NHL Player News

Grebenkin (undisclosed) won't play against Carolina on Saturday, according to Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Grebenkin wasn't on the ice with the main group for Saturday's morning skate and isn't ready to return. He will miss his third straight game to begin the 2026-27 campaign. Grebenkin contributed four goals, 14 points, 32 shots on net and 86 hits in 55 regular-season appearances for Philadelphia in 2025-26.

Stankoven tallied a goal, fired four shots on net and put out two hits in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Capitals.

After a phenomenal postseason run where he tallied 11 goals across 19 games, Stankoven found the back of the net in just his second appearance of the 2026-27 campaign. The 23-year-old continues to improve each season, as he posted a career-high 21 goals and 44 points across 81 regular-season games in 2025-26. Fresh off a season with 32 goals in 100 total games, Stankoven could make the jump to being a 30-goal scorer in the 2026-27 regular season as a top-six center for one of the league's strongest rosters.

Aho scored a power-play goal, put two shots on net and served two PIM in Friday's 5-2 loss to Washington.

After being held off the scoresheet in Carolina's Opening Night clash with the Panthers, Aho bounced back to pick up his first point of 2026-27, scoring a power-play goal late in the second period. The 29-year-old center had a strong 2025-26 season, where he posted 80 points across 79 regular-season outings, before he added 12 points in Carolina's 19 postseason outings. With the confidence of having a Stanley Cup and being surrounded by a strong group of forwards, Aho is yet again poised for another big season offensively. He's surpassed the 80-point threshold in three of his last five seasons, making it a realistic expectation for him in 2026-27.

Hutson tallied a goal, placed three shots on net, recorded two blocked shots and served four PIM in Friday's 5-2 win over the Hurricanes.

Hutson carried his momentum from the end of the 2025-26 campaign into the new season, as he found the back of the net just 11 and a half minutes into the Capitals' Opening Night matchup. The 20-year-old blueliner was excellent at the end of the 2025-26 campaign following his call-up, where he posted three goals and 10 points across 14 regular-season outings. He holds a high offensive ceiling from the blue line, which should lead to increased power-play opportunities if he continues to post points like clockwork. Hutson projects as a solid fantasy option in standard leagues for the rest of his first full NHL season.

Vasilevskiy is expected to patrol the home crease against Washington on Saturday, per Diandra Loux of The Hockey News.

Vasilevskiy is poised to make his second start of the 2026-27 campaign after being the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate. He allowed four goals on 24 shots in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Rangers. The fifth goal was an empty-netter. Washington is coming off a 5-2 win over Carolina on Friday.

Leonard potted a goal, put three shots on net and dished out two hits in Friday's 5-2 win over Carolina.

Leonard kicked off his 2026-27 on the right foot with an even-strength tally late in the second period to give the Capitals a 5-1 lead. The 21-year-old right winger also opened the year on the team's top line alongside Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin, which should give him the opportunity to take another step forward this season. Across 75 regular-season games in 2025-26, he compiled 20 goals, 45 points, 153 shots on net and 125 hits. Even with the Caps adding to their forward room in the offseason, the eighth-overall selection from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft is expected to play a large role for the team in 2026-27. Leonard is widely available across multiple fantasy platforms, and given his current spot in Washington's lineup and high ceiling, he's an excellent waiver-wire pickup in deep leagues.

Chychrun scored a power-play goal, recorded an assist, placed three shots on net and served two PIM in Friday's 5-2 win over the Hurricanes.

Chychrun picked up right where he left off last season, as he found the back of the net on a second-period power play before he later tallied a secondary helper. The 28-year-old blueliner has become one of the league's most efficient goal-scoring defensemen over the last two seasons, even leading the league in the 2025-26 regular season with 26 twine finders. Fresh off his 60-point outburst across 80 regular-season games a year ago, he is a terrific fantasy option in all league formats due to his recent development offensively and his steady category-coverage numbers. With the Capitals improving their forward room in the offseason, they could potentially space the ice even more for Chychrun in 2026-27, which positions him well to repeat or exceed his offensive totals from last season.

Bussi stopped 22 of 27 shots on net in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Capitals.

After Bussi had a solid start to the campaign in Carolina's 1-0 Opening Night loss, Friday told a different tale. The 28-year-old netminder struggled in the early portion of the contest, as he allowed four goals in the first 22 minutes of action. With Friday's loss, he now holds a 0-1-1 record, a 2.88 GAA and an .872 save percentage across 47 save attempts in two games this season. With the Hurricanes playing Saturday on the second half of a back-to-back, Bussi will likely be able to rest if Pyotr Kochetkov is called upon to make his season debut. Backed by one of the league's strongest defensive cores, Bussi still holds plenty of fantasy value as a solid No.2 goalie option for the time being.

Tuch tallied two goals and placed three shots on net in Friday's 5-2 win over Carolina.

Tuch made his first game with the Capitals a night to remember, as he found the back of the net twice in the first period. As the team's second-line left winger, he showcased his chemistry with Pierre-Luc Dubois, who picked up primary helpers on both of his tallies. The 30-year-old Tuch joined the Capitals in an offseason sign-and-trade away from Buffalo, where he posted 33 goals, 66 points, 195 shots on net, 82 hits and 90 blocked shots across 79 regular-season games during the 2025-26 campaign. The 10-year NHL veteran has gone from one strong offense to another, giving him a realistic chance to replicate or surpass his numbers from a season ago. He's a strong fantasy option in all formats and his category coverage gives him a boost in leagues that value stats where players don't need puck.

Thompson turned aside 31 of 33 shots on goal in Friday's 5-2 win over the Hurricanes.

Thompson shined during the Capitals' Opening Night matchup, as he allowed just one even-strength goal and one at a man disadvantage. The 29-year-old backstop entered the season with a lot of momentum from 2025-26, where he posted a 31-21-6 record, a 2.44 GAA and a .912 save percentage across 58 regular-season outings. Back by an improved forward group and a solid defensive core, Thompson is positioned well to post elite numbers once again in the 2026-27 campaign, making him a strong No. 1 goalie option to have rostered in fantasy moving forward.