The Blue Jackets have recalled Jake Christiansen from Cleveland (AHL).
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
The Blue Jackets have placed Sean Kuraly (abdominal) on IR.
Werenski (ankle) will miss 4-to-6 weeks.
Ersson (dehydration) will back up Carter Hart on Friday.
Ersson was replaced by Carter Hart in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks due to dehydration and was a game-time decision on Friday against the Seattle Kraken.
Line Change
Schultz will draw back into the Kraken lineup on Friday.
Schultz is expected to slot back onto the Kraken's third pair and second power-play unit as Ryker Evans gets the night off on Friday. Schultz has two goals and seven assists in 28 games this season.
Line Change
Evans is listed as a scratch for Friday's game against the Flyers.
Evans will be the odd-man out on Friday as Justin Schultz draws back into the lineup. Evans has no goals and four assists in nine games this season.
Goalie Start
Daccord will start against the Flyers on Friday.
Chris Driedger was terrific in a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames in his first action since Philipp Grubauer went down with an injury, but the Kraken will turn back to Daccord on Friday against the Philidelphia Flyers. Daccord has been nothing short of sensational since stepping in as the defacto starting goalie for the Kraken earlier this month, allowing two or fewer goals in six of seven starts (4-1-2), posting a stellar .944 SV%. The Kraken are -127 home favourites against a Flyers team that played last night.
Konecny (illness) will play in Seattle on Friday.
Konecny played only 14:55 on Thursday before leaving the contest due to an illness and was a game-time decision against the Seattle Kraken on Friday. After a cold stretch through most of November, scoring only four points (3G / 1A) in 13 games, Konecny has flipped a switch, scoring 13 points (5G / 8A) in his last 13.
Goalie Start
Hart will start in Seattle on Friday.
Hart entered Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks early in the third period, saving all eight shots he faced after Samuel Ersson exited the game due to dehydration. Hart has been a stranger to the Flyers crease over the last month as he has battled a myriad of illnesses and injuries that limited him to action in only five December games (3-0-1), posting a .929 SV%. The Flyers are +117 road underdogs against a rested Seattle Kraken club that has won three straight games.
Gudas (ankle) will not play against the Coyotes on Friday.
Gudas has not played December 21st, and will be out again on Friday against the Coyotes. Gudas has five goals and four assists in 31 games this season.
Fehervary left Friday's game on Long Island due to an upper-body injury.
Fehervary exited the game in the first period after falling awkwardly into the boards and will not return. We should expect to receive an update on his injury and a possible timeline for his return following the completion of Friday's game.
Merzlikins left Friday's game against the Maple Leafs with an illness.
Merzlikins played the entirety of the first period of Friday's game but did not come out for the start of the second period due to an illness. Spencer Martin has entered the game in his place. Merzlikins is questionable to return.
Lindgren left Friday's game on Long Island with an upper-body injury and will not return.
Lindgren left the game in the first period shortly after taking a shot up high. Darcy Kuemper has entered the game in his place. We should expect to get an update on Lindgren's injury and a possible timetable for his return following the completion of Friday's game.
Line Change
Meyers will draw back into the Avalanche lineup on Friday.
Meyers will re-enter Colorado's lineup on Friday in place of Ross Colton (undisclosed). He has one goal and no assists in five games this season.
Line Change
Johnson is listed as a scratch for Friday's game against the Stars.
Johnson will sit on Friday as Cole Guttman enters the lineup in his place. Johnson has two goals and no assists in 23 games this season.
Line Change
Guttman will draw back into Chicago's lineup on Friday.
Guttman will re-enter the lineup to centre Chicago's fourth-line against the Stars on Friday. He has two goals and one assist in 15 games this season.
Crevier will draw back into Chicago's lineup on Friday.
Crevier was a late addition to Chicago's lineup against the Stars after Nikita Zaitsev (undisclosed) was announced as a late scratch. Crevier has no goals and three assists in 10 games this season.
Zaitsev (undisclosed) will not play against the Stars on Friday.
Zaitsev was a surprise scratch from Friday's game after he participated in the team's morning skate. He has one goal and four assists in 18 games this season. Louis Crevier will draw back into the lineup in his place.
Goalie Start
Mrazek will start in Dallas on Friday.
Mrazek was sensational on Wednesday in a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, saving 37 of 38 shots (.974 SV%) and will be rewarded with another start on Friday. Mrazek has won two of his last three games (2-1-0), posting an impressive .931 SV%. The Blackhawks, +320 road underdogs, will face off against the Dallas Stars for the first time this season, a team Mrazek has historically been solid against, posting a 2.41 GAA and .923 SV% in 12 career games (3-5-1).
Colton (undisclosed) will not play in St. Louis on Friday.
Colton blocked a shot in the third period of Wednesday's game and exited after playing only 11:16 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. Before leaving the game, Colton recorded four hits and extended his point streak to two games with an assist. He was considered a game-time decision for Friday's game in St. Louis.
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.