Line Change
Radim Simek will be out Monday vs. Winnipeg as a healthy scratch.
NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Nikolai Knyzhov will draw back into the Sharks' lineup Monday vs. Winnipeg.
Erik Gustafsson left Monday's warmup vs. Florida early and will not play (undisclosed).
Goalie Start
Connor Hellebuyck will start Monday vs. San Jose.
Hellebuyck was perfect in his previous start, stopping 28 of 28 shots as he blanked Nashville for his fourth shutout of the season last game. The 29-year-old has been fantastic yet again on pace for his sixth straight season finishing above a .910 SV%, with his 35-25-2 record, 2.53 GAA and .919 SV%. He takes on the lowly San Jose Sharks, who have lost three straight and are 25th in the NHL in goals per game (2.89).
Nikolaj Ehlers will play Monday after being a game-time decision originally (undisclosed).
Kyle Connor is expected to dress Monday vs. San Jose after being a game-time decision (undisclosed).
Goalie Start
Devon Levi will start Monday vs. the New York Rangers.
Levi stopped 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) for his third win in four starts as he beat the Carolina Hurricanes in his previous start. The 21-year-old has been very solid in his first four career games after signing from Northeastern, with his 3-1-0 record, .904 SV% and 3.17 GAA. He takes on the New York Rangers, who have won three of their last four games and are 10th in the NHL in goals (3.36).
Goalie Start
Igor Shesterkin will start Monday vs. Buffalo.
Shesterkin stopped 20 of 20 shots for his third shutout of the season and fifth win in six games as he blanked the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets in his previous start. The 27-year-old will not be repeating his Vezina Trophy win from last season but has still been solid, with his 37-13-7 record, 2.49 GAA and .915 SV%. He will take on the Buffalo Sabres, who have won four of their last five games and are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.59).
Joel Hofer has been recalled from the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).
Hofer had a 25-15-5 record, 2.57 GAA and .918 SV% with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) and has been recalled Monday to the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year-old returns to St. Louis, where he was 3-0-1 with a 2.79 GAA and .915 SV% earlier in the season.
Hugh McGing has been recalled from Springfield (AHL).
McGing had 15 goals, 20 assists, 64 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 68 games this season with Springfield (AHL) and has been recalled to St. Louis for the first time in his NHL career. The 24-year-old is the Blues 2018 fifth-round pick (138th overall).
Tyler Tucker has been recalled from Springfield (AHL).
Nick Chenard has been signed to an amateur tryout and will back up Monday vs. Florida.
Chenard was 14-16-2 with a .873 SV% and 3.96 GAA with the Owen Sound Attack (OHL) and has signed an amateur tryout Monday with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 21-year-old Tecumseh native will backup Ilya Samsonov on Monday vs. Florida.
Cody Ceci will be out Tuesday due to the birth of his child (personal).
Goalie Start
Frederik Andersen will start Monday vs. Ottawa.
Andersen allowed two goals on 22 shots (.909 SV%) for his fourth loss in five starts as he was defeated by the Nashville Predators his last time out. The 33-year-old has won often despite his mediocre numbers this season, with his 20-10-1 record, 2.41 GAA and .904 SV%. He takes on the Ottawa Senators, who snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over Tampa Bay in their last game.
Stefan Noesen will be a game-time decision Monday (lower-body).
Goalie Start
Ilya Samsonov will start Monday vs. Florida.
Samsonov stopped 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak as he topped the Montreal Canadiens in his previous start. The 26-year-old has made the most of his one-year contract in Toronto this season, with his 26-10-5 record, 2.36 GAA and .917 SV%. He takes on the Florida Panthers, who have won six-straight games on their way to sneaking into the second-to-last playoff spot over the weekend.
Sam Lafferty is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and will be out Monday vs. Florida.
Lafferty is expected to miss the Maple Leafs' next two games due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old has 12 goals, 15 assists, 102 SOG, 37 PIMs and a -11 plus/minus through 70 games played between Toronto and Chicago this season.
Matthew Knies will make his NHL debut Monday vs. Florida.
Knies is fresh off of Saturday's NCAA National Championship game with the University of Minnesota (NCAA) and will make his NHL debut Monday vs. Florida. The 20-year-old is the Maple Leafs' 2021 second-round pick (57th overall) and had 21 goals and 21 assists, in 40 games with the University of Minnesota.
Goalie Start
Demko will start Tuesday in Anaheim.
Demko stopped 41 of 43 shots (.953 SV%) for his second-straight win as he beat the Calgary Flames in his previous start. The 27-year-old has slowly improved his season numbers with his strong play this last month, with his 13-14-4 record, .900 SV%, 3.20 GAA. He takes on the Anaheim Ducks, who have lost 11 straight contests and continue to push for the highest chances at the #1 overall pick this offseason.
Goalie Start
Delia will start Monday in Los Angeles.
Delia allowed four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) to snap a two-game winning streak as he was defeated by the Seattle Kraken in his previous start. The 28-year-old has won this season despite an ugly stat line, with his 9-5-2 record, 3.31 GAA and .881 SV%. He takes on the Los Angeles Kings, who have lost three-straight games but are 10th in the NHL in shots per game (32.4).
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.