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NHL Hockey Player News

Miller (upper-body) appears ready to return in Minnesota on Saturday.

Miller has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 2nd, but has resumed practicing this week and could be an option on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. The Rangers have gone 4-1-0 without Miller, who was picking up production before his injury, scoring 14 points (3G / 11A) in his last 13 games.

J.T. Miller
Ottawa has acquired Riley Kidney from Montreal for Hunter Shepard and Jake Chiasson.

Kidney was a second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to play an NHL games. The 22-year-old forward spent the last two seasons with the Laval Rocket (AHL), but has spent most of 2025-26 in the ECHL, where he has 33 points (11G / 22A) in 46 games with the Trois-Rivieres Lions.

Riley Kidney
Montreal has acquired Hunter Shepard and Jake Chiasson from Ottawa for Riley Kidney.

Shepard has some NHL experience, including one appearance with the Ottawa Senators earlier this season, but has almost exclusively played in the AHL over the past few seasons. The undrafted 30-year-old goalie has a 3.65 GAA and .885 SV% in 15 games (6-7-2) this season with the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Hunter Shepard
San Jose has signed Ty Dellandrea to a two-year contract worth $1.625 million AAV ($3.25M total).

Dellandrea has battled some injuries this season and has been sidelined since early January due to a lower-body injury, but he has been an effective bottom-six forward when healthy, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 25-year-old Dellandrea is averaging 14:24 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (2G / 9A) and 117 hits in 42 games this season.

Ty Dellandrea
Kuemper is expected to start on Long Island on Friday.

The Kings are battling to stay in playoff contention but have not been able to secure victories regularly, including games with Kuemper tending the twine. The 35-year-old veteran goalie has lost four of his last five starts (1-3-1), posting an ugly 3.84 GAA and .857 SV%. The Kings enter Friday's contest as +125 road underdogs against the New York Islanders, a team they defeated 5-3 less than two weeks ago.

Darcy Kuemper
Wallstedt will start vs. Toronto on Sunday.

Wallstedt returned from the Olympic break with a poor performance, allowing five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. That said, the 23-year-old Swedish goalie has turned things around since, despite losing both of his subsequent outings (0-0-2), posting an excellent 1.86 GAA and .935 SV%.

Jesper Wallstedt
Brink (upper-body) is a possibility to return vs. New York on Saturday.

Minnesota acquired Brink in a trade from Philadelphia last week, but he is battling an upper-body ailment and missed Thursday's game against his former team. The 24-year-old has played three games with Minnesota so far and scored a goal for his first point with the team in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Utah Mammoth.

Bobby Brink
Gustavsson will start vs. New York on Saturday.

Gustavsson seemed to be suffering some mid-season fatigue, posting a pedestrian 2.96 GAA and .893 SV% in 13 games (8-1-3) leading into the Olympic break. That said, the 27-year-old Swedish goalie has returned to action well rested and motivated, posting a dazzling 1.21 GAA and .960 SV% in five games (4-1-0) since NHL action has resumed.

Filip Gustavsson
Cernak (upper-body) is expected to return vs. Carolina on Saturday

Cernak has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on Sunday, missing two games, but should be ready to return to the lineup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Slovak defenseman is averaging 17:57 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 77 blocks, and 81 hits in 43 games this season.

Erik Cernak
Pearson (undisclosed) missed practice on Friday and is questionable vs. Toronto on Saturday.

Pearson only played 8:58 time-on-ice in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals and seems to be battling an ailment after missing practice on Friday. The 33-year-old has only played one game with the Sabres since being acquired in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets. He has 13 points (7G / 6A) in 53 games this season.

Tanner Pearson
Samuelsson (undisclosed) missed practice on Friday and is questionable vs. Toronto on Saturday.

Samuelson didn't seem to show any ill effects during Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, playing 20:30 time-on-ice, but he was absent from practice on Friday. The 25-yer-old defenseman is averaging 23:07 time-on-ice, recording 36 points (12G / 24A), 109 hits, and 130 blocks in 64 games this season.

Mattias Samuelsson
Jensen (lower-body) missed practice on Friday and is considered day-to-day.

Jensen only played 14:28 time-on-ice in Ottawa's 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, and was absent from practice on Friday. It is unclear if he will be ready to play when Ottawa returns to action on Saturday afternoon against the Anaheim Ducks.

Nick Jensen
Tuch (lower-body) returned to Sabres' practice on Friday.

Tuch was absent from practice on Wednesday and did not play on Thursday, but was back to practice on Friday, indicating he could be ready when Buffalo returns to action on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old forward has 57 points (28G / 29A) in 64 games this season, including nine points (6G / 3A) during a seven-game point streak.

Alex Tuch
Dobes will start vs. San Jose on Saturday.

After a tremendous performance by Jacob Fowler in Ottawa's previous game, a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens will return to Dobes, who has also performed well in recent outings. The 24-year-old Dobes saved 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in his most recent contest, a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has a 2.00 GAA and .930 SV% in his last two games (2-0-0).

Jakub Dobes
Caufield (illness) returned to Montreal's practice on Friday.

Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, and subsequently missing Wednesday's game against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games and appears ready to rejoin the team for Saturday's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Cole Caufield

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.

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