NHL Player News

Grzelcyk signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Sabres on Friday.

Grzelcyk missed the end of the 2025-26 regular season due to an upper-body injury, and he became an unrestricted free agent during the offseason. He should be healthy ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and will land a contract with the Sabres just under a week before the team's Opening Night matchup against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. The 32-year-old blueliner recorded no goals, 12 assists, 54 blocked shots, 32 PIM and 28 hits while averaging 16:58 of ice time across 69 regular-season appearances with the Blackhawks last year.

Theodore logged three assists, two shots on goal, two blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Thursday's 5-4 preseason overtime win over the Mammoth.

Theodore enters the season as the top blueliner for Vegas, though not by much with the likes of Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin around. Theodore should at least get first dibs on the top power-play unit, assuming the Golden Knights don't roll out a five-forward group. Theodore is coming off his worst campaign in years -- he was limited to 39 points in 70 regular-season outings, falling short of the 40-point mark for the first time since 2018-19.

Sandin-Pellikka scored a power-play goal and blocked two shots in Thursday's 3-2 preseason overtime win over the Sabres.

The fact that Sandin-Pellikka is getting power-play reps with a decent number of NHL players in the lineup is a good sign. He appears to have the edge to open the season with the Red Wings. The defenseman spent most of 2025-26 in the NHL as well, earning 21 points over 68 appearances, including seven power-play points. He'll have deep-league appeal in fantasy if he retains his role with the man advantage into the regular season.

Casey sustained an apparent knee injury Thursday versus the Rangers, and he will miss some time pending further evaluation, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

Casey battled injuries in the AHL last year, and he didn't play after January, ending 2025-26 with 19 points in 29 appearances for Utica. He was going to have a tough time making the NHL roster to begin with, and this injury won't help. If it lingers into the regular season, Casey will likely start the year on non-roster injured reserve.

Grans exited Thursday's preseason game against Boston due to a lower-body injury.

Grans had three goals and 14 points in 61 regular-season appearances with AHL Lehigh Valley in 2025-26. Health permitting, The 24-year-old will probably be sent to the minors before the start of the season.

Burroughs was waived by the Stars on Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Burroughs is with the Stars on a one-year, two-way contract, and he'll begin the regular season with AHL Texas if he clears waivers. He made 18 regular-season appearances in the AHL with Ontario last year and recorded a goal and six assists, and he'll presumably spend most of the upcoming campaign in the minors once again.

Hicketts was waived by the Kings on Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Hicketts hasn't made a regular-season appearance in the NHL since the 2019-20 campaign, when he made six appearances with the Red Wings. Assuming he clears waivers, he'll begin the 2026-27 season in the minors, where he'll presumably spend most, or all, of the year.

Rifai was placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs on Thursday, James Mirtle of The Athletic reports.

Rifai has spent most of the past few seasons in the minors, and he'll be left off the Maple Leafs' Opening Night roster once again prior to the 2026-27 campaign. He made 20 regular-season appearances for AHL Toronto last year and recorded no goals, five assists, 30 PIM and a plus-8 rating.

Myers was put on waivers by Toronto on Thursday, James Mirtle of The Athletic reports.

Myers had two assists and 22 PIM in 39 regular-season outings with the Maple Leafs in 2025-26. Although he got a fair amount of work at the top level last year, that's because Toronto dealt with significant injuries to its blue line. If the Maple Leafs have better luck on the injury front this season, then Myers might spend the vast majority of the campaign in the minors.

Schmidt was designated for waivers Thursday.

Schmidt has logged 98 regular-season games in the minors, producing just three goals and six assists. As such, even if he does see NHL action this year, he doesn't offer enough offensive upside to be worth picking up in fantasy contests.