Player Notes

  • Not at practice Friday
    Drouin (lower body) is still absent from practice Friday, Brennan Vogt of The-Rink.com reports.

    Advice: Drouin missed all five games of the opening round versus Winnipeg and has yet to make an appearance at practice during the postseason. The 29-year-old had his best offensive season as an NHLer in 2023-24, picking up 56 points in 73 games, including 19 points on the power play. Drouin saw plenty of time on the top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon during the regular season. Look for Valeri Nichushkin, who had seven goals in five games during the first round, to remain on the top line until Drouin is ready to return. Rotowire.com Friday, 10:40 am
  • Set for MRI
    Martin (lower body) is expected to undergo an MRI in the coming days, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports Friday.

    Advice: Martin was sidelined for the final two postseason contests due to his lower-body issue. Unless the MRI results come back with something more serious, the team may not provide much of an update heading into the offseason. Even if there is a long-term concern that carries into the 2024-25 campaign, Martin's lack of offensive upside means a potential absence is unlikely to impact the majority of fantasy players. Rotowire.com Friday, 8:08 am
  • Contributes helper Thursday
    Knies produced an assist, two shots on goal, two hits and three blocked shots in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Bruins in Game 6.

    Advice: Knies has picked his offense up in recent games, earning all three of his postseason points over the last four contests. He's been in a top-six role since Auston Matthews (illness) exited Toronto's lineup. Knies has added 12 shots on net, 22 hits, nine blocked shots and a minus-1 rating through six playoff outings. Rotowire.com Thursday, 8:52 pm
  • Garners two helpers Wednesday
    Nugent-Hopkins earned a pair of assists in a 4-3 victory over the Kings in Game 5 on Wednesday.

    Advice: Nugent-Hopkins has managed just two shots over his last four games, failing to find the back of the net along the way, but he's chipped in five helpers over that stretch. In fact, dating back to the regular season, the veteran center has scored only one goal in his previous 10 appearances. Rotowire.com Thursday, 11:31 am
  • Dealing with knee injury
    Barron has a knee injury that forced him to miss the last six games of the season, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports.

    Advice: Barron suffered the injury versus the Kraken on Apr. 16. He had 11 goals and 18 points in 80 games this season as a bottom-six forward. Rotowire.com Thursday, 10:13 am
  • Nets seventh goal of the playoffs
    Hyman scored a goal on four shots in Wednesday's 4-3 Game 5 win over the Kings.

    Advice: Hyman put the Oilers ahead 4-2 in the final minute of the second period, deflecting a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins shot past David Rittich for the eventual game-winning goal in the 4-3 series-clinching victory. Hyman's seven goals are tied with Valeri Nichushkin for the league lead so far in the playoffs. Hyman's picked up where he left off in the regular season, during which he tallied a career-high 54 goals and 77 points in 80 games. Rotowire.com Thursday, 8:09 am
    Zach HymanEDM - LW,RW
  • Two goals to clinch series
    Draisaitl scored a pair of goals on a team-high six shots in Wednesday's 4-3 Game 5 victory over the Kings.

    Advice: Draisaitl tied the game 2-2 midway through the second period with a power-play goal before putting Edmonton ahead just a few minutes later with a second tally, beating David Rittich with a one-timer off a Connor McDavid feed. It was an excellent start to the post-season for Draisaitl -- the 28-year-old center tallied five goals and 10 points in the Oilers' decisive five-game series victory. Rotowire.com Thursday, 7:21 am
  • Pots Game 5 power-play winner
    Robertson scored the game-winning goal on the power play in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Golden Knights in Game 5.

    Advice: After falling into an 0-2 hole to begin the series, Dallas has come roaring back with three straight wins, but Robertson has been productive all along. He's failed to find the scoresheet only once in the last five games, racking up three goals and five points over that span, and Wednesday's power-play tally was his second of the playoffs. The 24-year-old will try to help the Stars advance to second round Friday in Game 6. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:55 am
  • Headlines Black Aces call-ups
    Steeves, Marshall Rifai, Topi Niemela, Max Lajoie, Mikko Kokkonen, Dennis Hildeby, Dylan Gambrell, Kyle Clifford and Nick Abruzzese were all called up from AHL Toronto on Wednesday, per CapFriendly.

    Advice: Steeves played in one game for the Maple Leafs this season, logging six hits and a shot on goal. The 24-year-old winger, as well as the rest of these call-ups, will presumably serve as organizational depth for the remainder of Toronto's playoff run. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 8:08 pm