NHL Status Report: Tkachuk, Marchand close to returning for Panthers

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

Florida Panthers

Forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand participated in the morning skate and could play against the San Jose Sharks on Monday (6 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSCA). Tkachuk has been recovering from surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia on Aug. 22 and is expected to play for Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 next month. Tkachuk skated on a line with Mackie Samoskevich and Evan Rodrigues at the morning skate. “He’s close,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said on Saturday. “He’s getting pushed hard on the ice. He’s coming back. The recovery has been good. He hasn’t felt at a hundred percent, but the last two days he pushed hard, came back, felt good. So, I don’t think he’s very far away now.” Marchand, who is on Team Canada’s roster, has missed Florida's past five games with an undisclosed injury “I would say [he is] fairly close too," Maurice said. "Neither one of those guys should be out very much longer.”

Dallas Stars

Miro Heiskanen was back in the Stars lineup on Sunday, a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The defenseman, who will represent Team Finland at the Olympics, was minus-3 in 24:24 of ice time after he missed two games because of a family matter. Heiskanen has 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists) in 47 games and entered Sunday third in the NHL in time on ice per game (26:04).

Edmonton Oilers

Leon Draisaitl has taken a leave of absence due to a family illness in his native Germany, the Oilers announced Saturday before their 6-0 win at the Vancouver Canucks. The forward is expected to return next week. Draisaitl, who will play for Team Germany at the Olympics, ranks fifth in the NHL with 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) in 48 games. “Obviously, we'll miss him, but [the] job comes second,” Edmonton captain Connor McDavid said. “Everybody in here is a brother, father, son, whatever it is, and that stuff comes first and he's got to go home and be with his family. We're obviously thinking about him and his entire family and we’ve got to take care of things while he’s gone."

Washington Capitals

Tom Wilson (lower body) could return against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday (4 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, MNMT, truTV, TNT). The forward has missed the Capitals' past seven games, including a 5-2 loss to the Panthers on Saturday. Wilson participated in an optional morning skate but did not play. Named to Canada's roster for the Olympics, Wilson has 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 41 games. ... Washington reassigned forward Brett Leason to Hershey of the American Hockey League on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Erik Karlsson (lower body) practiced with the Penguins in a noncontact jersey Sunday. The defenseman was placed on injured reserve Jan. 13, when the team announced he would be out at least two weeks. Karlsson, who is on Team Sweden’s roster for the Olympics, has 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 44 games this season. He will travel with Pittsburgh for its four-game road trip that begins at the Seattle Kraken on Monday (5 p.m. ET; KHN/Prime, SN-PIT, KONG, TVAS). ... The Penguins recalled forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL; forward Rutger McGroarty was activated from injured reserve and loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Chicago Blackhawks

Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) will miss his third straight game for the Blackhawks when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, TSN3, TVAS). There is no timeline for the forward’s return. The 31-year-old, who will represent Finland at the Olympics, has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 45 games. … Forward Frank Nazar practiced for the first time on Sunday since taking a puck to the face in the first period of a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 20, but he’s not expected to return Monday. Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said the team wants Nazar to get at least one more practice in “and see where we go from there.” Nazar has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 games.

Philadelphia Flyers

Rodrigo Abols (lower body) was placed on injured reserve by the Flyers on Sunday. The forward was injured in the first period of a 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Abols, who is on Team Latvia’s roster for the Olympics, was battling for a puck along the boards when he fell, his right leg twisting awkwardly underneath him at 6:10. He was helped off the ice and went straight to the locker room, not putting any weight on his right leg. Abols has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 42 games this season. "It's not good. I'm not going to get into it, but it's not good," coach Rick Tocchet said. Philadelphia recalled forward Lane Pederson from Lehigh Valley of the AHL. ... Dan Vladar (undisclosed) did not play Saturday and is considered day to day. The goalie left a 5-2 loss at the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 14 after the first period. Tocchet said it's possible Vladar travels on a three-game road trip that begins at the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday (8 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSP+). ... Forward Bobby Brink (upper body) missed his sixth straight game; he skated Saturday morning and could return Monday. … Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who is on Finland’s roster, missed his third straight game and was placed on injured reserve; he could miss at least another week, Tocchet said. Defenseman Hunter McDonald was recalled from Lehigh Valley.

Buffalo Sabres

Josh Norris (upper body) did not practice Sunday and has been downgraded to week to week, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. The forward missed his second straight game on Saturday, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, and won't be available to play at the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday (1:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT). Norris had been day to day since being cross-checked by Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler on Jan. 14. "He's not really recovering the way we had hoped," Ruff said. Norris has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 19 games. ... Konsta Helenius, the No. 14 pick at the 2024 NHL Draft, is expected to make his NHL debut Monday. The forward has 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 34 games with Rochester of the AHL this season. ... Alex Lyon (lower body) practiced on Sunday; the goalie has not played since Dec. 29, when he made 16 saves in a 4-2 win against the Blues. Ruff said Lyon, who is 10-6-3 with a 2.82 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 21 games (19 starts) this season, is expected to play this week.

Boston Bruins

Henri Jokiharju was designated non-roster by the Bruins on Sunday due to a family matter. The defenseman, who will play for Finland at the Olympics, has nine assists and is plus-3 while averaging 17:53 of ice time in 32 games. Boston recalled defenseman Billy Sweezey from Providence of the AHL ahead of its game at Dallas on Tuesday.

New York Rangers

Carson Soucy will be back with the Rangers in time for their game at the Anaheim Ducks on Monday (10 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, MSG), coach Mike Sullivan said after practice Sunday. The defenseman has been away from the team for personal reasons and missed a 6-3 win at Philadelphia on Saturday. Soucy has eight points (three goals, five assists) and is plus-5 in 44 games this season. ... Forward Anton Blidh was recalled from Hartford of the AHL on Sunday.