NHL Hockey Player News

Jake Lucchini has cleared waivers and has been reassigned to Belleville (AHL).

Lucchini had one goal, 14 SOG, and was a -2 plus/minus through 11 games with the Senators but has been reassigned to Belleville (AHL) after clearing waivers earlier Wednesday. Lucchini heads back to Belleville (AHL) where he had seven goals, 16 assists, two PIMs and a -12 plus/minus through 25 games prior to being promoted.

Jake Lucchini
Kevin Labanc will be a healthy scratch for a second straight contest Wednesday vs. Dallas.

Labanc has 10 goals, 25 points, 79 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 43 games this season but will be a healthy scratch for a second straight contest as the Sharks take on Dallas. Labanc is expected to return to the lineup sooner rather than later.

Kevin Labanc
Scott Harrington will draw back into the Sharks' lineup Wednesday vs. Dallas.

Harrington has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday as the Sharks take on the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old has one goal, five assists, 16 SOG and a -2 plus/minus through 16 games this season.

Scott Harrington
Martin was the first goalie off of the ice at the Canucks morning skate.

Martin allowed four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) for his fifth-straight loss as he was defeated by Florida in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been very poor for the Canucks all season, as shown by his .880 SV%, 3.76. GAA and 11-10-1 record. He draws the unfortunate start of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are in the middle of a four-game winning streak and are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (3.6).

Spencer Martin
Mathieu Joseph will be a healthy scratch Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh.

Joseph has two goals, seven assists, 28 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 25 games this season but will be a healthy scratch Wednesday vs. the Penguins. Josh Norris' return to the lineup (injury) is the reason Joseph will head to the press box.

Mathieu Joseph
Markstrom will start Wednesday vs. the Avalanche.

Markstrom allowed two goals on 29 shots (.931 SV%) for his second straight loss as he was defeated by Nashville in his previous start. The 32-year-old has struggled for the first half of the season, with his 13-11-5 record, 2.81 GAA and .894 SV%. He will face the Colorado Avalanche, who are in the middle of a two-game winning streak which has seen them score 13 goals during that span.

Jacob Markstrom
DeSmith will start Wednesday in Ottawa.

DeSmith stopped 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak as he beat Anaheim in his previous start. The 31-year-old regular backup has struggled with his starting duties as of late, with his 6-9-2 record, .906 SV% and 3.10 GAA. He faces the Ottawa Senators, who have lost four of their last five games after a 2-1 loss to St. Louis in their last game.

Casey DeSmith
Evans (lower-body) will miss 8-to-10 weeks.

Evans was forced to leave the Canadiens' previous game vs. the Islanders due to a lower-body injury after just 7:04 TOI and he has now been placed on the injured reserve, meaning he will miss 8-10 weeks. The 26-year-old depth piece has two goals, nine assists, 20 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 43 games prior to the injury.

Jake Evans
Armia (upper-body) will be out until the NHL All-Star break.

Armia has three goals, four assists, 56 SOG and a -7 plus/minus through 32 games this season but will now be out until after the All-Star break as he deals with an injury for the second time this season. He has been placed on the injured reserve retroactive to January 15th for an upper-body injury.

Joel Armia
Slafkovsky suffered a lower-body injury that does not require surgery. He will be out for three months.

Slafkovsky left the Canadiens' game Saturday vs. the New York Rangers after just 9:04 TOI with a lower-body injury and will be out for at least three months. It is another chapter in a very disappointing opening season for the 2022 1st overall pick, who had four goals, six assists, and 42 SOG through his first 39 games prior to his injury.

Juraj Slafkovsky
DeSmith was the first goalie off of the ice at the Penguins' morning skate.

DeSmith stopped 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak as he beat Anaheim in his previous start. The 31-year-old regular backup has struggled with his starting duties as of late, with his 6-9-2 record, .906 SV% and 3.10 GAA. He faces the Ottawa Senators, who have lost four of their last five games after a 2-1 loss to St. Louis in their last game.

Casey DeSmith
Norris (shoulder) will return to the Senators lineup on Wednesday.

Norris has been sidelined since October 22nd but will be back on the second line with Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux on Wednesday. Giroux is expected to take the face-offs, but Norris provides a massive offensive boost to the Senators, who averaged 4.2 goals per game in the five games Norris played earlier in the season.

Josh Norris
Talbot will likely start Wednesday vs. the Penguins.

Talbot allowed two goals on 20 shots (.900 SV%) for his fourth straight loss as he was defeated by St. Louis in his previous start. The 35-year-old has struggled in his first season in Ottawa, with a 10-12-1 record, 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. He will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won their last game 4-3 over Anaheim and are 13th in the NHL in goals per game (3.21).

Cam Talbot
Jan Rutta is day-to-day and won't play Wednesday vs. Ottawa (upper body).

Rutta has three goals, five assists, 53 SOG and is a +4 plus/minus through 42 games this season but will miss Wednesday's game as he is now considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. It is a tough loss for the Penguins who are already down Kris Letang (illness).

Jan Rutta

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.

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