NHL Hockey Player News

The Lightning signed Scott Sabourin to a one-year, two-way contract.

Sabourin is a 32-year-old veteran who has spent most of his career in the AHL. Most recently, he was with the Sharks for the last two seasons, where he had just four NHL appearances. He had 10 goals and 15 assists (25 points) to go along with 111 PIMS in 68 AHL games in 2024-25.

Scott Sabourin
The Jets have signed Morgan Barron to a two-year deal worth $1.85M AAV ($3.7M total).

Barron had eight goals and seven assists (15 points) in 74 games with the Jets in 2024-25. Barron found a role on the Jets' fourth line but he will have more competition for minutes in 2025-26 after the signings of Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke.

Morgan Barron
The Canucks acquired Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Arturs Silovs.

Stillman was the 29th overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game and has already joined his third organization. He had three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) last season.

Chase Stillman
The Penguins acquired Arturs Silovs in a trade from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Silovs is a talented goalie who has battled inconsistencies and was buried on Vancouver's depth chart behind Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. He is coming off a terrific Calder Cup-winning postseason with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), posting a stellar 2.01 GAA and .931 SV% in 24 appearances (16-7). With the recent departure of Alex Nedeljkovic, Silovs could have an opportunity for a heavier workload at the NHL level this season.

Arturs Silovs
San Jose has signed Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3 million contract.

Skinner signed with the Oilers last summer but struggled in 2024-25, recording 29 points (16G / 13) while averaging just 13:00 TOI/gm. In San Jose he should have a larger role, likely in the top-6 and will look to get back to 20-plus goals for the 11th time in his career.

Jeff Skinner
San Jose has acquired Ryan Reaves from Toronto for Henry Thrun.

San Jose acquired some grit and toughness late Thursday night when they announced they had traded 24-year-old defenseman Henry Thrun to Toronto for forward Ryan Reaves. Reaves is a 38-year-old enforcer entering his 16th NHL season and should find a spot in San Jose's bottom-six. He struggled to stick with Toronto last season, collecting just two assists and 28 PIMs in 35 games played.

Ryan Reaves
Toronto has acquired Henry Thrun from San Jose for Ryan Reaves.

Toronto added to its defensive depth late Thursday night after they acquired Henry Thrun from San Jose for 38-year-old enforcer Ryan Reaves. Thrun is a 24-year-old mobile defenseman entering his third full NHL season. He put up two goals and 12 points despite an ugly -23 plus/minus across 60 games with the Sharks in 2024-25. He will battle for one of Toronto's final defensive spots to start the season.

Henry Thrun
Colorado has signed Josh Manson to a two-year contract extension worth $3.95 million AAV ($7.9M total).

Manson still had one year left on his current contract, but will extend his time with the Avalanche for two more years after he signed a two-year contract extension worth $3.95 million AAV ($7.9M total). The 33-year-old bruising defenseman only appeared in 48 games in 2024-25 due to injury, but still had a goal, 15 points and 28 PIMs. He is entering his fifth season with Colorado and is expected to return to his regular defensive role.

Josh Manson
San Jose has signed Jakub Skarek to a one-year, two-way contract.

San Jose added to their goaltending depth on Thursday after adding 25-year-old netminder Jakub Skarek on a one-year, two-way contract. The Czech goaltender made his NHL debut in 2024-25 with the Islanders, but struggled with a 0-1-0 record, .872 SV% and 3.94 GAA. He is expected to start the 2025-26 season with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).

Jakub Skarek
Dallas has acquired Vladislav Kolyachonok from Pittsburgh for Matt Dumba and a 2028 2nd Round Pick.

Dallas managed to move some much-needed salary on Thursday after trading Matt Dumba ($3.75M cap hit) and a 2028 2nd Round Pick to Pittsburgh for Vladislav Kolyachonok. Kolyachonok is a 24-year-old defenseman entering his fifth NHL campaign, having recorded two goals and seven points in 35 games played between Utah and Pittsburgh last season.

Vladislav Kolyachonok
Pittsburgh has acquired Matt Dumba and a 2028 2nd Round Pick from Dallas for Vladislav Kolyachonok.

Pittsburgh took advantage of Dallas' need to shed salary on Thursday by acquiring Matthew Dumba and a 2028 2nd Round Pick from Dallas for Vladislav Kolyachonok. Dumba has been on the move often lately, joining his fifth team in the last four seasons, entering his 13th NHL season. In 63 games with Dallas in 2024-25, he had a goal, 10 points and 60 PIMs.

Matt Dumba
Florida has signed Mackie Samoskevich to a one-year, $775,000 contract extension.

With funds tight in Florida for the upcoming 2025-26 season, Mackie Samoskevich has signed a one-year, $775,000 bridge contract to remain with the Panthers. The 22-year-old scrappy right-winger was Florida's 2021 1st-round pick (24th overall) and made a big impact throughout their lineup in 2024-25 with 15 goals, 31 points and 129 SOG in 72 games played.

Mackie Samoskevich
Riley Nash has retired from professional hockey after 12 NHL seasons.

Nash last played in the NHL with the New York Rangers in 2023-24 and announced his retirement from professional hockey on Wednesday after 12 NHL seasons. The Albertan center enjoyed a solid NHL career with 63 goals and 176 points in 628 games while representing 8 different organizations (CAR,CBJ,BOS,ARI,WPG,TBL, TOR, NYR).

Riley Nash
Vancouver has signed Braeden Cootes to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Vancouver has signed their 2025 1st-round pick in Braeden Cootes after the 18-year-old forward signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The Alberta native spent 2024-25 captaining the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) and had 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games played. He will attempt to secure a position on the Canucks for the upcoming season but is expected to eventually return to Seattle for the majority of 2025-26.

Braeden Cootes

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!