Anders Bjork has been recalled from Rockford (AHL).
NHL Hockey Player News
The Flyers have acquired Brendan Lemieux and a 2024 5th Round Pick from the Kings for Zack MacEwen.
Lemieux had three assists, 22 SOG, 53 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 27 games with the Los Angeles Kings and has been traded alongside a 2024 5th Round Pick from the Kings for Zack MacEwen. Lemieux has spent the last three seasons in Los Angeles and will be joining his fourth NHL team.
The Kings have acquired Zack MacEwen from the Flyers for Brendan Lemieux and a 2024 5th Round Pick.
MacEwen has missed the Flyers last 11 games with a fractured jaw. MacEwen has picked ups four goals and five assists in 12:18 ATOI in 46 games this season. His first chance to make his Kings debut will be Saturday night's game against the Blues.
The Devils have acquired Curtis Lazar from the Canucks for a 2024 4th Round Pick.
Lazar missed the Canucks last six games with a lower-body injury. He has just two goals and three assists in 45 games this season. He'll likely slot into the Devils' bottom-six and should see some time on the penalty-kill.
Goalie Start
Grubauer is the likely starter for Friday's game in Columbus.
Grubauer stopped 16 of 17 shots (.941 SV%) in a rare relief win as he beat the Detroit Red Wings last night. The 31-year-old has been steadily improving his rough early season numbers, with his now 9-11-3 record, 3.05 GAA and .894 SV%. He will face the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have won two of their last three games but are 30th in the NHL in scoring (2.59).
Marchand (lower-body) is expected to play Saturday against the Rangers.
Marchand suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday's game vs. the Sabres and did not return. It's unclear where Marchand suffered the injury but he was tangled up with Peyton Krebs at one point and was hit hard by Ilya Lyubushkin shortly after. He's registered 19 goals and 34 assists in 53 games this season.
Line Change
Puljujarvi is expected to make his Hurricanes debut Tuesday in Montreal.
Puljujarvi is an extremely useful play driver, that has had a very difficult time finishing his chances. The 24-year-old winger has scored just five goals on 88 shots (5.7 SH%) with nine assists (14 points) in 58 games this season. In Carolina, Puljujarvi will likely serve a bottom-six role, with Seth Jarvis and Martin Necas ahead of him on the depth chart.
The Avalanche have recalled Keith Kinkaid from Colorado (AHL).
Kinkaid was recently acquired from the Bruins, and could make his Avalanche debut during their back-to-back this weekend. Kinkaid has spent most of the season in the AHL, going 8-7-4 with a 3.10 GAA and .909 SV%.
The Flyers activated Laczynski (lower-body) from the IR on Friday.
Laczynski has not played since December 5th but getting activated clears the way for him to return to the lineup on Sunday. Laczynski has picked up just four points (2G / 2A) in 19 games this season.
The Flyers activated MacEwen (fractured jaw) from the IR on Friday.
MacEwen has missed the last 11 games with a fractured jaw but is set to return to the Flyers lineup Sunday vs. the Red Wings. MacEwen has picked ups four goals and five assists in 12:18 ATOI in 46 games this season.
Goalie Start
Sorokin is likely to start against the Red Wings on Saturday.
Sorokin stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced in Tuesday's shootout loss to the Wild. Goal support continues to be an issue for Sorokin. He's registered just 20 wins in 44 starts this season despite owning a .925 SV% and a 2.37 GAA. He'll have a great opportunity to get back into the win column Saturday against the Red Wings.
Line Change
Pederson will draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup on Friday.
Pederson re-enters the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the Blue Jackets' last three games. He has no goals and no assists in three games this season, with an ATOI of 7:55.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start Friday vs. the Kraken.
Merzlikins stopped 38 of 41 shots (.927 SV%) to snap a three-game losing streak as he beat Buffalo in his previous start. The 28-year-old has been historically bad this season, with his .879 SV%, 4.10 GAA and 7-15-2 record. He will face the Seattle Kraken, who have won their last two games and are sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.49).
The Lightning re-assigned Raddysh to Syracuse (AHL) on Friday.
Raddysh made his season debut on Thursday against the Penguins. He registered two shots on goal and was a -2 in 11:38 of ice time. Raddysh has 13 goals, 37 assists, 40 PIMs and is +19 through 50 games this season with Syracuse (AHL).
Sean Kuraly suffered a left oblique strain in practice Thursday and is expected to miss six weeks.
Kuraly has 10 goals, seven assists, 86 SOG, 66 PIMs and a -18 plus/minus through 59 games played but is expected to miss around six weeks after he suffered a left oblique strain in practice Thursday.
The Red Wings have acquired Dylan McLaughlin and a 2025 7th-round pick from the Blues for Jakub Vrana (50% salary retention).
McLaughlin has a goal through six games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) and has been dealt to the Detroit Red Wings alongside a 2025 7th-round pick for Jakub Vrana and 50% of his salary retained.
The Blues have acquired Jakub Vrana (50% retained) from the Red Wings for Dylan McLaughlin and a 2025 7th Round Pick.
Vrana has a goal, an assist, seven SOG, and a +1 plus/minus through five games with the Detroit Red Wings but has been dealt with 50% salary retention to St. Louis for Dylan McLaughlin and a 2025 7th Round Pick. It's a new start for Vrana, who attended the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program earlier this season and had found his way out of Detroit's lineup more often than in.
The Blackhawks have acquired Anton Khudobin and a 2025 2nd Round Pick from the Stars for Max Domi and Dylan Wells.
Khudobin has a 13-4-4 record, 2.89 GAA, and .899 SV% with Texas (AHL) and has been dealt alongside a 2025 2nd Round Pick from the Stars for Max Domi and Dylan Wells.
The Stars have acquired Dylan Wells and Max Domi from the Blackhawks for Anton Khudobin and a 2025 2nd Round Pick.
The Stars have acquired Max Domi and Dylan Wells from the Blackhawks for Anton Khudobin and a 2025 2nd Round Pick.
Domi had 18 goals, 31 assists, 143 SOG, 76 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 60 games with Chicago and has been dealt alongside Dylan Wells from the Blackhawks for Anton Khudobin and a 2025 2nd-round pick.
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.