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NHL Hockey Player News

T.J. Oshie(RW)|FA
Injury
Injury
The Capitals have activated T.J. Oshie from COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play Wednesday.

Oshie missed the Capitals' last game while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play tonight vs. the Predators. Oshie, who has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 14 games this season, is expected to skate with Nicklas Backstrom and Conor Sheary.

Source:
Tarik El-Bashir 2021-12-29T19:40:12.257Z
T.J. Oshie
Evgeny Kuznetsov(C)|FA
Injury
Injury
The Capitals have activated Evgeny Kuznetsov from COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play Wednesday.

Kuznetsov missed the last three games while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play tonight vs. the Predators. Kuznetsov is expected to be back on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson and comes in with 30 points (9G / 21A) in 28 games this season.

Source:
Tarik El-Bashir 2021-12-29T19:39:01.491Z
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Nicklas Backstrom(C)|FA
Injury
Injury
The Capitals have activated Nicklas Backstrom from COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play Wednesday.

Backstrom missed the last two games while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play tonight vs. the Predators. Backstrom, who had one assist and five shots on goal in his season debut is expected to skate on the second line with T.J. Oshie and Conor Sheary.

Source:
Tarik El-Bashir 2021-12-29T19:37:37.567Z
Nicklas Backstrom
Zach Hyman(LW)|EDM
Injury
Injury
Hyman (upper-body) will return to the Oilers lineup on Wednesday.

Hyman has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury but will play tonight in St. Louis. Hyman, who has scored 11 goals with eight assists (19 points) in 26 games this season, is expected to be back on the Oilers' top line with Connor McDavid.

Source:
Tony Brar 2021-12-29T18:00:48.418Z
Zach Hyman
Robert Thomas(C)|STL
Injury
Injury
Thomas (lower-body) will return to the Blues lineup on Wednesday.

Thomas has not played since December 4th due to a lower-body injury but will be back on the second line with Vladimir Tarasenko and Pavel Buchnevich on Wednesday. Thomas has been terrific this season, scoring two goals with 20 assists (22 points) in 24 games this season.

Source:
Jim Thomas 2021-12-29T17:41:37.598Z
Robert Thomas
David Perron(LW)|OTT
Injury
Injury
Perron (upper-body) will return to the Blues lineup on Wednesday.

Perron has not played since November 26th due to an upper-body injury but will be back on the top line with Ryan O'Reilly and Brandon Saad on Wednesday. Perron has scored seven goals with 11 assists (18 points) in 20 games before getting hurt.

Source:
Jim Thomas 2021-12-29T17:41:16.211Z
David Perron
Matt Duchene(C)|DAL
Injury
Injury
Duchene (upper-body) will return to the Predators lineup on Wednesday.

Duchene missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but is set to play Wednesday in Washington. Duchene will likely play on the top line with Mikael Granlund and Filip Forsberg and comes in with 25 points (13G / 12A) in 26 games this season.

Source:
Brooks Bratten 2021-12-29T17:32:48.624Z
Matt Duchene

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!