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NHL Hockey Player News
Barzal (lower-body) returned to practice in full on Thursday.

Barzal has not played since suffering an upper-body injury at the end of October but has be actively skating on his own the past few weeks. He returned to practice for the first time on Thursday and has been upgraded to day-to-day. After a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring 80 points (23G / 57A) in 80 games, Barzal started the 2024-25 campaign slowly, with only five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games.

Mathew Barzal
Mintyukov will draw back into Anaheim's lineup in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Mintyukov has been a healthy scratch for the Ducks' previous three games but will draw back into the lineup in Ottawa on Wednesday. The 21-year-old has significantly increased his ice time in his sophomore season (20:44) but has struggled to produce, with just three goals and six points in 22 games played.

Pavel Mintyukov
Smith will make his Avalanche debut on Tuesday.

Smith was an additional piece in a trade with Mackenzie Blackwood that sent Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to San Jose Sharks on Monday. The 26-year-old Smith was limited to only six games with the Sharks this season, averaging 6:17 time-on-ice in a fourth-line role, and will likely serve a similar role in his new home with the Avalanche.

Givani Smith
Kovalenko will make his Sharks debut on Tuesday.

Kovalenko will make his Sharks debut after being acquired in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche yesterday. The 25-year-old Kovalenko showed glimpses of the talent that made him an offensive standout with Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo (KHL), but limited deployment in Colorado likely stunted the opportunity for true success. In 28 games, Kovalenko has eight points (4G / 4A) and will likely get an opportunity for better deployment in his new home with the Sharks.

Nikolai Kovalenko
Friedman will draw into Vancouver's lineup on Tuesday vs. St. Louis.

Friedman has played 88 career games in the NHL but has had trouble solidifying himself on a roster. The 28-year-old defenseman has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in eight games.

Mark Friedman
Perunovich is expected to be a healthy scratch in Vancouver on Tuesday.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph will draw back into the Blues' lineup on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, resulting in Perunovich being a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Perunovich is averaging 14:59 time-on-ice, recording four points (2G / 4A), 18 blocks, and nine hits through 18 games.

Scott Perunovich