NHL Player News

Saturday, May 18

• 05/18/13 - 11:25AM ETJason Spezza : Sunday Return Confirmed

  Spezza (back) will make his return in Sunday's Game 3 against Pittsburgh.

  What merely seemed probable earlier Saturday appears set in stone now. Spezza will play Sunday, giving Ottawa a glimmer of hope despite their two-game deficit to Pittsburgh.

• 05/18/13 - 10:20AM ETMartin Havlat : (Groin) Plans to Play Saturday

  Havlat (groin) told the San Jose coaching staff "he's a go" for Saturday's Game 3 against Los Angeles, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

  We'll make a followup note if/when Havlat is officially allowed to play, but it seems that at the very least he's lobbying his coaches to let him on the ice Saturday. It appears as if he'll play.

• 05/18/13 - 8:20AM ETEric Staal : (Knee) Three-Month Recovery

  Staal (third-degree MCL sprain) faces a three-month recovery time but will not need surgery, Tampa Tribune writer Erik Erlendsson reports

  It's a significant injury, but the offseason should be enough time for Staal to be ready for the 2013-2014 season, which would have been in jeopardy had he suffered a tear. The news is good, in other words.

Thursday, May 16

• 05/16/13 - 12:24PM ETEric Staal : Hurt At World Championships

  Following a knee-on-knee collision at the world hockey championships, Staal had to be helped off the ice, the Canadian Press reports.

  At first glance, this doesn't look good, as Staal, who clutched his right knee in pain afterward, was not able to put any weight on the leg.

Wednesday, May 15

• 05/15/13 - 4:53PM ETMikael Samuelsson : (Shoulder) Out For Wednesday's Game 1

  Samuelsson (shoulder) will not play in Wednesday's Game 1 against the Blackhawks, ESPN Chicago reports.

  Although Samuelsson missed most of the regular season due to injury, he managed to tally two points over five games in the first round series against Anaheim. Once healthy, he'll have a chance at working his way back into the Red Wings' line rotations.

• 05/15/13 - 4:23PM ETTyler Bozak : (Biceps) Will Not Need Surgery

  Bozak (biceps) won't require surgery, the Toronto Sun reports.

  Bozak was sidelined for the final two games of the first-round series with the Bruins after injuring the biceps during a faceoff in Game 5. He's expected to require four weeks of recovery time before resuming offseason workouts.