NHL Hockey Player News

Merrill will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday in New York.

Declan Chisholm will draw back into Minnesota's lineup on Wednesday against the New York Rangers, resulting in Merrill being a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Merrill is averaging 14:14 time-on-ice and only has six points (2G / 4A) in 64 games but has scored two (1G / 1A) in his last three.

Jon Merrill
Gustavsson will start in New York on Wednesday.

Minnesota has lost four of their last five (1-3-1) and will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes on Wednesday as they hang on to the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Despite a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils, Gustavsson played well in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%). The 26-year-old netminder had a dazzling 1.98 GAA and .930 SV% through 13 games in March (7-4-2). Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as +143 road underdogs against a Rangers team coming off a 6-1 win over the San Jose Sharks.

Filip Gustavsson
Stolarz will start vs. Florida on Wednesday.

Stolarz was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, and will return to the crease on Wednesday against his former team, the Florida Panthers. The 31-year-old Stolarz has a solid 2.35 GAA and .919 SV% through 29 games this season (16-8-3). The Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Panthers team that blew a 2-1 lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the final seconds last night en route to an eventual 3-2 overtime loss.

Anthony Stolarz
Wedgewood was hit in the head by a puck at practice on Tuesday and was shaken up.

The Avalanche have not released any news regarding Wedgewood but recalled Kevin Mandolese from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on Wednesday, indicating that Wedgewood may be sidelined against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old Wedgewood has been excellent in limited action for the Avalanche this season, posting a 2.01 GAA and .919 SV% in 16 appearances (10-4-1).

Scott Wedgewood
Sturm (upper-body) left Tuesday's game vs. Montreal and did not return.

Sturm exited Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens early in the first period after only 0:34 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Sturm is averaging 10:06 time-on-ice and has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 58 games this season. An update on his status will likely be provided before the Panthers return to the ice on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nico Sturm
Shesterkin will start vs. Minnesota on Wednesday.

The Rangers hope they can carry the momentum from a 6-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday as they turn to Shesterkin on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild. Statistically speaking, Shesterkin is far and away having the worst season of his six-year career, posting a 2.84 GAA and .906 SV% through 55 games this season (24-26-5). With the Rangers desperately trying to stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, they will need Shesterkin to make more of an impact than he has in his last six games (1-4-1), where he has a 3.25 GAA and .900 SV%. Still, the Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as -158 home favorites against a Wild team battling for their respective Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

Igor Shesterkin
Perreault will make his NHL debut vs. Minnesota on Wednesday.

Perreault was the 23rd overall pick of the New York Rangers in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward spent the previous two seasons impressing at the collegiate level, scoring a combined 108 points (35G / 73A) in 73 games with Boston College (H-East). He is expected to play on a line with J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere.

Gabriel Perreault
Andersen is in the starter's crease at the Hurricanes' morning skate.

The Hurricanes are riding a two-game winning streak and will likely turn to Andersen between the pipes on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 35-year-old Andersen was solid in his most recent outing, albeit lightly tested, saving 14 of 15 shots in a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. He has a 2.01 GAA and .919 SV% in 17 games this season (12-5-0). The Hurricanes enter Wednesday's contest as sizeable -208 home favorites against a Capitals team that played yesterday and narrowly defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3.

Frederik Andersen
Schenn (undisclosed) will not play in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Schenn is battling an undisclosed ailment and will be held out of Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. The 35-year-old Schenn is averaging 17:42 time-on-ice, recording one assist, 19 blocks, and 49 hits in nine games with the Jets this season.

Luke Schenn
Kuemper will start against the Jets on Tuesday.

The Kings are battling for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs and will turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Tuesday against the league-leading Winnipeg Jets. The 34-year-old Kuemper was solid in his most recent outing but didn't receive ample goal support, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has an impressive 2.10 GAA and .918 SV% in 43 appearances this season (25-10-7). The Kings enter Tuesday's contest as -115 home favorites against a Jets team they defeated 2-1 in overtime on January 10th.

Darcy Kuemper
Dostal will start against the Sharks on Tuesday.

The Ducks are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and will hope to return to the win column with Dostal tending the twine on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 24-year-old Dostal has not played against the Sharks since late October but was tremendous in two contests against them (2-0-0), recording a shutout and saving 57 of 58 combined shots (.983 SV%). He has a 3.01 GAA and .906 SV% in 47 games this season (21-20-6). The Ducks enter Tuesday's contest as -190 home favorites against a Sharks team coming off an 8-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Lukas Dostal

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.

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