NHL Player News

Ludvig underwent wrist surgery April 24, the team announced Wednesday. He's expected to need four-to-six months to recover.

Ludvig had three goals, five points, 47 PIM, 72 hits and 33 blocks in 33 contests with Pittsburgh during the 2023-24 campaign. If he ends up requiring the longer end of that timetable, then Ludvig would miss the start of 2024-25. If healthy, Ludvig might open the season as part of the Penguins' third pairing.

Hakanpaa (lower body) will remain on the shelf for Game 5 against the Avalanche on Wednesday, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Hakanpaa hasn't played since March 16 versus the Kings, a stretch of 24 games on the shelf due to his lower-body problem. At this point, until he shows up at practice, Hakanpaa should probably be considered out indefinitely. Even if cleared to play, the defenseman is far from a lock for a spot in the lineup anyway.

Soucy will be eligible to face Edmonton in Game 5 on Thursday after serving his one-game suspension.

Soucy was forced to watch from the press box after getting handed a one-game suspension for cross-checking Oilers' Connor McDavid in the face in Game 3. Through nine postseason contests, the 29-year-old defenseman has generated four assists, 27 hits and nine blocks, though he has yet to register a shot on goal.

Zadorov logged an assist, three shots on goal and four hits in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 4.

Zadorov continues to make a mark in this second-round series -- he has five points over four contests, in addition to a cross-checking penalty that earned him a fine at the end of Game 3. The defenseman is up to eight points, 19 shots on net, 35 hits, 15 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating over 10 playoff appearances. The 29-year-old saw 22:01 of ice time Tuesday, his second-highest total in the postseason as he continues to earn more trust from head coach Rick Tocchet.

Hughes recorded an assist and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 4.

Hughes has four assists over his last three games, though this one was his first at even strength in that span. The defenseman is up to nine helpers, 14 shots on net, 10 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over 10 playoff appearances. Hughes is still providing solid offense and steady defense from a top-pairing role, so the lack of goals shouldn't be a concern for fantasy managers or Canucks fans.

Ekholm recorded an assist, four shots on goal, three blocked shots, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Canucks in Game 4.

Ekholm has three goals and two assists over four contests in the second round after being limited to one helper in the Oilers' 4-1 series win over the Kings in the first round. The defenseman set up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' second-period tally Tuesday. Ekholm is up to six points, 20 shots on net, 12 hits, 15 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating over nine playoff appearances in a top-pairing role.

Bouchard scored a goal on four shots, added a power-play assist, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Canucks in Game 4.

Bouchard's tally with 39 seconds left in the third period was the game-winning goal. The defenseman has scored in three straight contests in an extremely close second-round series. Bouchard has four goals, 11 helpers, seven power-play points, 34 shots on net, 16 blocks and a plus-8 rating over nine playoff appearances in a top-pairing role.

McAvoy scored a goal on six shots, dished an assist, blocked four shots, doled out three hits and added two PIM in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Panthers in Game 5.

McAvoy had been held off the scoresheet for seven straight contests entering Tuesday. He helped out on Morgan Geekie's first-period tally before scoring the game-winning goal midway through the second. McAvoy has been limited to six points over 12 playoff outings, but he's added plenty of physicality with 52 hits, 33 blocked shots and 18 PIM. The 26-year-old blueliner continues to play in a top-pairing role.

Toews (illness) will make the trip to Dallas ahead of Wednesday's must-win Game 5 versus the Stars, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

Toews missed Monday's Game 4 due to an illness, but he's reportedly feeling better Tuesday, making it seem likely he'll return for Wednesday's must-win contest. The 30-year-old defender has collected one goal and six points through eight games this postseason.

Trouba netted a shorthanded goal in Monday's 4-1 loss to Carolina in Game 5.

Trouba opened the scoring in the second period by firing a wrist shot past Carolina's Frederik Andersen, but that was it for New York's offensive output in the tilt. It was Trouba's first marker of the playoffs. The 30-year-old defenseman also had two shots on goal, three hits and four blocked shots in 18:38 of ice time. Trouba has four points (one goal) and a plus-1 rating in nine outings during the postseason.