On the Calgary Flames …
Elliotte Friedman: The Flames put Freddie Hamilton on waivers.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: Goaltender Semyon Varlamov will likely miss the next two games with a lower-body injury. The Avs are on their bye week after that. Coach Jared Bednar yesterday:
“It’s muscular and he’s feeling good this morning,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Varlamov. “He’s in the same boat as Compher and Andrighetto. They’re all day-to-day and I would say doubtful to return before the break (Jan. 7-12). It’s starting to look like the bye week is probably coming at a good time for us. We’ve been relatively healthy and now we have a couple injuries that are starting to pile up here. We’ve got two more games before the break.”
On the Dallas Stars …
Mark Stepneski: Defenseman Marc Methot and forward Martin Hanzal are game-time decisions tonight. If they are feeling good this morning, they will likely be in.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
NHL Player Safety: Oilers forward Patrick Maroon was suspended for two games for interference on Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.
On the Los Angeles Kings …
Jon Rosen: Defenseman Christian Folin (upper-body) is close to returning: “Hopefully before the break.” It’s not sure if it will be tonight, but he’s getting close.
On the Minnesota Wild …
Sarah McLellan: Forward Nino Niederreiter is ready to return to the Wild’s lineup tonight.
Minnesota Wild: Niederreiter: “I’m very excited. Obviously when you’re injured you miss being around the boys and skating…I feel pretty good. Looking forward to get back.”
On the Nashville Predators …
Adam Vingan of The Tennessean: Forward Filip Forsberg will be out for four to six weeks with an upper-body injury. He’s already been out for two games and is on the IR.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: It’s looking like Jay Bouwmeester won’t be taking part in most of their practices for the time being going forward.
“This is gonna be the plan going forward,” Yeo said. “I don’t think that Bo needs to practice. I want to make sure he’s healthy for the games and feeling 100 percent for the games.
“He’s got the experience and we’ll just give him as many maintenance days as he needs to make sure that he can go out and play the way that he has been.”
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Jeff Paterson: The Canucks said that Bo Horvat went for imaging on his injured foot yesterday. Target return is at the end of the month around the All-Star break.
On the Vegas Golden Knights …
Renaud Lavoie: Forward Jonathan Marchessault signed a six-year, $30 million deal – a $5 million salary cap hit.
Pierre LeBrun: Marchessault salary breakdown.
2018-19: $7 million
2019-20: $6 million
2020-21: $5 million
2021-22: $5 million
2022-23: $3.5 million
2023-24: $3.5 million
On the Winnipeg Jets …
Ken Wiebe: The Jets send defenseman Julian Melchiori to the AHL.
