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NHL Hockey Player News

Joel Hofer(G)|STL
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Hofer will start vs. Winnipeg on Wednesday.

The Blues have relied more heavily on Hofer lately, and he will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets despite a poor performance in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators, allowing four goals on 25 shots (.840 SV%). The 25-year-old Hofer has a 3.16 GAA and .890 SV% in 18 games (5-7-2), but has been much better lately, with a 1.95 GAA and .924 SV% in his last seven appearances (3-2-0). The Blues enter Wednesday's contest as +130 road underdogs against a Jets team they face for the first time since being eliminated by them in the first round of the playoffs.

Source:
Lou Korac 2025-12-17T16:48:34.340Z
Joel Hofer
Otto Stenberg(C)|STL
Line Change
Line Change
Stenberg will make his NHL debut vs. Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Stenberg was drafted 25th overall by the Blues in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and will make his NHL debut on Wednesday against the Winnipet Jets. The 20-year-old forward has eight points (3G / 5A) in 21 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.

Source:
Lou Korac 2025-12-17T16:43:30.926Z
Otto Stenberg
Jonatan Berggren(RW)|STL
Line Change
Line Change
Berggren will make his Blues' debut on Wednesday.

Berggren was drafted 33rd overall by the Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but had trouble establishing himself with them at the NHL level and was ultimately placed on waivers. The 25-year-old forward had six points (2G / 4A) in 15 games this season and hopes to solidify himself as a full-time NHLer with the Blues.

Source:
Lou Korac 2025-12-17T16:42:18.086Z
Jonatan Berggren
Michael Kesselring(D)|BUF
Injury
Injury
Kesselring (lower-body) returned to Buffalo's practice in a regular jersey on Wednesday and is ready to return to the lineup.

Kesselring's first season in Buffalo has been off to a rocky start, sidelined by various injuries, most recently a lower-body injury that has kept him out for over a month. The 25-year-old Kesselring has zero points in nine games this season but has stated he is good to play in Buffalo's next game.

Source:
Rachel Lenzi 2025-12-17T17:58:37.543Z
Michael Kesselring
Thomas Chabot(D)|OTT
Injury
Injury
Chabot (undisclosed) was practicing in a regular jersey on Wednesday but will not return on Thursday.

Chabot has only played one game in the last five weeks, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Chabot is averaging 21:55 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 18 games this season. Chabot played 80 games last season, unfortunately, an irregularity for the talented defenseman who has had trouble staying healthy in recent seasons.

Source:
TSN 1200 2025-12-17T17:22:05.118Z
Thomas Chabot
Carson Lambos(D)|MIN
Call Up
Call Up
Lambos has been recalled from Iowa (AHL).

Lambos was drafted 26th overall by the Minnesota Wild and has yet to play an NHL game. The 22-year-old defenseman has five points (2G / 3A) in 26 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season. His call up indicated that Daemon Hunt's (undisclosed) injury might prevent him from playing when Minnesota returns to action on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Source:
Minnesota Wild 2025-12-17T16:56:21.787Z
Carson Lambos
Daniil Tarasov(G)|FLA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Tarasov will start vs. Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The Panthers have won two straight and hope to continue inching themselves closer to playoff contention, turning to Tarasov to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old Tarasov has been inconsistent this season and is coming off a game in which he allowed six goals on 42 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has a 2.84 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games this season (3-5-1). The Panthers enter the action on Wednesday as -140 home favorites against a Kings team that has scored the fewest goals in the NHL since the beginning of November.

Source:
Jameson Olive 2025-12-17T16:02:44.171Z
Daniil Tarasov
Gustav Forsling(D)|FLA
Injury
Injury
Forsling (lower-body) will play against Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Forsling exited Monday's 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period after 13:57 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. He was absent from morning skate on Wednesday, but will play on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Forsling has 26 hits, 37 blocks, and 14 points (1G / 13A) in 32 games this season.

Source:
George Richards 2025-12-17T15:56:21.962Z
Gustav Forsling
Daniil Tarasov(G)|FLA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Tarasov was the first goalie off the ice at Wednesday's morning skate.

The Panthers have won two straight and hope to continue inching themselves closer to playoff contention, turning to Tarasov to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old Tarasov has been inconsistent this season and is coming off a game in which he allowed six goals on 42 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has a 2.84 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games this season (3-5-1). The Panthers enter the action on Wednesday as -140 home favorites against a Kings team that has scored the fewest goals in the NHL since the beginning of November.

Source:
George Richards 2025-12-17T15:47:12.401Z
Daniil Tarasov
Tyson Foerster(RW)|PHI
Injury
Injury
Foerster underwent successful arm surgery and will be out for five months.

Originally expected to be out two-to-three months with an upper-body injury, Foerster went through additional medical consultations and ultimately opted to undergo surgery that should keep him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. The 23-year-old Foerster had 13 points (10G / 3A) in 21 games before his injury.

Source:
Philadelphia Flyers 2025-12-17T15:42:18.246Z
Tyson Foerster
Brandon Montour(D)|SEA
Injury
Injury
Montour (undisclosed) left Tuesday's game vs. Colorado and did not return.

Montour exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the second period after only 11:46 time-on-ice. The 31-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:56 time-on-ice and has 16 points (6G / 10A) in 27 games. An update on Montour's status should be provided before Seattle returns to action on Thursday against the Calgary Flames.

Source:
Seattle Kraken PR 2025-12-17T15:40:26.618Z
Brandon Montour

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!