Seattle will be without Jared McCann for roughly 10 weeks after the forward was moved to injured reserve with a lower-body injury, a major absence for a Kraken club that had leaned on his early production. McCann was hurt in Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Utah Mammoth, then sat out Saturday’s 5-1 defeat against the Minnesota Wild. He has three goals, five assists and a plus-5 rating through 11 games. Seattle called up forward Jani Nyman from AHL Coachella Valley on Saturday as it begins to cover the opening.
In Dallas, David Perron’s Stars debut will wait. The 38-year-old winger, who signed a one-year deal Oct. 16 and has been skating with the club, was not expected to dress Sunday against the New York Islanders. Dallas also will be without Radek Faksa after the forward exited Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets in the third period with a lower-body issue. Sam Steel remains unavailable after receiving an injection Friday for an undisclosed condition. The Stars brought up Dylan Hryckowian and Matthew Seminoff from AHL Texas.
Chicago welcomed Andrew Mangiapane back into its lineup Sunday against the Florida Panthers. Mangiapane had missed time with a lower-body injury suffered in the Blackhawks’ Sept. 30 season-opening 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Defenseman Bowen Byram, meanwhile, missed a fourth consecutive game with an upper-body injury but took part in Saturday’s practice in a noncontact sweater. It marked his first practice involvement since he was injured Oct. 13 during a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, when he played 24:37. Byram has one assist in six games.
“It’s encouraging to have him back on the ice and involved for a good part of practice, then see how he responds,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “I can’t offer a more specific timetable.”
Outdoor debut for Salomonsson
Winnipeg defenseman Elias Salomonsson is set to make his first appearance of the season Sunday in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic against the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg. The 22-year-old is returning from shoulder surgery in April. He registered one goal and four assists in 32 games for the Jets last season after Winnipeg selected him in the second round, No. 55 overall, at the 2022 NHL Draft. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with TVAS, Sportsnet, TNT, truTV and HBO MAX carrying the game.
The Penguins had several injured players back on the ice Sunday, a day after their 3-2 overtime win against the Nashville Predators. Evgeni Malkin, Egor Chinakhov, Justin Brazeau and Samuel Girard all practiced with the main group. Malkin missed Saturday’s game because of illness despite taking part in the optional morning skate. Chinakhov has sat out Pittsburgh’s past two games with a lower-body injury, while Brazeau has not played this season after being hurt in a Sept. 21 preseason contest. Girard, also sidelined by a lower-body injury, was placed on injured reserve Saturday and has missed three games.
“Everyone who had been out was a full participant with the larger group today,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said. “There’s no new status beyond that being another step for them.”
Pittsburgh does not play again until Thursday, when Utah visits. The Mammoth will arrive without defenseman John Marino for at least the short term; coach Andre Tourigny said Marino is now considered week to week with an upper-body injury after first being listed day to day. Marino was a late scratch Oct. 19 against Pittsburgh. Before the injury, he had two goals and three assists in nine games, carried a plus-5 rating and averaged 20:23 per night. Utah hosts Minnesota on Tuesday.
Byfield skating, but still in a noncontact sweater
Los Angeles center Quinton Byfield joined Kings practice Sunday in a noncontact jersey, an encouraging sign after he missed the club’s last two games, including Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Byfield has one goal and one assist in seven games. The Kings continue their road swing Monday against the New York Rangers, with a 7 p.m. ET start on ABTV, NHL Network, MSG and TVAS.
“Having Quinton practicing with us is certainly positive,” Kings coach Peter Laviolette said. “That gives the group a lift. He’s an important player for us, and hopefully he keeps progressing.”
