NHL Hockey Player News

Dylan McIlrath has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with Washington.

McIlrath had an assist, one SOG, seven PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through six games with Washington in 2022-23 and has re-signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Capitals. The 31-year-old defenseman has played in 72 career NHL games played, with three goals and three assists along with 128 PIMs during that span.

Dylan McIlrath
Washington has re-signed Hunter Shepard to a two-year, two-way contract extension.

Shepard was 20-8-5 with a .916 SV% and 2.18 GAA with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000. The 27-year-old goaltender has yet to make an NHL appearance in his career after being signed as an undrafted free-agent out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA).

Hunter Shepard
Colorado has re-signed Jack Johnson to a one-year, $775,000 extension.

Johnson had two goals, six assists, 92 SOG, 28 PIMs and a -15 plus/minus through 83 games in 2022-23 with both Chicago and Colorado and has signed a one-year, $775,000 extension with the Avalanche. The 36-year-old defenseman was a key piece of Colorado's 2021-22 Stanley Cup wining roster and will be entering his 18th NHL season. He has 74 goals, 320 points and 599 PIMs across 1107 career NHL games played.

Jack Johnson
Joe Hicketts has signed one-year, two-way worth $775,000 with the Los Angeles Kings.

Hicketts had six goals, 48 points, 69 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 72 games with Iowa (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Los Angeles. The 27-year-old defenseman last made an NHL appearance in 2019-20 with Detroit and has five assists and a -9 plus/minus through 22 career NHL games played.

Joe Hicketts
Calgary has re-signed Colton Poolman to a one-year, two-way ($775,000 AAV) contract extension.

Poolman had 14 points (2G / 12A) in 64 AHL games for the Calgary Wranglers last season. The 27-year-old defenseman has played exclusively with Calgary's AHL team since turning pro in 2021, tallying 33 points (3G / 30A) across 147 games.

Colton Poolman
Calgary has re-signed Dryden Hunt to a two-year, two-way contract ($775,000 AAV).

The 2023 season was a whirlwind for Hunt. He started the season with the Rangers, was claimed off of waivers by the Avalanche, traded to the Maple Leafs and then traded to the Flames. He finished the season with three goals in 37 NHL games and 24 points (9G / 15A) in 32 AHL games between the four franchises. He'll once again be a fringe NHLer for the Flames in 2024.

Dryden Hunt
Florida has re-signed Alexander True to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

True had 11 goals, 21 assists, 48 PIMs and a +13 plus/minus through 71 games with Coachella Valley (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Florida worth $775,000. The 26-year-old undrafted Centre has played in 27 career NHL games, picking up five assists, and 25 SOG to go along with 10 PIMs across three seasons.

Alexander True
Florida has signed Evan Rodrigues to a four-year, $12 Million contract ($3,000,000 AAV).

Rodrigues had 16 goals, 23 assists, 184 SOG, 30 PIMs and a +7 plus/minis through 69 games with Colorado in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year, $12 Million contract ($3,000,000 AAV) with Florida. The 29-year-old centre will be joining his third team in three years and has 69 goals, 99 assists, and 885 SOG across 385 career NHL games.

Evan Rodrigues
The Rangers have signed Connor Mackey to a one-year, two-way contract.

Mackey had three goals, four assists, 31 SOG, 48 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus with both Calgary and Arizona in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old defenseman has four goals and 11 points in 39 career NHL games after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State University (NCAA) in 2020-21.

Connor Mackey
The Rangers have signed Nikolas Brouillard to a one-year, two-way contract.

Brouillard had six goals, 33 assists, 120 PIMs and a -27 plus/minus with San Diego (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut after being signed as a free agent from McGill University (USports) in 2020-21.

Nikolas Brouillard
The Rangers have signed Mac Hollowell to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000 AAV).

Hollowell had two assists, four SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through six games with Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000 AAV) with the New York Rangers. The 24-year-old defenseman was Toronto's 2018 fourth-round pick (118th overall) and should provide the Rangers with some defensive depth after making his NHL debut in 2022-23.

Mac Hollowell
Pittsburgh has signed Radim Zohorna to a one-year, $775,000 contract.

Zohorna had a goal, nine SOG, and a -1 plus/minus through 10 games with both Calgary and Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed with Pittsburgh for a one-year, $775,000 contract. The 27-year-old left-winger is a massive 6'6" and has five goals and 11 points in 35 career NHL games played.

Radim Zohorna
Pittsburgh has signed Magnus Hellberg to a one-year, $785,000 contract.

Hellberg was 5-8-1 with a 3.20 GAA and a .888 SV% with Detroit and Ottawa in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $785,000 AAV contract with Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old goaltender has appeared in 23 games throughout his NHL career, holding a 7-8-1 record, .886 SV% and 3.14 GAA while appearing for three teams.

Magnus Hellberg
Pittsburgh has re-signed Marc Johnstone to a two-year, two-way contract extension ($775,000 AAV).

Johnstone had nine goals, 13 assists, 39 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 69 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old right-winger has never played in the NHL after being signed out of Sacred Heart University (NCAA) in 2020-21.

Marc Johnstone
Detroit has signed Christian Fischer to a one-year, $1,125,000 contact.

Fischer had 13 goals, 14 assists, 122 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus through 80 games with Arizona in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1,125,000 contact. The 26-year-old right-winger joins Detroit after seven seasons in Arizona where he had 56 goals, 111 points, 97 PIMs and 608 SOG through 398 career NHL games.

Christian Fischer
The Maple Leafs signed John Klingberg to a one-year contract worth $4.15 milllion.

Klingberg had 10 goals, 23 assists, 112 SOG, 34 PIMs and a -25 plus/minus through 67 games with both Anaheim and Minnesota and has signed a one-year contract with Toronto worth $4.15 million. The 30-year-old defender joins his fourth NHL team bringing with him 81 goals and 407 points across 619 career NHL games.

John Klingberg
The Kings signed Steven Santini to a one-year, two-way contract.

Santini had an assist, two PIMs and five SOG through four games with St.Louis in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Los Angeles. The 28-year-old defenseman was drafted by New Jersey in the second-round of the 2013 draft (42nd overall) and brings five goals, 23 points and 57 PIMs across 123 career NHL games played to the Kings.

Steven Santini

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!