Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

NHL Hockey Player News

Knight will start Saturday vs. the Stars in Finland.

Knight allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Panthers' win over the Islanders last Saturday. WIth Sergei Bobrovsky starting yesterday, Knight will start the second-half of the Panthers back-to-back in Finland. He hasn't been particularly sharp in his three starts (3.03 GAA and .898 SV%) but it's been good enough win two of three.

Spencer Knight
Reilly (upper-body) left Friday's game and did not return.

Reilly avoided being stretchered off, but had to he helped off the ice after being hit by Jordan Greenway. The Islanders did not have a post-game update on his status but the defenseman will travel to New York with the team and be re-evaluated. Expect Dennis Cholowski to replace him in the lineup on Sunday.

Mike Reilly
DeSmith will start Saturday vs. the Panthers in Finland.

DeSmith stopped 25 of 27 shots in the Stars win in Boston last Thursday. With Jake Oettinger starting on Friday, DeSmith will get the second-half of the back-to-back on Saturday vs. the Panthers. He's had a great start to his Stars career, going 2-1-0 with a 1.69 GAA, .936 SV% and one shutout in three starts.

Casey DeSmith
Vasilevskiy will start in Minnesota on Friday.

With Tampa Bay looking for a season-best four-game winning streak, they will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Friday night for his fifth straight start. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has had an up-and-down season, with a 2.47 GAA and .911 SV% in nine games (6-3-1), but has been exceptional lately, allowing two or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0), posting a stellar .962 SV%. Tampa Bay enters the action on Friday as slight +103 road underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club with only one regulation loss (6-1-2).

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Ullmark will start in New York on Friday.

Ullmark has had an inconsistent start to his tenure as a Senator, partly derailed due to injuries, but was tremendous in his last outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in an 8-1 win over the St. Louis Blues and will return to the crease on Friday night against the New York Rangers. The Senators are sporting a 5-4-0 record and rank in the top five in the league offensively, averaging 4.2 goals per game. That said, the Senators enter the action on Friday as +170 road underdogs against a Rangers club with a 6-2-1 record.

Linus Ullmark
Shesterkin will start against the Senators on Friday.

Shesterkin will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak when he returns to the crease for the Rangers on Friday night against the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old Shesterkin was busy in his last outing, saving a season-high 41 shots, but allowed four goals (.911 SV%) in the 5-3 losing effort against the Washington Capitals. The Rangers enter the action on Friday as -187 home favorites against the high-scoring Ottawa Senators (4.2 GF / GP).

Igor Shesterkin
Comrie will start on Friday in Columbus.

The Jets will give Connor Hellebuyck the night off on Friday and turn to Comrie between the pipes for his third start of the season. The 29-year-old Comrie has been serviceable in limited action this season, posting a respectable 3.00 GAA and .915 SV% through two contests (2-0-0). The Jets enter the action on Friday as -178 road favorites against a surprising Columbus Blue Jackets club (5-3-1) that ranks fifth-best in the league with a +10 goal differential.

Eric Comrie
Liljegren will make his Sharks debut on Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Liljegren was acquired from the Maple Leafs on Wednesday in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick, a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, and defenceman Matt Benning. He amassed 14 goals and 51 assists in 197 career games with the Maple Leafs and should be afforded plenty more playing time in San Jose.

Timothy Liljegren
Joshua (testicular cancer) is day-to-day and close to returning.

In mid-September, the Canucks announced that 28-year-old Dakota Joshua had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and successfully had a tumor removed but would not be ready for the start of training camp. The fifth-year winger is coming off his best season in 2023-24, with 18 goals, 32 points, 60 PIMs, 84 SOG, and a +19 plus/minus through 63 games played.

Dakota Joshua
Markstrom will start on Friday in Calgary.

The Devils have rolled with Markstrom during a two-game winning streak and will turn to him again on Friday night against the Calgary Flames. Markstrom struggled to start the season, allowing three or more goals in five of his first seven games (3-3-1), posting a .891 SV%, but has been incredible in his last two, boasting a superb .957 SV% in his last two (2-0-0). The Devils enter the action on Friday as -175 road favorites against a Flames team that has lost four straight.

Jacob Markstrom
Bobrovsky will start vs. Dallas on Friday in Finland.

In the front end of a back-to-back against the Dallas Stars as part of the NHL Global Series in Finald, the Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a pedestrian 2.97 GAA and .892 SV%. That said, Bobrovsky has been sensational against the Dallas Stars in his career, posting a 2.35 GAA and .924 SV% in 23 contests (18-2-2). The Panthers enter Friday's contest against the Stars as -118 favorites.

Sergei Bobrovsky
Rooney is expected to draw back into Calgary's lineup on Friday vs. New Jersey.

Justin Kirkland will be a healthy scratch for the first time since the opening game of the season, as Rooney re-enters the lineup for the Flames. In three games this season, Rooney has a -1 plus/minus and 10 hits.

Kevin Rooney
Bean is expected to be a healthy scratch on Friday vs. New Jersey.

Daniil Miromanov will draw into the Flames lineup for his ninth game of the season, replacing Bean. The 26-year-old Bean had a -2 plus/minus in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Utah HC but has been productive from the blueline this season, tallying three points (1G / 2A) in seven games.

Jake Bean
Kirkland is expected to be a healthy scratch on Friday vs. New Jersey.

Kevin Rooney will draw into the Flames lineup on Friday, replacing Kirkland after playing nine straight games. The 26-year-old Kirkland has been productive in a limited role this season, averaging 11:22 time-on-ice and scoring five points (1G / 4A) in nine games.

Justin Kirkland
Miromanov will draw back into the Flames' lineup on Friday vs. New Jersey.

Jake Bean will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Miromanov to re-enter the lineup for the Flames. The 27-year-old Miromanov has been a regular in the lineup most of the season for the Flames, averaging 17:56 time-on-ice, recording one assist, 12 blocks, and five hits in eight games.

Daniil Miromanov

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!