NHL Hockey Player News

Sam Bennett will miss Tuesday's game vs. Pittsburgh due to a lower-body injury.

Bennett suffered a lower-body injury in Monday's loss in New York. He returned to the game briefly in the second period before retiring for the night. Head coach Paul Maurice said he won't be available to play for Tuesday's game because the Panthers don't want this to turn into something long-term.

Sam Bennett
Connor Hellebuyck will start Tuesday vs. Nashville.

Hellebuyck stopped 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) to snap a two-game winning streak as he beat Ottawa in his previous start. The 29-year-old has been one of the league's best goaltenders, with his impressive 23-12-1 record, 2.39 GAA and .924 SV%. He will face the Nashville Predators, who have won three of their last four games after a 5-3 win over Los Angeles last game.

Connor Hellebuyck
Kris Letang has been activated off the injured reserve (lower body).

Letang has not played since December 28th but was a full participant in Tuesday's morning skate and will be a game-time decision vs. the Panthers. Letang skated on the top-pair with Brian Dumoulin and on the second power-play unit in the morning skate and was activated off the injured reserve Tuesday afternoon.

Kris Letang
Juuso Valimaki has signed a 1-year, $1 million contract extension with the Coyotes.

Valimaki was acquired earlier in the season off waivers from Calgary and has earned himself a 1-year, $1 million contract extension. The 24-year-old has two goals, 10 assists, 41 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus through 43 games this season.

Juuso Valimaki
Luke Philp will make his NHL debut Tuesday vs. Vancouver.

Philp had 14 goals, 16 assists, 19 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 31 games with Rockford (AHL) and has been recalled from Rockford (AHL) for the first time in his career Monday. The 27-year-old will be making his NHL debut after four strong AHL seasons in Stockton and Rockford.

Luke Philp
Mrazek will start Tuesday in Vancouver.

Mrazek allowed two goals on 27 shots (.926 SV%) to snap a three-game winning streak as he was beaten by Los Angeles in his previous start. The 30-year-old has struggled all season, with his 5-11-1 record, 3.87 GAA and .886 SV%. He takes on the Vancouver Canucks, who have lost seven of their last eight games but have a brand new Head Coach in Rick Tocchet.

Petr Mrazek
Brett Howden will draw back into the Golden Knights' lineup Tuesday vs. New Jersey (lower body).

Howden hasn't played since Nov. 23rd due to a lower-body injury but will draw back into the Golden Knights' lineup Tuesday vs. the Devils. The 24-year-old has one goal, two assists, 21 SOG, 10 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 21 games prior to his injury.

Brett Howden
Hellebuyck is expected to start Tuesday in Nashville.

Hellebuyck stopped 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) to snap a two-game winning streak as he beat Ottawa in his previous start. The 29-year-old has been one of the league's best goaltenders, with his impressive 23-12-1 record, 2.39 GAA and .924 SV%. He will face the Nashville Predators, who have won three of their last four games after a 5-3 win over Los Angeles last game.

Connor Hellebuyck
Copley was the first goalie off the ice at the Kings morning skate.

Copley allowed one goal on 19 shots (.947 SV%) for his first victory in three starts as he beat Chicago his last time out. The 31-year-old has taken over the Kings' crease due to his 13-3-0 record but has struggled with a 2.79 GAA and .896 SV%. He will face the Philadelphia Flyers, who have lost three of their last five games and are 26th in the NHL in goals per game (2.77).

Pheonix Copley
Swayman is expected to start Tuesday in Montreal.

Swayman stopped 31 of 32 shots (.969 SV%) for his fourth straight win as he beat the New York Rangers in his previous start. The 24-year-old has been exceptional as part of the deadly Bruins' two-headed combo, with his 11-3-3 record, 2.26 GAA and .916 SV%. He will take on the Montreal Canadiens, who have surprisingly won three of their last four games even though they are 28th in goals per game (2.57) and 30th in shots per game (28.0).

Jeremy Swayman

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!