three shots in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Oilers.

Mateychuk fired back after the Oilers tied the game at 2-2 in the middle of the second period, answering a Leon Draisaitl goal just 30 seconds later. Mateychuk has four points over his last six games and has looked decent in a top-four role for the bulk of this season. He's at four goals, seven points, 17 shots on net, 13 hits, 30 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 16 appearances. He won't score goals at this pace all year, but he should have no trouble surpassing his 13-point output from 45 games as a rookie last year.

Stecher was put on waivers by the Oilers on Friday.

Stecher will be sent to AHL Bakersfield if he passes through waivers. The 31-year-old defenseman has yet to acquire a point in six NHL games this season. He has been a healthy scratch on 13 occasions in 2025-26.

Lyubushkin logged an assist, two hits, two blocked shots and seven PIM in Thursday's 7-0 win over the Canadiens.

Lyubushkin was one of 15 Stars skaters to get on the scoresheet in this big win. The 31-year-old blueliner hasn't been a big factor on offense this season, but he has two helpers over his last four games. For the year, he's at three assists, nine shots on net, 21 hits, 32 blocked shots, 17 PIM and a minus-1 rating over 16 appearances. Once Nils Lundkvist (lower body) is healthy, Lyubushkin may not be an everyday player in the lineup.