NHL Player News

Marchenko (illness) won't play versus the Blackhawks on Wednesday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

Marchenko will miss his second straight game, but he was expected to skate Wednesday. Danton Heinen will stay in the lineup to face the Blackhawks, while Marchenko will presumably be fine by the time the Blue Jackets' schedule resumes Feb. 26 versus the Bruins.

Mackey was reassigned to AHL Hartford on Wednesday.

The Rangers recalled Anton Blidh from the minors in a corresponding move. Mackey hasn't played in the NHL yet this campaign, but he has two goals, seven points and 54 PIM in 35 outings with Hartford in 2025-26.

Blidh was recalled from AHL Hartford on Wednesday.

Blidh spent the past week and a half in the minors but will rejoin the Rangers ahead of Thursday's game against Carolina. He's made three appearances with the NHL club this year, recording an assist, eight hits and a plus-1 rating while averaging 7:15 of ice time.

Panarin (not injury related) signed a two-year, $22 million contract extension with the Kings on Wednesday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Los Angeles acquired Panarin from the Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-round pick. Panarin is in the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract, and the Rangers will retain 50 percent of his remaining cap hit as part of the trade. The third-round pick New York received will become a second-rounder if the Kings win at least one playoff series this year. If LA wins at least two postseason series this year, then the Rangers will also get a 2028 fourth-round selection. Panarin is unlikely to make his Kings debut versus Seattle on Wednesday, but he might play Thursday in Vegas.

Jones (lower body) was suspended for 20 games by the NHL on Wednesday for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

Jones had been on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury and suffered a setback during his conditioning loan with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before joining Pittsburgh for a full practice Monday. He is no longer listed on the Penguins, according to the NHL media site, indicating a potential move to the non-roster list. He will be eligible to return against Tampa Bay on April 2.

Lankinen is set to start on the road against Vegas on Wednesday, per Canucks Insider.

Lankinen has gone 0-4-0 while allowing 17 goals on 76 shots (.776 save percentage) across his past five appearances. He's 7-18-4 with a 3.62 GAA and an .877 save percentage in 31 outings in 2025-26. Vegas has dropped seven of its past eight games (1-5-2) while scoring 2.75 goals per game over that stretch.

Panarin was traded to the Kings on Wednesday in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Panarin needs just one more tally to reach the 20-goal threshold for a fifth straight regular season and the 10th time in his NHL career. With his move to Kings, the veteran winger should immediately slot into a first-line role while also linking up with the No. 1 power-play unit. On a more competitive team than the Rangers, Panarin might still have enough time to challenge for the 40-goal mark, though he'll face an uphill battle.

Lammikko was reassigned to AHL Utica on Wednesday.

Lammikko's demotion will ensure he can keep playing during the NHL's Olympic break. However, it could be an indication that he's the odd man out following the Devils' acquisition of Nick Bjugstad from St. Louis on Wednesday. In his 24 games for New Jersey this season, the 30-year-old Lammikko failed to find the back of the net while recording 15 shots on net and two assists.

Bjugstad was acquired by New Jersey from St. Louis on Wednesday in exchange for Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick.

Bjugstad had six goals, seven points, 25 PIM and 73 hits in 35 outings with St. Louis in 2025-26 before the trade. He'll probably be limited to a bottom-six role with the Devils, but that might still result in him getting more ice time than the 11:38 he averaged with the Blues this season.

Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick were traded to the Blues from the Devils on Wednesday in exchange for Nick Bjugstad.

Bordeleau appeared in 44 games with the Sharks in the past four seasons, but he hasn't made an appearance at the NHL level yet in 2025-26 Over 35 appearances with AHL Utica this campaign, he has posted two goals, six assists, 37 PIM and a minus-13 rating. He'll presumably report to AHL Springfield following the trade.