NHL Hockey Player News

The Blackhawks recalled Anton Khudobin from Rockford (AHL).

Khudobin was acquired at the deadline from the Stars and has yet to appear in an AHL or NHL game with the Blackhawks. When in Dallas, he spent the whole year with Texas (AHL), where he was 13-4-4 with a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV%. It's unclear if he will backup Petr Mrazek on Saturday or if he's in line to make his Blackhawks debut.

Anton Khudobin
Alex Nylander has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an emergency basis.

Nylander was last recalled on an emergency basis and collected one assist, two SOG and a +2 plus/minus while playing 14:56 TOI in his only game and has been recalled again on the same terms Friday. The 25-year-old has 85 career NHL games under his belt, picking up 13 goals and 20 assists during that span.

Alex Nylander
Daniil Tarasov has been added to the Blue Jackets' roster on emergency recall from Cleveland (AHL).

Tarasov was 4-5-0 with a .871 SV% and 4.07 GAA with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) and has been recalled to Columbus on an emergency basis Friday. The 23-year-old returns to Columbus where he was 2-9-1 with a .908 SV% and 3.28 GAA earlier in the season.

Daniil Tarasov
Alexandar Georgiev will start Saturday vs. Arizona.

Georgiev allowed four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) for his third loss in four games as he lost to Los Angeles last game. The 27-year-old has been fantastic in his first season in Colorado and as a starter, as shown by his 27-14-5 record, 2.64 GAA and .919 SV%. He will face the Arizona Coyotes, who have won their last two games but are last in the NHL in shots per game (25.9).

Alexandar Georgiev
John Gibson will start Friday.

Gibson allowed four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) for his second loss in three games as he was defeated by Seattle in his last start. The 29-year-old has improved on a nightmarish season with his solid play of late, leading to his 13-24-7 record, 3.89 GAA and .902 SV%. He will face the Calgary Flames, who have won their last two-games and are second in the NHL in shots per game (35.4).

John Gibson
Kristians Rubins has been traded to the Calgary Flames for future considerations.

Rubins has two goals, four assists, 25 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 42 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) but has been traded to Calgary for future considerations Friday. The 25-year-old Latvian has previously played in three NHL games, failing to pick up a point and collecting four PIMs.

Kristians Rubins
Jayce Hawryluk has been traded to New Jersey for future considerations.

Hawryluk has three goals, eight points, 27 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 19 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) and has been traded to New Jersey for future considerations Friday. The 27-year-old has played in 98 career NHL games, picking up 12 goals and 27 points during that span.

Jayce Hawryluk

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!