NHL Player News

Head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday that Makar is dealing with a lower-body injury, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

While Makar is unlikely to be ready for the first day of training camp, he's expected to return to full health before the regular season begins. He was banged up during Colorado's playoff run, but his current injury is unrelated. The 27-year-old signed the largest contract in NHL history in August, agreeing to an eight-year, $163.2 million extension. After back-to-back regular seasons with at least 90 points, Makar took a slight step back in 2025-26, but he still recorded 20 goals, 59 assists, 118 blocked shots, 35 hits and 24 PIM while averaging 24:51 of ice time per game.

Del Mastro signed a two-year, $1.9 million contract with the Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Del Mastro was a restricted free agent coming off his three-year, entry-level contract. During the 2025-26 regular season, he had an assist and 18 PIM in 19 appearances with Chicago, as well as two goals, 18 points and 34 PIM across 45 outings with AHL Rockford. Del Mastro will compete for a third-pairing spot during training camp, but he's more likely to start the season as Chicago's seventh defenseman or be sent to the minors.

Xhekaj signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Montreal on Tuesday.

Xhekaj chipped in one goal, three assists and 40 shots on net while adding 116 PIM and 178 hits in 65 appearances during the 2025-26 regular season. He may not play regularly in the 2026-27 campaign, but he should be a good source of banger-league statistics whenever he is in the lineup.

Zadorov has moved past his knee injury and will be at the Bruins' training camp, which begins Wednesday, Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe reports.

Zadorov played through a torn MCL during the Bruins' first-round series loss against the Sabres last season. General manager Don Sweeney said Monday that the team is not dealing with any injuries, which suggests that Zadorov will have no restrictions when training camp begins. The left-shot blueliner will continue to be a steady source of physicality in 2026-27 while likely hovering around the 20-point mark.

Kuznetsov (upper body) is healthy and will be present at training camp later this week, Pat Steinberg of QR Calgary 770 AM reports Monday.

Kuznetsov missed the final three games of 2025-26 and 11 of the final 16 due to an upper-body injury. General manager Craig Conroy said Monday that every player with the exception of Jonathan Huberdeau (hip) is healthy ahead of this season, so the Flames' blue line is currently at full strength. Kuznetsov might have the inside track at starting on the left side of the team's third pairing, but he will have Joel Hanley to compete with for minutes in 2026-27.

Hanley (upper body) has been cleared to participate in Calgary's training camp, per Pat Steinberg of QR Calgary 770 AM.

Hanley sustained the injury in late March and ultimately missed the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. Across 68 regular-season outings last season, he recorded seven assists, 43 shots on goal, 42 hits and 90 blocked shots. The 35-year-old blueliner is entering his third full season with the Flames and will compete for a depth role in the team's defensive core. As a left-shot defenseman, his main competition will be Yan Kuznetsov and Abram Wiebe.

Bahl (lower body) is healthy and good to go for the start of training camp, per Pat Steinberg of QR Calgary 770 AM on Monday.

Bahl made 76 appearances during the 2025-26 season, but he missed the final five games of the year due to a lower-body injury. The left-shot defenseman will probably see a lot of time on the No. 1 pairing in 2026-27, likely alongside Simon Nemec. Bahl has limited offensive upside, but the addition of Nemec might help Bahl challenge his career high of 20 points, which he set in 2024-25.

Guhle will miss the start of the 2026-27 regular season after undergoing offseason surgery, TVA Sports reports Monday.

Guhle appeared in a career-low 39 regular-season games last year and recorded two goals, nine assists, 86 hits, 63 blocked shots and 41 PIM while averaging 19:28 of ice time. He was available throughout the playoffs and helped lead the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Finals, but he underwent surgery following the postseason. The exact nature of his procedure isn't yet clear, but it will force him to miss time early in the season.

Morrissey said Monday that he remains committed to the Jets amid teammate Connor Hellebuyck's trade request, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reports.

Morrissey has two years remaining on his current deal with the Jets, who could end up in a rebuild this season if Hellebuyck is ultimately moved. Morrissey has spent the first 11 years of his career in Winnipeg, and his remarks Monday indicate that he doesn't have a desire to leave, even if the team as a whole faces some adversity this season. Morrissey appeared in 77 regular-season games last year and recorded 14 goals, 41 assists, 118 blocked shots, 36 hits and 30 PIM while averaging 24:43 of ice time.

Aitcheson is expected to make an effort to begin the regular season with the Islanders, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports Monday.

Aitcheson trained with Bo Horvat during the offseason, and the latter praised Aitcheson's work ethic Monday while saying that the 19-year-old is "really determined to try to make this team." Aitcheson was the No. 17 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and he recorded 28 goals, 42 assists and 97 PIM across 56 regular-season appearances with OHL Barrie last year. Even if he's left off the Opening Night roster for the 2026-27 campaign, it seems possible that he'll have a chance to take another step in his development by playing for AHL Hamilton this year.