Palmieri is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play Thursday.
NHL Hockey Player News
Smith (COVID-19 protocol) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play Thursday.
Pacioretty (wrist) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play Thursday.
Goalie Start
Lehner led the Golden Knights onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Gillies led the Devils onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy led the Lightning onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Petersen led the Kings onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Varlamov led the Islanders onto the ice for warmups.
The Oilers are signing Evander Kane to a one-year deal worth $2.1M AAV.
The Islanders have activated Kyle Palmieri (lower-body) from IR.
Palmieri has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury but appears set to play Thursday vs. the Kings. Palmieri would likely replace Kieffer Bellows and skate on a line with Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.
Henrique (lower-body) has been removed from IR according to the team website.
Henrique has not played since December 3rd but has been activated from IR according to the team website and could return to the lineup on Thursday. Henrique had 16 points (6G / 10A) in 24 games before getting hurt.
Goalie Start
Husso will start Thursday vs. the Flames.
Driedger has been activated from the COVID-19 protocol list and is expected to serve as Philipp Grubauer's backup on Thursday.
Driedger missed the last five games while in COVID-19 protocol but will be Grubauer's backup in Pittsburgh. This opens the door for Driedger to start one of the Kraken's back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday.
Goalie Start
Vladar is expected to start Thursday in St. Louis.
Goalie Start
Martin will start Thursday in Winnipeg.
Garland has been activated from the COVID-19 protocol list and is expected to play Thursday.
Garland missed five games while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play Thursday in Winnipeg. Garland, who has 10 goals and 14 assists (24 points) in 37 games this season, is expected to skate on the second line with Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander.
Athanasiou (lower-body) will draw back into the Kings lineup on Thursday.
Athanasiou has not played since December 14th but will play Thursday vs. the Islanders. Athanasiou will likely replace Carl Grundstrom in the lineup and comes in with six points (3G / 3A) in 11 games.
Line Change
Smith will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Smith has played in seven straight games but will be replaced by Ethan Bear in the lineup on Thursday.
Line Change
Bear will draw into the Hurricanes lineup on Thursday.
Bear will play for the first time since January 13th, replacing Brendan Smith on the third pair. Bear has scored two goals with five assists (seven points) in 27 games this season.
Hyman has been activated from the COVID-19 protocol list and is expected to play Thursday.
Hyman has missed the last three games while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play Thursday vs. the Predators. Hyman is expected to start on the third line with Ryan McLeod and Zack Kassian but could move up with Connor McDavid at some point. Hyman has not scored a goal in his last 11 games, compiling just four assists.
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.