NHL Buzz: Holden signs one-year contract with Senators

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Ondrej Palat returned to play for the Lightning against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
The forward missed five games with a lower-body injury.
"It was something that just needed a little time off to make sure it's 100 percent and I'm ready to play," Palat said after practice Tuesday.
Palat scored 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 38 games this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Alexandre Texier is out four weeks for the Blue Jackets because of a fractured finger.
The forward was injured in a 6-0 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Texier scored 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 36 games this season.

Edmonton Oilers

Zach Hyman returned to play for the Oilers against the Nashville Predators on Thursday..
The forward missed three games in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Hyman scored 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 32 games this season.

Ottawa Senators

Nick Holden signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract to stay with the Senators.
The defenseman could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has scored four points (one goal, three assists) in 30 games after being acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 28, 2021.
"You always want to make sure you're secure," Holden said Thursday. "When [management] came to me, me and my family had really enjoyed being here, playing here, living here, and so it was an easy decision to negotiate and come up with staying here."
Signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent March 28, 2008, Holden has scored 147 points (46 goals, 101 assists) in 543 games with the Senators, Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and Blue Jackets.
"He's great for our young guys," Senators coach D.J. Smith said. "He's never down. He's the perfect guy to have around for Brady [Tkachuk] and those guys in the leadership group … He's played the game for so long and played in all situations, playoff games, high intensity games, great teams, bad teams. He's done everything in the league. And he's just a real good, calming presence back there." -- Callum Fraser

Buffalo Sabres

Craig Anderson skated at Sabres practice in a regular jersey Thursday.
The goalie, who has been out since Nov. 4 with an upper-body injury, had been wearing a no-contact jersey since rejoining practice Jan. 21.
"In the last seven days, or seven days of skating, it's been kind of similar or better than the day before," Anderson said Thursday. "So that is positive, and we are keeping a positive mindset and a positive outlook here in the next couple days."
Sabres goalie Aaron Dell was suspended three games Wednesday for interference on Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson. Goalie Dustin Tokarski returned to practice Thursday for the first time since Jan. 16 after dealing with effects from COVID-19.
Michael Houser is Buffalo's only available goalie under contract, but Anderson's return won't be rushed.
"No, there's no pressure," said Anderson, who was 4-2-0 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in six games. "When the time is right, the time is right. We're all competitors. I'm a competitor. My job is to get better and get out there and play, and I want to play."
Buffalo next plays at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
"Both Craig and Tokarski have had injuries that nobody knows but them," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "No doctor, no medical adviser; it's just how they feel and only they know how they feel with what they're dealing with. So, yeah, they remain day to day because of that, and we sit and wait for them." -- Heather Engel

Vancouver Canucks

Jaroslav Halak rejoined the Canucks for a four-game road trip and was the backup to Spencer Martin against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
The goalie had been in NHL COVID-19 protocol and was away from the team since Jan. 15. He last played Dec. 30 in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings and was 1-4-2 with a 2.59 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in eight games (seven starts).
Goalie Thatcher Demko was removed from protocol Thursday and will rejoin the Canucks prior to their game at the Calgary Flames on Saturday. He has missed three games since being placed in protocol Jan. 20 but skated with teammates Wednesday.
Martin started for the third time in four games against the Jets. He was placed in protocol Saturday and unavailable for a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. Martin made 47 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said defenseman Kyle Burroughs, who has scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 31 games, will be out until after the All-Star break because of a lower-body injury. Vancouver's first game after the break is Feb. 8. -- Kevin Woodley

Montreal Canadiens

Brendan Gallagher could return for the Canadiens this weekend.
The forward has missed eight games with a lower-body injury. He has scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 25 games.
Forward Paul Byron could make his season debut, Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said. Byron had offseason hip surgery.
Montreal plays at home against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.
Forward Jonathan Drouin is out indefinitely because of an upper-body injury sustained in a 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 20 and has missed two games. Drouin scored 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 32 games this season.
Goalie Carey Price is making progress as he rehabs his right knee but there is no timetable for his return to the ice.