NHL Hockey Player News

Adam Boqvist will draw back into the Blue Jackets' lineup (foot).

Boqvist has been out since October 25th due to a foot injury but returns to the Blue Jackets' lineup Friday as they take on Chicago. The 22-year-old could only get four games under his belt before the injury and had no points, three SOG and a -1 plus/minus. He had 11 goals, 11 assists, and 64 SOG in 2021-22 as one of the best offensive options on Columbus' blue line.

Adam Boqvist
Stalock returns to the Blackhawks' crease on Friday.

Stalock has not played since Nov. 1st due to a concussion but will make his first start back Friday. The 35-year-old has been having a resurgent season after taking all of 2021-22 off due to injury, with a 3-2-1 record, .914 SV% and 2.93 GAA in seven starts prior to the injury. He will face Columbus, who is looking to snap the current five-game losing streak they are on.

Alex Stalock
Brady Skjei will be a game-time decision Friday vs. Philadelphia (personal).

Skjei missed the Hurricanes' previous contest due to personal reasons and will be a game-time decision Friday vs. the Flyers. The 28-year-old has been having an incredibly solid season, with six goals, eight assists, a +11 plus/minus and 71 SOG through 32 games prior to taking a step away from the team.

Brady Skjei
Sebastian Aho will be a game-time decision Friday vs. Philadelphia (lower body).

Aho has missed the Hurricane's last seven games due to a lower-body injury but will be a game-time decision Friday as they take on the Flyers. If Aho does return, it will be massive for Carolina, as he had 11 goals, 27 points, 7 SOG, 18 PIMS and a +2 plus/minus through 26 games prior to the injury.

Sebastian Aho
Oettinger starts Friday vs. Montreal.

Oettinger allowed five goals on 33 shots (.848 SV%) in his previous start as he snapped a two-game winning streak with a loss to Edmonton. The 24-year-old has been the definition of solid for the Stars this season, with his 13-5-3 record, 2.47 GAA and .919 SV%. He will face the Montreal Canadians, who have lost four of their last five games after a 2-1 overtime loss to Colorado in their last game.

Jake Oettinger
Stalock is in the starter's crease at the Blackhawks morning skate.

Stalock has not played since Nov. 1st due to a concussion but will make his first start back Friday. The 35-year-old has been having a resurgent season after taking all of 2021-22 off due to injury, with a 3-2-1 record, .914 SV% and 2.93 GAA in seven starts prior to the injury. He will face Columbus, who is looking to snap the current five-game losing streak they are on.

Alex Stalock
Givani Smith has been recalled from Charlotte (AHL) and will be in the Panthers' lineup Friday.

Smith had been playing in Grand Rapids (AHL) prior to being dealt Monday to the Florida Panthers, where he had two goals, three assists, 45 PIMs and a -21 plus/minus through 19 games. He was part of a trade which saw Detroit acquire Danny O'Regan, and Anaheim, Michael Del Zotto.

Givani Smith
John Marino is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Marino left the Devils' game Monday due to an upper-body injury and missed Wednesday's game and is now considered out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Marino has three goals, six assists, 42 SOG and is a +10 plus/minus in 32 games played.

John Marino
Blackwood is in the starter's crease at the Devils morning skate.

Blackwood stopped 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) in his first start in two months as he beat the Florida Panthers. The 26-year-old will get a second straight Devil's start and will be looking to improve on his 5-2-0 record, 2.69 GAA and .892 SV%. He will face the Boston Bruins, who have won their last three games and have the league's best record.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Bobrovsky will start Friday against the Islanders.

Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 32 shots (.906 SV%) for his third loss in five starts as he was defeated by the New Jersey Devils. Bobrovsky has been improving his play as of late but his numbers are still reflective of his early struggles, with his 7-10-1 record, 3.25 GAA and .895 SV%. He will take on the New York Islanders, who are stumbling, having lost five of their last six games with a 5-3 defeat to the Rangers Thursday.

Sergei Bobrovsky
Vladar led the Flames onto the ice for warmups.

Vladar allowed five goals on 34 shots (.853 SV%) as he broke a four-game winning streak with an overtime loss to Toronto in his last start. The 25-year-old has been solid this season as the Flames' backup, with his 5-4-2 record, 2.81 GAA and .905 SV%. He faces the Los Angeles Kings, who have won their last three contests after a victory over Anaheim in their previous game.

Dan Vladar

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!