NHL Hockey Player News

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen(Goalie)(G)|Buffalo Sabres BUF

Call Up

The Sabres have recalled Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from Rochester (AHL).

Luukkonen has gone 6-6-0 with a 3.42 GAA and .888 SV% in 12 games with Rochester this season. Dustin Tokarski was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list, so Luukkonen will likely back-up Aaron Dell tonight.

Source:

Lance Lysowski 2021-12-02T21:06:04.078Z

Dustin Tokarski(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Tokarski has been added to the COVID-19 protocol list.

Tokarski was likely in line to start on Thursday but will not be available after being placed on the COVID-19 protocol list. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been recalled and either he or Aaron Dell will get the start in Florida.

Source:

Lance Lysowski 2021-12-02T21:02:47.179Z

Cal Petersen(Goalie)(G)|Minnesota Wild MIN

Goalie Start

Petersen was the first goalie off of the ice at the Kings morning skate.

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Patrick O'Neal 2021-12-02T18:50:54.432Z

Malcolm Subban(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Trade

The Sabres have acquired Malcolm Subban from the Blackhawks for future considerations.

The Sabres have been searching for goaltending help and they found some in Subban, who was in the AHL and stuck behind Marc-Andre Fleury and Kevin Lankinen on the depth chart. Subban has gone 2-2-1 with a 3.38 GAA and .893 SV% in the AHL this season.

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Frank Seravalli 2021-12-02T18:49:55.030Z

Jeremy Swayman(Goalie)(G)|Boston Bruins BOS

Goalie Start

Swayman will start Thursday in Dallas.

Source:

Judd Sirott 2021-12-02T18:16:36.827Z

Jeremy Swayman(Goalie)(G)|Boston Bruins BOS

Goalie Start

Swayman is expected to start Thursday in Nashville.

Source:

Kevin Dupont 2021-12-02T17:44:33.228Z

Joonas Korpisalo(Goalie)(G)|Boston Bruins BOS

Injury

Korpisalo (illness) is not expected to be available Thursday in Dallas.

Both Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins are dealing with non-COVID illnesses, so Daniil Tarasov has been recalled and is expected to start Thursday.

Source:

@BlueJacketsPR 2021-12-02T17:39:25.992Z

Elvis Merzlikins(Goalie)(G)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Injury

Merzlikins (illness) is not expected to be available Thursday in Dallas.

Both Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo are dealing with non-COVID illnesses, so Daniil Tarasov has been recalled and is expected to start Thursday.

Source:

@BlueJacketsPR 2021-12-02T17:38:55.142Z

Daniil Tarasov(Goalie)(G)|Florida Panthers FLA

Goalie Start

Tarasov is expected to start Thursday in Dallas.

Source:

@BlueJacketsPR 2021-12-02T17:35:12.147Z

Marc-Andre Fleury(Goalie)(G)|Minnesota Wild MIN

Goalie Start

Fleury will start Thursday in Washington.

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Charlie Roumeliotis 2021-12-02T17:24:26.233Z

Ville Husso(Goalie)(G)|Anaheim Ducks ANA

Goalie Start

Husso will start Thursday in Tampa.

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Tom Timmermann 2021-12-02T17:10:37.809Z

Kieffer Bellows(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Bellows has cleared COVID-19 protocol but will not play Thursday.

A few players cleared COVID-19 protocol yesterday and are expected to play but Bellows cleared today and isn't expected to play.

Source:

Andrew Gross 2021-12-02T17:04:44.930Z

Ross Johnston(Left Wing)(LW)|Anaheim Ducks ANA

Injury

Johnston (COVID-19) has been cleared to play on Thursday.

Johnston has regularly been a healthy scratch, so it's unclear if he will slot back into the lineup after clearing COVID-19 protocol.

Source:

New York Islanders 2021-12-02T17:04:06.870Z

Andy Greene(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Greene (COVID-19) has been cleared to play on Thursday.

Greene has been out since November 16th but is expected to be back in the lineup vs. the Sharks. Greene will likely skate with Noah Dobson on the second pairing and comes into the game with just one assist in 13 games.

Source:

New York Islanders 2021-12-02T17:03:23.475Z

Adam Pelech(Defenseman)(D)|New York Islanders NYI

Injury

Pelech (COVID-19) has been cleared to play on Thursday.

Pelech has been out since November 16th but is expected to play Thursday. Pelech should play a huge role with Ryan Pulock and Zdeno Chara still out. He has just two assists in 13 games this season.

Source:

New York Islanders 2021-12-02T17:02:09.110Z

Josh Bailey(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Bailey (COVID-19) has been cleared to play on Thursday.

Bailey has been out since November 15th but is expected to play Thursday vs. the Sharks. Bailey should slot back in the Islanders' top-6 and comes in with six points (1G / 5A) in 12 games.

Source:

New York Islanders 2021-12-02T17:00:57.036Z

Anders Lee(Left Wing)(LW)|New York Islanders NYI

Injury

Lee (COVID-19) has been cleared to play on Thursday.

Lee has been out since November 16th but is expected to return to the lineup vs. the Sharks. Lee should be back on the top line with Mathew Barzal and comes in with four goals in 12 games.

Source:

New York Islanders 2021-12-02T16:58:16.003Z

Marc-Andre Fleury(Goalie)(G)|Minnesota Wild MIN

Goalie Start

Fleury was the first goalie off of the ice at the Blackhawks morning skate.

Source:

Charlie Roumeliotis 2021-12-02T16:55:41.235Z

Steven Stamkos(Center)(C)|Nashville Predators NSH

Line Change

Stamkos (personal) will return to the Lightning lineup on Thursday.

Stamkos was a late scratch from the lineup on Tuesday as he returned to Tampa to be with his wife for the birth of their baby. He'll be back in the lineup tonight as the Lightning go back to 12 forwards and six defensemen.

Source:

Bryan Burns 2021-12-02T16:47:11.980Z

Charlie Lindgren(Goalie)(G)|Washington Capitals WAS

Call Up

The Blues have recalled Charlie Lindgren from Springfield (AHL).

Jordan Binnington was added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list, so Lindgren will join the Blues in Tampa and is expected to serve as Ville Husso's backup.

Source:

@StLouisBlues 2021-12-02T16:45:57.219Z

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.