Benoit will draw back into the lineup for Saturday's game in Pittsburgh.
NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Hinostroza is listed as a scratch for Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs.
Line Change
Harkins is in the Penguins' lineup for Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs.
Reaves will be a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Pittsburgh.
Line Change
Willman will be a healthy scratch for Saturday's game against the Sabres.
Hischier (upper-body) has been activated off injured reserve and will play against the Sabres on Saturday.
Hischier has not played since exiting October 27th's game against the Sabres following an illegal check to the head by Connor Clifton. New Jersey's captain had endured a slow start prior to the injury, registering just two goals and zero assists in his opening seven games. He'll return to centre the Devils' second line tonight.
Goalie Start
Vanecek will start Saturday against the Sabres.
Vanecek allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Devils' loss in Detroit on Wednesday. Vanecek has struggled in his last five outings, going 1-3-0 with an .860 SV%. Tonight he'll face the Sabres, as -166 home favourites. Buffalo come in ranking 24th in the NHL in GF/60 (2.83).
Line Change
Henri Jokiharju will be a healthy scratch Saturday vs. New Jersey.
Jokiharju has two goals, five assists, 18 SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 18 games this season but will be a healthy scratch Saturday vs. New Jersey. Isak Rosen will make his debut in Jokiharju's place.
Goalie Start
Eric Comrie will start Saturday vs. New Jersey.
Comrie will take the crease for the first time in four games as he takes on New Jersey on the road Saturday. The 28-year-old has struggled as Buffalo's third goaltender this season, with his 1-2-0 record, 2.62 GAA, and .898 SV%. He will take on the New Jersey Devils, who are trying to right the ship after three straight loses and are 12th in the NHL in goals per game.
Bobby Brink will be a healthy scratch Saturday vs. the Islanders.
Brink has four goals, six assists, 25 SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 16 games this season but will be the odd man out of the Flyers' lineup Saturday vs. the New York Islanders. The 22-year-old right-winger will be replaced by Morgan Frost in the Flyers' lineup.
Goalie Start
Samuel Ersson will start Saturday vs. the New York Islanders.
Ersson has backed up the Flyers' crease for the last two games but with Philadelphia on the second half of a back-to-back he will likely start Saturday. The 24-year-old has struggled to duplicate his success from last season with his 3-3-1 record, .863 SV% and 3.22 GAA. He takes on the surprisingly hot New York Islanders, who have won three-straight games but are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.68).
Goalie Start
Tristan Jarry will start Saturday vs. Toronto.
Jarry will retake the crease Saturday vs. Toronto after backing up two of the Penguins' previous three games. The 28-year-old netminder is leading the NHL in shutouts (3) but has a weak record (6-8-0) despite impressive counting stats with his 2.47 GAA and .916 SV%. He will take the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are on the back end of a back-to-back where they lost to Chicago 4-3 in overtime Friday.
Sebastian Aho (upper body) is out Saturday vs. Philadelphia.
Aho exited the Islanders' previous game Friday vs. Ottawa after just 1:28 TOI and will be out Saturday vs. Philadelphia with no timetable for his return. The 27-year-old Swedish defensemen has yet to score this season but has four assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 19 games prior to his injury.
Philipp Grubauer (undisclosed) returned to practice Saturday and will travel on the team's upcoming road trip.
Chris Dreidger was reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) and Grubauer was a full participant in practice Saturday so the 32-year-old net minder is expected to be good to go fro Seattle's next game. He has struggled mightily for a third-straight season with his 5-6-0 record, 3.36 GAA and .885 SV%.
Chris Driedger has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL).
Driedger did not appear in any games for the Kraken as he backed up Joey Daccord during Philipp Grubauer's injury absence and will head back to Coachella Valley (AHL) Saturday. The 29-year-old returns to the Firebirds, where he has a 6-4-0 record, 2.20 GAA and .915 SV%.
New Jersey has signed Samuel Laberge to a one-year, two-way contract.
Grant Hutton has been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL).
Hutton has five assists, 14 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 16 games with Bridgeport (AHL) to start the season but has been recalled to the New York Islanders Saturday. The 28-year-old is expected to make his first NHL appearance since 2021-22 as he replaces Sebastian Aho (lower body) in the Islanders' lineup.
Alec Martinez (lower body) is day-to-day and will not play Saturday vs. Arizona.
Martinez missed the Golden Knights' previous game due to a lower-body injury and will remain out Saturday vs. Arizona as he is day-to-day. The 36-year-old veteran defender has surprisingly found the back of the net more often than normal as he has three goals, one assist, 18 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 14 games prior to his injury.
Shea Theodore (upper-body) will be out Saturday vs. Arizona.
Theodore had enjoyed an excellent start to 2023-24 with four goals, 14 assists, 52 SOG, and a +2 plus/minus in 20 games played but will be out Saturday vs. Arizona as he deals with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old will be replaced by Brayden Pachal on the Golden Knights' blue line.
Line Change
Brayden Pachal will draw back into Vegas' lineup Saturday vs. Arizona.
Pachal has been a healthy scratch since November 8th but will draw back into the lineup Saturday vs. Arizona after Shea Theodore (upper body) was announced out. The 24-year-old defender scored his first goal of his career this season and has 11 SOG, 10 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in a career-high 12 games played so far.
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.
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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.
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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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