NHL Status Report: Paul to return for Lightning against Hurricanes

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Nick Paul will return against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; The Spot, FDSNSO). The Lightning forward has missed 11 games with a lower-body injury sustained in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 1, prior to the Olympic break. "To be able to be back in the fight and not just watching is exciting," Paul said. "For me, it's just being that role guy, being that person that's on the bench and trying to give energy where I can." Paul has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 34 games this season.

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield participated in the morning skate and will return against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, CITY, SNE, NBCSCA). The forward practiced Friday after he did not play in the Canadiens’ 3-2 win against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday after leaving a 3-1 win against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday because of an illness. Caufield has 64 points (37 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games this season. ... Forward Brendan Gallagher will be a healthy scratch but is expected to play against the Ducks on Sunday.

Anaheim Ducks

John Carlson is expected to make his Ducks debut at Montreal on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, KCOP-13, Victory+). The 36-year-old defenseman was acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on March 5 for a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft but did not play after Feb. 5 with the Capitals because of a lower-body injury. Carlson, who did not play in a 2-0 loss at the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, has 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists) in 55 games this season. … Anaheim was also without defenseman Radko Gudas, who served the first of a five-game suspension for his knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews on Thursday.

Detroit Red Wings

Forwards Michael Rasmussen and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard will not play for the Red Wings at the Dallas Stars on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, Victory+). Each was injured in a 4-1 loss to the Lightning on Thursday. "Important stretch. Tonight again, we lost Rasmussen\] for at least a week and Brandsegg-Nygard's out day to day," Detroit coach Todd McLellan said Saturday. "We continue to take it on the chin a little bit up front." The Red Wings, who were already without captain Dylan Larkin and forward [Andrew Copp for at least two weeks, recalled forward John Leonard from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions on Saturday.

New York Rangers

J.T. Miller could return after missing five straight games when the Rangers visit the Minnesota Wild on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; FDSNWIX, FDSNNO, MSG). The forward and New York captain practiced Friday. “You know, barring any unforeseeable things, I would anticipate him playing, but he'll be a game-time decision,” coach Mike Sullivan said Friday. Miller skated with the Rangers on Tuesday for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury during the third period of a 5-4 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 2. He has 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 51 games this season.

Florida Panthers

Sam Reinhart will not travel with the Panthers on their upcoming four-game road trip which begins at the Seattle Kraken on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; KHN/Prime, SCRIPPS, KONG), due to an undisclosed injury, coach Paul Maurice said on Saturday. The forward missed a 4-3 win against the Red Wings on Tuesday, but returned Thursday and scored in overtime in a 2-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Reinhart leads Florida in goals (29), assists (32), and points (61) in 64 games this season. Forward Sam Bennett is day to day and will also miss the game Sunday with an undisclosed injury. Maurice said Bennett could return at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Colorado Avalanche

Ross Colton (upper body) did not play at the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; TSN3, ALT). The Avalanche forward was injured in the second period of a 4-3 loss to the Stars on Tuesday and then missed 5-1 win against the Kraken on Thursday. Colton has 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 60 games this season.

San Jose Sharks

Yaroslav Askarov will not play this weekend because of a lower-body injury. The Sharks goalie did not take part in the morning skate Saturday prior to their game at Montreal (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, CITY, SNE, NBCSCA). He did not dress for a 4-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Alex Nedeljkovic will start Saturday and will be backed up by Laurent Brossoit, who was recalled from San Jose of the AHL. Askarov is 19-7-3 with a 3.56 goals-against average and .886 save percentage in 40 games this season.

Seattle Kraken

Bobby McMann will make his Kraken debut on the top line at the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, KONG, KING 5, KHN/Prime). McMann was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 6 but has not been able to play the past three games while waiting for his work visa to process. "It's hard playing that waiting game, trying to try to be ready, but also trying to make sure I get hard skates in and make sure I'm staying in game shape," McMann said. "So that was a hard battle when you're not sure if you're going to go, so you're trying to save it a little bit, make sure that you're ready to go, but just happy that's kind of over with and ready to go now." McMann had 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 60 games with the Maple Leafs, and will play on the top line with Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers.

Minnesota Wild

Bobby Brink could return against the Rangers on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; FDSNWIX, FDSNNO, MSG). The forward participated in an optional practice Friday after he was injured during the first period of a 5-0 win against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday. Brink finished the game but did not play in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Brink, who was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on March 6, has one goal in three games with Minnesota. He had 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 55 games with the Flyers.

Buffalo Sabres

Tanner Pearson will not play against the Maple Leafs on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSG-B, SNP, SNO, CBC) because of a lower-body injury. The forward played 8:58 in his debut with the Sabres when they lost 2-1 to the Capitals on Thursday. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (undisclosed) is doubtful to play Saturday. He logged 20:30 of ice time on Thursday. ... Forward Alex Tuch, "looks like he can play," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said, after he did not play Thursday because of a lower-body injury.

Calgary Flames

Zach Whitecloud is expected to return to the lineup for the Flames against the New York Islanders on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, SNW). The defenseman has missed three games with an upper-body injury. "He's reliable, steady, patient, calm, whatever word you want to use to describe him," coach Ryan Huska said. "... He's got a way about him where he can settle things down and work really well with a younger (defense) partner. So, we're excited he is back and glad he wasn't out of the lineup for a long period of time."

Ottawa Senators

Nick Jensen did not play in a 2-0 win against the Ducks on Saturday because of a lower-body injury. The Senators defenseman also did not practice Friday and is day to day. Jensen has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 61 games this season.