NHL Player News

Hanifin (lower body) won't travel with the Golden Knights on the team's upcoming three-game road trip, according to Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday.

Vegas moved Hanifin to injured reserve earlier in the day, and Jaycob Megna joined the big club from the minors in a corresponding move. The 28-year-old Hanifin has already missed the last six games and will sit out at least two more. However, it remains unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup.

Chychrun scored a power-play goal on four shots in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Kraken.

Chychrun has scored in back-to-back games and in three of his last four contests. The 27-year-old defenseman is off to a strong start in 2025-26, racking up six points, 19 shots on net, eight hits, six blocked shots, four PIM and a plus-7 rating through seven appearances. The Capitals' defense is fairly versatile, but Chychrun commands top-four minutes and power-play time, making him a reliable fantasy option.

Head coach Craig Berube said Wednesday that Tanev (upper body) is feeling better but is questionable for Friday's game against the Sabres, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.

Tanev exited Tuesday's game against the Devils due to an upper-body injury, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be forced to miss additional time. If Tanev is held out Friday or Saturday against Buffalo, Philippe Myers is a candidate to enter the lineup.

Schaefer scored a goal and added an assist in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Sharks.

The 18-year-old defenseman continues to turn heads with his play and extended his point streak to six games with his goal in the second period. Schaefer has two goals and five helpers through his first six games in the NHL. He has three points on the power play and has logged at least 20 minutes of ice time in four of his last five outings. The first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft continues to impress, and it seems his role will only grow as the season progresses.

Romanov (upper body) is expected to miss at least two more games, per Andrew Gross of Newsday on Wednesday.

Romanov has already missed two games due to the injury, and it seems the earliest he could potentially return is Tuesday in Boston. When Romanov is healthy, he will probably replace Adam Boqvist in the lineup.

Kesselring (lower body) could be back practicing with his teammates by the weekend, per Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News on Wednesday.

The timeline for Kesselring's return is currently unclear, but an update on his status could come after he resumes practicing. Once he receives the green light to return, he figures to slot into the second-pairing role and will likely replace Zach Metsa in the lineup.

Hanifin (undisclosed) was put on injured reserve Wednesday, per Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Hanifin is eligible to come off the IR list whenever he is healthy, but it would be surprising for Vegas to make this move if the team expected him to play this weekend. As a result, Hanifin probably won't play Saturday in Florida, and it would be surprising if he returns in time for Sunday's clash in Tampa Bay.

Megna was recalled from AHL Henderson on Wednesday.

Megna has made four appearances for Henderson this year, logging an assist, six PIM and a plus-2 rating. Vegas moved Noah Hanifin (undisclosed) to injured reserve in a corresponding move. Megna might see playing time during the Golden Knights' upcoming three-game road trip.

Harris (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

While it's not yet clear what injury Harris is dealing with, he was seen limping after Tuesday's loss to the Panthers and is now facing a multi-game absence. If Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed) isn't available to suit up Thursday against the Ducks, Michael Callahan could be in the lineup after being summoned from AHL Providence on Wednesday.

Cagnoni was reassigned to AHL San Jose on Wednesday.

Cagnoni was recalled by the Sharks on Sunday, but he didn't play for the big club before returning to the minors. The 20-year-old has a goal in two outings with AHL San Jose this year.