NHL Injury Report for April 15th: Kochetkov Ready to Roll

Welcome back to the Fantrax NHL Injury Report for April 15, 2026. In today’s report, we get updates on the Tkachuk brothers, Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman. Read all about this and more in today’s NHL Injury Report from Fantrax.

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NHL Injury Report

Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

Travis Green spoke about Brady Tkachuk and the injury he suffered over the weekend, as well as his play since the Olympic break, on @OverDrive1050 earlier today. pic.twitter.com/egQn4v1bUh

— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) April 15, 2026

After missing Sunday’s game, Brady appears healthy and good to go. That said, if there’s any question about his health going into the final game of the season, expect him to sit. The Senators are locked into the second wildcard spot, so they have nothing to play for.

LOTS of players are getting rested this week. Don’t be surprised if Brady skips this last game, too.

Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

HC Paul Maurice shared postgame that Matthew Tkachuk and his wife Ellie welcomed a baby girl—congratulations to the Tkachuk family!

— Katie Engleson (@KatieEngleson) April 14, 2026

It took a little longer than some fantasy hockey owners would have liked, but Tkachuk is now the father of a baby girl. He’s missed four games waiting for this birth. Now that she’s here, expect him to suit up for the final game of the season. For some owners (myself included), his return is coming too late to make much of a difference.

Zach Hyman & Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

"It's pretty lonely when you're out there on those injury skates by yourself. I know they're very excited to be joining the team."@EdmontonOilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch on Draisaitl and Hyman skating with the team this morning.
He also spoke on the #GoAvsGo, & more with… pic.twitter.com/Q45jGIXrmR

— Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer (@OilersNow) April 13, 2026

Hyman could be a game-time decision to play in the Oilers final game of the season. When healthy, he’s scoring a top-10 rate in the league. He can’t come back soon enough. If he misses their next game, expect him to be ready to go for the first game of the playoffs.

Draisaitl is a bit further away. The hope/expectation is that he’ll be able to join the Oilers in the middle of the first round of the playoffs. As elite as he is in the regular season, he goes supernova in the playoffs.

Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes

It's official, folks! Pyotr Kochetkov is playing his first game since his injury tonight!

I've got an analysis incoming soon at Carolina Hockey Now (because goalie analysis is my favorite!), so stay tuned!#CarolinaCulture #LGW #NHL https://t.co/jpr7rB26gL

— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) April 10, 2026

Despite horrible goaltending down the stretch, the Hurricanes managed to win the division title and sit with 111 points.

Just in time for the playoffs, Kochetkov has been recalled to the NHL after a quick conditioning stint in the AHL. In the one game he started, he was solid, giving up a lone goal. In total, he played in three games, giving up one goal per outing.

The Hurricanes are poised to enter the playoffs carrying three goalies. With the struggles of Brandon Bussi and Freddy Andersen over the past couple of months, expect Kochetkov to get game one of the playoffs. If he shows well, they’ll ride him.

He was slated to play last night; however, there was a last-minute change, and Bussi got the start instead.

Austin Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews in the building (and on crutches) tonight for Maple Leafs' final home game.

He happily awards an intermission-contest-winning fan season tickets for 2026-27.

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) April 14, 2026

Slow going on the recovery front for Matthews. He is expected to be ready for training camp in the fall and fully healthy. Hopefully, this will also allow him to further rehab/strengthen his wrist. Anyone else missing the snapshot from his 69 goal season?

Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils

New Jersey – G Jacob Markstrom (injury management) is out for the rest of the regular season.

— freeplays (@freeplays) April 12, 2026

Markstrom will miss the rest of the regular season due to nagging injuries. There doesn’t appear to be anything significantly wrong with Markstrom; there’s just no reason to play him this week. The Devils are eliminated from the playoffs, so they’re looking toward the 2026-27 season already.