Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen is returning to limited on-ice conditioning work in his recovery from a blood-clotting issue that has sidelined him since November.

The Hurricanes announced the update on Andersen's status Wednesday.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to receive care for an undisclosed issue.

The announcement, made via the NHL, NHLPA and Blue Jackets' organization on Sunday, indicated Laine will be out for an indefinite period of time while getting treatment. Laine will return to Columbus when cleared to do so by the program's administrators.

The owners of the Utah Jazz said Wednesday that they have the immediate ability to bring an NHL team to Utah and requested the initiation of an expansion process.

The Smith Entertainment Group said in a news release that it would use the Jazz's arena as an interim home for an NHL franchise. SEG CEO Ryan Smith said the company is "100% focused on making this happen as soon as possible."

Talks between Smith and the league have been going on since 2022. The NHL said in a statement it appreciates the interest.

Five players from Canada's 2018 world junior team have taken a leave of absence from their current clubs in recent days amid a report that five members of that team have been asked to surrender to police to face sexual assault charges.

Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames and former NHL player Alex Formenton, who is now playing in Europe, all have been granted indefinite leave, with the absences announced in the past four days.

Rangers center Filip Chytil is traveling back to New York on Monday after making progress training at home in Czechia while recovering from a head injury, sources told ESPN.

Chytil, 24, returned to his offseason home in late December as a mental reset in his rehab. He has not played since Nov. 2, appearing in just 10 games this season.

Patrice Bergeron spending every Friday on the ice with a group of friends and former NHL players in the Boston area sparked some online chatter last week that the former Bruins captain might be planning a dramatic return.

That, however, is not in the cards.

"No, it is not happening," Bergeron said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "I'm not making a comeback, not trying to make a comeback."

Bergeron said anyone watching the skates would know there's no truth to the comeback rumors.

"It's a slow pace," he said with a laugh.

Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube is taking an indefinite leave of absence to address his mental health, the team said Sunday.

"Dillon is under the care of health professionals, and we request that Dillon's privacy is respected during the period," a team statement read.

After less than two seasons, Lane Lambert is out as coach of the New York Islanders, with the club announcing Saturday it has hired Patrick Roy behind the bench.

Firing Lambert comes as the Islanders have struggled to find consistency while also trying to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. The Islanders (19-15-11) entered Saturday two points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final wild-card spot in what has become a crowded Eastern Conference landscape.

Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto is prepared for a fresh start -- and he's got a new contract to go with it.

The club announced Friday a one-year, $775,000 deal for Pinto that kicks in right before he is eligible to return from a 41-game suspension for violating the NHL's sports wagering rules. Pinto can make his season debut Sunday in Philadelphia and will earn a prorated salary of just under $360,000 for the remainder of this season.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will remain with the team through at least the end of the regular season, general manager Julien BriseBois said Tuesday.

"I know as we get closer to the [March 8] deadline, a popular and interesting topic is who's going to get traded [and] who won't get traded," BriseBois said. "Steven Stamkos isn't getting traded. We can put that one to bed. If anyone was speculating on that, that's not going to change between now and the deadline under any circumstances.''