Brannstrom (hand) will return to the Senators lineup on Saturday.
Brannstrom has been out since November 11th but will return to the lineup vs. the Maple Leafs. Brannstrom has 17 points (2G / 15A) in 65 career NHL games.
NHL Hockey Player News
The Senators have added Dillon Heatherington to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Heatherington was trending towards being a healthy scratch anyways because Erik Brannstrom is returning to the lineup.
The Senators have added Nick Paul to the COVID-19 protocol list.
With Paul out, Logan Shaw and Clark Bishop have been recalled from the taxi squad and will suit up on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Campbell will start Saturday vs. the Senators.
Goalie Start
Raanta will start Saturday in Columbus.
Goalie Start
Tarasov will start Saturday vs. the Hurricanes.
Goalie Start
Murray will start Saturday in Toronto.
Bennett is "doing better" and expected to play on Saturday.
Bennett was a surprise scratch on Thursday but is supposed to play Saturday vs. Montreal. Bennett had an assist vs. the Rangers in the Panthers' first game back and has 15 points (9G / 6A) in 25 games this season.
Goalie Start
Bobrovsky will start Saturday vs. the Canadiens.
Goalie Start
Campbell is in the starter's crease at the Maple Leafs morning skate.
Skinner was activated from the COVID-19 protocol list and is expected to play Saturday.
The Sabres described Skinner as an "option" to play Saturday but Skinner told reporters that he "feels good and could play," so expect to see him in the lineup.
Wahlstrom was activated from COVID-19 protocol list on Friday and may play Saturday.
Both Wahlstrom and Anthony Beauvillier were activated and head coach Barry Trotz said it's possible that both will play on Saturday but "one more likely that the other." Monitor Wahlstrom's status as the Islanders hit the ice for warmups at 1:30 PM ET.
Beauvillier was activated from COVID-19 protocol list on Friday and may play Saturday.
Both Beauvillier and Oliver Wahlstrom were activated and head coach Barry Trotz said it's possible that both will play on Saturday but "one more likely that the other." Monitor Beauvillier's status as the Islanders hit the ice for warmups at 1:30 PM ET.
Gallagher (lower-body) is expected to miss Saturday's game in Florida.
Gallagher missed the second half of Thursday's game in Carolina with a lower-body injury and is doubtful to play Saturday afternoon. With Gallagher out, Jesse Ylonen is expected to skate on the Canadiens' top line.
The Penguins activated Evan Rodrigues from the COVID-19 protocol list.
Rodrigues comes out of protocol on the same day as Jeff Carter goes onto the COVID-19 protocol list. Rodrigues figures to replace Carter on the Penguins' second line on Sunday.
The Penguins added Jeff Carter to the COVID-19 protocol list on Friday.
Carter is the latest Penguin to be added to the COVID-19 protocol list. Luckily, Evan Rodrigues was activated on the same day and will replace him on the Penguins' second line.
The Blue Jackets have placed Justin Danforth (knee) on IR.
Danforth is expected to miss six weeks with an MCL sprain he suffered on Thursday. He will be replaced by Eric Robinson, who comes off of the COVID-19 protocol list.
Korpisalo cleared COVID-19 protocol on Thursday and is expected to be available for Saturday's game.
Korpisalo was in COVID-19 protocol and skated on his own on Thursday but joined the team on Friday and should be available for Saturday's game. It's unclear if he will start or backup Elvis Merzlikins.
Robinson cleared COVID-19 protocol on Friday and is expected to play Saturday.
Robinson will draw back onto the Blue Jackets' fourth line, replacing Justin Danforth who is expected to miss six weeks with an MCL sprain.
The Blackhawks placed Kevin Lankinen on the COVID-19 protocol list on Friday (Dec.31).
With Marc-Andre Fleury already on the COVID-19 protocol list, Lankinen was scheduled to start Saturday but that likely won't happen now. Collin Delia figures to get the nod if both Fleury and Lankinen remain in protocol.
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.