NHL Hockey Player News

Greiss was the first goalie off the ice at the Blues morning skate.

Greiss stopped 10 of 11 shots (.909 SV%) as he picked up the no-decision in a half-game relief effort vs. Chicago his previous time out. The Blues backup has been the better of their two netminders, with his 5-6-0 record, 3.15 GAA and .912 SV%. He will face the Arizona Coyotes, who have lost three of their last four games and rank last in the NHL in shots per game (25.5).

Thomas Greiss
The Canucks have signed Andrei Kuzmenko to a two-year contract extension worth $5.5M AAV.

Kuzmenko signed a one-year deal with the Canucks in the offseason after seven season in the KHL. In his first season in North America, Kuzmenko has scored 21 goals with 22 assists (43 points) in 47 games, playing primarily on a line with Elias Pettersson.

Andrei Kuzmenko
Robert Bortuzzo has been activated from the injured reserve (lower body).

Bortuzzo has been out since January 7th due to a lower-body injury but has been activated from the injured reserve Thursday. The 30-year-old is not expected to join the Blues' lineup right away but when he does will be looking to add to the one goal, 19 SOG and 25 PIMs he has amassed across 30 games prior to the injury.

Robert Bortuzzo
Francouz will start Thursday vs. the Ducks.

Francouz stopped 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) for his fifth win in six games as he beat Seattle in his previous start. The 32-year-old Avalanche backup has been incredibly solid yet again this season, with his 7-6-0 record, 2.47 GAA and .920 SV%. He will take on the Anaheim Ducks, who beat Arizona 5-2 in their last game but are 31st in goals per game (2.4).

Pavel Francouz
Nichushkin (upper-body) will not play Thursday vs. the Ducks.

Nichuskin will miss time for the third time this season as he is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will not play Thursday vs. Anaheim. The 27-year-old has played well when healthy, with his 8 goals, 10 assists, 63 SOG, and +6 plus/minus through 20 games prior to his most recent injury.

Valeri Nichushkin
Malgin (upper-body) will draw back into the Avalanche lineup on Thursday.

Malgin last played on January 5th and had to leave after just 0:47 TOI due to an upper-body injury but will return to the Avalanche's lineup on Thursday. The 26-year-old has two goals, three assists, 59 SOG, and six PIMs through 30 games between Colorado and Toronto this season.

Denis Malgin
Nieto will make his Avalanche season debut on Thursday.

Nieto was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday in a deal involving Jacob MacDonald, and Martin Kaut going the other way and will be making his Avalanche debut Thursday. He had eight goals, seven assists, 70 SOG, and a -22 plus/minus in 45 games with the Sharks before the deal.

Matthew Nieto
Crouse (upper-body) will likely be back in the Coyotes lineup on Thursday.

Crouse has not played since January 17th due to an upper-body injury but will likely be back in Arizona's lineup as they take St. Louis Thursday. The 25-year-old is on pace for his best career season to date, with his 16 goals, 11 assists, 82 SOG, and 22 PIMs across 43 games this season.

Lawson Crouse
Vejmelka will start Thursday vs. the Blues.

Vejmelka stopped 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) to snap an eight-game losing skid as he beat Vegas in his previous start. The 26-year-old has struggled as of late, which has led to his 12-17-4 record, 3.29 GAA and .904 SV%. He will hope to stay in the win column as he takes on St. Louis, who lost their last two games after a 5-3 defeat to Buffalo Tuesday night.

Karel Vejmelka
Cale Makar will return to the Avalanche's lineup Thursday vs. Anaheim (undisclosed).

Makar has missed the Avalanche's previous four games with an undisclosed injury but will return Thursday vs. Anaheim. The 2022 Norris Trophy winner is in the midst of a six-game point streak (4G/5A) and currently ranks fifth among all defensemen with 13 goals and 43 points in 42 games prior to his injury.

Cale Makar
Comrie is in the starter's crease at the Sabres' morning skate.

Comrie allowed four goals on 22 shots (.818 SV%) for his fifth-straight loss as he was beaten by Seattle in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been the third-best goalie in Buffalo this season, with his 4-8-0 record, 3.67 GAA and .883 SV%. He will face the Winnipeg Jets, who lost their last game 2-1 to Nashville but are 11th in the NHL in goals per game (3.27).

Eric Comrie
Francouz is in the starter's crease at the Avalanche morning skate.

Francouz stopped 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) for his fifth win in six games as he beat Seattle in his previous start. The 32-year-old Avalanche backup has been incredibly solid yet again this season, with his 7-6-0 record, 2.47 GAA and .920 SV%. He will take on the Anaheim Ducks, who beat Arizona 5-2 in their last game but are 31st in goals per game (2.4).

Pavel Francouz
Markstrom will start Thursday vs. the Blackhawks.

Markstrom allowed three goals on 30 shots (.900 SV%) for his third-straight loss as he was defeated by the Colorado Avalanche last start. The 32-year-old has fought the puck all season, with his 13-12-5 record, 2.82 GAA and .895 SV%. He takes on the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost their last two games and are last in the NHL in goals for (2.39) and second last in shots (26.1).

Jacob Markstrom
Sam Bennett is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup Friday vs. Los Angeles (hand).

Bennett missed the Panthers' previous game due to a hand injury but is expected to be back in the Panthers' lineup Friday as they take on Los Angeles. The 26-year-old has 11 goals, 19 assists, 145 SOG, 48 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 49 games prior to his injury.

Sam Bennett
Eric Staal is expected to be available tomorrow vs. the Los Angeles Kings (upper body).

Staal was placed on the injured reserve a week ago due to an upper-body injury and hasn't played since January 19th when he left after just 4:16 TOI but is expected to return Friday vs. Los Angeles. The 38-year-old has seven goals, seven assists, 61 SOG, and 16 PIMs through 40 games in a bottom-six role.

Eric Staal
Hart will start Thursday in Minnesota.

Hart allowed four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) for his third loss in four games as he was defeated by Los Angeles in his previous start. The 24-year-old has been solid while being called upon nightly by the Flyers, with his 14-14-7 record, 2.97 GAA and .908 SV%. He takes on the Minnesota Wild, who have lost their last three games after a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay last game.

Carter Hart
DeSmith will start Thursday in Washington.

DeSmith allowed six goals on 39 shots (.846 SV%) but still picked up the victory as he beat Florida in his previous start. The 31-year-old Penguins backup will be relied upon heavily going forward as Tristan Jarry deals with an injury until after the ASG and he will be hoping to improve his 7-9-3 record, 3.34 GAA and .900 SV%. He will face the Washington Capitals, who have lost their last three games after a 3-2 loss to Colorado last game.

Casey DeSmith

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!