NHL Player News

Monday, May 20

• 05/20/13 - 4:06PM ETFrancois Beauchemin : Undergoes Successful Surgery

  Beauchemin underwent successful reconstructive surgery on a ligament in his right knee last Thursday, the Globe and Mail reports.

  The 32-year-old played for a month with the torn ligament in his knee, but following the Ducks' elimination from the playoffs last week, he decided to go under the knife. Beauchemin, who put up 24 points (6G, 18A) and a plus-19 rating during the regular season, hopes to return in time for the start of next season.

• 05/20/13 - 1:36PM ETMikael Samuelsson : Not Playing Monday

  Samuelsson (shoulder) will not be in the lineup for Game 3 on Monday, MLive.com reports.

  He's listed as a healthy scratch Monday, so it may simply be a case where head coach Mike Babcock is happy with the lineup he used in the Wings' Game 2 victory on Saturday and does not feel the need to push Samuelsson back into the fold at the current time.

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 - 11:20AM ETMartin Havlat : Active Saturday

  Coach Todd McLellan has confirmed that Havlat will be in the line-up Saturday against Los Angeles, NHL.com reports.

  This is a big return for San Jose as they are still down forwards Raffi Torres (suspension) and Adam Burish (hand).

• 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.