Line Change
Steven Lorentz will draw back into the Panthers' lineup Saturday vs. the Islanders.
NHL Hockey Player News
Jonah Gadjovich (upper body) is out Saturday vs. the New York Islanders.
Goalie Start
Anthony Stolarz will start Saturday vs. the New York Islanders.
Alex Newhook (high ankle sprain) is expected to miss the next 10-12 weeks.
Line Change
Bobby McMann is expected to be a healthy scratch Saturday vs. Boston.
Line Change
Ryan Reaves is expected to draw back into the Maple Leafs' lineup Saturday vs. Boston.
Goalie Start
Ilya Sorokin is in the starter's crease Saturday at morning skate.
Ilya Samsonov (illness) will be out Saturday vs. Boston.
Martin Jones has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on an emergency basis and will backup Saturday in Boston.
Goalie Start
Joseph Woll will start Saturday vs. Boston.
Goalie Start
Jake Allen will start Saturday vs. Detroit.
The Devils have reassigned Samuel Laberge to Utica (AHL).
The Penguins have recalled Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
The Blue Jackets have placed Daniil Tarasov on LTIR and loaned him on conditioning stint to Cleveland (AHL).
Goalie Start
Stolarz is in the starter's crease at the Panthers' morning skate.
Kunin (hand) will not play in Friday's game in New Jersey.
Kunin was struck in the hand by a shot in Thursday's game in Philadelphia and was able to finish the game, but it will force him to miss Friday's game against the Devils. Kunin has five goals and two assists across 23 games with the Sharks this season.
Line Change
Tierney is listed as a scratch for Friday's game against the Sharks.
Tierney will be the odd-man out on Friday as Timo Meier makes his return to the lineup. Tierney is yet to register a point across 12 games with the Devils this season.
Smith (mid-body) will play in New Jersey on Friday.
Smith has played 17 consecutive games for the Sharks but exited last night's contest after playing only 2:59 with a mid-body injury and was a game-time decision on Friday. Smith has been held off the scoresheet in six straight games and has three points (1G / 2A) in 21 games this season.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start against the Senators on Friday.
Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.
Goalie Start
Schmid will start against the Sharks on Friday.
Schmid gets the rare start on back-to-back nights as he will be the surprise yet deserved starter for the Devils on Friday. The Devils' starting job has swung firmly in Schmid's favour for the first time this season, as the 23-year-old netminder stopped all eight shots he faced in relief of Vitek Vanecek on Tuesday before allowing just three goals on 47 shots in Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Flyers. After a slow start to the season, Schmid currently boasts a .904 SV% thanks to his recent hot streak, and he couldn't ask for a better matchup to keep things rolling with the Devils being massive -500 favourites over the Sharks on Friday.
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!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.