NHL Hockey Player News

The Sabres have signed Mattias Samuelsson to a seven-year contract worth $30.0 million ($4.29M AAV).

Samuelsson gets a huge extension despite only appearing in 52 NHL games over the last two seasons. The 2018 No.32 overall pick had 10 assists in 42 games last season and projects to be a huge part of the Sabres' blueline this season, skating with Rasmussen Dahlin at 5v5.

Mattias Samuelsson
Tarasov will start the Blue Jackets' season opener in Carolina.

Tarasov will surprisingly take the crease in the Blue Jackets' opener after it was announced that expected starter Elvis Merzlikins would miss Wednesday night's game due to Illness. The 23-year-old Russian netminder enjoyed a successful short stint with the Jackets' in 2021-22, getting his first taste of NHL action across a late-season four-game stint where he produced an impressive .937 SV% and 2.40 GAA. He will be looking to achieve his first career NHL win Wednesday as he leads Columbus between the pipes.

Daniil Tarasov
Forsberg will start the Senators' season opener on Thursday.

Anton Forsberg will lead the Senators between the crease as they take on a favourable matchup in Buffalo Wednesday night on the road. Forsberg is coming off a strong 2021-22 where he finished eighth in save percentage (.917 Sv%) across the NHL with 22 Wins and a 2.82 GAA. The Senators are without back-to-back games for their first 18 games of the season, meaning Forsberg could be in for a workhorse amount of action while Ottawa waits for Cam Talbot to return from an upper-body injury.

Anton Forsberg
The Bruins signed Anton Stralman to a one-year, $1.0M deal.

Stralman was with the Bruins on a PTO and turned it into a one-year deal. Stralman, who had 23 points (8G / 15A) in 74 games with the Coyotes last season, has been skating with the injured Matt Grzelcyk in practice, suggesting he could start the season as the seventh defenseman.

Anton Stralman
The Rangers signed Talyn Boyko to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Boyko was a fourth-round pick (No.112 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old netminder split his 2021-22 season with the Tri-City Americans and Kelowna Rockets (WHL). With Kelowna, Boyko posted a 28-12-4 record, 2.79 GAA, .913 SV%, and two shutouts in 46 games.

Talyn Boyko
Quick led the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Quick enters the crease after a bounce-back season in 2021-22 where he stole back the Kings' starting job by winning 23 games along with a .910 SV% and 2.59 GAA in 46 games started. Quick currently ranks 22nd all-time in wins by goaltenders with 359 career victories.

Jonathan Quick
The Jets placed Mason Appleton (upper-body) on IR.

Appleton has been dealing with an upper-body injury and was moved to IR retroactive to October 5th. The move would still allow him to be activated ahead of the Jets season opener, and was likely made in order to open up a roster spot for Axel Jonsson-Fjällby.

Mason Appleton
Shesterkin led the Rangers onto the ice for warmups.

The 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winner will return to the crease for his fourth season in the Big Apple against one of the league's top-scoring units in the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 26-year-old Russian will be looking to build off a historical 2021-22 season which saw him finish first in the NHL in both SV% (.935) and GAA (2.07), while also finishing sixth in Wins (36) and third in Shutouts (6).

Igor Shesterkin
Tavares is expected to play for the Maple Leafs in their season opener on Wednesday.

The Maple Leafs Captain will return to the lineup for the team's opening game Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 13-year veteran returns to the team after an oblique injury caused him to miss time since leaving the Leafs' lineup in a preseason game on September 24th. Tavares enjoyed a decent 2021-22, collecting 27 goals and 76 assists in 79 games. Since joining the Maple Leafs in 2018-19, Tavares has 119 goals and 274 points in 280 games.

John Tavares
Hischier (hamstring) practised on Tuesday but remains questionable for the season opener.

The Devils' captain remains questionable for their opening game Thursday in Philadelphia as he returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since September 26th, 2022. Hischier enjoyed his most successful season in 2021-22 finishing with 21 goals and 60 points in 70 games placing him second on the Devils in scoring. The 23-year-old should find himself a lock in New Jersey's top-six and atop their first powerplay unit.

Nico Hischier

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!