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NHL Hockey Player News

Dickinson (upper-body) will play against the Mammoth on Monday.

Dickinson did not play on Saturday due to an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Utah Mammoth. The 30-year-old Dickinson's 2024-25 season was cut short due to an injury, limited to only 59 games while scoring 16 points (7G / 9A).

Jason Dickinson
Hayton (undisclosed) is expected to make his season debut in Chicago on Monday.

Hayton battled an undisclosed injury through the latter half of the preseason and has missed Utah's first two games of the season, but looks set to play on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Hayton has shown glimpses of strong productivity but has lacked consistency. He scored 46 points (20G / 26A) in 82 games last season.

Barrett Hayton
Knight will start against the Mammoth on Monday.

The Blackhawks (0-2-1) continue their search for their first win of the season and will roll with Knight between the pipes on Monday against the Utah Mammoth. The 24-year-old Knight, in his first full season with the Blackhawks after being acquired before the 2024-25 trade deadline, has a 3.03 GAA and .908 SV% in two outings this season (0-2-0). The Blackhawks enter Monday's contest as +143 home underdogs against a Mammoth team that has scored just four goals through two games this season (1-1-0).

Spencer Knight
Vanecek will start in Chicago on Monday.

The Utah Mammoth are 1-1-0 to start the 2025-26 season and will start Vanecek between the pipes for his first start of the season on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Vanecek is in his first season with Utah after splitting the 2024-25 campaign with the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers, posting a 3.62 GAA and .884 SV% in 25 combined appearances (5-14-4). The Mammoth enter Monday's contest as -166 road favorites against the Blackhawks.

Vitek Vanecek
Kuemper will start in Minnesota on Monday.

The Kings (1-2-0) have only one win this season, and it came with Anton Forsberg between the pipes, but they will roll with Kuemper on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper was sensational in the 2024-25 season, finishing as a Vezina runner-up after posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 50 outings (31-11-7). That said, he has not started the 2025-26 season on the same track, posting a 3.63 GAA and .860 SV% in two games (0-2-0). The Kings enter Monday's contest as slight -106 road favorites against the Wild.

Darcy Kuemper
Binnington will start in Vancouver on Monday.

The Blues will turn to Binnington for the second time in this young season when they travel to Vancouver on Monday. Binnington will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing first start, after he allowed five goals on 21 shots in a 5-0 loss to the Wild on Thursday. Binner and the Blues enter action on Canadian Thanksgiving as slight underdogs at +105 on the money line.

Jordan Binnington
Tkachuk left Monday's game vs. Nashville and is without an injury update post-game.

Tkachuk exited Monday's game against the Nashville Predators after only 13:53 time-on-ice. The 26-year-old has three points (0G / 3A) through three games this season. Ottawa's head coach, Travis Green, did not provide an update but confirmed that he was not held out for precautionary reasons, as he indeed was not able to play.

Brady Tkachuk
Mancini will make his season debut on Monday vs. St. Louis.

Derek Forbort will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the St. Louis Blues, allowing Mancini to draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 23-year-old Mancini made his NHL debut last season, splitting time with the Canucks and New York Rangers, scoring eight points (2G / 6A) in 31 combined games.

Victor Mancini
Lankinen will start vs. St. Louis on Monday.

The Canucks have only allowed four goals through two games (1-1-0) courtesy of strong netminding from Thatcher Demko, but they will turn to Lankinen for his first start of the season on Monday against the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old Lankinen emerged with a strong season in Vancouver in 2024-25 after Demko was sidelined for parts of the season due to injuries, posting a 2.62 GAA and .902 SV% in 51 games (25-15-10). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as -118 home favorites against the Blues.

Kevin Lankinen

NHL Player News: Your Ultimate Source for Hockey Player News

At Daily Faceoff you can stay in the know regarding all 32 teams and their top players this season. From trades, to injuries, and everything in between, you can find all the latest NHL player news today here. Staying up to date with player news NHL can also give you a competitive edge in your fantasy hockey leagues, as well as your NHL bets.

Check out all the latest NHL updates below and learn more about the hottest updates in the hockey world today.

Who are the top NHL players to watch this season?

There’s never been more talent scattered across the NHL than there is this season. With living legends like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin still setting records left-and-right, alongside today’s current superstars such as Connor McDavid and Nathan Mackinnon, the level of talent in the NHL is at an all-time high. Along with these established stars, there’s plenty of budding stars emerging every season such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Matvei Michkov.

What are the latest updates on NHL player suspensions or disciplinary actions?

Already this season we’ve seen the hammer brought down by the NHL Department of Player Safety. Notable suspensions and fines include Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs who was given a five-game suspension for an illegal check to the head against the Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot who was dealt a three-game suspension, also for an illegal hit to the head.

In the 2023-24 season, there were a total of 14 suspensions and 17 fines issued throughout the NHL. The longest suspension served was dealt to former-Detroit Red Wing David Perron at six-games after a cross-checking penalty dealt ironically against his current team in the 2024-25 season, the Ottawa Senators. Additionally, Perron was fined $148,437.48 for his actions.

How are NHL player performances impacting fantasy hockey?

NHL player performances make a direct impact on the outcome of any fantasy hockey matchup. Staying up to date with the latest news and performances of your team’s players can be the difference between winning and losing.

Some notable fantasy hockey performers that flew under the radar in most drafts this year include Martin Necas (123 ADP) of the Carolina Hurricanes and Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks. While sleeper picks are always a great get, nothing is worse than a bust taken early on. Some of the most disappointing players of the fantasy hockey season includes Zach Hyman (28 ADP) of the Edmonton Oilers and Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars (33 ADP).

Whether you’re checking out how your current rostered players are performing or scouting for hidden gems on the waiver wire, the latest player news can help you make your next winning move this season.

Which NHL players are having breakout or comeback seasons?

Every season there are several players who have breakout years, establishing themselves as some of the best up-and-coming stars in the league. In the 2024-25 season early breakout candidates have emerged such as Dylan Strome of the Washington Capitals (on-pace for his first 100-point season) and Ivan Barbashev of the Vegas Golden Knights (on-pace for career-high in points).

Additionally, nothing beats a comeback story, and that can be said about surging veterans such as Anze Koipitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars.

How often is NHL player news updated?

Our player news is updated regularly throughout the season, bringing you fresh player updates every day throughout the calendar year. Providing our users with a one-stop destination for everything you need to know from across the NHL, our player news is the go-to spot for all the biggest stories in the hockey universe.

What types of information does NHL player news cover?

Our NHL news covers every aspect of the hockey season. From injuries to trades to rumours and even suspensions, we’ve got you covered through it all with credible and fast-updates all-season long.

Are there specific sources for reliable NHL player updates?

All of our sources come from credible and reputable areas. When you’re at Daily Faceoff, you can trust that we are never going to spoon-feed you fake news. You can trust you’re only reading legitimate news that matters.

How does NHL player news impact betting lines?

Player news has a massive impact on the latest hockey betting lines. From daily game lines and prop bets, to Stanley Cup futures bets, every trade, roster change, and injury can shake up the odds set by oddsmakers.

By staying informed on the latest NHL updates, you can become a better NHL bettor as you’ll have a winning edge thanks to our in-depth news coverage.

DFO’s Specialized News Categories

Get the most out of your hockey news with our in-depth coverage of the NHL with our comprehensive player news updates. Below we’ve compiled go-to destinations for player injuries, trades, signings, line combinations, and more!