NHL Hockey Player News

The Penguins have acquired Filip Hallander and '23 7th round pick from the Maple Leafs for Jared McCann.

Hallander was originally a second-round pick of the Penguins but was traded to the Maple Leafs as a part of the Kasperi Kapanen trade last summer. With the Expansion Draft looming, the Penguins were likely to lose Jared McCann for nothing, so this trade at least brings Hallander back to the organization. The 21-year-old had 13 goals and 11 assists (24 points) in 51 game with Lulea HF (SHL) in 2021.

Filip Hallander
The Maple Leafs have acquired Jared McCann from the Penguins for Filip Hallander and a '23 7th round pick.

The Penguins were likely going to lose McCann for nothing in the Expansion Draft, so this trade brings Filip Hallander back to the organization after losing him in the Kasperi Kapanen trade. For the Maple Leafs, they will expose McCann and will likely lose him or Alexander Kerfoot. Either way, they are left with a third-line centre in the organization.

Jared McCann
The Canucks have acquired Jason Dickinson from the Stars for a 3rd round pick.

Dickinson is a pending RFA and the Stars were likely worried about losing him for nothing in the Expansion Draft, so they get a third-round pick in return by sending him to Vancouver. Dickinson has averaged 10 goals and 16 assists (26 points) per 82-games over the last three seasons. The Canucks have protected Dickinson in the Expansion Draft.

Jason Dickinson
The Sharks have acquired Adin Hill and a '22 7th round pick from the Coyotes for Josef Korenar and a '22 2nd round pick.

Hill was a third-round pick in 2015 and has turned into a pretty solid NHL goalie. With Antti Raanta hurt almost all the time, Hill was given plenty of opportunities. In 2021-22, Hill was 9-9-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .913 SV% in 19 games. Overall, he is 19-21-4 with a 2.79 GAA and .909 SV% in his first 49 NHL games and will battle with Martin Jones for the No.1 job in San Jose.

Adin Hill
The Coyotes have acquired Josef Korenar and a '22 2nd round pick from the Sharks for Adin Hill and a '22 7th round pick.

Korenar just signed a one-year, $750K deal with the Sharks but was traded a few days later. Korenar was able to show what he could do at the NHL level in the latter stages of the season, going 3-5-0 with a 3.17 GAA and .899 SV% in 10 games. In Arizona, Korenar has a chance to be the backup in 2021-22, depending on what happens with the Expansion Draft and/or other trades.

Josef Korenar
The Ducks have signed Alexander Volkov to a one-year contract extension.

Volkov was traded to the Ducks last March, finishing the 2021 season with seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 37 games between Tampa Bay and Anaheim. The 23-year-old is poised for a middle-6 spot with the Ducks to start 2021-22.

Alexander Volkov
The Stars have signed Miro Heiskanen to an eight-year, $67.6 million contract extension.

After three years in the NHL, Heiskanen ranks 33rd among blueliners with 95 points (28G / 67A) in 205 games. His raise will make him the sixth-highest paid defenseman (as of now) in 2021-22 with an $8.45M AAV cap-hit. Heiskanen is an absolute workhorse for the Stars, ranking ninth in the NHL in TOI/gm (24:58) last season.

Miro Heiskanen
The Islanders have acquired Richard Panik and the No.52 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft from the Red Wings for Nick Leddy.

Panik was dealt to Detroit as a part of the Anthony Mantha trade at least year's deadline and had one goal and three assists in 12 games with the Red Wings. Panik has two years remaining at $2.75M AAV but the Red Wings are eating 50 percent of the deal, so the Islanders have Panik at $1.375M AAV and gain $4.125M in cap space in this deal.

Richard Panik
The Red Wings have acquired Nick Leddy from the Islanders for Richard Panik and the No.52 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Leddy is entering the final year of a seven-year contract that carries a $5.5M AAV cap-hit. The 30-year-old is still a serviceable top-4 defenseman that will help bridge the gap to some of the Red Wings younger prospects who may still be a year away. Detroit will also look to flip him at next year's trade deadline to try and recoup some of the draft capital lost in this trade.

Nick Leddy
The Avalanche have acquired Mikhail Maltsev and a 2021 2nd round pick from the Devils for Ryan Graves.

Maltsev was a fourth-round pick of the Devils in 2016 and appeared in 33 games with them in 2021. The 23-year-old winger had nine points (6G / 3A) with the Devils and has picked up 12 goals with 10 assists (22 points) in his first 50 AHL games. Given the depth of the Avalanche roster, Maltsev seems likely to start 2021-22 in the AHL.

Mikhail Maltsev
The Devils have acquired Ryan Graves from the Avalanche for Mikhail Maltsev and a 2nd round pick.

Graves being dealt is a product of the Seattle Expansion Draft and New Jersey lands a solid top-4 defenseman that should fit in well with their emerging young blueline. Graves, who has two years left at $3.17M AAV, had two goals and 13 assists (15 points) in 54 games with the Avalanche in 2021.

Ryan Graves
The Sharks have signed Dylan Gambrell to a one-year contract extension.

Gambrell was a second-round pick of the Sharks in 2016 and has turned into a decent bottom-6 option for them over the last two season. He has compiled 10 goals and 13 assists (23 points) in 99 games over that stretch and will likely centre the third or fourth line when 2021-22 starts.

Dylan Gambrell
The Flames have signed Brett Ritchie to a one-year, $900k contract extension.

After a disappointing year in Boston, Ritchie landed in Calgary last year and had just eight points (4G / 4A) in 32 games but saw more regular playing time. However, hee will be a fringe roster player for the Flames entering the 2021-22 season.

Brett Ritchie

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.

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