NHL Hockey Player News

Hamilton (lower-body) is out on Friday vs. Winnipeg and without a timeline to return.

Hamilton was limited to only 5:15 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, exiting the contest in the first period due to a lower-body injury, and will not play on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Hamilton has 40 points (9G / 31A) in 63 games, including 15 points on the powerplay. Luke Hughes will likely take Hamilton's spot on New Jersey's top powerplay unit.

Dougie Hamilton
The Capitals have acquired Anthony Beauvillier from the Penguins for a 2025 2nd Round Pick.

With the Pittsburgh Penguins effectively out of the playoff race, they have traded Beauvillier to the Washington Capitals for a 2025 second-round pick. The 27-year-old Beauvillier averaged 13:00 time-on-ice and scored 20 points (13G / 7A) in 63 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Anthony Beauvillier
Dumoulin will make his Devils' debut on Friday vs. Winnipeg.

Dumoulin was acquired via trade from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and will add some defensive depth and Stanley Cup pedigree to the Devils blueline. The 33-year-old defenseman averaged 19:48 time-on-ice and scored 16 points (2G / 14A) through 61 games with the Ducks this season.

Brian Dumoulin
Kessel has been recalled from Springfield (AHL).

Kessel averaged 13:05 time-on-ice and scored three points (0G / 3A) in 27 games with the Blues earlier this season but has not played a game with the club since January 31st. The 24-year-old defenseman has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 29 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.

Matthew Kessel
Buffalo has signed Jason Zucker to a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension ($4,750,000 AAV).

Zucker has impressed in his first season in Buffalo, earning himself a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension. The 33-year-old forward is enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his career, with 44 points (18G / 26A) through only 54 games this season, a total he has topped only three times in his 14-year career.

Jason Zucker
Thompson will start vs. Detroit on Friday.

The Capitals have won two straight and will turn to Thompson between the pipes on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old Thompson saved 33 of 37 shots (.892 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-4 shootout victory over the Ottawa Senators. He has a 2.32 GAA and .918 SV% in 35 games this season (26-4-5). The Capitals enter the action on Friday as sizeable -213 home favorites against a Red Wings squad amid a four-game losing skid (0-4-0).

Logan Thompson
Markstrom is expected to start vs. Winnipeg on Friday.

The Devils have lost two straight and will hope to return to the win column, turning to Markstrom between the pipes against the Winnipeg Jets. Markstrom struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 21 shots (.810 SV%), including the game-deciding goal in the final seconds of a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 35-year-old Markstrom has a 2.24 GAA and .910 SV% in 38 games this season (21-11-5). The Devils enter Friday's contest as +108 home underdogs against a Jets squad that defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 last night.

Jacob Markstrom
The Oilers have acquired Jake Walman from the Sharks for Carl Berglund and a conditional 2026 first-round pick.

Walman made a big impact in 50 games with San Jose this season, averaging 23:11 time-on-ice and scoring 32 points (6G / 26A), earning a coveted first-round pick for the Sharks. The 29-year-old Walman likely won't see the powerplay exposure he had in San Jose now, behind Evan Bouchard on Edmonton's depth chart, but he is still poised to suit up as one of their top-four defensemen.

Jake Walman
The Avalanche have acquired Brock Nelson and William Dufour from the Islanders for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a 1st round pick in 2026 or 2027, and a conditional 2028 3rd Round Pick.

After being rumored in a trade all season, Nelson has been dealt to the Colorado Avalanche. The 33-year-old Nelson averaged 19:21 time-on-ice and scored 43 points (20G / 23A) in 61 games this season. He scored 20 or more goals in nine of his 12 seasons in New York and will provide some much needed depth down the middle for Colorado. Nelson will likely suit up on Colorado's second line with Valeri Nichushkin and Jonathan Drouin.

Brock Nelson

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!