The Canucks have added Alex Chiasson to the COVID-19 protocol list.
The Canucks do not play until next Tuesday, so it's entirely possible that Chiasson doesn't miss any time as long as he returns negative tests ahead of their trip to Florida.
NHL Hockey Player News
Hunt is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Hunt missed Friday's practice due to an upper-body injury and is questionable to play Saturday in Anaheim. If Hunt is not available vs. the Ducks, the Rangers will likely need to call someone up from their taxi squad to replace him.
The Rangers added Julien Gauthier to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Gauthier will miss Saturday's game in Anaheim and Monday's game in Los Angeles after entering COVID-19 protocol on Friday. Morgan Barron will likely draw into the Rangers lineup to replace him.
The Oilers added Kailer Yamamoto to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Yamamoto was pulled off of the ice at Friday's practice and will not be available for at least five days. Luckily all of the Oilers games have been cancelled except for Monday's meeting with the Senators on Monday. As of now, that game is scheduled to go ahead and the Oilers would be without Yamamoto for that game.
The Devils added Mason Geertsen to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Geertsen was a healthy scratch on Thursday so this probably won't affect the Devils' lineup plans for Saturday's game in Columbus but Geertsen will be unavailable for at least two games.
The Devils added Dougie Hamilton to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Hamilton was already sidelined with a broken jaw, so this likely doesn't change his timeline at all. The Devils have yet to release any details of when they expect to get him back in the lineup.
The Blue Jackets have placed Alexandre Texier in COVID-19 protocol.
Texier missed the last two games due to a "non-COVID illness" but has now tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss at least two more games.
Goalie Start
Oettinger will start Saturday afternoon vs. the Penguins.
Goalie Start
Jones will start Saturday vs. the Sharks.
Goalie Start
Campbell will start Saturday in Colorado.
Goalie Start
Husso led the Blues onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Andersen led the Hurricanes onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Vladar led the Flames onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Samsonov will start Friday in St Louis.
Kaprizov (upper-body) will not play Saturday vs. the Capitals.
Kaprizov suffered an upper-body injury in Boston on Thursday and will miss at least one game. The Wild told reporters that Kaprizov is still being evaluated, so expect a more detailed timetable in the coming days. Luckily for the Wild, after Saturday's game, they are off until next Friday (Jan.14), so Kaprizov may not miss many games if it's relatively short-term.
The Capitals have placed Nicklas Backstrom (illness) on IR.
Both Backstrom and TJ Oshie have been sidelined by a non-COVID illness and did not accompany the team on their two-game road trip. Moving them to IR simply creates roster spots to bring up reinforcements--they'll be eligible to be activated and play when the Capitals return home to face the Bruins on Monday.
The Capitals have placed TJ Oshie (illness) on IR.
Both Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom have been sidelined by a non-COVID illness and did not accompany the team on their two-game road trip. Moving them to IR simply creates roster spots to bring up reinforcements--they'll be eligible to be activated and play when the Capitals return home to face the Bruins on Monday.
The Maple Leafs have added Pierre Engvall to the COVID-19 protocol list.
With both Mitch Marner and Engvall landing on the COVID-19 protocol list, Brett Seney and Kyle Clifford are expected to re-enter the lineup on Saturday. Jason Spezza moved up to the third line to replace Engvall in Friday's practice session.
The Maple Leafs have added Mitch Marner to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Marner will miss Saturday's game in Colorado and could miss Tuesday's game in Vegas, depending on if he clears protocol or not. With Marner out, Alexander Kerfoot shifted to the Auston Matthews' line and Ilya Mikheyev moved into the top-6 at Friday's practice.
Goalie Start
Markstrom is expected to start Friday in Carolina.
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.