NHL Hockey Player News

Joey Anderson (shoulder) has been placed on the Injured Reserve.

Anderson played 13 straight games for the Blackhawks but suffered a shoulder injury in yesterday's contest against the Vancouver Canucks and has been placed on the injured reserve. He has five points (0G / 5A) while averaging 13:21 time-on-ice through 13 games this season.

Joey Anderson
Jake Oettinger (lower body) is expected be out week-to-week.

The Stars coaching staff indicated that the team received positive results on Oettinger's evaluation, avoiding the worst outcome, but will still be without their starting goaltender on a week-to-week basis. Oettinger struggled before his injury, posting a 1-3-0 record and an ugly .823 SV% in his last five games. The Stars recalled Matt Murray from the Texas Stars (AHL), who will predominantly serve as the backup to Scott Wedgewood while Oettinger is out of the lineup.

Jake Oettinger
Jake Allen will start Monday in Winnipeg.

Allen has only started once in the last two weeks but will return to the crease on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets. Allen played well in a 2-1 losing effort to the Nashville Predators in his last outing on December 10th, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%). That said, Allen has struggled with consistency this season. After recording at least a point for his team in his first four outings (3-0-1), Allen has failed to record a victory in seven consecutive games (0-6-1), posting a .881 SV% in the process. As a result, the Canadiens are +220 road favourites against a Jets team that is among the hottest in the NHL, winning six of their last seven contests (6-1-0).

Jake Allen
Pavel Zacha (upper body) was a full participant in practice Monday and could return Tuesday vs. Minnesota.

Zacha was a full participant at practice on Monday and re-assumed his previous duties, including centring the top powerplay unit for the Bruins. Zacha suffered an upper-body injury early in the Bruins' December 9th contest against the Arizona Coyotes. After a stretch of 17 points (8G / 9A) in 17 games, Zacha was held to only one point (0G / 1A) in the four games leading up to his injury.

Pavel Zacha
Charlie McAvoy (upper body) was a full participant in practice Monday and could return Tuesday vs. Minnesota.

McAvoy was back at practice on Monday as a full participant, including lining up on the top powerplay unit, a spot previously occupied by Kevin Shattenkirk. McAvoy has missed four straight games due to an upper-body injury suffered on December 7th and looks likely to return to the lineup on Tuesday.

Charlie McAvoy
Dylan Larkin (upper body) will return to the Red Wings' lineup Monday vs. Anaheim.

Larkin suffered an upper-body injury on December 9th and subsequently missed four games but will return to action on Monday against the Anaheim Ducks. The Red Wings struggled in Larkin's absence, being outscored 18-11 in five games (1-4-0). At morning skate on Monday, Larkin was centring a line with Joe Veleno and Patrick Kane and occupying a spot on the top powerplay unit. Before his injury, Larkin was riding a six-game point streak, scoring eight points (6G / 2A) in the process.

Dylan Larkin
Ville Husso will start Monday vs. Anaheim.

Alex Lyon exited Saturday's game in the second period with a lower-body injury and was replaced by Husso, who saved all 18 shots he faced in a 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Red Wings will likely roll with Husso on Monday and hope that his performance over the last three games, saving 88 of 94 shots (.936 SV%), is a trend for the Finnish netminder, who had struggled immensely, posting a .872 SV% in his seven games before (4-2-1). The Red Wings are -237 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that pulled off a surprising 5-1 victory in New Jersey last night.

Ville Husso
Alex Nedeljkovic was the first goalie off at the Penguins' morning skate.

Nedeljkovic will likely start on Monday after allowing three goals in relief of Tristan Jarry on 21 shots (.857 SV%) in Saturday's 7-0 blowout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Discounting Saturday's relief appearance, Nedeljkovic has been tremendous when called upon lately, posting an excellent .946 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). The Penguins are -120 home favourites on Monday as they will be desperate to rebound against a Minnesota Wild team that has won three straight games but is averaging only 1.8 goals per game over their last five contests (3-2-0).

Alex Nedeljkovic
Ville Husso was in the starter's crease at Monday's morning skate.

Alex Lyon exited Saturday's game in the second period with a lower-body injury and was replaced by Husso, who saved all 18 shots he faced in a 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Red Wings will likely roll with Husso on Monday and hope that his performance over the last three games, saving 88 of 94 shots (.936 SV%), is a trend for the Finnish netminder, who had struggled immensely, posting a .872 SV% in his seven games before (4-2-1). The Red Wings are -237 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that pulled off a surprising 5-1 victory in New Jersey last night.

Ville Husso
Alex Lyon (lower body) left Saturday's game early and was not participating in practice Monday.

Lyon exited Saturday's game for the Red Wings in the second period after saving 14 of 15 shots (.933 SV%) with a lower-body injury. His status is still to be determined, but he did not participate in practice on Monday. Ville Husso will likely see the majority of the action while Lyon is out, with James Reimer serving as the backup.

Alex Lyon
Connor Hellebuyck will start Monday vs. Montreal.

Hellebuyck has been otherwordly lately, consistently putting together strong performances, and will search for his sixth straight win in his third consecutive start on Monday. After a lacklustre start to the season, Hellebuyck has unfathomably allowed two or fewer goals in 10 straight contests, posting a remarkable .943 SV%. Few goalies in the league have been as reliable as Hellebuyck over the last month, and he looks poised to continue his strong play as the Jets are sizeable -230 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost three of their last five (2-1-2).

Connor Hellebuyck
Matthew Murray has been recalled from the Texas Stars (AHL) under emergency exceptions.

With Jake Oettinger sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Murray has been recalled and will serve as the backup to Scott Wedgewood. Murray has a 2.86 GAA and .908 SV% in 13 games (8-4-1) with the Texas Stars of the AHL this season. A concrete timeline for Oettinger's return to action is not yet available but it is unlikely that Murray will see much action between the pipes in Dallas unless he is with the club for an extended period.

Matthew Murray

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!