Goalie Start
Bobrovsky will start Thursday in Dallas.
NHL Hockey Player News
Reimer (lower-body) may not be available to back up on Thursday.
Adin Hill has been confirmed to start Thursday's game in Buffalo but Reimer may not be able to back him up.
Line Change
Merkley will draw into the Sharks lineup on Thursday.
Merkley had one goal in six games with the Sharks earlier in the season. He's spent most of the year in the AHL, where he has tallied 17 points (1G / 6A) in 22 games. Merkley will replace Erik Karlsson (upper-body) in the lineup and is expected to see some power-play time on the second unit.
Middleton (upper-body) will not play on Thursday.
Middleton left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return after being hit from behind by Givani Smith. Marc-Edouard Vlasic will replace him in Buffalo.
Karlsson (upper-body) will not play on Thursday.
Karlsson suffered an upper-body injury in the third period of Tuesday's loss in Detroit. Ryan Merkley will draw into the lineup to replace Karlsson but Brent Burns will take over on PP1.
Goalie Start
Hill will start Thursday in Buffalo.
Goalie Start
Holtby will start Thursday vs. the Panthers.
Line Change
Moore will draw into the Bruins lineup on Thursday.
Moore will replace Charlie McAvoy in the Bruins lineup vs. the Wild. It will be Moore's first game since December 14th and just his fifth of the season.
McAvoy is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
McAvoy's injury is expected to be short-term but it's serious enough to keep him out of the lineup on Thursday. John Moore will replace him on the Bruins' blueline.
The Devils have added Andreas Johnson to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Johnsson will be replaced by Nico Hischier, who is coming back from a lower-body injury. Johnsson is expected to miss two or three games while in COVID-19 protocol.
Sillinger (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Sillinger is dealing with a minor lower-body injury that he is expected to play through on Thursday, but has officially been listed as a game-time decision. Monitor his status as the Blue Jackets hit the ice for warmups.
Christiansen will make his NHL debut on Thursday.
Christiansen was an undrafted free agent out of the WHL, who signed with the Blue Jackets in 2020. The 22-year-old defenseman has tallied five goals with 13 assists (18 points) in 21 AHL games this season.
Bean (illness) will be back in the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.
Bean was a late scratch from the lineup on Tuesday due to a non-COVID illness but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. Bean will likely be leaned on heavily with Zack Werenski still out.
Goalie Start
Holtby is in the starter's crease at the Stars morning skate.
Goalie Start
Korpisalo will start Thursday in New Jersey.
Line Change
MacInnis will make his Sabres debut on Thursday.
MacInnis was originally a second-round pick of the Coyotes in 2014, was traded to the Blue Jackets in 2018 and signed with the Sabres this offseason. He has scored six goals with 10 assists (16 points) in 26 AHL games this season.
Goalie Start
Luukkonen will start Thursday vs. the Sharks.
Stamkos (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Stamkos missed Wednesday's practice and Thursday's morning skate for "body maintenance" according to the Lightning. Still, head coach Jon Cooper called Stamkos a game-time decision for Thursday's game vs. Calgary.
Kucherov (lower-body) is expected to return to the Lightning lineup on Thursday.
Kucherov has been out since October 16th but is expected to play Thursday vs. the Flames. Kucherov had a strong start to the season, scoring one goal with three assists in his first three games. He'll be back on the top line with Brayden Point and top power-play unit.
Hischier (lower-body) will return to the Devils lineup on Thursday.
Hischier missed Tuesday's game in Boston but will play tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. Hischier has been hot as of late, scoring three goals with three assists during a five-game point streak.
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.