NHL Hockey Player News

The Senators have acquired Tristen Robins, Fabian Zetterlund, and a 4th Round Pick from the Sharks for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 2nd Round Pick.

Robins was a second-round pick, 56th overall, in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 18 points (7G / 11A) in 41 games with the San Jose Barracuda.

Tristen Robins
The Senators have acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a 4th Round Pick from the Sharks for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 2nd Round Pick.

The acquisition of Zetterlund caps a busy trade deadline for the Senators. Zetterlund has been an effective secondary scorer for the Sharks the previous two seasons, including scoring 36 points (17G / 19A) in 64 games this season.

Fabian Zetterlund
Chicago has acquired Victor Soderstrom, Shea Weber, and Aku Raty from Utah for a 2026 6th-round pick.

Soderstrom was the 11th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has 11 points (1G / 10A) in 53 career NHL games. He is a restricted free agent, currently playing for Brynas IF Gavle (SweHL), where he has 36 points (9G / 27A) in 47 games this season.

Victor Soderstrom
Chicago has acquired Aku Raty, Shea Weber, and Victor Soderstrom from Utah for a 2026 6th-round pick.

Raty was a fifth-round pick, 151st overall, of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 19 points (4G / 15A) in 50 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.

Aku Raty
Columbus has acquired Luke Kunin from San Jose for a 2025 4th Round Pick.

Kunin was held out of San Jose's lineup on Thursday in anticipation of a trade and has ultimately been dealt to the Blue Jackets on Friday. Kunin is an impending UFA and has 18 points (11G / 7A) in 63 games this season.

Luke Kunin
Dallas has signed Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year, $96 million contract extension ($12 million AAV).

A contract extension was necessary for the Dallas Stars to execute a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes to acquire Mikko Rantanen, which was signed on Friday afternoon, making him the highest-paid winger in the league, making $12 million per season for the next eight seasons. The 28-year-old superstar forward is coming off consecutive 100+ point seasons in Colorado and instantly makes the Dallas Stars a Stanley Cup favorite. Rantanen is poised to suit up on the Stars' top line with Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz.

Mikko Rantanen
Wyatt Johnston has signed a five-year, $42 million extension ($8.4 million AAV) with the Dallas Stars.

Johnston was set to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, but has signed a five-year contract extension, worth $42 million, making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2029-30 season. The 21-year-old Johnston has 59 points (23G / 36A) in 62 games this season, including 14 points (8G / 6A) in his last eight games.

Wyatt Johnston
The Bruins have acquired William Zellers, Casey Mittelstadt, and a 2025 2nd Round Pick from the Avalanche for Charlie Coyle and a 2026 5th Round Pick.

Zellers was a third-round pick, 76th overall, of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old forward is currently played for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) and has 58 points (37G / 21A) in 40 games this season.

Will Zellers
New York has signed Urho Vaakanainen to a two-year, $3.10 million contract extension ($1.55 million AAV).

Vaakanainen was acquired in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this season and has earned himself a two-year, $3.10 million contract extension with the Rangers. The 26-year-old defenseman has averaged 15:599 time-on-ice and scored nine points (2G / 7A) in 30 games with the Rangers this season.

Urho Vaakanainen
The Bruins have acquired Casey Mittelstadt, William Zellers, and a 2025 2nd Round Pick from the Avalanche for Charlie Coyle and a 2026 5th Round Pick.

Colorado acquired Mittelstadt in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres last season but has not lived up to expectations and has been dealt to the Boston Bruins. The 26-year-old Mittelstadt scored 34 points (11G / 23A) in 63 games this season. He only had five points (2G / 3A) in his last 16 games.

Casey Mittelstadt
The Avalanche have acquired Charlie Coyle and a 2026 5th Round Pick from the Bruins for Casey Mittelstadt, William Zellers, and a 2025 2nd Round Pick.

Coyle will likely be Colorado's third-line center, a role more suited for the 33-year-old forward than he was deployed this season as a Boston Bruin. The 13-year veteran forward averaged 17:38 time-on-ice and scored 22 points (15G / 7A) in 64 games with Boston this season.

Charlie Coyle
Lankinen will start vs. Minnesota on Friday.

Lankinen saved 14 of 16 shots (.875 SV%) in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks and will return to the crease on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. The 29-year-old Lankinen has a 2.56 GAA and .904 SV% in 38 games this season (21-10-7). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as -123 home favorites against the Wild.

Kevin Lankinen
Samsonov will start vs. Pittsburgh on Friday.

The Golden Knights have won three straight and will turn to Samsonov between the pipes on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Samsonov struggled in his most recent outing but received ample goal support in a 7-5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, saving 17 of 22 shots (.773 SV%). He has a 2.91 GAA and .887 SV% in 24 games this season (14-8-2). The Golden Knights enter Friday's contest as sizeable -238 home favorites.

Ilya Samsonov
The Blackhawks have acquired Joe Veleno from the Red Wings for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith.

Veleno was a first-round pick, 30th overall, of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old averaged 11:57 time-on-ice this season, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in 56 games.

Joe Veleno

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!