NHL SHORT ICE | Feb 24

NHL SHORT ICE | Feb 24

IHM NHL SHORT ICE

NHL Return Edition | February 24, 2026

Date: 24 February 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom

Olympic break ends. NHL intensity resumes.

Morrissey Placed on IR

Josh Morrissey was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body issue, making him unavailable for the start of his club’s upcoming road trip.

Impact: Defensive stability and transition support take a hit immediately.

Rantanen Likely to Miss Time

Mikko Rantanen surfaced on injured reserve following the Olympic break and is expected to miss time for Dallas. The timeline remains unclear.

Impact: Top-line scoring depth and power-play structure will need adjustment.

Norris Available Wednesday

Josh Norris is expected to return after rib issues and will be available midweek.

Impact: Center depth stabilizes and matchup flexibility improves.

Lindgren Activated, Ullmark Ready

Charlie Lindgren was removed from injured reserve, while Linus Ullmark is healthy following illness.

Impact: Goaltending rotations normalize as playoff positioning intensifies.

Hintz Dealing with Illness

Roope Hintz is questionable midweek due to illness.

Impact: Even minor absences matter in compressed post-Olympic scheduling.

Trade Buzz: Stamkos Focused

With the trade deadline approaching, Steven Stamkos stated he is not overly concerned about speculation, while several contenders monitor market movement.

Impact: Deadline positioning begins to shape playoff trajectories.

Coach Mark Insight

The transition from Olympic hockey back to NHL pace often creates short-term volatility. Conditioning, travel load and lineup reintegration determine which teams regain rhythm fastest.

IceHockeyMan Newsroom