NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 23, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Injuries & Roster Moves
The Capitals announced veteran defenseman Vincent Desharnais has undergone an appendectomy espn.com and will be sidelined for four to six weeks. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is out two to four weeks espn.com with an upper-body injury, while Penguins forward Ben Kindel has returned to Pittsburgh espn.com to recover from a medical emergency.
Trades & Goaltending
The Devils acquired Connor Hellebuyck espn.com from the Jets on Friday, a deal Jets received Mercer in return. Meanwhile, the Panthers made a notable move in goal espn.com when the 6-9 Cooper Black set an NHL record in his debut.
League Trends
Fighting is on the rise this season espn.com, with 34 of the first 120 games featuring one or more bouts. In the standings, the Hurricanes hold the top spot espn.com in the power rankings, though several teams shifted considerably.
Remembrance
Former NHL All-Star Ron Duguay died of cancer espn.com at age. He played nearly 1,000 NHL games from the late 1970s onward.
Fantasy Outlook
Owners weighing their rosters can drop slow starters espn.com and make room for players gaining momentum.
Coming Up
A dozen games are on Thursday's slate, with the Canadiens facing the Blackhawks espn.com and the Lightning meeting the Avalanche espn.com in interconference matchups. Full previews and betting lines are available in ESPN's Thursday preview espn.com.