Goalie Start
Raanta will start Sunday in Pittsburgh.
NHL Hockey Player News
Danforth (knee) was activated from IR on Saturday and will play on Sunday.
Danforth has been out since December 30th but will play Sunday vs. the Sabres. Danforth will replace Trey Fix-Wolansky, who was sent to the AHL to make room for him. He has scored two goals with two assists in 15 games this season.
Merzlikins is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Merzlikins left Saturday's practice with a lower-body injury and will not be available for Sunday's game vs. the Sabres. With Joonas Korpisalo also hurt, J-F Berube will get the start for Columbus.
Goalie Start
Berube will start Sunady vs. the Sabres.
Chiarot (lower-body) is expected to be back in the Canadiens lineup on Sunday.
Chiarot missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but is expected to play against the Islanders. Chiarot appears to be one of the most coveted players at this year's trade deadline and enters Sunday with five goals and four assists (nine points) in 44 games this season.
The Canadiens added Corey Schueneman to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Schueneman was likely to come out fo the lineup on Sunday anyways with Ben Chiarot expected to be back but now he definitely will not be available.
Send Down
Rask cleared waivers and has been reassigned to Iowa (AHL).
With Nick Bjugstad close to returning to the Wild lineup, Rask was waived and sent to the minors to clear room on the roster. The emergence of Matt Boldy and Connor Dewar had pushed Rask to a reserve role.
The Wild recalled Calen Addison from Iowa (AHL).
With Matt Dumba dealing with an injury, Addison has a chance to get back into the Wild lineup on Sunday. The 21-year-old defenseman has spent most of the season in the AHL but has suited up for nine games with the Wild, scoring two goals with one assist.
Trocheck (upper-body) is questionable to play Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Trocheck was forced to leave Friday's game vs. the Predators with an upper-body injury and did not return. He was not on the ice for Saturday's practice and the Hurricanes were unsure of his status for Sunday's game. Since its' an afternoon start, consider him a game-time decision.
Goalie Start
Gustavsson will start Sunday vs. the Rangers.
The Coyotes have acquired Nick Ritchie and a conditional second-round pick from the Maple Leafs for Ilya Lyubushkin and Ryan Dzingel.
Ritchie signed a two-year, $5.0M deal with the Maple Leafs in the offseason but had a hard time finding a full-time spot in the lineup. Overall, he had nine points (2G / 7A) in 33 games with the Maple Leafs before being waived and sent to the Marlies. He had one goal in two AHL games. Ritchie should have no problem finding playing time with the Coyotes.
The Maple Leafs have acquired Ryan Dzingel and Ilya Lyubushkin from the Coyotes for Nick Ritchie and a conditional second-round pick.
Dzingel has appeared in just 26 games with the Coyotes this season, scoring four goals with three assists (seven points). Dzingel wil likely serve a similar role in Toronto, being a fringe roster player that will play in the bottom-6 when he gets into the lineup.
The Maple Leafs have acquired Ilya Lyubushkin and Ryan Dzingel from the Coyotes for Nick Ritchie and a conditional second-round pick.
Lyubushkin is a big (6'2", 201 lbs) rugged defenseman, who is in his fourth year in the NHL. Lyubushkin has just one goal and 18 assists (19 points) in 180 career NHL games but has 498 hits and 246 blocked shots. Lyubushkin was a key penalty killer for the Coyotes and should serve a similar role as a third-pairing defenseman for the Maple Leafs.
Goalie Start
Petersen led the Kings onto the ice for warmups.
Carlo (wrist) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Swayman led the Bruins onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Husso led the Blues onto the ice for warmups.
The Penguins signed Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year contract extension worth $1.6 million ($800K AAV).
Ruhwedel has appeared in a career-high 47 games this season, registering one goal and five assists (six points). Ruhwedel has been a key penalty killer for the Penguins, who rank No.2 in the NHL.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck led the Jets onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Grubauer will start Saturday in Calgary.
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!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.