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NHL Hockey Player News

Caggiula has been recalled from Bakersfield (AHL).

With Connor McDavid's status uncertain after suffering a lower-body injury on Monday, the Oilers have recalled Drake Caggiula and Noah Philp from the Bakersfield Condors (AHL). The 30-year-old Caggiula has 282 games of NHL experience but has played exclusively in the AHL since a four-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022-23 season. Caggiula has five points (2G / 3A) in five games with Bakersfield this season.

Drake Caggiula
Fortier has cleared waivers and been assigned to Syracuse (AHL).

Fortier was a second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old has 11 games of NHL experience but has not played since the 2022-23 season. He spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL), tallying 26 points (13G / 13A) in 62 games.

Gabriel Fortier
Kesselring (illness) missed practice on Tuesday and will be a game-time decision on Wednesday vs. Calgary.

Kesselring has been a mainstay on Utah's blueline this season, but could be at jeopardy of missing his first game of the season on Wednesday as he is battling an illness. The 24-year-old Kesselring is off to a hot start, with five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games this season.

Michael Kesselring
Rittich is expected to start on Tuesday in San Jose.

On the opening night of a back-to-back, the Kings will likely turn to Rittich between the pipes. The 32-year-old Rittich started five straight games (3-2-0) before Darcy Kuemper returned from injury, posting a 3.09 GAA and .874 SV%. In his most recent outing, Rittich saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Rittich and the Kings will visit the Sharks in San Jose for a rematch on Tuesday, with the Kings entering the action as -288 road favorites.

David Rittich
Hofer will start on Tuesday in Ottawa.

The Blues have lost two of their last three games and will turn to Hofer between the pipes on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators. In limited action this season, the 24-year-old Hofer has been tremendous, yet to lose a game (3-0-0), posting a dazzling 2.32 GAA and .932 SV%. That said, the Blues enter the action on Tuesday as +143 road underdogs against the Ottawa Senators, who have scored 17 goals in their last four games (2-2-0).

Joel Hofer
Jiricek has been re-assigned to Brantford (OHL) for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Jiricek was the 16th overall selection of the Blues in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and will spent the 2024-25 season with the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL). The 18-year-old defenseman had three points (0G / 3A) in 31 games with Plzen HC (Czech) over the past two seasons.

Adam  Jiříček
Lyon is expected to start on Wednesday vs. Winnipeg.

The Red Wings rank fifth-worst in the league in terms of xGA/60 but their goaltending has kept them afloat at times, most notably when Lyon has been between the pipes. The 31-year-old Lyon is boasting a sensational 2.05 GAA and .940 SV% through five outings (2-2-0). That said, the Red Wings have lost two straight, outscored 8-5, and rank sixth-worth in the league offensively with only 25 goals in nine games. The Red Wings will face off against a Winnipeg Jets club that lost their first game of the season on Monday (8-1-0).

Alex Lyon
Dellandrea (upper-body) has been placed on IR.

In his first season with the Sharks, Dellandrea has one point (1G / 0A), a -5 plus/minus, five blocks, and 24 hits in nine games. He has been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to October 26th. In a corresponding move, the Sharks recalled Ethan Cardwell from the AHL.

Ty Dellandrea
Kessel is expected to draw into the Blues' lineup on Tuesday in Ottawa.

Scott Perunovich will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Kessel to re-enter the lineup for the Blues. The 24-year-old Kessel has seven points (1G / 6A) in 47 career games while averaging 16:07 time-on-ice but has yet to record a point through six games this season and is only averaging 11:58.

Matthew Kessel
Hofer was the first goalie off the ice at St.Louis' morning skate.

The Blues have lost two of their last three games and will likely turn to Hofer between the pipes on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators. In limited action this season, the 24-year-old Hofer has been tremendous, yet to lose a game (3-0-0), posting a dazzling 2.32 GAA and .932 SV%. That said, the Blues enter the action on Tuesday as +143 road underdogs against the Ottawa Senators, who have scored 17 goals in their last four games (2-2-0).

Joel Hofer
Minten has been activated from non-roster designation and been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

Minten suffered a high-ankle sprain in early September, causing him to miss the entirety of training camp and the preseason. The 20-year-old Minten appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs in 2023-24 before being returned to junior, but failed to pick up a point during his brief showing.

Fraser Minten
Rust (lower-body) is week-to-week.

Rust left Saturday's game after a hit from Nils Hollander in the third period and did not return. Rust finished the game with one goal on two SOG and a plus-1 rating. Rust's absence from the lineup is a major blow for a Penguins club that is riding a five-game losing skid. Rickard Rakell will likely be the beneficiary, moving up to the top line and top powerplay unit.

Bryan Rust
Blomqvist will start on Tuesday vs. Minnesota.

The Penguins are ranked worst in the league defensively, allowing an average of 4.3 goals per game, and are desperate to snap a five-game losing skid. Their most consistent netminder this season has been Blomqvist, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Blomqvist owns an unimpressive 3.34 GAA but, given the circumstances, has a very impressive .911 SV% in five games (2-3-0). The Penguins enter action on Tuesday as +103 home underdogs against the Minnesota Wild.

Joel Blomqvist

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!