Goalie Start
Varlamov led the Islanders onto the ice for warmups.
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The Kings have signed Taylor Ward to a one-year, entry-level contract.
Line Change
Matthews has served his two-game suspension and will play on Saturday.
Matthews was suspended for two games for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin but is eligible to draw back into the lineup in Nashville. Matthews, who leads the NHL with 45 goals, will be back in his familiar spot on a line with Michael Bunting and Mitch Marner.
Liljegren will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Liljegren has played in seven straight games, picking up six assists in that span, but will come out of the lineup on Saturday. Travis Dermott will be back in to replace him.
Line Change
Dermott will draw back into the Maple Leafs lineup on Saturday.
Dermott has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace Timothy Liljegreen in the lineup on Saturday. Dermott has picked up just five points (1G / 4A) in 42 games this season.
Goalie Start
Shesterkin will start Saturday in Tampa.
Katchouk will make his Blackhawks debut on Saturday.
Katchouk was acquired for Brandon Hagel on Friday and will make his debut Saturday afternoon in Minnesota. The Blackhawks did not announce who he will replace in the lineup but he comes in with six points (2G / 4A) in 38 games this season.
Raddysh will make his Blackhawks debut on Saturday.
Raddysh was acquired for Brandon Hagel on Friday and will make his debut Saturday afternoon in Minnesota. The Blackhawks did not announce who he will replace in the lineup but he comes in with 12 points (5G / 7A) in 53 games this season.
Hagel will make his Lightning debut on Saturday.
Hagel was not on the ice for the morning skate but will make his Lightning debut on Saturday, one day after being acquired from Chicago. Hagel, who has 21 goals and 16 assists (37 points) in 55 games, will start on a line with Ross Colton and Mathieu Joseph.
Anderson (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Anderson has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but could be back in the lineup vs. the Senators. Anderson is considered a game-time decision, so monitor his status as the Canadiens hit the ice for warmups at 6:30 PM ET.
Drouin (wrist) will draw back into the Canadiens lineup on Saturday.
Drouin has been out since January 20th but is set to replace Brendan Gallagher (lower-body) in the lineup on Saturday. Drouin has scored six goals with 14 assists (20 points) in 32 games this season.
Poehling is expected to miss 1-to-2 weeks with an upper-body injury.
Poehling, who was added to IR on Tuesday with an upper-body injury he suffered on Sunday, is expected to be sidelined for 1-to-2 weeks.
Clague is expected to miss one more week with an upper-body injury.
Clague has been out since March 9th and is expected to miss at least one more week with an upper-body injury. Corey Schueneman should remain in the Canadiens' lineup while Clague is out.
Gallagher is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Gallagher will miss Saturday's game vs. the Senators due to a lower-body injury. Gallagher, who has just four points (1G / 3A) in his last 23 games, will likely be replaced by Mathieu Perreault.
Goalie Start
Allen will start Saturday vs. the Senators.
Line Change
Vlasic will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
Vlasic was a second-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2019 and is set to make his NHL debut after finishing his third year at Boston University. The towering (6-foot-6, 199 lbs.) defenseman had eight points (1G / 7A) and 31 PIMS in 32 games with Boston University this season. He'll start out on the third pair with Erik Gustafsson.
The Blackhawks placed Connor Murphy (concussion) on IR.
Murphy's move to IR is retroactive to March 12th, so he's eligible to return whenever he's back to 100 percent. In addition to Murphy, Tyler Johnson (concussion) was also placed on IR on Friday.
The Blackhawks placed Tyler Johnson (concussion) on IR.
Johnson's move to IR is retroactive to March 12th, so he's eligible to return whenever he's back to 100 percent. In addition to Johnson, Connor Murphy (concussion) was also placed on IR on Friday.
Ekblad left Friday's game with a lower-body injury but "nothing structural," will be re-evaluated on Saturday.
Ekblad could not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off of the ice in the first period of Friday's game in Anaheim. Given Ekblad's long history of serious injuries, there was cause for concern. Head coach Andrew Brunette told reporters post-games that there was no structural damage and it was "positive news tonight and we'll go from there." All-in-all, it sounds like Ekblad avoided another serious injury and won't be sidelined long-term.
Goalie Start
Talbot will start Saturday afternoon vs. Chicago.
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.