NHL Buzz: Barkov in lineup for Panthers against Blues

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov returned to play for the Panthers against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
The center missed eight games after injuring his knee in a 6-1 win against the New York Islanders on Nov. 16.
Barkov led the Panthers with 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 15 games and was their leader among forwards in ice time per game (20:51) at the time of the injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitchell Marner was placed on injured reserve by the Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
The forward has missed the past two games, a 6-3 loss at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday and a 4-3 shootout loss at the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, after taking a hit from teammate Jake Muzzin in practice on Friday.
Marner is fourth on the Maple Leafs with 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 24 games.
Rasmus Sandin was also placed on injured reserve. The defenseman was injured when he was kneed by Jets defenseman Neal Pionk on Sunday. Sandin has eight assists in 25 games.
The Maple Leafs recalled defensemen Alex Biega, Kristians Rubins and forward Alex Steeves from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

Buffalo Sabres

Malcolm Subban did not practice Monday, two days after leaving his Sabres debut with an injury at 9:57 of the third period.
The goalie allowed six goals on 25 shots in a 6-2 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes. He was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
"We're hopeful it's not significant and there's some optimism that it's not," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "But we still don't have the information. He'll get more looks today from the doctor, and it could be very simple, and it's pointing that way, so you stay hopeful that's the case."
The Sabres are without two goalies. Craig Anderson (upper body) has been out since Nov. 6 and is month to month. Dustin Tokarski has been in NHL COVID-19 protocol since last Thursday.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made his first start of the season when the Sabres played the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The 22-year-old was recalled from Rochester of the American Hockey League on Monday and practiced with Buffalo. He's 6-6-0 with a 3.42 goals-against average, an .888 save percentage and one shutout in 12 AHL games this season.
"For me personally, a little bit ups and downs," Luukkonen said. "It comes down to confidence and the mental things. So that's kind of the biggest thing, is find that every night you can play well."
Aaron Dell is the only other goalie in the organization on an NHL contract. He made four saves in relief of Subban and is 0-5-0 with a 4.52 GAA and .872 save percentage in seven games. -- Heather Engel

Detroit Red Wings

Marc Staal was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol on Monday. The defenseman is the third Red Wings player to enter protocol this season.
Defenseman Danny DeKeyser left protocol Friday and played against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday after missing five games.
DeKeyser was paired with rookie Moritz Seider at practice Monday. He said he was asymptomatic after testing positive for the second time.
"I was lucky," DeKeyser said. "I was waiting for 48 hours and I never got any symptoms. I was up in my room staying away from my wife and kids the first couple of days, and when I was asymptomatic, I was starting to go crazy up there. So I threw on a mask and gloves and stayed about 25 feet away from my family members at all times and ate at a table by myself and stayed away as much as possible."
Forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who is unvaccinated, remains in protocol.
Defenseman Dan Renouf was recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. The Red Wings are without defensemen Gustav Lindstrom (lower body) and Troy Stecher (wrist surgery).-- Jon Lane

Colorado Avalanche

Forward Nazem Kadri and defenseman Cale Makar played for the Avalanche in a 7-5 win at the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.
Kadri (lower body) and Makar (upper body) each missed a 6-5 overtime loss at the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
"You get two high-impact players back in your lineup in almost all scenarios," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "... [Makar] finds a way to contribute every night offensively, eats a lot of minutes. Both those guys do. Should be a big shot in the arm for our team with both of them coming in."
Kadri leads the Avalanche and is fourth in the NHL with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 21 games. Makar leads NHL defensemen with 11 goals in 19 games.
Defenseman Bowen Byram was sent to Colorado for evaluation of a head injury. He missed the previous two games.
"He doesn't have a concussion but he's having some issues that are head-related," Bednar said. "... He was gearing up to play in Ottawa, and then we decided not to, and then I would say setback yesterday and today."
Goalie Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) missed his sixth straight game. He faced shots at practice for the second straight day and could play at the New York Rangers on Wednesday. -- Adam Kimelman