NHL Status Report: Hintz likely back for Stars against Avalanche

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

Dallas Stars

Roope Hintz was activated from injured reserve and is expected to return to the lineup for the Stars against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, ALT). The forward was placed on injured reserve Feb. 25 because of an illness and has missed four games. Hintz, who has 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists), has not played since prior to the break for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. He had four points (one goal, three assists) in six games to help Finland win the bronze medal. ... Forward Michael Bunting who was acquired from the Nashville Predators on Thursday, and defenseman Tyler Myers, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks, will not play.

Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew Mangiapane will make his Blackhawks debut at Vancouver on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, SNP). The forward was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers for forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach on Wednesday, along with a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. "Great franchise, Original Six team, so it's exciting, right? Obviously, these guys have a lot of good players here, so just hoping to come in and play my game and help this team win," Mangiapane said Friday. … Forward Teuvo Teravainen and defenseman Wyatt Kaiser will also play Friday. Teravainen, who coach Jeff Blashill said is "working through a little something," left practice early Thursday. Kaiser was placed on injured reserve Feb. 18 (retroactive to Feb. 4), with an injury sustained in a 4-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on that date.

New Jersey Devils

Brett Pesce is week to week for the Devils because of a lower-body injury. The defenseman played 22:04 in a 5-1 win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday but did not play in a 4-3 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. He has seven points (one goal, six assists) and is second on the team with 80 blocked shots in 37 games this season.

Detroit Red Wings

John Gibson will start for the Red Wings against the Florida Panthers on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, SCRIPPS, NHLN, SNE, TVAS). The goalie missed a 4-3 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday because of an upper-body injury. Gibson is 23-12-2 with a 2.57 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and four shutouts in 39 games this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby practiced with the Penguins in a regular jersey on Friday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury while playing for Team Canada on Feb. 18 against Team Czechia in the quarterfinals at the Olympics. The 38-year-old worked in a noncontact capacity during an optional practice. "It's definitely a good feeling, seeing him back on the ice," Pittsburgh forward Rickard Rakell said. "Hopefully, he'll be back with us playing a game soon. ... He's our best player, so obviously everybody wants him back but obviously also wants him to be healthy as well." Crosby is expected to miss at least four weeks, a timeline Penguins coach Dan Muse said remains unchanged. He is likely to be out a sixth straight game when Pittsburgh hosts the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, NBCSP).

Winnipeg Jets

Josh Morrissey (upper body) practiced in a regular jersey Friday and could return against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SNW, SNP), Jets coach Scott Arniel said. The defenseman has been on injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 12, after he left Team Canada's 5-0 win against Team Czechia in the Group A opening game at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Morrissey hasn’t played in an NHL game since Feb. 4. He has 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 56 games while averaging a team-high 24:37 of ice time.

Edmonton Oilers

Mattias Janmark had surgery for a lingering upper-body injury and will be out for the remainder of the season, coach Kris Knoblauch said on Friday. The forward had eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 43 games this season. "We expect him to be out, including the playoffs," Knoblauch said. "He'll be ready for training camp next year." Janmark, 33, who is in his fourth season with Edmonton, last played in a 6-5 loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 25.

Los Angeles Kings

Mathieu Joseph has signed with the Kings for the remainder of this season. The 29-year-old forward has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 39 games for the St. Louis Blues this season. He was assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League on Feb. 27 after clearing waivers. Joseph was in the last of a four-year, $11.8 million contract ($2.65 million average annual value) he signed with the Ottawa Senators on July 28, 2022. He can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round (No. 120) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Joseph has 160 points (61 goals, 99 assists) in 459 regular-season games for the Lightning, Senators and Blues and three points (one goal, two assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He won the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021. ... Joel Armia will be out 3-4 weeks for the Kings because of an upper-body injury he sustained in an 8-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 26. He has missed the past three games and has 20poitns (10 goals, 10 assists) in 53 games this season.

Florida Panthers

Cole Reinhardt was claimed by the Panthers off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. The 26-year-old forward had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 44 games with Vegas this season. He has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 62 career NHL games. Florida visits Detroit on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, SCRIPPS, NHLN, SNE, TVAS).