Jon Irvin breaks down the NHL daily fantasy sports slate for February 3, 2025, as the Nashville Predators take on the Ottawa Senators in a potentially defensive matchup. Recommended picks include Roman Josi, a dynamic player for Nashville, and Ottawa's Travis Hamonic, who has recently returned from injury and shown strong performance. Jake Sanderson is another solid pick from Ottawa, offering upside as a reliable defender. Filip Forsberg is highlighted as a must-have for his scoring ability, while Artem Zub serves as a valuable budget option. Irvin advises against goalie selections due to risk and emphasizes the importance of players logging significant ice time.

In the latest NHL updates, Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich exited a game with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confirmed that Valeri Nichushkin is projected to participate in the upcoming three-game road trip.

In Detroit, Red Wings defensemen Jeff Petry and Justin Holl missed practice, with Petry being assessed for an undisclosed injury, ruling him out for the next game. However, Holl is expected to play.

Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad participated in morning skate, while Niko Mikkola remains sidelined due to an upper-body issue. The Minnesota Wild reported that Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov are nursing lower-body injuries, and Jared Spurgeon has been placed on the IR.

Montreal Canadiens forwards Patrik Laine and David Savard are also missing games, while Nashville Predators’ Jeremy Lauzon is on the IR. The New Jersey Devils will be without Erik Haula for several weeks due to a sprained ankle.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker left practice injured. The Senators' Travis Hamonic is out due to a knee injury, but Nick Jensen has returned to practice. San Jose Sharks' Logan Couture is still recovering and hasn't yet returned to the ice.

Toronto Maple Leafs placed defenseman Jake McCabe on the IR, and Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson participated in practice but isn’t ready to play. Quinn Hughes returned from an upper-body injury, and Dakota Joshua has been placed on the IR.

Finally, Vegas Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy returned to practice without contact as he recovers from an upper-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes have placed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere on injured reserve. Meanwhile, forward William Carrier was sidelined during the previous game due to an undisclosed injury.

Colorado Avalanche's coach Jared Bednar provided an update on goaltender Scott Wedgewood, indicating that he does not have a high ankle sprain and is expected to return in about two weeks after consulting a specialist.

New York Islanders forward Hudson Fasching exited last night's game in the third period following a hit along the boards, raising concerns about his health. In Ottawa, Senators coach Travis Green reported progress for forward David Perron, who is recovering from a back injury, and Michael Amadio, who is back on the ice after a concussion.

On the New York Rangers front, Chris Kreider missed the last game due to an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson was also absent from the previous match. The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a setback as defenseman Jake McCabe left the game early after sustaining an upper-body injury during a fight.

In Vancouver, the Canucks saw Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes participate in practice, with Hughes appearing to be ahead in his recovery, participating in power play drills while Pettersson took a more cautious approach.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for strategic moves as they have made their 2025 first-round pick available, which has garnered significant attention across the league. With the rising salary cap, the Penguins are positioned to acquire players and potentially take on contracts with additional assets included.

Interest is high for their pick, and the Penguins are reportedly seeking young talent, possibly looking at free agents like Mitch Marner or Sam Bennett. The team may also consider younger RFA forwards such as Mason McTavish or Gabe Vilardi, whose current teams might hesitate to pay top dollar.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators are also in a precarious situation, having lost three consecutive games but remain in a wild-card position. Their limited cap space restricts their ability to make substantial moves before the trade deadline. The Senators are eyeing top-nine forwards to bolster their lineup, with names like Brandon Tanev and Ryan Donato surfacing as potential targets.

The Ottawa Senators are gearing up for the new season with heightened expectations under head coach Travis Green. After recent promising performances, the team aims to become a playoff contender.

Green, who has a history of holding players accountable, faces the challenge of enhancing the team's defensive structure. The Senators strengthened their goaltending by acquiring Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, who is expected to provide the consistency the team has lacked since 2020.