Zuccarello made a surprise return to the Stars lineup on Tuesday but will be shutdown for the rest of the regular season to ensure that he is ready to go for the playoffs. Zuccarello has one goal and two assists in two games with Dallas so they can only hope he is 100 percent in the postseason.
Eriksson Ek suffered a lower-body injury vs. the Sharks on Tuesday and will not play Thursday vs. the Stars. Head coach Bruce Boudreau said that he “hopes” it doesn’t keep him out for no longer than a week. Luke Kunin will replace Eriksson Ek in the lineup on Thursday.
Just over an hour prior to puck-drop the Blues announced that Tarasenko will not play on Saturday afternoon. Jaden Schwartz will move up to the Blues top line and Zach Sanford will replace him on the third line with Tarasenko out.
Bogosian missed Monday’s game against Edmonton but will play Thursday in Chicago. Bogosian has been held pointless in his last five games and has just 15 points (2G / 13A) in 58 games this season. He will replace Matt Hunwick.
Johansson underwent evaluation at Massachusetts General Hospital after leaving Tuesday’s game vs. the Hurricanes and was diagnosed with a lung contusion. Johansson will be re-evaluated in one week. Peter Cehlarik will move onto the second line on Thursday with Johansson sidelined.
Johansson was acquired from the Devils on Monday and will skate on the second line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk in his debut. Johansson will likely see some power-play time as well, putting him in an opportunity to succeed right away.
Hartman was acquired from the Predators in the Wayne Simmonds deal on Monday and is expected to slide in for Simmonds on the third line on Tuesday.
The Stars confirmed what was originally feared, a broken arm that will require surgery and cost him at least one month. This is a horrible break for the Stars, who paid a premium to acquire Zuccarello from the Rangers. However, if they can stay afloat in the Western Conference playoff race, Zuccarello should be available for some meaningful games down the stretch and ultimately the playoffs, should they make it.
Johansson really got hot close to the deadline, scoring six goals with six assists (12 points) in the last 13 games and heads to Boston where he projects to skate with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. Johansson, who has nine power-play points (2 PPG / 7 PPA) should help bolster the Bruins second PP-unit as well.
Hartman was acquired for a first and fourth-round picks at least year’s deadline but didn’t have the same effectiveness in the Predators bottom-6 as he did in Chicago. Hartman has a nice blend of physicality and offence that should help replace losing Simmonds on the Flyers’ third-line. This trade allows Philadelphia to continue to fight for a playoff spot without losing Simmonds for nothing.
Zuccarello’s career in Dallas got off to a great start, scoring a goal with an assist in his first 13:35 TOI before leaving the game with an upper-body injury. The Stars gave up a conditional second and third round pick for Zuccarello on Saturday and it looks like the veteran winger will be out until at least late-March.
Zuccarello had a slow start to the season, scoring just four goals with 10 assists (14 points) in his first 28 games but has collected seven goals and 16 assists (23 points) in his last 18 games. The Stars lacked some serious winger depth capable of playing in their top-6 and Zuccarello is a player capable of playing on a line with either Jamie Benn and/or Tyler Seguin.
