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NHL Hockey Player News

Toronto has signed William Nylander to an eight-year, $92 million ($11.5 AAV) contract extension.

After ongoing contract negotiations, Nylander and the Maple Leafs have agreed to terms on an eight-year, $92 million contract extension ($11.5 AAV). The 27-year-old Nylander has steadily seen his production increase in the last three seasons, arguably being the Maple Leafs' most dynamic player at times, and is currently pacing for a career-best 120-point season. With Nylander locked up long-term, the Maple Leafs guarantee they will have Nylander and Auston Matthews on their roster through the end of the 2027-28 season, while John Tavares and Mitch Marner have contracts that expire at the end of 2024-25.

William Nylander
Nedeljkovic will start Monday in Philadelphia.

Nedeljkovic will start for the third time in the last five games for the Penguins on Monday night. Despite a poor showing in his last appearance, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins, the Penguins coaching staff has been confident rolling with Nedeljkovic over the last month. Over his last five games (3-1-1), Nedeljkovic has allowed only one goal three times, posting a .902 SV%. The Penguins are -123 home favourites against the Philadelphia Flyers, whom they went 0-0-2 against last month.

Alex Nedeljkovic
Malinski has been recalled from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on emergency loan.

Malinski has had some success with the Avalanche earlier this season and could another chance to showcase his talents as he was recalled on an emergency basis on Monday. In 14 games with the Avalanche, Malinski has five points (1G / 4A), 15 shots, and 15 blocks.

Sam Malinski
Kakko (lower body) appeared in full at practice in a non-contact jersey Monday.

Kakko has not played since November 27th, missing 18 games with a lower-body injury. There is still no timeline for his return to action, but he did participate in practice in a non-contact jersey. Before his injury, Kakko was having a difficult time establishing himself offensively, scoring only three points (1G / 2A) in 20 games.

Kaapo Kakko
Zadorov (undisclosed) will return to the Canucks' lineup Monday vs. the Rangers.

Zadorov did not play on Saturday but is expected to return to the lineup on Monday against the New York Rangers. Since joining the Canucks at the beginning of December, Zadorov has two points (0G / 2A), 26 penalty minutes, 20 hits, and 16 blocks in 14 games.

Nikita Zadorov
Demko was in the starter's net at Vancouver's morning skate.

Demko has started three straight games for the Canucks and will likely start again on Monday, the front end of a back-to-back. Demko has been solid all season but is amid a weaker run of play, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five games (3-1-1), posting an uncharacteristically low .891 SV%. The Canucks are coming off a 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils on the weekend but are +129 road underdogs against a New York Rangers club that has collected at least a point in three of their last four (2-1-1).

Thatcher Demko
Jeannot (lower body) left Saturday's game vs. Boston early and is out week-to-week.

Jeannot exited Saturday's game against the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury after only playing 5:54 time-on-ice and is considered out week-to-week. The 26-year-old Jeannot has been held off the scoresheet in eight straight games while recording only seven shots on goal.

Tanner Jeannot
Okposo (lower body) returned to practice Monday but is still without a timetable to return.

Okposo has not played since New Year's Eve, missing two straight games, but appears to be nearing a return after returning to practice on Monday. The 35-year-old Okposo has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 38 games this season, averaging 13:59 time-on-ice while playing most recently on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Peyton Krebs.

Kyle Okposo
Shesterkin was the first goalie off the ice at the Rangers' morning skate.

Shesterkin had the night off on Saturday, a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but will likely return to the crease on Monday night against the high-flying Vancouver Canucks. Shesterkin has been inconsistent this season, highlighted by a recent stretch where he has impressively allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last eight games (6-2-0) but allowed six in two, settling for a .907 SV%. The Rangers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and are -148 home favourites against a Canucks squad that has scored six or more goals in three of their last five games (3-2-0).

Igor Shesterkin
Hart will start Monday vs. Pittsburgh.

Hart will make a second consecutive start for the first time in nearly two weeks when the Flyers host their divisional rivals on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hart has allowed five or more goals in two of his last four full games but is coming off a solid performance on the weekend, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. The Flyers went 2-0-0 against the Penguins in December but are +110 home underdogs against them on Monday night.

Carter Hart

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!