Drouin (lower body) will miss at least the first round of the playoffs.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Jensen (concussion) will travel for to New York for Game 1; remains questionable to play.
Sandin (upper-body) will travel for to New York for Game 1; remains questionable to play.
Goalie Start
Samsonov was the first goalie off the ice, is expected to start Game 1 in Boston.
Samsonov had a rocky start to the season but finished the season well, going 9-2-2 with a .905 SV% in his final 13 games. During last year's postseason, Samsonov was 4-4 with a 3.13 GAA and .898 SV%. With Joseph Woll not playing particularly well since returning from injury (.890 SV% in 10 games), the Maple Leafs need to be able to rely on Samsonov in Round 1.
Barron (lower-body) will not play in Game 1 vs. Colorado.
Barron suffered a lower-body injury in the Jets' second-last game of the season and will not play in Game 1 vs. the Avalanche. Look for David Gustafsson or Cole Perfetti to replace him in the Jets' bottom-6.
Pageau (lower-body) will be a game-time decision in Game 1 vs. the Hurricanes.
Pageau picked up a lower-body injury in the first period of the Islanders' season finale and is questionable to play in Game 1 in Carolina. If Pageau can't play, expect Kyle MacLean to move up to the third line and for Simon Holmstrom to centre the fourth line.
Sergachev (leg) was a full participant in Saturday's practice.
Sergachev was initially ruled out for all of Round 1, but participating in full on Saturday suggests that he's getting close to returning to the Lightning lineup. At this point, consider him questionable to play in Game 1 on Sunday.
Nylander (undisclosed) missed Friday's practice and is a "possibility" for Game 1.
Nylander was not on the ice for Friday's practice and the Maple Leafs were non-committal about his availability for Game 1. This is likely gamesmanship more than anything, I don't think there's any real concern that Nylander won't be available for Saturday's contest.
Hakanpää (lower-body) is day-to-day but the Stars are hopeful he'll play in Round 1.
Hakanpää missed the final 13 games of the regular season and seems unlikely to play in Game 1 vs. the Golden Knights. However, the Stars are hopeful that he'll play later in the series.
Domi (undisclosed) will be back in the Maple Leafs lineup for Game 1 in Boston.
Domi missed the final two games of the regular season but will play in Game 1 vs. the Bruins on Saturday. Domi finished the season strong, scoring two goals with 13 assists (15 points) in his final 17 games of the season. He should continue to skate on the top line with Auston Matthews as well as PP2 in Game 1.
Motte (lower-body) is questionable for Game 1 vs. the Panthers.
Motte did not play the last three games for Tampa Bay and his status is up in the air for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 29-year-old Motte registered nine points (6G / 3A) and averaged 12:28 time-on-ice in 69 games this season.
Glendening (undisclosed) is questionable for Game 1 vs. the Panthers.
Glendening did not play in Tampa Bay's season finale due to an undisclosed injury and his status is up in the air for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 34-year-old Glendening scored 11 points (10G / 1A) in 81 games this season.
The Oilers have reassigned Philip Broberg to Bakersfield (AHL).
The Oilers rested several of their regulars in their season finale on Thursday, allowing Broberg to draw into the lineup but he has been reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors. The 22-year-old Broberg scored 35 points (5G / 30A) in 48 games with Bakersfield this season.
Send Down
The Oilers have reassigned Adam Erne to Bakersfield (AHL).
Erne drew into the Oilers' lineup for their season finale as the team rested several of their regulars but has been reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors (AHL). In 23 games with the Oilers this season, Erne recorded two points (1G / 1A).
Fast (undisclosed) will not play in Game 1 vs. the Islanders.
Fast was limited to only 6:53 time-on-ice before exiting the Hurricanes' season finale on Tuesday, a 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, due to an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old Fast scored 19 points (6G / 13A) in 73 games this season.
Pageau (lower-body) is day-to-day and questionable for Game 1.
Pageau exited the Islanders' final game of the season after playing only 2:36 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury and could miss game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 31-year-old Pageau had 33 points (11G / 22A), 189 hits, and 82 blocks in 82 games this season.
Dobson (upper-body) is expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Hurricanes.
Dobson did not play the last three games of the season for the Islanders but was at practice on Friday, an encouraging sign that he should be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 24-year-old Dobson had a tremendous season for the Islanders, scoring 70 points (10G / 60A) in 79 games.
Ekblad (undisclosed) will play in Game 1 vs. the Lightning.
Ekblad did not play the final six games of the season for the Panthers due to an undisclosed injury but will be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ekblad has seen a decrease in offensive productivity the last few years but is still a major part of the Panthers' blue line. He had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 51 games this season.
Goalie Start
Varlamov will start Game 1 vs. the Hurricanes.
Patrick Roy and the Islanders coaching staff heavily favoured Varlamov during their end-of-season push for the playoffs and will turn to him in game one against the Carolina Hurricanes. Varlamov ended the season on a 7-1-0 run, allowing three or fewer goals in each contest and posting a dazzling .935 SV%.
Francouz announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday.
Francouz did not participate in the 2023-24 season due to a groin injury and has announced his retirement from the NHL. Francouz battled injuries last season as well, recording a 2.61 GAA and .915 SV% while playing in only 16 games (8-7-1). The 33-year-old Francouz ends his career with a 2.49 GAA, .919 SV%, and four shutouts in 73 games (44-21-6).
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.